-----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, QQCwiT+69eegugaG0Y6PxjXcP6cPqapW33sUvCUE7DJVWPGdPMQwswuj78CfD96G u53aU/nA9kSxeKj3kPG38Q== 0000950005-97-000964.txt : 19971121 0000950005-97-000964.hdr.sgml : 19971121 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950005-97-000964 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-8 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 19971120 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 19971120 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000709519 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS [3571] IRS NUMBER: 942805249 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-8 SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-40677 FILM NUMBER: 97725269 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94303 BUSINESS PHONE: 6509601300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94303 S-8 1 FORM S-8 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 1997 Registration No. 333-______ ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ------------------------------ FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ------------------------------ SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 94-2805249 (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 901 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 (650) 960-1300 (Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices) ------------------------------ 1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN 1988 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN (Full Title of the Plans) ------------------------------ Scott G. McNealy President SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. 901 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 (650) 960-1300 (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) ------------------------------ Copy to: David J. Segre, Esq. WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI Professional Corporation 650 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, California 94304-1050 CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposed Maximum Proposed Amount Offering Maximum Amount of to be Price Per Aggregate Registration Title of Securities to be Registered Registered Share(l) Offering Price(1) Fee - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Common Stock, $.00067 par value to be issued under the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan .......................... 10,000,000 $31.375 $313,750,000.00 $95,076 Common Stock, $.00067 par value to be issued upon exercise of options granted under the 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan ............................... 600,000 $31.375 $18,825,000.00 $5,705 Total 10,600,000 $31.375 $332,575,000.00 $100,781 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The average of the high and the low price as reported on Nasdaq on November 13, 1997, was $31.375.
The contents of the Registrant's Forms S-8 Registration Statements, Registration No.'s 33-38220 and 33-56577, 333-01459, 33-25860, 33-51129, dated December 14, 1990, November 23, 1994 and March 6, 1996, December 1, 1988, November 22, 1993, respectively, relating to the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan are incorporated herein by reference. PART II: INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT Item 8. Exhibits Exhibit Numbers Documents - ------- --------- 4.1 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 4.2 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan 5.1 Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered 23.1 Consent of Counsel (Contained in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors 24.1 Power of Attorney (Contained in page II-3) II-1 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant, Sun Microsystems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, 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 Palo Alto, State of California, on this 20th day of November, 1997. SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. By: /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN --------------------------------- Michael E. Lehman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer II-2 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Scott G. McNealy and Michael E. Lehman, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /s/ Scott G. McNealy Chairman of the Board of Directors, November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Scott G. McNealy (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Michael E. Lehman Vice President and Chief Financial November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Michael E. Lehman /s/ George Reyes Vice President and Corporate Controller November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer) George Reyes /s/ L. John Doerr Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- L. John Doerr /s/ Judith L. Estrin Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- Judith L. Estrin /s/ Robert J. Fisher Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- Robert J. Fisher /s/ Robert L. Long Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- Robert L. Long /s/ M. Kenneth Oshman Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- M. Kenneth Oshman /s/ A. Michael Spence Director November 20, 1997 - ----------------------- A. Michael Spence
II-3 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ------------------ EXHIBITS ------------------ Registration Statement on Form S-8 SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. November 20, 1997 SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Numbers Description - ------- ----------- 4.1 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 4.2 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan 5.1 Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities being registered 23.1 Consent of Counsel (Contained in Exhibit 5.1) 23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors 24.1 Power of Attorney (Contained in page II-3) EX-4.1 2 1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. 1990 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN (Last amended August 13, 1997) The following constitute the provisions of the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of Sun Microsystems, Inc. 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide Employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that Section of the Code. 2. Definitions. (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. (b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (c) "Committee" shall mean a Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan. If at any time no Committee shall be in office, then the functions of the Committee specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the Board and any references herein to the Committee shall be construed as references to the Board. (d) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, $0.00067 par value (as adjusted from time to time), of the Company. (e) "Company" shall mean Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation. (f) "Compensation", unless otherwise determined by the Committee, shall mean regular straight time gross earnings, variable compensation for field sales personnel, certain incentive bonuses, payments for overtime, shift premium, lead pay and automobile allowances, but shall exclude other compensation. (g) "Designated Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary which has been designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. (h) "Employee" shall mean any individual whose customary employment with the Company or any Designated Subsidiary is at least 20 hours per week and more than five months in any calendar year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company; provided that where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the 91st day of such leave. (i) "Enrollment Date" shall mean the first day of each Offering Period. (j) "Exercise Date" shall mean the last day of each Exercise Period. (k) "Exercise Period" shall mean a period commencing on an Enrollment Date or on the day after an Exercise Date and which is of such duration as the Committee shall determine. (1) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows: (i) the last reported sale of the Common Stock of the Company on the NASDAQ National Market System or, if no such reported sale takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, or (ii) if such Common Stock shall then be listed on a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price or, if no such reported sale takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, or (iii) if such Common Stock shall not be quoted on such National Market System nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices, as reported by The Wall Street Journal for the over-the-counter market, or (iv) if none of the foregoing is applicable, then the fair market value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion. (m) "Offering Period" shall mean the period beginning with the date an option is granted under the Plan and ending with the date determined by the Committee. During the term of the Plan, the duration of each Offering Period shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, provided that no Offering Period may exceed 27 months in duration. If determined by the Committee, an Offering Period may include one or more Exercise Periods. (n) "Plan" shall mean this 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (o) "Purchase Price" shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the Exercise Date, whichever is lower. (p) "Reserves" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under option. (q) "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or by a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or by a Subsidiary. (r) "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges and the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) System are open for trading. 3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the total number of shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Plan shall be 55,800,000. The shares may be either authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock. 4. Eligibility. (a) Any Employee as defined in Section 2 who shall be employed by the Company on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. (b) Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five percent or more 2 of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) which permits his or her rights to purchase stock in any calendar year under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries to exceed $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the Fair Market Value of the shares at the time such option is granted). 5. Offering Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive Offering Periods, each consisting of such number of Exercise Periods as the Committee shall determine, and shall continue until terminated in accordance with Section 20 hereof. The first Offering Period shall commence on a date to be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods and Exercise Periods with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least 15 days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period and Exercise Period to be affected. 6. Participation. (a) An eligible Employee may become a participant in any Offering Period under the Plan only by completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee and filing it with the Company during the open enrollment period prior to the applicable Enrollment Date, unless a later time for filing the subscription agreement is set by the Committee for all eligible Employees with respect to a given Offering Period. (b) Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the first payday following the Enrollment Date and shall continue until terminated by the participant as provided in Section 11. 7. Payroll Deductions. (a) At the time a participant files his or her subscription agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made (under this Plan and all employee stock purchase plans of the Company) on each payday during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding a total of 10% (or such other percentage as the Committee may determine) of the Compensation which he or she receives on each payday during the Offering Period, and the aggregate of such payroll deductions (under this Plan and all employee stock purchase plans of the Company) during the Offering Period shall not exceed a total of 10% (or such other percentage as the Committee may determine) of the participant's Compensation during said Offering Period. (b) All payroll deductions made for a participant shall be credited to his or her account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole percentages only. A participant may not make any additional payments into such account. (c) A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 11. A participant's subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 11. To increase or decrease the rate of payroll deductions (within the limitations of Section 7(a)), (i) with respect to the next Offering Period, a participant must complete and file with the Company during the open enrollment period prior to the Enrollment Date for such Offering Period, or (ii) with respect to the next Exercise Period within the same Offering Period, a participant must complete and file with the Company prior to the commencement of the new Exercise Period within such Offering Period, a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in payroll deduction rate. Except in the case of authorized leaves of absence (which shall be governed by Section 11(c) below), such change in rate shall be effective at the beginning of the next Offering Period or Exercise Period, as the case may be, following the Company's receipt of the new subscription agreement. 3 (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 4(b) herein, a participant's payroll deductions may be decreased to 0% by the Company at such time during any Exercise Period which is scheduled to end during the current calendar year (the "Current Exercise Period") that the aggregate of all payroll deductions which were previously used to purchase stock under the Plan (and any other employee stock purchase plans of the Company) in a prior Exercise Period which ended during the current calendar year plus all payroll deductions accumulated with respect to the Current Exercise Period equals $21,250. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in such participant's subscription agreement at the beginning of the first Exercise Period which is scheduled to end in a subsequent calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as provided in Section 11. (e) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of by the participant, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company's federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the participant's compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefit attributable to sale or early disposition by the participant of Common Stock under the Plan. 8. Grant of Option. On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each eligible participant in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock determined by dividing such participant's payroll deductions accumulated prior to or on such Exercise Date and retained in the participant's account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall a participant be permitted to purchase during any Offering Period more than the number of shares determined to be the maximum permissible number (the "Option Cap") by the Committee with respect to the Offering Period prior to the Enrollment Date. In the event that the Committee does not establish an Option Cap prior to the Enrollment Date, the Option Cap shall be the number of shares determined by dividing $100,000 by the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the Enrollment Date, and provided further that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4(b), 7(d) and 13 hereof. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 9, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 11, and such option shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period. 9. Exercise of Option. Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 11 below, his or her option for the purchase of shares will be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to option shall be purchased for such participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her account. No fractional shares will be purchased. Any payroll deductions remaining in a participant's account after an Exercise Date shall be retained in the participant's account until the next Exercise Date within such Offering Period, unless an over-subscription exists (as defined in Section 13(a)) or the Offering Period has terminated with such Exercise Date, in which event such amount shall be returned to the participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her. 10. Delivery. As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each participant, as appropriate, of either 4 a certificate representing the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option or other evidence of purchase. 11. Withdrawal; Termination of Employment. (a) A participant may withdraw all (but not less than all) the payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time prior to the close of an Exercise Period by giving written notice to the Company in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee. Such notice shall state whether the participant is withdrawing only from the applicable Exercise Period or entirely from the Offering Period. All of the participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be paid to such participant as promptly as practicable after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such participant's option for the current Offering Period or Exercise Period (as specified in the notice) will be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made during the Offering Period or Exercise Period, as applicable. If a participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement during the open enrollment period preceding the commencement of a subsequent Offering Period. If a participant withdraws from an Exercise Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of any succeeding Exercise Period within the same Offering Period unless written notice is delivered to the Company in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee within the open enrollment period preceding the commencement of the Exercise Period directing the Company to resume payroll deductions. (b) Upon a participant's ceasing to be an Employee for any reason or upon termination of a participant's employment relationship (as described in Section 2(g)), the payroll deductions credited to such participant's account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise the option will be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15, and such participant's option will be automatically terminated. (c) In the event a participant fails to remain an Employee of the Company for at least 20 hours per week during an Offering Period in which the Employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be returned to such participant and such participant's option terminated; provided that (i) if an Employee shall take an unpaid leave of absence approved by the Company in accordance with Section 2(g) of this Plan of more than 30 days during an Offering Period in which the Employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed to have withdrawn from the applicable Exercise Period on the 31st day of such leave, and (ii) if an Employee shall take a paid leave of absence approved by the Company in accordance with Section 2(g) of this Plan of more than 90 days during an Offering Period in which the Employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed to have withdrawn from the applicable Exercise Period on the earlier of (aa) the 91st day if the Employee is paid for the entire 90 day leave, or (bb) the last day upon which the Employee is paid provided he or she is paid for at least 30 days. On the date upon which the Employee shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the applicable Exercise Period, the payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be returned to him or her, but he or she shall continue to be a participant in the applicable Offering Period during such authorized leave of absence until and unless such authorized leave of absence terminates without his or her returning to his or her employment with the Company. (d) A participant's withdrawal from an Exercise Period (but not from the Offering Period) will not have any effect upon his or her ability to participate in subsequent Exercise Periods 5 during the same Offering Period. However, a participant's withdrawal from an Offering Period makes him or her ineligible for future participation in that Offering Period. Withdrawal from an Exercise Period or from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon a participant's eligibility to participate in a succeeding Offering Period of the Plan or in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company, provided that a participant may elect to participate in a succeeding Offering Period only during the open enrollment period for such Offering Period and may not participate concurrently in more than one Offering Period. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if the Fair Market Value on the Enrollment Date of an Offering Period in which a participant is enrolled (the "Current Offering Period") is greater than the Fair Market Value on the Enrollment Date of a succeeding Offering Period (the "Succeeding Offering Period"), the participant's enrollment in the Current Offering Period automatically will be terminated immediately following the exercise of his or her option under the Current Offering Period on the Exercise Date that occurs immediately prior to the Enrollment Date of the Succeeding Offering Period, and the participant automatically will be enrolled in the Succeeding Offering Period, unless the participant elects to remain in the former Offering Period by delivery to the Company of a written notice in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee. 12. Interest. No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a participant in the Plan. 13. Stock. (a) The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan, as set forth in Section 3 hereof, is subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19. If, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares then available under the Plan (an "over-subscription"), the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable. (b) The participant will have no interest or voting right in shares covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised. (c) Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the participant. 14. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a Committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board, as necessary to comply with the applicable restrictions of Rule 16b-3, if any. The Board or its Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Board or its Committee shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. 15. Designation of Beneficial. (a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death prior to exercise of the option. 6 (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate. 16. Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to a participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 11. 17. Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate funds from such payroll deductions. 18. Reports. Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any. 19. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the Reserves, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration". Such adjustment shall be made by the Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Exercise Period and the Offering Period will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each option under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Committee determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, to shorten the Offering Period (and, if applicable, the Exercise Period) then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the "New Exercise Date"). If the Committee shortens the Offering Period (and the Exercise Period, if applicable) then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Committee shall notify each participant 7 in writing, at least 10 days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for his or her option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Offering Period or the Exercise Period as provided in Section 11. For purposes of this paragraph, an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed if, following the sale of assets or merger, the option confers the right to purchase, for each share of stock subject to the option immediately prior to the sale of assets or merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the sale of assets or merger by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the sale of assets or merger was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation and the participant, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the sale of assets or merger. The Committee may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion, also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in the event the Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings or other increases or reductions of shares of its outstanding Common Stock, and in the event of the Company being consolidated with or merged into any other corporation. 20. Amendment or Termination. (a) The Board may at any time and for any reason amend or terminate the Plan. Except as provided in Section 19, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan (and any Offering Period thereunder) may be terminated by the Board on any Exercise Date if the Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Except as provided in Section 19, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any participant. To the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as is required thereby. (b) Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the Committee shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than United States dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Committee determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan. 21. Notices. All notices or other communications by a participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form 8 specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof. 22. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law of the United States or other country or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon which the shares may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law. 23. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of 20 years unless sooner terminated under Section 20. 9 EX-4.2 3 1988 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. 1988 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN (Amended August 13, 1997) 1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Directors' Stock Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for services as Directors of the Company, to provide additional incentive to the Outside Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to encourage their continued service on the Board. 2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply: (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. (b) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company. (c) "Company" shall mean Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation. (d) "Continuous Status as a Director" shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of service as a Director. (e) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board. (f) "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. The payment of a Director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of itself to constitute "employment" by the Company. (g) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. (h) "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. (i) "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option. (j) "Optionee" shall mean an Outside Director who receives an Option. (k) "Outside Director" shall mean a Director who is not an Employee. (1) "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 425(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (m) "Plan" shall mean this 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan. (n) "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan. 1 (o) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 425(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. 3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold under the Plan is 2,200,000 Shares (the "Pool") of Common Stock. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or required Common Stock. If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, shall become available for future grant under the Plan. If Shares which were acquired upon exercise of an Option are subsequently repurchased by the Company, such Shares shall not in any event be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future grant under the Plan. 4. Administration of and Grants of Options under the Plan. (a) Administrator. Except as otherwise required herein, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. (b) Procedure for Grants. All grants of Options hereunder shall be automatic and non-discretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with the following provisions: (i) No person shall have any discretion to select which Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares to be covered by Options granted to Outside Directors. (ii) Each Outside Director who is a partner, officer or director of an entity having an equity investment in the Company (or who was so affiliated with such an entity at the time of his or her initial appointment or election to the Board) shall be automatically granted an Option to purchase 20,000 Shares (the "First Option") upon the effective date of the Plan, as determined in accordance with Section 6 hereof, or the date on which such person first becomes a Director, whether through election by the shareholders of the Company or appointment by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy; provided, however, that no Option shall be issued under the Plan or become exercisable until shareholder approval of the Plan has been obtained. Each Outside Director who is not, on the date of his or her initial appointment or election to the Board, affiliated with an investment entity as described above, shall automatically be granted a First Option of 80,000 Shares, subject to the above provision. (iii) After the First Option has been granted to an Outside Director, such Outside Director shall thereafter be automatically granted an Option to purchase 20,000 Shares (a "Subsequent Option") on the date of and immediately following each Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company at which such non-employee director is re-elected, if on such date, he shall have served on the Board for at least six (6) months. 2 (iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii) and (iii) hereof, in the event that a grant would cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the number of Shares previously purchased upon exercise of Options to exceed the Pool, then each such automatic grant shall be for that number of Shares determined by dividing the total number of Shares remaining available for grant by the number of Directors on the automatic grant date. Any further grants shall then be deferred until such time, if any, as additional Shares become available for grant under the Plan of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or expiration of Options previously granted hereunder. (v) The terms of an Option granted hereunder shall be as follows: (A) The term of the Option shall be five (5) years. (B) The Option shall be exercisable only while the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in Section 9 hereof. (C) The exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of the Option. (D) The Option shall become exercisable in installments cumulatively as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Shares subject to the Option on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant of the Option. (c) Powers of the Board. Subject to the provisions and restrictions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with Section 8(b) of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock; (ii) to determine the exercise price per share of Options to be granted, which exercise price shall be determined in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Plan; (iii) to interpret the Plan; (iv) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (v) to authorize any person to exercise on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted hereunder; and (vi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. (d) Effect of the Board's Decision. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan. (e) Suspension or Termination of Option. If the Chief Executive Officer or his designee reasonably believes that an Optionee has committed an act of misconduct, the Chief Executive Officer may suspend the Optionee's right to exercise any option pending a determination by the Board of Directors (excluding the Outside Director accused of such misconduct). If the Board of Directors (excluding the Outside Director accused of such misconduct) determines an Optionee has committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of an obligation owed to the Company, breach of fiduciary duty or 3 deliberate disregard of the Company rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company, or if an Optionee makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company trade secret or confidential information, engages in any conduct constituting unfair competition, induces any Company customer to breach a contract with the Company or induces any principal for whom the Company acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship, neither the Optionee nor his estate shall be entitled to exercise any option whatsoever. In making such determination, the Board of Directors (excluding the Outside Director accused of such misconduct) shall act fairly and shall give the Optionee an opportunity to appear and present evidence on Optionee's behalf at a hearing before the Board or committee of the Board. 5. Eligibility. Options may be granted only to Outside Directors. All Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 4(b) hereof. An Outside Director who has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options in accordance with such provisions. The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a Director, nor shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director or the Company may have to terminate his directorship at any time. 6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect until December 31, 2008 unless sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan. 7. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof. 8. Exercise Price and Consideration. (a) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be 100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of the Option. In the case of an Option granted to an Optionee who, immediately before the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or its parents or subsidiaries, the per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of such Option shall be at least 110% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of the Option. (b) Fair Market Value. The fair market value shall be the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of grant, as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") System or, in the event the Common Stock is traded on a stock exchange, the fair market value per Share shall be the closing price on such exchange on the date of grant of the Option. 4 (c) Form of Consideration. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall consist entirely of cash, check, other Shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, or any combination of such methods of payment. 9. Exercise of Option. (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in Section 4(b) hereof; provided, however, that no Options shall be exercisable until shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 17 hereof has been obtained. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(c) of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan. (b) Termination of Status as a Director. If an Outside Director ceases to serve as a Director, he may, but only within ninety (90) days after the date he ceases to be a Director of the Company, exercise his Option to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its five (5) year term has expired. To the extent that he was not entitled to exercise an Option at the date of such termination, or if he does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. (c) Disability of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event a Director is unable to continue his service as a Director with the Company as a result of his total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), he may, but only within six (6) months from the date of termination, exercise his Option to the extent he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its five (5) year 5 term has expired. To the extend that he was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if he does not exercise such Option (which he was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. (d) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee: (i) During the term of the Option, Optionee who is, at the time of his death, a Director of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status as a Director since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee continued living and remained in Continuous Status as Director for six (6) months after the date of death. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its five (5) year term has expired. (ii) Within one (1) month after the termination of Continuous Status as a Director, the Option may be exercised, at any time within six (6) months following the date of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the option be exercised after its five (5) year term has expired. 10. Non-Transferability of Options. Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder. The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee does not constitute a transfer. An Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section 10. 11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration". Such adjustment shall be 6 made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation. In the event that such successor corporation refuses to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, the Board shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for the Optionee to have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable, in which case, the Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period. 12. Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4(b) hereof. Notice of the termination shall be given to each Outside Director to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant. 13. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. (a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided that, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 1 6b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any other applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain approval of the shareholders of the Company of Plan amendments to the extent and in the manner required by such law or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions set forth in Sections 2(k), 4(b), 5, 7 and 8(a) of this Plan (and any other Sections of this Plan that affect the formula award terms required to be specified in this Plan by Rule 1 6b-3) shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder. (i) any increase in the number of Shares subject to the Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under Section 11 of the Plan; or (ii) any change in the designation of the class of persons eligible to be granted Options; or 7 (iii) any material increase in the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan; or (iv) any change in the number of shares subject to Options to be granted hereunder or in the terms thereof as set forth in Section 4(b) hereof. (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company. 14. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law. Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained. 15. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. 16. Option Agreement. Options shall be evidenced by written option agreements in such form as the Board shall approve. 17. Information to Optionees. The Company shall provide to each Optionee, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding, copies of all annual reports to shareholders, proxy statements and other information provided to all shareholders of the Company. 8 EX-5.1 4 OPINION OF COUNSEL EXHIBIT 5.1 Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporation 650 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, CA 94304-1050 Telephone (650) 493-9300 Facsimile (650) 493-6811 www.wsgr.com November 17, 1997 Sun Microsystems, Inc. 901 San Antonio Road Palo Alto, CA 94303 Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "You") and have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about November 20, 1997 in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of (i) 10,000,000 shares of your Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") and (ii) 600,000 shares of your Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"). The 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Purchase Plan and the 600,000 shares of Common Stock reserved under the Option Plan are referred to collectively hereinafter as the "Shares," and the Purchase Plan and the Option Plan are referred to hereinafter collectively as the "Plans." As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken in connection with the issuance and sale of and payment of consideration for the Shares to be issued under the Plans. Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that, when issued and sold in compliance with applicable prospectus delivery requirements and in the manner referred to in the Plans and pursuant to the agreements which accompany the Plans, the Shares will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. Sincerely, WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI Professional Corporation /s/WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI EX-23.2 5 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP EXHIBIT 23.2 CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the Sun Microsystems, Inc. 1990 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 1988 Directors' Stock Option Plan, of our reports dated July 16, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sun Microsystems, Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K, as amended on Form 10-K/A) for the year ended June 30, 1997 and the related financial statement schedule included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ERNST & YOUNG LLP /s/ERNST & YOUNG LLP November 19, 1997 Palo Alto, California -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----