SYMANTEC CORP
S-8, 2000-03-02
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2000
                                                   Registration No. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                              SYMANTEC CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                DELAWARE                                      77-0181864
      (State or Other Jurisdiction                         (I.R.S. Employer
    of Incorporation or Organization)                     Identification No.)

                          20330 STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)

                              1999 ACQUISITION PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plans)

                                JOHN W. THOMPSON
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                              SYMANTEC CORPORATION
                          20330 STEVENS CREEK BOULEVARD
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
                                 (408) 253-9600
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent For Service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                            Gordon K. Davidson, Esq.
                               David A. Bell, Esq.
                               Thomas T. Kim, Esq.
                               Fenwick & West LLP
                              Two Palo Alto Square
                           Palo Alto, California 94306

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                    CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              PROPOSED             PROPOSED
                                            AMOUNT             MAXIMUM              MAXIMUM            AMOUNT OF
                                             TO BE        OFFERING PRICE PER   AGGREGATE OFFERING     REGISTRATION
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED      REGISTERED (1)       SHARE (2)             PRICE                 FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>             <C>                  <C>                    <C>
Option to Purchase Common Stock             500,000          $69.59375           $34,796,875.00          $9,187
and Common Stock, $0.01 par
value
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            TOTAL                           500,000                              $34,796,875.00          $9,187
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) Represents 500,000 shares of Common Stock to be registered under 1999
Acquisition Plan.
(2) Calculated as of March 1, 2000 pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities
Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based on the
average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's common stock as reported
by the Nasdaq National Market on February 25, 2000.


<PAGE>   2



                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

        The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated herein by reference:

        (a) Registrant's Form 10-K filed pursuant to 13(a) or 15(d) of the
            Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
            which contains audited financial statements of Registrant as of
            March 31, 1998 and 1999 and for each of the years in the three-year
            period ended March 31, 1999.

        (b) Registrants Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
            January 14, 2000.

        (c) Registrant's Form 10-Q filed pursuant to 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
            Act for the quarterly periods ended July 2, 1999, October 1, 1999
            and December 31, 1999.

        (d) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
            Registrant's registration statement filed with the Commission under
            Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report
            filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        (e) The description of Registrant's preferred stock purchase rights
            under the caption "Description of Registrant's Securities to be
            Registered" on pages 2 through 5 of the Registrant's Form 8-A filed
            on August 19, 1998, and any amendment or report filed for the
            purpose of updating such description.

        All documents subsequently filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall
be deemed incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date
of the 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 AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court
to award, or a corporation's board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under
certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses
incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act").

        As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that eliminates
the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:

           -   for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to Registrant
               or its stockholders;


                                       1
<PAGE>   3

           -   for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve
               intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
           -   under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
               regarding unlawful dividends and stock purchases; and
           -   for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
               personal benefit.

        As permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, Registrant's
Bylaws provide that:

           -   Registrant is required to indemnify its directors and officers to
               the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
               Law, subject to limited exceptions;
           -   Registrant may indemnify its other employees and agents to the
               extent that it indemnifies its officers and directors, unless
               otherwise required by law, its certificate of incorporation, its
               bylaws or agreements to which it is a party;
           -   Registrant is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its
               directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding to
               the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
               Law, subject to limited exceptions; and
           -   the rights conferred in the Bylaws are not exclusive.

        Registrant has entered into Indemnity Agreements with each of its
current directors and officers to give such directors and officers additional
contractual assurances regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation and to provide additional procedural
protections. At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving
a director, officer or employee of Registrant regarding which indemnification is
sought, nor is Registrant aware of any threatened litigation that may result in
claims for indemnification.

        Registrant maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance and
intends to extend that coverage for public securities matters.

        See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 9.

        Reference is also made to the following documents filed as exhibits to
this registration statement regarding relevant indemnification provisions
described above and elsewhere herein:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               EXHIBIT DOCUMENT                                                      NUMBER
               ----------------                                                      ------

<S>                                                                                  <C>
Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation. (Incorporated by                  4.01
reference to Annex G filed with the Registrant's Joint Management Information
Circular and Proxy Statement (No. 000-17781) dated October 17, 1995.)

Registrant's Bylaws, as amended and restated effective August 11, 1998.               4.02
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the Registrant's Current
Report 8-K filed August 19, 1998.)
</TABLE>


ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

           Not applicable.


                                       2
<PAGE>   4



ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT                                          EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                            TITLE
- ------                                            -----


<S>       <C>
   4.01   Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to
          Annex G filed with the Registrant's Joint Management Information Circular and Proxy
          Statement (No. 000-17781) dated October 17, 1995.)

   4.02   Registrant's Bylaws, as amended and restated effective August 11,
          1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the
          Registrant's Current Report 8-K filed August 19, 1998.)

   4.03   Symantec Corporation 1999 Acquisition Plan.

   5.01   Opinion of Fenwick & West LLP regarding legality of the securities being
          registered.

  23.01   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

  24.01   Power of Attorney (see the signature page to this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>


ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

        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:

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

           (b) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
               the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
               recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
               in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
               information set forth in the registration statement; and

           (c) to include any material information with respect to the plan of
               distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
               statement or any material change to such information in the
               registration statement;

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

        (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities


                                       3
<PAGE>   5


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

        (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of Registrant pursuant to the provisions discussed in Item 6 hereof, or
otherwise, 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 Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of 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 hereby, 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.


                                       4
<PAGE>   6


                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Cupertino, State of California, on this 29th day of
February, 2000.
                                    SYMANTEC CORPORATION

                                    By:  /s/ JOHN W. THOMPSON
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                         John W. Thompson
                                         Chairman of the Board, President and
                                         Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints John W. Thompson, Greg Myers and Derek
Witte, and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with
full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-8, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent, 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 might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

             Signature                             Title                       Date
             ---------                             -----                       ----
<S>                                   <C>                               <C>
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:


/s/ JOHN W. THOMPSON                  Chairman of the Board,            February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------         President and Chief Executive
John W. Thompson                      Officer


PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER AND
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER

/s/ GREG MYERS                        Chief Financial Officer, Vice     February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------         President of Finance
Greg Myers


ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS

/s/ CARL D. CARMAN                    Director                          February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------
Carl D. Carman


/s/ WALTER W. BREGMAN                 Director                          February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------
Walter W. Bregman


/s/ ROBERT S. MILLER                  Director                          February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------
Robert S. Miller


/s/ CHARLES M. BOESENBERG             Director                          February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------
Charles M. Boesenberg


/s/ ROBERT R. B. DYKES                Director                          February 29, 2000
- -----------------------------
Robert R. B. Dykes
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>   7



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

EXHIBIT                                      EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                        TITLE
- ------                                        -----


<S>         <C>
   4.01     Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference
            to Annex G filed with the Registrant's Joint Management Information Circular and
            Proxy Statement (No. 000-17781) dated October 17, 1995.)

   4.02     Registrant's Bylaws, as amended and restated effective August 11,
            1998. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed with the
            Registrant's Current Report 8-K filed August 19, 1998.)

   4.03     Symantec Corporation 1999 Acquisition Plan.

   5.01     Opinion of Fenwick & West LLP regarding legality of the securities being
            registered.

  23.01     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

  24.01     Power of Attorney (see the signature page to this Registration Statement).
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.03

                                                            Symantec Corporation
                                                           1999 Acquisition Plan
                                                        As adopted July 15, 1999


                              SYMANTEC CORPORATION

                              1999 ACQUISITION PLAN

                            As Adopted July 15, 1999



             1.     PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives
to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential
contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent,
Subsidiaries and Affiliates, by offering them an opportunity to participate in
the Company's future performance through awards of Options. Capitalized terms
not defined in the text are defined in Section 21.

             2.      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

                     2.1 Number of Shares Available. Subject to Sections 2.2 and
16, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance
pursuant to this Plan will be 500,000 Shares plus any Shares that are made
available for grant and issuance under this Plan pursuant to the following
sentence. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 16, Shares that are subject to issuance
upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such Option for any reason
other than exercise of such Option will again be available for grant and
issuance in connection with future Options under this Plan. At all times the
Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall
be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Options granted under
this Plan.

                     2.2 Adjustment of Shares. In the event that the number of
outstanding Shares is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock
split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or
similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration,
then the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan and the Exercise
Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options will be
proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the
stockholders of the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws;
provided, however, that fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either
be replaced by a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of
a Share or will be rounded up to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the
Committee.

             3.      ELIGIBILITY. All Options issued under the Plan shall be
nonqualified stock options. Options may be granted to employees, officers,
consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company or any Parent,
Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; provided that Options awarded to
officers of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company
may not exceed 30% of all Options that are available for grant under the Plan
and provided further that such consultants, independent contractors and advisors
render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of
securities in a capital-raising transaction.

             4.      ADMINISTRATION.

                     4.1 Committee Authority. This Plan will be administered by
the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general
purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board,
the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without
limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:

             (a)     construe and interpret this Plan, any Stock Option
                     Agreement and any other agreement or document executed
                     pursuant to this Plan;

             (b)     prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating
                     to this Plan;

             (c)     select persons to receive Options;

             (d)     determine the form and terms of Options;

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

             (e)     determine the number of Shares or other consideration
                     subject to Options;

             (f)     determine whether Options will be granted singly, in
                     combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as
                     alternatives to, other Options under this Plan or any other
                     incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any
                     Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company;

             (g)     grant waivers of Plan or Option conditions;

             (h)     determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of
                     Options;

             (i)     correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
                     inconsistency in this Plan, any Option or any Stock Option
                     Agreement;

             (j)     determine whether an Option has been earned;

             (k)     amend any option agreements executed in connection with
                     this Plan; and

             (l)     make all other determinations necessary or advisable for
                     the administration of this Plan.

                     4.2 Committee Discretion. Any determination made by the
Committee with respect to any Option will be made in its sole discretion at the
time of grant of the Option or, unless in contravention of any express term of
this Plan or Option, at any later time, and such determination will be final and
binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Option under
this Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the
authority to grant Options under this Plan.

             5.     OPTIONS. The Committee may grant Options to eligible
persons and will determine the number of Shares subject to the Option, the
Exercise Price of the Option, the period during which the Option may be
exercised, and all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the
following:

                     5.1 Form of Option Grant. Each Option granted under this
Plan will be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement, which will be in such form
and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as
the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be
subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

                     5.2 Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be
the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option,
unless otherwise specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a
copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time
after the granting of the Option.

                     5.3 Exercise Period. Options will be exercisable within the
times or upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock
Option Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will
be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option
is granted. The Committee also may provide for the exercise of Options to become
exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such
number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines.

                     5.4 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be
determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may not be less than
100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for
the Shares purchased may be made in accordance with Section 6 of this Plan.

                     5.5 Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised only by
delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the
"EXERCISE AGREEMENT") in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the
same for each Participant), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the
restrictions


                                       2
<PAGE>   3

imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and such
representations and agreements regarding Participant's investment intent and
access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable
by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together with payment
in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being purchased.

                     5.6 Termination. Notwithstanding the exercise periods set
forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be
subject to the following:

             (a)     If the Participant is Terminated for any reason except
                     death or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such
                     Participant's Options only to the extent that such Options
                     would have been exercisable upon the Termination Date no
                     later than three (3) months after the Termination Date (or
                     such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five (5)
                     years as may be determined by the Committee), but in any
                     event, no later than the expiration date of the Options.

             (b)     If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant's
                     death or Disability (or the Participant dies within three
                     (3) months after a Termination other than because of
                     Participant's death or disability), then Participant's
                     Options may be exercised only to the extent that such
                     Options would have been exercisable by Participant on the
                     Termination Date and must be exercised by Participant (or
                     Participant's legal representative or authorized assignee)
                     no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date
                     (or such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five
                     (5) years as may be determined by the Committee), but in
                     any event no later than the expiration date of the Options.

                     5.7 Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a
reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an
Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from
exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then
exercisable.

                     5.8 Modification, Extension or Renewal. The Committee may
modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new
Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without
the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant's rights
under any Option previously granted. The Committee may reduce the Exercise Price
of outstanding Options without the consent of Participants affected by a written
notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced
below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 5.4 of
this Plan for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the
Exercise Price.

             6.      PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.

                     6.1 Payment. Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to this
Plan may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the
Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law:

             (a)     by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the
                     Participant;

             (b)     by surrender of shares that either: (1) have been owned by
                     Participant for more than six (6) months and have been paid
                     for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares
                     were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory
                     note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such
                     shares); or (2) were obtained by Participant in the public
                     market;

             (c)     by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such
                     terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing
                     interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income
                     under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however,
                     that Participants who are not employees of the Company will
                     not be entitled to purchase Shares with a promissory note

                                       3
<PAGE>   4


                     unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other
                     than the Shares; provided, further, that the portion of the
                     Exercise Price equal to the par value of the Shares, if
                     any, must be paid in cash;

             (d)     by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant
                     for services rendered; provided, further, that the portion
                     of the Exercise Price equal to the par value of the Shares,
                     if any, must be paid in cash;

             (e)     provided that a public market for the Company's stock
                     exists:

                     (1)    through a "same day sale" commitment from the
                            Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of
                            the National Association of Securities Dealers (an
                            "NASD DEALER") whereby the Participant irrevocably
                            elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion
                            of the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise
                            Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably
                            commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the
                            Exercise Price directly to the Company; or

                     (2)    through a "margin" commitment from the Participant
                            and a NASD Dealer whereby the Participant
                            irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to
                            pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in
                            a margin account as security for a loan from the
                            NASD Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price, and
                            whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon
                            receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price
                            directly to the Company; or

             (f)     by any combination of the foregoing.

                     6.2 Loan Guarantees. The Committee may help the Participant
pay for Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the
Company of a third-party loan to the Participant, provided the Company has full
recourse to the Participant relative to the guarantee.

             7.      WITHHOLDING TAXES.

                     7.1 Withholding Generally. Whenever Shares are to be issued
in satisfaction of Options granted under this Plan, the Company may require the
Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal,
state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any
certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under this Plan, payments
in satisfaction of Options are to be made in cash, such payment will be net of
an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax
requirements.

                     7.2 Stock Withholding. When, under applicable tax laws, a
Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of
any Option that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated
to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may allow
the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to
have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued that number of Shares
having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld,
determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be
determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this
purpose will be made in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee.

             8.      PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.

                     8.1 Voting and Dividends. No Participant will have
any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares
are issued to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the
Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with
respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or
other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares;


                                       4
<PAGE>   5

provided, that the Participant will have no right to retain such stock dividends
or stock distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the
Participant's original Exercise Price pursuant to Section 10.

                     8.2 Financial Statements. The Company will provide
financial statements to each Participant prior to such Participant's purchase of
Shares under this Plan, and to each Participant annually during the period such
Participant has Options outstanding; provided, however, the Company will not be
required to provide such financial statements to Participants whose services in
connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

             9. TRANSFERABILITY. Options granted under this Plan, and any
interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, and may
not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, otherwise than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or as determined by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, within the limits permitted under the Form
S-8 Registration Statement relating to Shares thereto and set forth in the Stock
Option Agreement.

             10. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES. At the discretion of the Committee,
the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Stock Option
Agreement a right to repurchase a portion of or all unvested Shares previously
received upon exercise of an Option and held by a Participant following such
Participant's Termination at any time within ninety (90) days after the later of
Participant's Termination Date and the date Participant purchases Shares under
this Plan, for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, at the
Participant's Exercise Price.

             11. CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Shares or other securities
delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends
and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable,
including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities
law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock
exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed or
quoted.

             12. ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES. To enforce any restrictions on a
Participant's Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all
certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other
instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in
blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow
until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the
certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as
partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be
required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so
purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant's obligation to the
Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may
require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment
of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse
against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of
the Participant's Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of
the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge
agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The
Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a
pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.

             13. EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF OPTIONS. The Committee may, at any time
or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective
Participants, to issue new Options in exchange for the surrender and
cancellation of any or all outstanding Options. The Committee may at any time
buy from a Participant an Option previously granted with payment in cash, Shares
or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and
the Participant may agree.

             14. SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. An Option will
not be effective unless such Option is in compliance with all applicable federal
and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and
the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which
the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of
grant of the Option and also

                                        5
<PAGE>   6

on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision
in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver
certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals
from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or
advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of
such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body
that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be
under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance
with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state
securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company
will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.

             15. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY. Nothing in this Plan or any Option
granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant
any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship
with, the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company or limit
in any way the right of the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of
the Company to terminate Participant's employment or other relationship at any
time, with or without cause.

             16. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

                     16.1 Assumption or Replacement of Options by Successor. In
the event of (a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of
the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is
no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock
holdings and the Options granted under this Plan are assumed, converted or
replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all
Participants), (c) a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation
but after which the stockholders of the Company (other than any stockholder
which merges (or which owns or controls another corporation which merges) with
the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity interests
in the Company, (d) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company,
or (e) any other transaction which qualifies as a "corporate transaction" under
Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Company give up all
of their equity interest in the Company (except for the acquisition, sale or
transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of the Company
from or by the stockholders of the Company), any or all outstanding Options may
be assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation (if any), which
assumption, conversion or replacement will be binding on all Participants. In
the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Options or
provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to
stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Options).
The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the
Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property
subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the
event such successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute
Options, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in this
Subsection 16.1, such Options will expire on such transaction at such time and
on such conditions as the Board will determine.

                     16.2 Other Treatment of Options. Subject to any greater
rights granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section
16, in the event of the occurrence of any transaction described in Section 16.1,
any outstanding Options will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement
or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, sale of assets or
other "corporate transaction."

                     16.3 Assumption of Options by the Company. The Company,
from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding options granted by
another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company
or otherwise, by either; (a) granting an Option under this Plan in substitution
of such other company's option; or (b) assuming such option as if it had been
granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed option could be applied to
an Option granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be
permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed option would have been
eligible to be granted an Option under this Plan if the other company had
applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes
an option granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such option
will remain unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature
of Shares issuable upon exercise of any such option will


                                        6
<PAGE>   7

be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event
the Company elects to grant a new Option rather than assuming an existing
option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.

             17. ADOPTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan will become effective
on the date that it is adopted by the Board (the "EFFECTIVE DATE").

             18. TERM OF PLAN. Unless earlier terminated as provided herein,
this Plan will terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

             19. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may at any time
terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation
amendment of any form of Stock Option Agreement or instrument to be executed
pursuant to this Plan; provided, however, that no amendments may be made to
outstanding Options without the consent of the Participant.

             20. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of this Plan
by the Board nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any
limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation
arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the
granting of stock options otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements
may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

             21. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms will
have the following meanings:

                     "AFFILIATE" means any corporation that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or
is under common control with, another corporation, where "control" (including
the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession,
direct or indirect, of the power to cause the direction of the management and
policies of the corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise.

                     "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                     "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                     "COMMITTEE" means the committee appointed by the Board to
administer this Plan, or if no such committee is appointed, the Board.

                     "COMPANY" means Symantec Corporation, a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor corporation.

                     "DISABILITY" means a disability, whether temporary or
permanent, partial or total, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code,
as determined by the Committee.

                     "EXERCISE PRICE" means the price at which a holder of an
Option may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.

                     "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock determined as follows:

             (a)     if such Common Stock is then quoted on the Nasdaq National
                     Market, its closing price on the Nasdaq National Market on
                     the last trading day prior to the date of determination as
                     reported in The Wall Street Journal;

                                        7
<PAGE>   8

             (b)     if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed
                     on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the
                     last trading day prior to the date of determination on the
                     principal national securities exchange on which the Common
                     Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The
                     Wall Street Journal;

             (c)     if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted
                     on the Nasdaq National Market nor listed or admitted to
                     trading on a national securities exchange, the average of
                     the closing bid and asked prices on the last trading day
                     prior to the date of determination as reported in The Wall
                     Street Journal; or

             (d)     if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in
                     good faith.

                     "OPTION" means an award of a nonqualified stock option to
purchase Shares pursuant to Section 5.

                     "PARENT" means any corporation (other than the Company) in
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if at the time of the
granting of an Option under this Plan, each of such corporations other than the
Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

                     "PARTICIPANT" means a person who receives an Option under
this Plan.

                     "PLAN" means this Symantec Corporation 1999 Acquisition
Plan, as amended from time to time.

                     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                     "SHARES" means shares of the Company's Common Stock
reserved for issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and
16, and any successor security.

                     "STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT" means, with respect to each
Option, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant
setting forth the terms and conditions of the Option.

                     "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation (other than the Company)
in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time
of granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the last
corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.

                     "TERMINATION" or "TERMINATED" means, for purposes of this
Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason
ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, consultant, independent
contractor or advisor to the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Company, except in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any other leave of
absence approved by the Committee, provided that such leave is for a period of
not more than ninety (90) days, or reinstatement upon the expiration of such
leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. The Committee will have sole
discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide services and
the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide services (the
"TERMINATION DATE").


                                       8

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.01






                                  March 1, 2000

SYMANTEC CORPORATION
20330 Stevens Creek Boulevard
Cupertino, California  95014-2132
(408) 253-9600

Gentlemen/Ladies:

        At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8
(the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") to be filed by you with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") on or about March 1, 2000 in connection
with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an
aggregate of 500,000 shares of your Common Stock (the "STOCK"), subject to
issuance by you upon the exercise of the stock options granted or to be granted
by you under your Symantec Corporation 1999 Acquisition Plan (the "PLAN"). In
rendering this opinion, we have examined the following:

        (1)    the Registration Statement, together with the Exhibits filed, or
               incorporated therein by reference as a part thereof;

        (2)    your Form 10-K filed pursuant to 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
               Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), which
               contains your audited financial statements as of March 31, 1998
               and 1999 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
               March 31, 1999;

        (3)    your Forms 10-Q filed pursuant to 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
               for the quarterly periods ended July 2, 1999, October 1, 1999 and
               December 31, 1999;

        (4)    the description of your preferred stock purchase rights under the
               caption "Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered"
               on pages 2 through 5 of the your registration statement on Form
               8-A filed on August 19, 1998;

        (5)    the Prospectuses prepared in connection with the Registration
               Statement;

        (6)    your Registration Statement on Form 8-A (Commission File Number
               0-17781), as declared effective by the SEC on June 22, 1989;

        (7)    the minutes of meetings and actions by written consent of your
               stockholders and your Board of Directors that are contained in
               your minute books that are in our possession; and

        (8)    a Management Certificate addressed to us and dated of even date
               herewith executed by the Company containing certain factual and
               other representations.
<PAGE>   2

Symantec Corporation
Page 2

        We have also confirmed the continued effectiveness of your registration
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by telephone call to the
offices of the Commission and have confirmed your eligibility to use Form S-8.

        In our examination of documents for purposes of this opinion, we have
assumed, and express no opinion as to, the genuineness of all signatures on
original documents, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted
to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us
as copies, the legal capacity of all natural persons executing the same, the
lack of any undisclosed termination, modification, waiver or amendment to any
documents reviewed by us and the due authorization, execution and delivery of
all documents where due authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites
to the effectiveness thereof.

        As to matters of fact relevant to this opinion, we have relied solely
upon our examination of the documents referred to above and have assumed the
current accuracy and completeness of the information obtained from records
referred to above. We have made no independent investigation or other attempt to
verify the accuracy of any of such information or to determine the existence or
non-existence of any other factual matters; however, we are not aware of any
facts that would cause us to believe that the opinion expressed herein is not
accurate.

        We are admitted to practice law in the State of California, and we
express no opinion herein with respect to the application or effect of the laws
of any jurisdiction other than the existing laws of the United States of America
and the State of California and (without reference to case law or secondary
sources) the existing Delaware General Corporation Law.

        Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the 500,000 shares of
Stock that may be issued and sold by you upon the exercise of the stock option
granted under the Plan, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable
plan and stock option agreements to be entered into thereunder, and in the
manner referred to in the relevant Prospectus associated with the Registration
Statement, will be 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 all references to us, if any, in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus constituting a part thereof and any
amendments thereto.

        This opinion speaks only as of its date and we assume no obligation to
update this opinion should circumstances change after the date hereof. This
opinion is intended for your use as an exhibit to the Registration Statement for
the purpose of the above sale of the Stock and is not to be relied upon for any
other purpose.

                                            Very truly yours,


                                            FENWICK & WEST LLP


                                            /s/ Fenwick & West LLP




<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.01

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8) pertaining to the 1999 Acquisition Plan of our report dated April 30, 1999
with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Symantec
Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March
31, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                                 /S/ Ernst & Young LLP
San Jose, California
February 28, 2000




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