S-8

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

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

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	77-0019522
(State of Incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

345 Park Avenue
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 536-6000
(Address of principal executive offices)

1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan
(Full title of the plans)

Murray J. Demo
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Adobe Systems Incorporated
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 536-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
Cheryl K. House, Esq.
Adobe Systems Incorporated
345 Park Avenue
San Jose, California 95110
(408) 536-6000

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
Stock Options and Common Stock (par value $.0001)	12,000,000 shares	$26.25	$315,000,000	$78,750

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h). The offering price per share and aggregate offering price are based upon the average of the high and low prices of Registrant's Common Stock on March 9, 2001 as reported on the Nasdaq National Market.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The following documents filed by Adobe Systems Incorporated (the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

(a)

The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 1, 2000; and



(b)

The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

    All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 herein and to be a part of this registration statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

    Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Delaware Code") authorizes a court to award, or a corporation's board of directors to grant, indemnification to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933. The Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Delaware Code. The Registrant also maintains directors' and officers' insurance against liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 for its directors and principal executive officers. In addition, each officer and director is a party to a written agreement which states that the Registrant agrees to hold each of them harmless against any and all judgments, fines, settlements and expenses related to claims against such person by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Registrant, and otherwise to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the Registrant's Bylaws and under the non-exclusivity provisions of the Delaware Code.

EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number	Description
4.1	The Registrant's (as successor-in-interest to Adobe Systems (Delaware) Incorporated by virtue of a reincorporation effective May 30, 1997) Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 9, 1997.
4.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant as currently in effect.
4.3	Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock.
4.4	Agreement and Plan of Merger effective May 30, 1997 (by virtue of a reincorporation), by and between Adobe Systems Incorporated, a California corporation, and Adobe Systems (Delaware) Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.
4.5	Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Harris Trust Company of California.
4.6	1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, as amended.
4.7	Forms of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with the 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.
4.8	Fourth Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Computershare Investor Services, LLC.
4.9	Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 26, 2000.
5	Opinion of Cheryl K. House, Esq., corporate securities counsel.
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Public Accountants.
23.2	Consent of Cheryl K. House, Esq., contained within Exhibit 5.

UNDERTAKINGS

1.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)

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

(i)

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

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) ((S) 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;

(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)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by or furnished by the issuer pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein.

(b)

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



(c)

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.

2.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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 the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 San Jose, State of California, on March 15, 2001.

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
By:	/s/ MURRAY J. DEMO Murray J. Demo Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Murray J. Demo and Colleen M. Pouliot, and each or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on March 15, 2001 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

Signature	Title
/s/ JOHN E. WARNOCK (John E. Warnock)	Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer
/s/ CHARLES M. GESCHKE (Charles M. Geschke)	Chairman of the Board
/s/ BRUCE R. CHIZEN (Bruce R. Chizen)	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ MURRAY J. DEMO (Murray J. Demo)	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ CAROL MILLS BALDWIN (Carol Mills Baldwin)	Director
/s/ ROBERT SEDGEWICK (Robert Sedgewick)	Director
/s/ DELBERT W. YOCAM (Delbert W. Yocam)	Director
/s/ ANTONIO M. PEREZ (Antonio M. Perez)	Director

EXHIBIT INDEX

		Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number	Description	Form	Date of Report	Exhibit No.	Filed Herewith
4.1	The Registrant's (as successor-in-interest to Adobe Systems (Delaware) Incorporated by virtue of a reincorporation effective May 30, 1997) Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 9, 1997.	10-Q	5/30/97	3.1
4.2	Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant as currently in effect.	8-K	9/03/98	3.2
4.3	Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock.	10-K	11/28/97	3.3
4.4	Agreement and Plan of Merger effective May 30, 1997 (by virtue of a reincorporation), by and between Adobe Systems Incorporated, a California corporation, and Adobe Systems (Delaware) Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.	10-Q	5/30/97	2.1
4.5	Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Harris Trust Company of California.	8-K	12/15/98	1
4.6	1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan, as amended.				X
4.7	Forms of Stock Option Agreement used in connection with the 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan.	S-8	9/15/99	4.7
4.8	Fourth Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Computershare Investor Services, LLC.	8-K	7/3/00	1
4.9	Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on May 26, 2000.	S-8	6/16/00	4.6
5	Opinion of Cheryl K. House, Esq., corporate securities counsel.				X
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Public Accountants.				X
23.2	Consent of Cheryl K. House, Esq., contained within Exhibit 5.				X

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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
EXHIBITS
UNDERTAKINGS
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX

EX-4.6

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Exhibit 4.6

ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
1999 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN

Amended by the Board of Directors on March 2, 2001

Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.

    Establishment.  The Adobe Systems Incorporated 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") was established effective as of August 16, 1999.

    Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.

    Term of Plan.  The Plan shall continue in effect until the earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements evidencing Options granted under the Plan have lapsed.

Definitions and Construction.

    Definitions.  Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

"Affiliate" means (i) an entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) an entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the term "control" (including the term "controlled by") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the relevant entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; or shall have such other meaning assigned such term for the purposes of registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. If one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, "Board" also means such Committee(s).

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

"Committee" means the Compensation Committee or other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law.

"Company" means Adobe Systems Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.

"Consultant" means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a member of the Board) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

"Disability" means the permanent and total disability of the Optionee within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

"Employee" means any person treated as an employee in the records of a Participating Company.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

"Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

    If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so quoted instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its discretion.

    If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Board in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

"Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

"Option" means a right to purchase Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Plan. All Options shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

"Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionee setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Option granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. An Option Agreement may consist of a form of "Notice of Grant of Stock Option" and a form of "Stock Option Agreement" incorporated therein by reference, or such other form or forms as the Board may approve from time to time.

"Optionee" means a person who has been granted one or more Options.

"Parent Corporation" means any present or future "parent corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

"Participating Company" means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.

"Participating Company Group" means, at any point in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

"Service" means an Optionee's employment or service with the Participating Company Group as an Employee or a Consultant, whichever such capacity the Optionee held on the date of Option grant or, if later, the date on which the Optionee commenced Service. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, an Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated if the Optionee ceases to render Service to the Participating Company Group in such initial capacity. However, an Optionee's Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the Participating Company for which the Optionee renders Service in such initial capacity, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Optionee's Service. Furthermore, an Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed to have terminated if the Optionee takes any bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company of ninety (90) days or less. In the event of a leave in excess of ninety (90) days, the Optionee's Service shall be deemed to terminate on the ninety-first (91st) day of the leave unless the Optionee's right to return to Service with the Participating Company Group is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the

Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Optionee's Option Agreement. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation for which the Optionee performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Optionee's Service has terminated and the effective date of such termination.

"Stock" means the common stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.

"Subsidiary Corporation" means any present or future "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

    Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

Administration.

    Administration by the Board.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any Option shall be determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Option.

    Authority of Officers.  Any officer of a Participating Company shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.

    Powers of the Board.  In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

•

to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be subject to each Option;



•

to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;



•

to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Option (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise price of the Option, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased upon the exercise of the Option, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the Option or such shares, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability of the Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, (v) the time of the expiration of the Option, (vi) the effect of the Optionee's termination of Service with the Participating Company Group on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Option or such shares not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;



•

to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;



•

to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Option or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Option or any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;



•

to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability of any Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following an Optionee's termination of Service with the Participating Company Group;



•

to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board

deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted Options; and

•

to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Option as the Board may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

    Indemnification.  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

Shares Subject to Plan.

    Maximum Number of Shares Issuable.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be thirty-seven million two hundred thousand (37,200,000) and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof. If an outstanding Option for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled or if shares of Stock are acquired upon the exercise of an Option subject to a Company repurchase option and are repurchased by the Company at the Optionee's exercise price, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or such repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan.

    Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure.  In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the exercise price per share of any outstanding Options. If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Options are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event, as defined in Section 8.1) shares of another corporation (the "New Shares"), the Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to provide that such Options are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per share of, the outstanding Options shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Board, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise price of any Option be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

Eligibility and Option Limitations.

    Persons Eligible for Options.  Options may be granted only to Employees and Consultants. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, "Employees," and "Consultants" shall include prospective Employees and prospective Consultants to whom Options are granted in connection with written offers of an employment or other service relationship with the Participating Company Group. However,

notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no Person shall be eligible to be granted an Option under the Plan whose eligibility would require approval of the Plan by the Stockholders of the Company under any law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. If not inconsistent with any such law, regulation or rule, an Option may be granted to a Person, not previously employed by the Company, as an inducement essential to entering into an employment contract with the Company. Eligible persons may be granted more than one (1) Option.

    Option Grant Restrictions.  Options granted under the Plan may only be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

Terms and Conditions of Options.

    Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Board shall from time to time establish. No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Option Agreement. Option Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

    Exercise Price.  The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Board, provided that the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in the manner described in Section 424(a) of the Code.

    Exercisability and Term of Options.  Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board and set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of eight (8) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (b) no Option granted to a prospective Employee or prospective Consultant may become exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences Service with a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Board in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder shall terminate eight (8) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.

Payment of Exercise Price.

    Forms of Consideration Authorized.  Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value (as determined by the Company without regard to any restrictions on transferability applicable to such stock by reason of federal or state securities laws or agreements with an underwriter for the Company) not less than the exercise price, (iii) by the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a "Cashless Exercise"), (iv) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Board from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (v) by any combination thereof. The Board may at any time or from time to time, by approval of or by amendment to the standard forms of Option Agreement described in Section 7, or by other means, grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

Limitations on Forms of Consideration.

    Tender of Stock.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company's stock. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

    Cashless Exercise.  The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.

    Tax Withholding.  The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. Alternatively or in addition, in its discretion, the Company shall have the right to require the Optionee, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including by means of a Cashless Exercise, to make adequate provision for any such tax withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group arising in connection with the Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. The Fair Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock until the Participating Company Group's tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Optionee.

    Effect of Termination of Service.  An Option shall be exercisable after an Optionee's termination of Service to such extent and during such period as determined by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option.

    Transferability of Options.  During the lifetime of the Optionee, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative. No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

Standard Forms of Option Agreement.

    Option Agreement.  Unless otherwise provided by the Board at the time the Option is granted, an Option shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the form of Option Agreement approved by the Board concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended from time to time.

    Authority to Vary Terms.  The Board shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Option Agreement described in this Section 7 either in connection with the grant or amendment of an individual Option or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Option Agreement are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

Change in Control.

Definitions.

    An "Ownership Change Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange by the stockholders of the Company of all or substantially all of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company); or (iv) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

    A "Change in Control" shall mean an Ownership Change Event in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Ownership Change Event do not retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest in the voting stock of the Company after such transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation.

    Effect of Change in Control on Options.  In the event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the "Acquiring Corporation"), shall either assume the Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Options or substitute for outstanding Options substantially equivalent options for the Acquiring Corporation's stock. In the event the Acquiring Corporation elects not to assume or substitute for outstanding Options in connection with a Change in Control, the Board shall provide that any unexercised and/or unvested portions of outstanding Options shall be immediately exercisable and vested in full as of the date thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Change in Control. The exercise and/or vesting of any option that was permissible solely by reason of this paragraph 8.2 shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Change in Control. Any Options which are neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with the Change in Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change in Control.

Provision of Information.

    Each Optionee shall be given access to information concerning the Company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company's common stockholders.

Compliance with Securities Law.

    The grant of Options and the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise of Options shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities. Options may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Option may be exercised unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance 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. As a condition to the exercise of any Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

Termination or Amendment of Plan.

    The Board may terminate or amend the Plan at any time. However, no termination or amendment of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Option unless expressly provided by the Board. In any event, no termination or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Option without the consent of the Optionee, unless such termination or amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation or rule.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing sets forth the Adobe Systems Incorporated 1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan duly adopted by the Board on August 16, 1999, as amended by the Board on March 2, 2001.

/s/ COLLEEN M. POULIOTSecretary

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ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED 1999 NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION PLAN

EX-5

EX-23.1

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Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Public Accountants

The Board of Directors
Adobe Systems Incorporated:

    We consent to incorporation herein by reference of our report dated December 12, 2000, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Adobe Systems Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 1, 2000 and December 3, 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and other comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 1, 2000, and the related financial statement schedule, which report appears in the December 1, 2000, annual report on Form 10-K of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Mountain View, California
March 15, 2001

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Consent of Independent Public Accountants