Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Benefit Plans [Abstract]

BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 13: BENEFIT PLANS

Stock Option Plans

1995 Stock Plan. The 1995 Stock Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees. All other awards may be granted to employees and consultants. Under the terms of the 1995 Stock Plan, incentive stock options may be granted at prices not less than 100% of the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and non-statutory stock options may be granted at prices not less than 85% of the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. RSUs have no exercise price. Both options and RSUs vest over a period of time as determined by the Board of Directors, generally four years, and expire seven years from date of grant. Options granted prior to February 2006 expire ten years from the date of grant. Grants of RSUs and any non-statutory stock options issued at prices less than the fair market value on the date of grant decrease the plan reserve 1.5 shares for every unit or share granted and any forfeitures of these awards due to their not vesting would increase the 1995 Stock Plan reserve by 1.5 shares for every unit or share forfeited. As of December 31, 2011, an aggregate of 18,472,459 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 1995 Stock Plan, of which 7,671,391 shares remained available for grant.

2002 Director Plan. The 2002 Director Plan provides for the grant of non-statutory stock options and RSUs to non-employee directors of the Company. Under the terms of the 2002 Director Plan, non-statutory stock options may be granted at prices not less than 100% of the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. RSUs have no exercise price. Both options and RSUs vest over a period of time as determined by the Board of Directors, generally three years for the initial grant and one year for subsequent grants to a non-employee director, and expire seven years from date of grant. Grants of RSUs decrease the plan reserve 1.5 shares for every unit granted and any forfeitures of these awards due to their not vesting would increase the 2002 Director Plan reserve by 1.5 shares for every unit forfeited. As of December 31, 2011, an aggregate of 623,162 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2002 Director Plan, of which 163,317 shares remained available for grant.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) provides for the issuance of share purchase rights to employees of the Company. The 2002 ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. The 2002 ESPP enables employees to purchase shares at 85% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the beginning or end of the offering period, whichever is lower. Offering periods generally begin on the first trading day on or after January 1 and July 1 of each year. Employees may participate through payroll deductions of 1% to 10% of their earnings. As of December 31, 2011, 2,829,786 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2002 ESPP, which includes an increase of 2,000,000 shares authorized by the Company’s stockholders in June 2011. Under the 2002 ESPP, 945,287, 864,800 and 705,206 shares were issued during fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, representing $5.2 million, $4.2 million, and $3.7 million in contributions, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, a total of 6,670,214 shares had been issued under this plan.

Assumed Omneon Stock Options. In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Omneon, the Company assumed substantially all stock options and RSUs outstanding under Omneon’s 1998 Stock Option Plan and 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. Options assumed were converted into options to purchase 1,522,000 shares of Harmonic common stock. RSUs assumed were converted into RSUs for the issuance of 1,455,000 shares of Harmonic common stock. The assumed options and RSUs retained all applicable terms and vesting periods. In general, the assumed options vest over a four-year period from the original date of grant and expire 10 years from the original grant date. The assumed RSUs generally vest over a four year period from the original date of grant. As of December 31, 2011, a total of 1,135,485 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the Omneon Plans.

Other Stock Option Plans. In addition, the Company has various inactive stock-based incentive plans. As of December 31, 2011, an aggregate of 619,219 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the inactive plans, representing the aggregate number of shares subject to outstanding stock options and RSUs. No further awards may be granted under any of these plans.

Stock Options and RSUs

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option and restricted stock unit activity during the year ended December 31, 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

				Stock Options					Restricted Stock Units
	Shares Available for Grant			Number of Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number of Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance at December 31, 2010		10,449			11,020		$	6.90		4,507		$	6.49
Granted		(4,091	)		1,038		$	8.70		2,036		$	8.69
Options exercised		—			(1,794	)	$	6.17		—
Shares released		—			—					(1,663	)	$	6.90
Forfeited or cancelled		1,477			(961	)	$	8.14		(1,167	)	$	6.48
Balance at December 31, 2011		7,835			9,303		$	7.12		3,713		$	7.52

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts and term):

	Number of Shares		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Vested and expected to vest		9,194	$	7.11		3.5	$	3,108
Exercisable		7,034	$	7.25		2.8	$	1,999

The intrinsic value of options vested and expected to vest and exercisable as of December 31, 2011 is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price and the fair value of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2011. The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, was $5.2 million, $1.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, and is calculated based on the difference between the exercise price and the fair value of the Company’s common stock as of the exercise date.

The following table summarizes information about restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts and term):

	Number of Shares Underlying Restricted Stock Units		Weighted Average Remaining Vesting Period (Years)		Aggregate Fair Value
Vested and expected to vest		3,488		1.2	$	17,584

The fair value of restricted stock units vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2011 is calculated based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2011.

401-K Plan

Harmonic has a retirement/savings plan which qualifies as a thrift plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. This plan allows participants to contribute up to 20% of total compensation, subject to applicable Internal Revenue Service limitations. Harmonic can make discretionary contributions to the plan of 25% of the first 4% contributed by eligible participants up to a maximum contribution per participant of $1,000 per year. Employer contributions have been suspended since the first quarter of 2009.