<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 23, 2000
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CALIFORNIA 77-0225590
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
----------------
1171 SONORA COURT, SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086 PHONE: (408) 735-9100
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
----------------
1995 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN,
1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN, AND
1995 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
---------------------------------------------------
(Full title of the plans)
BING YEH
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
1171 SONORA COURT, SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA 94086 PHONE: (408) 735-9100
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
----------------
Copies to:
Mark P. Tanoury, Esq.
Cooley Godward LLP
3000 Sand Hill Road
Building 3, Suite 230
Menlo Park, CA 94025-7116
(650) 843-5100
----------------
<PAGE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE AMOUNT TO BE PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
REGISTERED REGISTERED PRICE PER SHARE (1) PRICE (1) REGISTRATION FEE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common stock, no par value
(together with associated (See Notes to Calculation of
preferred stock purchase rights) 2,150,000 shares Registration Fee) $98,593,617 $26,029
- --------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, (the "Securities Act"). The price per share and aggregate
offering price are based upon (a) the weighted average exercise price,
for shares subject to outstanding options granted by the Registrant
under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, and (b) the average of the high
and low prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq Stock Market for March 21, 2000, for shares reserved for future
issuance pursuant to (i) the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, (ii) the 1995
Non Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, and (iii) the 1995 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act).
NOTES TO CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
The chart below details the calculations of the registration fee:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options
under the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan 971,665 $22.34027 $21,707,258
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
Shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to
the 1995 Equity Incentive Plan 778,335 $65.25 $50,786,359
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
Shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to
the 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option
Plan 50,000 $65.25 $3,262,500
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
Shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to
the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 350,000 $65.25 $22,837,500
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
Proposed Maximum Offering Price $98,593,617
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
REGISTRATION FEE $26,029
- -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed by the
Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 1995, SEC
File No. 33-97802, is incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement.
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
99.1 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
99.2 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended.
99.3 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
this Registration Statement.
24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California, on March 23,
2000.
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By /S/ BING YEH
-------------------------------------
Bing Yeh
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Bing Yeh and Jeffrey L. Garon, and each
or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith,
as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them, or their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
<S> <C> <C>
President, Chief Executive Officer and
/s/ BING YEH Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER) March 23, 2000
- ------------------------------------------
Bing Yeh
Vice President Finance &
Administration, Chief Financial
/s/ JEFFREY L. GARON Officer and Secretary (PRINCIPAL March 23, 2000
- ------------------------------------------ FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
Jeffrey L. Garon
Director
- ------------------------------------------
Yasushi Chikagami
/s/ RONALD CHWANG Director March 23, 2000
- ------------------------------------------
Ronald Chwang
/s/ YAW WEN HU Director March 23, 2000
- ------------------------------------------
Yaw Wen Hu
/s/ TSUYOSHI TAIRA Director March 23, 2000
- ------------------------------------------
Tsuyoshi Taira
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
5.1 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
99.1 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
99.2 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended.
99.3 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2 Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.1 to
this Registration Statement.
24.1 Power of Attorney is contained on the signature pages.
5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
[COOLEY GODWARD LLP LETTERHEAD]
March 23, 2000
Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.
1171 Sonora Court
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection
with the filing by Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. (the "Company") of a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of up to 2,150,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value, (the "Shares") pursuant to
its 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, 1995 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan,
and 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the "Plans").
In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement and
related Prospectuses, your Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, and
such other documents, records, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as
we deem necessary as a basis for this opinion. We have assumed the genuineness
and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity
to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof, and the due
execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are a
prerequisite to the effectiveness thereof.
On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the Plans, the
Registration Statement and related Prospectuses, will be validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred
payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such
deferred payments are made in full).
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
COOLEY GODWARD LLP
By: /s/ MARK P. TANOURY
--------------------
Mark P. Tanoury
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Accountants
Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.:
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 17, 2000, except for Note 4,
which is as of February 24, 2000, relating to the financial statements, which
appears in Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the incorporation by reference
of our report dated January 17, 2000 relating to the financial statement
schedule, which appears in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
March 22, 2000
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
1995 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ADOPTED ON OCTOBER 3, 1995
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS NOVEMBER 1995
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS JUNE 1998
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS JULY 1998
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APRIL 1999
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS JULY 1999
INTRODUCTION
This Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. 1995 Equity Incentive Plan is an
amendment and restatement of the Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. 1990 Stock
Option Plan as amended June 1998. Shares reserved for issuance under the 1990
Stock Option Plan shall hereafter be reserved for issuance, and issued, under
the terms of this 1995 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated in the
form below.
1. PURPOSES.
(a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected
Employees and Consultants to the Company, and its Affiliates, may be given an
opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the stock of the Company
through the granting of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock
Options, (iii) stock bonuses, (iv) rights to purchase restricted stock, and (v)
stock appreciation rights, all as defined below.
(b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
persons who are now Employees of or Consultants to the Company or its
Affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees and Consultants,
and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the
success of the Company and its Affiliates.
(c) The Company intends that the Stock Awards issued under the Plan
shall, in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which responsibility
for administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c),
be either (i) Options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, including Incentive
Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options, (ii) stock bonuses or rights to
purchase restricted stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof, or (iii) stock
appreciation rights granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof. All Options shall be
separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at
the time of grant, and in such form as issued pursuant to Section 6, and a
separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on
exercise of each type of Option.
2. DEFINITIONS.
<PAGE>
(a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f) respectively, of the Code.
(b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with subsection 3(c) of the Plan.
(e) "COMPANY" means Silicon Storage Technology, Inc., a California
corporation.
(f) "CONCURRENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "CONCURRENT RIGHT" means a
right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(2) of the Plan.
(g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or an Affiliate to render consulting services and who is compensated for
such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors
who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not compensated by
the Company for their services as Directors.
(h) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means
the employment or relationship as a Director or Consultant is not interrupted or
terminated. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in
the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board, including sick
leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; or (ii) transfers between
locations of the Company or between the Company, Affiliates or their successors.
(i) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.
(j) "DISINTERESTED PERSON" means a Director: who either (i) was not
during the one year prior to service as an administrator of the Plan granted or
awarded equity securities pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company
or any Affiliate entitling the participants therein to acquire equity securities
of the Company or any Affiliate except as permitted by Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i); or
(ii) is otherwise considered to be a "disinterested person" in accordance with
Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i), or any other applicable rules, regulations or
interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(k) "EMPLOYEE" means any person employed by the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a
director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company.
<PAGE>
(l) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(m) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of the common
stock of the Company determined as follows:
(1) If the common stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the National
Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock
shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales
were reported) as quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with the
greatest volume of trading in common stock) on the last market trading day prior
to the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such
other source as the Board deems reliable;
(2) If the common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but
not on the National Market System thereof) or is regularly quoted by a
recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair
Market Value of a share of common stock shall be the mean between the bid and
asked prices for the common stock on the last market trading day prior to the
day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other
source as the Board deems reliable;
(3) In the absence of an established market for the common
stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
(n) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(o) "INDEPENDENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "INDEPENDENT RIGHT" means
a right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(3) of the Plan.
(p) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(q) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(r) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(s) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(t) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who holds an
outstanding Option.
(u) "PLAN" means this Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. 1995 Equity
Incentive Plan.
<PAGE>
(v) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor
to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to
the Plan.
(w) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means any of the various types of rights
which may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan.
(x) "STOCK AWARD" means any right granted under the Plan, including any
Option, any stock bonus, any right to purchase restricted stock, and any Stock
Appreciation Right.
(y) "STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.
(z) "TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "TANDEM RIGHT" means a right
granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(1) of the Plan.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the
Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c).
(b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(1) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock
Award shall be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an Incentive Stock Option,
a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase restricted
stock, a Stock Appreciation Right, or a combination of the foregoing; the
provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including
the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to
a Stock Award; whether a person shall be permitted to receive stock upon
exercise of an Independent Stock Appreciation Right; and the number of shares
with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.
(2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement,
in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the
Plan fully effective.
(3) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section
14.
(c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee
composed of not fewer than two (2) members (the "Committee"), all of the members
of which Committee shall be Disinterested Persons. If administration is
delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the
administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board (and
references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee),
subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may
abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
<PAGE>
administration of the Plan. Additionally, prior to the date of the first
registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to any person or persons
and the term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such
authority has been delegated. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to
the contrary, at any time the Board or the Committee may delegate to a
committee of one or more members of the Board the authority to grant Stock
Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act.
(d) Any requirement that an administrator of the Plan be a
Disinterested Person shall not apply (i) prior to the date of the first
registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, or (ii) if the Board or the Committee expressly declares that such
requirement shall not apply. Any Disinterested Person shall otherwise comply
with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards
shall not exceed in the aggregate seven million seven hundred fifty thousand
(7,750,000) shares of the Company's common stock. If any Stock Award shall for
any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having
been exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall
revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Shares subject
to Stock Appreciation Rights exercised in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan
shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.
(b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant
thereto may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant thereto may be granted
only to Employees or Consultants.
(b) A Director may be eligible for benefits of the Plan only if such
Director is also an Employee at the time of the grant.
(c) A Director shall in no event be eligible for the benefits of the
Plan unless at the time discretion is exercised in the selection of the Director
as a person to whom Stock Awards may be granted, or in the determination of the
number of shares which may be covered by Stock Awards granted to the Director:
(i) the Board has delegated its discretionary authority over the Plan to a
Committee which consists solely of Disinterested Persons; or (ii) the Plan
otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. The Board shall
otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. This subsection 5(c) shall
not apply (i) prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security
of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) if the Board or
Committee expressly declares that it shall not apply.
(d) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Option or an award
to purchase
<PAGE>
restricted stock if, at the time of grant, such person owns (or is deemed to
own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or of any of its Affiliates unless the exercise price of such
Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of
such stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant, or in the case of a
restricted stock purchase award, the purchase price is at least one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant.
6. OPTION PROVISIONS.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) TERM. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten
(10) years from the date it was granted.
(b) PRICE. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be
not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock
subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be determined by the Board. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in
the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or
substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section
424(a) of the Code.
(c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the grant of the
Option, (A) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (B)
according to a deferred payment or other arrangement (which may include, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock of the
Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the Option is
transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.
In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
payable at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest
necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of
the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the
deferred payment arrangement.
(d) TRANSFERABILITY. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be
transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive
Stock Option is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall
not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order satisfying the requirements of
Rule 16b-3 and any administrative interpretations or pronouncements thereunder
(a "QDRO"), and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom
the Option is granted only by such person or any transferee pursuant to a QDRO.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the person to whom the Option is granted may, by
<PAGE>
delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the
Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the
Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
(e) VESTING. The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option
may, but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but need
not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during
each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest")
with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be
exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period
and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not fully
exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the
time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or
other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The provisions of this
subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum
number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised.
(f) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of termination) but only within
such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement),
or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her
Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall
terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again
become available for issuance under the Plan.
An Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of
the Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term
of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day
after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Finally, an Optionee's Option Agreement may
also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant (other than
upon the Optionee's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under
the Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of
the term of the Option set forth in the first paragraph of this subsection 6(f),
or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of
the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant during
which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration
requirements.
(g) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the
Optionee's disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the
extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of
termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i)
the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or
shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the
term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If,
<PAGE>
at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or
her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the
Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares
covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for
issuance under the Plan.
(h) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee during,
or within a period specified in the Option after the termination of, the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the Option
may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who acquired the
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated
to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to subsection 6(d),
but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18)
months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified
in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was
not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by
such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan.
(i) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or
Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to
the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so
purchased shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company, with
the repurchase price to be equal to the original purchase price of the stock, or
to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate.
<PAGE>
(j) RE-LOAD OPTIONS. Without in any way limiting the authority of the
Board or Committee to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder, the Board
or Committee shall have the authority (but not an obligation) to include as part
of any Option Agreement a provision entitling the Optionee to a further Option
(a "Re-Load Option") in the event the Optionee exercises the Option evidenced by
the Option agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering other shares of
Common Stock in accordance with this Plan and the terms and conditions of the
Option Agreement. Any such Re-Load Option (i) shall be for a number of shares
equal to the number of shares surrendered as part or all of the exercise price
of such Option; (ii) shall have an expiration date which is the same as the
expiration date of the Option the exercise of which gave rise to such Re-Load
Option; and (iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the
Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Re-Load Option which is an Incentive Stock Option and which is
granted to a 10% stockholder (as described in subsection 5(c)), shall have an
exercise price which is equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair
Market Value of the stock subject to the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise
of the original Option and shall have a term which is no longer than five (5)
years.
Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or Committee may designate at the time
of the grant of the original Option; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the designation of
any Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one
hundred thousand dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability of
Incentive Stock Options described in subsection 12(e) of the Plan and in Section
422(d) of the Code. There shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any
such Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of sufficient shares
under subsection 4(a) and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as
the Board or Committee may determine which are not inconsistent with the express
provisions of the Plan regarding the terms of Options.
7. TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.
Each stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the
Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms
and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock
bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise)
the substance of each of the following provisions as appropriate:
(a) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board or Committee shall
determine and designate in such agreement, but in no event shall the purchase
price be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the stock's Fair Market Value on
the date such award is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the
Committee may determine that eligible participants in the Plan may be awarded
stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services
actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit.
<PAGE>
(b) TRANSFERABILITY. No rights under a stock bonus or restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be transferable except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order satisfying
the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and any administrative interpretations or
pronouncements thereunder, so long as stock awarded under such agreement remains
subject to the terms of the agreement.
(c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to a
stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of
purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, according to a
deferred payment or other arrangement with the person to whom the stock is sold;
or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the
Board or the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board or the Committee to which administration of the Plan has been delegated
may award stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past
services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit.
(d) VESTING. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but
need not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the
Committee.
(e) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event a Participant's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise
reacquire any or all of the shares of stock held by that person which have not
vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreement between the Company and such person.
8. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
(a) The Board or Committee shall have full power and authority,
exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the
Plan to Employees or Directors of or Consultants to, the Company or its
Affiliates. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the holder
must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the
provisions of the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such right. If a Stock
Appreciation Right is granted to an individual who is at the time subject to
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (a "Section 16(b) Insider"), the Stock Award
Agreement of grant shall incorporate all the terms and conditions at the time
necessary to assure that the subsequent exercise of such right shall qualify for
the safe-harbor exemption from short-swing profit liability provided by Rule
16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation).
No limitation shall exist on the aggregate amount of cash payments the Company
may make under the Plan in connection with the exercise of a Stock Appreciation
Rights.
<PAGE>
(b) Three types of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be authorized for
issuance under the Plan:
(1) TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Tandem Stock
Appreciation Rights will be granted appurtenant to an Option, and shall, except
as specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and
conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains.
Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights will require the holder to elect between the
exercise of the underlying Option for shares of stock and the surrender, in
whole or in part, of such Option for an appreciation distribution. The
appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Tandem Right shall be in cash
(or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair
Market Value on the date of the Option surrender) in an amount up to the excess
of (A) the Fair Market Value (on the date of the Option surrender) of the number
of shares of stock covered by that portion of the surrendered Option in which
the Optionee is vested over (B) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
vested shares.
(2) CONCURRENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Concurrent Rights
will be granted appurtenant to an Option and may apply to all or any portion of
the shares of stock subject to the underlying Option and shall, except as
specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and
conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains. A
Concurrent Right shall be exercised automatically at the same time the
underlying Option is exercised with respect to the particular shares of stock to
which the Concurrent Right pertains. The appreciation distribution payable on an
exercised Concurrent Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an
equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair Market Value on the date of
the exercise of the Concurrent Right) in an amount equal to such portion as
shall be determined by the Board or the Committee at the time of the grant of
the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise
of the Concurrent Right) of the vested shares of stock purchased under the
underlying Option which have Concurrent Rights appurtenant to them over (B) the
aggregate exercise price paid for such shares.
(3) INDEPENDENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Independent Rights
will be granted independently of any Option and shall, except as specifically
set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and conditions
applicable to Nonstatutory Stock Options as set forth in Section 6. They shall
be denominated in share equivalents. The appreciation distribution payable on
the exercised Independent Right shall be not greater than an amount equal to the
excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of
the Independent Right) of a number of shares of Company stock equal to the
number of share equivalents in which the holder is vested under such Independent
Right, and with respect to which the holder is exercising the Independent Right
on such date, over (B) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the grant
of the Independent Right) of such number of shares of Company stock. The
appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Independent Right shall be in
cash or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based on
Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise of the Independent Right.
<PAGE>
9. CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.
The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any
time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options and/or
any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of the
affected holders of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights, the cancellation
of any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan
and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options and/or Stock Appreciation
Rights under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares of stock,
but having an exercise price per share not less than eighty-five percent (85%)
of the Fair Market Value (one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in
the case of an Incentive Stock Option) or, in the case of a 10% stockholder (as
described in subsection 5(c)), not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of
the Fair Market Value) per share of stock on the new grant date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may grant an Option and/or Stock
Appreciation Right with an exercise price lower than that set forth above if
such Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right is granted as part of a transaction
to which section 424(a) of the Code applies.
10. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep
available at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy such
Stock Awards.
(b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Stock Award; provided,
however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") either the Plan,
any Stock Award or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock
Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any
such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company
deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the
Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock
upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.
11. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a
Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any
part thereof will vest pursuant to subsection 6(e), 7(d) or 8(b),
notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it
may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.
(b) Neither an Employee, Director or Consultant nor any person to whom
a Stock Award is transferred under subsection 6(d), 7(b), or 8(b) shall be
deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with
respect to, any shares subject to such Stock Award unless and until such person
has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its
<PAGE>
terms.
(c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award
granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director, Consultant or
other holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in the employ of the Company
or any Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall
affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of
any Employee with or without cause the right of the Company's Board of Directors
and/or the Company's shareholders to remove any Director pursuant to the terms
of the Company's By-Laws and the provisions of the California Corporations Code,
or the right to terminate the relationship of any Consultant pursuant to the
terms of such Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate.
(d) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at
the time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under
all plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according
to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options.
(e) The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is
granted, or any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred pursuant to
subsection 6(d), 7(b) or 8(b), as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock
under any Stock Award, (1) to give written assurances satisfactory to the
Company as to such person's knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to
the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business
matters, and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the
purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award;
and (2) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such
person is acquiring the stock subject to the Stock Award for such person's own
account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing
the stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such
requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the
exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award has been registered under
a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or
(ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for
the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the
then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the
Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such
counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable
securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer
of the stock.
(f) To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the
person to whom a Stock Award is granted may satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock
under a Stock Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such
means: (1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing the Company to withhold
shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise issuable to the participant
as a result of the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award; or
(3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock
of the Company.
13. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through
merger, consolidation,
<PAGE>
reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend
in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination
of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other
transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the
Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of
shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a) and the outstanding
Stock Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of
shares and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards.
Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or the Committee, the
determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated
as a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company".)
(b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise, then to the extent permitted by applicable law: (i) any
surviving corporation or an Affiliate of such surviving corporation shall assume
any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar Stock
Awards for those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) such Stock Awards shall
continue in full force and effect. In the event any surviving corporation and
its Affiliates refuse to assume or continue such Stock Awards, or to substitute
similar options for those outstanding under the Plan, then, with respect to
Stock Awards held by persons then performing services as Employees, Directors or
Consultants, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised shall be
accelerated and the Stock Awards terminated if not exercised prior to such
event.
14. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.
(a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of
the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the
amendment, where the amendment will:
(i) Increase the number of shares reserved for Stock
Awards under the Plan;
(ii) Modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan (to the extent such modification requires stockholder
approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code); or
(iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if such
modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of
Rule 16b-3.
(b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment to
the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to
the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder regarding the exclusion of
performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of
compensation paid to certain executive officers.
<PAGE>
(c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible
Employees, Directors or Consultants with the maximum benefits provided or to be
provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or
Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.
(d) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted before
amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless
(i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was
granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.
(e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms
of any one or more Stock Award; provided, however, that the rights and
obligations under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment
unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock
Award was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.
15. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless
sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on April 12, 2009, which shall be
within ten (10) years from the date the amended Plan is adopted by the Board or
approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.
(b) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan
is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan,
except with the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was granted.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan
has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be
within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the
Board, and, if required, an appropriate permit has been issued by the
Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.2
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
1995 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
ADOPTED ON OCTOBER 3, 1995
APPROVED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS NOVEMBER 1995
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APRIL 1999
APPROVED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS JULY 1999
1. PURPOSE.
(a) The purpose of the Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. 1995
Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to provide a means by
which each director of Silicon Storage Technology, Inc. (the "Company") who is
not otherwise an employee of the Company or of any Affiliate of the Company
(each such person being hereafter referred to as a "Non-Employee Director") will
be given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company.
(b) The word "Affiliate" as used in the Plan means any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company as those terms are defined
in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended from time to time (the "Code").
(c) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
persons now serving as Non-Employee Directors of the Company, to secure and
retain the services of persons capable of serving in such capacity, and to
provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of
the Company.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board") unless and until the Board delegates administration to a
committee, as provided in subparagraph 2(b).
<PAGE>
(b) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee
composed of not fewer than two (2) members of the Board (the "Committee"). If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in
connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed
by the Board, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan.
3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 10 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to options granted
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate two hundred thousand (200,000)
shares (after giving effect to the 2-for-1 effected in October 1995) of the
Company's common stock. If any option granted under the Plan shall for any
reason expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, the
stock not purchased under such option shall again become available for the Plan.
(b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
4. ELIGIBILITY.
Options shall be granted only to Non-Employee Directors of the Company.
5. NON-DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.
(a) Upon the date of the effectiveness of the Company's initial
public offering (the "Effective Date"), each person who is then a
Non-Employee director automatically shall be granted an option to purchase
fifteen thousand (15,000) shares (after giving effect to the 2-
2
<PAGE>
for-1 stock split effected in October 1995) of common stock of the Company on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(b) Each person who, after the Effective Date, is elected for the first
time to be a Non-Employee Director automatically shall be granted, upon the date
of initial election to be a Non-Employee Director by the Board or shareholders
of the Company, an option to purchase fifteen thousand (15,000) shares (after
giving effect to the 2-for-1 stock split effected in October 1995) of common
stock of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
(c) On the date of each annual meeting of the Company after the
Effective Date, commencing with the annual meeting held in 1997, (i) each person
who is then a Non-Employee Director and continuously has been a Non-Employee
Director since the Company's annual meeting in the immediately preceding year
automatically shall be granted an option to purchase six thousand (6,000) shares
(after giving effect to the 2-for-1 stock split effected in October 1995) of
common stock of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and
(ii) each other person who is then a Non-Employee Director automatically shall
be granted an option to purchase, on the terms and conditions set forth herein,
the number of shares of common stock of the Company (rounded up to the nearest
whole share) determined by multiplying six thousand (6,000) shares (after giving
effect to the 2-for-1 stock split effected in October 1995) by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of days the person continuously has been a
Non-Employee Director as of the date of such grant and the denominator of which
is 365.
6. OPTION PROVISIONS.
Each option shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) The term of each option commences on the date it is granted and,
unless sooner terminated as set forth herein, expires on the date ten (10) years
from the date of grant (the
3
<PAGE>
"Expiration Date"). If the optionee's service as a Non-Employee Director or
employee of or consultant to the Company or any Affiliate terminates for any
reason or for no reason, the option shall terminate on the earlier of the
Expiration Date or the date twelve (12) months following the date of
termination of all such service; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such termination
of service is due to the optionee's death, the option shall terminate on the
earlier of the Expiration Date or eighteen (18) months following the date of
the optionee's death. In any and all circumstances, an option may be
exercised following termination of the optionee's service as a Non-Employee
Director or employee of or consultant to the Company or any Affiliate only as
to that number of shares as to which it was exercisable on the date of
termination of all such service under the provisions of subparagraph 6(e).
(b) The exercise price of each option shall be one hundred percent
(100%) of the fair market value of the stock subject to such option on the date
such option is granted.
(c) Payment of the exercise price of each option is due in full in cash
upon any exercise when the number of shares being purchased upon such exercise
is less than 1,000 shares; when the number of shares being purchased upon an
exercise is 1,000 or more shares, the optionee may elect to make payment of the
exercise price under one of the following alternatives:
(i) Payment of the exercise price per share in cash
at the time of exercise; or
(ii) Provided that at the time of the exercise the
Company's common stock is publicly traded and quoted regularly in the Wall
Street Journal, payment by delivery of shares of common stock of the Company
already owned by the optionee, held for the period required to avoid a charge to
the Company's reported earnings, and owned free and clear of any
4
<PAGE>
liens, claims, encumbrances or security interest, which common stock shall be
valued at its fair market value on the date preceding the date of exercise; or
(iii) Payment by a combination of the methods of
payment specified in subparagraph 6(c)(i) and 6(c)(ii) above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this option may be exercised pursuant to
a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve
Board which results in the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company prior to
the issuance of shares of the Company's common stock.
(d) An option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution, or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order
satisfying the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Rule 16b-3") and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person
to whom the option is granted only by such person (or by his guardian or legal
representative) or transferee pursuant to such an order. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the optionee may, by delivering written notice to the Company in a
form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of
the death of the optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the option.
(e) The option shall become exercisable upon grant in accordance with
its terms.
(f) The Company may require any optionee, or any person to whom an
option is transferred under subparagraph 6(d), as a condition of exercising any
such option: (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to
the optionee's knowledge and experience in financial and business matters; and
(ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such
person is acquiring the stock subject to the option for such person's own
account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing
the stock. These
5
<PAGE>
requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall
be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise of the
option has been registered under a then-currently-effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), or (ii), as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by
counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the
circumstances under the then-applicable securities laws.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, an
option may not be exercised unless the shares issuable upon exercise of such
option are then registered under the Securities Act or, if such shares are not
then so registered, the Company has determined that such exercise and issuance
would be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(h) The Company (or a representative of the underwriters) may, in
connection with the first underwritten registration of the offering of any
securities of the Company under the Securities Act, require that any optionee
not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of common stock or other
securities of the Company during such period (not to exceed one hundred eighty
(180) days) following the effective date of the registration statement of the
Company filed under the Securities Act as may be requested by the Company or the
representative of the underwriters.
7. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) During the terms of the options granted under the Plan, the Company
shall keep available at all times the number of shares of stock required to
satisfy such options.
(b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the options granted under the
Plan; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this
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undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities
Act either the Plan, any option granted under the Plan, or any stock issued
or issuable pursuant to any such option. If, after reasonable efforts, the
Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the
authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful
issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from
any liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such
options.
8. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to options granted under the
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Neither an optionee nor any person to whom an option is transferred
under subparagraph 6(d) shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of
the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such option unless
and until such person has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the option
pursuant to its terms.
(b) Throughout the term of any option granted pursuant to the Plan, the
Company shall make available to the holder of such option, not later than one
hundred twenty (120) days after the close of each of the Company's fiscal years
during the option term, upon request, such financial and other information
regarding the Company as comprises the annual report to the shareholders of the
Company provided for in the Bylaws of the Company and such other information
regarding the Company as the holder of such option may reasonably request.
(c) Nothing in the Plan or in any instrument executed pursuant thereto
shall confer upon any Non-Employee Director any right to continue in the service
of the Company or any
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Affiliate or shall affect any right of the Company, its Board or shareholders
or any Affiliate to terminate the service of any Non-Employee Director with
or without cause.
(d) No Non-Employee Director, individually or as a member of a group,
and no beneficiary or other person claiming under or through him, shall have any
right, title or interest in or to any option reserved for the purposes of the
Plan except as to such shares of common stock, if any, as shall have been
reserved for him pursuant to an option granted to him.
(e) In connection with each option granted pursuant to the Plan, it
shall be a condition precedent to the Company's obligation to issue or transfer
shares to a Non-Employee Director, or to evidence the removal or lapse of any
restrictions on transfer, that such Non-Employee Director make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company to insure that the amount of any federal or other
withholding tax required to be withheld with respect to such sale or transfer,
or such removal or lapse, is made available to the Company for timely payment of
such tax.
(f) As used in this Plan, "fair market value" means, as of any date,
the value of the common stock of the Company determined as follows:
(i) If the common stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market, the fair market value of a share of common stock shall be the
closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were
reported) as quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with the
greatest volume of trading in common stock) on the last market trading day prior
to the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such
other source as the Board deems reliable;
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(ii) If the common stock is quoted on Nasdaq (but not on the
National Market thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer but selling prices are not reported, the fair market value of a share of
common stock shall be the mean between the bid and asked prices for the common
stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of determination, as
reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems
reliable;
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the common
stock, the fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the fair market value of the
common stock for an option granted on the Effective Date shall be the price per
share at which shares of common stock of the Company are first sold to the
public in the Company's initial public offering.
10. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any option granted under the Plan (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or otherwise), the Plan and outstanding
options will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of
shares subject to the Plan and the class(es) and number of shares and price per
share of stock subject to outstanding options.
(b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the
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<PAGE>
shares of the Company's common stock outstanding immediately preceding the
merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in
the form of securities, cash or otherwise; or (4) any other capital
reorganization (including a sale of stock of the Company to a single
purchaser or single group of affiliated purchasers) after which less than
fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting shares of the new or continuing
corporation are owned by shareholders of the Company immediately before such
transaction, the time during which options outstanding issued prior to
January 1, 1999 under the Plan may be exercised shall be accelerated to
permit the optionee to exercise all such options in full prior to such event,
and the options shall terminate if not exercised prior to such event.
11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Board shall not amend the plan more than once every
six (6) months, with respect to the provisions of the Plan which relate to the
amount, price and timing of grants, other than to comport with changes in the
Code or applicable regulations or rulings thereunder. Except as provided in
paragraph 10 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall
be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company within twelve
(12) months before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the amendment
will:
(i) Increase the number of shares which may be issued
under the Plan;
(ii) Modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan (to the extent such modification requires shareholder
approval in order for the Plan to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3);
or
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<PAGE>
(iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if such
modification requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to comply with
the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) of the Code.
(b) Rights and obligations under any option granted before any
amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by such amendment unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the person to whom the option was granted and
(ii) such person consents in writing.
12. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board in its discretion, may suspend or terminate the Plan at
any time. No options may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended
or after it is terminated.
(b) Rights and obligations under any option granted while the Plan is
in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except
with the consent of the person to whom the option was granted.
(c) The Plan shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the events
described in Section 10(b) above.
13. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN; CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE.
(a) The Plan shall become effective on the approval of the Board of
Directors, subject to the condition that the Plan be approved by the
shareholders of the Company.
(b) No option granted under the Plan shall be exercised or exercisable
unless and until the condition of subparagraph 13(a) above has been met.
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EXHIBIT 99.3
SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
1995 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
ADOPTED OCTOBER 3, 1995
APPROVED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS NOVEMBER 1995
AMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APRIL 1999
APPROVED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS JULY 1999
1. PURPOSE.
(a) The purpose of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is to
provide a means by which employees of Silicon Storage Technology, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Company"), and its Affiliates, as defined in
subparagraph 1(b), which are designated as provided in subparagraph 2(b), may be
given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company.
(b) The word "Affiliate" as used in the Plan means any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined
in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code").
(c) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
its employees, to secure and retain the services of new employees, and to
provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of
the Company.
(d) The Company intends that the rights to purchase stock of the
Company granted under the Plan be considered options issued under an "employee
stock purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors (the
"Board") of the Company unless and until the Board delegates administration to a
Committee, as provided in subparagraph 2(c). Whether or not the Board has
delegated administration, the Board shall have the final power to determine all
questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the
Plan.
(b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i) To determine when and how rights to purchase stock of the
Company shall be granted and the provisions of each offering of such rights
(which need not be identical).
(ii) To designate from time to time which Affiliates of the
Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
<PAGE>
(iii) To construe and interpret the Plan and rights granted
under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its
administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it
shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
(iv) To amend the Plan as provided in paragraph 13.
(v) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company and its Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the Plan be
treated as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423
of the Code.
(c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee
composed of not fewer than two (2) members of the Board (the "Committee"). If
administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in
connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed
by the Board, subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan.
3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 12 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to rights granted
under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate one million two hundred
thousand (1,200,000) shares (after giving effect to the 2-for-1 stock split
effected in October 1995) of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock"). If
any right granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having
been exercised, the Common Stock not purchased under such right shall again
become available for the Plan.
(b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
4. GRANT OF RIGHTS; OFFERING.
The Board or the Committee may from time to time grant or provide for
the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company under the Plan to
eligible employees (an "Offering") on a date or dates (the "Offering Date(s)")
selected by the Board or the Committee. Each Offering shall be in such form and
shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee shall deem
appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 423(b)(5) of
the Code that all employees granted rights to purchase stock under the Plan
shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and conditions of an
Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part of
the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but each
Offering shall include (through incorporation of the provisions of this Plan by
reference in the document comprising the Offering or otherwise) the period
during which the Offering shall be effective, which period shall not exceed
twenty-seven
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(27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and the substance of
the provisions contained in paragraphs 5 through 8, inclusive.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Rights may be granted only to employees of the Company or, as the
Board or the Committee may designate as provided in subparagraph 2(b), to
employees of any Affiliate of the Company. Except as provided in subparagraph
5(b), an employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall not be eligible to be
granted rights under the Plan, unless, on the Offering Date, such employee has
been in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate for such continuous period
preceding such grant as the Board or the Committee may require, but in no event
shall the required period of continuous employment be greater than two (2)
years. In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee
and set forth in the terms of the applicable Offering, no employee of the
Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be granted rights under the Plan,
unless, on the Offering Date, such employee's customary employment with the
Company or such Affiliate is for at least twenty (20) hours per week and at
least five (5) months per calendar year.
(b) The Board or the Committee may provide that, each person who,
during the course of an Offering, first becomes an eligible employee of the
Company or designated Affiliate will, on a date or dates specified in the
Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an eligible
employee or occurs thereafter, receive a right under that Offering, which right
shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering. Such right shall have
the same characteristics as any rights originally granted under that Offering,
as described herein, except that:
(i) the date on which such right is granted shall be the
"Offering Date" of such right for all purposes, including determination of the
exercise price of such right;
(ii) the period of the Offering with respect to such right
shall begin on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such
Offering; and
(iii) the Board or the Committee may provide that if such
person first becomes an eligible employee within a specified period of time
before the end of the Offering, he or she will not receive any right under that
Offering.
(c) No employee shall be eligible for the grant of any rights under the
Plan if, immediately after any such rights are granted, such employee owns stock
possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value
of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For purposes of this
subparagraph 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in
determining the stock ownership of any employee, and stock which such employee
may purchase under all outstanding rights and options shall be treated as stock
owned by such employee.
(d) An eligible employee may be granted rights under the Plan only if
such rights, together with any other rights granted under "employee stock
purchase plans" of the Company
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and any Affiliates, as specified by Section 423(b)(8) of the Code, do not
permit such employee's rights to purchase stock of the Company or any
Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000) of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time such
rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are
outstanding at any time.
(e) Officers of the Company and any designated Affiliate shall be
eligible to participate in Offerings under the Plan, provided, however, that the
Board may provide in an Offering that certain employees who are highly
compensated employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code
shall not be eligible to participate.
6. RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE.
(a) On each Offering Date, each eligible employee, pursuant to an
Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted the right to purchase up to the
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company purchasable with a percentage
designated by the Board or the Committee not exceeding ten percent (10%) of such
employee's Earnings (as defined in subparagraph 7(a)) during the period which
begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the Board or the Committee
determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date stated in the
Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the Offering. The Board
or the Committee shall establish one or more dates during an Offering (the
"Purchase Date(s)") on which rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised
and purchases of Common Stock carried out in accordance with such Offering.
(b) In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board or
the Committee may specify a maximum number of shares that may be purchased by
any employee as well as a maximum aggregate number of shares that may be
purchased by all eligible employees pursuant to such Offering. In addition, in
connection with each Offering that contains more than one Purchase Date, the
Board or the Committee may specify a maximum aggregate number of shares which
may be purchased by all eligible employees on any given Purchase Date under the
Offering. If the aggregate purchase of shares upon exercise of rights granted
under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate number, the Board or
the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available in as
nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall deem to be
equitable.
(c) The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to rights granted
under the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:
(i) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair
market value of the stock on the Offering Date; or
(ii) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair
market value of the stock on the Purchase Date.
7. PARTICIPATION; WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION.
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<PAGE>
(a) An eligible employee may become a participant in the Plan pursuant
to an Offering by delivering a participation agreement to the Company within the
time specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides. Each such
agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum percentage
specified by the Board or the Committee of such employee's Earnings during the
Offering. "Earnings" is defined as an employee's regular salary or wages
(including amounts thereof elected to be deferred by the employee, that would
otherwise have been paid, under any arrangement established by the Company that
is intended to comply with Section 125, Section 401(k), Section 402(h) or
Section 403(b) of the Code or that provides non-qualified deferred
compensation), which shall include overtime pay, but shall exclude bonuses,
commissions, incentive pay, profit sharing, other remuneration paid directly to
the employee, the cost of employee benefits paid for by the Company or an
Affiliate, education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any
group insurance or benefit program, traveling expenses, business and moving
expense reimbursements, income received in connection with stock options,
contributions made by the Company or an Affiliate under any employee benefit
plan, and similar items of compensation, as determined by the Board or the
Committee. The payroll deductions made for each participant shall be credited to
an account for such participant under the Plan and shall be deposited with the
general funds of the Company. A participant may reduce (including to zero) or
increase such payroll deductions, and an eligible employee may begin such
payroll deductions, after the beginning of any Offering only as provided for in
the Offering. A participant may make additional payments into his or her account
only if specifically provided for in the Offering and only if the participant
has not had the maximum amount withheld during the Offering.
(b) At any time during an Offering, a participant may terminate his or
her payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the Offering by
delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company
provides. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the
Offering except as provided by the Board or the Committee in the Offering. Upon
such withdrawal from the Offering by a participant, the Company shall distribute
to such participant all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to
the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock for the
participant) under the Offering, without interest, and such participant's
interest in that Offering shall be automatically terminated. A participant's
withdrawal from an Offering will have no effect upon such participant's
eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan but such
participant will be required to deliver a new participation agreement in order
to participate in subsequent Offerings under the Plan.
(c) Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall
terminate immediately upon cessation of any participating employee's employment
with the Company and any designated Affiliate, for any reason, and the Company
shall distribute to such terminated employee all of his or her accumulated
payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been
used to acquire stock for the terminated employee), under the Offering, without
interest.
(d) Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a
participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or
by a beneficiary designation as provided in
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paragraph 14 and, otherwise during his or her lifetime, shall be exercisable
only by the person to whom such rights are granted.
8. EXERCISE.
(a) On each date specified therefor in the relevant Offering ("Purchase
Date"), each participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional
payments specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for
interest) will be applied to the purchase of whole shares of stock of the
Company, up to the maximum number of shares permitted pursuant to the terms of
the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the purchase price specified in the
Offering. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of rights
granted under the Plan. The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions
remaining in each participant's account after the purchase of shares which is
less than the amount required to purchase one share of stock on the final
Purchase Date of an Offering shall be held in each such participant's account
for the purchase of shares under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such
participant withdraws from such next Offering, as provided in subparagraph 7(b),
or is no longer eligible to be granted rights under the Plan, as provided in
paragraph 5, in which case such amount shall be distributed to the participant
after such final Purchase Date, without interest. The amount, if any, of
accumulated payroll deductions remaining in any participant's account after the
purchase of shares which is equal to the amount required to purchase whole
shares of stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be distributed
in full to the participant after such Purchase Date, without interest.
(b) No rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any extent
unless the shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan (including
rights granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration statement
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and
the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable state, foreign and other
securities and other laws applicable to the Plan. If on a Purchase Date in any
Offering hereunder the Plan is not so registered or in such compliance, no
rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised on such
Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until the Plan is subject
to such an effective registration statement and such compliance, except that the
Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve (12) months and the Purchase
Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven (27) months from the Offering
Date. If on the Purchase Date of any Offering hereunder, as delayed to the
maximum extent permissible, the Plan is not registered and in such compliance,
no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised and all
payroll deductions accumulated during the Offering (reduced to the extent, if
any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock) shall be distributed to
the participants, without interest.
9. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) During the terms of the rights granted under the Plan, the Company
shall keep available at all times the number of shares of stock required to
satisfy such rights.
(b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign
or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be
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<PAGE>
required to issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the rights
granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable
to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which
counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of
stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for
failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such rights unless and until
such authority is obtained.
10. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to rights granted under the
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
11. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
A participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any
of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to rights granted
under the Plan unless and until the participant's shareholdings acquired upon
exercise of rights under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company.
12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any rights granted under the Plan (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan and outstanding rights will
be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of shares subject
to the Plan and the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock
subject to outstanding rights. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or
the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and
conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by
the Company.")
(b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company;
(2) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving
corporation; (3) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving
corporation but the shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding immediately
preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise; or (4) any other capital
reorganization in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the shares of the
Company entitled to vote are exchanged, then, as determined by the Board in its
sole discretion (i) any surviving corporation may assume outstanding rights or
substitute similar rights for those under the Plan, (ii) such rights may
continue in full force and effect, or (iii) participants' accumulated payroll
deductions may be used to purchase Common Stock immediately prior to the
transaction described above and the participants' rights under the ongoing
Offering terminated.
13. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in paragraph 12 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, no amendment
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shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company within
twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the
amendment will:
(i) Increase the number of shares reserved for rights under
the Plan;
(ii) Modify the provisions as to eligibility for participation
in the Plan (to the extent such modification requires shareholder
approval in order for the Plan to obtain employee stock purchase plan
treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to comply with the
requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended ("Rule 16b-3")); or
(iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if such modification
requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to obtain employee
stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to
comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect
the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible employees with the
maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to employee stock purchase plans
and/or to bring the Plan and/or rights granted under it into compliance
therewith.
(b) Rights and obligations under any rights granted before amendment of
the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan, except with the
consent of the person to whom such rights were granted, or except as necessary
to comply with any laws or governmental regulations, or except as necessary to
ensure that the Plan and/or rights granted under the Plan comply with the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
14. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.
(a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who
is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to the end of an
Offering but prior to delivery to the participant of such shares and cash. In
addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event
of such participant's death during an Offering.
(b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant
at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a participant and in
the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at
the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares
and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the participant,
or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of
the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such shares
and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the
participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company,
then to such other person as the Company may designate.
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15. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board in its discretion, may suspend or terminate the Plan at
any time. No rights may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or
after it is terminated.
(b) Rights and obligations under any rights granted while the Plan is
in effect shall not be altered or impaired by suspension or termination of the
Plan, except as expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person
to whom such rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws
or governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan
and/or rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 423
of the Code.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall become effective on the day immediately after the
approval of the Board of Directors (the "Effective Date"), but no rights granted
under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been approved by
the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the
date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the Committee, which date may be prior
to the Effective Date.
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