EX-99.(D)(4) 13 d49603exv99wxdyx4y.htm FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT exv99wxdyx4y
 

Exhibit (d)(4)
CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.
1996 STOCK PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
     Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in the Notice of Grant and this Option Agreement.
Vesting Schedule:
     This Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant.
Termination Period:
     This Option may be exercised for 90 days after Optionee’s Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant terminates. Upon the death or disability of the Optionee, this Option may be exercised for such longer period as provided in the Plan. In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date as provided above.
Il. AGREEMENT
     1.      Grant of Option. The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Grant attached as Part I of this Agreement (the “Optionee”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares, as set forth in the Notice of Grant, at the exercise price per share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to Section 15(c) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.
     If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).
     2.      Exercise of Option.
              (a)      Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
              (b)      Method of Exercise. This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice, in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the

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Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. The Exercise Notice shall be completed by the Optionee and delivered to E*Trade as the Company’s Plan Administrator. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by E*Trade on behalf of the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate Exercise Price.
     No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless such issuance and exercise complies with Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date the Option is exercised with respect to such Exercised Shares.
     3.      Method of Payment. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:
              (a)      cash; or
              (b)      check; or
              (c)      consideration received by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; or
              (d)      surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.
     4.      Non-Transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.
     5.      Term of Option. This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.
     6.      Tax Consequences. Some of the federal tax consequences relating to this Option, as of the date of this Option, are set forth below. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

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          (a)      Exercising the Option.
                     (i)      Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee may incur regular federal income tax liability upon exercise of a NSO. The Optionee will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If the Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from his or her compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.
                     (ii)      Incentive Stock Option. If this Option qualifies as an ISO, the Optionee will have no regular federal income tax liability upon its exercise, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to alternative minimum taxable income for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise. In the event that the Optionee changes his or her status from an Employee to a Consultant or a Consultant to an Employee, any Incentive Stock Option of the Optionee that remains unexercised shall cease to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the date three (3) months and one (1) day following such change of status.
          (b)      Disposition of Shares.
                     (i)      NSO. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
                     (ii)      ISO. If the Optionee holds ISO Shares for at least one year after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. If the Optionee disposes of ISO Shares within one year after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price. Any additional gain will be taxed as capital gain, short-term or long-term depending on the period that the ISO Shares were held.
          (c)      Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares. If the Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one year after the exercise date, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that he or she may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out of the current earnings paid to the Optionee.

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     7.      Entire Agreement; Governing Law. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, construed in accordance with, and governed by the internal laws of the State of Texas, without regard to the rules on conflict of laws.
     8.      NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE. OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER). OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
     By your signature below, you agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and Option Agreement. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan and Option Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.
         
 
  OPTIONEE:    
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
Signature
   
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
Printed Name
   
 
       
 
       
 
 
 
Date
   

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Exhibit A
     
(E*TRADE FINANCIAL LOGO)   (OPTIONSLINK LOGO)
Exercise Instructions
Q. Who should I call if I have a question about my options or want to sell my shares?
A. Contact OptionsLink at optionslink.com or by calling one of the numbers listed below:
   
Within US: (800) 838-0908
 
   
Outside US (except Canada): (650) 599-0125
 
   
Canada: (888) 283-7787
Q. How do I exercise my stock options?
A. The process for exercising your stock options is as follows:
1.  
Complete the OptionsLink activation process as described in the welcome e-mail/letter you received. Additional information is at optionslink.com/activation. You must activate your account prior to placing a trade.
2.  
Log in to OptionsLink at optionslink.com or call our Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system at the numbers listed above to verify the number of shares available for exercise and to place your order.
   
If you want to exercise your options and keep the resulting shares (i.e., a “cash exercise”), you must have sufficient cash in your companion E*TRADE Securities LLC brokerage account to cover the cost of purchasing the shares, plus any applicable taxes and commissions. To learn more about funding your account, visit the Help Center at etrade.com.
 
   
If you want to exercise your options and immediately sell your shares (i.e., a “same-day sale”) no cash is required. The cost of purchasing the shares, as well as any applicable taxes and commissions, will be deducted from the proceeds you receive from selling the shares. The balance of proceeds will be released to you three (3) business days after the transaction.
3.  
A confirmation of exercise will be mailed to your home address when your transaction is completed. Please retain this statement for income tax purposes.
The E*TRADE FINANCIAL family of companies provides financial services that include brokerage, banking, lending, and managing corporate stock benefits. Securities products and services are offered by E*TRADE Securities LLC, Member NASD/SIPC. The OptionsLink service is offered by E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporate Services. E*TRADE Securities LLC and E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporate Services are separate but affiliated companies.
System response and account access times may vary due to a variety of factors, including trading volumes, market conditions, system performance, and other factors.
© 2003 E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corp. All rights reserved.

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