S-8

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2016

Registration No.             

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   33-0956711

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3355 Michelson Drive, Suite 100

Irvine, California 92612

(Address, Including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)

SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan

SanDisk Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan

SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings, Inc.) 2011 Share Incentive Plan

Fusion-io Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

Michael C. Ray

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Western Digital Corporation

3355 Michelson Drive, Suite 100

Irvine, California 92612

(949) 672-7000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

COPY TO:

Neil Whoriskey

Matthew P. Salerno

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Securities
To Be Registered
  Amount
To Be
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount Of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, issuable pursuant to the SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan

  14,377,415(1)   $35.64(2)   $512,411,071(2)   $51,600(2)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, issuable pursuant to assumed stock options

  2,881,313(1)   $38.37(3,4)   $110,555,980(3,4)   $11,133(3,4)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, issuable pursuant to assumed restricted stock units

  12,480,135(1)   $35.64(2,4)   $444,792,011(2,4)   $44,791(2,4)

 

 

(1)  This Registration Statement covers the number of shares of Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or the “Registrant”), common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), stated above, that may be available for issuance under the SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) or that may be delivered in settlement of options and restricted stock units assumed in connection with the acquisition by the Company of SanDisk Corporation (“SanDisk”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Schrader Acquisition Corporation, and SanDisk (dated October 21, 2015) (the “Assumed Equity Awards”). The Assumed Equity Awards are outstanding under the 2013 Plan, Amended and Restated SanDisk Corporation 2005 Incentive Plan, SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings, Inc.) 2011 Share Incentive Plan, and Fusion-io Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers an additional indeterminate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to shares available for issuance under the 2013 Plan or the Assumed Equity Awards under the Plans as a result of one or more adjustments under the Plans to prevent dilution resulting from one or more stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
(2)  Pursuant to Securities Act Rule 457(h), the maximum offering price, per share and in the aggregate, and the registration fee were calculated based upon $35.64, the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on May 13, 2016, as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
(3)  Pursuant to Securities Act Rule 457(h), the maximum offering price, per share and in the aggregate, and the registration fee were calculated based upon $38.37, the weighted average exercise price of the options outstanding under the Plans.
(4)  11,578,524 of these shares were registered under the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-208517) filed under the Securities Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on December 14, 2015, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed on January 27, 2016 and Amendment No. 2, filed on February 5, 2016. All filing fees payable in connection with the issuance of the shares so registered, equal to $74,493, were previously paid in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and are being applied to the fees due under this Registration Statement.

The Exhibit Index for this Registration Statement is at page 8.

 

 

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE

SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The information required by Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the instructions to Form S-8. The documents containing such information are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The following documents of the Company filed with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

 

  (a) The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended July 3, 2015, filed with the Commission on August 21, 2015 (Commission File No. 001-08703);

 

  (b) The Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarters ended October 2, 2015, January 1, 2016, and April 1, 2016 filed with the Commission on November 10, 2015, February 10, 2016, and May 9, 2016 respectively (each, Commission File No. 001-08703);

 

  (c) The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 12, 2016 (with respect to Items 1.01, 1.02, 2.01, 2.03, 5.02 and 8.01 only), May 10, 2016, April 29, 2016, April 14, 2016, April 5, 2016, March 31, 2016, March 18, 2016, March 15, 2016, March 8, 2016, March 3, 2016, February 29, 2016, February 25, 2016, February 23, 2016, February 4, 2016, January 22, 2016, January 19, 2016, November 12, 2015, November 5, 2015, October 26, 2015, October 21, 2015 (with respect to Item 8.01 only), October 19, 2015 (with respect to Item 5.02 only) and September 30, 2015 (with respect to Items 1.01 and 3.02 only) (each, Commission File No. 001-08703); and

 

  (d) The description of the Company’s Common Stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 31, 2012 (Commission File No. 001-08703), and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities

Not applicable.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

The validity of the issuance of Common Stock registered hereby is passed on for the Company by Michael C. Ray. Mr. Ray is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Company and is compensated by the Company as an employee. As of the date hereof, Mr. Ray owned 8 shares of Common Stock, 21,989 restricted stock units that are payable in an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock, 31,464 performance stock units (at the target level of performance) that are payable in an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock, and Company stock options to acquire up to an additional 79,675 shares of Common Stock.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The Company is a Delaware corporation. Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted under similar standards to those set forth above, except that no indemnification may be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of liability, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

Section 145 of the DGCL further provides, among other things, that to the extent a present or former director or officer of the corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsection (a) and (b) of Section 145 or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled, and that the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against such officer or director and incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liabilities under Section 145.

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Company’s certificate of incorporation provides that a director shall not be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, such provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for acts or omissions not in good faith or for breaching his or her duty of loyalty, engaging in intentional misconduct or knowingly violating the law, paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase which was illegal, or obtaining an improper personal benefit. A provision of this type has no effect on the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty.


The Company’s bylaws require that directors and officers be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition to the indemnification provisions in the Company’s bylaws, the Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each director and executive officer of the Company. These indemnity agreements require that the Company indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

The indemnity agreements also require the Company to make prompt payment of expenses incurred by the director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding upon the request of the director or executive officer in advance of indemnification to the extent permitted by law.

The Company has a policy of directors’ liability insurance which insures the directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment under certain circumstances stated in the policy.

The above discussion of the DGCL and of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and indemnification agreements is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by such statute, certificate of incorporation, bylaws and indemnification agreements.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits

See the attached Exhibit Index at page 8, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; and

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) 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 therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 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 this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(h) 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 provisions described in Item 6 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the 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 a 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, 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 Form S-8 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Irvine, State of California, on this 17th day of May, 2016.

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Michael C. Ray

  Michael C. Ray
  Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary


POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen D. Milligan and Michael C. Ray, and each of them, acting individually and without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the 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 and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them individually, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Stephen D. Milligan

Stephen D. Milligan

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  May 17, 2016

/s/ Olivier C. Leonetti

Olivier C. Leonetti

  

Executive Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

  May 17, 2016

/s/ Matthew E. Massengill

Matthew E. Massengill

   Chairman of the Board   May 17, 2016

/s/ Martin I. Cole

Martin I. Cole

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Kathleen A. Cote

Kathleen A. Cote

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Henry T. DeNero

Henry T. DeNero

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Michael D. Lambert

Michael D. Lambert

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Len J. Lauer

Len J. Lauer

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Sanjay Mehrotra

Sanjay Mehrotra

   Director   May 17, 2016

/s/ Paula A. Price

Paula A. Price

   Director   May 17, 2016


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  4.1    SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan.
  4.2    Amended and Restated SanDisk 2005 Incentive Plan
  4.3    SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings, Inc.) 2011 Share Incentive Plan.
  4.4    Fusion-io Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.
  5    Opinion of Counsel (opinion re: legality).
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP (consent of independent registered public accounting firm).
23.2    Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5).
24    Power of Attorney (included in this Registration Statement under “Signatures”).
EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

SANDISK CORPORATION

2013 INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE ONE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

This 2013 Incentive Plan is intended to promote the interests of SanDisk Corporation, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons in the Corporation’s service with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in such service.

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the attached Appendix.

II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall be divided into two separate equity incentive programs:

 

    the Discretionary Grant Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock or stock appreciation rights tied to the value of such Common Stock,

 

    the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to restricted stock awards, restricted stock units or other share-based awards which vest upon the completion of a designated service period or the attainment of pre-established performance milestones, be awarded cash bonus opportunities which are earned through the attainment of pre-established performance milestones, or be issued shares of Common Stock through direct purchase or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and

B. The provisions of Articles One and Four shall apply to all equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

A. The Compensation Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program with respect to Section 16 Insiders. Administration of the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in those programs may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in the Compensation Committee or a Secondary Board Committee, or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons. However, any discretionary option grants, stock appreciation rights, stock issuances or other share-based awards for members of the Compensation Committee must be authorized by a disinterested majority of the Board. Furthermore, the authority to grant options pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program with respect to Employees other than Section 16 Insiders may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in a Secondary Executive Committee to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

B. Members of the Compensation Committee, any Secondary Board Committee and any Secondary Executive Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by the

 

1


Board at any time. The Board may at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary Board Committee or Secondary Executive Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to either or both of such committees.

C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program and to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of those programs and any outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, stock issuances, other share-based awards or cash bonus opportunities thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program under its jurisdiction or any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock issuance or other award thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Plan, option grants by any Secondary Executive Committee shall conform to the limitations established by the Board pursuant to Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

D. Service as a Plan Administrator by the members of the Compensation Committee shall constitute service as Board members, and the members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member of the Compensation Committee, any Secondary Board Committee or any Secondary Executive Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grant, stock appreciation right, stock issuance or other award under the Plan.

E. Non-employee members of the Board shall be granted awards pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program and/or the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program and in accordance with the terms of the Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy.

F. Awards to Employees who are “covered employees” under Section 162(m) of the Code of (i) options or stock appreciation rights, or (ii) shares or cash subject to the achievement of pre-established criteria as described in Section I.B.2 of Article Three of the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, shall be deemed to be intended as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise at the time such an award is granted.

IV. ELIGIBILITY

A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program are as follows:

(i) Employees,

(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and

(iii) consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Employees are eligible to receive awards intended to constitute performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

B. Other than as provided in the Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy with respect to awards to non-employee Board members, the Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine, (i) with respect to the grant of options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive such grants, the time or times when those grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered

 

2


by each such grant, the time or times when the grant is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the granted option or stock appreciation right, the maximum term for which such option or stock appreciation right is to remain outstanding and the status of a granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option and (ii) with respect to stock issuances, other share-based awards or cash bonus opportunities under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, which eligible persons are to receive such issuances, awards or opportunities, the time or times when the issuances, awards or opportunities are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such issuance, award or opportunity, the vesting and issuance schedules applicable to the shares which are the subject of such issuance or award, the consideration for those shares and the performance criteria and other terms with respect to such cash bonus opportunities.

C. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion either to grant options or stock appreciation rights in accordance with the Discretionary Grant Program or to effect stock issuances, other share-based awards and bonus opportunities in accordance with the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; ANNUAL CASH LIMITATION

A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The number of shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall be limited to twenty million (20,000,000) shares. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the three Predecessor Plans, and no further share-based awards shall be made under those Predecessor Plans on or after the Plan Effective Date. However, all awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder. To the extent any awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date are cancelled, expire or terminate unexercised prior to vesting, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to those cancelled, expired or terminated awards at the time of cancellation, expiration or termination shall be added to the share reserve under this Plan and shall accordingly be available for issuance hereunder, up to a maximum of an additional ten million (10,000,000) shares.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each share of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program shall be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan as one share of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall be counted against the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan as 1.5 shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock which has been issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program which expires or terminates or is otherwise forfeited to, or repurchased by, the Corporation, pursuant to Section V.D. hereof, shall count as having returned 1.5 shares of Common Stock to the total number of shares of Common Stock which are available for future grant or sale under the Plan.

C. No one person participating in the Plan may receive stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances (whether vested or unvested) or other share-based awards (whether in the form of restricted stock units or other share-right awards) for more than one million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year; provided that with regard to non-employee members of the Board, the foregoing limitation shall be one hundred fifty-thousand (150,000) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year. In addition, the aggregate amount of compensation to be paid to any one participant in respect of all performance-based awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program payable only in cash and not related to shares of Common Stock and granted to that participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed ten million dollars ($10,000,000).

D. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options or other awards made under the Plan shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options or awards expire or terminate for any

 

3


reason prior to the issuance of the shares of Common Stock subject to those options or awards. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently forfeited or repurchased by the Corporation, at a price per share not greater than the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for subsequent reissuance. Should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock, then the authorized reserve of Common Stock under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which that option is exercised, and not by the net number of shares issued under the exercised stock option.

If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the Withholding Taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right or the issuance of fully-vested shares under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares issuable under the exercised stock option or stock appreciation right or the gross number of fully-vested shares issuable under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, calculated in each instance prior to any such share withholding.

E. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities by which the share under the Plan may increase by reason of the expiration or termination of unexercised options under the Predecessor Plans, (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities which may be issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person, including any non-employee members of the Board, may be granted stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances and other share-based awards under the Plan per calendar year, (v) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share in effect under each outstanding option or stock appreciation right under the Plan and (vi) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding restricted stock unit or other stock-based award under the Plan and the issue price (if any) payable per share. Such adjustments to the outstanding options, stock appreciation rights or other share-based awards are to be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under those options, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based awards. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.

F. Outstanding awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

ARTICLE TWO

DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM

I. OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such options.

 

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A. Exercise Price.

1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that such exercise price shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the grant date.

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or more of the forms specified below:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period (if any) necessary to avoid any resulting charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

(iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide instructions to (a) a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in compliance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Withholding Taxes and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale.

Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

B. Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the option grant date.

C. Effect of Termination of Service.

1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options granted pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program that are outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service or death:

(i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such period of time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall be exercisable after the expiration of the option term.

(ii) Any option held by the Optionee at the time of the Optionee’s death and exercisable in whole or in part at that time may be subsequently exercised by the personal representative of the Optionee’s estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance or by the Optionee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of that option.

(iii) Should the Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or should the Optionee otherwise engage in Misconduct while holding one or more outstanding options granted under this Article Two, then all of those options shall terminate immediately and cease to be outstanding.

(iv) During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the option may not be exercised for more than the number of vested shares for which the option is at the time exercisable. No additional shares shall vest under the option following the Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion pursuant to an express written agreement with the Optionee. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any shares for which the option has not been exercised.

 

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2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion, exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to:

(i) Subject to the limitations under Section 409A of the Code, extend the period of time for which the option is to remain exercisable following the Optionee’s cessation of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the option term,

(ii) include an automatic extension provision whereby the specified post-Service exercise period in effect for any option granted under this Article Two shall automatically be extended by an additional period of time equal in duration to any interval within the specified post-Service exercise period during which the exercise of that option or the immediate sale of the shares acquired under such option could not be effected in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, but in no event shall such an extension result in the continuation of such option beyond the expiration date of the term of that option, and/or

(iii) permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more additional installments in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee continued in Service.

D. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

E. Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while such shares are unvested, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at a price per share equal to the lower of (i) the exercise price paid per share or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of repurchase. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

F. Transferability of Options. The transferability of options granted under the Plan shall be governed by the following provisions:

(i) Incentive Options: During the lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of inheritance following the Optionee’s death.

(ii) Non-Statutory Options. Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same limitation on transfer as Incentive Options, except that the Plan Administrator may structure one or more Non-Statutory Options so that the option may be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee’s lifetime to one or more Family Members of the Optionee or to a trust established exclusively for one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

(iii) Beneficiary Designations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this Article Two (whether Incentive Options or Non-Statutory Options), and those options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

 

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II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the provisions of Articles One, Two and Four shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.

B. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, then for purposes of the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of those options as Incentive Options, such options shall be deemed to become first exercisable in that calendar year on the basis of the chronological order in which they were granted, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable law or regulation.

C. 10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

III. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

A. Authority. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant stock appreciation rights in accordance with this Section III to selected Optionees or other individuals eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Grant Program.

B. Types. Two types of stock appreciation rights shall be authorized for issuance under this Section III: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) and (ii) stand-alone stock appreciation rights (“Stand-alone Rights”).

C. Tandem Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Tandem Rights.

1. One or more Optionees may be granted a Tandem Right, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock or the surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested shares.

2. No such option surrender shall be effective unless it is approved by the Plan Administrator, either at the time of the actual option surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so approved, then the distribution to which the Optionee shall accordingly become entitled under this Section III shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date.

 

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3. If the surrender of an option is not approved by the Plan Administrator, then the Optionee shall retain whatever rights the Optionee had under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) on the option surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time prior to the later of (i) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (ii) the last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights be exercised more than seven (7) years after the date of the option grant.

D. Stand-Alone Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Stand-alone Rights:

1. One or more individuals eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program may be granted a Stand-alone Right not tied to any underlying option under this Discretionary Grant Program. The Stand-alone Right shall relate to a specified number of shares of Common Stock and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish. In no event, however, may the Stand-alone Right have a maximum term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the grant date. Upon exercise of the Stand-alone Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) of the shares of Common Stock underlying the exercised right over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those shares.

2. The number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stand-alone Right and the base price in effect for those shares shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion at the time the Stand-alone Right is granted. In no event, however, may the base price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per underlying share of Common Stock on the grant date. In the event outstanding Stand-alone Rights are to be assumed in connection with a Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect, the shares of Common Stock underlying each such Stand-alone Right shall be adjusted immediately after such Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which those shares of Common Stock would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to the base price per share in effect under each outstanding Stand-alone Right, provided the aggregate base price shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Stand-alone Rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, substitute, for the securities underlying those assumed rights, one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control transaction.

3. Stand-alone Rights shall be subject to the same transferability restrictions applicable to Non-Statutory Options and may not be transferred during the holder’s lifetime, except if such assignment is in connection with the holder’s estate plan and is to one or more Family Members of the holder or to a trust established for the holder and/or one or more such Family Members or pursuant to a domestic relations order covering the Stand-alone Right as marital property. In addition, one or more beneficiaries may be designated for an outstanding Stand-alone Right in accordance with substantially the same terms and provisions as set forth in Section I.F of this Article Two.

4. The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-alone Right shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date.

5. The holder of a Stand-alone Right shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the Stand-alone Right unless and until such person shall have exercised the Stand-alone Right and become a holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of such Stand-alone Right.

E. Post-Service Exercise. The provisions governing the exercise of Tandem and Stand-alone Rights following the cessation of the recipient’s Service shall be substantially the same as those set forth in Section I.C

 

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of this Article Two for the options granted under the Discretionary Grant Program, and the Plan Administrator’s discretionary authority under Section I.C.2 of this Article Two shall also extend to any outstanding Tandem or Stand-alone Appreciation Rights.

F. Gross Counting. Upon the exercise of any Tandem or Stand-alone Right under this Section III, the share reserve under Section V of Article One shall be reduced by the gross number of shares as to which such right is exercised, and not by the net number of shares actually issued by the Corporation upon such exercise.

IV. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding option or stock appreciation right under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so that each such option or stock appreciation right shall, immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option or stock appreciation right and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall not become exercisable on such an accelerated basis if and to the extent: (i) such option or stock appreciation right is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or is otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such option or stock appreciation right is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on any shares as to which the option or stock appreciation right is not otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout of that spread in accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule applicable to those shares or (iii) the acceleration of such option or stock appreciation right is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

B. All outstanding repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of a Change in Control, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

C. Immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control, all outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve under this Plan may be increased by reason of the expiration or termination of unexercised options under the Predecessor Plans, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities which may be issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program and (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances and other share-based awards under the Plan per calendar year. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding options under the Discretionary Grant Program, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

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E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall, immediately prior to the effective date of a Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock, whether or not those options or stock appreciation rights are to be assumed in the Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall immediately terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control transaction, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.

F. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights in the event the Optionee’s Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of any Change in Control transaction in which those options or stock appreciation rights do not otherwise fully accelerate. In addition, the Plan Administrator may structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights so that those rights shall immediately terminate with respect to any shares held by the Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full at that time.

G. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall, immediately prior to the effective date of a Hostile Take-Over, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall terminate automatically upon the consummation of such Hostile Take-Over, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition the automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program and the termination of one or more of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under such program upon the subsequent termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of such Hostile Take-Over.

H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control or Hostile Take- Over shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

V. PROHIBITION ON REPRICING PROGRAMS

The Plan Administrator shall not (i) implement any cancellation/regrant program pursuant to which outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan are cancelled and new options or stock appreciation rights are granted in replacement with a lower exercise price per share, (ii) cancel outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan with exercise prices per share in excess of the then current Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock for consideration payable in cash or equity securities of the Corporation or (iii) otherwise directly reduce the exercise price in effect for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan, without in each such instance obtaining stockholder approval.

 

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ARTICLE THREE

STOCK ISSUANCE AND CASH BONUS PROGRAM

I. STOCK ISSUANCE AND CASH BONUS TERMS

Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, either as vested or unvested shares, through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance Agreement which complies with the terms specified below. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program pursuant to share right awards or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those awards or units upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units.

The grant, vesting or payment of cash awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program may depend on the degree of achievement of one or more performance goals relative to a pre-established targeted level or levels using one or more of the criteria set forth in Section I.B.2. of this Article Three.

A. Issue Price.

1. The issue price per share, if any, shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator.

2. Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program for any of the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate in each individual instance:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary); or

(iii) any other valid consideration under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

B. Vesting Provisions.

1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s period of Service or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock Issuance Agreement. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program pursuant to share right awards or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those awards or units upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units, including (without limitation) a deferred distribution date following the termination of the Participant’s Service.

2. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more stock issuances, or restricted stock unit or share right awards or cash bonus awards so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) return on total stockholder equity; (2) earnings per share; (3) net income or operating income; (4) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (5)gross margin or operating margin; (6) sales, revenue or invoice targets; (7) return on assets, capital or investment; (8) cash flow; (9) market share; (10) penetration in or entry into specific channels or markets; (11) cost reduction goals; (12) budget comparisons; (13) measures of customer satisfaction; (14) measures of inventory turns or inventory weeks of supply; (15) new product developments

 

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or qualifications or launches or achievements of research and development milestones; (16) the formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, or the completion of other corporate transactions intended to increase the Corporation’s revenue or profitability or enhance its customer base; (17) measures of employee satisfaction; (18) measures of improvements in product quality; (19) price of Common Stock; (20) design wins; (21) on-time delivery metrics; and (22) any combination of, or a specified increase in, any of the foregoing. Any of the performance goals may be based on either a GAAP or a non-GAAP measure, as determined by the Compensation Committee; provided that such non-GAAP measures comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Corporation’s performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities and may also be based on the performance of any of the Corporation’s business units or divisions or any Parent or Subsidiary. Performance goals may include a minimum threshold level of performance below which no award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an award will be fully earned. To qualify awards as performance-based under Section 162(m), the applicable criterion (or criteria, as the case may be) and specific performance goal or goals (“targets”) must be established and approved by the Plan Administrator during the first 90 days of the performance period (and, in the case of performance periods of less than one year, in no event after 25% or more of the performance period has elapsed) and while performance relating to such target(s) remains substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Performance targets shall be adjusted to mitigate the unbudgeted impact of material, unusual or nonrecurring gains and losses, accounting changes or other extraordinary events not foreseen at the time the targets were set unless the Plan Administrator provides otherwise at the time of establishing the targets. The applicable performance measurement period may not be less than three months nor more than 10 years.

3. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting requirements applicable to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.

4. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, whether or not the Participant’s interest in those shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to receive any dividends paid on such shares, subject to any applicable vesting requirements. The Participant shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a restricted stock unit or share right award until that award vests and the shares of Common Stock are actually issued thereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of Common Stock, on outstanding restricted stock unit or share right awards, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

5. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent, the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the lower of (i) the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares or (ii) the Fair Market Value of those shares at the time of cancellation.

6. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those shares. Any such waiver

 

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shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to shares which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except in the event of the Participant’s Involuntary Termination or as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

7. Outstanding share right awards, restricted stock units or cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock or cash shall actually be issued or paid in satisfaction of those awards or units, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for such awards or units are not attained or satisfied. The Plan Administrator, however, shall have the discretionary authority to (i) issue vested shares of Common Stock under one or more outstanding share right awards or restricted stock units as to which the designated performance goals or Service requirements have not been attained or satisfied, and (ii) award cash bonus payments that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

However, no vesting or payment requirements tied to the attainment of performance goals may be waived with respect to awards or units which were intended, at the time those awards or units were granted, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except in the event of the Participant’s Involuntary Termination (and then only as determined in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion) or as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

8. Before any performance-based award under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program is paid and to the extent required to qualify the award as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan Administrator must certify in writing that the performance target(s) and any other material terms of the performance-based award were in fact timely satisfied.

9. The Plan Administrator will have the discretion to determine the restrictions or other limitations of the individual awards granted under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program including the authority to reduce awards, payouts or vesting or to pay no awards, in its sole discretion, if the Plan Administrator preserves such authority at the time of grant by language to this effect in its authorizing resolutions or otherwise.

II. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. All of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in the event of any Change in Control, except to the extent (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

B. Each outstanding restricted stock unit or share right award assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be adjusted immediately after the consummation of that Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the shares of Common Stock subject to the award immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the consideration (if any) payable per share thereunder, provided the aggregate amount of such consideration shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding restricted stock units or share right awards, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

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C. If any such restricted stock unit or share right award is not assumed or otherwise continued in effect or replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to those shares, then such unit or award shall vest, and the shares of Common Stock subject to that unit or award shall be issued as fully-vested shares, immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.

D. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested stock issuances, one or more restricted stock unit or other share right awards or one or more cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) in whole or in part immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Change in Control transaction.

E. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested stock issuances, one or more restricted stock unit or other share right awards or one or more cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) in whole or in part immediately upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Hostile Take-Over.

F. The Plan Administrator’s authority under Paragraphs D and E of this Section II shall also extend to any stock issuances, restricted stock units, other share right awards or cash awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the automatic vesting of those issuances, units or awards pursuant to Paragraph D or E of this Section II may result in their loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

ARTICLE FOUR

MISCELLANEOUS

I. TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the Plan, or to make any other payment in respect of any award granted under the Plan, shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements.

B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or all holders of Non-Statutory Options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units or any other share right awards pursuant to which vested shares of Common Stock are to be issued under the Plan (other than the option grants and other share-based awards made under the Automatic Grant Program) and any or all Participants to whom vested or unvested shares of Common Stock are issued in a direct issuance under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of the Withholding Taxes to which such holders may become subject in connection with the exercise of their options or stock appreciation rights, the issuance to them of vested shares or the subsequent vesting of unvested shares issued to them. Such right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following formats:

Stock Withholding: The election to have the Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right or upon the

 

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issuance of fully-vested shares, a portion of those shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder. The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at the time the Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right is exercised, the vested shares are issued or the unvested shares subsequently vest, one or more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in connection with the exercise, share issuance or share vesting triggering the Withholding Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder. The shares of Common Stock so delivered shall not be added to the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

II. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator’s discretion, be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant’s interest in such shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall become effective on the Plan Effective Date.

B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further option grants shall be made under the Predecessor Plans if this Plan is approved by the stockholders at the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such stockholder approval shall not affect the awards outstanding under the Predecessor Plans at the time of the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and those awards shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. However, should any of those awards expire or terminate unexercised or prior to vesting, the shares of Common Stock subject to those awards at the time of expiration or termination shall be added to the share reserve of this Plan, up to the maximum number of additional shares permissible hereunder.

C. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) March 14, 2023, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other share right awards in connection with a Change in Control. Should the Plan terminate on March 14, 2023, then all option grants, stock appreciation rights, unvested stock issuances, restricted stock units and other share right awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing such grants, issuances or awards.

D. As required pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Plan Administrator’s authority to grant new awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code shall terminate upon the first meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Corporation’s stockholders approved the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

IV. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to stock options, stock appreciation rights, unvested stock issuances or other share-based awards at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or

 

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modification. In addition, amendments to the Plan will be subject to stockholder approval to the extent required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market) on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded.

B. The Compensation Committee of the Board shall have the discretionary authority to adopt and implement from time to time such addenda or subplans to the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable laws and regulations of any foreign jurisdictions in which grants or awards are to be made under the Plan and/or to obtain favorable tax treatment in those foreign jurisdictions for the individuals to whom the grants or awards are made.

C. Options and stock appreciation rights may be granted under the Discretionary Grant Program and stock-based awards may be made under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program that in each instance involve shares of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided no shares shall actually be issued pursuant to those grants or awards until the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan is sufficiently increased by stockholder approval of an amendment of the Plan authorizing such increase. If stockholder approval is required and is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first excess grant or award made against such contingent increase, then any options, stock appreciation rights or other share-based awards granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

V. USE OF PROCEEDS

Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

VI. SECTION 409A

To the extent that the Plan Administrator determines that any award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan, and the agreement covering such award shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that, following the Plan Effective Date, the Plan Administrator determines that any award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Plan Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the agreement covering such award or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Plan Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes on the recipient of the award under Section 409A of the Code, either through compliance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or with an available exemption therefrom.

VII. REGULATORY APPROVALS

A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock- based award under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the exercise or vesting of any granted option, stock appreciation right or other share-based award or (ii) under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall be subject to the Corporation’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of applicable securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any Stock Exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.

 

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VIII. UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS

The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an award, nothing contained in the Plan or any agreement covering an award shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Corporation.

IX. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

APPENDIX

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

A. Annual Meeting shall mean the annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders.

B. Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

C. Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

(i) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation or any parent thereof are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

(ii) a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, or

(iii) the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) becomes directly or indirectly the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any award which provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (i) or (ii) with respect to such award shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5). Consistent with the terms of this Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have full and final authority to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Corporation has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto.

 

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D. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

E. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation’s common stock.

F. Compensation Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board comprised of two (2) or more non-employee Board members.

G. Corporation shall mean SanDisk Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of SanDisk Corporation which has by appropriate action assumed the Plan.

H. Discretionary Grant Program shall mean the discretionary grant program in effect under Article Two of the Plan pursuant to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to one or more eligible individuals.

I. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

J. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have received written notice of the option exercise.

K. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the NASDAQ National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on the NASDAQ National Market on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after-hours trading begins) on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

L. Family Member means, with respect to a particular Optionee or Participant, any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, bother-in-law or sister-in-law.

M. Hostile Take-Over shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:

(i) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since

 

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the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination, or

(ii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation’s stockholders which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Hostile Take-Over constitutes a payment event with respect to any award which provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (i) or (ii) with respect to such award shall only constitute a Hostile Take-Over for purposes of the payment timing of such award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5). Consistent with the terms of this Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have full and final authority to determine conclusively whether a Hostile Take-Over of the Corporation has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Hostile Take-Over and any incidental matters relating thereto.

N. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

O. Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

(i) such individual’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Misconduct, or

(ii) such individual’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without the individual’s consent.

P. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss any Optionee, Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

Q. 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

R. Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy shall mean the written policy adopted by the Corporation regarding the compensation of non-employee members of the Board, as may be amended from time to time.

S. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

 

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T. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the Discretionary Grant or Automatic Grant Program.

U. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

V. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common Stock or restricted stock units or other share-based awards or cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

W. Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Grant Program, Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member to perform his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

X. Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2013 Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document.

Y. Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Secondary Board Committee which is authorized to administer the Discretionary Grant Program and the Stock Issuance and Cash Award Program with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction. As determined by the Board from time to time, the Plan Administrator with respect to options granted by any Secondary Executive Committee shall be the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Secondary Board Committee.

Z. Plan Effective Date shall mean the date immediately following the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders at the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

AA. Predecessor Plans shall mean (i) the Corporation’s 1995 Stock Option Plan, (ii) the Corporation’s 1995 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan and (iii) the Corporation’s Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan, as each such Plan is in effect immediately prior to the Corporation’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

BB. Secondary Board Committee shall mean a committee of one or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Grant and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Programs with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

CC. Secondary Executive Committee shall mean a committee of one or more officers of the Corporation appointed by the Board and authorized to grant options (subject to the limitations established by the Board and the requirements of Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law) under the Discretionary Grant Program with respect to Employees other than Section 16 Insiders.

DD. Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

EE. Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise

 

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specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance. For purposes of the Plan, an Optionee or Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of the either of the following events: (i) the Optionee or Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the entity for which the Optionee or Participant is performing such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though the Optionee or Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that should such leave of absence exceed three (3) months, then for purposes of determining the period within which an Incentive Option may be exercised as such under the federal tax laws, the Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to cease on the first day immediately following the expiration of such three (3)-month period, unless Optionee is provided with the right to return to Service following such leave either by statute or by written contract. Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee or Participant is on a leave of absence.

FF. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.

GG. Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

HH. Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall mean the stock issuance and cash bonus program in effect under Article Three of the Plan.

II. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

JJ. 10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

KK. Withholding Taxes shall mean the applicable income and employment withholding taxes to which the holder of an option or stock appreciation right or shares of Common Stock or a cash bonus under the Plan may become subject in connection with the grant or exercise of those options or stock appreciation rights the issuance or vesting of those shares or the payment of such cash bonus.

 

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EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

SANDISK CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2005 INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE ONE

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

This 2005 Incentive Plan is intended to promote the interests of SanDisk Corporation, a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible persons in the Corporation’s service with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in such service. The Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan reflects amendments adopted in 2011.

Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the attached Appendix.

 

II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall be divided into three separate equity incentive programs:

 

    the Discretionary Grant Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock or stock appreciation rights tied to the value of such Common Stock,

 

    the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program under which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to restricted stock awards, restricted stock units or other stock-based awards which vest upon the completion of a designated service period or the attainment of pre-established performance milestones, be awarded cash bonus opportunities which are earned through the attainment of pre-established performance milestones, or be issued shares of Common Stock through direct purchase or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and

 

    the Automatic Grant Program under which eligible non-employee Board members will automatically receive grants at designated intervals over their period of continued Board service.

B. The provisions of Articles One and Five shall apply to all equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons under the Plan.

 

III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

A. The Compensation Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority to administer the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program with respect to Section 16 Insiders. Administration of the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock and Cash Bonus Issuance Program with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in those programs may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in the Compensation Committee or a Secondary Board Committee, or the Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such persons. However, any discretionary option grants, stock appreciation rights, stock issuances or other stock-based awards for members of the Compensation Committee must be authorized by a disinterested majority of the Board. Furthermore, the authority to grant options pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program with respect to Employees other than Section 16 Insiders may, at the Board’s discretion, be vested in a Secondary Executive Committee to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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B. Members of the Compensation Committee, any Secondary Board Committee and any Secondary Executive Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be removed by the Board at any time. The Board may at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary Board Committee or Secondary Executive Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to either or both of such committees.

C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program and to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of those programs and any outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, stock issuances, other stock-based awards or cash bonus opportunities thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program under its jurisdiction or any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock issuance or other award thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Plan, Option grants by any Secondary Executive Committee shall conform to the limitations established by the Board pursuant to Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

D. Service as a Plan Administrator by the members of the Compensation Committee shall constitute service as Board members, and the members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member of the Compensation Committee, any Secondary Board Committee or any Secondary Executive Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grant, stock appreciation right, stock issuance or other award under the Plan.

E. Administration of the Automatic Grant Program shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of that program, and no Plan Administrator shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to any option grants or stock issuances made under that program, except that the Compensation Committee shall have the express authority to establish from time to time the specific number of shares to be subject to the initial and annual grants made to the non-employee Board members under such program.

F. Awards to Employees who are “covered employees” under Section 162(m) of the Code of (i) options or stock appreciation rights, or (ii) shares or cash subject to the achievement of pre-established criteria as described in Section I.B.2 of Article Three of the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, shall be deemed to be intended as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code unless the Compensation Committee provides otherwise at the time such an award is granted.

 

IV. ELIGIBILITY

A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program are as follows:

(i) Employees,

(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and

(iii) consultants and other independent advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, only Employees are eligible to receive awards intended to constitute performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).

 

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B. The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine, (i) with respect to the grant of options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive such grants, the time or times when those grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such grant, the time or times when the grant is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the granted option or stock appreciation right, the maximum term for which such option or stock appreciation right is to remain outstanding and the status of a granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option and (ii) with respect to stock issuances, other stock-based awards or cash bonus opportunities under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, which eligible persons are to receive such issuances, awards or opportunities, the time or times when the issuances, awards or opportunities are to be made, the number of shares subject to each such issuance, award or opportunity, the vesting and issuance schedules applicable to the shares which are the subject of such issuance or award, the consideration for those shares and the performance criteria and other terms with respect to such cash bonus opportunities.

C. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion either to grant options or stock appreciation rights in accordance with the Discretionary Grant Program or to effect stock issuances, other stock-based awards and bonus opportunities in accordance with the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

D. The individuals who shall be eligible to participate in the Automatic Grant Program shall be limited to (i) those individuals who first become non-employee Board members on or after the Plan Effective Date, whether through appointment by the Board or election by the Corporation’s stockholders, and (ii) those individuals who continue to serve as non-employee Board members on or after the Plan Effective Date. A non-employee Board member who has previously been in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) shall not be eligible to receive a grant under the Automatic Grant Program at the time he or she first becomes a non-employee Board member, but shall be eligible to receive periodic grants under the Automatic Grant Program while he or she continues to serve as a non-employee Board member.

 

V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; ANNUAL CASH LIMITATION

A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The number of shares of Common Stock initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall be limited to thirty-four million seven hundred thousand (34,700,000) shares. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the two Predecessor Plans, and no further stock option grants shall be made under those Predecessor Plans on or after the Plan Effective Date. However, all options outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder. To the extent any options outstanding under the Predecessor Plans on the Plan Effective Date expire or terminate unexercised, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to those expired or terminated options at the time of expiration or termination shall be added to the share reserve under this Plan and shall accordingly be available for issuance hereunder, up to a maximum of an additional ten million (10,000,000) shares.

B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued without cash consideration pursuant to the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock from time to time authorized for issuance under the Plan, including (without limitation): (i) any shares added to the Plan reserve by reason of the expiration or termination of outstanding options under the Predecessor Plans prior to exercise, (ii) any increases to the Plan reserve from time to time approved by the Corporation’s stockholders and (iii) any adjustments to the authorized share reserve effected in accordance with Section V.E. of this Article One.

C. No one person participating in the Plan may receive stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances (whether vested or unvested) or other stock-based awards (whether in the form of restricted

 

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stock units or other share-right awards) for more than one million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year. In addition, the aggregate amount of compensation to be paid to any one participant in respect of all performance-based awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program payable only in cash and not related to shares of Common Stock and granted to that participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000).

D. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options or other awards made under the Plan shall be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options or awards expire or terminate for any reason prior to the issuance of the shares of Common Stock subject to those options or awards. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently forfeited or repurchased by the Corporation, at a price per share not greater than the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall accordingly be available for subsequent reissuance. Should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock, then the authorized reserve of Common Stock under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which that option is exercised, and not by the net number of shares issued under the exercised stock option.

If shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan are withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an option or stock appreciation right or the issuance of fully-vested shares under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares issuable under the exercised stock option or stock appreciation right or the gross number of fully-vested shares issuable under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, calculated in each instance prior to any such share withholding.

E. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities by which the share under the Plan may increase by reason of the expiration or termination of unexercised options under the Predecessor Plans, (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities which may be issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances and other stock-based awards under the Plan per calendar year, (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which grants may subsequently be made under the Automatic Grant Program to new and continuing non-employee Board members, (vi) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise or base price per share in effect under each outstanding option or stock appreciation right under the Plan and (vii) the number and/or class of securities subject to each outstanding restricted stock unit or other stock-based award under the Plan and the issue price (if any) payable per share. Such adjustments to the outstanding options, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based awards are to be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under those options, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based awards. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.

F. Outstanding awards granted pursuant to the Plan shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM

 

I. OPTION TERMS

Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan applicable to such options.

A. Exercise Price.

1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that such exercise price shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the grant date.

2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or more of the forms specified below:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period (if any) necessary to avoid any resulting charge to the Corporation’s earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or

(iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide instructions to (a) a brokerage firm (reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation for purposes of administering such procedure in compliance with the Corporation’s pre-clearance/pre-notification policies) to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm on such settlement date in order to complete the sale.

Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

B. Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the option grant date.

C. Effect of Termination of Service.

1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options granted pursuant to the Discretionary Grant Program that are outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service or death:

(i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such period of time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall be exercisable after the expiration of the option term.

(ii) Any option held by the Optionee at the time of the Optionee’s death and exercisable in whole or in part at that time may be subsequently exercised by the personal representative of the Optionee’s estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance or by the Optionee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of that option.

 

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(iii) Should the Optionee’s Service be terminated for Misconduct or should the Optionee otherwise engage in Misconduct while holding one or more outstanding options granted under this Article Two, then all of those options shall terminate immediately and cease to be outstanding.

(iv) During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the option may not be exercised for more than the number of vested shares for which the option is at the time exercisable. No additional shares shall vest under the option following the Optionee’s cessation of Service, except to the extent (if any) specifically authorized by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion pursuant to an express written agreement with the Optionee. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any shares for which the option has not been exercised.

2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion, exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains outstanding, to:

(i) extend the period of time for which the option is to remain exercisable following the Optionee’s cessation of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the option term,

(ii) include an automatic extension provision whereby the specified post-Service exercise period in effect for any option granted under this Article Two shall automatically be extended by an additional period of time equal in duration to any interval within the specified post-Service exercise period during which the exercise of that option or the immediate sale of the shares acquired under such option could not be effected in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, but in no event shall such an extension result in the continuation of such option beyond the expiration date of the term of that option, and/or

(iii) permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more additional installments in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee continued in Service.

D. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the purchased shares.

E. Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while such shares are unvested, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at a price per share equal to the lower of (i) the exercise price paid per share or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of repurchase. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

F. Transferability of Options. The transferability of options granted under the Plan shall be governed by the following provisions:

(i) Incentive Options: During the lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of inheritance following the Optionee’s death.

(ii) Non-Statutory Options. Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same limitation on transfer as Incentive Options, except that the Plan Administrator may structure one or more Non-Statutory Options so

 

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that the option may be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee’s lifetime to one or more Family Members of the Optionee or to a trust established exclusively for one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

(iii) Beneficiary Designations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this Article Two (whether Incentive Options or Non-Statutory Options), and those options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

 

II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS

The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the provisions of Articles One, Two and Five shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.

B. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).

To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, then for purposes of the foregoing limitations on the exercisability of those options as Incentive Options, such options shall be deemed to become first exercisable in that calendar year on the basis of the chronological order in which they were granted, except to the extent otherwise provided under applicable law or regulation.

C. 10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

III. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

A. Authority. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant stock appreciation rights in accordance with this Section III to selected Optionees or other individuals eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Grant Program.

B. Types. Two types of stock appreciation rights shall be authorized for issuance under this Section III: (i) tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem Rights”) and (ii) stand-alone stock appreciation rights (“Stand-alone Rights”).

 

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C. Tandem Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Tandem Rights.

1. One or more Optionees may be granted a Tandem Right, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock or the surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested shares.

2. No such option surrender shall be effective unless it is approved by the Plan Administrator, either at the time of the actual option surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so approved, then the distribution to which the Optionee shall accordingly become entitled under this Section III shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date.

3. If the surrender of an option is not approved by the Plan Administrator, then the Optionee shall retain whatever rights the Optionee had under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) on the option surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time prior to the later of (i) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (ii) the last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights be exercised more than seven (7) years after the date of the option grant.

D. Stand-Alone Rights. The following terms and conditions shall govern the grant and exercise of Stand-alone Rights:

1. One or more individuals eligible to participate in the Discretionary Grant Program may be granted a Stand-alone Right not tied to any underlying option under this Discretionary Grant Program. The Stand-alone Right shall relate to a specified number of shares of Common Stock and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish. In no event, however, may the Stand-alone Right have a maximum term in excess of seven (7) years measured from the grant date. Upon exercise of the Stand-alone Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the exercise date) of the shares of Common Stock underlying the exercised right over (ii) the aggregate base price in effect for those shares.

2. The number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stand-alone Right and the base price in effect for those shares shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion at the time the Stand-alone Right is granted. In no event, however, may the base price per share be less than the Fair Market Value per underlying share of Common Stock on the grant date. In the event outstanding Stand-alone Rights are to be assumed in connection with a Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect, the shares of Common Stock underlying each such Stand-alone Right shall be adjusted immediately after such Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which those shares of Common Stock would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to the base price per share in effect under each outstanding Stand-alone Right, provided the aggregate base price shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding Stand-alone Rights under the Discretionary Grant Program, substitute, for the securities underlying those assumed rights, one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in the Change in Control transaction.

3. Stand-alone Rights shall be subject to the same transferability restrictions applicable to Non-Statutory Options and may not be transferred during the holder’s lifetime, except if such assignment is in connection with the holder’s estate plan and is to one or more Family Members of the holder or to a trust established for the holder and/or one or more such Family Members or pursuant to a domestic relations

 

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order covering the Stand-alone Right as marital property. In addition, one or more beneficiaries may be designated for an outstanding Stand-alone Right in accordance with substantially the same terms and provisions as set forth in Section I.F of this Article Two.

4. The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-alone Right shall be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date.

5. The holder of a Stand-alone Right shall have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the Stand-alone Right unless and until such person shall have exercised the Stand-alone Right and become a holder of record of the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of such Stand-alone Right.

E. Post-Service Exercise. The provisions governing the exercise of Tandem and Stand-alone Rights following the cessation of the recipient’s Service shall be substantially the same as those set forth in Section I.C of this Article Two for the options granted under the Discretionary Grant Program, and the Plan Administrator’s discretionary authority under Section I.C.2 of this Article Two shall also extend to any outstanding Tandem or Stand-alone Appreciation Rights.

F. Gross Counting. Upon the exercise of any Tandem or Stand-alone Right under this Section III, the share reserve under Section V of Article One shall be reduced by the gross number of shares as to which such right is exercised, and not by the net number of shares actually issued by the Corporation upon such exercise.

 

IV. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding option or stock appreciation right under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so that each such option or stock appreciation right shall, immediately prior to the effective date of that Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option or stock appreciation right and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option or stock appreciation right shall not become exercisable on such an accelerated basis if and to the extent: (i) such option or stock appreciation right is to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or is otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such option or stock appreciation right is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Change in Control on any shares as to which the option or stock appreciation right is not otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout of that spread in accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule applicable to those shares or (iii) the acceleration of such option or stock appreciation right is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

B. All outstanding repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall automatically terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of a Change in Control, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator.

C. Immediately following the consummation of the Change in Control, all outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the

 

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option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve under this Plan may be increased by reason of the expiration or termination of unexercised options under the Predecessor Plans, (iv) the maximum number and/or class of securities which may be issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program and (v) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options, stand-alone stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances and other stock-based awards under the Plan per calendar year. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding options under the Discretionary Grant Program, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall, immediately prior to the effective date of a Change in Control, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock, whether or not those options or stock appreciation rights are to be assumed in the Change in Control transaction or otherwise continued in effect. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall immediately terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control transaction, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.

F. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights in the event the Optionee’s Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of any Change in Control transaction in which those options or stock appreciation rights do not otherwise fully accelerate. In addition, the Plan Administrator may structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights so that those rights shall immediately terminate with respect to any shares held by the Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full at that time.

G. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those options or stock appreciation rights shall, immediately prior to the effective date of a Hostile Take-Over, become exercisable as to all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options or stock appreciation rights and may be exercised as to any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation’s repurchase rights under the Discretionary Grant Program so that those rights shall terminate automatically upon the consummation of such Hostile Take-Over, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition the automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Discretionary Grant Program and the termination of one or more of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under such program upon the subsequent termination of the Optionee’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of such Hostile Take-Over.

 

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H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a Change in Control or Hostile Take- Over shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

 

V. PROHIBITION ON REPRICING PROGRAMS

The Plan Administrator shall not (i) implement any cancellation/regrant program pursuant to which outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan are cancelled and new options or stock appreciation rights are granted in replacement with a lower exercise price per share, (ii) cancel outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan with exercise prices per share in excess of the then current Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock for consideration payable in equity securities of the Corporation or (iii) otherwise directly reduce the exercise price in effect for outstanding options or stock appreciation rights under the Plan, without in each such instance obtaining stockholder approval.

ARTICLE THREE

STOCK ISSUANCE AND CASH BONUS PROGRAM

 

I. STOCK ISSUANCE AND CASH BONUS TERMS

Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, either as vested or unvested shares, through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance Agreement which complies with the terms specified below. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program pursuant to share right awards or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those awards or units upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units.

The grant, vesting or payment of cash awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program may depend on the degree of achievement of one or more performance goals relative to a pre-established targeted level or levels using one or more of the criteria set forth in Section I.B.2. of this Article Three.

The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued without cash consideration under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program (whether as direct stock issuances or pursuant to restricted stock units or other share-right awards) may not exceed twenty five percent (25%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock from time to time authorized for issuance under the Plan, including (without limitation): (i) any shares added to the Plan reserve by reason of the expiration or termination of outstanding options under the Predecessor Plans prior to exercise, (ii) any increases to the Plan reserve from time to time approved by the Corporation’s stockholders and (iii) any adjustments to the authorized share reserve effected in accordance with Section V.E. of Article One.

A. Issue Price.

1. The issue price per share shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issuance date.

2. Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program for any of the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate in each individual instance:

(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,

(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary); or

(iii) any other valid consideration under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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B. Vesting Provisions.

1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over the Participant’s period of Service or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock Issuance Agreement. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program pursuant to share right awards or restricted stock units which entitle the recipients to receive the shares underlying those awards or units upon the attainment of designated performance goals or the satisfaction of specified Service requirements or upon the expiration of a designated time period following the vesting of those awards or units, including (without limitation) a deferred distribution date following the termination of the Participant’s Service.

2. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority, consistent with Code Section 162(m), to structure one or more stock issuances, or restricted stock unit or share right awards or cash bonus awards so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) upon the achievement of certain pre-established corporate performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) return on total stockholder equity; (2) earnings per share; (3) net income or operating income before or after acquisition-related charges and charges for stock- based compensation (all before or after taxes); (4) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (5) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, acquisition-related charges and charges for stock-based compensation; (6) sales or revenue targets; (7) return on assets, capital or investment; (8) cash flow; (9) market share; (10) cost reduction goals; (11) budget comparisons; (12) measures of customer satisfaction; (13) measures of inventory turns or inventory weeks of supply; (14) new product development or successful completion of research and development projects; (15) the formation of joint ventures, research or development collaborations, or the completion of other corporate transactions intended to increase the Corporation’s revenue or profitability or enhance its customer base; and (16) any combination of, or a specified increase in, any of the foregoing. Any of the performance goals related to profitability may be based on either a GAAP or a non-GAAP measure, as determined by the Compensation Committee; provided that such non-GAAP measures comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code. In addition, such performance goals may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of the Corporation’s performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities and may also be based on the performance of any of the Corporation’s business units or divisions or any Parent or Subsidiary. Performance goals may include a minimum threshold level of performance below which no award will be earned, levels of performance at which specified portions of an award will be earned and a maximum level of performance at which an award will be fully earned. To qualify awards as performance-based under Section 162(m), the applicable criterion (or criteria, as the case may be) and specific performance goal or goals (“targets”) must be established and approved by the Plan Administrator during the first 90 days of the performance period (and, in the case of performance periods of less than one year, in no event after 25% or more of the performance period has elapsed) and while performance relating to such target(s) remains substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Performance targets shall be adjusted to mitigate the unbudgeted impact of material, unusual or nonrecurring gains and losses, accounting changes or other extraordinary events not foreseen at the time the targets were set unless the Plan Administrator provides otherwise at the time of establishing the targets. The applicable performance measurement period may not be less than three months nor more than 10 years.

3. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation’s receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting requirements applicable to the Participant’s unvested shares of Common Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.

 

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4. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program, whether or not the Participant’s interest in those shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to receive any dividends paid on such shares, subject to any applicable vesting requirements. The Participant shall not have any stockholder rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a restricted stock unit or share right award until that award vests and the shares of Common Stock are actually issued thereunder. However, dividend-equivalent units may be paid or credited, either in cash or in actual or phantom shares of Common Stock, on outstanding restricted stock unit or share right awards, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

5. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent, the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the lower of (i) the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares or (ii) the Fair Market Value of those shares at the time of cancellation.

6. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant’s Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those shares. Any such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant’s interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant’s cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance objectives. However, no vesting requirements tied to the attainment of performance objectives may be waived with respect to shares which were intended at the time of issuance to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except in the event of the Participant’s Involuntary Termination or as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

7. Outstanding share right awards, restricted stock units or cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock or cash shall actually be issued or paid in satisfaction of those awards or units, if the performance goals or Service requirements established for such awards or units are not attained or satisfied. The Plan Administrator, however, shall have the discretionary authority to (i) issue vested shares of Common Stock under one or more outstanding share right awards or restricted stock units as to which the designated performance goals or Service requirements have not been attained or satisfied, and (ii) award cash bonus payments that are not intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

However, no vesting or payment requirements tied to the attainment of performance goals may be waived with respect to awards or units which were intended, at the time those awards or units were granted, to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m), except in the event of the Participant’s Involuntary Termination or as otherwise provided in Section II of this Article Three.

8. Before any performance-based award under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program is paid and to the extent required to qualify the award as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan Administrator must certify in writing that the performance target(s) and any other material terms of the performance-based award were in fact timely satisfied.

9. The Plan Administrator will have the discretion to determine the restrictions or other limitations of the individual awards granted under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program including the authority to reduce awards, payouts or vesting or to pay no awards, in its sole discretion, if the Plan Administrator preserves such authority at the time of grant by language to this effect in its authorizing resolutions or otherwise.

 

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II. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. All of the Corporation’s outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control, except to the extent (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or are otherwise to continue in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock Issuance Agreement.

B. Each outstanding restricted stock unit or share right award assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be adjusted immediately after the consummation of that Change in Control so as to apply to the number and class of securities into which the shares of Common Stock subject to the award immediately prior to the Change in Control would have been converted in consummation of such Change in Control had those shares actually been outstanding at that time, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the consideration (if any) payable per share thereunder, provided the aggregate amount of such consideration shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding restricted stock units or share right awards, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

C. If any such restricted stock unit or share right award is not assumed or otherwise continued in effect or replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock at the time of the Change in Control and provides for the subsequent payout of that value in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to those shares, then such unit or award shall vest, and the shares of Common Stock subject to that unit or award shall be issued as fully-vested shares, immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control.

D. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested stock issuances, one or more restricted stock unit or other share right awards or one or more cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) in whole or in part immediately upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Change in Control transaction.

E. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary authority to structure one or more unvested stock issuances, one or more restricted stock unit or other share right awards or one or more cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program so that the shares of Common Stock or cash subject to those issuances or awards shall automatically vest (or vest and become issuable or payable) in whole or in part immediately upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over or upon the subsequent termination of the Participant’s Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period following the effective date of that Hostile Take-Over.

F. The Plan Administrator’s authority under Paragraphs D and E of this Section II shall also extend to any stock issuances, restricted stock units, other share right awards or cash awards intended to qualify as performance- based compensation under Code Section 162(m), even though the automatic vesting of those issuances, units or awards pursuant to Paragraph D or E of this Section II may result in their loss of performance-based status under Code Section 162(m).

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

AUTOMATIC GRANT PROGRAM

 

I. OPTION TERMS

A. Automatic Grants. The Automatic Grant Program under this Article Four shall supersede and replace the Corporation’s 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, and no further stock option grants shall be made under that plan on or after the Plan Effective Date. However, all options outstanding under that plan on the Plan Effective Date shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and no provision of this Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of those options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock thereunder.

Option grants shall be made pursuant to the Automatic Grant Program in effect under this Article Four as follows:

1. Initial Grant: Each individual who is first elected or appointed as a non-employee Board member at any time on or after the Plan Effective Date shall automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or appointment, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase not more than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) shares of Common Stock, provided that individual has not been in the employ of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary during the immediately preceding twelve (12) months. The actual number of shares for which such initial option grant shall be made shall (subject to the 150,000-share limit) be determined by the Plan Administrator at the time of each such grant.

2. Annual Grants: On the date of each annual stockholders meeting, beginning with the 2005 Annual Meeting, each individual who is to continue to serve as a non-employee Board member, whether or not that individual is standing for re-election to the Board at that particular annual meeting, shall automatically be granted a Non-Statutory Option to purchase not more than forty thousand (40,000) shares of Common Stock, provided that such individual has served as a non-employee Board member for a period of at least six (6) months. There shall be no limit on the number of such annual share option grants any one continuing non- employee Board member may receive over his or her period of Board service, and non-employee Board members who have previously been in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) shall be eligible to receive one or more such annual option grants over their period of continued Board service. The actual number of shares for which such annual option grants are made to each continuing non-employee Board member shall (subject to the 40,000-share limit) be determined by the Plan Administrator on or before the date of the annual stockholders meeting on which those grants are to be made.

B. Exercise Price.

1. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.

2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or more of the alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Grant Program. Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the Exercise Date.

C. Option Term. Each option shall have a maximum term of seven (7) years measured from the option grant date, subject to earlier termination following the Optionee’s cessation of Service.

D. Exercise and Vesting of Options. Each option shall be immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any unvested shares purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the Corporation, at the lower of (i) the exercise price paid per share or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the time of repurchase, upon the Optionee’s cessation of Service prior to vesting in those shares. The shares subject to each initial 150,000-share-or-less grant shall vest, and the Corporation’s repurchase

 

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right shall lapse, in four (4) successive equal annual installments upon the Optionee’s completion of each year of Service (whether as a non-employee Board member, Employee or consultant) over the four (4)-year period measured from the option grant date. The shares subject to each annual 40,000-share-or-less grant made to a non- employee Board member for his or her continued Board service shall vest, and the Corporation’s repurchase right shall lapse, in one installment upon the earlier of (i) the Optionee’s completion of the one (1)-year period of Service (whether as a non-employee Board member, Employee or consultant) measured from the grant date or (ii) the Optionee’s continuation in such Service capacity through the day immediately preceding the next annual stockholders meeting following such grant date.

E. Limited Transferability of Options. Each option under this Article Four may be assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee’s lifetime to one or more of his or her Family Members or to a trust established exclusively for the Optionee and/or one or more such Family Members, to the extent such assignment is in connection with the Optionee’s estate plan or pursuant to a domestic relations order. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate. The Optionee may also designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this Article Four, and the options shall, in accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee’s death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee’s death.

F. Termination of Board Service. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the time the Optionee ceases Service:

(i) The Optionee (or, in the event of Optionee’s death while holding the option, the personal representative of the Optionee’s estate or the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee’s will or the laws of inheritance or the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of such option) shall have a twelve (12)-month period following the date of such cessation of Service in which to exercise such option.

(ii) During the twelve (12)-month exercise period, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which the option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee’s cessation of Service. However, should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all shares at the time subject to the option shall immediately vest so that such option may, during the twelve (12)-month exercise period following such cessation of Board service, be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock.

(iii) In no event shall the option remain exercisable after the expiration of the option term. Upon the expiration of the twelve (12)-month exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option has not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the Optionee’s cessation of Service for any reason (other than cessation of Board service by reason of death or Permanent Disability), terminate and cease to be outstanding to the extent the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.

 

II. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

A. Should a Change in Control occur prior to the Optionee’s cessation of Service, then the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Automatic Grant Program but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become exercisable for all the option shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock and may be exercised for any or all of those vested shares. Immediately following the

 

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consummation of the Change in Control, each automatic option grant shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continued in effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control transaction.

B. Should a Hostile Take-Over occur prior to the Optionee’s cessation of Service, then the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this Automatic Grant Program but not otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Hostile Take-Over, become exercisable for all the option shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock and may be exercised for any or all of those vested shares. Each such option shall remain exercisable for such fully vested option shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term.

C. All outstanding repurchase rights under this under this Automatic Grant Program shall automatically terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over.

D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in Control or otherwise continued in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same. To the extent the actual holders of the Corporation’s outstanding Common Stock receive cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Change in Control, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption or continuation of the outstanding options under the Automatic Grant Program, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock in such Change in Control transaction.

 

III. REMAINING TERMS

The remaining terms of each grant shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants made under the Discretionary Grant Program.

 

IV. ALTERNATIVE AWARDS

The Compensation Committee shall have full power and authority to award, in lieu of one or more initial or annual automatic option grants under this Article Four, unvested shares of Common Stock or restricted stock units which in each instance have an aggregate Fair Market Value substantially equal to the fair value (as determined for financial reporting purposes in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard 123R or any successor standard) of the automatic option grant which such award replaces. Any such alternative award shall be made at the same time the automatic option grant which it replaces would have been made, and the vesting provisions (including vesting acceleration) applicable to such award shall be substantially the same as in effect for the automatic option grant so replaced.

ARTICLE FIVE

MISCELLANEOUS

 

I. TAX WITHHOLDING

A. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or stock appreciation rights or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the Plan, or to make any other payment in respect of any award granted under the Plan, shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements.

 

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B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or all holders of Non-Statutory Options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units or any other share right awards pursuant to which vested shares of Common Stock are to be issued under the Plan (other than the option grants and other stock-based awards made under the Automatic Grant Program) and any or all Participants to whom vested or unvested shares of Common Stock are issued in a direct issuance under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of the Withholding Taxes to which such holders may become subject in connection with the exercise of their options or stock appreciation rights, the issuance to them of vested shares or the subsequent vesting of unvested shares issued to them. Such right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following formats:

Stock Withholding: The election to have the Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right or upon the issuance of fully-vested shares, a portion of those shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder. The shares of Common Stock so withheld shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at the time the Non-Statutory Option or stock appreciation right is exercised, the vested shares are issued or the unvested shares subsequently vest, one or more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in connection with the exercise, share issuance or share vesting triggering the Withholding Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder. The shares of Common Stock so delivered shall not be added to the shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan.

 

II. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator’s discretion, be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant’s interest in such shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

 

III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

A. The Plan shall become effective on the Plan Effective Date.

B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plans, and no further option grants shall be made under the Predecessor Plans if this Plan is approved by the stockholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting. Such stockholder approval shall not affect the options outstanding under the Predecessor Plans at the time of the 2005 Annual Meeting, and those options shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. However, should any of those options expire or terminate unexercised, the shares of Common Stock subject to those options at the time of expiration or termination shall be added to the share reserve of this Plan, up to the maximum number of additional shares permissible hereunder.

C. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) March 15, 2015, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been issued as fully vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other share right awards in connection with a Change in Control. Should the Plan terminate on March 15, 2015, then all option grants, stock appreciation rights, unvested stock issuances, restricted stock units and other share right awards outstanding at that time shall continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing such grants, issuances or awards.

D. As required pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Plan Administrator’s authority to grant new awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code shall terminate upon the first meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Corporation’s stockholders approved the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

 

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IV. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to stock options, stock appreciation rights, unvested stock issuances or other stock-based awards at the time outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or modification. In addition, amendments to the Plan will be subject to stockholder approval to the extent required under applicable law or regulation or pursuant to the listing standards of the stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market) on which the Common Stock is at the time primarily traded.

B. The Compensation Committee of the Board shall have the discretionary authority to adopt and implement from time to time such addenda or subplans to the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to bring the Plan into compliance with applicable laws and regulations of any foreign jurisdictions in which grants or awards are to be made under the Plan and/or to obtain favorable tax treatment in those foreign jurisdictions for the individuals to whom the grants or awards are made.

C. Options and stock appreciation rights may be granted under the Discretionary Grant Program and stock- based awards may be made under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program that in each instance involve shares of Common Stock in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided no shares shall actually be issued pursuant to those grants or awards until the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan is sufficiently increased by stockholder approval of an amendment of the Plan authorizing such increase. If stockholder approval is required and is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first excess grant or award made against such contingent increase, then any options, stock appreciation rights or other stock-based awards granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding.

 

V. USE OF PROCEEDS

Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

 

VI. REGULATORY APPROVALS

A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock option, stock appreciation right or other stock- based award under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the exercise or vesting of any granted option, stock appreciation right or other stock-based award or (ii) under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall be subject to the Corporation’s procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all applicable requirements of applicable securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any Stock Exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.

 

VII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s Service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.

 

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APPENDIX

The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

A. Annual Meeting shall mean the annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders.

B. Automatic Grant Program shall mean the automatic option grant program in effect under Article Four of the Plan.

C. Board shall mean the Corporation’s Board of Directors.

D. Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

(i) a merger, consolidation or other reorganization approved by the Corporation’s stockholders, unless securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the Corporation’s outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such transaction,

(ii) a stockholder-approved sale, transfer or other disposition (including in whole or in part through one or more licensing arrangements) of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets, or

(iii) the closing of any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which any person or any group of persons comprising a “group” within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the 1934 Act (other than the Corporation or a person that, prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Corporation) becomes directly or indirectly the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing (or convertible into or exercisable for securities possessing) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s securities (as measured in terms of the power to vote with respect to the election of Board members) outstanding immediately after the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions, whether such transaction involves a direct issuance from the Corporation or the acquisition of outstanding securities held by one or more of the Corporation’s existing stockholders.

E. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

F. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation’s common stock.

G. Compensation Committee shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board comprised of two (2) or more non-employee Board members.

H. Corporation shall mean SanDisk Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock of SanDisk Corporation which has by appropriate action assumed the Plan.

I. Discretionary Grant Program shall mean the discretionary grant program in effect under Article Two of the Plan pursuant to which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to one or more eligible individuals.

J. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established), subject to the control and direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.

 

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K. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have received written notice of the option exercise.

L. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the NASDAQ National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after- hours trading begins) on the NASDAQ National Market on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of Common Stock at the close of regular hours trading (i.e., before after- hours trading begins) on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

M. Family Member means, with respect to a particular Optionee or Participant, any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in- law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, bother-in-law or sister-in-law.

N. Hostile Take-Over shall mean a change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:

(i) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such election or nomination, or

(ii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation’s stockholders which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

O. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of Code Section 422.

P. Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

(i) such individual’s involuntary dismissal or discharge by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for reasons other than Misconduct, or

(ii) such individual’s voluntary resignation following (A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual’s place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) without the individual’s consent.

 

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Q. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge or dismiss any Optionee, Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of the Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.

R. 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

S. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

T. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the Discretionary Grant or Automatic Grant Program.

U. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

V. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common Stock or restricted stock units or other stock-based awards or cash bonus awards under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

W. Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Grant Program, Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member to perform his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

X. Plan shall mean the Corporation’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as set forth in this document.

Y. Plan Administrator shall mean the particular entity, whether the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Secondary Board Committee which is authorized to administer the Discretionary Grant Program and the Stock Issuance and Cash Award Program with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction. As determined by the Board from time to time, the Plan Administrator with respect to options granted by any Secondary Executive Committee shall be the Compensation Committee, the Board, or the Secondary Board Committee.

Z. Plan Effective Date shall mean the May 27, 2005 date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders at the 2005 Annual Meeting.

AA. Predecessor Plans shall mean (i) the Corporation’s 1995 Stock Option Plan and (ii) the Corporation’s 1995 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan, as each such Plan is in effect immediately prior to the 2005 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

BB. Secondary Board Committee shall mean a committee of one or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Grant and Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Programs with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 Insiders.

 

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CC. Secondary Executive Committee shall mean a committee of one or more officers of the Corporation appointed by the Board and authorized to grant options (subject to the limitations established by the Board and the requirements of Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law) under the Discretionary Grant Program with respect to Employees other than Section 16 Insiders.

DD. Section 16 Insider shall mean an officer or director of the Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the 1934 Act.

EE. Service shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance. For purposes of the Plan, an Optionee or Participant shall be deemed to cease Service immediately upon the occurrence of the either of the following events: (i) the Optionee or Participant no longer performs services in any of the foregoing capacities for the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary or (ii) the entity for which the Optionee or Participant is performing such services ceases to remain a Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation, even though the Optionee or Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity. Service shall not be deemed to cease during a period of military leave, sick leave or other personal leave approved by the Corporation; provided, however, that should such leave of absence exceed three (3) months, then for purposes of determining the period within which an Incentive Option may be exercised as such under the federal tax laws, the Optionee’s Service shall be deemed to cease on the first day immediately following the expiration of such three (3)-month period, unless Optionee is provided with the right to return to Service following such leave either by statute or by written contract. Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Plan Administrator or by the Corporation’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Optionee or Participant is on a leave of absence.

FF. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.

GG. Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program.

HH. Stock Issuance and Cash Bonus Program shall mean the stock issuance and cash bonus program in effect under Article Three of the Plan.

II. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

JJ. 10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

KK. Withholding Taxes shall mean the applicable income and employment withholding taxes to which the holder of an option or stock appreciation right or shares of Common Stock or a cash bonus under the Plan may become subject in connection with the grant or exercise of those options or stock appreciation rights the issuance or vesting of those shares or the payment of such cash bonus.

 

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EX-4.3

Exhibit 4.3

SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings), Inc.

2011 Share Incentive Plan

1. Purpose of the Plan.

The purpose of this SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings), Inc. 2011 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to aid SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings), Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and its Parent and their Affiliates in recruiting and retaining employees, directors and other service providers of outstanding ability and to motivate such persons to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company, Parent and their Affiliates by providing incentives through the granting of Share Awards. The Company expects that it will benefit from aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company, its Parent and their Affiliates by providing them with equity-based awards with respect to the ordinary shares of the Company.

2. Definitions. For purposes of this Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

(a)Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person and any entity that is, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Company and (ii) any other entity in which such Person has a significant equity interest or which has a significant equity interest in such Person, in either case as determined by the Committee. For purposes of this definition, the terms “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of any ISO, “Affiliate” shall mean any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

(b)Applicable Law” shall mean the legal requirements relating to the administration of an equity compensation plan under applicable U.S. federal and state corporate and securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange rules or regulations, and the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands and any other country or jurisdiction, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

(c)Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rules thereto).

(d)Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e)Cause” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates and the applicable Participant, or if no such Employment Agreement exists or if “Cause” is not defined therein, then Cause shall mean any of the following: (i) a Participant’s willful and continued failure substantially to perform his or her duties (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness); (ii) a Participant’s gross negligence or willful malfeasance in the performance of his or her duties; (iii) a Participant’s commission of an act constituting fraud, embezzlement, or any other act constituting

 

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a felony or other similar offense under Applicable Law; (iv) a Participant being repeatedly under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while performing his or her duties; or (v) any other act or omission which is materially injurious to the financial condition or business reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Company, including a Participant’s breach of the provisions of any non-solicitation, non-competition, trade secret or confidentiality covenant in favor of the Company or its Affiliates binding upon such Participant. The existence or non-existence of Cause with respect to any Participant will be determined in good faith by the Board.

(f)Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(i) the sale or disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of (i) Parent or (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Silver Lake Investors or any of their respective Affiliates; or

(ii) any person or group, other than any of the Silver Lake Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities of Parent or the Company, including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation or otherwise.

(g)Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(h)Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board (or a subcommittee thereof), or such other committee of the Board to which the Board has delegated power to act pursuant to the provisions of this Plan; provided that in the absence of any such committee, the term “Committee” shall mean the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall at all times be authorized to act as the Committee under or pursuant to any provisions of this Plan.

(i)Consultant” shall mean any person engaged by the Company, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates as a consultant or independent contractor to render consulting, advisory or other services and who is compensated for such services.

(j)Disability” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates and the applicable Participant, or if no such Employment Agreement exists or if “Disability” is not defined therein, then Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 409A(a)(2)(C)(i) of the Code for all purposes, except to the extent necessary for qualification of Options as ISOs, then Disability shall mean the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. Without limiting the foregoing and except as otherwise provided in a Participant’s Employment Agreement, the existence of a Disability shall be determined by the Committee in good faith in accordance with Applicable Law.

(k)Effective Date” shall mean the date the Board approves this Plan, or such later date as designated by the Board.

(l)Employment” shall mean (i) a Participant’s employment if the Participant is an employee of the Company, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates, (ii) a Participant’s services as a Consultant, if the Participant is a Consultant, and (iii) a Participant’s services as a non-employee member of the Board or the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of Parent or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

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(m)Employment Agreement” shall mean the employment or severance and change of control agreement, or other similar agreement, if any, specifying the terms of a Participant’s Employment by the Company, Parent or one of their Affiliates.

(n)Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time.

(o)Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if there should be a public market for the Shares on such date, the closing price of the Shares as reported on such date on the composite tape of the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or if the Shares are not listed or admitted on any national securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such market in which such prices are regularly quoted) (“NASDAQ”), or, if no sale of Shares shall have been reported on the Composite Tape of any national securities exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ on such date, then the immediately preceding date on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted shall be used, and (ii) if there should not be a public market for the Shares on such date, then Fair Market Value shall be the price determined in good faith by the Board (or a committee thereof). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the “Fair Market Value” of the Shares shall at all times be determined in a manner intended to be consistent with Section 409A of the Code (and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder), as may be amended from time to time, and the same method shall be used by the Company for determining all applicable income tax consequences resulting from the exercise of an Option.

(p)Good Reason” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Employment Agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates and the applicable Participant, or if no such Employment Agreement exists then Good Reason shall be inapplicable with respect to such Participant.

(q)Initial Public Offering” shall mean the consummation of the initial underwritten public offering of equity interests in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which offering is registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or, if earlier, the initial widely distributed underwritten public offering outside the U.S. pursuant to which the equity interests in the Company or any of its subsidiaries are registered on a non-U.S. stock exchange.

(r)ISO” shall mean an option to acquire Shares that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, as amended from time to time.

(s)Option” shall mean an option granted pursuant to Section 6 of this Plan.

(t)Option Price” shall mean the purchase price per Share of an Option, as determined pursuant to Section 6(a) of this Plan.

(u)Other Share-Based Awards” shall mean Share Awards granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan.

(v)Parent” shall mean Saleen Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company.

 

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(w)Participant” shall mean a person eligible to receive a Share Award pursuant to Section 4 and who actually receives a Share Award or, if applicable, such other Person who holds an outstanding Share Award.

(x)Person” shall mean a “person” as such term is used for purposes of 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor section thereto.

(y)Plan” shall mean this SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings), Inc. 2011 Share Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

(z)Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as each may be amended from time to time.

(aa)Shares” shall mean the ordinary shares, of US$0.01 par value, in the authorized capital of the Company or such other securities as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.

(bb)Share Appreciation Right” shall mean a share appreciation right granted pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan.

(cc)Share Award” shall mean an Option, Share Appreciation Right or Other Share- Based Award granted pursuant to this Plan.

(dd)Share Award Agreement” shall mean a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Share Award, executed by the Company, evidencing the terms and conditions of the Share Award.

(ee)Silver Lake Investors” means, collectively, Silver Lake Partners III Cayman (AIV III), L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, Silver Lake Technology Investors III Cayman, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, Silver Lake Sumeru Fund Cayman, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, Silver Lake Technology Investors Sumeru Cayman, L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership, and any of their respective Affiliates, designated transferees or successors that hold equity securities in Parent.

(ff)Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding ordinary shares having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, shares of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Beneficially Owned by the Company, and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).

3. Administration by Committee.

This Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof. Additionally, the Committee may delegate the authority to grant Share Awards under the Plan to any employee or group of employees of the Company or an Affiliate; provided that such delegation and grants are consistent with Applicable Law and guidelines established by the Board from time to time. Share Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by any entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines. The number of Shares underlying such substitute awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Share Awards under the Plan. The Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems

 

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necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries or successors). The Committee shall have the full power and authority to establish the terms and conditions of any Share Award Agreement consistent with the provisions of the Plan and to waive any such terms and conditions at any time (including, without limitation, accelerating or waiving any vesting conditions). The Committee shall require payment of any amount it may reasonably determine to be necessary to withhold for federal, state, local and/or non-U.S. taxes as a result of the exercise, grant or vesting of a Share Award (including, without limitation, any applicable income, employment and social security taxes or contributions). The Committee shall also determine the acceptable form or forms pursuant to which the Participant will be able to elect to pay a portion of or all such withholding taxes. To the extent permitted by the Committee in the Share Award Agreement or otherwise and, in each case, as permitted under Applicable Law, a Participant may elect to pay a portion or all of any withholding taxes (but no more than the minimum amount required to be withheld) by (a) delivery in Shares if permissible under local law, or (b) having Shares withheld (if permissible under local law) by the Company from any Shares that would have otherwise been received by the Participant.

4. Shares Subject to the Plan and Participation.

Subject to Section 9, the total number of Shares which may be issued under this Plan is 2,149,419, which number is also the maximum number of Shares for which ISOs may be granted. The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The issuance of Shares or the payment of cash upon the exercise of a Share Award or in consideration of the cancellation or termination of a Share Award shall reduce the total number of Shares available under this Plan, as applicable. Shares which are subject to Share Awards which terminate or lapse without the payment of consideration may be granted again under the Plan, unless prohibited by Applicable Law.

Employees, directors and other service providers of the Company and its Affiliates (subject to Section 5(b) of this Plan) shall be eligible to be selected to receive Share Awards under the Plan; provided that ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company and its Affiliates.

5. General Limitations.

(a) Tenth Anniversary. No Share Award may be granted under this Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Share Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond such date.

(b) Consultants. Prior to an Initial Public Offering, a Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Share Award if, at the time of grant, either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant is not exempt under Rule 701 of the Securities Act (“Rule 701”), unless the Company determines that such grant need not comply with the requirements of Rule 701 and will satisfy another exemption under the Securities Act, as well as comply with the securities laws of any other relevant jurisdictions.

6. Terms and Conditions of Options.

Options granted under this Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, non-qualified or ISOs for federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related Share Award Agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine.

 

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(a) Option Price. The Option Price per Share shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date an Option is granted (other than in the case of Options granted in substitution of previously granted awards, as described in Section 3 hereof).

(b) Exercisability. Options granted under this Plan shall be exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an Option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted. Subject to such ten-year limitation, in the event that the Participant’s Employment is terminated for any reason other than Cause, then any Option that is exercisable on the date of termination shall remain exercisable for a period of (i) six (6) months after the date of termination if the termination was caused by the Participant’s death or Disability and (ii) thirty (30) days after the date of termination if the termination was caused by other than the Participant’s death or Disability, or such longer period as may be specified in the applicable Share Award Agreement.

(c) Exercise of Options. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan or in the applicable Share Award Agreement, an Option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the Shares for which it is then exercisable. For purposes of this Section 6, the exercise date of an Option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii)(A), (ii)(B), (ii)(C), or (ii)(D) of the following sentence. The purchase price for the Shares as to which an Option is exercised shall be paid to the Company (i) in cash or its equivalent (e.g., by personal check or wire transfer), or (ii) to the extent explicitly permitted by the Committee in the applicable Share Award Agreement or otherwise, pursuant to one or more of the following methods: (A) in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased and satisfying such other reasonable requirements as may be imposed by the Committee; provided that such Shares have been held by the Participant for no less than six months (or such other period as established from time to time by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles); (B) partly in cash and partly in such Shares; (C) following an Initial Public Offering, through the delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell Shares obtained upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount out of the proceeds of such sale equal to the aggregate Option Price for the Shares being purchased; or (D) through net settlement in Shares. No Participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject to an Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise of the Option, paid in full for such Shares and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to this Plan.

(d) ISOs. The Committee may grant Options under the Plan that are intended to be ISOs. Such ISOs shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (or any successor section thereto). No ISO may be granted to any Participant who at the time of such grant, owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of any Subsidiary, unless (i) the Option Price for such ISO is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the ISO is granted and (ii) the date on which such ISO terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the ISO is granted. Any Participant who disposes of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an ISO either (i) within two years after the date of grant of such ISO or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition. All Options granted under the Plan are intended to be nonqualified options, unless the applicable Share Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an ISO. If an Option is intended to be an ISO, and if for any reason such Option (or portion thereof) shall not

 

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qualify as an ISO, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a nonqualified option granted under this Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with this Plan’s requirements relating to nonqualified options. In no event shall any member of the Committee, the Company or any of its Affiliates (or their respective employees, officers or directors) have any liability to any Participant (or any other Person) due to the failure of an Option to qualify for any reason as an ISO.

(e) Attestation. Wherever in this Plan or any Share Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and/or shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option, as appropriate.

7. Terms and Conditions of Share Appreciation Rights.

(a) Grants. The Committee may grant (i) a Share Appreciation Right independent of an Option or (ii) a Share Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A Share Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by an Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this Section 7 (or such additional limitations as may be included in the applicable Share Award Agreement).

(b) Terms. The exercise price per Share of a Share Appreciation Right shall be an amount determined by the Committee but in no event shall such amount be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Share Appreciation Right is granted (other than in the case of Share Appreciation Rights granted in substitution of previously granted awards, as described in Section 3); provided, however, that in the case of a Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, the exercise price may not be less than the Option Price of the related Option. Each Share Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the exercise price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Share Appreciation Right. Each Share Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefore an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the Option Price per Share, times (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. In addition, each Share Appreciation Right that is granted in conjunction with an Option or a portion thereof shall automatically terminate upon the exercise of such Option or portion thereof, as applicable. Payment shall be made in Shares or in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash (any such Shares valued at such Fair Market Value), all as shall be determined by the Committee. Share Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Share Appreciation Right is being exercised. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. No fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Share Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of Shares will be rounded downward to the next whole Share.

 

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(c) Limitations. The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the exercisability of Share Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a Share Appreciation Right be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted.

8. Other Share-Based Awards.

The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Share Awards, Share Awards of restricted Shares and Share Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the Fair Market Value of, Shares (“Other Share-Based Awards”). Such Other Share-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Share-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Share Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Share-Based Awards will be made; the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Share-Based Awards; whether such Other Share- Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all other terms and conditions of such Other Share-Based Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

9. Adjustments upon Certain Events.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Share Awards granted hereunder:

(a) Generally. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares after the Effective Date by reason of any Share dividend, Share split or reverse split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, spin-off, combination, transaction or exchange of Shares or other corporate exchange, or any cash dividend or distribution to shareholders other than ordinary cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing or in the event of an initial public offering of the equity securities of Parent, the Committee shall make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable (subject to Section 17), as to (i) the number or kind of Shares or other securities issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or pursuant to outstanding Share Awards, (ii) the Option Price or exercise price of any Share Appreciation Right and/or (iii) any other affected terms of such Share Awards; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events that is an “equity restructuring” (within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) Section 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation (FASB ASC 718)), the Committee shall make an equitable adjustment to outstanding Share Awards to reflect such event; and provided, further, that in the case of any Share dividend, Share split or reverse split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Company’s equity securities with respect to the Shares without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Committee shall make a proportionate adjustment.

(b) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control after the Effective Date, the Committee may (subject to Section 17 and any Participant’s rights under a Share Award Agreement), but shall not be obligated to, (i) accelerate, vest or cause the restrictions to lapse with respect to all or any portion of a Share Award, (ii) cancel such Share Awards for fair value (as

 

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determined by the Committee in its sole discretion in good faith) which, in the case of Options and Share Appreciation Rights, may equal the excess, if any, of value of the consideration to be paid in the Change in Control transaction, directly or indirectly, to holders of the same number of Shares subject to such Options or Share Appreciation Rights (or, if no consideration is paid in any such transaction, the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to such Options or Share Appreciation Rights) over the aggregate Option Price of such Options or exercise price of such Share Appreciation Rights, (iii) subject to any limitations or reductions as may be necessary to comply with Sections 424 or 409A of the Code and, in each case, the applicable regulations thereunder, provide for the issuance of substitute Share Awards that will preserve the rights under, and the otherwise applicable terms of, any affected Share Awards previously granted hereunder as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion in good faith, or (iv) provide that for a period of at least 15 days prior to the Change in Control, such Options shall be exercisable as to all Shares subject thereto (whether or not vested) and that upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, such Options shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

10. No Right to Employment or Share Awards.

The granting of a Share Award under this Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any of its Affiliates to continue the Employment of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the Company’s right or any of its Affiliates’ rights to terminate the Employment of such Participant for any reason whatsoever, and regardless of whether such termination is with or without Cause or with or without reasonable notice. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Share Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Share Awards. The terms and conditions of Share Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).

11. Successors and Assigns.

This Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and each Participant, including without limitation, the estate of each such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of any such estate and, if applicable, any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the creditors of any such Participant.

12. Nontransferability of Awards.

Unless expressly permitted by the Committee in a Share Award Agreement or otherwise in writing, and, in each case, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, a Share Award shall not be transferable or assignable by the applicable Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. A Share Award exercisable after the death of a Participant may be exercised by the legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant.

13. Amendments or Termination.

The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made, (a) without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, if such action would (except as is provided in Section 9 of the Plan), increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan or, if applicable, change the maximum number of Shares for which Share Awards may be granted to any Participant, or (b) without the consent of a Participant, if such action would diminish any of the rights of such Participant under any Share Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems necessary to permit the granting of Share Awards meeting the requirements of the Code or other Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, to avoid adverse tax consequences to the Company or to Participants).

 

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14. Choice of Law.

This Plan and the Share Awards granted hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the Cayman Islands, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof.

15. Effectiveness of the Plan.

This Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

16. Exchange Act Exemption.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Share Award Agreement, until such time as the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 12 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, if the Company is relying on the exemption from registration under the Exchange Act set forth in Rule 12h-1(f) under the Exchange Act (the “Employee Options Exemption”) in connection with the grant of Options hereunder or the issuance of Shares upon the exercise of such Options, the Plan, the Options granted hereunder and the Share Award Agreements entered into in connection with such grants are intended to comply with the Employee Options Exemption and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan, such Options and such Share Award Agreements shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.

17. Section 409A.

Notwithstanding other provisions of this Plan or any Share Award Agreements hereunder, no Share Award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under this Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a Participant. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code, payments in respect of any Share Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Share Award Agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Share Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will make such payment on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 17 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Committee nor any of the Company’s employees, directors or representatives shall have any liability to any Participant with respect to this Section 17.

18. General Provisions.

(a) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Share Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash or other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated

(b) Company Governing Instruments. All Shares issued and/or vested pursuant to a Share Award, or transferred thereafter, shall be held subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company.

(c) Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. A Participant shall, as a condition precedent to the exercise or settlement of a Share Award, have executed and be in compliance with the Company’s (or its Affiliate’s) standard form of confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement.

 

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EX-4.4

Exhibit 4.4

FUSION-IO, INC.

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:

 

    to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,

 

    to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and

 

    to promote the success of the Company’s business.

The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units and Performance Shares.

2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:

(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

(b) “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

(c) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares.

(d) “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection, the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(ii) A change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(iii) A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the Company’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the Company to: (1) a stockholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the Company’s stock, (2) an entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company, or (4) an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection (iii)(B)(3). For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this definition, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.

(h) “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(j) “Company” means Fusion-io, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

(k) “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity.

 

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(l) “Director” means a member of the Board.

(m) “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

(n) “Employee” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(p) “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is increased or reduced. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

(q) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(iii) For purposes of any Awards granted on the Registration Date, the Fair Market Value will be the initial price to the public as set forth in the final prospectus included within the registration statement in Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the initial public offering of the Company’s Common Stock; or

(iv) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

(r) “Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

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(s) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(t) “Inside Director” means a Director who is an Employee.

(u) “Non-Plan Options” means any compensatory stock options granted outside the Existing Plans and that are outstanding as of the Registration Date.

(v) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(w) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(x) “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(y) “Outside Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

(z) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(aa) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

(bb) “Performance Share” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.

(cc) “Performance Unit” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of performance goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.

(dd) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

(ee) “Plan” means this 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

(ff) “Registration Date” means the effective date of the first registration statement that is filed by the Company and declared effective pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any class of the Company’s securities.

(gg) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to a Restricted Stock award under Section 7 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.

(hh) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 8. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

 

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(ii) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.

(jj) “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

(kk) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

(ll) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

(mm) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 9 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.

(nn) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

3. Stock Subject to the Plan.

(a) Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is 12,132,430 Shares, plus any Shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the Company’s 2010 Executive Stock Incentive Plan, 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, 2006 Stock Option Plan, (the “Existing Plans”) and Non-Plan Options that following the Registration Date expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the Existing Plans and Non-Plan Options that following the Registration Date are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of Shares to be added to the Plan awards from the Existing Plans and Non-Plan Options equal to 25,867,172 Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

(b) Automatic Share Reserve Increase. The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the first day of each Fiscal Year beginning with the 2013 Fiscal Year, in an amount equal to the least of (i) 10,000,000 Shares, (ii) five percent (5%) of the outstanding Shares on the last day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year or (iii) such number of Shares determined by the Board.

(c) Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares), which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, only Shares actually issued (i.e., the net Shares issued) pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares under Stock Appreciation Rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the

 

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number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Sections 3(b) and 3(c).

(d) Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

4. Administration of the Plan.

(a) Procedure.

(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.

(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two (2) or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.

(iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.

(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;

(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;

 

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(vi) to determine the terms and conditions of any, and to institute any Exchange Program;

(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

(viii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;

(ix) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18 of the Plan), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an Option (subject to Section 6(b) of the Plan regarding Incentive Stock Options);

(x) to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in such manner as prescribed in Section 14 of the Plan;

(xi) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;

(xii) to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award; and

(xiii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

(c) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.

5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

6. Stock Options.

(a) Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.

(b) Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term will be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

 

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(c) Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

(i) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:

(1) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in paragraph (A) immediately above, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(2) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code.

(ii) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.

(iii) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, (4) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (5) consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted (or other) cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (6) by net exercise; (7) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

(d) Exercise of Option.

(i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

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An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) a notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable withholding taxes). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

(ii) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(iii) Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(iv) Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such

 

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beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

7. Restricted Stock.

(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(b) Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.

(c) Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 7 or the Award Agreement, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

(d) Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

(e) Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

(f) Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

(g) Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

(h) Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

 

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8. Restricted Stock Units.

(a) Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units under the Plan, it will advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.

(b) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

(c) Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

(d) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may only settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

(e) Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.

9. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

(b) Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Service Provider.

(c) Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.

(d) Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(e) Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and

 

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set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(b) relating to the maximum term and Section 6(d) relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.

(f) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

(i) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times

(ii) The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

10. Performance Units and Performance Shares.

(a) Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units and Performance Shares granted to each Participant.

(b) Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

(c) Performance Objectives and Other Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Service Providers. The time period during which the performance objectives or other vesting provisions must be met will be called the “Performance Period.” Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals, applicable federal or state securities laws, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

(d) Earning of Performance Units/Shares. After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.

(e) Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned

 

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Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.

(f) Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.

11. Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

12. Transferability of Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate.

13. Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

(a) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits in Section 3 of the Plan.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

(c) Change in Control. In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines, including, without limitation, that each Award be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. The Administrator will not be required to treat all Awards similarly in the transaction.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

 

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will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this subsection (c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit or Performance Share, for each Share subject to such Award, 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 Change in Control.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

(d) Outside Director Awards. With respect to Awards granted to an Outside Director that are assumed or substituted for, if on the date of or following such assumption or substitution the Participant’s status as a Director or a director of the successor corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a voluntary resignation by the Participant (unless such resignation is at the request of the acquirer), then the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights as to all of the Shares underlying such Award, including those Shares which would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Performance Units and Performance Shares, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.

14. Tax.

(a) Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).

(b) Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (a) paying cash, (b) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, or (c) delivering to the

 

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Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

(c) Compliance With Code Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Code Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A.

15. No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

16. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

17. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 21 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon the later to occur of (i) its adoption by the Board or (ii) immediately prior to the Registration Date. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated earlier under Section 18 of the Plan.

18. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

(b) Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

19. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

(a) Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

 

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(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award 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.

20. Inability to Obtain Authority. The 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, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

21. Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

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EX-5

EXHIBIT 5

[Western Digital Corporation Letterhead]

May 17, 2016

Western Digital Corporation

3355 Michelson Drive, Suite 100

Irvine, California 92612

 

  Re: Registration of Securities of Western Digital Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration of up to 29,738,863 shares of Common Stock of Western Digital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about the date hereof, such Shares that may be (i) available for issuance under the SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan or (ii) issued or delivered in settlement of options and restricted stock units assumed in connection with the acquisition by the Company of SanDisk Corporation (“SanDisk”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Schrader Acquisition Corporation, and SanDisk (dated October 21, 2015), which awards are outstanding under the SanDisk Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan, SanDisk Corporation Amended and Restated 2005 Incentive Plan, SMART Storage Systems (Global Holdings, Inc.) 2011 Share Incentive Plan and/or Fusion-io Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Plans”), you have requested my opinion set forth below.

In my capacity as counsel, I have examined originals or copies of those corporate and other records of the Company I considered appropriate.

On the basis of such examination and my consideration of those questions of law I considered relevant, and subject to the limitations and qualifications in this opinion, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when issued in accordance with such authorization, the provisions of the Plans and relevant agreements duly authorized by and in accordance with the terms of the Plans, and upon payment for and delivery of the Shares as contemplated in accordance with the Plans, and either (a) the countersigning of the certificate or certificates representing the Shares by a duly authorized signatory of the registrar for the Company’s Common Stock, or (b) the book-entry of the Shares by the transfer agent for the Company’s Common Stock in the name of The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]


I consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Michael C. Ray

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
EX-23.1

EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

Western Digital Corporation:

We consent to the use of our reports dated August 21, 2015, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Western Digital Corporation and subsidiaries as of July 3, 2015 and June 27, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended July 3, 2015, and the related financial statement schedule, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of July 3, 2015, incorporated herein by reference.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP
May 17, 2016
Irvine, California