SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC
S-8, 1998-10-09
ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS
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<PAGE>   1

         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 1998
                                                    Registration No.____________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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


                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                             94-2805249
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                           Identification Number)


                              901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94303
                        (Address, including zip code, of
                    Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

             i-PLANET, INC. 1996 STOCK OPTION / STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                SCOTT G. MCNEALY
                                    PRESIDENT
                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                              901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94303
                                 (650) 960-1300
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)


                                    COPY TO:
                              David J. Segre, Esq.
                              Daniel R. Mitz, Esq.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                           PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (650) 493-9300

================================================================================


<PAGE>   2

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================
                                                  Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum     Amount of
   Title of Securities            Amount to be   Offering Price Per  Aggregate Offering   Registration
     to be Registered             Registered(#)         Share               Price              Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>            <C>                 <C>                  <C>
Common Stock of the                  47,766          $6.21 (1)          $296,627.00          $88.00
Registrant to be issued upon
exercise of options granted
under the i-Planet, Inc. 1996
Stock Option / Stock
Issuance Plan
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

- ----------

(1)     Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933,
        as amended, based on an exercise price of $6.21 per share.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE.

        There are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement the following documents and information heretofore filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by Sun Microsystems, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Registrant"):

        1.     The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
               ended June 30, 1998, filed pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")
               on September 25, 1998.

        2.     The Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A relating to
               the Registrant's Common Stock, filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of
               the Exchange Act on October 24, 1986, as amended.

        3.     The Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A Amendment
               No. 6 relating to the Registrant's Share Purchase Rights, filed
               pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on February 13,
               1998.

        All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement
and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended, provides that under certain circumstances a 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, by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at its request in such capacity in another corporation or business
association, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith
and in a manner he or she 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 his or her conduct was unlawful.



                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4

        Section 11 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws
of the Registrant provide in effect that, subject to certain limited
exceptions, the Registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers to the
extent authorized or permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. The directors and officers of the Registrant are insured under
policies of insurance maintained by the Registrant, subject to the limits of the
policies, against certain losses arising from any claims made against them by
reason of being or having been such directors or officers. Like indemnification
is also provided to those employees of the Registrant who serve as
administrators of the plan. In addition, the Registrant has entered into
contracts with certain of its directors providing for indemnification of such
persons by the Registrant to the full extent authorized or permitted by law,
subject to certain limited exceptions.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER                                  DOCUMENT
- ------                                  --------
<S>             <C>
 4.1            i-Planet, Inc. 1996 Stock Option / Stock Issuance Plan.
 5.1            Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional 
                 Corporation, with respect to the legality of the securities 
                 being registered.
23.1            Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
24.1            Power of Attorney (See page 5).
</TABLE>


ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        (a) The 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 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.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to



                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5

Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference into 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.

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the 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.



                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on October 9, 1998.

                                            SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.


                                            By: /s/ Michael E. Lehman
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                Michael E. Lehman
                                                Vice President, Corporate 
                                                Resources and Chief Financial 
                                                Officer



                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Scott G. McNealy and Michael E. Lehman,
jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8
and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                               TITLE                          DATE
              ---------                               -----                          ----
<S>                                    <C>                                      <C>
/s/ Scott G. McNealy                   Chairman of the Board of Directors,      October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------      President and Chief Executive
Scott G. McNealy                       Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Michael E. Lehman                  Vice President, Corporate Resources      October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------      and Chief Financial Officer
Michael E. Lehman                      (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ George Reyes                       Vice President and Controller            October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------      (Principal Accounting Officer)
George Reyes

                                       Director
- ---------------------------------
L. John Doerr

/s/ Judith L. Estrin                   Director                                 October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Judith L. Estrin

/s/ Robert J. Fisher                   Director                                 October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Robert J. Fisher

/s/ Robert L. Long                     Director                                 October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------
Robert L. Long

                                       Director                                
- ---------------------------------
M. Kenneth Oshman

/s/ A. Michael Spence                  Director                                 October 9, 1998
- ---------------------------------
A. Michael Spence
</TABLE>



                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

                                         INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit   
Number                          Description
- ------                          -----------
<S>       <C>
4.1       i-Planet, Inc. 1996 Stock Option / Stock Issuance Plan.
5.1       Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation,
          with respect to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1      Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
24.1      Power of Attorney (See page 7).
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                 i-PLANET, INC.

                     1996 STOCK OPTION / STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN

                                   ARTICLE ONE

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

        I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

               This 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan is intended to promote
the interests of i-Planet, Inc., a California corporation, by providing eligible
persons 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 the service of the Corporation.

               Capitalized terms herein 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 (2) separate equity
programs:

                (i) the Option Grant Program under which eligible persons may,
        at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to
        purchase shares of Common Stock, and

                (ii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons
        may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
        Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of such
        shares or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any
        Parent or Subsidiary).

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

        III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

               A. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. However, any or
all administrative functions otherwise exercisable by the Board may be delegated
to the Committee. Members of the Committee shall serve for such period of time
as the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any
time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of the Committee
and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the Committee.



<PAGE>   2

               B. The Plan Administrator shall 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 Plan and to make
such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the Plan and any
outstanding options or stock issuances thereunder as it may deem necessary or
advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final and binding on all
parties who have an interest in the Plan or any option or stock issuance
thereunder.

        IV. ELIGIBILITY

               A. The persons eligible to participate in the Plan are as
follows:

                (i) Employees,

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

                (iii) consultants who provide services to the Corporation (or
        any Parent or Subsidiary).

               B. The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine,
(i) with respect to the option grants under the Option Grant Program, which
eligible persons are to receive option grants, the time or times when such
option grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such
grant, the status of the granted option as either an Incentive Option or a
Non-Statutory Option, the time or times at which each option is to become
exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the option shares and
the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding, and (ii) with
respect to stock issuances under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible
persons are to receive stock issuances, the time or times when such issuances
are to be made, the number of shares to be issued to each Participant, the
vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the issued shares and the consideration
to be paid by the Participant for such shares.

               C. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion
either to grant options in accordance with the Option Grant Program or to effect
stock issuances in accordance with the Stock Issuance Program.

        V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

               A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of
authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock. The maximum number of shares
of Common Stock which may be issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed
3,000,000 shares.

               B. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall be
available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) the options
expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full or (ii) the options
are canceled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of Article
Two. All shares issued under the Plan, whether or not those shares are



                                        2
<PAGE>   3

subsequently repurchased by the Corporation pursuant to its repurchase rights
under the Plan, shall reduce on a share-for-share basis the number of shares of
Common Stock available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

               C. Should any change be 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 to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable
under the Plan and (ii) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise
price per share in effect under each outstanding option in order to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder. The adjustments determined by
the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. In no event shall
any such adjustments be made in connection with the conversion of one or more
outstanding shares of the Corporation's preferred stock into shares of Common
Stock.

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                              OPTION 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 in accordance with the following provisions:

                (i) The exercise price per share shall not be less than
        eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
        Stock on the option grant date.

                (ii) If the person to whom the option is granted is a 10%
        Shareholder, 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.

                    2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section I of
Article Four and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in cash or
check made payable to the Corporation. Should the Common Stock be registered
under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act at the time the option is exercised, then
the exercise price may also be paid as follows:



                                        3
<PAGE>   4

                (i) in shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
        necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial
        reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date,
        or

                (ii) 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 irrevocable written instructions (a)
        to a Corporation-designated brokerage firm 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 Federal, state and local income and employment taxes required
        to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise and (b) to
        the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares
        directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale
        transaction.

               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 ten
(10) years measured from the option grant date.

               C. Effect of Termination of Service. The following provisions
shall govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the time of
cessation of Service or death:

                (i) Should the Optionee cease to remain in Service for any
        reason (other than Disability, death or Misconduct), then the Optionee
        shall have a period of three (3) months following the date of such
        cessation of Service during which to exercise each outstanding option
        held by such Optionee.

                (ii) Should such Service terminate by reason of Disability, then
        the Optionee shall have a period of six (6) months following the date of
        such cessation of Service during which to exercise each outstanding
        option held by such Optionee. However, should such Disability be deemed
        to constitute Permanent Disability, then the period during which each
        outstanding option held by the Optionee is to remain exercisable shall
        be extended by an additional six (6) months so that the exercise period
        shall be the twelve (12)-month period following the date of the
        Optionee's cessation of Service by reason of such Permanent Disability.

                (iii) Should the Optionee die while holding one or more
        outstanding options, then 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 in accordance with the laws of
        descent and distribution shall have a period of twelve (12) months
        following the date of the Optionee's death during which to exercise each
        such option.



                                        4
<PAGE>   5

                (iv) Under no circumstances, however, shall any such option be
        exercisable after the specified expiration of the option term.

                (v) During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the
        option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of
        vested shares for which the option is exercisable on the date of the
        Optionee's cessation of Service. 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 vested
        shares for which the option has not been exercised. However, the option
        shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate
        and cease to be outstanding to the extent it is not exercisable for
        vested shares on the date of such cessation of Service.

                (vi) Should the Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct,
        then all outstanding options at the time held by the Optionee shall
        immediately terminate and cease to be outstanding.

               D. Shareholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no
shareholder 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. Unvested Shares. 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 holding such unvested shares, the
Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per
share, all or (at the discretion of the Corporation and with the consent of the
Optionee) any of those unvested shares. 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. The Plan Administrator may not impose a vesting schedule upon
any option grant or any shares of Common Stock subject to the option which is
more restrictive than twenty percent (20%) per year vesting, with the initial
vesting to occur one (1) year after the option grant date. However, this minimum
vesting requirement shall not be applicable with respect to any option granted
to a director, officer or consultant. All outstanding repurchase rights under
the Plan shall be assignable to the successor corporation in any Corporation
Transaction and shall terminate upon the occurrence of such Corporate
Transaction to the extent the successor corporation does not accept such
assignment.

               F. First Refusal Rights. Until such time as the Common Stock is
first registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have
the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by the
Optionee (or any successor in interest) of any shares of Common Stock issued
under the Option Grant Program. Such right of first refusal shall be exercisable
in accordance with the terms established by the Plan Administrator and set forth
in the document evidencing such right.



                                        5
<PAGE>   6

               G. Limited Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the
Optionee, the option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be
assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution following the Optionee's death. However, a Non-Statutory Option
may be assigned in whole or in part during Optionee's lifetime in accordance
with the terms of a Qualified 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 such Qualified Domestic Relations Order. 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.

        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
shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

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

               B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall not be less
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.

               C. 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 (1) 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, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options are granted.

               D. 10% Shareholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option
is granted is a 10% Shareholder, then the option term shall not exceed five (5)
years measured from the option grant date.

        III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION

               A. Each outstanding option shall be assumable by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) in any Corporate Transaction and shall, to the
extent not so assumed, terminate and cease to be outstanding on the effective
date of such Corporate Transaction.

               B. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to the Optionee in the consummation



                                        6
<PAGE>   7

of such Corporate Transaction, had the option been exercised immediately prior
to such Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to (i)
the number and class of securities available for issuance under the Plan
following the consummation of such Corporate Transaction and (ii) the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

               C. The grant of options under 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.

        IV. CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

               The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at any
time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders, the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Option Grant Program
and to grant in substitution therefor new options covering the same or different
number of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share based on
the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the new option grant date.

        V. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY

               The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable
either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding, to extend the period of time for which the option is to remain
exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service or death from the
limited 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.

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                             STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

        I. STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

               Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program 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.

               A. Purchase Price.

                    1. The purchase price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with the following provisions:

                (i) The purchase price per share shall not be less than
        eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
        Stock on the stock issuance date.



                                        7
<PAGE>   8

                (ii) If the person to whom the stock issuance is made is a 10%
        Shareholder, then the purchase 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 stock issuance date.

                    2. Subject to the provisions of Section I of Article Four,
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for one or
both 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, or

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

               B. Vesting Provisions.

                    1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance
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 attainment of specified performance
objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested
shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program, namely:

                (i) the Service period to be completed by the Participant or the
        performance objectives to be attained,

                (ii) the number of installments in which the shares are to vest,

                (iii) the interval or intervals (if any) which are to lapse
        between installments, and

                (iv) the effect which death, Disability or other event
        designated by the Plan Administrator is to have upon the vesting
        schedule,

shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock
Issuance Agreement. The Plan Administrator may not impose a vesting schedule
upon any stock issuance effected under the Stock Issuance Program which is more
restrictive than twenty percent (20%) per year vesting, beginning one (1) year
after the stock issuance date. However, this minimum vesting requirement shall
not be applicable with respect to any stock issued to a director, officer or
consultant.

                    2. 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



                                        8
<PAGE>   9

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.

                    3. The Participant shall have full shareholder rights with
respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock
Issuance 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 regular cash dividends paid on such shares.

                    4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while
holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance 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 shareholder 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 (including the
Participant's purchase-money indebtedness), the Corporation shall repay to the
Participant the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares and shall
cancel the unpaid principal balance of any outstanding purchase-money note of
the Participant attributable to such surrendered shares.

                    5. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the
surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock (or
other assets attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the
non-completion of the service or performance requirements applicable to such
shares. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the
Participant's cessation of Service or the attainment or nonattainment of the
applicable performance objectives.

               C. First Refusal Rights. Until such time as the Common Stock is
first registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have
the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by the
Participant (or any successor in interest) of any shares of Common Stock issued
under the Stock Issuance Program. Such right of first refusal shall be
exercisable in accordance with the terms established by the Plan Administrator
and set forth in the document evidencing such right.

        II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION

               All of the outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance
Program shall be assignable to the successor corporation in any Corporate
Transaction and shall terminate upon the occurrence of such Corporate
Transaction to the extent the successor corporation does not accept such
assignment.



                                        9
<PAGE>   10

        III. 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.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        I. FINANCING

               The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to
pay the option exercise price or the purchase price for shares issued to such
person under the Plan by delivering a promissory note payable in one or more
installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest rate
and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator in
its sole discretion. Promissory notes may be authorized with or without security
or collateral. However, any promissory notes delivered by a consultant must be
secured by property other than the purchased shares of Common Stock. In all
events, the maximum credit available to the Optionee or Participant may not
exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise price or purchase price
payable for the purchased shares plus (ii) any Federal, state and local income
and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or the Participant in
connection with the option exercise or share purchase.

        II. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

               A. The Plan shall become effective. when adopted by the Board,
but no option granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no shares shall be
issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the Corporation's
shareholders. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12)
months after the date of the Board's adoption Of the Plan, then all options
previously granted under the Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding,
and no further options shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the
Plan. Subject to such limitation, the Plan Administrator may grant options and
issue shares under the Plan at any time after the effective date of the Plan and
before the date fixed herein for termination of the Plan.

               B. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year period measured from the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance
under the Plan shall have been issued pursuant to the exercise of options or the
issuance of shares (whether vested or unvested) under the Plan or (iii) the
termination of all outstanding options in connection with a Corporate
Transaction. Upon such Plan termination, all options and unvested stock
issuances outstanding under the Plan shall continue to have full force and
effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing such
options or issuances.



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

        III. 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 options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the
Plan, unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or
modification. In addition, the Board shall not, without the approval of the
Corporation's shareholders, (i) increase the maximum number of shares issuable
under the Plan, except for permissible adjustments in the event of certain
changes in the Corporation's capitalization, (ii) materially modify the
eligibility requirements for Plan participation or (iii) materially increase the
benefits accruing to Plan participants.

               B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted
under the Plan and shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan that are
in each instance in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance
under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually issued under the Plan are
held in escrow until there is obtained shareholder approval of an amendment
sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock available for
issuance under the Plan. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the date the first such excess issuances are made, then
(i) any unexercised options granted on the basis of such excess shares shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly
refund to the Optionees and the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid
for any excess shares issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with
interest (at the applicable Short-Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares
were held in escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically canceled
and cease to be outstanding.

        IV. 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.

        V. WITHHOLDING

               The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of any options or upon the issuance or vesting of any shares
issued under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable
Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

        VI. REGULATORY APPROVALS

               The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any options under
the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the exercise of
any option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program shall be subject to the
Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the options granted under it and
the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

        VII. NO EMPLOYMENT OR 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.

        VIII. FINANCIAL REPORTS

               The Corporation shall deliver a balance sheet and an income
statement at least annually to each individual holding an outstanding option
under and each Participant in the Plan, unless such individual is a key Employee
whose duties in connection with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary)
assure such individual access to equivalent information.



                                       12
<PAGE>   13

                                             APPENDIX


        The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:


        A. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.

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

        C. Committee shall mean a committee of two (2) or more Board members
appointed by the Board to exercise one or more administrative functions under
the Plan.

        D. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.

        E. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following
shareholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:

                (i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing
        more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
        Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
        persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately
        prior to such transaction, or

                (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
        substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation or
        dissolution of the Corporation.

        F. Corporation shall mean i-Planet, Inc, a California corporation.

        G. Disability 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 and shall be determined by
the Plan Administrator on the basis of such medical evidence as the Plan
Administrator deems warranted under the circumstances. Disability shall be
deemed to constitute Permanent Disability in the event that such Disability is
expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of twelve (12) months or more.

        H. Domestic Relations Order shall mean any judgment, decree or order
(including approval of a property settlement agreement) which provides or
otherwise conveys, pursuant to applicable State domestic relations laws
(including community property laws), marital property rights to any spouse or
former spouse of the Optionee.

        I. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), 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.



                                      A-1.
<PAGE>   14

        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 on the date in question, as such price
        is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on the
        Nasdaq National Market or any successor system. 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 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.

                (iii) If the Common Stock is at the time neither listed on any
        Stock Exchange nor traded on the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair
        Market Value shall be determined by the Plan Administrator after taking
        into account such factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem
        appropriate.

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

        M. 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 be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the
dismissal or discharge of any Optionee or Participant or other person in the
Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

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

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

        P. Option Grant Program shall mean the option grant program in effect
under the Plum.



                                      A-2.
<PAGE>   15

        Q. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the
Option Grant Program.

        R. 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.

        S. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

        T. Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance
Plan, as set forth in this document.

        U. Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or the Committee, to
the extent the Committee is at the time responsible for the administration of
the Plan.

        V. Qualified Domestic Relations Order shall mean a Domestic Relations
Order which substantially complies with the requirements of Code Section 414(p).
The Plan Administrator shall have the sole discretion to determine whether a
Domestic Relations Order is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

        W. Service shall mean the provision of services to the Corporation (or
any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a
non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant, except to the
extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option
grant or stock issuance.

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

        Y. 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 Program.

        Z. Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in
effect under the Plan.

        AA. 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.



                                      A-3.
<PAGE>   16

        AB. 10% Shareholder 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).



                                      A-4.

<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1



                                         October 8, 1998


Sun Microsystems, Inc.
901 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303

        RE:    REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or "you") and have examined the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about October 8, 1998 in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
of 47,766 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.00067 per share
(the "Shares"), reserved for issuance under the i-Planet, Inc. 1996 Stock Option
/ Stock Issuance Plan (the "Plan"). As your legal counsel, we have examined the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, the Plan and
such other documents of the Company as we have deemed necessary or appropriate
for the purposes of the opinion expressed herein, and are familiar with the
proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the operation and
administration of the Plan and the sale and issuance of the Shares pursuant to
the Plan.

        In our opinion, the Shares, when issued and sold in the manner referred
to in the Plan and pursuant to the agreements which accompany the Plan, will be
legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

        We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the
Registration Statement and any subsequent amendment thereto.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                        Professional Corporation

                                        /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati




<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2


               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the i-Planet, Inc. 1996 Stock Option / Stock
Issuance Plan of our reports dated July 15, 1998, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Sun Microsystems, Inc., incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 1998 and
the related financial statement schedule included therein, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.





October 7, 1998                         /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Palo Alto, California





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