<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
[_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S)240.14a-11(c) or (S)240.14a-12
[_] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
(as Permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
[X] No Fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
___________________________________________________________________
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
___________________________________________________________________
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:*
___________________________________________________________________
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
___________________________________________________________________
(5) Total fee paid:
___________________________________________________________________
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
___________________________________________________________________
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
___________________________________________________________________
(3) Filing Party:
___________________________________________________________________
(4) Date Filed:
___________________________________________________________________
<PAGE>
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
AUGUST 12, 1998
The Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS,
INCORPORATED ("Level One" or the "Company") will be held at the Company's
facilities at 9800 Old Placerville Road, Sacramento, California, on Wednesday,
August 12, 1998, at 10 A.M. for the following purposes:
1. To elect Directors of the Company.
2. To amend the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan to provide for an
additional 1,750,000 shares.
3. To consider a proposal to reincorporate the Company under Delaware
law.
4. To ratify the selection of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
certified public accountants.
5. To consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come
before the meeting.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 1998, are
eligible to vote in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment.
Even if you plan to attend the meeting in person, the Board of Directors
urges you to date, sign, and promptly return the enclosed proxy. You are
entitled to vote in person if you attend the meeting, even if you give a proxy
now. A postage-prepaid envelope is enclosed for your convenience in returning
the signed proxy.
Your early attention to the proxy will be appreciated.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board
Sacramento, California
Dated: July 13, 1998
A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 AND A PROXY
STATEMENT ACCOMPANY THIS NOTICE.
<PAGE>
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
----------------
PROXY STATEMENT
----------------
This proxy statement contains information related to the solicitation of
proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of LEVEL ONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED to be held on Wednesday, August 12, 1998, at 10
A.M. at the Company's facilities at 9800 Old Placerville Road, Sacramento.
Enclosed in this mailing is a form of proxy solicited by the Company's Board
of Directors. The solicitation cost will be borne by the Company. In addition
to solicitation by mail, the Company's officers and employees may solicit
proxies personally or by telephone or facsimile, without additional
compensation. Except as described above, the Company does not currently intend
to solicit proxies other than by mail.
This proxy statement is being sent to shareholders on or about July 13,
1998.
Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 10, 1998,
are entitled to vote at the meeting or at any adjournment. The Company's
outstanding stock on July 10, 1998, consisted of approximately 35,155,667
shares of Common Stock.
Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share. For the election of
directors, shareholders are entitled to one vote per share for each director
position. A shareholder may use cumulative voting for directors by notifying
the Secretary of the Company before voting begins. With cumulative voting, the
shareholder will have votes equal to the number of shares held, multiplied by
the number of director positions to be filled (seven), and may cast those
votes for a single candidate or among any or all of the candidates in such
proportions as the shareholder sees fit. If no request is made to cumulate
votes, each voting shareholder shall be deemed to cast one vote per share for
each director.
If a shareholder abstains from voting on any matter, or if a broker returns
a "non-vote" proxy on any matter, those shares will be deemed present at the
meeting for purposes of determining a quorum but will not be counted for
purposes of calculating the vote. Because shareholder approval under
California law requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the
shares needed to constitute a quorum, an abstention or a broker non-vote may
have the same effect as a negative vote.
All shares represented by valid proxies received by the Company prior to the
meeting will be voted as specified in the proxy. Unless the shareholder
specifies otherwise, the shares will be voted FOR the election of nominees,
FOR the addition of shares to the 1993 Stock Option Plan, FOR the
reincorporation under Delaware law, and FOR the ratification of the
appointment of auditors. A shareholder may revoke a proxy any time prior to
its exercise, by delivering to the Secretary of the Company a written
revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the
meeting and voting the shares in person.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Seven positions are to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting, for directors to
serve until the 1999 annual meeting or until their successors have been duly
elected and qualified. All seven nominees currently serve as members of the
Board of Directors.
The Company's current directors, and the nominees, are Dr. Robert S. Pepper,
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
Thomas J. Connors; Dr. Paul Gray; Martin Jurick; Dr. Henry Kressel; Joseph P.
Landy; and Dr. Kenneth A. Pickar. Information on each Director is set out in
the section "Directors and Officers of the Company".
Each nominee has consented to be named in this proxy statement and to serve
as a director if elected. The Company believes all nominees will be available
to serve. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve, proxies will be
voted for such other person as the Board of Directors may recommend, in place
of the unavailable nominee.
The seven nominees receiving the most affirmative votes shall be elected at
the Annual Meeting. Shares represented at the Annual Meeting and not voting
shall not be counted as affirmative votes.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE SLATE
OF DIRECTORS PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
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DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The executive officers and directors of the Company and their ages as of May
29, 1998, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
---- --- -------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D......... 62 President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board of Directors
John Kehoe..................... 52 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary
Daniel S. Koellen.............. 40 Vice President, Quality and
Reliability
David McKinnon................. 50 Vice President, Networking
George A. Papa................. 50 Vice President, Worldwide Sales
Michael Ricci.................. 43 Vice President, Telecom
Manuel D. Yuen................. 57 Vice President, Operations
Michael Wodopian............... 45 Vice President, Business Development
and Strategic Planning
Thomas J. Connors (1)(2)....... 68 Director
Paul Gray, Ph.D................ 55 Director
Martin Jurick (2).............. 60 Director
Henry Kressel, Ph.D.(2)........ 64 Director
Joseph P. Landy (1)............ 36 Director
Kenneth A. Pickar, Ph.D........ 58 Director
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Member of the Audit Committee
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
Dr. Pepper joined the Company in July 1986 as President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director. He became Chairman of the Board of Directors in
January 1993. From 1979 until 1984, Dr. Pepper was Vice President and General
Manager of the Solid State division of RCA Corporation. Prior to joining RCA,
Dr. Pepper had spent over 15 years in the semiconductor industry, including
positions as Vice President and General Manager of the Semiconductor division
at Analog Devices, Inc. Dr. Pepper holds B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in
Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. Kehoe joined the Company in October 1995 as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. In November 1997, Mr. Kehoe was elected Senior Vice
President. Immediately prior to joining the Company Mr. Kehoe served as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Focus Surgery, Inc., a medical
device manufacturer. From 1992 to 1993 he served as Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer for Celeritek, Inc., a microwave systems company.
From 1989 to 1992 he served as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer of Poqet Computer Corp., a computer manufacturer. Prior to 1989 he
worked in various financial and CFO positions for approximately 14 years with
high technology companies, including Texas Instruments. Mr. Kehoe holds an MBA
from Fordham University and a BBA from Manhattan College.
Mr. Koellen has been responsible for the Quality and Reliability function
since he joined the Company in January 1989, serving as Manager until January
1992, then as a director until January 1993 when he was promoted to Vice
President of Quality and Reliability. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Koellen was Lead
Failure Analysis Engineer for the Denver Aerospace Division of Martin Marietta
Corp. Prior to joining Martin Marietta, Mr. Koellen managed the surface
analysis laboratory for Mostek Corporation, a supplier of dynamic random
access memory integrated circuits. Mr. Koellen holds an M.S. in Engineering
and Applied Science from Southern Methodist University and a B.S. in Applied
Mathematics, Engineering and Physics from the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. McKinnon joined the Company in June 1998 as Vice President, Networking.
Prior to joining the Company, he had been employed for 15 years by National
Semiconductor Corporation. From 1995 to 1998, he
3
<PAGE>
served as Chief Technical Officer and Chief Operating Officer for National
Semiconductor Japan. From 1994 to 1995 he was National's Vice President of
Technology Development, and prior to that served from 1991 to 1994 as Vice
President and General Manager of National's Ethernet Division. In addition to
serving in other management positions at National, Mr. McKinnon held
management and engineering positions with Honeywell Corporation, Marconi Space
and Defense Systems, and Ferranti, Ltd.
Mr. Papa joined the Company in February 1997 as Vice President, Worldwide
Sales. Prior to joining the Company, he had been employed since 1991 as Vice
President of Sales for North America by Siemens Components Corporation, a
division of Siemens. Previously Mr. Papa was employed in other management and
sales positions with Siemens Components Corporation, LSI Logic Corporation,
Intel Corporation, and Tektronix. Mr. Papa holds a B.S.E.E. from Northeastern
University.
Mr. Ricci joined the Company in August 1997. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Ricci was Director of Wireless Communication at Advanced Micro Devices.
Prior to this role, Mr. Ricci held the position of Director, Desktop
Networking, at AMD. Mr. Ricci worked at AMD for 17 years. Prior to AMD Mr.
Ricci worked at Siliconix, Inc. in the communications area for two years.
Mr. Wodopian joined the Company in January 1998. Prior to joining Level One,
Mr. Wodopian spent over 16 years at Advanced Micro Devices, most recently as
the Director of Marketing for the Communications Products Division. Prior to
that, he spent four years at AMD's European headquarters as Director of
Marketing for Europe. During the balance of his tenure at AMD, he served in a
variety of program management and field applications roles. Prior to working
at AMD, Mr. Wodopian was responsible for microprocessor-based system level
designs for the process control and aerospace industries.
Mr. Yuen was Director of Operations from the time he joined the Company in
February 1991 until January 1992, when he was promoted to Vice President of
Operations. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Yuen spent over 20 years at
National Semiconductor Corporation, serving as Director of its Santa Clara
foundry from 1986 to 1987 and as Vice President--Military Aerospace Division
from 1987 to 1989. Mr. Yuen holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering
from the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. Connors has been a director of the Company since April 1991. Since 1980,
Mr. Connors has been the principal of TJC Investments, an independent
consulting firm that works with companies in the semiconductor and related
industries. Previously, Mr. Connors was employed by Motorola, Inc., where he
last served as Vice President and General Manager of the Semiconductor
Division. Mr. Connors is also a member of the Board of Directors of SGS-
Thomson Microelectronics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SGS-N.V.
Dr. Gray has been a director since April 1994. Dr. Gray is the Dean of the
College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1990 to
1993, he served as Chairman of the Electrical Engineering and Computer
Sciences Department, and as Vice Chairman of the Department from 1988 to 1990.
He served as a director of Microlinear Corporation from 1988 to 1991. He has
published more than 100 papers in the electrical engineering field, has served
on numerous industry committees, and holds 10 patents.
Mr. Jurick has been a director of the Company since April 1991. Since 1984,
Mr. Jurick has been a Senior Vice President of Silicon Systems, Inc. ("SSI"),
a semiconductor manufacturing company, which until 1996 was a wholly owned
subsidiary of TDK Corporation, and in 1996 became a division of Texas
Instruments, Inc. Mr. Jurick also serves as a director of Microsemi Corp.
Dr. Kressel has been a director of the Company since August 1987. Since
1985, Dr. Kressel has been a Managing Director at E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co.,
Inc. ("EMW"), an investment firm, where he has been employed since 1983. Prior
to joining EMW, Dr. Kressel spent 20 years at RCA Laboratories, where he
became a Staff Vice President. Dr. Kressel is also a member of the Board of
Directors of IA Corporation, NOVA Corporation, Maxis, Inc., and Trescom
International.
4
<PAGE>
Mr. Landy has been a director of the Company since January 1991. Since
January 1994, Mr. Landy has served as a Managing Director at E.M. Warburg,
Pincus & Co., Inc. ("EMW"), an investment firm, where he has been employed
since 1985. Prior to joining EMW, Mr. Landy was employed by Dean Witter
Realty, Inc., the real estate investment banking affiliate of Dean Witter
Reynolds, Inc., as a financial analyst. He also serves as a director of NOVA
Information Systems, Indus International, Inc. and CN Biosciences, Inc.
Dr. Pickar has been a director of the Company since June 1998. Dr. Pickar
currently is a visiting professor at California Institute of Technology. From
1993 to 1997 he was Senior Vice President, Engineering and Technology at
AlliedSignal Aerospace. From 1983 to 1992, he was Manager of the Electronic
Systems Research Center for General Electric Corporation. Dr. Pickar also has
held management and engineering positions with Thomas Consulting Group,
Signetics Corporation, Northern Research, and Bell Laboratories.
Directors are elected by the shareholders at each annual meeting to serve
until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. Officers are elected to serve, subject to the
discretion of the Board of Directors, until they resign or their successors
are appointed. There are no family relationships between any directors or
executive officers. There are no agreements or other arrangements or
understandings pursuant to which any director or officer will be selected as a
director, nominee or officer.
Non-employee, non-affiliate directors receive $1,800 per day for each day
devoted to Company Board or committee meetings. The Company reimburses each
director for reasonable expenses of attending Board or Board committee
meetings. The 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended, provides for an automatic
initial grant of 10,000 options to newly eligible non-employee directors and
an automatic annual stock option grant of 2,000 shares to eligible non-
employee directors. During 1997, automatic grants were adjusted for the
Company's 3-for-2 stock split. No adjustments are planned for future years.
The Board of Directors met eight times during the fiscal year ended December
28, 1997. The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation
Committee. During the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997, each director
attended or participated in 75% or more of the aggregate of (i) all Board
meetings during the period in which such director served and (ii) all meetings
of Board committees on which the director served.
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Directors Connors
and Landy. The Audit Committee recommends the engagement of independent
auditors, consults with the independent auditors regarding the scope of annual
audits and reviews the Company's system of internal accounting controls. The
Audit Committee met once during the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Directors
Connors, Jurick, and Kressel. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves
the compensation policies for the Company's executive officers. During 1997,
stock option grants were administered by the Compensation Committee in
conjunction with Board meetings. The Compensation Committee also met
separately from the Board one time during 1997. Mr. Connors was paid $77,400
during 1997 for consulting services rendered under an agreement with the
Company.
In connection with securing a loan from Warburg Pincus Capital Company, L.P.
("WPCC") in 1992, the Company issued a warrant to WPCC to purchase 456,178
shares of its Common Stock at an exercise price of $ .68 per share. The
warrant was exercised January 16, 1997, for 433,696 shares, and the balance
was surrendered, on a net appreciation basis, in an amount equal to the
exercise price. Directors Kressel and Landy, each of whom is an affiliate of
the entity controlling WPCC, disclaim beneficial ownership, for purposes of
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and amended, and otherwise,
of such Common Stock.
5
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation earned by the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and the four other highest paid executive officers whose
compensation for the 1997 fiscal year was in excess of $100,000 (collectively
the "Named Officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1) SECURITIES
---------------------- UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) OPTIONS (#) COMPENSATION($)(2)
--------------------------- ---- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D... 1997 325,846 583,554 585,000 2,794
President, Chief 1996 296,923 185,382 135,000 6,276
Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board 1995 220,000 97,172 -- 4,280
John Kehoe............... 1997 186,056 201,859 120,000 1,617
Senior Vice President 1996 153,182 81,508 45,000 1,800
and Chief
Financial Officer 1995 27,115 12,500 157,500 --
George Papa.............. 1997 142,697 142,350 157,500 17,116
Vice President,
Worldwide Sales
Manuel D. Yuen........... 1997 158,711 81,741 33,075 1,376
Vice President, 1996 142,654 28,028 56,925 2,811
Operations
1995 119,674 16,846 74,250 2,443
Daniel S. Koellen........ 1997 135,740 61,434 9,000 1,253
Vice President, Quality 1996 120,042 30,726 70,875 3,282
& Reliability
1995 106,292 15,227 51,975 3,120
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Annual compensation amounts include amounts deferred at the election of the
Named Officer pursuant to the Company's 401(k) plan.
(2) Option numbers give effect to the Company's March 1998 3-for-2 stock split
(3) Other annual compensation represents the Company's 401(k) matching
contributions, and, in the case of Mr. Papa, an automobile allowance.
PROPOSAL 2
APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
In July 1993, the Board of Directors and the shareholders approved the
Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan (the "1993 Plan"). In 1996, the shareholders
ratified amendments to the 1993 Plan, including an increase (adjusted for stock
splits) of 4,500,000 shares available for grant under the 1993 Plan. Under the
1993 Plan as amended, options to purchase up to 6,862,500 shares of Common
Stock may be granted to employees, directors and consultants of the Company or
its subsidiaries. Unless designated as an incentive stock option ("ISO")
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code"), each option granted under the 1993 Plan is intended to be a
nonstatutory stock option. The 1993 Plan expires in July 2008.
Stock options play a key role in the Company's ability to recruit, reward and
retain executives, key employees and directors. Technology companies have
historically used stock options as an important part of recruitment and
retention packages. The Company competes directly with other technology
companies for experienced executives and professionals and must be able to
offer comparable packages to attract the caliber of individual that the Company
believes is necessary to provide the growth that shareholders desire.
The Company's growth is largely responsible for the need to increase shares
issuable under the 1993 Plan. Management believes that the ability to retain
management and key employees using options is vital to the Company's growth.
6
<PAGE>
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE 1993 PLAN
The Board of Directors has increased the shares reserved for issuance under
the 1993 Plan by an additional 1,750,000 shares, bringing the total shares
reserved for issuance under the 1993 Plan to 8,612,500.
Proposal 2 seeks shareholder approval of this amendment.
VOTE REQUIRED
The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast will be required to
approve the amendment to the 1993 Plan.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2.
The essential provisions of the 1993 Plan are outlined below.
ADMINISTRATION
The 1993 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
ELIGIBILITY
The 1993 Plan provides that options may be granted to employees, including
officers and directors, employed by the Company or its majority-owned
subsidiaries, to non-employee directors of the Company and to consultants to
the Company. ISOs may be granted only to employees, including officers. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approves the participants,
the grant date and vesting terms of options, and the number of shares to be
subject to each option. Option grants are based on the duties and
responsibilities of the employee, the value of the employee's services, his or
her present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and
other relevant factors. As of June 1, 1998, there were approximately 612
employees currently eligible to participate in the 1993 Plan.
TERMS OF OPTIONS
The terms of options granted under the 1993 Plan are determined by the
Compensation Committee. Each option is evidenced by a stock option agreement
between the Company and the optionee, and is normally subject to the following
additional terms and conditions:
(a) EXERCISE OF THE OPTION: The Company's current policy is that each
Option Agreement provides that shares covered by the option are subject to
vesting over time. Each employee's initial option grant normally vests over
five (5) years at the rate of twenty percent (20%) of the shares annually.
Later grants typically vest in fewer than five years. The Company may at
any time or from time to time accelerate the vesting of any outstanding
option. The exercise price of an option must be paid in cash, check or
other shares of Common Stock.
(b) EXERCISE PRICE: The exercise price for each option is normally 100%
of fair market value at the date of grant. No ISO may be granted at less
than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the option grant
date. For a nonstatutory option, the price shall not be less than eighty-
five percent (85%) of the fair market value on the grant date. If an option
is granted to a shareholder who, immediately prior to such grant, owns
stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power or value
of all classes of stock of the Company, the exercise price must not be less
than 110% of such fair market value.
(c) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT: If the optionee's status as an employee or
consultant terminates for any reason other than death or disability,
options under the 1993 Plan may be exercised not later than three (3)
months after such termination, to the extent such option was vested on the
date of termination.
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<PAGE>
(d) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE: If an optionee becomes totally and
permanently disabled while employed by the Company, options may be
exercised within twelve (12) months after termination of employment due to
such disability, but only to the extent such options were vested on the
date of termination.
(e) DEATH OF OPTIONEE: If an optionee dies while employed by the Company,
options may be exercised at any time within twelve (12) months after death,
but only to the extent the options would have been exercisable and vested
at the date of death.
(f) TERMINATION OF OPTIONS: ISOs granted under the 1993 Plan expire ten
(10) years from the date of grant and nonstatutory stock options granted
under the 1993 Plan expire ten (10) years and one (1) day from the date of
grant, unless otherwise provided in the option agreement. However, in the
case of an option granted to an employee who, at the time the option is
granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary,
the term of the option may not be greater than five (5) years.
AUTOMATIC GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE, NON-AFFILIATE DIRECTORS
Each non-employee director who is not a representative of shareholders
owning more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of the Company
receives an initial automatic grant of an option to purchase 10,000 shares,
vesting 20% annually, and, two years after the initial grant, an additional
annual automatic grant of an option to purchase 2,000 shares vesting four
years after the date of grant.
PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION LIMITATIONS
No employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, options to
purchase more than 1,125,000 shares. The Company may, however, upon an
employee's initial employment, grant an option to purchase up to an additional
1,125,000 shares. The foregoing limitations, which shall be adjusted
proportionately in connection with any change in the Company's capitalization
(such as a stock split), are intended to satisfy the requirements applicable
to options intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION
In the event any change is made in the Company's capitalization due to a
stock split or payment of a stock dividend (but only on Common Stock) or any
other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected
without receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the
exercise price and in the number of shares subject to the option.
In the event of a proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each
unexercised option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of
such proposed action.
In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation,
the options shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by
the successor corporation. If no such assumption or substitution is made, the
Board shall notify the participant that the option shall be fully vested and
exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice and
the option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Board may amend or terminate the 1993 Plan from time to time in such
respects as the Board may deem advisable; provided that any increase in the
number of shares subject to the 1993 Plan shall require shareholder approval.
The Plan will terminate on July 7, 2008, unless terminated earlier by the
Board.
8
<PAGE>
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION
Options granted under the 1993 Plan may be either ISOs or nonstatutory
options.
An option that does not qualify as an ISO is a nonstatutory option. A
participant does not recognize taxable income at the time he or she is granted
a nonstatutory option. Upon exercise of the options, the optionee will
recognize taxable income generally measured by the excess of the then fair
market value of the shares purchased over the purchase price. Any taxable
income recognized in connection with an employee's option exercise is subject
to tax withholding by the Company. Upon optionee's resale of such shares, any
difference between the sale price and the optionee's purchase price, to the
extent not recognized as taxable income as described above, will be treated as
long-term or short-term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period.
The Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount as the
ordinary income recognized by the optionee with respect to shares acquired
upon exercise of a nonstatutory option.
An optionee who is granted an ISO generally will not recognize taxable
income either at the time the option is granted or upon its exercise, although
the exercise may subject the optionee to the alternative minimum tax. If an
optionee does not satisfy the holding period requirements applicable to ISOs,
he or she will recognize ordinary income at the time of sale or exchange of
shares equal to the difference between the exercise price and the lower of (i)
the fair market value of the shares at the date of the option exercise or (ii)
the sale price of the shares. A different rule for measuring ordinary income
on such a premature disposition may apply if the optionee is also an officer,
director, or 10% shareholder of the Company. In such event, the Company will
be entitled to a deduction in the same amount as the ordinary income
recognized by the optionee.
The foregoing is only a summary of the effect of federal income taxation
upon the optionee and the Company with respect to the grant and exercise of
options under the 1993 Plan, does not purport to be complete, and does not
discuss the tax consequences of the optionee's death or the income tax laws of
any municipality, state or foreign country in which an optionee may reside.
PARTICIPATION IN THE 1993 PLAN
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year and Year-End Option Values
The following table sets forth certain information concerning grants of
stock options to (i) each of the Named Officers, (ii) all current executive
officers as a group, (iii) all other employees as a group and (iv) all non-
employee directors as a group, during the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997.
The options listed were granted under the 1993 Plan. Except for an initial
option grant to Mr. Papa vesting pro rata over five years, the options listed
vest pro rata over four years. In accordance with the rules of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, also shown (for each of the Named Officers) is the
potential realizable value based on the assumed rates of stock price
appreciation of 5% and 10%, compounded annually, from the date the option was
granted over the full option term. These amounts represent certain assumed
rates of appreciation only and do not represent the Company's estimate of
future stock price. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are
dependent on the future performance of the Common Stock.
9
<PAGE>
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
--------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
VALUE AT ASSUMED
% OF TOTAL ANNUAL RATES OF
NUMBER OF OPTIONS STOCK PRICE
SECURITIES GRANTED TO APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING EMPLOYEES EXERCISE OPTION TERM(1)
OPTIONS IN PRICE EXPIRATION ---------------------
NAME GRANTED (#) FISCAL YEAR ($/SHARE) DATE 5% ($) 10% ($)
---- ----------- ----------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D.. 337,500 13.9 10.36 4/4/07 2,199,932 5,575,498
247,500 10.2 18.75 12/18/07 2,918,464 7,392,961
John Kehoe.............. 67,500 2.8 10.36 4/4/07 439,986 1,115,099
52,500 2.2 18.75 12/18/07 619,068 1,568,840
Manuel D. Yuen.......... 33,075 1.4 10.36 4/4/07 215,593 546,398
Daniel S. Koellen....... 9,000 .4 10.36 4/4/07 58,664 148,679
George A. Papa.......... 157,500 6.5 12.67 2/11/07 1,255,079 3,180,867
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
All current executive officers as a group..................... 1,017,075
All other employees as a group................................ 1,017,075
All non-employee directors as a group ........................ 92,250
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) There is no assurance provided to any executive officer or any other
holder of the Company's securities that the actual stock price
appreciation over the option term will be at the assumed 5% and 10% levels
or at any other defined level. Unless the market price of the Common Stock
appreciates over the option term, no value will be realized from the
option grants made to the executive officers.
The following table provides information with respect to the Named Officers
concerning the exercise of options during the last fiscal year and unexercised
options held as of December 28, 1997:
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST
FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
SHARES OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END (#) AT FISCAL YEAR END(1) ($)
ACQUIRED VALUE ---------------------------------- -------------------------
NAME ON EXERCISE(#) REALIZED($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- -------------- ----------- --------------- ---------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D.. 127,500 2,950,397 312,051 866,250 4,907,108 6,008,744
John Kehoe.............. 11,250 92,624 63,000 248,250 528,498 1,692,745
Manuel D. Yuen.......... 84,375 2,510,218 68,230 146,644 1,047,062 1,591,577
Daniel S. Koellen....... 0 0 98,043 112,782 1,588,245 1,264,282
George A. Papa.......... 0 0 0 157,500 0 918,750
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Based upon the market price of $18.67 per share, which was the closing
price per share on the NASDAQ National Market System on the last day of
the 1997 fiscal year, less the option exercise price payable per share.
10
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL NO. 3
APPROVAL OF DELAWARE REINCORPORATION AND
THE FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
INTRODUCTION
For the reasons set forth below, the Board of Directors believes that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to change the state
of incorporation of the Company from California to Delaware (the
"Reincorporation Proposal" or the "Proposed Reincorporation"). SHAREHOLDERS
ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT,
INCLUDING THE RELATED EXHIBITS REFERENCED BELOW AND ATTACHED HERETO, BEFORE
VOTING ON THE REINCORPORATION PROPOSAL. Throughout the Proxy Statement, the
term "Level One California" refers to the existing California corporation and
the term "Level One Delaware" refers to the new Delaware corporation, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Level One California, which is the proposed successor to
Level One California.
The principal reasons for the proposed reincorporation are the greater
flexibility of Delaware corporate law, the substantial body of case law
interpreting that law, and the increased ability of the Company to attract and
retain qualified directors. The Company believes that its shareholders will
benefit from the well established principles of corporate governance that
Delaware law affords. Although Delaware law provides the opportunity for the
Board of Directors to adopt various mechanisms which may enhance the Board's
ability to negotiate favorable terms for the shareholders in the event of an
unsolicited takeover attempt, the proposed Delaware Certificate of
Incorporation and the Reincorporation Proposal is not being proposed in order
to prevent a nonsolicited takeover attempt, nor is it in response to any
present attempt known to the Board of Directors to acquire control of the
Company, obtain representation of the Board of Directors or take significant
action that affects the ownership or control of the Company.
The Reincorporation Proposal will be effected by merging Level One
California into Level One Delaware. Upon completion of the merger, Level One
California will cease to exist and Level One Delaware will continue to operate
the business of the Company under the name Level One Communications,
Incorporated.
Pursuant to the proposed Agreement and Plan of Merger, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Merger Agreement"), each outstanding share
of Level One California Common Stock, no par value, will automatically be
converted into one share of Level One Delaware Common Stock, $0.001 par value,
upon the effective date of the merger. Each stock certificate representing
issued and outstanding shares of Level One California Common Stock will
continue to represent the same number of shares of Common Stock of Level One
Delaware. IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR SHAREHOLDERS TO EXCHANGE THEIR EXISTING
STOCK CERTIFICATES FOR STOCK CERTIFICATES OF LEVEL ONE DELAWARE. However,
shareholders may exchange their certificates if they so choose. The Common
Stock of Level One California is listed for trading on the NASDAQ National
Market, and after the merger Level One Delaware's Common Stock will continue
to be traded on the NASDAQ National Market without interruption, under the
same symbol ("LEVL") as the shares of Level One California Common Stock are
currently traded.
Under California law, the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock of Level One California is required for approval of the
Merger Agreement and the other terms of the Proposed Reincorporation. See
"Vote Required for the Reincorporation Proposal". The Proposed Reincorporation
has been approved by Level One California's Board of Directors. If approved by
the shareholders, it is anticipated that the merger will become effective as
soon as practicable (the "Effective Date") following the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, provided that the merger may be abandoned or the Merger
Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors (except for the principal
terms thereof, which may not be amended without shareholder
11
<PAGE>
approval) either before or after shareholder approval has been obtained and
prior to the Effective Date of the Proposed Reincorporation if, in the opinion
of the Board of Directors of either company, circumstances arise which make it
inadvisable to proceed under the original terms of the Merger Agreement.
Shareholders of Level One California will have no dissenters' rights of
appraisal with respect to the merger.
The discussion set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Form of Merger Agreement, the Form of Certificate of Incorporation of
Level One Delaware (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), the Form of Bylaws of
Level One Delaware and the Form of Indemnification Agreement, copies of which
are attached hereto as Exhibits A, B, C and D, respectively.
APPROVAL BY SHAREHOLDERS OF THE PROPOSED REINCORPORATION WILL CONSTITUTE
APPROVAL OF THE FORM OF MERGER AGREEMENT, THE FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION, THE FORM OF BYLAWS OF LEVEL ONE DELAWARE, THE FORM OF
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ALL PROVISIONS THEREOF.
VOTE REQUIRED
Approval of the Reincorporation Proposal, which will also constitute
approval of (i) the Merger Agreement, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation
and the Bylaws of Level One Delaware, (iii) the Indemnification Agreement and
(iv) the assumption by Level One Delaware of Level One California's employee
benefit plans, stock option plans, employee stock purchase plan and the 4%
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2004 will require the affirmative vote of
the majority of outstanding shares of the Company entitled to vote on the
proposal on the Record Date.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSED REINCORPORATION.
PRINCIPAL REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED REINCORPORATION
As the Company plans for the future, the Board of Directors and management
believe that it is essential to be able to draw upon well established
principles of corporate governance in making legal and business decisions. The
prominence and predictability of Delaware corporate law provides a reliable
foundation on which the Company's governance decisions can be based and the
Company believes that shareholders will benefit from the responsiveness of
Delaware corporate law to their needs and to those of the corporation they
own.
Prominence, Predictability and Flexibility of Delaware Law. For many years
Delaware has followed a policy of encouraging incorporation in that state and,
in furtherance of that policy, has been a leader in adopting, construing and
implementing comprehensive, flexible corporate laws responsive to the legal
and business needs of corporations organized under its laws. A large number of
corporations have chosen Delaware initially as a state of incorporation or
have subsequently changed corporate domicile to Delaware in a manner similar
to that proposed by the Company. Because of Delaware's prominence as the state
of incorporation for major corporations, both the legislature and courts in
Delaware have demonstrated an ability and a willingness to act quickly and
effectively to meet changing business needs. The Delaware courts have
developed considerable expertise in dealing with corporate issues and a
substantial body of case law has developed construing Delaware law and
establishing public policies with respect to corporate legal affairs.
Increased Ability to Attract and Retain Qualified Directors. Both California
and Delaware law permit a corporation to include a provision in its charter
document which reduces or limits the monetary liability of directors for
breaches of fiduciary duty in certain circumstances. The increasing frequency
of claims and litigation directed against directors and officers has greatly
expanded the risks facing directors and officers of corporations in exercising
their respective duties. The amount of time and money required to respond to
such claims and to defend such litigation can be substantial. The Company
desires to reduce these risks to its directors and officers and to limit
situations in which monetary damages can be recovered against directors so
that the
12
<PAGE>
Company may continue to attract and retain qualified directors who otherwise
might be unwilling to serve because of the risks involved. The Company
believes that, in general, Delaware law provides greater protection to
directors than California law and that Delaware case law regarding a
corporation's ability to limit director liability is more developed and
provides more guidance than California law.
California Proposition 211. In November 1996, Proposition 211, which would
have severely limited the ability of California companies to indemnify their
directors and officers, was rejected. Although Proposition 211 was defeated,
similar initiatives or legislation containing similar provisions may be
proposed in California in the future. As a result, the Company believes that
the more favorable corporate environment afforded by Delaware will enable it
to compete more effectively with other public companies in attracting new
directors.
Well Established Principles of Corporate Governance. There is substantial
judicial precedent in the Delaware courts as to the legal principles
applicable to measures that may be taken by a corporation and as to the
conduct of the Board of Directors under the business judgment rule. The
Company believes that its shareholders will benefit from the well established
principles of corporate governance that Delaware law affords.
NO CHANGE IN THE NAME, CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS, BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE
PLANS OR LOCATION OF PRINCIPAL FACILITIES OF THE COMPANY
The Reincorporation Proposal will effect a change only in the legal domicile
of the Company and certain other changes of a legal nature, certain of which
are described in this Proxy Statement. The Proposed Reincorporation will not
result in any change in the name, business, management, fiscal year, assets or
liabilities (except to the extent of legal and other costs of effecting the
reincorporation) or location of the principal facilities of the Company. The
seven directors who are elected at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders will
become the directors of Level One Delaware. All employee benefit, stock
option, employee stock purchase plans and the 4% Convertible Subordinated
Notes due 2004 of Level One California will be assumed and continued by Level
One Delaware, and each option or right issued pursuant to such plans will
automatically be converted into an option or right to purchase the same number
of shares of Level One Delaware Common Stock, at the same price per share,
upon the same terms, and subject to the same conditions. Shareholders should
note that approval of the Reincorporation Proposal will also constitute
approval of the assumption of these plans by Level One Delaware. Other
employee benefit arrangements of Level One California will also be continued
by Level One Delaware upon the terms and subject to the conditions currently
in effect. As noted above, after the merger the shares of Common Stock of
Level One Delaware will continue to be traded, without interruption, in the
same principal market and under the same symbol ("LEVL") as the shares of
Common Stock of Level One California are currently traded.
Prior to the Effective Date of the merger, the Company will obtain any
requisite consents to such merger from parties with whom it may have
contractual arrangements. As a result, Level One California's rights and
obligations under such contractual arrangements will continue and be assumed
by Level One Delaware.
ANTITAKEOVER IMPLICATIONS
Delaware, like many other states, permits a corporation to adopt a number of
measures through amendment of the corporate charter or bylaws or otherwise,
which measures are designed to reduce a corporation's vulnerability to
unsolicited takeover attempts. The Reincorporation Proposal is not being
proposed in order to prevent such a change in control, nor is it in response
to any present attempt known to the Board of Directors to acquire control of
the Company or to obtain representation on the Board of Directors.
Certain effects of the Reincorporation Proposal may be considered to have
antitakeover implications. Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, from which Level One Delaware does NOT intend to opt out, restricts
certain "business combinations" with "interested stockholders" for three years
following the date that a person becomes an interested stockholder, unless the
Board of Directors approves the business combination. See "Significant
Differences Between the Corporation Laws of California and Delaware--
13
<PAGE>
Shareholder Approval of Certain Business Combinations." Likewise, the
elimination of the right of shareholders controlling at least ten percent of
the voting shares to call a special meeting of the shareholders could be seen
as promoting an antitakeover effect by allowing shareholder action only at a
meeting properly called by the Board of Directors or an annual meeting. The
elimination of the ability of a majority of shareholders to act by written
consent also could be viewed as having an antitakeover effect in that it can
make it more difficult for shareholders to coordinate action outside a duly
called annual or special meeting. It should be noted that a classified board
of directors can be established under Delaware law in certain circumstances,
although there are no current plans to establish a classified board. For a
detailed discussion of all of the changes which will be implemented as part of
the Proposed Reincorporation, see "The Charters and Bylaws of Level One
California and Level One Delaware" and "Restatement of Indemnification
Agreements." For a discussion of these and other differences between the laws
of California and Delaware, see "Significant Differences Between the
Corporation Laws of California and Delaware."
The Board of Directors believes that unsolicited takeover attempts may be
unfair or disadvantageous to the Company and its shareholders because: (i) a
non-negotiated takeover bid may be timed to take advantage of temporarily
depressed stock prices; (ii) a non-negotiated takeover bid may be designed to
foreclose or minimize the possibility of more favorable competing bids or
alternative transactions; (iii) a non-negotiated takeover bid may involve the
acquisition of only a controlling interest in the corporation's stock, without
affording all shareholders the opportunity to receive the same economic
benefits; and (iv) certain of the Company's contractual arrangements provide
that they may not be assigned pursuant to a transaction which results in a
"change of control" of the Company without the prior written consent of the
licensor or other contracting party.
By contrast, in a transaction in which an acquiror must negotiate with an
independent board of directors, the board can and should take account of the
underlying and long-term values of the Company's business, technology and
other assets, the possibilities for alternative transactions on more favorable
terms, possible advantages from a tax-free reorganization or favorable
accounting treatment, anticipated favorable developments in the Company's
business not yet reflected in the stock price and equality of treatment of all
shareholders.
Despite the belief of the Board of Directors as to the benefits to
shareholders of the Reincorporation Proposal, it may be disadvantageous to the
extent that it has the effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt which
is not approved by the Board of Directors, but which a majority of the
shareholders may deem to be in their best interests or in which shareholders
may receive a substantial premium for their shares over the then current
market value or over their cost basis in such shares. As a result of such
effects of the Reincorporation Proposal, shareholders who might wish to
participate in a tender offer may not have an opportunity to do so. In
addition, to the extent that such provisions enable the Board of Directors to
resist a takeover or a change in control of the Company, they could make it
more difficult to change the existing Board of Directors and management.
THE CHARTERS AND BYLAWS OF LEVEL ONE CALIFORNIA AND LEVEL ONE DELAWARE
The provisions of the Level One Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws are similar to those of the Level One California Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws in many respects. However, the Reincorporation
Proposal includes the implementation of certain provisions in the Level One
Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws which alter the rights of
shareholders and the powers of management. Certain of these provisions have
antitakeover implications as described in this Proxy Statement. Approval by
shareholders of the Proposed Reincorporation will constitute an approval of
the inclusion in the Level One Delaware Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws of each of the provisions described below. In addition, Level One
Delaware could implement certain other changes by amendment of its Certificate
of Incorporation or Bylaws. For a discussion of such changes, see "Significant
Differences Between the Corporation Laws of California and Delaware." This
discussion of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Level One
Delaware is qualified by reference to Exhibits B and C hereto, respectively.
14
<PAGE>
The Articles of Incorporation of Level One California currently authorize
the Company to issue up to 236,250,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value,
and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value. In the event that the
reincorporation merger proposed herein is effected, the Certificate of
Incorporation of Level One Delaware will continue to provide that such company
will have 236,250,000 authorized shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and
10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value. In each case, the
rights, privileges and preferences of the shares of Preferred Stock may be
determined by the Board in its discretion from time to time.
Monetary Liability of Directors and Officers. The Articles of Incorporation
of Level One California and the Certificate of Incorporation of Level One
Delaware both provide for the elimination of personal monetary liability of
directors and officers to the fullest extent permissible under law. The
provision eliminating monetary liability of directors and officers set forth
in the Level One Delaware Certificate of Incorporation is potentially more
expansive than the corresponding provision in the Level One California
Articles of Incorporation, in that (1) the former incorporates future
amendments to Delaware law with respect to the elimination of such liability,
and (2) the former indemnifies employees and other agents of Level One
Delaware, in addition to directors and officers. Level One Delaware proposes
to enter into new indemnification arrangements with all directors after the
Proposed Reincorporation. For a more detailed explanation of the new
indemnification arrangements after the Proposed Reincorporation, see "Delaware
Form of Indemnification Agreement" and "Significant Differences Between the
Corporation Laws of California and Delaware--Indemnification and Limitation of
Liability."
Size of the Board of Directors. The Bylaws of Level One Delaware provide for
a Board of Directors consisting of seven members, until changed by a majority
of directors then in office. The Bylaws of Level One California provide for a
Board of Directors consisting of a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of nine
(9) members. Under California law, although changes in the number of
directors, in general, must be approved by a majority of the outstanding
shares, the Board of Directors may fix the exact number of directors within
the stated range set forth in the bylaws. Delaware law permits the board of
directors, acting alone, to change the authorized number of directors by
amendment to the bylaws, unless the directors are not authorized to amend the
bylaws or the number of directors is fixed in the certificate of incorporation
(in which case a change in the number of directors may be made only by
amendment to the certificate of incorporation following approval of such
change by the stockholders). The Level One Delaware Certificate of
Incorporation provides that the number of directors will be as specified in
the Bylaws and authorizes the Board of Directors to adopt, alter, amend or
repeal the Bylaws. Following the Proposed Reincorporation, the Board of
Directors of Level One Delaware could amend the Bylaws to change the size of
the Board of Directors from seven directors without further stockholder
approval.
If the Reincorporation Proposal is approved, the seven directors of Level
One California who are elected at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders will
continue as the seven directors of Level One Delaware after the Proposed
Reincorporation is consummated and until their successors have been duly
elected and qualified.
Cumulative Voting for Directors. Under California law, if any shareholder
has given notice of an intention to cumulate votes for the election of
directors, any other shareholder of the corporation is also entitled to
cumulate his or her votes at such election. Cumulative voting provides that
each share of stock normally having one vote is entitled to a number of votes
equal to the number of directors to be elected. A shareholder may then cast
all such votes for a single candidate or may allocate them among as many
candidates as the shareholder may choose. In the absence of cumulative voting,
the holders of the majority of the shares present or represented at a meeting
in which directors are to be elected would have the power to elect all the
directors to be elected at such meeting, and no person could be elected
without the support of holders of the majority of shares present or
represented at such meeting. Elimination of cumulative voting could make it
more difficult for a minority shareholder adverse to a majority of the
shareholders to obtain representation on the Company's Board of Directors.
California corporations whose stock is listed on a national stock exchange can
also eliminate cumulative voting with shareholder approval. The Company
qualifies as such a listed company but has not sought
15
<PAGE>
shareholder approval to eliminate cumulative voting. Under Delaware law,
cumulative voting in the election of directors is not mandatory, but is a
permitted option. The Level One Delaware Certificate of Incorporation does NOT
provide for cumulative voting rights on any matter.
Power to Call Special Shareholders' Meetings. Under California law, a
special meeting of shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the holders of shares entitled to cast
not less than ten percent of the votes at such meeting, or such additional
persons as are authorized by the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws.
Level One California's Bylaws permit a special meeting of shareholders to be
called by the Board of Directors, the President, or one or more shareholders
holding not less than ten percent of the voting power of the Company. Under
Delaware law, a special meeting of stockholders may be called by the Board of
Directors or any other person authorized to do so in the Certificate of
Incorporation or the Bylaws. The Bylaws of Level One Delaware currently
authorize only the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, or the
President to call a special meeting of stockholders. Therefore, after the
Proposed Reincorporation, no stockholder (regardless of percentage holding)
will be entitled to call special meetings.
Filling Vacancies on the Board of Directors. Under California law, any
vacancy on the board of directors other than one created by removal of a
director may be filled by a majority of the Board then remaining, even if less
than a quorum. A vacancy created by removal of a director may be filled by the
board only if so authorized by a corporation's articles of incorporation or by
a bylaw approved by the corporation's shareholders. Level One California's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws do not permit directors to fill vacancies
created by removal of a director, although vacancies for any other reason may
be filled by a majority of the directors then remaining, even if less than a
quorum. Under Delaware law, vacancies (including vacancies created by removal
of a director) and newly created directorships may be filled by a majority of
the directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by a sole
remaining director, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws (or unless the certificate of incorporation directs
that a particular class of stock is to elect such director(s), in which case a
majority of the directors elected by such class, or a sole remaining director
so elected, shall fill such vacancy or newly created directorship). The Bylaws
of Level One Delaware provide that all vacancies in the Board of Directors
(including vacancies created by removal of a director) may be filled by a
majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole
remaining director; provided, that whenever the holders of any class or
classes of stock or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors
by the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly
created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a
majority of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof
then in office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
Nominations of Director Candidates and Introduction of Business at
Shareholder Meetings. The Bylaws of Level One Delaware establish an advance
notice procedure with regard to the nomination, other than by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, of candidates for election as directors
(the "Nomination Procedure") and with regard to certain matters to be brought
before an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders (the "Business
Procedure").
The Nomination Procedure provides that only persons nominated by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or by a stockholder who has given timely
written notice to the Secretary of the Company prior to the meeting, will be
eligible for election as directors. The Nomination Procedure and Business
Procedure provide that at an annual or special meeting, and subject to any
other applicable requirements, only such business may be conducted and
nominees may be elected as have been brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or by a stockholder who has given timely
written notice to the Secretary of the Company of such stockholder's intention
to bring such business or election of nominee before the meeting. In all
cases, to be timely, such stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed
and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than
one hundred twenty calendar days in advance of the date of the Company's proxy
statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year's
annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that no
annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting
has been changed by more than thirty days from the date contemplated at the
time of the previous year's proxy statement, notice by the stockholder to be
timely must be so received a reasonable time before the solicitation is made.
16
<PAGE>
To be in proper form, the Nomination Procedure and Business Procedure
provide that a stockholder's notice to the Secretary of the Company must
contain:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the
nominations or propose the business and, as the case may be, of the
person or persons to be nominated or of the business to be proposed;
(ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of
stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and, if
applicable, intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;
(iii) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other
person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the
nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder;
(iv) such other information regarding each nominee or each matter of
business to be proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be
included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or
intended to be nominated, or the matter been proposed, or intended to
be proposed by the board of directors; and
(v) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as director
of the Company if so elected.
By requiring advance notice of nominations by stockholders, the Nomination
Procedure affords the Board of Directors an opportunity to consider the
qualifications of the proposed nominees and, to the extent deemed necessary or
desirable by the Board, to inform the stockholders about such qualifications.
By requiring advance notice of proposed business, the Business Procedure
provides the Board with an opportunity to inform stockholders of any business
proposed to be conducted at a meeting and the Board's position on any such
proposal, enabling stockholders to better determine whether they desire to
attend the meeting or grant a proxy to the Board of Directors as to the
disposition of such business. Although the Level One Delaware Bylaws do not
give the Board any power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations for
the election of directors or any other business desired by stockholders to be
conducted at a meeting, the Level One Delaware Bylaws may have the effect of
precluding a nomination for the election of directors or of precluding any
other business at a particular meeting if the proper procedures are not
followed. In addition, the procedures may discourage or deter a third party
from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors
or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company, even if the conduct
of such business or such attempt might be beneficial to the Company and its
stockholders.
Action by Written Consent of the Shareholders. Any action by the
stockholders must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting,
according to the Bylaws of Level One Delaware. Thus, although the Bylaws of
Level One California allow shareholder action by written consent, shareholder
action by written consent will no longer be authorized after the Proposed
Reincorporation. Since action by written consent to elect directors under
California law requires unanimous consent of the shareholders, elimination of
the ability to take action by written consent of the shareholders under
Delaware law is not likely to make it more difficult to remove directors than
is currently the case for Level One California.
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CORPORATION LAWS OF CALIFORNIA AND
DELAWARE
The corporation laws of California and Delaware differ in many respects.
Although all the differences are not set forth in this Proxy Statement,
certain provisions, which could materially affect the rights of shareholders,
are discussed below.
Shareholder Approval of Certain Business Combinations. In recent years, a
number of states have adopted special laws designed to make certain kinds of
"unfriendly" corporate takeovers, or other transactions involving a
corporation and one or more of its significant shareholders, more difficult.
Under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, certain "business
combinations" with "interested stockholders" of Delaware corporations are
subject to a three-year moratorium unless specified conditions are met.
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Section 203 prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for three years following the
date that such person or entity becomes an interested stockholder. With
certain exceptions, an interested stockholder is a person or entity who or
which owns, individually or with or through certain other persons or entities,
fifteen percent or more of the corporation's outstanding voting stock
(including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant,
agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or
exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights
only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner,
individually or with or through certain other persons or entities, of fifteen
percent or more of such voting stock at any time within the previous three
years, or is an affiliate or associate of any of the foregoing.
For purposes of Section 203, the term "business combination" is defined
broadly to include mergers with or caused by the interested stockholder; sales
or other dispositions to the interested stockholder (except proportionately
with the corporation's other stockholders) of assets of the corporation or a
direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary equal in aggregate market value
to ten percent or more of the aggregate market value of either the
corporation's consolidated assets or all of its outstanding stock; the
issuance or transfer by the corporation or a direct or indirect majority-owned
subsidiary of stock of the corporation or such subsidiary to the interested
stockholder (except for certain transfers in a conversion or exchange or a pro
rata distribution or certain other transactions, none of which increase the
interested stockholder's proportionate ownership of any class or series of the
corporation's or such subsidiary's stock or of the corporation's voting
stock); or receipt by the interested stockholder (except proportionately as a
stockholder), directly or indirectly, of any loans, advances, guarantees,
pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation or
a subsidiary.
The three-year moratorium imposed on business combinations of Section 203
does not apply if: (i) prior to the date on which such stockholder becomes an
interested stockholder the board of directors approves either the business
combination or the transaction that resulted in the person or entity becoming
an interested stockholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that made
him or her an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owns at least
eighty-five percent of the corporation's voting stock outstanding at the time
the transaction commenced (excluding from the eighty-five percent calculation
shares owned by directors who are also officers of the target corporation and
shares held by employee stock plans that do not give employee participants the
right to decide confidentially whether to accept a tender or exchange offer);
or (iii) on or after the date such person or entity becomes an interested
stockholder, the board approves the business combination and it is also
approved at a stockholder meeting by sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the
outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 203 only applies to certain publicly held corporations that have a
class of voting stock that is (i) listed on a national securities exchange,
(ii) quoted on an interdealer quotation system of a registered national
securities association or (iii) held of record by more than 2,000
stockholders. Although a Delaware corporation to which Section 203 applies may
elect not to be governed by Section 203, Level One Delaware does not intend to
so elect and thus will be governed by Section 203.
Section 203 will encourage any potential acquiror to negotiate with the
Company's Board of Directors. Section 203 also might have the effect of
limiting the ability of a potential acquiror to make a two-tiered bid for
Level One Delaware in which all stockholders would not be treated equally.
Shareholders should note, however, that the application of Section 203 to
Level One Delaware will confer upon the Board the power to reject a proposed
business combination in certain circumstances, even though a potential
acquiror may be offering a substantial premium for Level One Delaware's shares
over the then current market price. Section 203 would also discourage certain
potential acquirors unwilling to comply with its provisions. See "Shareholder
Voting" herein.
Removal of Directors. Under California law, any director or the entire board
of directors may be removed, with or without cause, with the approval of a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote; however, no individual
director may be removed (unless the entire board is removed) if the number of
votes cast against such removal would be sufficient to elect the director
under cumulative voting. Under Delaware law, a director of a
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corporation with a classified board of directors may be removed only for
cause, unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides. Under
Delaware law, a director that does not have a classified board of directors or
cumulative voting may be removed with or without cause with the approval of a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. The Certificate of
Incorporation of Level One Delaware does not provide for cumulative voting or
a classified board of directors. Consequently, a director of Level One
Delaware may be removed from office with or without cause, with the approval
of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at a meeting properly
called for that purpose.
Indemnification and Limitation of Liability. California and Delaware have
similar laws respecting indemnification by a corporation of its officers,
directors, employees and other agents. The laws of both states also permit
corporations to adopt a provision in their articles of incorporation
eliminating the liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders
for monetary damages for breach of the director's fiduciary duty of care.
There are nonetheless certain differences between the laws of the two states
respecting indemnification and limitation of liability. In general, Delaware
law is somewhat broader in allowing corporations to indemnify and limit the
liability of corporate agents, which, among other things, support Delaware
corporations in attracting and retaining outside directors.
California law does not permit the elimination of monetary liability where
such liability is based on: (a) intentional misconduct or knowing and culpable
violation of law; (b) acts or omissions that a director believes to be
contrary to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders, or that
involve the absence of good faith on the part of the director; (c) receipt of
an improper personal benefit; (d) acts or omissions that show reckless
disregard for the director's duty to the corporation or its shareholders,
where the director in the ordinary course of performing a director's duties
should be aware of a risk of serious injury to the corporation or its
shareholders; (e) acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of
inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the
corporation and its shareholders; (f) interested transactions between the
corporation and a director in which a director has a material financial
interest; or (g) liability for improper distributions, loans or guarantees.
Delaware law does not permit the elimination of monetary liability for (a)
breaches of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
shareholders; (b) acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional
misconduct or knowing violations of law; (c) the payment of unlawful dividends
or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or (d) transactions in which the
director received an improper personal benefit.
California law permits indemnification of expenses incurred in derivative or
third-party actions, except that with respect to derivative actions (a) no
indemnification may be made without court approval when a person is adjudged
liable to the corporation in the performance of that person's duty to the
corporation and its shareholders, unless a court determines such person is
entitled to indemnity for expenses, and then such indemnification may be made
only to the extent that such court shall determine, and (b) no indemnification
may be made without court approval in respect of amounts paid or expenses
incurred in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or pending action
or amounts incurred in defending a pending action which is settled or
otherwise disposed of without court approval.
Indemnification is permitted by California law only for acts taken in good
faith and believed to be in the best interests of the corporation and its
shareholders, as determined by a majority vote of a disinterested quorum of
the directors, independent legal counsel (if a quorum of independent directors
is not obtainable), a majority vote of a quorum of the shareholders (excluding
shares owned by the indemnified party), or the court handling the action.
California law requires indemnification when the individual has successfully
defended the action on the merits as opposed to Delaware law which requires
indemnification where there has been a successful defense, whether on the
merits or otherwise.
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Delaware law generally permits indemnification of expenses incurred in the
defense or settlement of a derivative or third-party action, provided there is
a determination by a disinterested quorum of the directors, by independent
legal counsel or by a majority vote of a quorum of the stockholders that the
person seeking indemnification acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably
believed to be in, or (in contrast to California law) not opposed to, the best
interests of the corporation. Without court approval, however, no
indemnification may be made in respect of any derivative action in which such
person is adjudged liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his duty to the corporation.
Each of California and Delaware law allow for the entering of
indemnification agreements which may provide for indemnification arrangements
beyond those specifically authorized by applicable statute as long as they are
not contrary to the policies underlying such statute. In this connection, the
Company entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and
directors providing for indemnification in line with California law, including
certain procedures for such indemnification as well as for the advancement of
expenses (other than actual amounts paid in settlement) in connection with the
investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any proceeding subject to such
indemnification agreement. Such advances are repayable by the officer or
director to the extent the subject conduct is later determined not to be
indemnifiable. Similar indemnification agreements are allowed under Delaware
law and the broader indemnification allowed in Delaware could also result in
the greater allowance of expense advancement.
After the Proposed Reincorporation, the Company proposes to adopt the
indemnification agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
Inspection of Shareholder List. Both California and Delaware law allow any
shareholder to inspect the shareholder list for a purpose reasonably related
to such person's interest as a shareholder. California law provides, in
addition, for an absolute right to inspect and copy the corporation's
shareholder list by persons holding an aggregate of five percent or more of
the corporation's voting shares, or shareholders holding an aggregate of one
percent or more of such shares who have filed a Schedule 14B with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with a contested election of
directors. The latter provision has not been amended in response to the
elimination of Schedule 14B under the revised proxy rules. Under California
law, such absolute inspection rights also apply to a corporation formed under
the laws of any other state if its principal executive offices are in
California or if it customarily holds meetings of its board in California.
Delaware law also provides for inspection rights as to a list of stockholders
entitled to vote at a meeting within a ten-day period preceding a
stockholders' meeting for any purpose germane to the meeting. However,
Delaware law contains no provisions comparable to the absolute right of
inspection provided by California law to certain shareholders.
Dividends and Repurchases of Shares. California law dispenses with the
concepts of par value of shares as well as statutory definitions of capital,
surplus and the like. The concepts of par value, capital and surplus exist
under Delaware law.
Under California law, a corporation may not make any distribution (including
dividends, whether in cash or other property, and repurchases of its shares,
other than repurchases of its shares issued under employee stock plans
contemplated by Section 408 of the California Corporations Code) unless either
(i) the corporation's retained earnings immediately prior to the proposed
distribution equal or exceed the amount of the proposed distribution or (ii)
immediately after giving effect to such distribution, the corporation's assets
(exclusive of goodwill, capitalized research and development expenses and
deferred charges) would be at least equal to 1 1/4 times its liabilities (not
including deferred taxes, deferred income and other deferred credits), and the
corporation's current assets would be at least equal to its current
liabilities (or 1 1/4 times its current liabilities if the average pre-tax and
pre-interest expense earnings for the preceding two fiscal years were less
than the average interest expense for such years). Such tests are applied to
California corporations on a consolidated basis.
Delaware law permits a corporation to declare and pay dividends out of
surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in
which the dividend is declared and/or for the preceding fiscal year as long as
the amount of capital of the corporation following the declaration and payment
of the dividend is not less
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than the aggregate amount of the capital represented by the issued and
outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of
assets. In addition, Delaware law generally provides that a corporation may
redeem or repurchase its shares only if the capital of the corporation is not
impaired and such redemption or repurchase would not impair the capital of the
corporation.
To date, the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its outstanding
shares and does not anticipate doing so for the foreseeable future.
Shareholder Voting. Both California and Delaware law generally require that
a majority of the shareholders of both acquiring and target corporations
approve statutory mergers. Delaware law does not require a stockholder vote of
the surviving corporation in a merger (unless the corporation provides
otherwise in its certificate of incorporation) if (a) the merger agreement
does not amend the existing certificate of incorporation, (b) each share of
the stock of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately before the
effective date of the merger is an identical outstanding or treasury share
after the merger and (c) either no shares of common stock of the surviving
corporation and no shares, securities or obligations convertible into such
stock are to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger, or the
authorized unissued shares or the treasury shares of common stock of the
surviving corporation to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger plus
those initially issuable upon conversion of any other shares, securities or
obligations to be issued or delivered under such plan do not exceed twenty
percent (20%) of the shares of common stock of such constituent corporation
outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger. California
law contains a similar exception to its voting requirements for
reorganizations where shareholders or the corporation itself, or both,
immediately prior to the reorganization will own immediately after the
reorganization equity securities constituting more than five-sixths of the
voting power of the surviving or acquiring corporation or its parent entity.
Both California law and Delaware law also require that a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of a corporation be approved by a majority of
the outstanding voting shares of the corporation transferring such assets.
With certain exceptions, California law also requires that mergers,
reorganizations, certain sales of assets and similar transactions be approved
by a majority vote of each class of shares outstanding. In contrast, Delaware
law generally does not require class voting, except in certain transactions
involving an amendment to the certificate of incorporation that adversely
affects a specific class of shares. As a result, shareholder approval of such
transactions may be easier to obtain under Delaware law for companies which
have more than one class of shares outstanding.
California law also requires that holders of nonredeemable common stock
receive nonredeemable common stock in a merger of the corporation with the
holder of more than fifty percent (50%) but less than ninety percent (90%) of
such common stock or its affiliate unless all of the holders of such common
stock consent to the transaction. This provision of California law may have
the effect of making a "cash-out" merger by a majority shareholder more
difficult to accomplish. Although Delaware law does not parallel California
law in this respect, under some circumstances Section 203 does provide similar
protection against coercive two-tiered bids for a corporation in which the
stockholders are not treated equally. See "Significant Differences Between the
Corporation Laws of California and Delaware--Shareholder Approval of Certain
Business Combinations."
California law provides that, except in certain circumstances, when a tender
offer or a proposal for a reorganization or for a sale of assets is made by an
interested party (generally a controlling or managing person of the target
corporation), an affirmative opinion in writing as to the fairness of the
consideration to be paid to the shareholders must be delivered to
shareholders. This fairness opinion requirement does not apply to a
corporation that does not have shares held of record by at least 100 persons,
or to a transaction that has been qualified under California state securities
laws. Furthermore, if a tender of shares or vote is sought pursuant to an
interested party's proposal and a later proposal is made by another party at
least ten days prior to the date of acceptance of the interested party
proposal, the shareholders must be informed of the later offer and be afforded
a reasonable opportunity to withdraw any vote, consent or proxy, or to
withdraw any tendered shares. Delaware law has no comparable provision.
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Interested Director Transactions. Under both California and Delaware law,
certain contracts or transactions in which one or more of a corporation's
directors has an interest are not void or voidable because of such interest
provided that certain conditions, such as obtaining the required approval and
fulfilling the requirements of good faith and full disclosure, are met. With
certain exceptions, the conditions are similar under California and Delaware
law. Under California and Delaware law, (a) either the shareholders or the
board of directors must approve any such contract or transaction after full
disclosure of the material facts, and, in the case of board approval, the
contract or transaction must also be "just and reasonable" (in California) or
"fair" (in Delaware) to the corporation or (b) the contract or transaction
must have been just and reasonable or fair as to the corporation at the time
it was approved. In the latter case, California law explicitly places the
burden of proof on the interested director. Under California law, if
shareholder approval is sought, the interested director is not entitled to
vote his shares at a shareholder meeting with respect to any action regarding
such contract or transaction. If board approval is sought, the contract or
transaction must be approved by a majority vote of a quorum of the directors,
without counting the vote of any interested directors (except that interested
directors may be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum). Under
Delaware law, if board approval is sought, the contract or transaction must be
approved by a majority of the disinterested directors (even if the
disinterested directors are less than a quorum). Therefore, certain
transactions that the Board of Directors of Level One California might not be
able to approve because of the number of interested directors, could be
approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of Level One Delaware,
although less than a majority of a quorum.
Shareholder Derivative Suits. California law provides that a shareholder
bringing a derivative action on behalf of a corporation need not have been a
shareholder at the time of the transaction in question, provided that certain
tests are met. Under Delaware law, a stockholder may bring a derivative action
on behalf of the corporation only if the stockholder was a stockholder of the
corporation at the time of the transaction in question or if his or her stock
thereafter devolved upon him or her by operation of law. California law also
provides that the corporation or the defendant in a derivative suit may make a
motion to the court for an order requiring the plaintiff shareholder to
furnish a security bond. Delaware does not have a similar bonding requirement.
Appraisal Rights. Under both California and Delaware law, a shareholder of a
corporation participating in certain major corporate transactions may, under
varying circumstances, be entitled to appraisal rights pursuant to which such
shareholder may receive cash in the amount of the fair market value of his or
her shares in lieu of the consideration he or she would otherwise receive in
the transaction. Under Delaware law, such fair market value is determined
exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or
expectation of the merger or consolidation, and such appraisal rights are not
available (a) with respect to the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the assets of a corporation, (b) with respect to a merger
or consolidation by a corporation the shares of which are either listed on a
national securities exchange or are held of record by more than 2,000 holders
if such stockholders receive only shares of the surviving corporation or
shares of any other corporation that are either listed on a national
securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders, plus cash in
lieu of fractional shares of such corporations or (c) to stockholders of a
corporation surviving a merger if no vote of the stockholders of the surviving
corporation is required to approve the merger under certain provisions of
Delaware law.
The limitations on the availability of appraisal rights under California law
are different from those under Delaware law. Shareholders of a California
corporation whose shares are listed on a national securities exchange or on a
list of over-the-counter margin stocks issued by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System generally do not have such appraisal rights unless the
holders of at least five percent (5%) of the class of outstanding shares claim
the right or the corporation or any law restricts the transfer of such shares.
Appraisal rights are also unavailable if the shareholders of a corporation or
the corporation itself, or both, immediately prior to the reorganization will
own immediately after the reorganization equity securities constituting more
than five-sixths of the voting power of the surviving or acquiring corporation
or its parent entity (as will be the case in the Reincorporation Proposal).
Appraisal or dissenters' rights are, therefore, not available to shareholders
of Level One California with respect to the Reincorporation Proposal.
California law generally affords appraisal rights in sale of asset
reorganizations.
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Dissolution. Under California law, shareholders holding fifty percent (50%)
or more of the total voting power may authorize a corporation's dissolution,
with or without the approval of the corporation's board of directors, and this
right may not be modified by the Articles of Incorporation. Under Delaware
law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, the
dissolution must be approved by all the stockholders entitled to vote thereon.
Only if the dissolution is initially approved by the board of directors may it
be approved by a simple majority of the outstanding shares of the
corporation's stock entitled to vote. In the event of such a board-initiated
dissolution, Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its
certificate of incorporation a supermajority (greater than a simple majority)
voting requirement in connection with dissolution. Level One Delaware's
Certificate of Incorporation contains no such supermajority voting
requirement, however, and a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote, voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present, would be sufficient to
approve a dissolution of Level One Delaware that had previously been approved
by its Board of Directors.
APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF CALIFORNIA TO DELAWARE
CORPORATIONS
Under Section 2115 of the California General Corporation Law, certain
foreign corporations (i.e., corporations not organized under California law)
are placed in a special category if they have characteristics of ownership and
operation which indicate that they have significant contacts with California.
So long as a Delaware or other foreign corporation is in this special
category, and it does not qualify for one of the statutory exemptions, it is
subject to a number of key provisions of the California General Corporation
Law applicable to corporations incorporated in California.
Exemptions from Section 2115 are provided for corporations whose shares are
listed on a major national securities exchange or are traded in the Nasdaq
National Market and which have 800 or more shareholders as of the record date
of its most recent annual meeting of shareholders. The Common Stock of Level
One Delaware will continue to be traded on the Nasdaq National Market and will
be owned by more than 800 holders, and, accordingly, Level One Delaware will
be exempt from Section 2115.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations
that may be relevant to holders of Level One California Common Stock who
receive Level One Delaware Common Stock in exchange for their Level One
California Common Stock as a result of the Proposed Reincorporation. The
discussion does not address all of the tax consequences of the Proposed
Reincorporation that may be relevant to particular Level One California
shareholders, such as dealers in securities, or those Level One California
shareholders who acquired their shares upon the exercise of stock options, nor
does it address the tax consequences to holders of options or warrants to
acquire Level One California Common Stock. Furthermore, no foreign, state, or
local tax considerations are addressed herein. IN VIEW OF THE VARYING NATURE
OF SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES, EACH SHAREHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN
TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROPOSED
REINCORPORATION, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR
FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
Subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions described herein,
and assuming the Proposed Reincorporation qualifies as a reorganization within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, the following tax consequences
generally should result:
(a) No gain or loss should be recognized by holders of Level One
California Common Stock upon receipt of Level One Delaware Common Stock
pursuant to the Proposed Reincorporation;
(b) The aggregate tax basis of the Level One Delaware Common Stock
received by each shareholder in the Proposed Reincorporation should be
equal to the aggregate tax basis of the Level One California Common Stock
surrendered in exchange therefor;
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(c) The holding period of the Level One Delaware Common Stock received by
each shareholder of Level One California should include the period for
which such shareholder held the Level One California Common Stock
surrendered in exchange therefor, provided that such Level One California
Common Stock was held by the shareholder as a capital asset at the time of
Proposed Reincorporation; and
(d) The Company should not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of the Proposed Reincorporation, and Level One
Delaware should succeed, without adjustment, to the federal income tax
attributes of Level One California.
The Company has not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") with respect to the federal income tax consequences of the
Proposed Reincorporation under the Code. The Company will, however, receive an
opinion from legal counsel substantially to the effect that the Proposed
Reincorporation will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code (the "Tax Opinion"). The Tax Opinion will neither bind the
IRS nor preclude it from asserting a contrary position. In addition, the Tax
Opinion will be subject to certain assumptions and qualifications and will be
based upon the truth and accuracy of representations made by Level One
Delaware and Level One California.
A successful IRS challenge to the reorganization status of the Proposed
Reincorporation would result in a shareholder recognizing gain or loss with
respect to each share of Level One California Common Stock exchanged in the
Proposed Reincorporation equal to the difference between the shareholder's
basis in such share and the fair market value, as of the time of the Proposed
Reincorporation, of the Level One Delaware Common Stock received in exchange
therefor. In such event, a shareholder's aggregate basis in the shares of
Level One Delaware Common Stock received in the exchange would equal their
fair market value on such date, and the shareholder's holding period for such
shares would not include the period during which the shareholder held Level
One California Common Stock.
PROPOSAL NO. 4
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors has reappointed Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's
independent certified public accountants. Arthur Andersen LLP has served as
the Company's certified public accountants since the fall of 1990.
Although not required to do so by California law, the Company has requested
shareholder ratification of the appointment of the Company's auditors at each
annual meeting. Ratification requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock represented and entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented at the Annual Meeting and
not voting shall not be counted as affirmative votes. In the event the
necessary vote is not obtained, the matter will be returned to the Board of
Directors for consideration of alternatives.
Representatives of Arthur Andersen LLP are expected to be in attendance at
the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire
and to be available to answer appropriate questions.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP AS THE COMPANY'S
AUDITORS.
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REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves
the compensation policies for the Company's executive officers. These policies
are intended to link executive officer compensation to both Company and
individual performance through base salary, bonuses and long-term
compensation. During 1997, the benefits for executives were generally similar
to those offered to all Company employees, including participation in the
Company's 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase plan. Executives were not
eligible for participation in the Company's profit sharing plan, but
participated in an executive bonus program based on the Company's achieving
revenue and profitability targets.
The goals of the Company's executive compensation policies are:
. To align the interests of management and shareholders to build
shareholder value by encouraging consistent, long-term Company growth.
. To attract and retain key executive officers essential to the Company's
long-term success.
. To reward executive officers for long-term corporate success through
stock ownership.
. To link compensation to the Company's achievement of annual and long-
term goals.
. To emphasize and reward performance at the individual and corporate
level.
Base salary, bonus and long-term compensation amounts are established
following evaluation of compensation surveys for the technology industry and
other published data on executive compensation on companies competitive with
Level One. These comparisons include, but are not limited to, the group of
companies whose cumulative stock performance is shown in the "Performance
Graph" section.
BASE SALARY
The base salary for each executive officer is determined on the basis of
individual performance, the functions performed by the executive officer and
the scope of the executive officer's ongoing responsibilities, and the salary
for comparable positions shown in the comparative data described above. The
weight given to each factor varies by individual. Base salary is set near or
above the midpoint of the salary levels for comparable positions surveyed.
Each executive officer's base salary is reviewed annually to ensure
appropriateness, and increases to base salary are made to reflect competitive
market increases and individual factors. Company performance does not play a
significant role in the determination of base salary.
CASH BONUS
Executive officers earned cash bonuses for the 1997 fiscal year pursuant to
the Company's executive bonus plan. Under the plan, executive officers earned
a bonus based on the Company's revenue and profit performance against targets
established at the start of the year. Bonus amounts for participants other
than Dr. Pepper were based on individual performance as assessed by Dr.
Pepper. Dr. Pepper's bonus is described under the heading "Chief Executive
Officer Compensation" below.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVES
Long-term incentives are provided through stock option grants. Option grants
are intended to motivate the executive officers to manage the Company for
long-term performance. The size of each option grant is based upon the
compensation surveys described above, an assessment of the option grants of
comparable companies, and each officer's expected individual contribution.
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Each option allows the executive officer to acquire Company stock in the
future at a fixed price per share. The Company grants options with exercise
prices equal to the market price of the shares on the grant date. The option's
value increases only if the market price of the Company's shares increases,
aligning a substantial part of the executive officer's compensation package
with the return realized by the shareholders. Options granted to executive
officers during 1997 were not immediately exercisable.
In 1996, the Board adopted, and the shareholders approved, amendments to the
1993 Plan intended to exclude stock option income from the $1 million
deductibility limitations of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m).
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO) COMPENSATION
In setting the compensation payable to the Chief Executive Officer, Robert
S. Pepper, Ph.D., the goal is to provide compensation competitive with other
companies in the industry while at the same time making a significant
percentage of his compensation subject to consistent, positive, long-term
Company performance. For 1997, Dr. Pepper's base salary was increased by
approximately 10% over the base salary paid in 1996, based on a review of CEO
salaries of other companies with growth and revenue profiles similar to those
of Level One. In general, the factors utilized in determining Dr. Pepper's
compensation were similar to those applied to the other executive officers in
the manner described in the preceding paragraphs. In addition to the factors
in the executive bonus plan, Dr. Pepper's bonus for 1997 was based on
achievement of specified objectives related to Company operations, as
established by the Compensation Committee. As a result of Dr. Pepper's
performance against these goals, his bonus for 1997 was $583,554. The long-
term component of Dr. Pepper's compensation consisted of stock option grants
aggregating 585,000 shares.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Thomas J. Connors
Martin Jurick
Henry Kressel, Ph.D.
26
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a graph indicating cumulative monthly total return
(assuming reinvestment of dividends) for the fiscal year ended December 28,
1997 on $100 invested alternatively in the Company's Common Stock, the index
for NASDAQ United States issuers prepared by the Center for Research in
Security Prices, and a "peer group" of companies engaged in semiconductor
manufacture for the communications industry selected by the Company. The index
level for all series was set to $100 on August 19, 1993, the date of the
Company's initial public offering of its Common Stock. Each line represents an
index level derived from compounded daily returns including all dividends.
The companies selected for the peer group were Analog Devices, Inc., Cirrus
Logic, Inc., Exar Corp., Microchip Technology, Inc., Sierra Semiconductor
Corp., Dallas Semiconductor Corp., Linear Technology Corp., and Maxim
Integrated Products, Inc. In 1996 Brooktree Corp. was acquired by Rockwell
International, Inc., and in 1997 Zilog, Inc. ceased public trading of it
shares; as a result, the Company deleted Brooktree and Zilog from the peer
group calculations. The returns of each issuer in the peer group are reweighted
daily, using the stock market capitalization for the prior day.
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH APPEARS HERE]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
8/31/93 12/31/93 12/30/94 12/29/95 12/27/96 12/26/97
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Level One Communications, Incorporated....... 100.0 127.2 81.6 94.7 185.5 219.1
Nasdaq Stock Market (US Companies)........... 100.0 106.7 104.3 147.5 181.6 214.3
Self-Determined Peer Group................... 100.0 115.0 143.0 226.5 266.5 311.1
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of July 10, 1998, by (i) each
person (or group of affiliated persons) known by the Company to own
beneficially more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock, (ii) each of the
Company's directors, (iii) each Named Officer, and (iv) the Company's
directors and executive officers as a group. Except as indicated in the
footnotes to this table, the persons named herein, based on information
provided by such persons, have sole voting and investment power with respect
to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to
community property laws, where applicable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
--------------------
DIRECTORS, NAMED OFFICERS AND 5% SHAREHOLDERS NUMBER PERCENT(1)
--------------------------------------------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc.(2)..................... 3,271,476 9.3%
6600 France Avenue South, Suite 672
Edina, Minnesota 55435
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D.(3)............................ 599,424 1.7%
Thomas J. Connors(4).................................. 91,687 *
Paul Gray(5).......................................... 51,750 *
Martin Jurick(6)...................................... 36,000 *
Henry Kressel, Ph.D.(7)............................... 28,189 *
Joseph P. Landy(8).................................... 48,552 *
Kenneth A. Pickar, Ph.D............................... 0 *
John Kehoe(9)......................................... 86,625 *
Daniel S. Koellen(10)................................. 159,919 *
George A. Papa(11).................................... 35,440 *
Manuel D. Yuen(12).................................... 103,912 *
All Named Officers and Directors as a group (11
persons)............................................. 1,241,498 3.4%
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Percent ownership is based on 35,155,667 shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of June 1, 1998, plus shares issuable pursuant to options
or warrants held by the person or class in question that are exercisable
within 60 days after June 1, 1998.
(2) Includes 3,151,476 shares over which Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc.
exercises investment discretion, but for which it is not the record
holder; 22,500 shares which Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc., owns
directly; and 97,500 shares owned by LeRoy C. Kopp.
(3) Includes 418,676 shares issuable under stock options held by Dr. Pepper
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(4) Includes 64,687 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Connors
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(5) Includes 51,750 shares issuable under stock options held by Dr. Gray
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(6) Includes 13,500 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Jurick
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(7) Includes 1,489 shares held of record by WPCC. Dr. Kressel is a managing
director of a WPCC affiliate, and disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares.
28
<PAGE>
(8) Includes 1,489 shares held of record by WPCC. Mr. Landy is a managing
director of a WPCC affiliate, and disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares.
(9) Includes 86,625 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Kehoe
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(10) Includes 134,887 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Koellen
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(11) Includes 31,500 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Papa
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
(12) Includes 73,855 shares issuable under stock options held by Mr. Yuen
exercisable within 60 days of June 1, 1998.
* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and
persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of the
Company's equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership
and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity
securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with
copies of all reports they file under Section 16(a).
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other
reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were
complied with during the fiscal year ended December 28, 1997.
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING
Any proposal which a shareholder wishes to have presented at the 1999 Annual
Meeting and included in the Company's proxy statement for such meeting must be
received by the Company, at its principal office, 9750 Goethe Road,
Sacramento, California 95827, Attn.: Mr. John Kehoe, no later than December
31, 1998. Such proposals may be included in next year's proxy statement if
they comply with certain SEC regulations.
29
<PAGE>
OTHER MATTERS
The Company does not know of any matter other than those discussed in the
proxy statement contemplated for action at the Annual Meeting. Should any
other matter be properly brought before the Meeting, the holders of the
proxies herein solicited will vote thereon in their discretion.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Robert S. Pepper, Ph.D.
Chairman of the Board
Sacramento, California
Dated: July 13, 1998
30
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
OF LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED,
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
AND
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
This agreement and plan of merger dated as of , 1998, (the
"Agreement") is between Level One Communications, Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation ("Level One-Delaware") and Level One Communications, Incorporated,
a California corporation ("Level One-California"). Level One-Delaware and
Level One-California are sometimes referred to herein as the "Constituent
Corporations."
R E C I T A L S
A. Level One-Delaware is a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and has an authorized capital of 246,250,000
shares, 236,250,000 of which are designated "Common Stock," $.001 par value
and 10,000,000 of which are designated "Preferred Stock", $.001 par value. As
of the date of this Agreement of Merger, 1,000 shares of Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, all of which were held by Level One-California. No
shares of Preferred were outstanding.
B. Level One-California is a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of California and has an authorized capital of
246,250,000 shares, 236,250,000 of which are designated "Common Stock", no par
value and 10,000,000 of which are designated "Preferred Stock", no par value.
As of the date of this Agreement of Merger shares of Common Stock were
issued and outstanding. No shares of Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding.
C. The Board of Directors of Level One-California has determined that, for
the purpose of effecting the reincorporation of Level One-California in the
State of Delaware, it is advisable and in the best interests of Level One-
California that Level One-California merge with and into Level One-Delaware
upon the terms and conditions herein provided.
D. The respective Boards of Directors of Level One-Delaware and Level One-
California have approved this Agreement and have directed that this Agreement
be submitted to a vote of their respective stockholders and executed by the
undersigned officers.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set
forth herein, Level One-Delaware and Level One-California hereby agree,
subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, as follows:
I. MERGER
1.1 Merger. In accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the
Delaware General Corporation Law and the California General Corporation Law,
Level One-California shall be merged with and into Level One-Delaware (the
"Merger"), the separate existence of Level One-California shall cease and
Level One- Delaware shall be, and is herein sometimes referred as, the
"Surviving Corporation", and the name of the Surviving Corporation shall be
Level One Communications, Incorporated.
<PAGE>
1.2 Filing and Effectiveness. The Merger shall become effective when the
following actions have been completed:
(a) This Agreement and Merger shall have been adopted and approved by the
stockholders of each Constituent Corporation in accordance with the
requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the California
General Corporation Law;
(b) All of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger
specified in this Agreement shall have been satisfied or duly waived by the
party entitled to satisfaction thereof;
(c) An executed Agreement and Plan of Merger meeting the requirements of
the Delaware General Corporation Law shall have been filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
(d) The date and time when the Merger shall become effective, as
aforesaid, is herein called the "Effective Date of the Merger."
1.3 Effect of the Merger. Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, the
separate existence of Level One-California shall cease and Level One-Delaware,
as the Surviving Corporation, (i) shall continue to possess all of its assets,
rights, powers and property as constituted immediately prior to the Effective
Date of the Merger, (ii) shall be subject to all actions previously taken by
its and Level One-California's Board of Directors, (iii) shall succeed,
without other transfer, to all of the assets, rights, powers and property of
Level One-California in the manner more fully set forth in Section 259 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, (iv) shall continue to be subject to all of
the debts, liabilities and obligations of Level One-Delaware as constituted
immediately prior to the Effective Date of the Merger, and (v) shall succeed,
without other transfer, to all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of
Level One-California in the same manner as if Level One-Delaware had itself
incurred them, all as more fully provided under the applicable provisions of
the Delaware General Corporation Law and the California Corporations Code.
II. CHARTER DOCUMENTS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
2.1 Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation of Level
One-Delaware as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date of the
Merger shall continue in full force and effect as the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance
with the provisions thereof and applicable law.
2.2 Bylaws. The Bylaws of Level One-Delaware as in effect immediately prior
to the Effective Date of the Merger shall continue in full force and effect as
the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with
the provisions thereof and applicable law.
2.3 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of Level One-
California immediately prior to the Effective Date of the Merger shall be the
directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors
shall have been duly elected and qualified or until as otherwise provided by
law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or the
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
III. MANNER OF CONVERSION OF STOCK
3.1 Level One-California Common Shares. Upon the Effective Date of the
Merger, each share of Level One-California Common Stock, no par value, issued
and outstanding immediately prior thereto shall by virtue of the Merger and
without any action by the Constituent Corporations, the holder of such shares
or any other person, be converted into and exchanged for one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of the Surviving
Corporation. No fractional share interests of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock shall be issued. In lieu thereof, any fractional share interests to
which a holder would otherwise be entitled shall be aggregated.
A-2
<PAGE>
3.2 Level One-California Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Convertible
Securities.
(a) Upon the Effective Date of the Merger, the Surviving Corporation
shall assume the obligations of Level One-California under, and continue,
the option plans, including without limitation, all stock option plans,
employee purchase plans, director's stock option plans, all other employee
benefit plans, warrants, and the 4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due
2004. Each outstanding and unexercised option, other right to purchase, or
security convertible into Level One-California Common Stock (a "Right")
shall become, subject to the provisions in paragraph (c) hereof, an option,
right to purchase or a security convertible into the Surviving
Corporation's Common Stock on the basis of one share of the Surviving
Corporation's Common Stock for each one share of Level One-California
Common Stock issuable pursuant to any such Right, on the same terms and
conditions and at an exercise price equal to the exercise price applicable
to any such Level One-California Right at the Effective Date of the Merger.
This paragraph 3.2(a) shall not apply to Level One-California Common Stock
which is subject to paragraph 3.1.
(b) A number of shares of the Surviving Corporation's Common Stock shall
be reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options, warrants, stock
purchase rights and convertible securities, including the 4% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2004, equal to the number of shares of Level One-
California Common Stock so reserved immediately prior to the Effective Date
of the Merger.
(c) The assumed Rights shall not entitle any holder thereof to a
fractional share upon exercise or conversion. In addition, no "additional
benefits" (within the meaning of Section 424(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended) shall be accorded to the optionees pursuant to
the assumption of their options.
3.3 Level One-Delaware Common Stock. Upon the Effective Date of the Merger,
each share of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of Level One-Delaware issued and
outstanding immediately prior thereto shall, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action by Level One-Delaware, the holder of such shares or any
other person, be cancelled and returned to the status of authorized but
unissued shares.
3.4 Exchange of Certificates. After the Effective Date of the merger, each
holder of an outstanding certificate representing shares of Level One-
California Common Stock may be asked to surrender the same for cancellation to
(the "Exchange Agent"), and each such holder shall be entitled to
receive in exchange therefor a certificate or certificates representing the
number of shares of the Surviving Corporation's Common Stock, as the case may
be, into which the surrendered shares were converted as herein provided. Until
so surrendered, each outstanding certificate theretofore representing shares
of Level One-California Common Stock shall be deemed for all purposes to
represent the number of shares of the Surviving Corporation's Common Stock,
into which such shares of Level One-California Common Stock, were converted in
the Merger.
The registered owner on the books and records of the Surviving Corporation
or the Exchange Agent of any such outstanding certificate shall, until such
certificate shall have been surrendered for transfer or conversion or
otherwise accounted for to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent,
have and be entitled to exercise any voting and other rights with respect to
and to receive dividends and other distributions upon the shares of Common
Stock of the Surviving Corporation represented by such outstanding certificate
as provided above.
Each certificate representing Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation so
issued in the Merger shall bear the same legends, if any, with respect to the
restrictions on transferability as the certificates of Level One-California so
converted and given in exchange therefore, unless otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation in compliance with applicable
laws.
If any certificate for shares of the Surviving Corporation's stock is to be
issued in a name other than that in which the certificate surrendered in
exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of issuance thereof
that the certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise
in proper form for transfer, that such transfer otherwise be proper and comply
with applicable securities laws and that the person requesting such transfer
pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes payable by reason of
issuance of such new
A-3
<PAGE>
certificate in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
certificate surrendered or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not payable.
IV. GENERAL
4.1 Covenants of Level One-Delaware. Level One-Delaware covenants and agrees
that it will, on or before the Effective Date of the Merger:
(a) Qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of
California and in connection therewith irrevocably appoint an agent for
service of process as required under the provisions of Section 2105 of the
California General Corporation Law.
(b) File any and all documents with the California Franchise Tax Board
necessary for the assumption by Level One-Delaware of all of the franchise
tax liabilities of Level One-California.
(c) Take such other actions as may be required by the California General
Corporation Law.
4.2 Further Assurances. From time to time, as and when required by Level
One-Delaware or by its successors or assigns, there shall be executed and
delivered on behalf of Level One-California such deeds and other instruments,
and there shall be taken or caused to be taken by it such further and other
actions as shall be appropriate or necessary in order to vest or perfect in or
conform of record or otherwise by Level One-Delaware the title to and
possession of all the property, interests, assets, rights, privileges,
immunities, powers, franchises and authority of Level One-California and
otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and
directors of Level One-Delaware are fully authorized in the name and on behalf
of Level One-California or otherwise to take any and all such action and to
execute and deliver any and all such deeds and other instruments.
4.3 Abandonment. At any time before the Effective Date of the Merger, this
Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned for any reason
whatsoever by the Board of Directors of either Level One-California or Level
One-Delaware, or of both, notwithstanding the approval of this Agreement by
the shareholders of Level One-California or by the sole stockholder of Level
One-Delaware, or by both.
4.4 Amendment. The Boards of Directors of the Constituent Corporations may
amend this Agreement at any time prior to the filing of this Agreement (or
certificate in lieu thereof) with the Secretary of State of the States of
California and Delaware, provided that an amendment made subsequent to the
adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of either Constituent
Corporation shall not: (1) alter or change the amount or kind of shares,
securities, cash, property and/or rights to be received in exchange for or on
conversion of all or any of the shares of any class or series thereof of such
Constituent Corporation, (2) alter or change any term of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation to be effected by the Merger, or
(3) alter or change any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement if such
alternation or change would adversely affect the holders of any class or
series of capital stock of any Constituent Corporation.
4.5 Registered Office. The registered office of the Surviving Corporation in
the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New Castle,
DE 19801 and The Corporation Trust Company is the registered agent of the
Surviving Corporation at such address.
4.6 Agreement. Executed copies of this Agreement will be on file at the
principal place of business of the Surviving Corporation at 9750 Goethe Road,
Sacramento, California 95827 and copies thereof will be furnished to any
stockholder of either Constituent Corporation, upon request and without cost.
4.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be construed,
interpreted and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware and, so far as applicable, the merger provisions of the
California General Corporation Law.
A-4
<PAGE>
4.8 FIRPTA Notification.
(a) On the Effective Date of the Merger, Level One-California shall
deliver to Level One-Delaware, as agent for the shareholders of Level One-
California, a properly executed statement (the "Statement") substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Level One-Delaware shall retain
the Statement for a period of not less than seven years and shall, upon
request, provide a copy thereof to any person that was a shareholder of
Level One-California immediately prior to the Merger. In consequence of the
approval of the Merger by the shareholders of Level One-California, (i)
such shareholders shall be considered to have requested that Statement be
delivered to Level One-Delaware as their agent and (ii) Level One-Delaware
shall be considered to have received a copy of the Statement at the request
of the Level One-California shareholders for purposes of satisfying Level
One-Delaware's obligations under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-
2(c)(3).
(b) Level One-California shall deliver to the Internal Revenue Service a
notice regarding the Statement in accordance with the requirements of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.897-2(h)(2).
4.9 Counterparts. In order to facilitate the filing and recording of this
Agreement, the same may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement having first been approved by the
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Level One-Delaware and Level One-
California is hereby executed on behalf of each of such two corporations and
attested by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
Level One Communications,
Incorporated
a Delaware corporation
By: _________________________________
Robert S. Pepper
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman
ATTEST:
- -------------------------------------
John Kehoe, Secretary
Level One Communications,
Incorporated
a California corporation
By: _________________________________
Robert S. Pepper
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman
ATTEST:
- -------------------------------------
John Kehoe, Secretary
A-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is Level One Communications, Incorporated (the
"Corporation").
ARTICLE II
The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of Delaware
is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware
19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation
Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of shares of stock to be
designated, respectively, Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and Preferred Stock,
$0.001 par value. The total number of shares that the Corporation is
authorized to issue is 246,250,000 shares. The number of shares of Common
Stock authorized is 236,250,000. The number of shares of Preferred authorized
is 10,000,000.
The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series
pursuant to a resolution or resolutions providing for such issue duly adopted
by the board of directors (authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in
the board). The board of directors is further authorized to determine or alter
the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed
upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and to fix the number of
shares of any series of Preferred Stock and the designation of any such series
of Preferred Stock. The board of directors, within the limits and restrictions
stated in any resolution or resolutions of the board of directors originally
fixing the number of shares constituting any series, may increase or decrease
(but not below the number of shares in any such series then outstanding) the
number of shares of any series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that
series.
The authority of the board of directors with respect to each such class or
series shall include, without limitation of the foregoing, the right to
determine and fix:
(a) the distinctive designation of such class or series and the number of
shares to constitute such class or series;
<PAGE>
(b) the rate at which dividends on the shares of such class or series
shall be declared and paid, or set aside for payment, whether dividends at
the rate so determined shall be cumulative or accruing, and whether the
shares of such class or series shall be entitled to any participating or
other dividends in addition to dividends at the rate so determined, and if
so, on what terms;
(c) the right or obligation, if any, of the corporation to redeem shares
of the particular class or series of Preferred Stock and, if redeemable,
the price, terms and manner of such redemption;
(d) the special and relative rights and preferences, if any, and the
amount or amounts per share, which the shares of such class or series of
Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation;
(e) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which shares of such class or
series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of capital
stock of any other class or series, including the price or prices or the
rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the terms of adjustment, if
any;
(f) the obligation, if any, of the corporation to retire, redeem or
purchase shares of such class or series pursuant to a sinking fund or fund
of a similar nature or otherwise, and the terms and conditions of such
obligation;
(g) voting rights, if any, on the issuance of additional shares of such
class or series or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred
Stock;
(h) limitations, if any, on the issuance of additional shares of such
class or series or any shares of any other class or series of Preferred
Stock; and
(i) such other restrictions, preferences, powers, qualifications, special
or relative rights and privileges thereof as the board of directors of the
corporation, acting in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation,
may deem advisable and are not inconsistent with law and the provisions of
this Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE V
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any
provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon the
stockholders herein are granted subject to this right.
ARTICLE VI
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE VII
1. Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or as may
hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally
liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach
of fiduciary duty as a director.
2. Indemnification. The Corporation may indemnify to the fullest extent
permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action
or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by
reason of the fact that such person or his or her testator or intestate is or
was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or any predecessor of
the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director,
officer or employee at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to
the Corporation.
B-2
<PAGE>
3. Amendments. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the
adoption of any provision of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation
inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of
this Article VII, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or
proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue
or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal, or adoption of an inconsistent
provision.
ARTICLE VIII
1. Number of Directors. The number of directors of the corporation which
constitutes the whole Board of Directors of the corporation shall be
designated in the Bylaws of the corporation.
2. Election of Directors. Elections of directors shall not be by written
ballot unless the Bylaws of the corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE IX
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the
Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the
Bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE X
No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the corporation except at an
annual or special meeting of the stockholders called in accordance with the
Bylaws of the corporation, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by
written consent.
ARTICLE XI
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of
Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside of the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
The name and mailing address of the incorporator are as follows:
John Kehoe
Level One Communications, Incorporated
9750 Goethe Road
Sacramento, CA 95827
The undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the above Certificate
of Incorporation of Level One Communications, Incorporated is his act and deed
and that the facts stated therein are true.
Dated: , 1998
_____________________________________
John Kehoe, Incorporator
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EXHIBIT C
FORM OF
BYLAWS
OF
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the corporation shall be fixed in the certificate
of incorporation of the corporation.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The board of directors may at any time establish branch or subordinate
offices at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do
business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the
State of Delaware designated by the board of directors. In the absence of any
such designation, stockholders' meetings shall be held at the principal
executive office of the corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and at
a time designated by the board of directors. In the absence of such
designation, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on the first
Tuesday in June in each year at 10:00 A.M. However, if such day falls on a
legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held at the same time and place on
the next succeeding full business day. At the meeting, directors shall be
elected, and any other proper business may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the board
of directors, or by the chairman of the board, or by the president. No other
person or persons are permitted to call a special meeting.
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
All notices of meetings of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with Section 2.6 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more
than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The notice shall specify
the place, date and hour of the meeting and, (i) in the case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called (no business
other than that specified in the notice may be transacted) or, (ii) in the
case of the annual meeting, those matters which the board of directors, at the
time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by the stockholders
(but any proper matter may be presented at the meeting for such
<PAGE>
action). The notice of any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall
include the name of any nominee or nominees who, at the time of the notice,
the board intends to present for election.
2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES AND STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS
Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of stock having a
preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation,
(a) nominations for the election of directors, and
(b) business proposed to be brought before any stockholder meeting may be
made by the board of directors or proxy committee appointed by the board of
directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of
directors generally if such nomination or business proposed is otherwise
proper business before such meeting. However, any such stockholder may
nominate one or more persons for election as directors at a meeting or
propose business to be brought before a meeting, or both, only if such
stockholder has given timely notice to the secretary of the corporation in
proper written form of their intent to make such nomination or nominations
or to propose such business. To be timely, such stockholder's notice must
be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices
of the corporation not less than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in
advance of the date of the corporation's proxy statement released to
stockholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting of
stockholders provided, however, that in the event no annual meeting was
held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been
changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date contemplated at the
time of the previous year's proxy statement, notice by the stockholder to
be timely must be so received a reasonable time before the solicitation is
made. To be in proper form, a stockholder's notice to the secretary shall
set forth:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the
nominations or propose the business and, as the case may be, of the
person or persons to be nominated or of the business to be proposed;
(ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of
stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and, if
applicable, intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to
nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;
(iii) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other
person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the
nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder;
(iv) such other information regarding each nominee or each matter of
business to be proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be
included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or
intended to be nominated, or the matter been proposed, or intended to
be proposed by the board of directors; and
(v) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as director
of the corporation if so elected.
The chairman of the meeting shall refuse to acknowledge the nomination of
any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedure.
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given either
personally or by first-class mail or by telegraphic or other written
communication. Notices not personally delivered shall be sent charges prepaid
and shall be addressed to the stockholder at the address of that stockholder
appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the stockholder to the
corporation for the purpose of notice. Notice shall be deemed to have been
given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent
by telegram or other means of written communication.
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An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
stockholders' meeting, executed by the secretary, assistant secretary or any
transfer agent of the corporation giving the notice, shall be prima facie
evidence of the giving of such notice.
2.7 QUORUM
The holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the
transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or
represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairman
of the meeting or (ii) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting in
accordance with Section 2.7 of these bylaws.
When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a
majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by
proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the
question is one upon which, by express provision of the laws of the State of
Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a different
vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and
control the decision of the question.
If a quorum is initially present, the stockholders may continue to transact
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by a
majority of the stockholders initially constituting the quorum.
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
When a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, unless these bylaws
otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the
time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment
is taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business
that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is
for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date
is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
2.9 VOTING
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 of these bylaws,
subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General Corporation
Law of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint
owners, and to voting trusts and other voting agreements).
Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or
these bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of
capital stock held by such stockholder, and stockholders shall not be entitled
to cumulate their votes in the election of directors or with respect to any
matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to
notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the
express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any
written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of
incorporation or these bylaws.
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2.11 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING
For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any
meeting or to vote thereat, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a
record date which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted by the board of directors and which shall not be
more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any
such meeting; and in such event only stockholders of record on the date so
fixed are entitled to notice and to vote, notwithstanding any transfer of any
shares on the books of the corporation after the record date.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which notice is given; or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting
unless the board of directors fixes a new record date for the adjourned
meeting, but the board of directors shall fix a new record date if the meeting
is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original
meeting.
The record date for any other purpose shall be as provided in Section 8.1 of
these bylaws.
2.12 PROXIES
Every person entitled to vote for directors, or on any other matter, shall
have the right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized
by a written proxy signed by the person and filed with the secretary of the
corporation, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3)
years from its date unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy
shall be deemed signed if the stockholder's name is placed on the proxy
(whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission,
telefacsimile or otherwise) by the stockholder or the stockholder's attorney-
in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is
irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.13 ORGANIZATION
The president or, in the absence of the president, the chairman of the board
or, in the absence of the president and the chairman of the board, one of the
corporation's vice presidents, shall call the meeting of the stockholders to
order and shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the
president, the chairman of the board, and all the vice presidents, the
stockholders shall appoint a chairman for such meeting. The chairman of any
meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the
procedures at the meeting, including such matters as the regulation of the
manner of voting and the conduct of business. The secretary of the corporation
shall act as secretary of all meetings of the stockholders but, in the absence
of the secretary at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the
meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
2.14 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders,
a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged
in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the
number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall
be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the
meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10)
days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting
is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting,
or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The
list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is
present.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and any
limitations in the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws relating to
action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding
shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all
corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the board of
directors.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors shall consist of seven members. The board of
directors may increase or decrease the number of directors constituting the
board of directors upon the approval of a majority of the directors then in
office. The number of directors so determined shall be the authorized number
of directors of the corporation. No reduction of the authorized number of
directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that
director's term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, directors shall be
elected at each annual meeting of stockholders to hold office until the next
annual meeting. Each director, including a director elected or appointed to
fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which
elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
Any director may resign effective on giving written notice to the chairman
of the board, the president, the secretary or the board of directors, unless
the notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become effective. If
the resignation of a director is effective at a future time, the board of
directors may elect a successor to take office when the resignation becomes
effective.
All vacancies in the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the
remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director provided that whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock
or series thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created
directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority
of the directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in
office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held at any place within
or outside the State of Delaware that has been designated from time to time by
resolution of the board. In the absence of such a designation, regular
meetings shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation.
Special meetings of the board may be held at any place within or outside the
State of Delaware that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or, if
not stated in the notice or if there is no notice, at the principal executive
office of the corporation.
Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or
similar communication equipment, so long as all directors participating in the
meeting can hear one another; and all such directors shall be deemed to be
present in person at the meeting.
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3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice if the
times of such meetings are fixed by the board of directors. If any regular
meeting day shall fall on a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held the
next succeeding full business day.
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE
Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes may
be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or any two directors.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's
address as it is shown on the records of the corporation. If the notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days
before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered
personally or by telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by
telephone or to the telegraph company at least forty-eight (48) hours before
the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by
telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the
office of the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe
will promptly communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the
purpose or the place of the meeting if the meeting is to be held at the
principal executive office of the corporation.
3.8 QUORUM
A majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 3.10
of these bylaws. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the
directors present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
regarded as the act of the board of directors, subject to the provisions of
the certificate of incorporation and other applicable law.
A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact
business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is
approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
3.9 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director (i) who signs a waiver
of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes
thereof, whether before or after the meeting, or (ii) who attends the meeting
without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice
to such directors. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed
with the corporate records or made part of the minutes of the meeting. A
waiver of notice need not specify the purpose of any regular or special
meeting of the board of directors.
3.10 ADJOURNMENT
A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum,
may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
3.11 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT
Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be
given unless the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours. If
the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four (24) hours, notice of the
time and place of the adjourned meeting shall be given before the adjourned
meeting takes place, in the manner specified in Section 3.7 of these bylaws,
to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
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3.12 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the board of directors may
be taken without a meeting, provided that all members of the board
individually or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by
written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of
the board of directors. Such written consent and any counterparts thereof
shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board.
3.13 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Directors and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any,
for their services and such reimbursement of expenses as may be fixed or
determined by resolution of the board of directors. This Section 3.13 shall
not be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any
other capacity as an officer, agent, employee or otherwise and receiving
compensation for those services.
3.14 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS
The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or any of
its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the
corporation or any of its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the
directors, such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation. The loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or
without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board
of directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares
of stock of the corporation. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed
to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the
corporation at common law or under any statute.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
authorized number of directors, designate one (1) or more committees, each
consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the board.
The board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee.
The appointment of members or alternate members of a committee requires the
vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors. Any committee, to
the extent provided in the resolution of the board, shall have and may
exercise all the powers and authority of the board, but no such committee
shall have the power of authority to:
(a) amend the certificate of incorporation (except that a committee may,
to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the
issuance of shares of stock adopted by the board of directors as provided
in Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, fix the
designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating
to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the
corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for,
shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any
other class or classes of stock of the corporation);
(b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or
252 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware;
(c) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the corporation's property and assets;
(d) recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a
revocation of a dissolution; or
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(e) amend the bylaws of the corporation; and, unless the board resolution
establishing the committee, the bylaws or the certificate of incorporation
expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority
to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a
certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.
4.2 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken
in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these bylaws, Section 3.5
(place of meetings), Section 3.6 (regular meetings), Section 3.7 (special
meetings and notice), Section 3.8 (quorum), Section 3.9 (waiver of notice),
Section 3.10 (adjournment), Section 3.11 (notice of adjournment), and Section
3.12 (action without meeting), with such changes in the context of those
bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the
board of directors and its members provided, however, that the time of regular
meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the board of
directors or by resolution of the committee, that special meetings of
committees may also be called by resolution of the board of directors, and
that notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all
alternate members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the
committee. The board of directors may adopt rules for the government of any
committee not inconsistent with the provisions of these bylaws.
4.3 COMMITTEE MINUTES
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the
same to the board of directors when required.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a president or chief executive
officer, a secretary, and a chief financial officer. The corporation may also
have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a chairman of the board,
one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more
assistant treasurers, and such other officers as may be appointed in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws. Any number of
offices may be held by the same person.
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 or Section 5.5 of these bylaws,
shall be chosen by the board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer
under any contract of employment.
5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS
The board of directors may appoint, or may empower the president to appoint,
such other officers as the business of the corporation may require, each of
whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such
duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the board of directors may from
time to time determine.
5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the
board of directors at any regular or special meeting of the board or, except
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in the case of an officer chosen by the board of directors, by any officer
upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the board of directors.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless
otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall
not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to
the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer
is a party.
5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed
in these bylaws for regular appointments to that office.
5.6 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if present,
preside at meetings of the board of directors and exercise and perform such
other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
board of directors or as may be prescribed by these bylaws. If there is no
president, then the chairman of the board shall also be the chief executive
officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in
Section 5.7 of these bylaws.
5.7 PRESIDENT
Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the board of
directors to the chairman of the board, if there be such an officer, the
president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall,
subject to the control of the board of directors, have general supervision,
direction, and control of the business and the officers of the corporation. He
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or
nonexistence of a chairman of the board, at all meetings of the board of
directors. He shall have the general powers and duties of management usually
vested in the office of president of a corporation, and shall have such other
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or these
bylaws.
5.8 VICE PRESIDENTS
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if any,
in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, a
vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform all the
duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and
be subject to all the restrictions upon, the president. The vice presidents
shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to
time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board of directors, these
bylaws, the president or the chairman of the board.
5.9 SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or such other place as the board of directors may
direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees
of directors and stockholders. The minutes shall show the time and place of
each meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how authorized and
the notice given), the names of those present at directors' meetings or
committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at
stockholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or at the office of the corporation's transfer agent
or registrar, as determined by resolution of the board of directors, a share
register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders
and their addresses, the
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number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates
evidencing such shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every
certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the stockholders and of the board of directors required to be given by law or
by these bylaws. He shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be adopted,
in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the board of directors or by these bylaws.
5.10 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and
maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of
its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital,
retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable
times be open to inspection by any director.
The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables in
the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be
designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the
president and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his
transactions as chief financial officer and of the financial condition of the
corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES,
AND OTHER AGENTS
6.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by
the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same now exists or may
hereafter be amended, indemnify any person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, or proceeding in which such person was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is
or was a director or officer of the corporation. For purposes of this Section
6.1, a "director" or "officer" of the corporation shall mean any person (i)
who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, (ii) who is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii)
who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor
corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor corporation.
The corporation shall be required to indemnify a director or officer in
connection with an action, suit, or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
such director or officer only if the initiation of such action, suit, or
proceeding (or part thereof) by the director or officer was authorized by the
Board of Directors of the corporation.
The corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred
by a director or officer of the corporation entitled to indemnification
hereunder in defending any action, suit or proceeding referred to in this
Section 6.1 in advance of its final disposition provided, however, that
payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer of the corporation in
advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding shall be
made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it should ultimately be determined that the director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 6.1 or
otherwise.
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The rights conferred on any person by this Article shall not be exclusive of
any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, any provision of the corporation's Certificate of Incorporation,
these bylaws, any agreement, any vote of the stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions
of this Article shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder
of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of
such repeal or modification.
6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS
The corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent and in the
manner permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same now
exists or may hereafter be amended, to indemnify any person (other than
directors and officers) against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit,
or proceeding, in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or
agent of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.2, an "employee" or
"agent" of the corporation (other than a director or officer) shall mean any
person (i) who is or was an employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as an employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or
(iii) who was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor
corporation of the corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor corporation.
6.3 INSURANCE
The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and
incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her
status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
The corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such
place or places as designated by the board of directors, keep a record of its
stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of
shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these bylaws as amended to date,
accounting books and other records of its business and properties.
Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall,
upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right
during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books
and records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall
mean a purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a stockholder.
In every instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the
right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of
attorney or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to
so act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed
to the corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal
place of business.
7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS
Any director shall have the right to examine (and to make copies of) the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and
records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director.
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7.3 ANNUAL STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS
The board of directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any
special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the
stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the
corporation.
7.4 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, if any, the president, any vice president, the
chief financial officer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of this
corporation, or any other person authorized by the board of directors or the
president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise
on behalf of this corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of the
stock of any other corporation or corporations standing in the name of this
corporation. The authority herein granted may be exercised either by such
person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power
of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
7.5 CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF BYLAWS
The original or a copy of these bylaws, as amended or otherwise altered to
date, certified by the secretary, shall be kept at the corporation's principal
executive office and shall be open to inspection by the stockholders of the
corporation, at all reasonable times during office hours.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 RECORD DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING
For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful
action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date which shall
not be more than sixty (60) days before any such action. In that case, only
stockholders of record at the close of business on the date so fixed are
entitled to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights, or to
exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any
shares on the books of the corporation after the record date so fixed, except
as otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, then the record
date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the board adopts the applicable resolution.
8.2 CHECKS; DRAFTS; EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS
From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders
for payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness that are issued
in the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the persons so
authorized shall sign or endorse those instruments.
8.3 CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS: HOW EXECUTED
The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may
authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the
agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power
or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to
pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
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8.4 STOCK CERTIFICATES; TRANSFER; PARTLY PAID SHARES
The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided
that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or
resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock
shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares
represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of
directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and, upon
request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a
certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation, the chairman or
vice-chairman of the board of directors, or the president or vice-president,
and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an
assistant secretary of such corporation representing the number of shares
registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the
certificate may be a facsimile.
In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose
facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such
officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may
be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such
officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Certificates for shares shall be of such form and device as the board of
directors may designate and shall state the name of the record holder of the
shares represented thereby; its number; date of issuance; the number of shares
for which it is issued; a summary statement or reference to the powers,
designations, preferences or other special rights of such stock and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights,
if any; a statement or summary of liens, if any; a conspicuous notice of
restrictions upon transfer or registration of transfer, if any; a statement as
to any applicable voting trust agreement; if the shares be assessable, or, if
assessments are collectible by personal action, a plain statement of such
facts.
Upon surrender to the secretary or transfer agent of the corporation of a
certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the
corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
The corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid
and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid
therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent
any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the corporation
in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the
consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated.
Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the corporation
shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only
upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
8.5 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES
If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or
more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights
of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations
or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full
or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation
shall issue to represent such class or series of stock provided, however,
that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation
Law of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth
on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to
represent such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will
furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the
designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or
other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
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8.6 LOST CERTIFICATES
Except as provided in this Section 8.6, no new certificates for shares shall
be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the corporation and cancelled at the same time. The board of
directors may, in case any share certificate or certificate for any other
security is lost, stolen or destroyed, authorize the issuance of replacement
certificates on such terms and conditions as the board may require; the board
may require indemnification of the corporation secured by a bond or other
adequate security sufficient to protect the corporation against any claim that
may be made against it, including any expense or liability, on account of the
alleged loss, theft or destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the
replacement certificate.
8.7 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS
The board of directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer
clerks, and one or more registrars, each of which shall be an incorporated
bank or trust company--either domestic or foreign--who shall be appointed at
such times and places as the requirements of the corporation may necessitate
and the board of directors may designate.
8.8 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall
govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of
this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number
includes the singular, and the term "person" includes both a corporation and a
natural person.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The original or other bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or
repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote or by the board of directors of
the corporation. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the
directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power, nor limit their
power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.
Whenever an amendment or new bylaw is adopted, it shall be copied in the
book of bylaws with the original bylaws, in the appropriate place. If any
bylaw is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which
the repeal was enacted or the filing of the operative written consent(s) shall
be stated in said book.
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EXHIBIT D
FORM OF
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is effective as of 1998
by and between Level One Communications, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Indemnitee ("Indemnitee").
WHEREAS, effective as of the date hereof, Level One Communications,
Incorporated, a California corporation, is reincorporating into Delaware;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to attract and retain the services of highly
qualified individuals, such as Indemnitee, to serve the Company and its
related entities;
WHEREAS, in order to induce Indemnitee to continue to provide services to
the Company, the Company wishes to provide for the indemnification of, and the
advancement of expenses to, Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize the continued difficulty in
obtaining liability insurance for the Company's directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries, the significant increases in the cost of
such insurance and the general reductions in the coverage of such insurance;
WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee further recognize the substantial
increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers,
employees, agents and fiduciaries to expensive litigation risks at the same
time as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely
limited;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Company's reincorporation, the Company and
Indemnitee desire to continue to have in place the additional protection
provided by an indemnification agreement to provide indemnification and
advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by
Delaware law; and
WHEREAS, in view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires
that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the Company as
set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth below.
1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Change in Control" shall mean, and shall be deemed to have occurred
if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any "person" (as such term
is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) or group acting in concert, other than a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
acting in such capacity or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by
the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the total voting
power represented by the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, (ii)
during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company
and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination
for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at
least two thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either
were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the stockholders of
<PAGE>
the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of
the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company
or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) all or substantially all of the Company's assets.
(b) "Claim" shall mean with respect to a Covered Event: any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation that
Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such
action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other.
(c) References to the "Company" shall include, in addition to Level One
Communications, Incorporated, any constituent corporation (including any
constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to
which Level One Communications, Incorporated (or any of its wholly owned
subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate existence had continued,
would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers,
employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or
other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the
provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving
corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent
corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(d) "Covered Event" shall mean any event or occurrence related to the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the
part of Indemnitee while serving in such capacity.
(e) "Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses (including attorneys' fees
and all other costs, expenses and obligations incurred in connection with
investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including
on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate
in, any action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts
paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the
Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of any Claim
and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as
a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this
Agreement.
(f) "Expense Advance" shall mean a payment of Expenses to Indemnitee
pursuant to Section 3 in advance of the settlement of or final judgement in
any action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism,
hearing, inquiry or investigation which constitutes a Claim.
(g) "Independent Legal Counsel" shall mean an attorney or firm of
attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)
hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed services for the Company or
Indemnitee within the last three years (other than with respect to matters
concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
Indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements).
(h) References to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit
plans; references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on
Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to
"serving at the request of the Company" shall include any service as a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its
participants or its beneficiaries; and if
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Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an
employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner
"not opposed to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this
Agreement.
(i) "Reviewing Party" shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section
2(d), any person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance
with applicable law to review the Company's obligations hereunder and under
applicable law, which may include a member or members of the Company's
Board of Directors, Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body
not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking
indemnification.
(j) "Section" refers to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated.
(k) "Voting Securities" shall mean any securities of the Company that
vote generally in the election of directors.
2. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnification of Expenses. Subject to the provisions of Section
2(b) below, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses to the
fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party
to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party
to or witness or other participant in, any Claim (whether by reason of or
arising in part out of a Covered Event), including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of such Expenses.
(b) Review of Indemnification Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the event any Reviewing Party shall have determined (in a written
opinion, in any case in which Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing
Party) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under
applicable law, (i) the Company shall have no further obligation under
Section 2(a) to make any payments to Indemnitee not made prior to such
determination by such Reviewing Party, and (ii) the Company shall be
entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the
Company) for all Expenses theretofore paid to Indemnitee to which
Indemnitee is not entitled hereunder under applicable law; provided,
however, that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal
proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination
that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable
law, any determination made by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law shall not be
binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a final
judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights
of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee's obligation
to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon.
(c) Indemnitee Rights on Unfavorable Determination; Binding Effect. If
any Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not
entitled to be indemnified hereunder in whole or in part under applicable
law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an
initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by
such Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual
bases therefor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 15, the Company
hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding.
Absent such litigation, any determination by any Reviewing Party shall be
conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.
(d) Selection of Reviewing Party; Change in Control. If there has not
been a Change in Control, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by the
Board of Directors, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other
than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the
Company's Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such
Change in Control), any Reviewing Party with respect to all matters
thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to indemnification
of Expenses under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws as now or hereafter in
effect, or under any other applicable law, if desired by Indemnitee, shall
be Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the
Company (which approval shall
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not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall
render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and
to what extent Indemnitee would be entitled to be indemnified hereunder
under applicable law and the Company agrees to abide by such opinion. The
Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel
referred to above and to indemnify fully such counsel against any and all
expenses (including attorneys' fees), claims, liabilities and damages
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant
hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company
shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal
Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee, and
such Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal Counsel for
any or all other Indemnitees unless (i) the employment of separate counsel
by one or more Indemnitees has been previously authorized by the Company in
writing, or (ii) an Indemnitee shall have provided to the Company a written
statement that such Indemnitee has reasonably concluded that there may be a
conflict of interest between such Indemnitee and the other Indemnitees with
respect to the matters arising under this Agreement.
(e) Mandatory Payment of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without
limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any
Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred by
Indemnitee in connection therewith.
3. EXPENSE ADVANCES.
(a) Obligation to Make Expense Advances. Upon receipt of a written
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it
shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified therefor by the Company hereunder under applicable law, the
Company shall make Expense Advances to Indemnitee.
(b) Form of Undertaking. Any obligation to repay any Expense Advances
hereunder pursuant to a written undertaking by the Indemnitee shall be
unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.
(c) Determination of Reasonable Expense Advances. The parties agree that
for the purposes of any Expense Advance for which Indemnitee has made
written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all
Expenses included in such Expense Advance that are certified by affidavit
of Indemnitee's counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed conclusively
to be reasonable.
4. PROCEDURES FOR INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSE ADVANCES.
(a) Timing of Payments. All payments of Expenses (including without
limitation Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to
this Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon
as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to
the Company, but in no event later than thirty (30) business days after
such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in
the case of Expense Advances, which shall be made no later than ten (10)
business days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the
Company.
(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall, as a condition
precedent to Indemnitee's right to be indemnified or Indemnitee's right to
receive Expense Advances under this Agreement, give the Company notice in
writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made against Indemnitee for
which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice
to the Company shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or
such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to
Indemnitee). In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such
information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be
within Indemnitee's power.
(c) No Presumptions; Burden of Proof. For purposes of this Agreement, the
termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or
without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere,
or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not
meet any particular
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standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has
determined that indemnification is not permitted by this Agreement or
applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing Party to
have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular
standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual
determination by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such
standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement
of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that
Indemnitee should be indemnified under this Agreement under applicable law,
shall be a defense to Indemnitee's claim or create a presumption that
Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have
any particular belief. In connection with any determination by any
Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be
indemnified hereunder under applicable law, the burden of proof shall be on
the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.
(d) Notice to Insurers. If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of
a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company has
liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall
give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The
Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause
such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a
result of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such policies.
(e) Selection of Counsel. In the event the Company shall be obligated
hereunder to provide indemnification for or make any Expense Advances with
respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be
entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by
Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) upon the
delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of the Company's election to do
so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee
and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be
liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees or expenses of
separate counsel subsequently retained by or on behalf of Indemnitee with
respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall have the
right to employ Indemnitee's separate counsel in any such Claim at
Indemnitee's expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate counsel by
Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee
shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest
between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or
(C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such
Claim, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee's separate counsel shall be
Expenses for which Indemnitee may receive indemnification or Expense
Advances hereunder.
5. ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION RIGHTS; NONEXCLUSIVITY.
(a) Scope. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the
fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification
is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement,
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's Bylaws or by
statute. In the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any
applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware
corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by
such change. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or
rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a
member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or
fiduciary, such change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law,
statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on
this Agreement or the parties' rights and obligations hereunder except as
set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.
(b) Nonexclusivity. The indemnification and the payment of Expense
Advances provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to
which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, its Bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, or otherwise. The indemnification and the payment of Expense
Advances provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for
any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even
though subsequent thereto Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such
capacity.
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6. NO DUPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. The Company shall not be liable under this
Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against
Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment
(under any insurance policy, provision of the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable
hereunder.
7. PARTIAL INDEMNIFICATION. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of
this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of
Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for all of
the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee
for the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.
8. MUTUAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that
in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the
Company from indemnifying its directors, officers, employees, agents or
fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and
acknowledges that the Company has undertaken or may be required in the future
to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the
question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a
determination of the Company's right under public policy to indemnify
Indemnitee.
9. LIABILITY INSURANCE. To the extent the Company maintains liability
insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries,
Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide
Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably
insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the
Company's officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Company but is an
officer; or of the Company's key employees, agents or fiduciaries, if
Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee, agent or
fiduciary.
10. EXCEPTIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:
(a) Excluded Action or Omissions. To indemnify or make Expense Advances
to Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising out of acts, omissions or
transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving
indemnification under applicable law.
(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or make Expense Advances
to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by
Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or crossclaim, except
(i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce
a right to indemnification under this Agreement or any other agreement or
insurance policy or under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events,
(ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the
initiation or bringing of such Claim, or (iii) as otherwise required under
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, regardless of whether
Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification,
Expense Advances, or insurance recovery, as the case may be.
(c) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred
by the Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted (i) by Indemnitee
to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over
such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of the material
assertions made by the Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made
in good faith or was frivolous, or (ii) by or in the name of the Company to
enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over
such action determines as provided in Section 13 that each of the material
defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was
frivolous.
(d) Claims Under Section 16(b). To indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses and
the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of
securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.
11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original.
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12. BINDING EFFECT; SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and
their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect
successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs
and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause
any successor (whether direct or indirect, and whether by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part,
of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and
substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company
would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This
Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues
to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable)
of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company's request.
13. EXPENSES INCURRED IN ACTION RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OR INTERPRETATION.
In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement
or under any liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce
or interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled
to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such
action (including without limitation attorneys' fees), regardless of whether
Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, unless as a part of such
action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial
determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted
or lapsed) that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis
for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided,
however, that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee
shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances
hereunder with respect to such action. In the event of an action instituted by
or in the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any
of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified
for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including
without limitation costs and expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee's
counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such
action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial
determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted
or lapsed) that each of the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such
action was made in bad faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until
such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under
Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to
such action.
14. PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS. No legal action shall be brought and no cause of
action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against Indemnitee,
Indemnitee's estate, spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal
representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of
such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be
extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a
legal action within such two year period; provided, however, that if any
shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action, such shorter period shall govern.
15. NOTICE. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if
delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such
delivery, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with
postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked.
Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of
this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.
16. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. The Company and Indemnitee each hereby
irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware
for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out
of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under
this Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall
be the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.
17. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the
event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a
single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining
provisions shall remain
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enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the
fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including without
limitation each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be
invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent
manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
18. CHOICE OF LAW. This Agreement, and all rights, remedies, liabilities,
powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware as applied to
contracts between Delaware residents entered into and to be performed entirely
in the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
19. SUBROGATION. In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do
all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company
effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.
20. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. No amendment, modification, termination or
cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing
signed by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
21. INTEGRATION AND ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all
previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and
agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto.
22. NO CONSTRUCTION AS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in
the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Level One Communications,
Incorporated
-------------------------------------
By: Robert S. Pepper
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
INDEMNITEE:
- -------------------------------------
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EXHIBIT E
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF DECEMBER 21, 1995
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Plan are:
. to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility,
. to provide additional incentive to Employees, Consultants and certain
Outside Directors, and
. to promote the success of the Company's business.
Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of
grant. The Plan also provides for automatic grants of Nonstatutory Stock
Options to certain Outside Directors.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees as shall be
administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "Applicable Laws" means the legal requirements relating to the
administration of stock option plans under state corporate and securities
laws and the Code.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with Section 4 of the Plan.
(f) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.
(g) "Company" means Level One Communications, Incorporated, a California
corporation.
(h) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services and who is compensated
for such services. 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.
(i) "Continuous Status" means that the employment, directorship or
consulting relationship with the Company, any Parent, or Subsidiary, is not
interrupted or terminated. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant
shall not be interrupted by transfers between locations of the Company or
between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor.
Continuous Status as an Employee, Outside Director or Consultant shall not
be considered interrupted by any leave of absence approved by the Company.
A leave of absence approved by the Company shall include sick leave,
military leave, or any other personal leave approved by an authorized
representative of the Company. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no
such leave may exceed ninety days, unless reemployment upon expiration of
such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon
expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so
guaranteed, on the 181st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held
by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and
shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(j) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(k) "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
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(l) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither
service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall
be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(m) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(n) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock
determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange
or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market of the Nasdaq Stock
Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such
stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such
exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the time of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other
source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market
Value of a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid
and low 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 Administrator 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
Administrator.
(o) "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.
(p) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(q) "Grant Summary" means a written notice evidencing certain terms and
conditions of an individual Option grant. The Grant Summary is part of the
Option Agreement.
(r) "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.
(s) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(t) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and
an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(u) "Option Exchange Program" means a program whereby outstanding options
are surrendered in exchange for options with a lower exercise price.
(v) "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
(w) "Optionee" means an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director who
holds an outstanding option.
(x) "Outside Director" means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee.
(y) "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(z) "Plan" means this Level One Communications, Incorporated, 1993 Stock
Option Plan, amended and restated as of December 21, 1995.
(aa) "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.
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(bb) "Section 16(b)" means Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
(cc) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance
with Section 12 of the Plan.
(dd) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the
Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan (including Shares for which Options have been granted and
are outstanding as of December 21, 1995) is 3,050,000 Shares. The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised
in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange Program, the
unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall become available for
future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated);
provided, however, that Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan
upon exercise of an Option shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not
become available for future distribution under the Plan. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, voting rights shall not be considered a benefit of Share
ownership.
4.Administration of the Plan
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. If permitted by Rule 16b-3, the
Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to Directors,
Officers who are not Directors, and Employees who are neither Directors
nor Officers.
(A) Administration with Respect to Employees who are Directors and
Officers Subject to Section 16(b). With respect to Option grants
made to Employees who are also Officers or Directors subject to
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered by
(A) the Board, if the Board may administer the Plan in a manner
complying with the rules under Rule 16b-3 relating to the
disinterested administration of employee benefit plans under which
Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity
securities are to be made, or (B) a committee designated by the
Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall be constituted
to comply with the rules under Rule 16b-3 relating to the
disinterested administration of employee benefit plans under which
Section 16(b) exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity
securities are to be made. Once appointed, such Committee shall
continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise
directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the
size of the Committee and appoint additional members, remove members
(with or without cause) and substitute new members, fill vacancies
(however caused), and remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted
by the rules under Rule 16b-3 relating to the disinterested
administration of employee benefit plans under which Section 16(b)
exempt discretionary grants and awards of equity securities are to
be made.
(ii) Administration with Respect to Other Persons. With respect to
Option grants made to Employees or Consultants who are neither
Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered
by (A) the Board or (B) a committee designated by the Board, which
committee shall be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws. Once
appointed, such Committee shall serve in its designated capacity until
otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may increase the size of the
Committee and appoint additional members, remove members (with or
without cause) and substitute new members, fill vacancies (however
caused), and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter
directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Applicable
Laws.
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(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by
the Board to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in
its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in
accordance with Section 2(n) of the Plan;
(ii) to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options may be
granted, except with respect to automatic option grants made to certain
Outside Directors;
(iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options are granted to
Employees and Consultants hereunder;
(iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered
by each Option granted to Employees and Consultants hereunder;
(v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
terms of the Plan, of any award granted to Employees and Consultants
hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to,
the exercise price, the time or times when Options may be exercised
(which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration
or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation
regarding any Option or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto,
based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, shall determine;
(vii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option granted to Employees
and Consultants to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option shall have
declined since the date the Option was granted;
(viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted pursuant to the Plan;
(ix) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating
to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans
established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment
under foreign tax laws;
(x) to modify or amend each Option (subject to Sections 10(b) and
15(c) of the Plan), including the discretionary authority to extend the
post-termination exercisability period of Options longer than is
otherwise provided for in the Plan;
(xi) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any
instrument required to effect the grant of an Option previously granted
by the Administrator;
(xii) to institute an Option Exchange Program;
(xiii) to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Options
granted to Employees and Consultants; and
(xiv) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable
for administering the Plan.
(c) Administration with Respect to Outside Directors. With respect to
Options granted to certain Outside Directors pursuant to Section 10(b)
hereof, the Administrator shall exercise no discretion and such awards
shall be administered solely according to their terms.
(d) Effect of Administrator's Decision. The Administrator's decisions,
determinations and interpretations shall be final and binding on all
Options and any other holders of Options.
5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Employees and
Consultants. Nonstatutory Stock Options may also be granted to Outside
Directors who are neither Employees nor affiliated with Shareholders who
beneficially own 10% or more of the outstanding Shares of the Company.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. If otherwise
eligible, an Employee, Consultant or Outside Director as specified in this
Section who has been granted an Option may be granted additional Options.
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6.Limitations.
(a) Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as
either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However,
notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any calendar year
(under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds
$100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For
purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into
account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of
the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to
such Shares is granted.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any Option shall confer upon an Optionee any
right with respect to continuing the Optionee's employment or consulting
relationship with the Company, nor shall they interfere in any way with the
Optionee's right or the Company's right to terminate such employment or
consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.
(c) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options to
Employees:
(i) No Employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company,
Options to purchase more than 500,000 shares.
(ii) In connection with his or her initial employment, an Employee
may be granted Options to purchase up to an additional 500,000 shares
which shall not count against the limit set forth in subsection (i)
above.
(iii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in
connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described
in Section 12.
(iv) If an Option is cancelled in the same fiscal year of the Company
in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction
described in Section 12), the cancelled Option will be counted against
the limits set forth in subsections (i) and (ii) above. For this
purpose, if the exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction
will be treated as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new
Option.
7. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 19 of the Plan, the Plan, as amended and
restated as of December 21, 1995, shall become effective upon the earlier
to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders
of the Company as described in Section 19 of the Plan. It shall continue in
effect for a term of ten (10) years unless terminated earlier under Section
15 of the Plan.
8. Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be stated in the Grant
Summary. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the term of each
Nonstatutory Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be ten (10) years
from the date such Option is granted. With respect to Options granted to
certain Outside Directors pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, the term shall
be as stated in Section 10(b). In the case of an Incentive Stock Option,
the term shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter
term as may be provided in the Grant Summary. Moreover, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the
Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be
five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be
provided in the Grant Summary.
9. Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
(a) Exercise Price. The per share exercise price for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the
Administrator, subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option
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(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock
Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or
any Parent or Subsidiary, the per share exercise price shall be no
less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.
(B) granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in
paragraph (a) immediately above, the per share exercise price shall
be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date
of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share
exercise price shall be determined by the Administrator, but in no case
shall be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per share on the date
of grant. With respect to Options granted to certain Outside Directors
pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, the per share exercise price shall be
determined pursuant to Section 10(b).
(b) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted,
the Administrator shall fix the period within which the Option may be
exercised and shall determine any conditions which must be satisfied before
the Option may be exercised. In so doing, the Administrator may specify
that an Option may not be exercised until the completion of a service
period. However, with respect to Options granted to certain Outside
Directors pursuant to Section 10(b), the terms and conditions of the grant
shall be pursuant to Section 10(b) and the Administrator shall have no
discretion to set the terms of such Options.
(c) Form of Consideration. The Administrator shall determine the
acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the
method of payment as may be permitted under Sections 408 and 409 of the
California General Corporation Law. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, the Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of
consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely
of:
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) promissory note;
(iv) other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired upon
exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than
six months on the date of surrender, and (B) have a Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised;
(v) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if
applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and
delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay
the exercise price;
(vi) a reduction in the amount of any Company liability to the
Optionee, including any liability attributable to the Optionee's
participation in any Company-sponsored deferred compensation program or
arrangement;
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; or
(viii) such other consideration and method of payment for the
issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
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However, with respect to Options granted to certain Outside
Directors pursuant to Section 10(b) hereof, the consideration to be
paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including
the method of payment, shall consist entirely of:
(i) cash,
(ii) check,
(iii) other Shares of Common Stock which (i) either have been owned
by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender
or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and
(ii) have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be
exercised,
(iv) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if
applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and
delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay
the exercise price, or
(v) any combination of such methods of payment.
10. Exercise of Option.
(a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option granted
hereunder, except for Options granted to certain Outside Directors in
accordance with Section 10(b) below, shall be exercisable according to the
terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined
by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement.
An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share or for less
than one hundred (100) shares.
An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i)
written notice of exercise (in accordance with the Option Agreement) from
the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the
Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. Full payment may
consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the
Administrator and permitted by the Option Agreement and the Plan. Shares
issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the
Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and
his or her spouse. Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is
issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company
or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or
receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with
respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate
promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a
dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the
stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.
Exercising an Option in any manner shall decrease the number of Shares
thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the
Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.
(b) Automatic Option Grants to Certain Outside Directors. All grants of
Options to Outside Directors under this Plan shall be automatic and non-
discretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with the following
provisions:
(i) No person shall have any discretion to select which Outside
Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of shares
to be covered by Options granted to Outside Directors; provided,
however, that nothing in this Plan shall be construed to prevent an
Outside Director from declining to receive an Option under this Plan.
(ii) On December 31 of each year (beginning with December 31, 1996),
each person who is then an Outside Director (including any person who
first becomes an Outside Director as of such date), who is not a
representative of shareholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of
the outstanding shares of the Company, and who is vested as with
respect to at least 4,000 shares of Optioned Stock granted
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(A) pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii) or (B) pursuant to a grant of
Optioned Stock to Outside Directors made prior to December 21, 1995,
shall automatically receive an Option to purchase 2,000 Shares.
(iii) Each Outside Director who is not a representative of
shareholders owning more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding
shares of the Company and who first becomes an Outside Director after
December 31, 1995, shall automatically receive an Option to purchase
10,000 shares on the date such person becomes an Outside Director.
(iv) The terms of an Option granted pursuant to this Section 10(b)
shall be as follows:
(1) The term of the Option shall be ten (10) years;
(2) except as provided in Section 10(c), 10(d) and 10(e) of this
Plan, the Option shall be exercisable only while the Outside
Director remains a Director;
(3) the exercise price per share of Common Stock shall be 100% of
the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of the Option;
(4) for Options granted pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii), the Options
shall become exercisable on December 31 of the fourth calendar year
after the date of grant; provided, however, that in no event shall
any Option be exercisable prior to obtaining shareholder approval of
the Plan.
(5) for Options granted pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii), the Option
shall become exercisable in installments cumulatively with twenty
percent (20%) of the Optioned Stock becoming exercisable on December
31 of the calendar year after the date of grant and with an
additional twenty percent (20%) of the Optioned Stock becoming
exercisable each calendar year thereafter until one hundred percent
(100%) of the Optioned Stock shall be exercisable; provided,
however, that in no event shall any Option be exercisable prior to
obtaining shareholder approval of the Plan.
(v) The provisions set forth in this Section 10(b) shall not be
amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with
changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 as amended, or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) Termination of Status as Employee, Outside Director or
Consultant. Upon termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Outside Director or Consultant, other than as provided for in
Section 10(d) and 10(e), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but
only within such period of time as is specified in the Grant Summary, and
only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the
date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term
of such Option as set forth in the Grant Summary). In the absence of a
specified time in the Grant Summary, the Option shall remain exercisable
for ninety (90) days following the Optionee's termination unless otherwise
determined by the Administrator with respect to Options granted to
Employees or Consultants. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such
period of time for exercise shall not exceed three (3) months from the date
of termination. If, on the date of termination, the Optionee is not
entitled to exercise the Optionee's entire Option, the Shares covered by
the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after
termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified by the Administrator, the Option shall terminate, and the
Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.
Notwithstanding the above, in the event of an Optionee's change in status
from Consultant to Employee or Employee to Consultant, an Optionee's
Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not automatically
terminate solely as a result of such change in status. However, in such
event, an Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be
treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes
as a Nonstatutory Stock Option three months and one day following such
change of status.
(d) Disability of Optionee. In the event an Optionee terminates his or
her Continuous Status as a result of the Optionee's Disability or the
Disability occurs within a ninety (90) day period after termination of
Continuous Status, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option at any time
within twelve (12) months
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from the date of such Disability, but only to the extent that the Optionee
was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination (but in no
event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in
the Grant Summary). If, 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 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 the Plan.
(e) Death of Optionee. In the event that an Optionee's Continuous Status
terminates due to the death of the Optionee or the Optionee's death occurs
within the ninety (90) day period after termination of the Optionee's
Continuous Status, the Option may be exercised at any time within twelve
(12) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Grant Summary),
by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise
the option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death. 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 immediately revert to the Plan. If, after death, the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by
such Option shall revert to the Plan.
(f) Buyout Provisions. The Administrator may at any time offer to buyout
for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted based on such
terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate
to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made. However, no such offer
shall be made by the Administrator to an Optionee granted an Option
pursuant to Section 10(b).
(g) Rule 16b-3. Options granted to individuals subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act ("Insiders") must comply with the applicable provisions of
Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as
may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption from
Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.
11. Non-Transferability of Options. An Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other
than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be
exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.
12. Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger, or Asset
Sale.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered
by each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock which
have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options
have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon
cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per share of
Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock,
or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common
Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided,
however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of consideration."
Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that
respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly
provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution
or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Optionee
as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed
transaction, but in no case shall the Administrator notify each Optionee
less than ten days before the proposed transaction. The Optionee shall have
the right to exercise his or her Option until ten (10) days prior to such
transaction as to all of the Optioned Stock covered thereby, including
Shares as to
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<PAGE>
which the Option would not otherwise be exercisable. In addition, except
for Shares purchased pursuant to Section 10(b), the Administrator may
provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any Shares
purchased upon exercise of an Option shall lapse as to all such Shares,
provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time
and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously
exercised, an Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation
of such proposed action.
(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company with or
into another corporation, or the sale of substantially all of the assets of
the Company, each outstanding option shall be assumed or an equivalent
option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or
Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor
corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Optionee
shall have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the Optioned
Stock, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be exercisable.
If an Option is exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the
event of a merger or sale of assets, the Administrator shall notify the
Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen
(15) days from the date of such notice, and the Option shall terminate upon
the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the
Option shall be considered assumed if, following the merger or sale of
assets, the option or right confers the right to purchase or receive, for
each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the
merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other
securities or property) received in the merger or sale of assets by holders
of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the
transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the
type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received
in the merger or sale of assets was not solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the
consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor
corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of
assets.
13. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option shall be, for all purposes,
the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such
Option, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator
except as provided in Section 10(b) for grants made to certain Outside
Directors. Notice of the determination shall be provided to each Optionee
within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
14. Withholding Taxes. In accordance with any applicable administrative
guidelines it establishes, except with respect to grants made pursuant to
Section 10(b), the Administrator may allow a purchaser to pay the amount
of taxes required by law to be withheld as a result of a lapse of
restrictions in connection with Shares purchased pursuant to an Option, by
withholding from any payment of Common Stock due as a result of such
purchase or lapse of restrictions, or by permitting the purchaser to
deliver to the Company, Shares having a Fair Market Value, as determined
by the Administrator, equal to the amount of such required withholding
taxes.
15. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter,
suspend or terminate the Plan.
(b) Shareholder Approval. The company shall obtain shareholder approval
of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Rule 16b-3 or with Section 422 of the Code (or any successor rule or
statute or other applicable law, rule or regulation, including the
requirements of any exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock
is listed or quoted). Such shareholder approval, if required, shall be
obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as is required by the
applicable law, rule or regulation.
(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration,
suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any
Optionee, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the
Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the
Optionee and the Company.
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<PAGE>
16. Conditions upon Issuance of Shares.
(a) Legal Compliance. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise
of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and
delivery of such Shares shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, Applicable
Laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system upon
which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject
to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an
Option, the Company may require the person exercise such Option to
represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are
being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to
sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the
Company, such a representation is required.
17.Liability of the Company.
(a) Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain
authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is
deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such
requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
(b) Grants Exceeding Allotted Shares. If the Optioned Stock covered by an
Option exceeds, as of the date of grant, the number of Shares which may be
issued under the Plan without additional shareholder approval, such Option
shall be void with respect to such excess Optioned Stock, unless
shareholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of
Shares subject to the Plan is timely obtained in accordance with Section
15(b) of the Plan.
18. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at
all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
19. Shareholder Approval. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval
by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be
obtained in the manner and to the degree required under applicable federal
and state law.
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<PAGE>
1218-PS-98
<PAGE>
DETACH HERE
LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF LEVEL ONE
COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD AUGUST 12, 1998
P The undersigned security holder hereby appoints Robert S. Pepper, John
Kehoe, and Joseph P. Landy, and each of them, proxies, each with full power
R of substitution, to vote all stock of the undersigned at the annual meeting
of shareholders of LEVEL ONE COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED (the "Company") to
O be held on August 12, 1998, at 10:00 A.M., local time, at 9800 Old
Placerville Road, Sacramento, California, and at any adjournment thereof,
X in the manner indicated and in their discretion on any other business which
may properly come before said meeting, all in accordance with and as more
Y fully described in the Notice and accompanying Proxy Statement for said
meeting, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
--------------
SEE REVERSE
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE SIDE
--------------
<PAGE>
DETACH HERE
[X] Please mark
votes as in
this example.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR, IF NO
CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, IT WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
AND FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.
1. To elect Directors.
NOMINEES: Robert S. Pepper, Thomas J. Connors, Paul Gray,
Martin Jurick, Henry Kressel, Joseph P. Landy, Kenneth A. Pickar
FOR WITHHELD
[ ] [ ]
[ ] ___________________________________________________
For all nominees except as noted above
2. To increase the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant and
reserved for issuance under the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan by 1,750,000
shares.
3. To approve the reincorporation of the Company as a Delaware corporation
and the related form of indemnification agreement.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
4. To ratify the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP as the Company's independent
certified public accountants for the Company's 1998 fiscal year.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[ ] [ ] [ ]
In their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before
the meeting.
MARK HERE MARK HERE
[ ] FOR ADDRESS [ ] IF YOU PLAN
CHANGE AND TO ATTEND
NOTE AT LEFT THE MEETING
Please sign your name exactly as it appears on this proxy. When shares are held
by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, or in
another representative capacity, please state title. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized person.
Signature: Date:
-------------------------- --------------------------
Signature: Date:
-------------------------- --------------------------
