UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

________________
 
FORM 10-Q
________________
 

           (Mark One)

 
R
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010

OR

 
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

             For the transition period from           to

Commission File Number: 000-22339
________________
 
RAMBUS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 ________________
 
Delaware
94-3112828
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)

4440 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (650) 947-5000
________________
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes R No £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes £ No £

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes £ No R

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, was 114,574,919 as of March 31, 2010.
 



 
 

 

RAMBUS INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
PAGE
 
       
    3  
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
Item 1. Financial Statements:
       
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    37  
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NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, predictions regarding the following aspects of our future:

 
Outcome and effect of current and potential future intellectual property litigation;

 
Litigation expenses;

 
Protection of intellectual property;

 
Amounts owed under licensing agreements;

 
Terms of our licenses;

 
Acquisitions, mergers or strategic transactions;

 
Indemnification and technical support obligations;

 
Success in the markets of our or our licensees’ products;

 
Sources of competition;

 
Operating results;

 
Research and development costs and improvements in technology;

 
Sources, amounts and concentration of revenue, including royalties;

 
Effects of changes in the economy and credit market on our industry and business;

 
Deterioration of financial health of commercial counterparties and their ability to meet their obligations to us;

 
Restructuring activities;

 
Growth in our business;

 
Product development;

 
Pricing policies of our licensees;

 
Success in renewing license agreements;

 
Engineering, marketing and general and administration expenses;

 
Contract revenue;

 
International licenses and operations, including our design facility in Bangalore, India;

 
Issuances of our securities, which could involve restrictive covenants or be dilutive to our existing stockholders;

 
Repurchases of our Common Stock pursuant to share repurchase programs;

 
Effective tax rates;

 
Realization of deferred tax assets/release of deferred tax valuation allowance;


 
Methods, estimates and judgments in accounting policies;

 
Adoption of new accounting pronouncements;

 
Ability to identify, attract, motivate and retain qualified personnel;

 
Trading price of our Common Stock;

 
Corporate governance;

 
Consequences of the lawsuits related to the stock option investigation;

 
The level and terms of our outstanding debt;

 
Resolution of the governmental agency matters involving us;

 
Internal control environment;

 
Interest and other income, net; and

 
Likelihood of paying dividends or repurchasing stock.

You can identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “future,” “shall,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “intends,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements also include the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements.

Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on our assessment of information available to us at this time. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.




RAMBUS INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
   
(In thousands, except shares
 
   
and par value)
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 400,921     $ 289,073  
Marketable securities
    267,752       171,120  
Accounts receivable
    470       949  
Prepaids and other current assets
    8,662       8,700  
Deferred taxes
    587       129  
Total current assets
    678,392       469,971  
Restricted cash
    661       639  
Deferred taxes, long-term
    1,604       2,034  
Intangible assets, net
    22,105       21,660  
Property and equipment, net
    37,972       38,966  
Goodwill
    15,554       15,554  
Other assets
    6,579       7,045  
Total assets
  $ 762,867     $ 555,869  
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 8,417     $ 8,972  
Accrued salaries and benefits
    14,136       6,435  
Accrued litigation expenses
    4,555       5,147  
Income taxes payable
    3,313       486  
Non-cash obligation for construction in progress
    25,900       25,100  
Other accrued liabilities
    7,386       4,020  
Convertible notes
          136,032  
Total current liabilities
    63,707       186,192  
Convertible notes
    114,757       112,012  
Long-term income taxes payable
    2,042       1,994  
Other long-term liabilities
    683       344  
Total liabilities
    181,189       300,542  
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Contingently redeemable common stock:
               
Outstanding: 4,788,125 shares at March 31, 2010 and no shares at December 31, 2009
    113,500        
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value:
               
Authorized: 5,000,000 shares
               
Issued and outstanding: no shares at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009
           
Common stock, $.001 par value:
               
Authorized: 500,000,000 shares
               
Issued and outstanding: 109,786,794 shares at March 31, 2010 and 105,934,157 shares at December 31, 2009
    110       106  
Additional paid-in capital
    903,733       818,992  
Accumulated deficit
    (435,427 )     (563,858 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
    (238 )     87  
Total stockholders’ equity
    468,178       255,327  
Total liabilities, contingently redeemable common stock and stockholders’ equity
  $ 762,867     $ 555,869  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements



 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands, except per
 
   
share amounts)
 
Revenue:
           
Royalties
  $ 160,542     $ 26,169  
Contract revenue
    1,322       1,165  
Total revenue
    161,864       27,334  
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of revenue*
    1,854       2,183  
Research and development*
    21,691       17,837  
Marketing, general and administrative*
    31,527       37,156  
Costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities
    526       (13,639 )
Gain from settlement
    (95,900 )      
Total costs and expenses (recoveries)
    (40,302 )     43,537  
Operating income (loss)
    202,166       (16,203 )
Interest income and other income (expense), net
    425       1,440  
Interest expense
    (6,016 )     (2,670 )
Interest and other income (expense), net
    (5,591 )     (1,230 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
    196,575       (17,433 )
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    45,676       (7 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 150,899     $ (17,426 )
Net income (loss) per share:
               
Basic
  $ 1.33     $ (0.17 )
Diluted
  $ 1.28     $ (0.17 )
Weighted average shares used in per share calculation:
               
Basic
    113,132       104,376  
Diluted
    117,463       104,376  
______________________
* Includes stock-based compensation:

Cost of revenue
  $ 100     $ 390  
Research and development
  $ 2,569     $ 2,740  
Marketing, general and administrative
  $ 5,165     $ 5,289  

 
 
 
See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 

 


RAMBUS INC .
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 150,899     $ (17,426 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Stock-based compensation
    7,834       8,419  
Depreciation
    2,473       2,807  
Amortization of intangible assets
    1,086       806  
Non-cash interest expense and amortization of convertible debt issuance costs
    3,860       2,670  
Deferred tax (benefit) provision
    (29 )     95  
Impairment of investments
          164  
Change in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    479       316  
Prepaids and other assets
    26       1,185  
Accounts payable
    (639 )     8,647  
Accrued salaries and benefits and other accrued liabilities
    9,248       (1,066 )
Accrued litigation expenses
    (592 )     (6,970 )
Income taxes payable
    2,875       (279 )
Increase in restricted cash
    (22 )     (5 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    177,498       (637 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (534 )     (708 )
Purchases of marketable securities
    (136,519 )     (83,508 )
Maturities of marketable securities
    39,562       90,493  
Acquisition of intangible assets
          (1,550 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (97,491 )     4,727  
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Payments under installment payment arrangement
    (400 )      
Proceeds received from issuance of contingently redeemable common stock and common stock pursuant to the settlement agreement with Samsung
    192,000        
Proceeds received from issuance of common stock under employee stock plans
    3,664       5,507  
Repayment of convertible senior notes
    (136,950 )      
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
    (26,473 )      
Net cash provided by financing activities
    31,841       5,507  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    111,848       9,597  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    289,073       116,241  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 400,921     $ 125,838  
                 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Intangible assets acquired under installment payment arrangement
  $ 1,531     $  
Increase in non-cash obligation for construction in progress
  $ 800     $  

See Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements




RAMBUS INC .

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Rambus Inc. (“Rambus” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Investments in entities with less than 20% ownership or in which the Company does not have the ability to significantly influence the operations of the investee are being accounted for using the cost method and are included in other assets.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) necessary to state fairly the financial position and results of operations for each interim period presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to interim financial information. Certain information and Note disclosures included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted in these interim statements pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The amounts reported for cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities are considered to approximate fair value based upon comparable market information available at the respective balance sheet dates. The Company adopted the fair value measurement statement (Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”), effective January 1, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The statement applies to all financial assets and financial liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis and requires disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. For the discussion regarding the impact of the adoption of the statement on the Company’s marketable securities, see Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments.” Additionally, the Company has adopted the fair value option for financial assets and financial liabilities statement, effective January 1, 2008. The Company has not elected the fair value option for financial instruments not already carried at fair value.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with original maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase. The Company maintains its cash balances with high quality financial institutions. The cash equivalent balances are invested in highly-rated and highly-liquid money market securities, such as money market funds.

Marketable Securities

Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices, with the unrealized gains or losses reported, net of tax, in stockholders’ equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, both of which are included in interest and other income, net. Realized gains and losses are recorded on the specific identification method and are included in interest and other income, net. The Company reviews its investments in marketable securities for possible other than temporary impairments on a regular basis. If any


loss on investment is believed to be a credit loss, a charge will be recognized in operations. In evaluating whether a credit loss on a debt security has occurred, the Company considers the following factors: 1) the Company’s intent to sell the security, 2) if the Company intends to hold the security, whether or not it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of the security’s amortized cost basis, and 3) even if the Company intends to hold the security, whether or not the Company expects the security to recover the entire amortized cost basis. Due to the high credit quality and short term nature of the Company’s investments, there have been no credit losses recorded to date. The classification of funds between short-term and long-term is based on whether the securities are available for use in operations or other purposes.

Non-Marketable Securities

The Company has an investment in a non-marketable security of a private company which is carried at cost. The Company monitors the investments for other-than-temporary impairment and records appropriate reductions in carrying value when necessary. The non-marketable security is classified as other non-current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2010-06 which includes two major new disclosure requirements and clarifies two existing disclosure requirements related to fair value measurement. ASU 2010-06 is effective for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company only expanded its fair value disclosure to address this ASU (See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments”).

In September 2009, the Emerging Issues Task Force (the “EITF”) reached final consensus under ASU No. 2009-13 on the issue related to revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. This issue addresses how to determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting and how arrangement consideration should be measured and allocated to the separate units of accounting. This issue is effective for the Company’s revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after January 1, 2011. The Company will evaluate the impact of this issue on the Company’s financial statements when reviewing its new or materially modified revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables once this issue becomes effective.

In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-17 which improves financial reporting by enterprises involved with variable interest entities. This statement requires companies to perform an analysis to determine whether the Company’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. This statement was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010. The Company evaluated its existing variable interest and concluded that it does not give it a controlling financial interest in variable interest entity; therefore, the adoption of this new statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16 which improves the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets as well as the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows and a transferor’s continuing involvement, if any, in transferred financial assets. The statement requires that a transferor recognize and initially measure at fair value all assets obtained (including a transferor’s beneficial interest) and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer of financial assets accounted for as a sale. The statement was effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2010. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements as the Company does not currently transfer its financial assets.

3. Settlement Agreement with Samsung

On January 19, 2010, the Company, Samsung and certain related entities of Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) to release all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. Under the Settlement Agreement, Samsung has paid the Company $200.0 million in cash in two installments in the first quarter of 2010, and the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company and Samsung entered into a Semiconductor Patent License Agreement on January 19, 2010 (the “License Agreement”), under which Samsung licenses from the Company non-exclusive rights to certain Rambus patents and has agreed to pay the Company cash amounts equal to $25.0 million per quarter, commencing in the first quarter of 2010, subject to certain adjustments and conditions, over the next five years, as described in more details below. In addition, as part of the Settlement Agreement, Samsung purchased approximately 9.6 million shares of common stock of Rambus for cash pursuant to the terms of a


Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 19, 2010 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), as described in more details below. Finally, pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company and Samsung signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding relating to discussions around a new generation of memory technologies. On an aggregate basis, Samsung is expected to make payments to the Company totaling approximately $900.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement) from these agreements (collectively, “Samsung Settlement”), of which $425.0 million has been paid through March 31, 2010. The remaining $475.0 million is expected to be paid in successive quarterly payments of approximately $25.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement) concluding in the three months ending December 31, 2014.

Under the License Agreement, the Company has granted to Samsung and its subsidiaries (i) a paid-up perpetual patent license for certain identified Samsung DRAM products (these Samsung DRAM products generally include all existing DRAM products aside from the Rambus proprietary products) and (ii) a five-year term patent license to all other semiconductor products. Each license is a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-bearing, worldwide patent license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the applicable patent claims of Rambus for such licensed products, to make (including have made), use, sell, offer for sale and/or import such licensed products until the expiration or termination of the license pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement. The License Agreement requires that Samsung pay the Company cash payments over the next five years of (i) a fixed amount of $25.0 million each quarter during 2010 and the first two quarters of 2011, and (ii) thereafter, $25.0 million adjusted up or down based on certain levels of Samsung revenue for DRAM products licensed under the License Agreement for each quarter after 2010 and subject to a minimum of $10.0 million and a maximum of $40.0 million for each quarter. In addition, additional payments or certain adjustments to the payments by Samsung to the Company under the License Agreement may be due for certain acquisitions of businesses or assets by Samsung involving licensed products. The License Agreement and the licenses granted thereunder may be terminated upon a material breach by a party of its obligations under the agreement, a bankruptcy event involving a party or a change of control of Samsung subject to certain conditions.

Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, on January 19, 2010, Samsung purchased for cash from the Company 9.6 million shares of common stock of the Company (the “Shares”) with certain restrictions and put rights. The number of shares issued was based on a price per share equal to $20.885 (which was the average of the open and close trading price of Rambus common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 15, 2010, the last trading day prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement). The Shares represent approximately 8.3% of the total outstanding shares of Rambus common stock after giving effect to the issuance thereof. The issuance of the Shares by the Company to Samsung was made through a private transaction. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides Samsung a one-time put right, beginning 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and extending to 19 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to elect to put back to the Company up to 4.8 million of the Shares at the original issue price of $20.885 per share (for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100.0 million).

The Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the transfer of the Shares by Samsung for 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to certain exceptions. After expiration of the transfer restriction period, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that Samsung may transfer a limited number of shares on a daily basis, provides Rambus with a right of first offer for proposed transfers above such daily limits, and, if no sale occurs to Rambus under the right of first offer, allows Samsung to transfer the Shares. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has also agreed that after the transfer restriction period, Samsung will have certain rights to register the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the United States, subject to customary terms and conditions.

In addition, until 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to customary exceptions, Samsung is subject to a standstill agreement that prohibits Samsung from, among other things, acquiring additional shares of common stock of the Company, commencing or endorsing any tender offer or exchange offer for shares of common stock of the Company, participating in any solicitation of proxies with respect to voting any shares of common stock of the Company, or announcing or submitting any proposal or offer concerning any extraordinary transaction involving the Company. Samsung is also subject to a voting agreement under the Stock Purchase Agreement that provides that Samsung will vote its Shares in favor of routine proposals (related to election of directors, certain compensation matters, authorized share capital increases and approval of the independent auditors) that are recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company at any stockholder meeting. In all other matters, the voting agreement contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement requires that Samsung vote its Shares in the same proportion as the votes that are cast by all other holders of shares of common stock of the Company. The voting agreement under the Stock Purchase Agreement terminates (i) with respect to Shares that Samsung transfers in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, (ii) upon a change of control or bankruptcy event involving the Company or (iii) when Samsung owns less than 3% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.

The Samsung Settlement is a multiple element arrangement for accounting purposes. For the multiple element arrangement, the Company identified each element of the arrangement and determined when those elements should be recognized. Using the accounting guidance from multiple element revenue arrangements, the Company allocated the consideration to each element using the estimated fair value of the elements. The Company considered several factors in determining the accounting fair


value of the elements of the Samsung Settlement which included a third party valuation using an income approach, the Black-Scholes option pricing model and a residual approach (collectively the "Fair Value"). The inputs and assumptions used in this valuation were from a market participant perspective and included projected revenue, royalty rates, estimated discount rates, useful lives and income tax rates, among others. The development of a number of these inputs and assumptions in the model requires a significant amount of management judgment and is based upon a number of factors, including the selection of industry comparables, market growth rates and other relevant factors. Changes in any number of these assumptions may have had a substantial impact on the Fair Value as assigned to each element. These inputs and assumptions represent management’s best estimates at the time of the transaction.

Based on the estimated Fair Value, the consideration of $900.0 million was allocated to the following elements:

(in millions)
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
Settlement Agreement:
     
Antitrust litigation settlement
  $ 85.0  
Settlement of past infringement
    190.0  
License Agreement
    385.0  
Stock Purchase Agreement
    192.0  
Memorandum of understanding (“MOU”)
     
Residual value
    48.0  
Total
  $ 900.0  

The consideration of $900.0 million will be recognized in the Company’s financial statements as follows:

 
·
$575.0 million as revenue which represented the estimated Fair Value of the settlement of past infringement ($190.0 million) from the resolution of the infringement litigation and the patent license agreement ($385.0 million);
 
·
$133.0 million to gain from settlement which represented the Fair Value of the resolution of the antitrust litigation ($85.0 million) and the residual value of other elements ($48.0 million) where specific fair value could not be determined, which included other claims and counter claims released;
 
·
$192.0 million related to the Stock Purchase Agreement which included contingently redeemable common stock due to the restrictions and contractual put rights associated with those shares ($113.5 million) and restricted common stock issued to Samsung ($78.5 million).

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company received cash consideration of $425.0 million from Samsung. The amount allocated to the common stock issued to Samsung was allocated to contingently redeemable common stock ($113.5 million) and stockholders’ equity ($78.5 million). The remaining $233.0 million was allocated between revenue ($137.1 million) and gain from settlement ($95.9 million) based on the remaining elements’ estimated Fair Value.

The remaining $475.0 million is expected to be paid in successive quarterly payments of approximately $25.0 million (subject to adjustments per the terms of the License Agreement), concluding in the last quarter of 2014.
 
The first quarter of 2010 and the remaining future cash receipts from the agreements with Samsung are expected to be recognized as follows assuming no adjustments to the payments under the terms of the agreements:

      Q1 2010    
Remainder
of 2010
     
 
2011
     
 
2012
     
 
2013
     
 
2014
   
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
                                                   
Revenue
  $ 137.1     $ 44.1     $ 93.8     $ 100.0     $ 100.0     $ 100.0     $ 575.0  
Gain from settlement
    95.9       30.9       6.2                         133.0  
Purchase of Rambus
Common Stock
    192.0                                     192.0  
Total
  $ 425.0     $ 75.0     $ 100.0     $ 100.0     $ 100.0     $ 100.0     $ 900.0  



4. Revenue Recognition

Overview

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, it has delivered the product or performed the service, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. If any of these criteria are not met, the Company defers recognizing the revenue until such time as all criteria are met. Determination of whether or not these criteria have been met may require the Company to make judgments, assumptions and estimates based upon current information and historical experience.

The Company’s revenue consists of royalty revenue and contract revenue generated from agreements with semiconductor companies, system companies and certain reseller arrangements. Royalty revenue consists of patent license and technology license royalties. Contract revenue consist of fixed license fees, fixed engineering fees and service fees associated with integration of the Company’s technology solutions into its customers’ products. Contract revenue may also include support or maintenance. Reseller arrangements generally provide for the pass-through of a percentage of the fees paid to the reseller by the reseller’s customer for use of the Company’s patent and technology licenses. The Company does not recognize revenue for these arrangements until it has received notice of revenue earned by and paid to the reseller, accompanied by the pass-through payment from the reseller. The Company does not pay commissions to the reseller for these arrangements.

In addition, the Company may enter into certain settlements of patent infringement disputes. The amount of consideration received upon any settlement (including but not limited to past royalty payments, future royalty payments and punitive damages) is allocated to each element of the settlement based on the estimated fair value of each element. In addition, revenues related to past royalties are recognized upon execution of the agreement by both parties, provided that the amounts are fixed or determinable, there are no significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company does not recognize any revenue prior to execution of the agreement since there is no reliable basis on which it can estimate the amounts for royalties related to previous periods or assess collectability. Elements that are related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to past royalty payments and future royalty payments) will be recorded as royalty revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Elements that are not related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to punitive damage and settlement) will be recorded as gain from settlement which is reflected as a separate line item within the operating expenses section in the consolidated statements of operations.

Many of the Company’s licensees have the right to cancel their licenses. In such arrangements, revenue is only recognized to the extent that is consistent with the cancellation provisions. Cancellation provisions within such contracts generally provide for a prospective cancellation with no refund of fees already remitted by customers for products provided and payment for services rendered prior to the date of cancellation. Unbilled receivables represent enforceable claims and are deemed collectible in connection with the Company’s revenue recognition policy.

Royalty Revenue

The Company recognizes royalty revenue upon notification by its licensees and when deemed collectible. The terms of the royalty agreements generally either require licensees to give the Company notification and to pay the royalties within 60 days of the end of the quarter during which the sales occur or are based on a fixed royalty that is due within 45 days of the end of the quarter. The Company has two types of royalty revenue: (1) patent license royalties and (2) technology license royalties.

Patent licenses. The Company licenses its broad portfolio of patented inventions to semiconductor and systems companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of the Company‘s patent portfolio. The Company generally recognizes revenue from these arrangements as amounts become due. The contractual terms of the agreements generally provide for payments over an extended period of time.

Technology licenses.   Rambus develops proprietary and industry-standard chip interface products, such as RDRAM tm and XDR tm that Rambus provides to its customers under technology license agreements. These arrangements include royalties, which can be based on either a percentage of sales or number of units sold. Rambus recognizes revenue from these arrangements upon notification from the licensee of the royalties earned and when collectability is deemed reasonably assured.

Contract Revenue

The Company generally recognizes revenue using percentage of completion for development contracts related to licenses of its interface solutions, such as XDR tm and FlexIO tm that involve significant engineering and integration services. For all license and


service agreements accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method, the Company determines progress to completion using input measures based upon contract costs incurred compared to the total costs including the remaining estimated cost to completion. Part of these contract fees may be due upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as provision of certain deliverables by the Company or production of chips by the licensee. The remaining fees may be due on pre-determined dates and include significant up-front fees.

A provision for estimated losses on fixed price contracts is made, if necessary, in the period in which the loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the Company determines that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the total costs required to complete a contract, the total amount of revenue recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected. However, to the extent the new assumptions regarding the total efforts necessary to complete a project are less than the original assumptions, the contract fees would be recognized sooner than originally expected. Conversely, if the newly estimated total efforts necessary to complete a project are longer than the original assumptions, the contract fees will be recognized over a longer period. As of March 31, 2010, the Company has accrued a liability of approximately $0.2 million related to estimated loss contracts.

If application of the percentage-of-completion method results in recognizable revenue prior to an invoicing event under a customer contract, the Company will recognize the revenue and record an unbilled receivable. Amounts invoiced to the Company’s customers in excess of recognizable revenue are recorded as deferred revenue. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant impact on deferred revenue or unbilled receivables in any given period.

The Company also recognizes revenue in accordance with software revenue recognition methods for development contracts related to licenses of its chip interface products that involve non-essential engineering services and post contract support (“PCS”). These software revenue recognition methods apply to all entities that earn revenue on products containing software, where software is not incidental to the product as a whole. Contract fees for the products and services provided under these arrangements are comprised of license fees and engineering service fees which are not essential to the functionality of the product. The Company’s rates for PCS and for engineering services are specific to each development contract and not standardized in terms of rates or length. Because of these characteristics, the Company does not have a sufficient population of contracts from which to derive vendor specific objective evidence for each of the elements.

Therefore, after the Company delivers the product, if the only undelivered element is PCS, the Company will recognize all revenue ratably over either the contractual PCS period or the period during which PCS is expected to be provided. The Company reviews assumptions regarding the PCS periods on a regular basis. If the Company determines that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the support periods, the total amount of revenue to be recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected.

5. Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Rambus’ comprehensive income (loss) consists of its net income (loss) plus other comprehensive loss consisting of unrealized losses, net, on marketable securities, net of taxes.

The components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, are as follows:
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2010
   
2009
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 150,899     $ (17,426 )
Other comprehensive loss:
               
Unrealized loss on marketable securities, net of tax
    (325 )     (537 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 150,574     $ (17,963 )

6. Equity Incentive Plans and Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Option Plans

As of March 31, 2010, 5,635,263 shares of the 14,900,000 shares approved under the 2006 Plan remain available for grant. The 2006 Plan is now the Company’s only plan for providing stock-based incentive compensation to eligible employees, executive officers, non-employee directors and consultants.


A summary of shares available for grant under the Company’s plans is as follows:

 
 
 
Shares Available
for Grant
 
Shares available as of December 31, 2009
    7,462,394  
Stock options granted
    (1,586,973 )
Stock options forfeited
    17,747  
Stock options expired under former plans
    (1,501 )
Nonvested equity stock and stock units granted (1)
    (256,404 )
Total available for grant as of March 31, 2010
    5,635,263  
____________

(1)
For purposes of determining the number of shares available for grant under the 2006 Plan against the maximum number of shares authorized, each restricted stock granted reduces the number of shares available for grant by 1.5 shares and each restricted stock forfeited increases shares available for grant by 1.5 shares.

General Stock Option Information

The following table summarizes stock option activity under the 1997, 1999 and 2006 Plans for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and information regarding stock options outstanding, exercisable, and vested and expected to vest as of March 31, 2010.

 
 
Options Outstanding
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price Per Share
   
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
   
 
 
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
   
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Outstanding as of December 31, 2009
    14,456,110     $ 20.95              
Options granted
    1,586,973       22.83              
Options exercised
    (227,460 )     14.83              
Options forfeited
    (17,747 )     17.47              
Outstanding as of March 31, 2010
    15,797,876       21.23       5.61     $ 72,682  
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2010
    14,977,777       21.61       5.54       66,117  
Options exercisable at March 31, 2010
    10,550,502       22.88       4.40       48,092  

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value for in-the-money options at March 31, 2010, based on the $21.85 closing stock price of Rambus’ Common Stock on March 31, 2010 on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date. The total number of in-the-money options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2010 was 10,151,607 and 6,832,529, respectively.

As of March 31, 2010, there was $48.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of expected forfeitures, related to non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the stock option plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years. The total fair value of shares vested as of March 31, 2010 was $197.2 million.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

No purchases were made under the Employee Stock Purchase Plans during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 respectively. As of March 31, 2010, 846,856 shares under the 2006 Purchase Plan remain available for issuance. As of March 31, 2010 there was $0.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over one month.

Stock-Based Compensation

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company maintained stock plans covering a broad range of potential equity grants including stock options, nonvested equity stock and equity stock units and performance based instruments. In addition, the Company sponsors an ESPP, whereby eligible employees are entitled to purchase Common Stock semi-annually, by means of limited payroll deductions, at a 15% discount from the fair market value of the Common Stock as of specific dates.


Stock Options

During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, Rambus granted 1,586,973 and 1,349,769 stock options, respectively, with an estimated total grant-date fair value of $20.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, Rambus recorded stock-based compensation related to stock options of $5.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $1.9 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Intrinsic value is the total value of exercised shares based on the price of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise less the cash received from the employees to exercise the options.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, net proceeds from employee stock option exercises totaled approximately $3.4 million.

Employee Stock Purchase Plans

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded compensation expense related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan of $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

There were no tax benefits realized as a result of employee stock option exercises, stock purchase plan purchases, and vesting of equity stock and stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 calculated in accordance with accounting for share-based payments.

Valuation Assumptions

The fair value of stock awards is estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model assuming a dividend yield of 0% and the additional weighted-average assumptions as listed in the following tables:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
Stock Option Plans
           
Expected stock price volatility
    61 %     96 %
Risk free interest rate
    2.44 %     1.76 %
Expected term (in years)
    5.9       5.3  
Weighted-average fair value of stock options granted
  $ 13.18     $ 6.38  

No grants were made under the Employee Stock Purchase Plans during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Nonvested Equity Stock and Stock Units

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company granted nonvested equity stock units to certain officers and employees totaling 170,936 shares under the 2006 Plan. These awards have a service condition, generally a service period of four years, except in the case of grants to directors, for which the service period is one year. The nonvested equity stock units were valued at the date of grant giving them a fair value of approximately $3.9 million. The Company occasionally grants nonvested equity stock units to its employees with vesting subject to the achievement of certain performance conditions related to revenue goals and/or other factors. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the achievement of certain performance conditions for certain performance equity stock units was considered probable, and as a result, the Company recognized an insignificant amount of stock-based compensation expense related to these performance stock units.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately $1.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively, related to all outstanding unvested equity stock grants. Unrecognized stock-based compensation related to all nonvested equity stock grants, net of estimated forfeitures, was approximately $11.4 million at March 31, 2010. This is expected to be recognized over a weighted average of 2.3 years.


The following table reflects the activity related to nonvested equity stock and stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2010:

 
 
 
Nonvested Equity Stock and Stock Units
 
 
 
 
Shares
   
Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
Nonvested at December 31, 2009
    783,976     $ 16.24  
Granted
    170,936       22.72  
Vested
    (111,977 )     14.92  
Forfeited
           
Nonvested at March 31, 2010
    842,935     $ 17.73  

7. Marketable Securities

Rambus invests its excess cash and cash equivalents primarily in U.S. government agency and treasury notes, commercial paper, corporate notes and bonds, money market funds and municipal notes and bonds that mature within three years.

All cash equivalents and marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are summarized as follows:

   
March 31, 2010
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Fair Value
   
 
 
Book Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Weighted
Rate of
Return
 
Money Market Funds
  $ 396,702     $ 396,702     $     $       0.01 %
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
    236,578       236,543       209       (174 )     0.66 %
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
    31,174       31,158       36       (20 )     0.74 %
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
    664,454       664,403       245       (194 )        
Cash
    4,219       4,219                      
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 668,673     $ 668,622     $ 245     $ (194 )        


   
December 31, 2009
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
Fair Value
   
 
 
Book Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Weighted
Rate of
Return
 
Money Market Funds
  $ 280,908     $ 280,908     $     $       0.01 %
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
    138,829       138,521       377       (69 )     1.09 %
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
    32,291       32,222       70       (1 )     1.89 %
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
    452,028       451,651       447       (70 )        
Cash
    8,165       8,165                      
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 460,193     $ 459,816     $ 447     $ (70 )        

Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value on the balance sheets and classified as follows:

 
 
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 396,702     $ 280,908  
Short term marketable securities
    267,752       171,120  
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
    664,454       452,028  
Cash
    4,219       8,165  
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 668,673     $ 460,193  

The Company continues to invest in high quality, highly liquid debt securities that mature within three years. The Company holds all of its marketable securities as available-for-sale, marks them to market, and regularly reviews its portfolio to ensure adherence to its investment policy and to monitor individual investments for risk analysis, proper valuation, and unrealized losses that may be other than temporary. As of March 31, 2010, marketable debt securities with a fair value of $157.0 million, which mature within one year had insignificant unrealized losses. The Company has no intent to sell, there is no requirement to sell and the Company believes that it can recover the amortized cost of these investments. The Company has found no evidence of impairment due to credit losses in its portfolio. Therefore, these unrealized losses were recorded in other comprehensive income. However, the Company cannot provide


any assurance that its portfolio of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will not be impacted by adverse conditions in the financial markets, which may require the Company in the future to record an impairment charge for credit losses which could adversely impact its financial results.

The estimated fair value of cash equivalents and marketable securities classified by date of contractual maturity and the associated unrealized gain, net, at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:

 
 
As of
   
Unrealized Gain, net
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
   
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Contractual maturity:
                       
Due within one year
  $ 655,953     $ 419,054     $ 50     $ 250  
Due from one year through three years
    8,501       32,974       1       127  
    $ 664,454     $ 452,028     $ 51     $ 377  

The unrealized gains, net, were insignificant in relation to the Company’s total available-for-sale portfolio. The unrealized gains, net, can be primarily attributed to a combination of market conditions as well as the demand for and duration of the Company’s U.S. government bonds and notes. See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for fair value discussion regarding the Company’s cash equivalents and marketable securities.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

On December 15, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive triple net space lease agreement with MT SPE, LLC (the “Landlord”) whereby the Company leases approximately 125,000 square feet of office space located at 1040 Enterprise Way in Sunnyvale, California (the “Sunnyvale Lease”). The office space will be used for the Company’s corporate headquarters functions, as well as engineering, marketing and administrative operations and activities. The Company plans to move to the new premises in the second half of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The Sunnyvale Lease has a term of 120 months from the commencement date. The initial annual base rent is $3.7 million, subject to a full abatement of rent for the first six months of the Sunnyvale Lease term. The annual base rent increases each year to certain fixed amounts over the course of the term as set forth in the Sunnyvale Lease and will be $4.8 million in the tenth year. In addition to the base rent, the Company will also pay operating expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. The Company has two options to extend the Sunnyvale Lease for a period of 60 months each and a one-time option to terminate the Sunnyvale Lease after 84 months in exchange for an early termination fee.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company began a build-out of this facility and expects to incur approximately $11.5 million in construction costs. Under the terms of the Sunnyvale Lease, the landlord has agreed to reimburse the Company approximately $10.0 million of this amount. Because certain improvements to be constructed by the Company are considered structural in nature and the Company is responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes the Company is treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.

Therefore, the Company has capitalized $25.1 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that it will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of December 15, 2009 using level 3 fair value inputs (See Note 15, “Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” for discussion on level 3 inputs) and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility.

Upon completion of construction, the Company will apply sale-leaseback accounting. At that time, the Company will determine whether the lease will be treated as a capital or operating lease.

On March 8, 2010, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Fogg-Brecksville Development Co. (the “Ohio Landlord”) for 24,814 square feet of space consisting of 7,158 square feet of office area and 17,656 square feet of warehouse area, located in Brecksville, Ohio (the “Ohio Lease”). The Company plans to move to the new premises in the third quarter of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The warehouse area will be converted into office space and manufacturing space. The office space will be used for the Lighting and Display Technology (“LDT”) group’s engineering activities while the manufacturing space will be used for the manufacturer of prototypes for the LDT group. The Ohio Lease has a term of 60 months from the commencement date. The initial annual base rent is approximately $136,000. In addition to the base rent, the Company will also pay operating


expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. The Company has an option to extend the Lease for a period of 60 months.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company began a build-out of this facility and expects to incur approximately $1.4 million in construction costs. Because certain improvements to be constructed by the Company are considered structural in nature and the Company is responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes the Company is treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.

Therefore, the Company has capitalized $0.8 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that it will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of March 8, 2010 using level 3 fair value inputs and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility. Upon completion of construction in the third quarter of 2010, the Company will assess whether sale-leaseback accounting applies to this arrangement. At the end of the lease term in 2015, the Company has an option to renew the lease for an additional 60 months.

On June 29, 2009, the Company entered into an Indenture by and between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the issuance by the Company of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2014 (the “2014 Notes”). On July 10, 2009, an additional $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2014 Notes were issued as a result of the underwriters exercising their overallotment option. The aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2010 was $172.5 million, offset by unamortized debt discount of $57.7 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The debt discount is currently being amortized over the remaining 51 months until maturity of the 2014 Notes on June 15, 2014. See Note 16, “Convertible Notes,” for additional details.

As of March 31, 2010, Rambus’ material contractual obligations are:

 
(in thousands)
 
Total
   
Remainder
of 2010
   
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
Thereafter
 
Contractual obligations (1)
                                         
Leases (2)
  $ 51,740     $ 7,197     $ 5,163     $ 5,197     $ 4,477     $ 4,580     $ 25,126  
Convertible notes
    172,500                               172,500        
Interest payments related
to convertible notes
    36,276       6,469       8,625       8,625       8,625       3,932        
Total
  $ 260,516     $ 13,666     $ 13,788     $ 13,822     $ 13,102     $ 181,012     $ 25,126  
____________

(1)
The above table does not reflect possible payments in connection with uncertain tax benefits of approximately $10.5 million, including $8.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets and $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable, as of March 31, 2010. As noted below in Note 10, “Income Taxes,” although it is possible that some of the unrecognized tax benefits could be settled within the next 12 months, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome at this time.
(2)
Includes both the Sunnyvale Lease and Ohio Lease.

Rent expense was approximately $1.8 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Deferred rent of $0.8 million as of March 31, 2010 was included primarily in current liabilities. Deferred rent of $0.7 million as of December 31, 2009 was included primarily in current liabilities.

Indemnifications

The Company enters into standard license agreements in the ordinary course of business. Although the Company does not indemnify most of its customers, there are times when an indemnification is a necessary means of doing business. Indemnifications cover customers for losses suffered or incurred by them as a result of any patent, copyright, or other intellectual property infringement claim by any third party with respect to the Company’s products. The maximum amount of indemnification the Company could be required to make under these agreements is generally limited to fees received by the Company.

Several securities fraud class actions, private lawsuits and shareholder derivative actions were filed in state and federal courts against certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors related to the stock option granting actions. As permitted


under Delaware law, the Company has agreements whereby its officers and directors are indemnified for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving, at the Company’s request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer’s or director’s term in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company has a director and officer insurance policy that reduces the Company’s exposure and enables the Company to recover a portion of future amounts to be paid. As a result of these indemnification agreements, the Company continues to make payments on behalf of current and former officers. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had made payments of approximately $12.1 million on their behalf, including $0.7 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2010. These payment were recorded under costs of restatement and related legal activities in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company received approximately $5.3 million from the former officers related to their settlement agreements with the Company in connection with the derivative and class action lawsuits which was comprised of approximately $4.5 million in cash received in the first quarter of 2009 as well as approximately 163,000 shares of the Company’s stock with a value of approximately $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company received $0.1 million from insurance settlements related to the defense of the Company, its directors and its officers which were recorded under costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities in the consolidated statements of operations.

9. Stockholders’ Equity and Contingently Redeemable Common Stock

Contingently Redeemable Common Stock

On January 19, 2010, pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Samsung purchased for cash the Shares with certain restrictions and put rights. The issuance of the Shares by the Company to Samsung was made through a private transaction. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides Samsung a one-time put right, beginning 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and extending to 19 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to elect to put back to the Company up to 4.8 million of the Shares at the original issue price of $20.885 per share (for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100.0 million). The 4.8 million shares have been recorded, at estimated Fair Value, as contingently redeemable common stock on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2010.

The Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the transfer of the Shares by Samsung for 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to certain exceptions. After expiration of the transfer restriction period, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that Samsung may transfer a limited number of shares on a daily basis, provides the Company with a right of first offer for proposed transfers above such daily limits, and, if no sale occurs to the Company under the right of first offer, allows Samsung to transfer the Shares. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has also agreed that after the transfer restriction period, Samsung will have certain rights to register the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the United States, subject to customary terms and conditions.

The 9.6 million shares were accounted for as part of a multiple element arrangement where the Fair Value was determined to be $192.0 million as follows:

 
·
$113.5 million related to 4.8 million shares treated as contingently redeemable common stock due to the contractual put rights associated with those shares
 
·
$78.5 million related to the remaining 4.8 million shares treated as stockholders’ equity

See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” for further discussion.

Share Repurchase Program

In October 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program of its Common Stock, principally to reduce the dilutive effect of employee stock options and the issuance of shares to Samsung. Under this program, the Board approved the authorization to repurchase up to 19.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock over an undefined period of time. On February 25, 2010, the Board approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional 12.5 million shares. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market, established plan or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with all applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations. There is no expiration date applicable to the program. The new share repurchase program replaces the program authorized in October 2001.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of its Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $26.5 million. As of March 31, 2010, the Company had repurchased a cumulative total of


approximately 18.0 million shares of its Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $260.2 million since the commencement of the program in 2001. As of March 31, 2010, there remained an outstanding authorization to repurchase approximately 13.5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.

The Company records stock repurchases as a reduction to stockholders’ equity. The Company records a portion of the purchase price of the repurchased shares as an increase to accumulated deficit when the cost of the shares repurchased exceeds the average original proceeds per share received from the issuance of Common Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the cumulative price of the shares repurchased exceeded the proceeds received from the issuance of the same number of shares. The excess of $22.5 million was recorded as an increase to accumulated deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

10. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was 23.2% which is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to the Company’s income before taxes primarily due to a full valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets, partially offset by foreign withholding taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes. The effective tax rate for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was 0.1% which is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to the Company’s net loss primarily due to a full valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets, foreign income taxes and state income taxes, partially offset by refundable research and development tax credits.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, the Company paid withholding taxes of $42.6 million to the Korean tax authorities related to the payments received under the Settlement Agreement and License Agreement with Samsung. The Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $45.7 million for the quarter, which is primarily comprised of the Korean taxes and U.S. alternative minimum taxes.  As the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets, the Company’s tax provision is based primarily on the Korean taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes. 

As of March 31, 2010, the Company’s consolidated balance sheets included net deferred tax assets, before valuation allowance, of approximately $119.6 million, which consists of net operating loss carryovers, tax credit carryovers, depreciation and amortization, employee stock-based compensation expenses and certain liabilities, partially reduced by deferred tax liabilities associated with the convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlements. As of March 31, 2010, a valuation allowance of $117.4 million has been maintained against the U.S. deferred tax assets. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we reduced our deferred tax assets from $153.1 million to $119.6 million, and reduced our valuation allowance from $150.9 million to $117.4 million. This partial release of our valuation allowance offset our U.S. tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Management periodically evaluates the realizability of the Company’s net deferred tax assets based on all available evidence, both positive and negative. The realization of net deferred tax assets is solely dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient future taxable income during periods prior to the expiration of tax statutes to fully utilize these assets. The Company intends to maintain the valuation allowance until sufficient positive evidence exists to support reversal of the valuation allowance.

The Company maintains liabilities for uncertain tax benefits within its non-current income taxes payable accounts. These liabilities involve judgment and estimation and are monitored by management based on the best information available including changes in tax regulations, the outcome of relevant court cases and other information.

As of March 31, 2010, the Company had $10.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits, including $7.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets, which is net of approximately $1.0 million of federal tax benefit, and including $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable. If recognized, approximately $0.8 million would be recorded as an income tax benefit. No benefit would be recorded for the remaining unrecognized tax benefits as the recognition would require a corresponding increase in the valuation allowance. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $10.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, including $7.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets, which is net of approximately $0.9 million of federal tax benefits, and including $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable.

Although it is possible that some of the unrecognized tax benefits could be settled within the next 12 months, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome at this time.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of the income tax provision (benefit). At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, an insignificant amount of interest and penalties are included in long-term income taxes payable.


The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns as well as income tax returns in various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is currently under examination by the California Franchise Tax Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003 and the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2004. Although the outcome of any tax audit is uncertain, the Company believes it has adequately provided for any additional taxes that may be required to be paid as a result of such examinations. If the Company determines that no payment will ultimately be required, the reversal of these tax liabilities may result in tax benefits being recognized in the period when that conclusion is reached. However, if an ultimate tax assessment exceeds the recorded tax liability for that item, an additional tax provision may need to be recorded. The impact of such adjustments in the Company’s tax accounts could have a material impact on the consolidated results of operations in future periods.

The Company is subject to examination by the IRS for the tax years ended 2006 through 2008. The Company is also subject to examination by the State of California for tax years ended 2005 through 2008. In addition, any R&D credit and net operating loss carryforwards generated in prior years and utilized in these or future years may also be subject to examination by the IRS and the State of California. The Company is also subject to examination in various other jurisdictions for various periods.

11. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing the earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares consist of incremental common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, employee stock purchases, restricted stock and restricted stock units, and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible notes. The dilutive effect of outstanding shares is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. This method includes consideration of the amounts to be paid by the employees, the amount of excess tax benefits that would be recognized in equity if the instrument was exercised and the amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation related to future services. No potential dilutive common shares are included in the computation of any diluted per share amount when a net loss is reported. As discussed in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” the Company reported approximately 4.8 million shares issued to Samsung as contingently redeemable common stock due to the contractual put rights associated with those shares. As such, the Company uses the two-class method for reporting earnings per share.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share:

 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
                         
   
CRCS*
   
Other CS**
   
CRCS*
   
Other CS**
 
Basic net income (loss) per share:
                       
Numerator:
                       
Allocation of undistributed earnings
  $ 5,109     $ 145,790     $     $ (17,426 )
Denominator:
                               
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
    3,830       109,302             104,376  
Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ 1.33     $ 1.33     $     $ (0.17 )
                                 
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
                               
Numerator:
                               
Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation
  $ 5,109     $ 145,790     $     $ (17,426 )
Reallocation of undistributed earnings
    (188 )     188              
Allocation of undistributed earnings for diluted computation
  $ 4,921     $ 145,978     $     $ (17,426 )
Denominator:
                               
Number of shares used in basic computation
    3,830       109,302             104,376  
Dilutive potential shares from stock options, ESPP, Convertible notes and nonvested equity stock and stock units
          4,331              
Number of shares used in diluted computation
    3,830       113,633             104,376  
Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ 1.28     $ 1.28     $     $ (0.17 )
                                 
____________

*        CRCS — Contingently Redeemable Common Stock
**      Other CS — Common Stock other than CRCS


For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, options to purchase approximately 7.1 million and 14.3 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation because they were anti-dilutive after considering proceeds from exercise, taxes and related unrecognized stock-based compensation expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, an additional 0.7 million shares, including nonvested equity stock and stock units, that would be dilutive have been excluded from the weighted average dilutive shares because there was a net loss for the period.

12.
Business Segments, Exports and Major Customers

Rambus has two operating segments: (1) the design, development and licensing of memory and logic interfaces and (2) lighting and optoelectronics, and other technologies. For reporting purposes, the two operating segments have been combined as the assets and operating results of the lighting and optoelectronics group are not considered significant as of March 31, 2010. One customer accounted for 85% of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2010. Four customers accounted for 25%, 18%, 14% and 13%, respectively, of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2009. Rambus expects that its revenue concentration will decrease over time as Rambus licenses new customers.

Rambus licenses its technologies and patents to customers in the Far East, North America, and Europe. Revenue from customers in the following geographic regions were recognized as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(In thousands)
 
2010
   
2009
 
Japan
  $ 19,036     $ 21,811  
North America
    5,485       5,268  
Taiwan
    45       23  
Korea
    137,166       142  
Singapore
          43  
Europe
    132       47  
    $ 161,864     $ 27,334  

At March 31, 2010, of the $38.0 million of total property and equipment, approximately $36.4 million are located in the United States, $1.4 million are located in India and $0.2 million are located in other foreign locations. At December 31, 2009, of the $39.0 million of total property and equipment, approximately $37.1 million are located in the United States, $1.6 million are located in India and $0.3 million were located in other foreign locations.

13. Amortizable Intangible Assets

The components of the Company’s intangible assets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:

   
As of March 31, 2010
 
 
 
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net Carrying
Amount
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Patents
  $ 13,973     $ (7,285 )   $ 6,688  
Intellectual property
    10,384       (10,384 )      
Customer contracts and contractual relationships
    4,050       (2,852 )     1,198  
Existing technology
    17,550       (3,331 )     14,219  
Non-competition agreement
    100       (100 )      
Total intangible assets
  $ 46,057     $ (23,952 )   $ 22,105  

   
As of December 31, 2009
 
 
 
 
Gross Carrying
Amount
   
Accumulated
Amortization
   
Net Carrying
Amount
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Patents
  $ 12,441     $ (6,876 )   $ 5,565  
Intellectual property
    10,384       (10,384 )      
Customer contracts and contractual relationships
    4,050       (2,717 )     1,333  
Existing technology
    17,550       (2,788 )     14,762  
Non-competition agreement
    100       (100 )      
Total intangible assets
  $ 44,525     $ (22,865 )   $ 21,660  


Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company purchased patents related to memory and other applications in an asset acquisition for approximately $1.5 million.

The estimated future amortization expense of intangible assets as of March 31, 2010 was as follows (amounts in thousands):

Years Ending December 31:
 
Amount
 
2010 (remaining 9 months)
  $ 3,289  
2011
    4,054  
2012
    3,781  
2013
    3,475  
2014
    2,574  
Thereafter
    4,932  
    $ 22,105  

14. Litigation and Asserted Claims

Hynix Litigation

U.S District Court of the Northern District of California

On August 29, 2000, Hynix (formerly Hyundai) and various subsidiaries filed suit against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint, as amended and narrowed through motion practice, asserts claims for fraud, violations of federal antitrust laws and deceptive practices in connection with Rambus’ participation in a standards setting organization called JEDEC, and seeks a declaratory judgment that the Rambus patents-in-suit are unenforceable, invalid and not infringed by Hynix, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees. Rambus denied Hynix’s claims and filed counterclaims for patent infringement against Hynix.

The case was divided into three phases. In the first phase, Hynix tried its unclean hands defense beginning on October 17, 2005 and concluding on November 1, 2005. In its January 4, 2006 Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the court held that Hynix’s unclean hands defense failed. Among other things, the court found that Rambus did not adopt its document retention policy in bad faith, did not engage in unlawful spoliation of evidence, and that while Rambus disposed of some relevant documents pursuant to its document retention policy, Hynix was not prejudiced by the destruction of Rambus documents. On January 19, 2009, Hynix filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s unclean hands order and for summary judgment on the ground that the decision by the Delaware court in the pending Micron-Rambus litigation (described below) should be given preclusive effect. In its motion Hynix requested alternatively that the court’s unclean hands order be certified for appeal and that the remainder of the case be stayed. Rambus filed an opposition to Hynix’s motion on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court denied Hynix’s motions and restated its conclusions that Rambus had not anticipated litigation until late 1999 and that Hynix had not demonstrated any prejudice from any alleged destruction of evidence.

The second phase of the Hynix-Rambus trial — on patent infringement, validity and damages — began on March 15, 2006, and was submitted to the jury on April 13, 2006. On April 24, 2006, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus on all issues and awarded Rambus a total of approximately $307 million in damages, excluding prejudgment interest. Specifically, the jury found that each of the ten selected patent claims was supported by the written description, and was not anticipated or rendered obvious by prior art; therefore, none of the patent claims was invalid. The jury also found that Hynix infringed all eight of the patent claims for which the jury was asked to determine infringement; the court had previously determined on summary judgment that Hynix infringed the other two claims at issue in the trial. On July 14, 2006, the court granted Hynix’s motion for a new trial on the issue of damages unless Rambus agreed to a reduction of the total jury award to approximately $134 million. The court found that the record supported a maximum royalty rate of 1% for SDR SDRAM and 4.25% for DDR SDRAM, which the court applied to the stipulated U.S. sales of infringing Hynix products through December 31, 2005. On July 27, 2006, Rambus elected remittitur of the jury’s award to approximately $134 million. On August 30, 2006, the court awarded Rambus prejudgment interest for the period June 23, 2000 through December 31, 2005. Hynix filed a motion on July 7, 2008 to reduce the amount of remitted damages and any supplemental damages that the court may award, as well as to limit the products that could be affected by any injunction that the court may grant, on the grounds of patent exhaustion. Following a hearing on August 29, 2008, the court denied Hynix’s motion. In separate orders issued


December 2, 2008, January 16, 2009, and January 27, 2009, the court denied Hynix’s post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and new trial on infringement and validity.

On June 24, 2008, the court heard oral argument on Rambus’ motion to supplement the damages award and for equitable relief related to Hynix’s infringement of Rambus patents. On February 23, 2009, the court issued an order (1) granting Rambus’ motion for supplemental damages and prejudgment interest for the period after December 31, 2005, at the same rates ordered for the prior period; (2) denying Rambus’ motion for an injunction; and (3) ordering the parties to begin negotiations regarding the terms of a compulsory license regarding Hynix’s continued manufacture, use, and sale of infringing devices.

The third phase of the Hynix-Rambus trial involved Hynix’s affirmative JEDEC-related antitrust and fraud allegations against Rambus. On April 24, 2007, the court ordered a coordinated trial of certain common JEDEC-related claims alleged by the manufacturer parties (i.e., Hynix, Micron, Nanya and Samsung) and defenses asserted by Rambus in Hynix v Rambus, Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, and three other cases pending before the same court ( Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al. , Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al. , Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al. , Case No. C 06-00244 RMW, each described in further detail below). On December 14, 2007, the court excused Samsung from the coordinated trial based on Samsung’s agreement to certain conditions, including trial of its claims against Rambus by the court within six months following the conclusion of the coordinated trial. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half-truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.

On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.

On March 10, 2009, the court entered final judgment against Hynix in the amount of approximately $397 million as follows: approximately $134 million for infringement through December 31, 2005; approximately $215 million for infringement from January 1, 2006 through January 31, 2009; and approximately $48 million in pre-judgment interest. Post-judgment interest is accruing at the statutory rate. In addition, the judgment orders Hynix to pay Rambus royalties on net sales for U.S. infringement after January 31, 2009 and before April 18, 2010 of 1% for SDR SDRAM and 4.25% for DDR DDR2, DDR3, GDDR, GDDR2 and GDDR3 SDRAM memory devices. On April 9, 2009, Rambus submitted its cost bill in the amount of approximately $0.85 million. On March 24, 2009, Hynix filed a motion under Rule 62 seeking relief from the requirement that it post a supersedeas bond in the full amount of the final judgment in order to stay its execution pending an appeal. Rambus filed a brief opposing Hynix’s motion on April 10, 2009. A hearing


on Hynix’s motion was heard on May 8, 2009. On May 14, 2009, the court granted Hynix’s motion in part and ordered that execution of the judgment be stayed on the condition that, within 45 days, Hynix post a supersedeas bond in the amount of $250 million and provide Rambus with documentation establishing a lien in Rambus’s favor on property owned by Hynix in Korea in the amount of the judgment not covered by the supersedeas bond. The court also ordered that Hynix pay the ongoing royalties set forth in the final judgment into an escrow account. Hynix posted the $250 million supersedeas bond on June 26, 2009. Hynix has deposited amounts into the escrow account pursuant to the court’s order regarding ongoing royalties. The escrowed funds will be released only upon agreement of the parties or further court order in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the escrow arrangement. On March 8, 2010, the court awarded costs to Rambus in the amount of approximately $0.76 million.

On April 6, 2009, Hynix filed its notice of appeal. On April 17, 2009, Rambus filed its notice of cross appeal. Hynix filed a motion to dismiss Rambus’ cross-appeal on July 1, 2009, and Rambus filed an opposition to Hynix’s motion on July 15, 2009. On July 23, 2009, Rambus and Hynix filed a joint motion to assign this appeal to the same panel hearing the appeal in the Micron Delaware case (discussed below) and to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 17, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued an order 1) granting the joint motion to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals; and 2) denying Hynix’s motion to dismiss Rambus’s cross-appeal. On August 31, 2009, Hynix filed its opening brief. On December 7, 2009, Rambus filed its answering and opening cross-appeal brief. Hynix’s reply and answering brief was filed February 16, 2010, and Rambus’s reply was filed February 23, 2010. Oral argument was held on April 5, 2010. No decision has been issued to date.

Micron Litigation

U.S District Court in Delaware: Case No. 00-792-SLR

On August 28, 2000, Micron filed suit against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for Delaware. The suit asserts violations of federal antitrust laws, deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, fraud and negligent misrepresentation in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC. Micron seeks a declaration of monopolization by Rambus, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, a declaratory judgment that eight Rambus patents are invalid and not infringed, and the award to Micron of a royalty-free license to the Rambus patents. Rambus has filed an answer and counterclaims disputing Micron’s claims and asserting infringement by Micron of 12 U.S. patents.

This case has been divided into three phases in the same general order as in the Hynix 00-20905 action: (1) unclean hands; (2) patent infringement; and (3) antitrust, equitable estoppel, and other JEDEC-related issues. A bench trial on Micron’s unclean hands defense began on November 8, 2007 and concluded on November 15, 2007. The court ordered post-trial briefing on the issue of when Rambus became obligated to preserve documents because it anticipated litigation. A hearing on that issue was held on May 20, 2008. The court ordered further post-trial briefing on the remaining issues from the unclean hands trial, and a hearing on those issues was held on September 19, 2008.

On January 9, 2009, the court issued an opinion in which it determined that Rambus had engaged in spoliation of evidence by failing to suspend general implementation of a document retention policy after the point at which the court determined that Rambus should have known litigation was reasonably foreseeable. The court issued an accompanying order declaring the 12 patents in suit unenforceable against Micron (the “Delaware Order”). On February 9, 2009, the court stayed all other proceedings pending appeal of the Delaware Order. On February 10, 2009, judgment was entered against Rambus and in favor of Micron on Rambus’ patent infringement claims and Micron’s corresponding claims for declaratory relief. On March 11, 2009, Rambus filed its notice of appeal. Rambus filed its opening brief on July 2, 2009. On July 24, 2009, Rambus filed a motion to assign this appeal to the same panel hearing the appeal in the Hynix case (discussed above) and to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 8, 2009, Micron filed an opposition to Rambus’s motion to coordinate. On August 17, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued an order granting Rambus’s motion to coordinate oral arguments of the two appeals. On August 28, 2009, Micron filed its answering brief. On October 14, 2009, Rambus filed its reply brief. Oral argument was held on April 5, 2010. No decision has been issued to date.

U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California

On January 13, 2006, Rambus filed suit against Micron in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Rambus alleges that 14 Rambus patents are infringed by Micron’s DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3, and other advanced memory products. Rambus seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and injunctive relief. Micron has denied Rambus’ allegations and is alleging counterclaims for violations of federal antitrust laws, unfair trade practices, equitable estoppel, fraud and negligent misrepresentation in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC. Micron seeks a declaration of monopolization by Rambus,


injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and a declaratory judgment of invalidity, unenforceability, and noninfringement of the 14 patents in suit.

As explained above, the court ordered a coordinated trial (without Samsung) of certain common JEDEC-related claims and defenses asserted in Hynix v Rambus , Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al. , Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al. , Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al. , Case No. C 06-00244 RMW. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half-truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.

On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.

In these cases (except for the Hynix 00-20905 action), a hearing on claim construction and the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment on infringement and validity was held on June 4 and 5, 2008. On July 10, 2008, the court issued its claim construction order relating to the Farmwald/Horowitz patents in suit and denied Hynix, Micron, Nanya, and Samsung’s (collectively, the “Manufacturers”) motions for summary judgment of noninfringement and invalidity based on their proposed claim construction. The court issued claim construction orders relating to the Ware patents in suit on July 25 and August 27, 2008, and denied the Manufacturers’ motion for summary judgment of noninfringement of certain claims. On September 4, 2008, at the court’s direction, Rambus elected to proceed to trial on 12 patent claims, each from the Farmwald/Horowitz family. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against the Manufacturers under the Ware patents in suit (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897), and each party’s claims relating to those patents were dismissed with prejudice. On November 21, 2008, the court entered an order clarifying certain aspects of its July 10, 2008, claim construction order. On November 24, 2008, the court granted Rambus’ motion for summary judgment of direct infringement with respect to claim 16 of Rambus’ U.S. Patent No. 6,266,285 by the Manufacturers’ DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 memory chip products (except for Nanya’s DDR3 memory chip products). In the same order, the court denied the remainder of Rambus’ motion for summary judgment of infringement.

On January 19, 2009, Micron filed a motion for summary judgment on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed an opposition to Micron’s motion on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court entered a stay of this action pending resolution of Rambus’ appeal of the Delaware Order.


European Patent Infringement Cases

In 2001, Rambus filed suit against Micron in Mannheim, Germany, for infringement of European patent, EP 1 022 642. That suit has not been active. Two proceedings in Italy remain ongoing relating to Rambus’s claim that Micron is infringing European patent, EP 1 004 956, and Micron’s purported claim resulting from a seizure of evidence in Italy in 2000 carried out by Rambus pursuant to a court order.

DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 Litigation (“DDR2”)

U.S District Court in the Northern District of California

On January 25, 2005, Rambus filed a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California court against Hynix, Infineon, Nanya, and Inotera. Infineon and Inotera were subsequently dismissed from this litigation and Samsung was added as a defendant. Rambus alleges that certain of its patents are infringed by certain of the defendants’ SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 and other advanced memory products. Hynix, Samsung and Nanya have denied Rambus’ claims and asserted counterclaims against Rambus for, among other things, violations of federal antitrust laws, unfair trade practices, equitable estoppel, and fraud in connection with Rambus’ participation in JEDEC.

As explained above, the court ordered a coordinated trial of certain common JEDEC-related claims and defenses asserted in Hynix v Rambus , Case No. C 00-20905 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al. , Case No. 05-02298 RMW, Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al. , Case No. 05-00334, and Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology, Inc., et al. , Case No. C 06-00244 RMW. The court subsequently excused Samsung from the coordinated trial on December 14, 2007, based on Samsung’s agreement to certain conditions, including trial of its claims against Rambus within six months following the conclusion of the coordinated trial. The coordinated trial involving Rambus, Hynix, Micron and Nanya began on January 29, 2008, and was submitted to the jury on March 25, 2008. On March 26, 2008, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Rambus and against Hynix, Micron, and Nanya on each of their claims. Specifically, the jury found that Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to meet their burden of proving that: (1) Rambus engaged in anticompetitive conduct; (2) Rambus made important representations that it did not have any intellectual property pertaining to the work of JEDEC and intended or reasonably expected that the representations would be heard by or repeated to others including Hynix, Micron or Nanya; (3) Rambus uttered deceptive half- truths about its intellectual property coverage or potential coverage of products compliant with synchronous DRAM standards then being considered by JEDEC by disclosing some facts but failing to disclose other important facts; or (4) JEDEC members shared a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard. Hynix, Micron, and Nanya filed motions for a new trial and for judgment on certain of their equitable claims and defenses. A hearing on those motions was held on May 1, 2008. A further hearing on the equitable claims and defenses was held on May 27, 2008. On July 24, 2008, the court issued an order denying Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s motions for new trial.

On March 3, 2009, the court issued an order rejecting Hynix, Micron, and Nanya’s equitable claims and defenses that had been tried during the coordinated trial. The court concluded (among other things) that (1) Rambus did not have an obligation to disclose pending or anticipated patent applications and had sound reasons for not doing so; (2) the evidence supported the jury’s finding that JEDEC members did not share a clearly defined expectation that members would disclose relevant knowledge they had about patent applications or the intent to file patent applications on technology being considered for adoption as a JEDEC standard; (3) the written JEDEC disclosure policies did not clearly require members to disclose information about patent applications and the intent to file patent applications in the future; (4) there was no clearly understood or legally enforceable agreement of JEDEC members to disclose information about patent applications or the intent to seek patents relevant to standards being discussed at JEDEC; (5) during the time Rambus attended JEDEC meetings, Rambus did not have any patent application pending that covered a JEDEC standard, and none of the patents in suit was applied for until well after Rambus resigned from JEDEC; (6) Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC did not constitute an estoppel or waiver of its rights to enforce its patents; (7) Hynix, Micron, and Nanya failed to carry their burden to prove their asserted waiver and estoppel defenses not directly based on Rambus’s conduct at JEDEC; (8) the evidence did not support a finding of any material misrepresentation, half truths or fraudulent concealment by Rambus related to JEDEC upon which Nanya relied; (9) the manufacturers failed to establish that Rambus violated unfair competition law by its conduct before JEDEC; (10) the evidence related to Rambus’s patent prosecution did not establish that Rambus unduly delayed in prosecuting the claims in suit; (11) Rambus did not unreasonably delay bringing its patent infringement claims; and (12) there is no basis for any unclean hands defense or unenforceability claim arising from Rambus’s conduct.

In these cases (except for the Hynix 00-20905 action), a hearing on claim construction and the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment on infringement and validity was held on June 4 and 5, 2008. On July 10, 2008, the court issued its claim construction order


relating to the Farmwald/Horowitz patents in suit and denied the Manufacturers’ motions for summary judgment of noninfringement and invalidity based on their proposed claim construction. The court issued claim construction orders relating to the Ware patents in suit on July 25 and August 27, 2008, and denied the Manufacturers’ motion for summary judgment of noninfringement of certain claims. On September 4, 2008, at the court’s direction, Rambus elected to proceed to trial on 12 patent claims, each from the Farmwald/Horowitz family. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against the Manufacturers under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897, and each party’s claims relating to those patents were dismissed with prejudice. On November 21, 2008, the court entered an order clarifying certain aspects of its July 10, 2008, claim construction order. On November 24, 2008, the court granted Rambus’s motion for summary judgment of direct infringement with respect to claim 16 of Rambus’s U.S. Patent No. 6,266,285 by the Manufacturers’ DDR2, DDR3, gDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4 memory chip products (except for Nanya’s DDR3 memory chip products). In the same order, the court denied the remainder of Rambus’s motion for summary judgment of infringement.

On January 19, 2009, Samsung, Nanya, and Hynix filed motions for summary judgment on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed opposition briefs to these motions on January 26, 2009, and a hearing was held on January 30, 2009. On February 3, 2009, the court entered a stay of this action pending resolution of Rambus’ appeal of the Delaware Order.

On January 19, 2010, Rambus and Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement pursuant to which the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. The Settlement Agreement is described in further detail in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung.” A stipulation and order of dismissal with prejudice of claims between Rambus and Samsung was entered on February 11, 2010.

European Commission Competition Directorate-General

On or about April 22, 2003, Rambus was notified by the European Commission Competition Directorate-General (Directorate) (the “European Commission”) that it had received complaints from Infineon and Hynix. Rambus answered the ensuing requests for information prompted by those complaints on June 16, 2003. Rambus obtained a copy of Infineon’s complaint to the European Commission in late July 2003, and on October 8, 2003, at the request of the European Commission, filed its response. The European Commission sent Rambus a further request for information on December 22, 2006, which Rambus answered on January 26, 2007. On August 1, 2007, Rambus received a statement of objections from the European Commission. The statement of objections alleges that through Rambus’ participation in the JEDEC standards setting organization and subsequent conduct, Rambus violated European Union competition law. Rambus filed a response to the statement of objections on October 31, 2007, and a hearing was held on December 4 and 5, 2007.

On December 9, 2009, the European Commission announced that it has reached a final settlement with Rambus to resolve the pending case. Under the terms of the settlement, the Commission made no finding of liability, and no fine will be assessed against Rambus. Rambus commits to offer licenses with maximum royalty rates for certain memory types and memory controllers on a forward-going basis (the “Commitment”). The Commitment is expressly made without any admission by Rambus of the allegations asserted against it. The Commitment also does not resolve any existing claims of infringement prior to the signing of any license with a prospective licensee, nor does it release or excuse any of the prospective licensees from damages or royalty obligations through the date of signing a license. Rambus offers licenses with maximum royalty rates for five-year worldwide licenses of 1.5% for DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3 and GDDR4 SDRAM memory types. Qualified licensees will enjoy a royalty holiday for SDR and DDR DRAM devices, subject to compliance with the terms of the license. In addition, Rambus offers licenses with maximum royalty rates for five-year worldwide licenses of 1.5% per unit for SDR memory controllers through April 2010, dropping to 1.0% thereafter, and royalty rates of 2.65% per unit for DDR, DDR2, DDR3, GDDR3 and GDDR4 memory controllers through April 2010, then dropping to 2.0%. The Commitment to license at the above rates remains valid for a period of five years from December 9, 2009. All royalty rates are applicable to future shipments only and do not affect liability, if any, for damages or royalties that accrued up to the time of the license grant.

Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco

On May 5, 2004, Rambus filed a lawsuit against Micron, Hynix, Infineon and Siemens in San Francisco Superior Court (the “San Francisco court”) seeking damages for conspiring to fix prices (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16720 et seq. ), conspiring to monopolize under the Cartwright Act (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 16720 et seq. ), intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition (California Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq. ). This lawsuit alleges that there were concerted efforts beginning in the 1990s to deter innovation in the DRAM market and to boycott Rambus and/or deter market


acceptance of Rambus’ RDRAM product. Subsequently, Infineon and Siemens were dismissed from this action (as a result of a settlement with Infineon) and three Samsung-related entities were added as defendants.

A hearing on Rambus’ motion for summary judgment on the grounds that Micron’s cross-complaint is barred by the statute of limitations was held on August 1, 2008. At the hearing, the San Francisco court granted Rambus’ motion as to Micron’s first cause of action (alleged violation of California’s Cartwright Act) and continued the motion as to Micron’s second and third causes of action (alleged violation of unfair business practices act and alleged intentional interference with prospective economic advantage). No further order has issued on Rambus’ motion.

On November 25, 2008, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed eight motions for summary judgment on various grounds. On January 26, 2009, Rambus filed briefs in opposition to all eight motions. A hearing on these motions for summary judgment was held on March 4-6, March 16-17, and June 29, 2009. The court denied all eight motions. On June 17 and June 22, 2009, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed petitions requesting that the court of appeal issue writs directing the trial court to vacate two orders denying motions for summary judgment and enter orders granting the motions. In separate summary orders dated July 27 and August 13, 2009, the court of appeal denied the two petitions. On August 24, 2009, Micron, Samsung, and Hynix filed a petition requesting that the California Supreme Court review the court of appeals’ denial of one of their petitions. On October 22, 2009, the California Supreme Court denied the petition.

On March 10, 2009, defendants filed motions requesting that Rambus’ case be dismissed on the ground that the Delaware Order should be given preclusive effect. Rambus filed a brief opposing this request. The parties filed further briefs on the preclusive effect, if any, of the Delaware Order on April 3 and April 17, 2009. The parties submitted briefs on their allegations regarding alleged spoliation of evidence on April 20, 2009. A hearing on these issues was held on April 27 and June 1, 2009, at the conclusion of which the court denied defendants’ motion for issue preclusion and terminating sanctions. On June 19, 2009, Micron and Samsung filed petitions requesting that the court of appeal issue writs directing the trial court to vacate its order denying defendants’ motion for issue preclusion and terminating sanctions and enter an order granting the motion. Hynix filed a similar petition on June 23, 2009. On July 6, 2009, the court of appeal denied all three of these petitions. On July 16, 2009, Samsung and Micron filed petitions requesting that the California Supreme Court review the court of appeals’ denial of their petitions. On September 9, 2009, the California Supreme Court denied these petitions.

On January 19, 2010, Rambus and Samsung entered into a Settlement Agreement pursuant to which the parties released all claims against each other with respect to all outstanding litigation between them and certain other potential claims. The Settlement Agreement is described in further detail in Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung.” A stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of claims between Rambus and Samsung was filed on February 4, 2010.

Trial had been scheduled to begin on January 11, 2010. On January 13 and 21, 2010, a hearing was held on Micron’s emergency request for a two-month continuance. At the conclusion of the hearing, the request for continuance was granted. Trial is scheduled to commence on a date to be determined.

Stock Option Investigation Related Claims

On May 30, 2006, the Audit Committee commenced an internal investigation of the timing of past stock option grants and related accounting issues.

On May 31, 2006, the first of three shareholder derivative actions was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former executives and board members. These actions have been consolidated for all purposes under the caption, In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation, Master File No. C-06-3513-JF (N.D. Cal.), and Howard Chu and Gaetano Ruggieri were appointed lead plaintiffs. The consolidated complaint, as amended, alleges violations of certain federal and state securities laws as well as other state law causes of action. The complaint seeks disgorgement and damages in an unspecified amount, unspecified equitable relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

On August 22, 2006, another shareholder derivative action was filed in Delaware Chancery Court against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former executives and board members ( Bell v. Tate et al. , 2366-N (Del. Chancery)). On May 16, 2008, this case was dismissed pursuant to a notice filed by the plaintiff.

On August 30, 2007, another shareholder derivative action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Rambus (as a nominal defendant) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ( Francl v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP et al. ,


No. 07-Civ. 7650 (GBD)). On November 21, 2007, the New York court granted PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s motion to transfer the action to the Northern District of California.

On October 18, 2006, the Board of Directors formed a Special Litigation Committee (the “SLC”) to evaluate potential claims or other actions arising from the stock option granting activities. The Board of Directors appointed J. Thomas Bentley, Chairman of the Audit Committee, and Abraham Sofaer, a retired federal judge and Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, both of whom joined the Rambus Board of Directors in 2005, to comprise the SLC.

On August 24, 2007, the final written report setting forth the findings of the SLC was filed with the court. As set forth in its report, the SLC determined that all claims should be terminated and dismissed against the named defendants in In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation with the exception of claims against named defendant Ed Larsen, who served as Vice President, Human Resources from September 1996 until December 1999, and then Senior Vice President, Administration until July 2004. The SLC entered into settlement agreements with certain former officers of Rambus. The aggregate value of the settlements to Rambus exceeds $5.3 million in cash as well as substantial additional value to Rambus relating to the relinquishment of claims to over 2.7 million stock options. On October 5, 2007, Rambus filed a motion to terminate in accordance with the SLC’s recommendations. Subsequently, the parties settled In re Rambus Inc. Derivative Litigation and Francl v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP et al. , No. 07-Civ. 7650 (GBD). The settlement provided for a payment by Rambus of $2.0 million and dismissal with prejudice of all claims against all defendants, with the exception of claims against Ed Larsen, in these actions. The $2.0 million was accrued for during the quarter ended June 30, 2008 within accrued litigation expenses and paid in January 2009. A final approval hearing was held on January 16, 2009, and an order of final approval was entered on January 20, 2009.

On July 17, 2006, the first of six class action lawsuits was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Rambus and certain current and former executives and board members. These lawsuits were consolidated under the caption, In re Rambus Inc. Securities Litigation , C-06-4346-JF (N.D. Cal.). The settlement of this action was preliminarily approved by the court on March 5, 2008. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Rambus paid $18.3 million into a settlement fund on March 17, 2008. Some alleged class members requested exclusion from the settlement. A final fairness hearing was held on May 14, 2008. That same day the court entered an order granting final approval of the settlement agreement and entered judgment dismissing with prejudice all claims against all defendants in the consolidated class action litigation.

On March 1, 2007, a pro se lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of California by two alleged Rambus shareholders against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ( Kelley et al. v. Rambus, Inc. et al. C-07-01238-JF (N.D. Cal.)). This action was consolidated with a substantially identical pro se lawsuit filed by another purported Rambus shareholder against the same parties. The consolidated complaint against Rambus alleges violations of federal and state securities laws, and state law claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Following several rounds of motions to dismiss, on April 17, 2008, the court dismissed all claims with prejudice except for plaintiffs’ claims under sections 14(a) and 18(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as to which leave to amend was granted. On June 2, 2008, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint containing substantially the same allegations as the prior complaint although limited to claims under sections 14(a) and 18(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Rambus’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint was heard on September 12, 2008. On December 9, 2008, the court granted Rambus’ motion and entered judgment in favor of Rambus. Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal on December 15, 2008. Plaintiffs’ filed their opening brief on April 13, 2009. Rambus opposed on May 29, 2009, and plaintiffs filed a reply brief on June 12, 2009. No date has been set for oral argument.

On September 11, 2008, the same pro se plaintiffs filed a separate lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ( Kelley et al. v. Rambus, Inc. et al. , Case No. 1-08-CV-122444). The complaint alleges violations of certain California state securities statues as well as fraud and negligent misrepresentation based on substantially the same underlying factual allegations contained in the pro se lawsuit filed in federal court. On November 24, 2008, Rambus filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, stay this case in light of the first-filed federal action. On January 12, 2009, Rambus filed a demurrer to plaintiffs’ complaint on the ground that it was barred by the doctrine of claim preclusion. A hearing on Rambus’ motions was held on February 27, 2009. The court granted Rambus’s motion to stay the case pending the outcome of the appeal in the federal action and denied the remainder of the motions without prejudice.

On August 25, 2008, an amended complaint was filed by certain individuals and entities in Santa Clara County Superior Court against Rambus, certain current and former executives and board members, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ( Steele et al. v. Rambus Inc. et al. , Case No. 1-08-CV-113682). The amended complaint alleges violations of certain California state securities statues as well as fraud and negligent misrepresentation. On October 10, 2008, Rambus filed a demurrer to the amended complaint. A hearing was held on January 9, 2009. On January 12, 2009, the court sustained Rambus’ demurrer without prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a second


amended complaint on February 13, 2009, containing the same causes of action as the previous complaint. On March 17, 2009, Rambus filed a demurrer to the second amended complaint. A hearing was held on May 22, 2009. On May 26, 2009, the court sustained in part and overruled in part Rambus’s demurrer. On June 5, 2009, Rambus filed an answer denying plaintiffs’ remaining allegations. Discovery is ongoing.

NVIDIA Litigation

U.S District Court in the Northern District of California

On July 10, 2008, Rambus filed suit against NVIDIA Corporation (“NVIDIA”) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that NVIDIA’s products with memory controllers for SDR, DDR, DDRx, GDDR, and GDDRy (where DDRx and GDDRy includes at least DDR2, DDR3 and GDDR3) technologies infringe 17 patents. On September 16, 2008, Rambus granted a covenant not to assert any claim of patent infringement against NVIDIA under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,493,789 and 6,496,897, accordingly 15 patents remain in suit. On December 30, 2008, the court granted NVIDIA’s motion to stay this case as to Rambus’ claims that NVIDIA’s products infringe nine patents that are also the subject of proceedings in front of the International Trade Commission (described below), and denied NVIDIA’s motion to stay the remainder of Rambus’ patent infringement claims. Certain limited discovery is proceeding. A case management conference is scheduled for June 18, 2010.

On July 11, 2008, one day after Rambus filed suit, NVIDIA filed its own action against Rambus in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina alleging that Rambus committed antitrust violations of the Sherman Act; committed antitrust violations of North Carolina law; and engaged in unfair and deceptive practices in violation of North Carolina law. NVIDIA seeks injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs. This case has been transferred and consolidated into Rambus’s patent infringement case. Rambus filed a motion to dismiss NVIDIA’s claims prior to transfer of the action to California, and no decision has issued to date.

International Trade Commission

On November 6, 2008, Rambus filed a complaint with the U. S. International Trade Commission (the “ITC”) requesting the commencement of an investigation pertaining to NVIDIA products. The complaint seeks an exclusion order barring the importation, sale for importation, or sale after importation of products that infringe nine Rambus patents from the Ware and Barth families of patents. The accused products include NVIDIA products that incorporate DDR, DDR2, DDR3, LPDDR, GDDR, GDDR2, and GDDR3 memory controllers, including graphics processors, and media and communications processors. The complaint names NVIDIA as a proposed respondent, as well as companies whose products incorporate accused NVIDIA products and are imported into the United States. Additional respondents include: Asustek Computer Inc. and Asus Computer International, BFG Technologies, Biostar Microtech and Biostar Microtech International Corp., Diablotek Inc., EVGA Corp., G.B.T. Inc. and Giga-Byte Technology Co., Hewlett-Packard, MSI Computer Corp. and Micro-Star International Co., Palit Multimedia Inc. and Palit Microsystems Ltd., Pine Technology Holdings, and Sparkle Computer Co.

On December 4, 2008, the ITC instituted the investigation. A hearing on claim construction was held on March 24, 2009, and a claim construction order issued on June 22, 2009. On June 5, 2009, Rambus moved to withdraw from the investigation four of the asserted patents and certain claims of a fifth asserted patent in order to simplify the investigation, streamline the final hearing, and conserve Commission resources. A final hearing before the administrative law judge was held October 13-20, 2009, and the parties submitted two rounds of post-hearing briefs.

On January 22, 2010, the administrative law judge issued a final initial determination holding that the importation of the accused NVIDIA products violates section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1337 because they infringe seventeen claims of three asserted Barth patents. The administrative law judge held that the accused NVIDIA products literally infringe all asserted claims of each asserted Barth and Ware patent, that they infringe three asserted claims under the doctrine of equivalents, that respondents contribute to and induce infringement of all asserted claims, and that the asserted patents are not unenforceable due to unclean hands or equitable estoppel. The administrative law judge held that the asserted Barth patents are not invalid for anticipation or obviousness and are not obvious for double patenting. The administrative law judge further held that, while the accused products infringed eight claims of the two asserted Ware patents and that those patents are not unenforceable due to inequitable conduct, no violation has occurred because the asserted Ware patents are invalid due to anticipation and obviousness. The administrative law judge recommended that the ITC issue (1) a limited exclusion order prohibiting the unlicensed importation of accused products by any respondent; and (2) a cease and desist order prohibiting domestic respondents from engaging in certain activities in the United States


with respect to the accused products. On February 12, 2010, the parties’ filed petitions asking the full Commission to review certain aspects of the final initial determination.

On March 25, 2010, the ITC determined to review certain obviousness findings regarding the Barth patents and certain obviousness and anticipation findings regarding the Ware patents. The parties have submitted briefing on these issues and on the issue of remedy and bonding. The final determination from the ITC is due May 24, 2010.

Potential Future Litigation

In addition to the litigation described above, participants in the DRAM and controller markets continue to adopt Rambus technologies into various products. Rambus has notified many of these companies of their use of Rambus technology and continues to evaluate how to proceed on these matters.

There can be no assurance that any ongoing or future litigation will be successful. Rambus spends substantial company resources defending its intellectual property in litigation, which may continue for the foreseeable future given the multiple pending litigations. The outcomes of these litigations — as well as any delay in their resolution — could affect Rambus’ ability to license its intellectual property in the future.

The Company records a contingent liability when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable in accordance with accounting for contingencies.

15. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value measurement statement defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact, and the Company considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, such as inherent risk, transfer restrictions, and risk of non-performance.

The Company’s financial instruments are measured and recorded at fair value, except for cost method investments. The Company’s non-financial assets, such as goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, are measured at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment and recorded at fair value only when an impairment charge is recognized.

Fair Value Hierarchy
 
The fair value measurement statement requires disclosure that establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. The statement requires fair value measurement be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

The Company uses unadjusted quotes to determine fair value. The financial assets in Level 1 include money market funds.

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

The Company uses observable pricing inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades, and broker/dealer quotes. The financial assets in Level 2 include U.S. government bonds and notes, corporate notes, commercial paper and municipal bonds and notes.

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

The financial assets in Level 3 include a cost investment whose value is determined using inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the fair value measurements.


The Company tests the pricing inputs by obtaining prices from two different sources for the same security on a sample of its portfolio. The Company has not adjusted the pricing inputs it has obtained. The following table presents the financial instruments that are carried at fair value and summarizes the valuation of our cash equivalents and marketable securities by the above pricing levels as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 
 
As of March 31, 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
   
Quoted
  Market
Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
   
 
Significant
Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
 
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Money market funds
  $ 396,702     $ 396,702     $     $  
U.S. government bonds and notes
    236,578             236,578        
Corporate notes, bonds and commercial paper
    31,174             31,174        
Total available-for-sale debt securities
  $ 664,454     $ 396,702     $ 267,752     $  

   
As of December 31, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
   
Quoted
Market
Prices in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
   
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
 
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Money market funds
  $ 280,908     $ 280,908     $     $  
U.S. government bonds and notes
    138,829             138,829        
Corporate notes, bonds and commercial paper
    32,291             32,291        
Total available-for-sale debt securities
  $ 452,028     $ 280,908     $ 171,120     $  

The Company made an investment of $2.0 million in a non-marketable security of a private company during the third quarter of 2009. The Company will monitor the investment for other-than-temporary impairment and record appropriate reductions in carrying value when necessary. The Company evaluated the fair value of the investment in the non-marketable security as of March 31, 2010 and determined that there were no events that caused a decrease in its fair value below the carrying cost.

The following table presents the financial instruments that are measured and carried at cost on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

   
As of March 31, 2010
       
 
(in thousands)
 
Carrying
Value
   
Quoted
Market
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Impairment Charges for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
 
Investment in non-marketable security
  $ 2,000     $     $     $ 2,000     $  

   
As of December 31, 2009
       
 
(in thousands)
 
Carrying
Value
   
Quoted
Market
Prices in
Active
Markets
(Level 1)
   
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
   
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Impairment Charges  for the
Year Ended 
December  31, 2009
 
Investment in non-marketable security
  $ 2,000     $     $     $ 2,000     $  



The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

 
 
As of March 31, 2010
   
As of December 31, 2009
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Face
Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
 
Fair Value
   
Face
Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
 
Fair Value
 
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014
  $ 172,500     $ 114,757     $ 237,840     $ 172,500     $ 112,012     $ 261,160  
Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010
                      136,950       136,032       142,599  
Total Convertible notes
  $ 172,500     $ 114,757     $ 237,840     $ 309,450     $ 248,044     $ 403,759  

The fair value of the convertible notes at each balance sheet date is determined based on recent quoted market prices for these notes. As discussed in Note 16, “Convertible Notes,” as of March 31, 2010, the convertible notes are carried at face value of $172.5 million less any unamortized debt discount. The carrying value of other financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other payables, approximates fair value due to their short maturities.

The Company monitors its investments for other than temporary losses by considering current factors, including the economic environment, market conditions, operational performance and other specific factors relating to the business underlying the investment, reductions in carrying values when necessary and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time which may be sufficient for anticipated recovery in the market. Any other than temporary loss is reported under “Interest and other income, net” in the consolidated statement of operations. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company has not incurred any impairment loss on its investments.

16. Convertible Notes

The Company’s convertible notes are shown in the following table.

 
(in thousands)
 
As of
March 31,
2010
   
As of
December 31,
2009
 
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014
  $ 172,500     $ 172,500  
Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010
          136,950  
Total principal amount of convertible notes
    172,500       309,450  
Unamortized discount
    (57,743 )     (61,406 )
Total convertible notes
  $ 114,757     $ 248,044  
Less current portion
          (136,032 )
Total long-term convertible notes
  $ 114,757     $ 112,012  

5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014. On June 29, 2009, the Company issued $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2014. As of the date of issuance, the Company determined that the liability component of the 2014 Notes was approximately $92.4 million and the equity component was approximately $57.6 million. On July 10, 2009, an additional $22.5 million of the 2014 Notes were issued as a result of the underwriters exercising their overallotment option. As of the date of issuance of the $22.5 million 2014 Notes, the Company determined that the liability component was approximately $14.3 million and the equity component was approximately $8.2 million. The unamortized discount related to the 2014 Notes is being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over five years through June 2014.

The Company will pay cash interest at an annual rate of 5% of the principal amount at issuance, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2009. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company made a payment of approximately $4.0 million related to the 2014 Notes. Issuance costs were approximately $5.1 million of which $3.2 million is related to the liability portion, which is being amortized to interest expense over five years (the expected term of the debt), and $1.9 million is related to the equity portion. The 2014 Notes are the Company’s general unsecured obligation, ranking equal in right of payment to all of the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including the 2010 Notes, and are senior in right of payment to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2014 Notes.

The 2014 Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an initial conversion rate of 51.8 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2014 Notes. This is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $19.31 per share of common stock. Holders may surrender their 2014 Notes for conversion prior to March 15, 2014 only under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter beginning after the calendar quarter ending September 30, 2009, and only during such calendar quarter, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock for 20 or more trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the conversion price in effect on


the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, (ii) during the five business day period after any 10 consecutive trading day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of 2014 Notes for each trading day of such 10 consecutive trading day period was less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of the Common Stock for such trading day and the applicable conversion rate, (iii) upon the occurrence of specified distributions to holders of the Common Stock, (iv) upon a fundamental change of the Company as specified in the Indenture governing the 2014 Notes, or (v) if the Company calls any or all of the 2014 Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date. On and after March 15, 2014, holders may convert their 2014 Notes at any time until the close of business on the third business day prior to the maturity date, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

Upon conversion of the 2014 Notes, the Company will pay (i) cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount and the conversion value of the 2014 Notes and (ii) shares of the Company’s Common Stock for the remainder, if any, of the Company’s conversion obligation, in each case based on a daily conversion value calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in the 20 trading day conversion reference period as further specified in the Indenture.

The Company may not redeem the 2014 Notes at its option prior to June 15, 2012. At any time on or after June 15, 2012, the Company will have the right, at its option, to redeem the 2014 Notes in whole or in part for cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2014 Notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, if the closing sale price of the Common Stock for at least 20 of the 30 consecutive trading days immediately prior to any date the Company gives a notice of redemption is greater than 130% of the conversion price on the date of such notice.

Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, holders may require the Company to repurchase some or all of their 2014 Notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2014 Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes, as that term is defined in the Indenture, the Company will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for 2014 Notes converted in connection with such fundamental changes by a specified number of shares of Common Stock, not to exceed 15.5401 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2014 Notes.

The following events are considered “Events of Default” under the Indenture which may result in the acceleration of the maturity of the 2014 Notes:

 
(1)
default in the payment when due of any principal of any of the 2014 Notes at maturity, upon redemption or upon exercise of a repurchase right or otherwise;

 
(2)
default in the payment of any interest, including additional interest, if any, on any of the 2014 Notes, when the interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 
(3)
the Company’s failure to deliver cash or cash and shares of Common Stock (including any additional shares deliverable as a result of a conversion in connection with a make-whole fundamental change) when required to be delivered upon the conversion of any 2014 Note;

 
(4)
default in the Company’s obligation to provide notice of the occurrence of a fundamental change when required by the Indenture;

 
(5)
the Company’s failure to comply with any of its other agreements in the 2014 Notes or the Indenture (other than those referred to in clauses (1) through (4) above) for 60 days after the Company’s receipt of written notice to the Company of such default from the trustee or to the Company and the trustee of such default from holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding;

 
(6)
the Company’s failure to pay when due the principal of, or acceleration of, any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in excess of $30,000,000 principal amount, if such indebtedness is not discharged, or such acceleration is not annulled, by the end of a period of ten days after written notice to the Company by the trustee or to the Company and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding; and

 
(7)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to the Company or any of its material subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture).


If an event of default, other than an event of default in clause (7) above with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes then outstanding may declare the principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest, including additional interest, if any, on the 2014 Notes then outstanding to be immediately due and payable. If an event of default described in clause (7) above occurs with respect to the Company the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest, including additional interest, if any, on the 2014 Notes will automatically become immediately due and payable.

Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due 2010. On February 1, 2005, the Company issued $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of zero coupon convertible senior notes due February 1, 2010 to Credit Suisse First Boston LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities as initial purchasers who then sold the 2010 Notes to institutional investors.

The 2010 Notes were unsecured senior obligations, ranking equally in right of payment with all of Rambus’ existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2010 Notes.

The 2010 Notes were convertible at any time prior to the close of business on the maturity date into, in respect of each $1,000 principal of the 2010 Notes:

 
cash in an amount equal to the lesser of

 
(1)
the principal amount of each note to be converted and

 
(2)
the “conversion value,” which is equal to (a) the applicable conversion rate, multiplied by (b) the applicable stock price, as defined.

 
if the conversion value is greater than the principal amount of each note, a number of shares of Rambus Common Stock (the “net shares”) equal to the sum of the daily share amounts, calculated as defined. However, in lieu of delivering net shares, Rambus, at its option, may deliver cash, or a combination of cash and shares of its Common Stock, with a value equal to the net shares amount.

The initial conversion price was $26.84 per share of Common Stock (which represented an initial conversion rate of 37.2585 shares of Rambus Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 2010 Notes). The initial conversion price was subject to certain adjustments, as specified in the indenture governing the 2010 Notes.

On February 1, 2010, the Company paid upon maturity the remaining $137.0 million in face value of the 2010 Notes.

Additional paid-in capital at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 includes $63.9 million related to the equity component of the 2014 Notes.

As of March 31, 2010, none of the conversion conditions were met related to the 2014 Notes. Therefore, the classification of the entire equity component for the 2014 Notes in permanent equity is appropriate as of March 31, 2010.

Interest expense related to the notes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
   
(in thousands)
 
2014 Notes coupon interest at a rate of 5%
  $ 2,156     $  
2014 Notes amortization of discount at an additional effective interest rate of 11.7%
    2,902        
2010 Notes amortization of discount at an effective interest rate of 8.4%
    958       2,670  
Total interest expense
  $ 6,016     $ 2,670  

17. Subsequent Event

In April 2010, the Company repurchased 0.5 million shares of Common Stock with an aggregate value of $12.7 million pursuant to the stock repurchase plan.


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to our expectations for future events and time periods. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding trends in future revenue or results of operations, gross margin or operating margin, expenses, earnings or losses from operations, synergies or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning developments, performance or industry ranking; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements regarding pending investigations, claims or disputes; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Generally, the words “anticipate,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” “may,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “projects” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect. As a result of the factors described herein, and in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including, in particular, those factors described under “Risk Factors,” we undertake no obligation to publicly disclose any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring subsequent to filing this report with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Rambus, RDRAM tm , XDR tm , FlexIO tm and FlexPhase tm are trademarks or registered trademarks of Rambus Inc. Other trademarks that may be mentioned in this annual report on Form 10-K are the property of their respective owners.

Industry terminology, used widely throughout this annual report, has been abbreviated and, as such, these abbreviations are defined below for your convenience:

Double Data Rate
DDR
Dynamic Random Access Memory
DRAM
Fully Buffered-Dual Inline Memory Module
FB-DIMM
Gigabits per second
Gb/s
Graphics Double Data Rate
GDDR
Input/Output
I/O
Lighting and Display Technology
LDT
Peripheral Component Interconnect
PCI
Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory
RDRAM tm
Single Data Rate
SDR
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
SDRAM
eXtreme Data Rate
XDR tm

From time to time we will refer to the abbreviated names of certain entities and, as such, have provided a chart to indicate the full names of those entities for your convenience.

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.
AMD
ARM Holdings plc
ARM
Elpida Memory, Inc.
Elpida
Fujitsu Limited
Fujitsu
Global Lighting Technologies, Inc.
GLT
Hewlett-Packard Company
Hewlett-Packard
Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
Hynix
Infineon Technologies AG
Infineon
Inotera Memories, Inc.
Inotera
Intel Corporation
Intel
International Business Machines Corporation
IBM
Joint Electronic Device Engineering Councils
JEDEC
Micron Technologies, Inc.
Micron
Nanya Technology Corporation
Nanya
NEC Electronics Corporation
NEC
NVIDIA Corporation
NVIDIA
Optical Internetworking Forum
OIF
Qimonda AG (formerly Infineon’s DRAM operations)
Qimonda
Panasonic Corporation
Panasonic
Peripheral Component Interconnect — Special Interest Group
PCI-SIG
Renesas Technology Corporation
Renesas
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung
Sony Computer Electronics
Sony
Spansion, Inc.
Spansion
Texas Instruments Inc.
Texas Instruments
Toshiba Corporation
Toshiba



Business Overview

We are a premier intellectual property licensing company. Our primary focus is the design, development and licensing chip interface technologies and architectures that are foundational to nearly all digital electronics products. Our chip interface technologies aim to improve the performance, power efficiency, time-to-market and cost-effectiveness of our customers’ semiconductor and system products for computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics and mobile applications. The key elements of our strategy are as follows:

Innovate:   Develop and patent our innovative technology to provide fundamental competitive advantage when incorporated into semiconductors and electronic systems.

Drive Adoption:   Communicate the advantages of our patented innovations and technology to the industry and encourage its adoption through demonstrations and incorporation in the products of select customers.

Monetize:   License our patented inventions and technology solutions to customers for use in their semiconductor and system products.

In December 2009, we added lighting technology to our portfolio of solutions through the acquisition of patented innovations and technology from Global Lighting Technologies Inc. (“GLT”). This technology is complementary to our chip interface technologies since it is intended to improve the visual capabilities, form factor, power efficiency and cost effectiveness of backlighting of LCD displays in products for computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics and mobile applications. Our new technology also has significant potential to enable cost-effective and power-efficient LED-based general lighting products.

As of March 31, 2010, our chip interface, lighting and other technologies are covered by approximately 970 U.S. and foreign patents. Additionally, we have approximately 670 patent applications pending. These patents and patent applications cover important inventions in memory and logic chip interfaces, optoelectronics and other technologies. Some of the patents and pending patent applications are derived from a common parent patent application or are foreign counterpart patent applications. We have a program to file applications for and obtain patents in the United States and in selected foreign countries where we believe filing for such protection is appropriate. In some instances, obtaining appropriate levels of protection may involve prosecuting continuation and counterpart patent applications based on a common parent application. We believe that our patented innovations provide our customers means to achieve higher performance, improved power efficiency, lower risk, and greater cost-effectiveness in their semiconductor and system products.

Our primary method of providing technology to our customers is through our patented innovations. We license our broad portfolio of patented inventions to semiconductor and system companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of our patent portfolio. Patent license agreements are generally royalty bearing.

We also develop a range of solutions including “leadership” (which are Rambus-proprietary solutions widely licensed to our customers) and industry-standard solutions that we provide to our customers under license for incorporation into their semiconductor and system products. Due to the often complex nature of implementing state-of-the art technology, we offer engineering services to our customers to help them successfully integrate our solutions into their semiconductors and systems. These technology license agreements may have both a fixed price (non-recurring) component and ongoing royalties. Engineering services are generally offered on a fixed price basis. Further, under technology licenses, our customers may receive licenses to our patents necessary to implement these solutions in their products with specific rights and restrictions to the applicable patents elaborated in their individual contracts with us.

Royalties represent a substantial majority of our total revenue. We derive the majority of our royalty revenue by licensing our broad portfolio of patents for chip interfaces to our customers. Such licenses may cover part or all of our patent portfolio. Leading semiconductor and system companies such as AMD, Fujitsu, Intel, Panasonic, Renesas Electronics, Samsung and Toshiba have licensed our patents for use in their own products.

We also derive additional revenue by licensing a range of technology solutions including our leadership architectures and industry-standard solutions to customers for use in their semiconductor and system products. Our customers include leading companies such as Elpida, IBM, Intel, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Due to the complex nature of implementing our technologies, we provide engineering services under certain of these licenses to help our customers successfully integrate our technology solutions into their


semiconductors and system products. Licensees also may receive, in addition to their technology license agreements, patent licenses as necessary to implement the technology in their products with specific rights and restrictions to the applicable patents elaborated in their individual contracts.

The remainder of our revenue is contract services revenue which includes license fees and engineering services fees. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant impact on deferred revenue or account receivables in any given period.

We intend to continue making significant expenditures associated with engineering, marketing, general and administration including litigation expenses, and expect that these costs and expenses will continue to be a significant percentage of revenue in future periods. Whether such expenses increase or decrease as a percentage of revenue will be substantially dependent upon the rate at which our revenue or expenses change.

Executive Summary

During the first quarter of 2010, we signed a significant settlement agreement with Samsung bringing the Company into a profit position for the period. See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” for further discussion. We continue to pursue other revenue opportunities in order to grow our revenue. Additionally, we continue to keep costs under control, strengthen our business and attempt to reach agreements with those companies that we believe have infringed our patented technologies.

We also have taken several additional critical steps to better position ourselves to capitalize on opportunities with the improving economy. Research and development continues to play a key role in our efforts to maintain product innovations. Consistent with our strategy to expand our patent portfolio and diversify our business, we added lighting technology through the acquisition of patented innovations and technology from GLT in December 2009.

Our engineering expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased $3.6 million as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to added headcount due to our newly established Lighting and Display Technology (“LDT”) group in December 2009. As a percentage of revenue, engineering expenses decreased in 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to higher revenue. Marketing, general and administrative expenses in aggregate decreased $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to lower litigation expenses. Our higher revenue combined with the decrease in marketing, general and administrative expenses, has caused marketing, general and administrative expenses to decrease as a percentage of revenue. Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, we incurred costs of restatement and related legal activities of $0.5 million primarily due to litigation expense associated with the derivative lawsuit related to the 2006-2007 stock option investigation.

Trends

There are a number of trends that we expect may or will have a material impact on us in the future, including global economic conditions with the resulting impact on sales, continuing pursuit of litigation against companies that we believe have infringed our patented technologies and shifts in our overall effective tax rate.

We have a high degree of revenue concentration, with our top five licensees representing approximately 94% and 79% of our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As a result of our settlement with Samsung, Samsung is expected to account for a significant portion of our ongoing licensing revenue in 2010. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, revenue from Samsung accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, revenue from AMD, Fujitsu, NEC and Panasonic each accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue.

Many of our licensees have the right to cancel their licenses. The particular licensees which account for revenue concentration have varied from period to period as a result of the addition of new contracts, expiration of existing contracts, industry consolidation and the volumes and prices at which the licensees have recently sold licensed semiconductors to system companies. These variations are expected to continue in the foreseeable future, although we expect that our revenue concentration will decrease over time as we license new customers.

The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive and highly cyclical. Our visibility with respect to future sales is very limited at this time. We are continuing to experience a period of economic downturn, which has resulted in and may continue to result in, among other things, diminished demand and the erosion of average selling prices in the semiconductor industry. To the extent that


these macroeconomic pressures affect our principal licensees, the demand for our technology may be significantly and adversely impacted and we may experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in our operating results. The downturn in worldwide economic conditions also threatens the financial health of our commercial counterparties, including companies with whom we have entered into licensing arrangements, settlement agreements or that have been subject to litigation judgments that provide for payments to us, and their ability to fulfill their financial and other obligations to us. Some of our existing patent licensees have fixed royalty payments which are not impacted by the current economic downturn. Royalty payments from the remaining licensees are related to variable royalty agreements which have been impacted by the current economic conditions. Current market indicators are mixed, but there are some recent signs of some stabilization. However, there continue to be indications that global demand will not quickly recover and may continue to contract for most, if not all, of 2010. Such lower demand levels may adversely impact our revenue and profitability. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

The royalties we receive are partly a function of the adoption of our chip interfaces by system companies. Many system companies purchase semiconductors containing our chip interfaces from our licensees and do not have a direct contractual relationship with us. Our licensees generally do not provide us with details as to the identity or volume of licensed semiconductors purchased by particular system companies. As a result, we face difficulty in analyzing the extent to which our future revenue will be dependent upon particular system companies. System companies face intense competitive pressure in their markets, which are characterized by extreme volatility, frequent new product introductions and rapidly shifting consumer preferences. There can be no assurance as to the unit volumes of licensed semiconductors that will be purchased by these companies in the future or as to the level of royalty-bearing revenue that our licensees will receive from sales to these companies. Additionally, there can be no assurance that a significant number of other system companies will adopt our chip interfaces or that our dependence upon particular system companies will decrease in the future. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”

Our revenue from companies headquartered outside of the United States accounted for approximately 97% and 81% of our total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We expect that revenue derived from international licensees will continue to represent a significant portion of our total revenue in the future. To date, all of the revenue from international licensees have been denominated in U.S. dollars. However, to the extent that such licensees’ sales to their customers are not denominated in U.S. dollars, any royalties that we receive as a result of such sales could be subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In addition, if the effective price of licensed semiconductors sold by our foreign licensees were to increase as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of the relevant currencies, demand for licensed semiconductors could fall, which in turn would reduce our royalties. We do not use financial instruments to hedge foreign exchange rate risk.

For additional information concerning international revenue, see Note 12, “Business Segments, Exports and Major Customers,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

Engineering costs as a percentage of net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in the prior year due to the higher revenue primarily attributed to the settlement with Samsung. In the near term, we expect engineering costs to be higher than in 2009 due primarily to the engineering activities in our newly established Lighting and Display Technology group. In addition, we intend to continue to make investments in the infrastructure and technologies required to maintain our product innovations and leadership position in chip interface technologies and, as a result, expenses are expected to increase.

Marketing, general and administrative expenses in the aggregate and as a percentage of net sales decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in the prior year due to the higher revenue primarily attributed to the settlement with Samsung. Historically, we have been involved in significant litigation stemming from the unlicensed use of our inventions. Our litigation expenses have been high and difficult to predict and we anticipate future litigation expenses will continue to be significant, volatile and difficult to predict. If we are successful in the litigation and/or related licensing, our revenue could be substantially higher in the future; if we are unsuccessful, our revenue may not grow. Furthermore, our success in litigation matters pending before courts and regulatory bodies that relate to our intellectual property rights have impacted and will likely continue to impact our ability and the terms upon which we are able to negotiate new or renegotiate existing licenses for our technology. We will continue to pursue litigation against those companies that have infringed our patented technologies, which in turn will continue to increase marketing, general and administrative expenses as litigation expenses will continue to increase until such litigation is resolved.

As we continue to pursue litigation and invest in research and development projects combined with lower revenue from our licensees in the future, our cash from operations will be negatively affected.

Our overall effective tax rate will continue to fluctuate as a result of the allocation of earnings among various taxing jurisdictions with varying tax rates.


Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage of total revenue represented by certain items reflected in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
Revenue:
           
Royalties
    99.2 %     95.7 %
Contract revenue
    0.8 %     4.3 %
Total revenue
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of revenue*
    1.1 %     8.0 %
Research and development*
    13.4 %     65.3 %
Marketing, general and administrative*
    19.5 %     135.9 %
Costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities
    0.3 %     (49.9 )%
Gain from settlement
    (59.2 )%     %
Total costs and expenses (recoveries)
    (24.9 )%     159.3 %
Operating income (loss)
    124.9 %     (59.3 )%
Interest income and other income (expense), net
    0.3 %     5.3 %
Interest expense
    (3.7 )%     (9.8 )%
Interest and other income (expense), net
    (3.5 )%     (4.5 )%
Income (loss) before income taxes
    121.4 %     (63.8 )%
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    28.2 %      
Net income (loss)
    93.2 %     (63.8 )%
____________

* Includes stock-based compensation:
Cost of revenue
    0.1 %     1.4 %
Research and development
    1.6 %     10.0 %
Marketing, general and administrative
    3.2 %     19.4 %

 
 
 
Three Months
Ended March 31,
   
Change in
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
   
Percentage
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Total Revenue
                 
Royalties
  $ 160.6     $ 26.1       513.5 %
Contract revenue
    1.3       1.2       13.5 %
Total revenue
  $ 161.9     $ 27.3       492.2 %

Royalty Revenue

Patent Licenses

Our patent royalties increased approximately $133.1 million to $153.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $20.1 million for the same period in 2009. The increase was primarily due to the revenue from the settlement with Samsung in the first quarter of 2010. See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

In March 2010, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (“AMD”) elected to exercise its right to renew the Rambus-AMD Patent License Agreement through the third quarter of 2015. The license fee during the renewal period will be determined at the end of 2010. The original term of AMD’s agreement runs through the end of September 2010.

We are in negotiations with prospective licensees as well as existing licensees regarding renewals as some of the existing patent license agreements will expire in 2010. We expect patent royalties will continue to vary from period to period based on our success in renewing existing license agreements and adding new licensees, as well as the level of variation in our licensees’ reported shipment volumes, sales price and mix, offset in part by the proportion of licensee payments that are fixed.


Technology Licenses

Royalties from technology licenses increased approximately $1.4 million to $7.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $6.1 million for the same period in 2009. The increase was primarily due to higher royalties reported from increased shipments related to DDR2 technologies and higher royalties from XDR tm DRAM associated with increased shipments of the Sony PLAYSTATION®3 product, partially offset by decreased royalties from RDRAM tm controllers associated with decreased shipments of the Sony PlayStation®2 product.

In the future, we expect technology royalties will continue to vary from period to period based on our licensees’ shipment volumes, sales prices, and product mix.

Contract Revenue

Contract revenue increased approximately $0.1 million to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $1.2 million for the same period in 2009. The increase was primarily due increased revenue from one of our existing technology development contracts.

We believe that contract revenue recognized will continue to fluctuate over time based on our ongoing contractual requirements, the amount of work performed, the timing of completing engineering deliverables, and by changes to work required, as well as new technology development contracts booked in the future.

Engineering costs:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
 
Change in
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
   
Percentage
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Engineering costs
                 
Cost of revenue
  $ 1.8     $ 1.8       (2.2 )%
Stock-based compensation
    0.1       0.4       (74.4 )%
Total cost of revenue
    1.9       2.2       (15.1 )%
Research and development
    19.1       15.1       26.7 %
Stock-based compensation
    2.6       2.7       (6.2 )%
Total research and development
    21.7       17.8       21.6 %
Total engineering costs
  $ 23.6     $ 20.0       17.6 %

Total engineering costs increased 17.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 primarily due to added headcount due to our newly established LDT group in December 2009, funding for our 2010 Corporate Incentive Plan (the “2010 CIP”), increase in patent research related costs and additional amortization expense related to intangible assets acquired from GLT, offset by lower stock-based compensation costs.

In the near term, we expect engineering costs to be higher than in 2009 due primarily to the engineering activities in our newly established LDT group. In addition, we intend to continue to make investments in the infrastructure and technologies required to maintain our product innovation and leadership position in chip interface technologies and, as a result, costs are expected to increase.

Marketing, general and administrative costs:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
 
Change in
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
   
Percentage
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Marketing, general and administrative costs
                 
Marketing, general and administrative costs
  $ 19.3     $ 13.9       39.2 %
Litigation expense
    7.0       18.0       (60.9 )%
Stock-based compensation
    5.2       5.3       (2.3 )%
Total marketing, general and administrative costs
  $ 31.5     $ 37.2       (15.1 )%



Total marketing, general and administrative costs decreased 15.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 due primarily to the decreased litigation expenses related to ongoing major cases. Non-litigation related marketing, general and administrative costs increased in the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to increased headcount in corporate development commencing in 2009 as a result of our strategic initiatives to identify and acquire additional technology opportunities, funding for our 2010 CIP, increased marketing expenses related to trade shows, increased consulting fees and increased general legal expenses.

In the future, marketing, general and administrative costs will vary from period to period based on the trade shows, advertising, legal, acquisition and other marketing and administrative activities undertaken, and the change in sales, marketing and administrative headcount in any given period. Litigation expenses are expected to vary from period to period due to the variability of litigation activities.

Gain from settlement:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
Change in
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
Percentage  
   
(Dollars in millions)
Gain from settlement
  $ 95.9     $  
 NM*
____________

*  NM — percentage is not meaningful as the change is too large

The settlement with Samsung is a multiple element arrangement for accounting purposes. For a multiple element arrangement, the Company is required to determine the fair value of the elements. The Company considered several factors in determining the accounting fair value of the elements of the settlement with Samsung which included a third party valuation using an income approach, the Black-Scholes option pricing model and a residual approach (collectively the “Fair Value”). Gain from settlement of $95.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, represents the Fair Value of the cash consideration allocated to the resolution of the antitrust litigation settlement and the residual value of other elements.

Costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
Change in
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
Percentage  
   
(Dollars in millions)
Cost (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities
  $ 0.5     $ (13.6 )
NM*
____________

*  NM — percentage is not meaningful as the change is too large

Costs (recoveries) of restatement and related legal activities consist primarily of investigation, audit, legal and other professional fees related to the 2006-2007 stock option investigation and the filing of the restated financial statements and related litigation.

Costs of restatement and related legal activities were $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 primarily due to litigation expense associated with the derivative lawsuit related to the 2006-2007 stock option investigation. As compared to the same period in 2009, the increase in costs in 2010 was primarily due to the lack of recognition of the 2009 reimbursements of $10.0 million from the insurance carriers and the receipt of $4.5 million from former executives as part of their settlement agreements with us in connection with the derivative and class action lawsuits. The $14.5 million was recorded as a recovery of costs of restatement and related legal activities in 2009. Until all the litigation and related issues are resolved, we anticipate that there could be additional amounts relating to these matters in the future.

Interest and other income (expense), net:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
 
Change in
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
   
Percentage
 
   
(Dollars in millions)
 
Interest income and other income, net
  $ 0.4     $ 1.4       (70.5 )%
Interest expense
    (6.0 )     (2.6 )     125.3 %
Interest and other income (expense), net
  $ (5.6 )   $ (1.2 )  
NM*
 
____________

*  NM — percentage is not meaningful as the change is too large

 

Interest income and other income, net consists primarily of interest income generated from investments in high quality fixed income securities. The decrease in interest and other income, net, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 was primarily due to lower yields on invested balances.

Interest expense primarily consists of non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of the debt discount on the 2010 Notes, which were repaid during the first quarter of 2010, and the 5% convertible senior notes due 2014 (the “2014 Notes”) as well as the coupon interest related to the 2014 Notes. We expect interest expense to be higher in 2010 as the 2014 Notes were outstanding for only six months in 2009 and remain substantially the same thereafter until maturity. See Note 16, “Convertible Notes”, of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes:

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
Change in
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
Percentage  
   
(Dollars in millions)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
  $ 45.7     $  
NM*
Effective tax rate
    23.2 %     0.1 %  
____________

*  NM — percentage is not meaningful as the change is too large

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to our net income due to a full valuation allowance on our U.S. net deferred tax assets, partially offset by foreign withholding taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes. During the quarter ended March 31, 2010, we paid withholding taxes of $42.6 million to the Korean tax authorities related to the payments received under the settlement with Samsung. We recorded a provision for income taxes of $45.7 million for the quarter, which is primarily comprised of the Korean taxes and alternative minimum taxes. As we continue to maintain a valuation allowance against our U.S. deferred tax assets, our tax provision is based primarily on the Korean taxes and U.S. and state alternative minimum taxes.

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate applied to our net loss due to a full valuation allowance on our U.S. net deferred tax assets, foreign income taxes and state income taxes, partially offset by refundable research and development tax credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 
 
 
March 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
   
(In millions)
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 400.9     $ 289.1  
Marketable securities
    267.8       171.1  
Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities
  $ 668.7     $ 460.2  

 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In millions)
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ 177.5     $ (0.6 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  $ (97.5 )   $ 4.7  
Net cash provided by financing activities
  $ 31.8     $ 5.5  

Liquidity

Our management continues to believe that total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will continue at adequate levels to finance our operations, projected capital expenditures and commitments for the next twelve months. Cash needs for the first quarter of 2010 were funded primarily from operating activities due to the settlement with Samsung as well as financing activities due to proceeds from issuance of common stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement with Samsung and from the issuance of common stock under our equity incentive plans.


Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities of $177.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was primarily attributable to the net income, which includes revenue and gain related to the settlement with Samsung, adjusted for non-cash items, including stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense and depreciation/amortization expense. Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 primarily included increases in accrued salaries due to the 2010 CIP and in income tax payable offset by decreases in accrued litigation and accounts payable due to the timing of vendor payments.

Cash used in operating activities of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to the net loss adjusted for non-cash items, including stock-based compensation expense, non-cash interest expense and depreciation/amortization expense. Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 primarily included decreases in accrued litigation expenses due to recognition of proceeds of $5.0 million from an insurance company related to the security lawsuits (class action/derivative lawsuits) and payments received in the amount of $9.5 million related to the recovery of restatement and legal activities, offset by increases in accounts payable due to the timing of vendor payments.

Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities of approximately $97.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 primarily consisted of purchases of available-for-sale marketable securities of $136.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from the maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities of $39.6 million. In addition, we paid $0.5 million to acquire property and equipment, primarily computer equipment.

Cash provided by investing activities of approximately $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily consisted of proceeds from the maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities of $90.5 million, partially offset by purchases of available-for-sale marketable securities of $83.5 million. In addition, we paid $1.6 million to acquire intangible assets and $0.7 million to acquire property and equipment, primarily computer software licenses.

Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities was $31.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 due to proceeds received of $192.0 million from the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement with Samsung and $3.7 million from issuance of common stock under equity incentive plans.  On February 1, 2010, the Company paid upon maturity the remaining $137.0 million in face value of the Zero Coupon Convertible Senior Notes. Additionally, we repurchased stock with an aggregate price of $26.5 million under our share repurchase program. We also made payment of $0.4 million under installment payment plan to acquire intangible assets.

Cash provided by financing activities was $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 due to the proceeds received from issuance of common stock under equity incentive plans.

We currently anticipate that existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balances and cash flows from operations will be adequate to meet our cash needs for at least the next 12 months. We do not anticipate any liquidity constraints as a result of either the current credit environment or investment fair value fluctuations. Additionally, we have the intent and ability to hold our debt investments that have unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income for a sufficient period of time to allow for recovery of the principal amounts invested. We continually monitor the credit risk in our portfolio and mitigate our credit risk exposures in accordance with our policies. As described elsewhere in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are involved in ongoing litigation related to our intellectual property and our past stock option investigation. Any adverse settlements or judgments in any of this litigation could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash balances and cash flows in the period in which such events occur.

Contractual Obligations

On December 15, 2009, we entered into a definitive triple net space lease agreement with MT SPE, LLC (the “Landlord”) whereby we lease approximately 125,000 square feet of office space located at 1040 Enterprise Way in Sunnyvale, California (the “Sunnyvale Lease”). The office space will be used for our corporate headquarters functions, as well as engineering, marketing and administrative operations and activities. We plan to move to the new premises in the second half of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The Sunnyvale Lease has a term of 120 months from the commencement date. 


The initial annual base rent is $3.7 million, subject to a full abatement of rent for the first six months of the Sunnyvale Lease term. The annual base rent increases each year to certain fixed amounts over the course of the term as set forth in the Sunnyvale Lease and will be $4.8 million in the tenth year. In addition to the base rent, we will also pay operating expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. We have two options to extend the Sunnyvale Lease for a period of 60 months each and a one-time option to terminate the Sunnyvale Lease after 84 months in exchange for an early termination fee.

During the first quarter of 2010, we began a build-out of this facility and expect to incur approximately $11.5 million in construction costs. Under the terms of the Sunnyvale Lease, the landlord has agreed to reimburse us approximately $10.0 million of this amount. Because certain improvements to be constructed by us are considered structural in nature and we are responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes we are treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.

Therefore, we have capitalized $25.1 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that we will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of December 31, 2009 using level 3 fair value inputs (defined as prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity)) and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility.

Upon completion of construction, we will apply sale-leaseback accounting. At that time, we will determine whether the lease will be treated as a capital or operating lease.

On March 8, 2010, we entered into a lease agreement with Fogg-Brecksville Development Co. (the “Ohio Landlord”) for 24,814 square feet of space consisting of 7,158 square feet of office area and 17,656 square feet of warehouse area, located in Brecksville, Ohio (the “Ohio Lease”). We plan to move to the new premises in the third quarter of 2010 following completion of leasehold improvements. The warehouse area will be converted into office space and manufacturing space. The office space will be used for the LDT group’s engineering activities while the manufacturing space will be used for the manufacturer of prototypes for the LDT group. The Ohio Lease has a term of 60 months from the commencement date. The initial annual base rent is approximately $136,000. In addition to the base rent, we will also pay operating expenses, insurance expenses, real estate taxes and a management fee. We have an option to extend the Lease for a period of 60 months.

During the first quarter of 2010, we began a build-out of this facility and expects to incur approximately $1.4 million in construction costs. Because certain improvements to be constructed by us are considered structural in nature and we are responsible for any cost overruns, for accounting purposes we are treated as the owner of the construction project for the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction.

Therefore, we have capitalized $0.8 million in property and equipment based on the estimated fair value of the portion of the building that it will occupy with a corresponding liability for construction in progress. The fair value was determined as of March 31, 2010 using level 3 fair value inputs and the cost approach which measures the value of an asset as the cost to reconstruct or replace it with another asset of like utility. Upon completion of construction in the third quarter of 2010, we will account for the arrangement as a financing arrangement as sale-leaseback accounting cannot be applied. The building will be reflected as an asset on our balance sheets throughout the term of the lease. The rental payments will be treated as interest expense recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease and the building will be depreciated on a straight-line basis over a period of 15 years. At the end of the lease term in 2015, we have an option to renew the lease for an additional 60 months. Should we decide not to renew the lease, we would reverse the net book value of the building and the corresponding financing liability and record the difference as a gain.

On June 29, 2009, we entered into an Indenture with U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to the issuance by us of $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes. On July 10, 2009, an additional $22.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 2014 Notes were issued as a result of the underwriters exercising their overallotment option. The aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2010 was $172.5 million, offset by unamortized debt discount of $57.7 million in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The debt discount is currently being amortized over the remaining 51 months until maturity of the 2014 Notes on June 15, 2014. See Note 16, “Convertible Notes,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.


As of March 31, 2010, our material contractual obligations are:

 
(in thousands)
 
Total
   
Remainder
of 2010
   
2011
   
2012
   
2013
   
2014
   
Thereafter
 
Contractual obligations(1)
                                         
Leases (2)
  $ 51,740     $ 7,197     $ 5,163     $ 5,197     $ 4,477     $ 4,580     $ 25,126  
Convertible notes
    172,500                               172,500        
Interest payments related to convertible notes
    36,276       6,469       8,625       8,625       8,625       3,932        
Total
  $ 260,516     $ 13,666     $ 13,788     $ 13,822     $ 13,102     $ 181,012     $ 25,126  
____________

(1)
The above table does not reflect possible payments in connection with uncertain tax benefits of approximately $10.5 million, including $8.5 million recorded as a reduction of long-term deferred tax assets and $2.0 million in long-term income taxes payable, as of March 31, 2010. Although it is possible that some of the unrecognized tax benefits could be settled within the next 12 months, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome at this time.
(2)
Includes both the Sunnyvale Lease and Ohio Lease.

Contingently Redeemable Common Stock

On January 19, 2010, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), Samsung purchased for cash from us 9.6 million shares of our common stock (the “Shares”) with certain restrictions and put rights. The issuance of the Shares by us to Samsung was made through a private transaction. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides Samsung a one-time put right, beginning 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and extending to 19 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, to elect to put back to us up to 4.8 million of the Shares at the original issue price of $20.885 per share (for an aggregate purchase price of up to $100.0 million). The 4.8 million shares have been recorded, at estimated Fair Value, as contingently redeemable common stock on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2010.

The Stock Purchase Agreement prohibits the transfer of the Shares by Samsung for 18 months after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to certain exceptions. After expiration of the transfer restriction period, the Stock Purchase Agreement provides that Samsung may transfer a limited number of shares on a daily basis, provides us with a right of first offer for proposed transfers above such daily limits, and, if no sale occurs to us under the right of first offer, allows Samsung to transfer the Shares. Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, we have also agreed that after the transfer restriction period, Samsung will have certain rights to register the Shares for sale under the securities laws of the United States, subject to customary terms and conditions.

The 9.6 million shares were accounted for as part of a multiple element arrangement where their respective Fair Value was determined to be $192.0 million. The $192.0 million was further allocated as follows:

 
·
$113.5 million related to 4.8 million shares treated as contingently redeemable common stock due to the contractual put rights associated with those shares
 
·
$78.5 million related to the remaining 4.8 million shares treated as stockholders’ equity

See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” for further discussion.

Share Repurchase Program

In October 2001, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program of our Common Stock, principally to reduce the dilutive effect of employee stock options and the issuance of shares to Samsung. Under this program, the Board approved the authorization to repurchase up to 19.0 million shares of our outstanding Common Stock over an undefined period of time. On February 25, 2010, the Board approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional 12.5 million shares. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market, established plan or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with all applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations. There is no expiration date applicable to the program. The new share repurchase program replaces the program authorized in October 2001.

During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of our Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $26.5 million. As of March 31, 2010, we had repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 18.0 million shares of our Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $260.2 million since the commencement of the


program in 2001. As of March 31, 2010, there remained an outstanding authorization to repurchase approximately 13.5 million shares of our outstanding Common Stock.

We record stock repurchases as a reduction to stockholders’ equity. We record a portion of the purchase price of the repurchased shares as an increase to accumulated deficit when the cost of the shares repurchased exceeds the average original proceeds per share received from the issuance of Common Stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2010, the cumulative price of the shares repurchased exceeded the proceeds received from the issuance of the same number of shares. The excess of $22.5 million was recorded as an increase to accumulated deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, investments, income taxes, litigation and other contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Our critical accounting estimates include those regarding (1) revenue recognition, (2) litigation and settlements, (3) income taxes, (4) stock-based compensation, (5) marketable securities, (6) non-marketable securities and (7) convertible notes. For a discussion of our critical accounting estimates, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Revenue Recognition

Overview

We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, we have delivered the product or performed the service, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. If any of these criteria are not met, we defer recognizing the revenue until such time as all criteria are met. Determination of whether or not these criteria have been met may require us to make judgments, assumptions and estimates based upon current information and historical experience.

Our revenue consists of royalty revenue and contract revenue generated from agreements with semiconductor companies, system companies and certain reseller arrangements. Royalty revenue consists of patent license and technology license royalties. Contract revenue consist of fixed license fees, fixed engineering fees and service fees associated with integration of our technology solutions into our customers’ products. Contract revenue may also include support or maintenance. Reseller arrangements generally provide for the pass-through of a percentage of the fees paid to the reseller by the reseller’s customer for use of our patent and technology licenses. We do not recognize revenue for these arrangements until we have received notice of revenue earned by and paid to the reseller, accompanied by the pass-through payment from the reseller. We do not pay commissions to the reseller for these arrangements.

In addition, we may enter into certain settlements of patent infringement disputes. The amount of consideration received upon any settlement (including but not limited to past royalty payments, future royalty payments and punitive damages) is allocated to each element of the settlement based on the Fair Value of each element. In addition, revenues related to past royalties are recognized upon execution of the agreement by both parties, provided that the amounts are fixed or determinable, there are no significant obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. We do not recognize any revenues prior to execution of the agreement since there is no reliable basis on which we can estimate the amounts for royalties related to previous periods or assess collectability. Elements that are related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to past royalty payments and future royalty payments) will be recorded as royalty revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Elements that are not related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to punitive damage and settlement) will be recorded as gain from settlement which is reflected as a separate line item within the operating expenses section in the consolidated statements of operations.

Many of our licensees have the right to cancel their licenses. In such arrangements, revenue is only recognized to the extent that is consistent with the cancellation provisions. Cancellation provisions within such contracts generally provide for a prospective


cancellation with no refund of fees already remitted by customers for products provided and payment for services rendered prior to the date of cancellation. Unbilled receivables represent enforceable claims and are deemed collectible in connection with our revenue recognition policy.

Royalty Revenue

We recognize royalty revenue upon notification by our licensees and when deemed collectible. The terms of the royalty agreements generally either require licensees to give us notification and to pay the royalties within 60 days of the end of the quarter during which the sales occur or are based on a fixed royalty that is due within 45 days of the end of the quarter. We have two types of royalty revenue: (1) patent license royalties and (2) technology license royalties.

Patent licenses.   We license our broad portfolio of patented inventions to semiconductor and systems companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of our patent portfolio. We generally recognize revenue from these arrangements as amounts become due. The contractual terms of the agreements generally provide for payments over an extended period of time.

Technology licenses.   We develop proprietary and industry-standard chip interface products, such as RDRAM tm and XDR tm that we provide to our customers under technology license agreements. These arrangements include royalties, which can be based on either a percentage of sales or number of units sold. We recognize revenue from these arrangements upon notification from the licensee of the royalties earned and when collectability is deemed reasonably assured.

Contract Revenue

We generally recognize revenue using percentage of completion for development contracts related to licenses of our interface solutions, such as XDR tm and FlexIO tm that involve significant engineering and integration services. For all license and service agreements accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method, we determine progress to completion using input measures based upon contract costs incurred. Prior to the first quarter of 2008, we determined progress to completion using labor-hours incurred. The change to input measures better reflects the overall gross margin over the life of the contract. This change did not have a significant impact on our results of operations. We have evaluated use of output measures versus input measures and have determined that our output is not sufficiently uniform with respect to cost, time and effort per unit of output to use output measures as a measure of progress to completion. Part of these contract fees may be due upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as provision of certain deliverables by us or production of chips by the licensee. The remaining fees may be due on pre-determined dates and include significant up-front fees.

A provision for estimated losses on fixed price contracts is made, if necessary, in the period in which the loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. If we determine that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the total costs required to complete a contract, the total amount of revenue recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected. However, to the extent the new assumptions regarding the total efforts necessary to complete a project are less than the original assumptions, the contract fees would be recognized sooner than originally expected. Conversely, if the newly estimated total efforts necessary to complete a project are longer than the original assumptions, the contract fees will be recognized over a longer period.

If application of the percentage-of-completion method results in recognizable revenue prior to an invoicing event under a customer contract, we will recognize the revenue and record an unbilled receivable. Amounts invoiced to our customers in excess of recognizable revenue are recorded as deferred revenue. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a significant impact on deferred revenue or unbilled receivables in any given period.

We also recognize revenue for development contracts related to licenses of our chip interface products that involve non-essential engineering services and post contract support (“PCS”). These SOPs apply to all entities that earn revenue on products containing software, where software is not incidental to the product as a whole. Contract fees for the products and services provided under these arrangements are comprised of license fees and engineering service fees which are not essential to the functionality of the product. Our rates for PCS and for engineering services are specific to each development contract and not standardized in terms of rates or length. Because of these characteristics, we do not have a sufficient population of contracts from which to derive vendor specific objective evidence for each of the elements.

 
Therefore, after we deliver the product, if the only undelivered element is PCS, we will recognize all revenue ratably over either the contractual PCS period or the period during which PCS is expected to be provided. We review assumptions regarding the PCS periods on a regular basis. If we determine that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the support periods, the total amount of revenue to be recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of recent accounting pronouncements including the respective expected dates of adoption.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to financial market risks, primarily arising from the effect of interest rate fluctuations on our investment portfolio. Interest rate fluctuation may arise from changes in the market’s view of the quality of the security issuer, the overall economic outlook, and the time to maturity of our portfolio. We mitigate this risk by investing only in high quality, highly liquid instruments. Securities with original maturities of one year or less must be rated by two of the three industry standard rating agencies as follows: A1 by Standard & Poor’s, P1 by Moody’s and/or F-1 by Fitch. Securities with original maturities of greater than one year must be rated by two of the following industry standard rating agencies as follows: AA- by Standard & Poor’s, Aa3 by Moody’s and/or AA- by Fitch. By corporate policy, we limit the amount of exposure to $15.0 million or 10% of the portfolio, whichever is lower, for any one non-U.S. Government issuer. A single U.S. Agency can represent up to 25% of the portfolio. No more than 20% of the total portfolio may be invested in the securities of an industry sector, with money market fund investments evaluated separately. Our policy requires that at least 10% of the portfolio be in securities with a maturity of 90 days or less. We may make investments in U.S. Treasuries, U.S. Agencies, corporate bonds and municipal bonds and notes with maturities up to 36 months. However, the bias of our investment portfolio is shorter maturities. All investments must be U.S. dollar denominated.

We invest our cash equivalents and marketable securities in a variety of U.S. dollar financial instruments such as Treasuries, Government Agencies, Commercial Paper and Corporate Notes. Our policy specifically prohibits trading securities for the sole purposes of realizing trading profits. However, we may liquidate a portion of our portfolio if we experience unforeseen liquidity requirements. In such a case if the environment has been one of rising interest rates we may experience a realized loss, similarly, if the environment has been one of declining interest rates we may experience a realized gain. As of March 31, 2010, we had an investment portfolio of fixed income marketable securities of $664.5 million including cash equivalents. If market interest rates were to increase immediately and uniformly by 1.0% from the levels as of March 31, 2010, the fair value of the portfolio would decline by approximately $1.5 million. Actual results may differ materially from this sensitivity analysis.

The table below summarizes the book value, fair value, unrealized gains (losses) and related weighted average interest rates for our cash equivalents and marketable securities portfolio as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

   
March 31, 2010
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Fair Value
   
 
 
Book Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Weighted
Rate of
Return
 
Money Market Funds
  $ 396,702     $ 396,702     $     $       0.01 %
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
    236,578       236,543       209       (174 )     0.66 %
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
    31,174       31,158       36       (20 )     0.74 %
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
    664,454       664,403       245       (194 )        
Cash
    4,219       4,219                      
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 668,673     $ 668,622     $ 245     $ (194 )        

   
December 31, 2009
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
Fair Value
   
 
 
Book Value
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Weighted
Rate of
Return
 
Money Market Funds
  $ 280,908     $ 280,908     $     $       0.01 %
U.S. Government Bonds and Notes
    138,829       138,521       377       (69 )     1.09 %
Corporate Notes, Bonds and Commercial Paper
    32,291       32,222       70       (1 )     1.89 %
Total cash equivalents and marketable securities
    452,028       451,651       447       (70 )        
Cash
    8,165       8,165                      
Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
  $ 460,193     $ 459,816     $ 447     $ (70 )        



The fair value of our convertible notes is subject to interest rate risk, market risk and other factors due to the convertible feature. The fair value of the convertible notes will generally increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. In addition, the fair value of the convertible notes will generally increase as our common stock prices increase and decrease as the stock prices fall. The interest and market value changes affect the fair value of our convertible notes but do not impact our financial position, cash flows or results of operations due to the fixed nature of the debt obligation. Additionally, we do not carry the convertible notes at fair value. We present the fair value of the convertible notes for required disclosure purposes. The following table summarizes certain information related to our convertible notes as of March 31, 2010:

 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Fair Value
   
Fair Value Given a 10%
Increase
in Market
Prices
   
Fair Value Given a 10%
Decrease
in Market
Prices
 
5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014
  $ 237,840     $ 261,624     $ 214,056  

We bill our customers in U.S. dollars. Although the fluctuation of currency exchange rates may impact our customers, and thus indirectly impact us, we do not attempt to hedge this indirect and speculative risk. Our overseas operations consist primarily of one design center in India and small business development offices in Germany, Japan and Taiwan. We monitor our foreign currency exposure; however, as of March 31, 2010, we believe our foreign currency exposure is not material enough to warrant foreign currency hedging.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2010, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In December 2009, the Company formed the new Lighting and Display Technology group, in connection with acquisition of  certain technology and a portfolio of advanced lighting and optoelectronics patents from Global Lighting Technologies. As a result, we have begun integrating the processes and systems relating to the new group into our existing system of internal control over financial reporting. Except for the processes, systems and controls relating to the integration of the Lighting and Display Technology group, there have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information required by this item regarding legal proceedings is incorporated by reference to the information set forth in Note 14 “Litigation and Asserted Claims” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Because of the following factors, as well as other variables affecting our operating results, past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. See also “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this report.


Risks Associated With Our Business, Industry and Market Conditions

If market leaders do not adopt our innovations, our results of operations could decline.

An important part of our strategy is to penetrate our target market segments by working with leaders in those market segments. This strategy is designed to encourage other participants in those segments to follow such leaders in adopting our innovations. If a high profile industry participant adopts our innovations but fails to achieve success with its products or adopts and achieves success with a competing technology, our reputation and sales could be adversely affected. For example, if our commercial relationships with Samsung do not achieve success, our reputation could be adversely affected given the market position of Samsung as a leading memory manufacturer. In addition, some industry participants have adopted, and others may in the future adopt, a strategy of disparaging our memory solutions adopted by their competitors or a strategy of otherwise undermining the market adoption of our solutions.

We target system companies to adopt our chip interface technologies, particularly those that develop and market high volume business and consumer products, which were traditionally focused on PCs, including PC graphics processors, and video game consoles, and now include HDTVs, cellular and digital phones, PDAs, digital cameras and other consumer electronics that incorporate all varieties of memory and chip interfaces. In particular, our strategy includes gaining acceptance of our technology in high volume consumer applications, including video game consoles, such as the Sony PLAYSTATION®3, HDTVs and set top boxes. As we diversify our technologies, such as through the establishment of our Lighting and Display Technology group, we will seek out other target markets in and related to computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics, mobile and general lighting applications. We are subject to many risks beyond our control that influence whether or not a potential licensee or partner company will adopt our technologies, including, among others:

 
competition faced by a company in its particular industry;

 
the timely introduction and market acceptance of a company’s products;

 
the engineering, sales and marketing and management capabilities of a company;

 
technical challenges unrelated to our innovations faced by a company in developing its products;

 
the financial and other resources of a company;

 
the supply of semiconductors from our memory and chip interface licensees in sufficient quantities and at commercially attractive prices;

 
the ability to establish the prices at which the chips containing our chip interfaces are made available to system companies; and

 
the degree to which our licensees promote our innovations to their customers.

There can be no assurance that consumer products that currently use our technology will continue to do so, nor can there be any assurance that the consumer products that incorporate our technology will be successful in their markets in order to generate expected royalties, nor can there be any assurance that any of our technologies selected for licensing will be implemented in a commercially developed or distributed product. If any of these events occur and market leaders do not successfully adopt our technologies, our strategy may not be successful and, as a result, our results of operations could decline.

We have traditionally operated in an industry that is highly cyclical and in which the number of our potential customers may be in decline as a result of industry consolidation, and we face intense competition in all of our target markets that may cause our results of operations to suffer.

The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive and has been impacted by price erosion, rapid technological change, short product life cycles, cyclical market patterns and increasing foreign and domestic competition. As the semiconductor industry is highly cyclical, significant economic downturns characterized by diminished demand, erosion of average selling prices, production overcapacity and production capacity constraints could affect the semiconductor industry. We have just experienced such a period of economic downturn. As a result, we may achieve a reduced number of licenses, tightening of customers’ operating budgets, difficulty or inability of our customers to pay our licensing fees, extensions of the approval process for new licenses and consolidation among


our customers, all of which may adversely affect the demand for our technology and may cause us to experience substantial period-to-period fluctuations in our operating results.

Many of our customers operate in industries that have experienced significant declines as a result of the recent economic downturn. In particular, DRAM manufacturers, which make up a majority of our existing and potential licensees, have suffered material losses and other adverse effects to their businesses. These factors may result in industry consolidation as companies seek to reduce costs and improve profitability through business combinations. Consolidation among our existing DRAM and other customers may result in loss of revenues under existing license agreements. Consolidation among companies in the DRAM and other industries within which we license our technology may reduce the number of future licensees for our products and services. In either case, consolidation in the DRAM and other industries in which we operate may negatively impact our short-term and long-term business prospects, licensing revenues and results of operations.

We face competition from semiconductor and intellectual property companies who provide their own DDR memory chip interface technology and solutions. In addition, most DRAM manufacturers, including our XDR tm licensees, produce versions of DRAM such as SDR, DDRx, GDDRx SDRAM and LPDDRx which compete with XDR tm chips. We believe that our principal competition for memory chip interfaces may come from our licensees and prospective licensees, some of which are evaluating and developing products based on technologies that they contend or may contend will not require a license from us. In addition, our competitors are also taking a system approach similar to ours in seeking to solve the application needs of system companies. Many of these companies are larger and may have better access to financial, technical and other resources than we possess. Wider applications of other developing memory technologies, including FLASH memory, may also pose competition to our licensed memory solutions.

JEDEC has standardized what it calls extensions of DDR, known as DDR2 and DDR3. Other efforts are underway to create other products including those sometimes referred to as GDDR4 and GDDR5, as well as new ways to integrate products such as system-in-package DRAM. To the extent that these alternatives might provide comparable system performance at lower or similar cost than XDR tm memory chips, or are perceived to require the payment of no or lower royalties, or to the extent other factors influence the industry, our licensees and prospective licensees may adopt and promote alternative technologies. Even to the extent we determine that such alternative technologies infringe our patents, there can be no assurance that we would be able to negotiate agreements that would result in royalties being paid to us without litigation, which could be costly and the results of which would be uncertain.

Our newly established Lighting and Display Technology group faces competition from system and subsystem providers of backlighting and general lighting solutions, some of which have substantial resources and operations.

If for any of these reasons we cannot effectively compete in these primary market segments, our results of operations could suffer.

If our new Lighting and Display Technology group  does not succeed, our results of operations may be adversely affected.

The future success of our new Lighting and Display Technology group, formed in connection with the December 2009 acquisition of certain technology and a portfolio of advanced lighting and optoelectronics patents of Global Lighting Technologies, depends on our ability to improve the visual capabilities, form factor, power efficiency and cost-effectiveness of backlighting of LCD displays in products for computing, gaming and graphics, consumer electronics, mobile and general lighting applications. We will need to keep pace with rapid changes in advanced lighting and optoelectronics technology, changing consumer requirements, new product introductions and evolving industry standards, any of which could render our existing technology obsolete if we fail to respond in a timely manner. The extent to which companies in the general lighting industry adopt solid state lighting and license our lighting technologies, and the timing of such adoption and licensing, if it occurs at all, is subject to many factors beyond our control and is not predictable by us. We are subject to many risks beyond our control that influence whether or not a potential licensee or partner company will adopt and license our lighting technologies.

The development, application and licensing of new backlit lighting technologies is a complex process subject to a number of uncertainties, including the integration of our Lighting and Display Technology group into the rest of our company and the small size of the Lighting and Display Technology group. Our competitors have significant marketing, workforce, financial and other resources and longer operating history which could make acceptance of our lighting technologies more difficult. If others develop innovative proprietary lighting technology that is superior to ours or if we fail to accurately anticipate technology and market trends, respond on a timely basis with our own new enhancements and technology, and achieve broad market acceptance of these enhancements and technology, our competitive position may be harmed and our operating results may be adversely affected.


In order to grow, we may have to invest more resources in research and development than anticipated, which could increase our operating expenses and negatively impact our operating results.

If new competitors, technological advances by existing competitors, our entry into new markets, and/or development of new technologies or other competitive factors require us to invest significantly greater resources than anticipated in our research and development efforts, our operating expenses would increase. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, research and development expenses were $21.7 million and $17.8 million, respectively, including stock-compensation of approximately $2.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively. If we are required to invest significantly greater resources than anticipated in research and development efforts without an increase in revenue, especially with respect to our new Lighting and Display Technology group and any other new technologies that we pursue outside of our core memory and chip interface technologies, our operating results could decline. Research and development expenses are likely to fluctuate from time to time to the extent we make periodic incremental investments in research and development, including as a result of our investment in new technologies, and these investments may be independent of our level of revenue. In order to grow, which may include entering new markets and/or developing new technologies, we anticipate that we will continue to devote substantial resources to research and development. We expect these expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the foreseeable future due to the increased complexity and the greater number of products under development as well as selectively hiring additional employees.

Our revenue is concentrated in a few customers, and if we lose any of these customers, our revenue may decrease substantially.

We have a high degree of revenue concentration. As a result of our settlement with Samsung, Samsung is expected to account for a significant portion of our ongoing licensing revenue commencing in 2010. Our top five licensees represented approximately 94% and 79% of our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, revenues from Samsung accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, revenues from AMD, Fujitsu, NEC and Panasonic each accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue. We expect to continue to experience significant revenue concentration for the foreseeable future.

In addition, some of our commercial agreements require us to provide certain customers with the lowest royalty rate that we provide to other customers for similar technologies, volumes and schedules. These clauses may limit our ability to effectively price differently among our customers, to respond quickly to market forces, or otherwise to compete on the basis of price. The particular licensees which account for revenue concentration have varied from period to period as a result of the addition of new contracts, expiration of existing contracts, industry consolidation, the expiration of deferred revenue schedules under existing contracts, and the volumes and prices at which the licensees have recently sold licensed semiconductors to system companies. These variations are expected to continue in the foreseeable future, although we anticipate that revenue will continue to be concentrated in a limited number of licensees.

We are in negotiations with licensees and prospective licensees to reach patent license agreements for DRAM devices and DRAM controllers. We expect that patent license royalties will continue to vary from period to period based on our success in renewing existing license agreements and adding new licensees, as well as the level of variation in our licensees’ reported shipment volumes, sales price and mix, offset in part by the proportion of licensee payments that are fixed. A number of our significant license agreements are scheduled to expire throughout 2010, including certain ones that accounted for more than 10% of our revenue in the year ended December 31, 2009. We are currently in discussions with those licensees whose agreements are scheduled to expire in 2010. However, we cannot provide any assurance that we will reach agreement on renewal terms or that the royalty rates we will be entitled to receive under the new agreements will be as favorable to us as our current agreements. If we are unsuccessful in renewing any of these patent license agreements, our results of operations may decline significantly.

Weak global economic conditions may adversely affect demand for our products and services.

Our operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions, and the U.S. and world economies continue to experience weak economic conditions. Uncertainty about global economic conditions poses a risk as consumers and businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values, which could have a material negative effect on the demand for the products of our licensees in the foreseeable future. Other factors that could influence demand include continuing increases in fuel and energy costs, competitive pressures, including pricing pressures, from companies that have competing products, changes in the credit market, conditions in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, consumer confidence, and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. If our licensees experience reduced demand for their products as a result of economic conditions or otherwise, our business and results of operations could be harmed.


If our counterparties are unable to fulfill their financial and other obligations to us, our business and results of operations may be affected adversely.

Any downturn in economic conditions could threaten the financial health of our counterparties, including companies with whom we have entered into licensing arrangements, settlement agreements, or that have been subject to litigation judgments that provide for payments to us, and their ability to fulfill their financial and other obligations to us. Economic downturns such as the one we are currently experiencing lead to financial pressures on our counterparties and may eventually lead to bankruptcy proceedings or other attempts to avoid financial obligations that are due to us under licenses, settlement agreements or litigation judgments. Because bankruptcy courts have the power to modify or cancel contracts of the petitioner which remain subject to future performance and alter or discharge payment obligations related to pre-petition debts, we may receive less than all of the payments that we would otherwise be entitled to receive from any such counterparty as a result of a bankruptcy proceedings.

In 2009, two of our counterparties, Qimonda and Spansion, were subject to insolvency proceedings in their applicable jurisdictions as a result of a downturn in business. Qimonda, which was a party to a settlement and licensing agreement with us, is under the process of being liquidated under its German insolvency proceeding. As part of the process, the administrator for Qimonda’s insolvency informed us that our license agreement was terminated. Under the license agreement, if we entered into licenses with certain other DRAM manufacturers, Qimonda would have been required to make certain additional payments to us up to an aggregate of $100.0 million. Given the status of Qimonda’s liquidation and the notice of termination of the license agreement, we do not believe that even if we satisfied the conditions for additional payments, we will obtain any future payment from Qimonda or the successors to its business. Spansion, which was one of our licensees that owed us an immaterial amount, is in the process of exiting a voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization.

If we are unable to collect all of such payments owed to us, or if other of our counterparties enter into bankruptcy or otherwise seek to renegotiate their financial obligations to us as a result of the deterioration of their financial health, our business and results of operations may be affected adversely.

Our business and operating results may be harmed if we undertake any restructuring activities or if we are unable to manage growth in our business.

From time to time, we may undertake to restructure our business. There are several factors that could cause a restructuring to have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These include potential disruption of our operations, the development of our technology, the deliveries to our customers and other aspects of our business. Employee morale and productivity could also suffer and we may lose employees whom we want to keep. Loss of sales, service and engineering talent, in particular, could damage our business. Any restructuring would require substantial management time and attention and may divert management from other important work. Employee reductions or other restructuring activities also cause us to incur restructuring and related expenses such as severance expenses. Moreover, we could encounter delays in executing any restructuring plans, which could cause further disruption and additional unanticipated expense.

Our business historically experienced periods of rapid growth that placed significant demands on our managerial, operational and financial resources. In the event that we return to such a period of growth, whether through internal expansion or acquisitions of other businesses or technologies, we would need to improve and expand our management, operational and financial systems and controls. We also would need to expand, train and manage our employee base. We cannot assure you that in connection with any such growth we will be able to timely and effectively meet demand and maintain the quality standards required by our existing and potential customers and licensees. If we ineffectively manage our growth or we are unsuccessful in recruiting and retaining personnel, our business and operating results will be harmed.

If we cannot respond to rapid technological change in our target markets by developing new innovations in a timely and cost-effective manner, our operating results will suffer.

We derive most of our revenue from our chip interface technologies that we have patented. We expect that this dependence on our fundamental technology will continue for the foreseeable future. The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, with new generations of semiconductors being introduced periodically and with ongoing improvements. The introduction or market acceptance of competing chip interfaces that render our chip interfaces less desirable or obsolete would have a rapid and material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The announcement of new chip interfaces by us could cause licensees or system companies to delay or defer entering into arrangements for the use of our current chip interfaces, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are dependent on the


semiconductor industry to develop test solutions that are adequate to test our chip interfaces and to supply such test solutions to our customers and us.

Our continued success depends on our ability to introduce and patent enhancements and new generations of our chip interface technologies that keep pace with other changes in the semiconductor industry and which achieve rapid market acceptance. We must continually devote significant engineering resources to addressing the ever increasing need for higher speed chip interfaces associated with increases in the speed of microprocessors and other controllers. The technical innovations that are required for us to be successful are inherently complex and require long development cycles, and there can be no assurance that our development efforts will ultimately be successful. In addition, these innovations must be:

 
completed before changes in the semiconductor industry render them obsolete;

 
available when system companies require these innovations; and

 
sufficiently compelling to cause semiconductor manufacturers to enter into licensing arrangements with us for these new technologies.

Significant technological innovations generally require a substantial investment before their commercial viability can be determined, and this concept applies to all of our target markets. There can be no assurance that we have accurately estimated the amount of resources required to complete our innovation efforts, or that we will have, or be able to expend, sufficient resources required for the development of our innovations. In addition, there is market risk associated with these products for which we develop technological innovations, and there can be no assurance that unit volumes, and their associated royalties, will occur. If our technology fails to capture or maintain a portion of the high volume target consumer market, our business results could suffer.

Some of our revenue is subject to the pricing policies of our licensees over whom we have no control.

We have no control over our licensees’ pricing of their products and there can be no assurance that licensee products using or containing our chip interfaces will be competitively priced or will sell in significant volumes. One important requirement for our memory chip interfaces is for any premium charged by our licensees in the price of memory and controller chips over alternatives to be reasonable in comparison to the perceived benefits of the chip interfaces. If the benefits of our technology do not match the price premium charged by our licensees, the resulting decline in sales of products incorporating our technology could harm our operating results.

Our licensing cycle is lengthy and costly and our marketing and licensing efforts may be unsuccessful.

The process of persuading customers to adopt and license our chip interface and other technologies can be lengthy and, even if successful, there can be no assurance that our technologies will be used in a product that is ultimately brought to market, achieves commercial acceptance, or results in significant royalties to us. We generally incur significant marketing and sales expenses prior to entering into our license agreements, generating a license fee and establishing a royalty stream from each licensee. The length of time it takes to establish a new licensing relationship can take many months or even years. In addition, our ongoing intellectual property litigation and regulatory actions have and will likely continue to have an impact on our ability to enter into new licenses and renewals of licenses. As such, we may incur costs in any particular period before any associated revenue stream begins, if at all. If our marketing and sales efforts are very lengthy or unsuccessful, then we may face a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations as a result of delay or failure to obtain royalties.

Future revenue is difficult to predict for several reasons, and our failure to predict revenue accurately may cause us to miss analysts’ estimates and result in our stock price declining.

Our lengthy and costly license negotiation cycle and our ongoing intellectual property litigation make our future revenue difficult to predict because we may not be successful in entering into licenses with our customers on our estimated timelines and we are reliant on the litigation timelines for any results or settlements, such as our January 2010 settlement with Samsung.

While some of our license agreements provide for fixed, quarterly royalty payments, many of our license agreements provide for volume-based royalties, and may also be subject to caps on royalties in a given period. The sales volume and prices of our licensees’ products in any given period can be difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ substantially from analyst estimates or our forecasts in any given quarter.


In addition, a portion of our revenue comes from development and support services provided to our licensees. Depending upon the nature of the services, a portion of the related revenue may be recognized ratably over the support period, or may be recognized according to contract accounting. Contract revenue accounting may result in deferral of the service fees to the completion of the contract, or may be recognized over the period in which services are performed on a percentage-of-completion basis. There can be no assurance that the product development schedule for these projects will not be changed or delayed. All of these factors make it difficult to predict future licensing revenue and may result in our missing previously announced earnings guidance or analysts’ estimates which would likely cause our stock price to decline.

Our quarterly and annual operating results are unpredictable and fluctuate, which may cause our stock price to be volatile and decline.

Since many of our revenue components fluctuate and are difficult to predict, and our expenses are largely independent of revenue in any particular period, it is difficult for us to accurately forecast revenue and profitability. Factors other than those set forth above, which are beyond our ability to control or assess in advance, that could cause our operating results to fluctuate include:

 
semiconductor and system companies’ acceptance of our chip interface products;

 
the success of high volume consumer applications, such as the Sony PLAYSTATION® 3;

 
the dependence of our royalties upon fluctuating sales volumes and prices of licensed chips that include our technology;

 
the seasonal shipment patterns of systems incorporating our chip interface products;

 
the loss of any strategic relationships with system companies or licensees;

 
semiconductor or system companies discontinuing major products incorporating our chip interfaces;

 
the unpredictability of litigation results or settlements and the timing and amount of any litigation expenses;

 
changes in our customers’ development schedules and levels of expenditure on research and development;

 
our licensees terminating or failing to make payments under their current contracts or seeking to modify such contracts, whether voluntarily or as a result of financial difficulties;

 
the results of our efforts to expand into new target markets, such as with our Lighting and Display Technology group;

 
changes in our strategies, including changes in our licensing focus and/or acquisitions of companies with business models or target markets different from our own; and

 
changes in the economy and credit market and their effects upon demand for our technology and the products of our licensees.

We believe that royalties will continue to represent a majority of total revenue for the foreseeable future. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, royalties accounted for 99% and 96%, respectively, of our total revenue. Royalties are generally recognized in the quarter in which we receive a report from a licensee regarding the sale of licensed chips in the prior quarter; however, royalties are recognized only if collectability is assured. As a result of these uncertainties and effects being outside of our control, royalty revenue is difficult to predict and makes it difficult to develop accurate financial forecasts, which could cause our stock price to become volatile and decline.

A substantial portion of our revenue is derived from sources outside of the United States and this revenue and our business generally are subject to risks related to international operations that are often beyond our control.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, revenue from our sales to international customers constituted approximately 97% and 81% of our total revenue, respectively. As a result of our continued focus on international markets, we expect that future revenue derived from international sources will continue to represent a significant portion of our total revenue.

To date, all of the revenue from international licensees has been denominated in U.S. dollars. However, to the extent that such licensees’ sales to systems companies are not denominated in U.S. dollars, any royalties which are based as a percentage of the


customer’s sales that we receive as a result of such sales could be subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. In addition, if the effective price of licensed semiconductors sold by our foreign licensees were to increase as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of the relevant currencies, demand for licensed semiconductors could fall, which in turn would reduce our royalties. We do not use financial instruments to hedge foreign exchange rate risk.

We currently have international operations in India (design), Japan (business development), Taiwan (business development) and Germany (business development). Our international operations and revenue are subject to a variety of risks which are beyond our control, including:

 
export controls, tariffs, import and licensing restrictions and other trade barriers;

 
profits, if any, earned abroad being subject to local tax laws and not being repatriated to the United States or, if repatriation is possible, limited in amount;

 
treatment of revenue from international sources and changes to tax codes, including being subject to foreign tax laws and being liable for paying withholding, income or other taxes in foreign jurisdictions;

 
foreign government regulations and changes in these regulations;

 
social, political and economic instability;

 
lack of protection of our intellectual property and other contract rights by jurisdictions in which we may do business to the same extent as the laws of the United States;

 
changes in diplomatic and trade relationships;

 
cultural differences in the conduct of business both with licensees and in conducting business in our international facilities and international sales offices;

 
operating centers outside the United States;

 
hiring, maintaining and managing a workforce remotely and under various legal systems; and

 
geo-political issues.

We and our licensees are subject to many of the risks described above with respect to companies which are located in different countries, particularly home video game console, PC and other consumer electronics manufacturers located in Asia and elsewhere. There can be no assurance that one or more of the risks associated with our international operations could not result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have in the past and may in the future make acquisitions or enter into mergers, strategic transactions or other arrangements that could cause our business to suffer.

As part of our strategic initiatives, we have completed, currently are evaluating, and expect to continue to engage in, investments in or acquisitions of companies, products or technologies, and the entry into strategic transactions or other arrangements. These acquisitions, investments, transactions or arrangements are likely to range in size, some of which may be significant. After completing an acquisition, including the December 2009 acquisition of technology and a patent portfolio from Global Lighting Technologies, we may experience difficulty integrating that company’s or division’s personnel and operations, which could negatively affect our operating results. In addition:

 
the key personnel of the acquired entity or business may decide not to work for us or may not perform according to our expectations;

 
we may experience additional legal, financial and accounting challenges and complexities in areas such as licensing, tax planning, cash management and financial reporting;


 
our ongoing business may be disrupted or receive insufficient management attention;

 
we may not be able to recognize the financial benefits we anticipated and/or we may suffer losses, both with respect to our ongoing business and the acquired entity or business;

 
our increasing international presence resulting from acquisitions may increase our exposure to international currency, tax and political risks; and

 
our lack of experience in new markets, products or technologies may cause us to fail to recognize the forecasted financial and strategic benefits of the acquisition.

In connection with our strategic initiatives related to future acquisitions or mergers, strategic transactions or other arrangements, we may incur substantial expenses regardless of whether any transactions occur. Further, the risks described above may be exacerbated as a result of managing multiple acquisitions simultaneously. In addition, we may be required to assume the liabilities of the companies we acquire. By assuming the liabilities, we may incur liabilities such as those related to intellectual property infringement or indemnification of customers of acquired businesses for similar claims, which could materially and adversely affect our business. We may have to incur debt or issue equity securities to pay for any future acquisition, the issuance of which could involve restrictive covenants or be dilutive to our existing stockholders.

Unanticipated changes in our tax rates or in the tax laws and regulations could expose us to additional income tax liabilities which could affect our operating results and financial condition.

We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and various foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision (or benefit) for income taxes and, in the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Our effective tax rate could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in tax laws and regulations as well as other factors. Our tax determinations are regularly subject to audit by tax authorities and developments in those audits could adversely affect our income tax provision. Although we believe that our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits or tax disputes may be different from what is reflected in our historical income tax provisions which could affect our operating results.

Our results of operations could vary as a result of the methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies.

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results of operations, including the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as described elsewhere in this report. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, such as percentage-of-completion contracts, investments, income taxes, litigation, goodwill and intangibles, and other contingencies. Such methods, estimates, and judgments are, by their nature, subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, and factors may arise over time that lead us to change our methods, estimates, and judgments. In addition, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Changes in those methods, estimates, and judgments could significantly affect our results of operations. In particular, the measurement of share-based compensation expense requires us to use valuation methodologies and a number of assumptions, estimates, and conclusions regarding matters such as expected forfeitures, expected volatility of our share price, and the exercise behavior of our employees. Changes in these factors may affect both our reported results (including cost of contract revenue, research and development expenses, marketing, general and administrative expenses and our effective tax rate) and any forward-looking projections we make that incorporate projections of share-based compensation expense. Furthermore, there are no means, under applicable accounting principles, to compare and adjust our reported expense if and when we learn about additional information that may affect the estimates that we previously made, with the exception of changes in expected forfeitures of share-based awards. Factors may arise that lead us to change our estimates and assumptions with respect to future share-based compensation arrangements, resulting in variability in our share-based compensation expense over time.


If we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, our business and operations could suffer.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to identify, attract, compensate, motivate and retain qualified personnel, especially engineers, who can enhance our existing technologies and introduce new technologies. Competition for qualified personnel, particularly those with significant industry experience, is intense, in particular in the San Francisco Bay Area where we are headquartered and in the area of Bangalore, India where we have a design center. We are also dependent upon our senior management personnel. The loss of the services of any of our senior management personnel, or key sales personnel in critical markets, or critical members of staff, or of a significant number of our engineers could be disruptive to our development efforts or business relationships and could cause our business and operations to suffer.

Our operations are subject to risks of natural disasters, acts of war, terrorism or widespread illness at our domestic and international locations, any one of which could result in a business stoppage and negatively affect our operating results.

Our business operations depend on our ability to maintain and protect our facility, computer systems and personnel, which are primarily located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area is in close proximity to known earthquake fault zones. Our facility and transportation for our employees are susceptible to damage from earthquakes and other natural disasters such as fires, floods and similar events. Should an earthquake or other catastrophes, such as fires, floods, power loss, communication failure or similar events disable our facilities, we do not have readily available alternative facilities from which we could conduct our business, which stoppage could have a negative effect on our operating results. Acts of terrorism, widespread illness and war could also have a negative effect at our international and domestic facilities.

Risks Related to Corporate Governance and Capitalization Matters

The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for holders to resell their shares when desired or at attractive prices.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “RMBS.” The trading price of our common stock has been subject to wide fluctuations which we expect to continue in the future in response to, among other things, the following:

 
new litigation or developments in current litigation, including an unfavorable outcome to us from court proceedings relating to our litigation with Hynix, Micron, Nanya and NVIDIA and reaction to any settlements that we enter into with former litigants, such as Samsung;

 
any progress, or lack of progress, real or perceived, in the development of products that incorporate our innovations;

 
our signing or not signing new licensees;

 
announcements of our technological innovations or new products by us, our licensees or our competitors;

 
positive or negative reports by securities analysts as to our expected financial results;

 
developments with respect to patents or proprietary rights and other events or factors;

 
trading activity related to our share repurchase plans; and

 
issuance of additional securities by us, such as our issuance of approximately 9.6 million shares of common stock to Samsung in connection with our settlement agreement in January 2010.

In addition, the stock market in general, and prices for companies in our industry in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. Because our outstanding senior convertible notes are convertible into shares of our common stock, volatility or depressed prices of our common stock could have a similar effect on the trading price of our notes. In addition, the existence of the notes may encourage short selling in our common stock by market participants because the conversion of the notes could depress the price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of shares


of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. In addition, lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees.

Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including new Securities and Exchange Commission, regulations and NASDAQ rules, have historically created uncertainty for companies such as ours. Any new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. Any new investment of resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue generating activities to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may be harmed and our business and operations would suffer.

We have been party to, and may in the future be subject to, lawsuits relating to securities law matters which may result in unfavorable outcomes and significant judgments, settlements and legal expenses which could cause our business, financial condition and results of operations to suffer.

In connection with our stock option investigation, we and certain of our current and former officers and directors, as well as our current auditors, were subject to several stockholder derivative actions, securities fraud class actions and/or individual lawsuits filed in federal court against us and certain of our current and former officers and directors. The complaints generally allege that the defendants violated the federal and state securities laws and state law claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. While we have settled the derivative and securities fraud class actions, the individual lawsuits continue to be adjudicated. For more information about the historic litigation described above, see Note 14, “Litigation and Asserted Claims,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The amount of time to resolve these current and any future lawsuits is uncertain, and these matters could require significant management and financial resources which could otherwise be devoted to the operation of our business. Although we have expensed or accrued for certain liabilities that we believe will result from certain of these actions, the actual costs and expenses to defend and satisfy all of these lawsuits and any potential future litigation may exceed our current estimated accruals, possibly significantly. Unfavorable outcomes and significant judgments, settlements and legal expenses in litigation related to our past and any future securities law claims could have material adverse impacts on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and the trading price of our common stock.

We are leveraged financially, which could adversely affect our ability to adjust our business to respond to competitive pressures and to obtain sufficient funds to satisfy our future research and development needs, and to defend our intellectual property.

We have indebtedness. In 2009, we issued $172.5 million aggregate principal amount of our senior convertible notes due June 2014. The degree to which we are leveraged could have important consequences, including, but not limited to, the following:

 
our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, litigation, general corporate or other purposes may be limited;

 
a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the payment of the principal of our indebtedness as we are required to pay the principal amount of our convertible notes in cash upon conversion if specified conditions are met or when due;

 
if upon any conversion of our notes we are required to satisfy our conversion obligation with shares of our common stock or we are required to pay a “make-whole” premium with shares of our common stock, our existing stockholders’ interest in us would be diluted; and

 
we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, less able to withstand competitive pressures and less flexible in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

A failure to comply with the covenants and other provisions of our debt instruments could result in events of default under such instruments, which could permit acceleration of all of our notes. Any required repayment of our notes as a result of a fundamental


change or other acceleration would lower our current cash on hand such that we would not have those funds available for use in our business.

If we are at any time unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness when payment is due, we may be required to attempt to renegotiate the terms of the instruments relating to the indebtedness, seek to refinance all or a portion of the indebtedness or obtain additional financing. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully renegotiate such terms, that any such refinancing would be possible or that any additional financing could be obtained on terms that are favorable or acceptable to us.

If securities or industry analysts change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock is influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us, our business or our market. If one or more of the analysts who cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, our stockholder rights plan, Delaware law and our outstanding convertible notes contain provisions that could discourage transactions resulting in a change in control, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.

Our restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, our stockholder rights plan and Delaware law contain provisions that might enable our management to discourage, delay or prevent a change in control. In addition, these provisions could limit the price that investors would be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. Pursuant to such provisions:

 
our board of directors is authorized, without prior stockholder approval, to create and issue preferred stock, commonly referred to as “blank check” preferred stock, with rights senior to those of common stock;

 
our board of directors is staggered into two classes, only one of which is elected at each annual meeting;

 
stockholder action by written consent is prohibited;

 
nominations for election to our board of directors and the submission of matters to be acted upon by stockholders at a meeting are subject to advance notice requirements;

 
certain provisions in our bylaws and certificate of incorporation such as notice to stockholders, the ability to call a stockholder meeting, advance notice requirements and action of stockholders by written consent may only be amended with the approval of stockholders holding 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock;

 
our stockholders have no authority to call special meetings of stockholders; and

 
our board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our bylaws.

In addition, the provisions in our stockholder rights plan could make it more difficult for a potential acquirer to consummate an acquisition of our company. We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which provides, subject to enumerated exceptions, that if a person acquires 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, the person is an “interested stockholder” and may not engage in any “business combination” with us for a period of three years from the time the person acquired 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock.

Certain provisions of our outstanding convertible notes could make it more difficult or more expensive for a third party to acquire us. Upon the occurrence of certain transactions constituting a fundamental change, holders of the notes will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase, at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on the notes, all or a portion of their notes. We may also be required to issue additional shares of our common stock upon conversion of such notes in the event of certain fundamental changes.


Litigation, Regulation and Business Risks Related to our Intellectual Property

We face current and potential adverse determinations in litigation stemming from our efforts to protect and enforce our patents and intellectual property, which could broadly impact our intellectual property rights, distract our management and cause a substantial decline in our revenue and stock price.

We seek to diligently protect our intellectual property rights. In connection with the extension of our licensing program to SDR SDRAM-compatible and DDR SDRAM-compatible products, we became involved in litigation related to such efforts against different parties in multiple jurisdictions. In each of these cases, we have claimed infringement of certain of our patents, while the manufacturers of such products have generally sought damages and a determination that the patents in suit are invalid, unenforceable, and not infringed. Among other things, the opposing parties have alleged that certain of our patents are unenforceable because we engaged in document spoliation, litigation misconduct and/or acted improperly during our 1991 to 1995 participation in the JEDEC standard setting organization (including allegations of antitrust violations and unfair competition). See Note 14, “Litigation and Asserted Claims,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

There can be no assurance that any or all of the opposing parties will not succeed, either at the trial or appellate level, with such claims or counterclaims against us or that they will not in some other way establish broad defenses against our patents, achieve conflicting results, or otherwise avoid or delay paying royalties for the use of our patented technology. Moreover, there is a risk that if one party prevails against us, other parties could use the adverse result to defeat or limit our claims against them; conversely, there can be no assurance that if we prevail against one party, we will succeed against other parties on similar claims, defenses, or counterclaims. In addition, there is the risk that the pending litigations and other circumstances may cause us to accept less than what we now believe to be fair consideration in settlement.

Any of these matters, whether or not determined in our favor or settled by us, is costly, may cause delays (including delays in negotiating licenses with other actual or potential licensees), will tend to discourage future design partners, will tend to impair adoption of our existing technologies and divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel from other business operations. In addition, we may be unsuccessful in our litigation if we have difficulty obtaining the cooperation of former employees and agents who were involved in our business during the relevant periods related to our litigation and are now needed to assist in cases or testify on our behalf. Furthermore, any adverse determination or other resolution in litigation could result in our losing certain rights beyond the rights at issue in a particular case, including, among other things: our being effectively barred from suing others for violating certain or all of our intellectual property rights; our patents being held invalid or unenforceable or not infringed; our being subjected to significant liabilities; our being required to seek licenses from third parties; our being prevented from licensing our patented technology; or our being required to renegotiate with current licensees on a temporary or permanent basis. Even if we are successful in our litigation, or any settlement of such litigation, there is no guarantee that the applicable opposing parties will be able to pay any damages awards timely or at all as a result of financial difficulties or otherwise. Delay or any or all of these adverse results could cause a substantial decline in our revenue and stock price.

An adverse resolution by or with a governmental agency could result in severe limitations on our ability to protect and license our intellectual property, and would cause our revenue to decline substantially.

From time to time, we are subject to proceedings by government agencies, such as our Federal Trade Commission and European Commission proceedings over the past several years. These proceedings may result in adverse determinations against us or in other outcomes that could limit our ability to enforce or license our intellectual property, and could cause our revenue to decline substantially.

In addition, third parties have and may attempt to use adverse findings by a government agency to limit our ability to enforce or license our patents in private litigations and to assert claims for monetary damages against us. Although we have successfully defeated certain attempts to do so, there can be no assurance that other third parties will not be successful in the future or that additional claims or actions arising out of adverse findings by a government agency will not be asserted against us.

Further, third parties have sought and may seek review and reconsideration of the patentability of inventions claimed in certain of our patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) and/or the European Patent Office (the “EPO”). Currently, we are subject to several re-examination proceedings, including proceedings initiated by Hynix, Micron and NVIDIA as a defensive action in connection with our litigation against those companies. An adverse decision by the PTO or EPO could invalidate some or all of these patent claims and could also result in additional adverse consequences affecting other related U.S. or European patents, including in our intellectual property litigation. If a sufficient number of such patents are impaired, our ability to enforce or license our intellectual property would be significantly weakened and this could cause our revenue to decline substantially.


The pendency of any governmental agency acting as described above may impair our ability to enforce or license our patents or collect royalties from existing or potential licensees, as our litigation opponents may attempt to use such proceedings to delay or otherwise impair any pending cases and our existing or potential licensees may await the final outcome of any proceedings before agreeing to new licenses or pay royalties.

Litigation or other third-party claims of intellectual property infringement could require us to expend substantial resources and could prevent us from developing or licensing our technology on a cost-effective basis.

Our research and development programs are in highly competitive fields in which numerous third parties have issued patents and patent applications with claims closely related to the subject matter of our programs. We have also been named in the past, and may in the future be named, as a defendant in lawsuits claiming that our technology infringes upon the intellectual property rights of third parties. In the event of a third-party claim or a successful infringement action against us, we may be required to pay substantial damages, to stop developing and licensing our infringing technology, to develop non-infringing technology, and to obtain licenses, which could result in our paying substantial royalties or our granting of cross licenses to our technologies. Threatened or ongoing third-party claims or infringement actions may prevent us from pursuing additional development and licensing arrangements for some period. For example, we may discontinue negotiations with certain customers for additional licensing of our patents due to the uncertainty caused by our ongoing litigation on the terms of such licenses or of the terms of such licenses on our litigation. We may not be able to obtain licenses from other parties at a reasonable cost, or at all, which could cause us to expend substantial resources, or result in delays in, or the cancellation of, new product.

If we are unable to successfully protect our inventions through the issuance and enforcement of patents, our operating results could be adversely affected.

We have an active program to protect our proprietary inventions through the filing of patents. There can be no assurance, however, that:

 
any current or future U.S. or foreign patent applications will be approved and not be challenged by third parties;

 
our issued patents will protect our intellectual property and not be challenged by third parties;

 
the validity of our patents will be upheld;

 
our patents will not be declared unenforceable;

 
the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our ability to do business;

 
Congress or the U.S. courts or foreign countries will not change the nature or scope of rights afforded patents or patent owners or alter in an adverse way the process for seeking patents;

 
changes in law will not be implemented that will affect our ability to protect and enforce our patents and other intellectual property;

 
new legal theories and strategies utilized by our competitors will not be successful;

 
others will not independently develop similar or competing chip interfaces or design around any patents that may be issued to us; or

 
factors such as difficulty in obtaining cooperation from inventors, pre-existing challenges or litigation, or license or other contract issues will not present additional challenges in securing protection with respect to patents and other intellectual property that we acquire.

If any of the above were to occur, our operating results could be adversely affected.

Our inability to protect and own the intellectual property we create would cause our business to suffer.

We rely primarily on a combination of license, development and nondisclosure agreements, trademark, trade secret and copyright law, and contractual provisions to protect our non-patentable intellectual property rights. If we fail to protect these intellectual property rights, our licensees and others may seek to use our technology without the payment of license fees and royalties, which could weaken our competitive position, reduce our operating results and increase the likelihood of costly litigation. The growth of our business depends in large part on the use of our intellectual property in the products of third party manufacturers, and our ability to


enforce intellectual property rights against them to obtain appropriate compensation. In addition, effective trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries. Although we intend to protect our rights vigorously, if we fail to do so, our business will suffer.

We rely upon the accuracy of our licensees’ recordkeeping, and any inaccuracies or payment disputes for amounts owed to us under our licensing agreements may harm our results of operations.

Many of our license agreements require our licensees to document the manufacture and sale of products that incorporate our technology and report this data to us on a quarterly basis. While licenses with such terms give us the right to audit books and records of our licensees to verify this information, audits rarely are undertaken because they can be expensive, time consuming, and potentially detrimental to our ongoing business relationship with our licensees. Therefore, we typically rely on the accuracy of the reports from licensees without independently verifying the information in them. Our failure to audit our licensees’ books and records may result in our receiving more or less royalty revenue than we are entitled to under the terms of our license agreements. If we conduct royalty audits in the future, such audits may trigger disagreements over contract terms with our licensees and such disagreements could hamper customer relations, divert the efforts and attention of our management from normal operations and impact our business operations and financial condition.

Any dispute regarding our intellectual property may require us to indemnify certain licensees, the cost of which could severely hamper our business operations and financial condition.

In any potential dispute involving our patents or other intellectual property, our licensees could also become the target of litigation. While we generally do not indemnify our licensees, some of our license agreements provide limited indemnities, and some require us to provide technical support and information to a licensee that is involved in litigation involving use of our technology. In addition, we may agree to indemnify others in the future. Any of these indemnification and support obligations could result in substantial expenses. In addition to the time and expense required for us to indemnify or supply such support to our licensees, a licensee’s development, marketing and sales of licensed semiconductors could be severely disrupted or shut down as a result of litigation, which in turn could severely hamper our business operations and financial condition as a result of lower or no royalty payments.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

    As previously disclosed on a Form 8-K and disclosed elsewhere in this report, the Company issued 9.6 million shares of common stock to Samsung, an accredited investor, on January 19, 2010 in a private transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. See Note 3, “Settlement Agreement with Samsung,” of Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Paid
   
 
 
 
 
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 
Cumulative shares repurchased as of 12/31/09
    16,810,950       16,810,950     $ 233,756,155     $ 13.90       2,240,913  
Additional authorization
                                    12,500,000  
                                      14,740,913  
2/1/2010-2/28/2010
    1,233,287       1,233,287     $ 26,472,746     $ 21.47       13,507,626  
Cumulative shares repurchased as of 3/31/10
    18,044,237       18,044,237     $ 260,228,901     $ 14.42          

In October 2001, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved a share repurchase program of our Common Stock, principally to reduce the dilutive effect of employee stock options and the issuance of shares to Samsung. Under this program, the Board approved the authorization to repurchase up to 19.0 million shares of our outstanding Common Stock over an undefined period of time. On February 25, 2010, the Board approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to an additional 12.5 million shares. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market, established plan or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with all applicable securities laws, rules, and regulations. There is no expiration date applicable to the program. The new share repurchase program replaces the program authorized in October 2001.


During the three months ended March 31, 2010, we repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares of our Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $26.5 million. As of March 31, 2010, we had repurchased a cumulative total of approximately 18.0 million shares of our Common Stock with an aggregate price of approximately $260.2 million since the commencement of the program in 2001. As of March 31, 2010, there remained an outstanding authorization to repurchase approximately 13.5 million shares of our outstanding Common Stock.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable

Item 4. Reserved

Item 5. Other Information

Not Applicable

Item 6. Exhibits

Refer to the Exhibit Index of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.




SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 


 
RAMBUS INC.
Date: April 30, 2010
 
 
By:     /s/ Satish Rishi                                                                                        
 
      Satish Rishi
 
      Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer


 


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Document
   
3.1 (1)
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant filed May 29, 1997.
   
3.2 (2)
Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant filed June 14, 2000.
   
3.3 (3)
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Registrant dated November 13, 2007.
   
10.1†
Settlement Agreement, dated January 19, 2010, among Registrant, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, L.P.
   
10.2†
Semiconductor Patent License Agreement, dated January 19, 2010, between Registrant and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
   
10.3
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated January 19, 2010, between Registrant and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
   
31.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
____________

Confidential treatment has been requested with respect to certain portions of this exhibit. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-K filed on December 15, 1997.

(2)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-Q filed on May 4, 2001.

(3)
Incorporated by reference to the Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2008.


 
68

 


Exhibit 10.1

 Conformed Copy
 
 
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
 
THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made by and among Rambus Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Rambus ”), on the one hand, and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Korea (“ Samsung Electronics ”), Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., a California corporation and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, L.P., a Texas limited partnership (collectively, “ Samsung ,” with Rambus and Samsung each being a “ Party ” and together the “ Parties ”), on the other hand, effective as of January 19, 2010 (the “ Effective Date ”).
 
WHEREAS , Samsung and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Article 1) are and will continue to be engaged in the manufacture, use, sale and/or importation of various products and devices, including but not limited to memory products and memory interface technologies (collectively, the “ Samsung Products ”), which utilize diverse and varied technologies;
 
WHEREAS , Rambus and/or its Subsidiaries have and will continue to have rights under Patents (as defined in Article 1), including but not limited to the right to license such Patents to third parties (collectively, all such patents are the “ Rambus Patents ”), covering diverse and varied technologies;
 
WHEREAS , the Parties are currently parties to a number of Disputes (as defined in Article 1) relating to the Samsung Products and the Rambus Patents, including but not limited to disputes as to whether claims of Rambus Patents are infringed by Samsung Products, and disputes relating to the validity, enforceability and use of certain Rambus Patents, and the Antitrust Litigation (as defined in Article 1);
 
WHEREAS , the Parties acknowledge that the Disputes have been costly, not only in terms of the out-of-pocket costs incurred by each of them, but also in terms of management time and other resources devoted to such efforts;
 
WHEREAS , the Parties recognize that, without this Agreement, given the diversity of claims of the Rambus Patents, and the breadth of technologies utilized by the Samsung Products, Rambus could, after the Effective Date, assert that other claims of Rambus Patents are infringed by Samsung Products, and that such disputes, if they were to occur would involve similar costs and business disruptions;
 
WHEREAS , the Parties recognize that litigation of the Disputes, and of other disputes that may arise between them after the Effective Date, is inherently uncertain, and is subject to certain risks, including but not limited to (a) whether the Rambus Patents, including Patents which are known to Samsung but which to date have not been asserted against Samsung, are determined to be valid, enforceable and infringed in various trial and appellate court, Patent and Trademark Office and International Trade Commission proceedings, and (b) whether Rambus prevails in various other court or regulatory proceedings, such as the Antitrust Litigation, and that such events are subject to various possible outcomes;

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
 

 
 
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to eliminate the risks associated with such litigation and to enter into a comprehensive resolution to compromise, settle and release the Disputes, and to compromise, resolve and avoid other disputes that may arise after the Effective Date with respect to the Samsung Products and the Rambus Patents;
 
WHEREAS , as part of the comprehensive resolution of other disputes that may arise after the Effective Date with respect to the Samsung Products and the Rambus Patents, Rambus and its Subsidiaries desire to grant Samsung and its Subsidiaries a license to certain of the claims of the Rambus Patents from the Effective Date for a limited term, and to grant Samsung and its Subsidiaries a fully paid-up license for certain of the Samsung Products to certain of the claims of the Rambus Patents, and Samsung and its Subsidiaries desire to grant Rambus and its Subsidiaries a license to certain of the claims of the Samsung Patents;
 
WHEREAS , the Parties acknowledge that in resolving the Disputes, and other disputes that may arise after the Effective Date, each of them is giving up the possibility of more favorable outcomes in exchange for the promises and covenants it will receive under this Agreement, and the other agreements contemplated hereby, to ensure that they do not ultimately face less favorable outcomes and to avoid the costs, delays and disruptions associated with litigation, and that such promises and covenants represent a package, and are not intended to be severable from each other; in particular, (a) Samsung is receiving a full and final release of the claims asserted against it in the Disputes, and securing a license to claims of the Rambus Patents in exchange for making the license and other payments, and entering into the other agreements, described herein, and (b) Rambus is receiving the Comprehensive Resolution Payments (as defined in Article 1), and the benefit of the other agreements described herein, in exchange for granting the releases and licenses, and entering into the other agreements, described herein;
 
WHEREAS , the Parties acknowledge that it is therefore essential that their respective obligations under this Agreement and the other agreements described herein be certain and not subject to collateral attack, or otherwise subject to change or modification except on the terms expressly set forth therein; and
 
WHEREAS , this Agreement is entered into for the purpose of settlement and compromise only;
 
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, Rambus and Samsung agree as follows:

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
2

 

Article 1

Definitions
 
In addition to the terms defined in other parts of this Agreement, the following terms used herein with initial capital letters shall have the respective meanings specified in this Article 1.
 
1.1            Agreement .  The term “Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.2            Antitrust Litigation .  The term “Antitrust Litigation” means the matter entitled Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology Inc. et al. , No. 04-431105 (Supr. Ct. Cal., San Fran. Filed May 5, 2004).
 
1.3            Comprehensive Resolution Agreements .  The term “Comprehensive Resolution Agreements” means this Agreement, the License Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, and the MOU.
 
1.4            Comprehensive Resolution Payments .  The term “Comprehensive Resolution Payments” means the Initial Payment and the License Payments.
 
1.5            Control .  The term “Control” (including “Controlled” and other forms) of an entity means (a) beneficial ownership (whether directly or indirectly through entities or other means) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of that entity or (b) in the case of an entity that has no outstanding voting securities, having the power (whether directly or indirectly through entities or other means) presently to designate more than fifty percent (50%) of the directors of a corporation, or in the case of unincorporated entities, of individuals exercising similar functions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, where Samsung has fifty percent (50%) of such beneficial ownership or power to designate with respect to any other entity, Samsung shall be deemed to “Control” such other entity if such other entity is part of the “Samsung Group of Companies” and such entity is lawfully registered under a corporate name, and lawfully operates and generally and routinely conducts its business under a corporate name, that includes “Samsung,” provided that , such entity agrees in a writing, delivered to both Parties within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date (or if later, within thirty (30) days after formation of such entity), to be bound by all applicable terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
1.6            DDR/DDR2 Controller Products .  The term “DDR/DDR2 Controller Products” means any controllers capable of interfacing with and controlling any DDR/DDR2 Products.
 
1.7            DDR/DDR2 SDRAM Products .  The term “DDR/DDR2 SDRAM Products” means double data rate (DDR), double data rate2 (DDR2), graphics double data rate (GDDR) and graphics double data rate2 (GDDR2) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) chips as well as any mobile or low power versions of any such chips.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
3

 
 
1.8            Delaware Litigation .  The term “Delaware Litigation” means the matter entitled Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al v. Rambus Inc. , No. 6081113 (Del. Chan. Filed June 23, 2005).
 
1.9            Disputes .  The term “Disputes” means the Patent Litigation, the Antitrust Litigation, the Virginia Litigation, the Delaware Litigation and the Patent Actions, and any and all disputes related thereto.
 
1.10           Effective Date .  The term “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.11           Effective Time Period .  The term “Effective Time Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
 
1.12           Excluded Entity .  The term “Excluded Entity” means Micron Technology, Inc., Micron Semiconductor Products, Inc., Micron Electronics, Inc., Hynix Semiconductor Inc., Hynix Semiconductor America, Inc., Hynix Semiconductor Manufacturing America Inc., Hynix Semiconductor U.K. Ltd., Hynix Semiconductor Deutschland GmbH, Nanya Technology Corporation, Nanya Technology Corporation U.S.A. and NVIDIA Corporation.
 
1.13           Initial Payment .  The term “Initial Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
 
1.14           License Agreement .  The term “License Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
 
1.15           License Payments .  The term “License Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
 
1.16           Licensed Product .  The term “Licensed Product” has the meaning set forth in the License Agreement.
 
1.17           MOU .  The term “MOU” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
 
1.18           Other Products .  The term “Other Products” means single data rate (SDR), double data rate 3 (DDR3), graphics double data rate 3 (GDDR3), graphics double data rate 4 (GDDR4) and graphics double data rate 5 (GDDR5) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) chips, as well as single data rate (SDR) synchronous graphics random access memory (SGRAM) chips, as well as any mobile or low power versions of any such chips and any controllers capable of interfacing with and controlling any of the foregoing.
 
1.19           Party .  The terms “Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.20           Patent Actions .  The term “Patent Actions” means all United States Patent and Trademark Office reexamination proceedings, actions or challenges filed, requested or supported by Samsung with respect to any Rambus Patents as of the Effective Date, including without limitation reexaminations of U.S. Patent numbers 6,038,195, 6,182,184, 6,266,285, 6,314,051, 6,324,120, 6,378,020, 6,426,916, 6,452,863, 6,546,446, 6,584,037, 6,697,295, 6,715,020, and 6,751,696.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
4

 
 
1.21           Patent Litigation .  The term “Patent Litigation” means the matters entitled Rambus Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al. , No. C-05-02298 (N.D. Cal. Filed June 6, 2005) and Rambus Inc. v. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., et al. , No. C-05-00334 (N.D. Cal. Filed Jan. 25, 2005).
 
1.22           Patents .  The term “Patents” means patents and utility models and applications therefor, including without limitation all continuations, continuations-in-part and divisionals thereof, in all countries of the world that are owned by the applicable Party.
 
1.23           Rambus .  The term “Rambus” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.24           Rambus Patents .  The term “Rambus Patents” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
1.25           Release Date .  The term “Release Date” means February 4, 2010.
 
1.26           Samsung .  The term “Samsung” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.27           Samsung Electronics .  The term “Samsung Electronics” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.
 
1.28           Samsung Patents .  The term “Samsung Patents” means Patents as to which Samsung has rights.
 
1.29           Samsung Products .  The term “Samsung Products” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
 
1.30           Stock Purchase Agreement .  The term “Stock Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.
 
1.31           Subsidiary .  The term “Subsidiary” means any entity Controlled by a Party, but such entity shall be deemed to be a Subsidiary only so long as such Control exists.  For the avoidance of doubt, in the case of Samsung, the term “Subsidiary” shall include all of the entities described in the last sentence of Section 1.5 so long as the Control described therein exists.
 
1.32           Third Party .  The term “Third Party” means any entity that is not a Party or a Subsidiary of a Party on the Effective Date.
 
1.33           Virginia Litigation .  The term “Virginia Litigation” means the matter entitled Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Rambus Inc. , No. 3:05cv406 (E.D. Va. Filed June 7, 2005).
 
 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
5

 
 
Article 2
 
Comprehensive Resolution Payments
 
2.1            Initial Payment .  As a condition to the effectiveness of the releases and covenants not to sue set forth in Article 4 and the Parties’ obligations under Section 4.8, Samsung Electronics will, on or before January 22, 2010 pay Rambus the sum of One Hundred Million Dollars (US $100,000,000) and will, on or before the Release Date, pay Rambus the sum of One Hundred Million Dollars (US $100,000,000) (collectively, the “ Initial Payment ”).
 
2.2            Allocation of Initial Payment .  The Parties agree to allocate the Initial Payment in accordance with the following, which they acknowledge represents a reasonable estimated allocation of the Initial Payment to Rambus’s claims under the Disputes:
 
(a)           [***] shall be deemed to be paid in consideration for [***];
 
(b)           [***] shall be deemed to be paid in consideration for [***]; and
 
(c)           [***] shall be deemed to be paid in consideration for [***].
 
2.3            License Payments .  As described more fully in the License Agreement and as an integral part of the overall consideration received by Rambus in respect of its releases and covenants not to sue under Article 4, and its other obligations under the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements, over the next five (5) years Samsung Electronics will pay Rambus aggregate license fees of Five Hundred Million Dollars (US $500,000,000), subject to certain adjustments and conditions as described in the License Agreement (the “ License Payments ”).  In the event that Samsung fails to pay any License Payment (and fails to cure such failure within the time period provided for in Section 6.2 of the License Agreement), Samsung will pay to Rambus Five Hundred Million Dollars (US $500,000,000), less the aggregate License Payments previously paid by Samsung and retained by Rambus, as part of the overall consideration received by Rambus under the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements, in order for Rambus to receive the full amount of the overall consideration intended to be received in respect of its releases, covenants not to sue, and other obligations under the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements.  Samsung will apply such amounts to the Quarterly Base Payments due under the License Agreement.
 
2.4            No Refunds .  Once made, any Comprehensive Resolution Payment shall not be refunded or refundable to Samsung for any reason except as may be required pursuant to Section 3.3 of the License Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case of clerical error with respect to any payment made under the License Agreement, the Parties agree to remedy any such error through proper payment adjustments.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
6

 
 
2.5            Currency .  All Comprehensive Resolution Payments shall be made in United States dollars.
 
2.6            Wire Instructions .  The Initial Payment shall be made by wire transfer to Rambus as follows:
 
Rambus Inc. Account: [***]
 
All other Comprehensive Resolution Payments shall be made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Comprehensive Resolution Agreement.
 
2.7            Taxes .  If the Korean government imposes any withholding tax on any Comprehensive Resolution Payments, such tax shall be borne by Rambus.  Samsung agrees, at its reasonable discretion, to assist Rambus in its efforts to minimize Rambus’ tax liability.  Samsung shall withhold the amount of any such taxes levied on such payments to Rambus imposed by the Korean government, shall promptly effect payment of the taxes so withheld to the Korean tax office, and Samsung shall send to Rambus the official certificate of such payment in a form reasonably sufficient to enable Rambus to support a claim for a foreign tax credit with respect to any such taxes so withheld.
 
 
Article 3
 
Other Agreements
 
Concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as an integral part of the overall consideration received by the Parties in respect of their releases, covenants not to sue, and other obligations under the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements, the Parties and/or their Subsidiaries shall enter into or deliver the following agreements or documents.  For the avoidance of doubt, the MOU described in Section 3.3 is non-binding to the Parties and, while the existence and execution thereof are an integral part of the overall consideration, the contents therein represent solely the understanding between the Parties regarding certain business and technology collaborations, and the failure to enter into any definitive agreement contemplated thereby shall not constitute failure in the consideration hereunder or under any of the other Comprehensive Resolution Agreements.
 
3.1            License Agreement .  Rambus and Samsung Electronics shall enter into the License Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ License Agreement ”), pursuant to which Rambus shall grant Samsung licenses under Rambus Applicable Patent Claims, and Samsung will grant to Rambus licenses under Samsung Applicable Patent Claims, as defined in the License Agreement, on the terms set forth therein.
 
(a)           The Parties acknowledge that the licenses granted under the License Agreement are in respect of claims under multiple Rambus Patents and multiple Samsung Patents, respectively, so that the Parties’ rights and obligations under the License Agreement, are not dependent upon the validity or enforceability of specific Rambus Patents or specific Samsung Patents, or upon any specific use of such patents permitted under the License Agreement.  Specifically, Samsung acknowledges that the License Agreement covers a broad array of Rambus Patent claims, and agrees to make the full amount of the Comprehensive Resolution Payments regardless of whether any of the Rambus Patents is determined not to be infringed by any particular Licensed Product or a court or United States, European, or other patent office determines any Rambus Patent to be invalid or unenforceable in any reexamination, action or other proceeding.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
7

 
 
(b)           Each Party acknowledge that its assessment of the value of the Disputes and the License Agreement may depend on certain events that may occur, or that may not occur, after the Effective Date, that it is aware of and has evaluated and considered the uncertainties associated with such events, and that it has agreed to the amount of the Comprehensive Resolution Payments to eliminate such uncertainties so that, for example, Samsung will be protected from the consequences of Rambus prevailing on infringement and other claims in other proceedings, and Rambus will be protected from the consequences of certain of the Rambus Patents being held to be invalid, unenforceable, and/or not infringed in other proceedings.  It is therefore essential that the Parties’ obligations under the License Agreement, including but not limited to the amount of the License Payments, be certain and not subject to collateral attack.  Accordingly,
 
(i)      Samsung covenants, whether through litigation or otherwise, not to seek to adjust the amount of the License Payments, or to avoid, defer or modify its obligations under the License Agreement, provided that the foregoing shall not prevent Samsung from seeking enforcement of the terms and conditions of the License Agreement or taking any action expressly contemplated in the License Agreement.
 
(ii)      Samsung and its Subsidiaries acknowledge and agree that, for all acts or omissions that occur during the time period up to and including the [***] anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Effective Time Period ”), Rambus or its Subsidiaries have patent claims that are valid, enforceable and infringed by a substantial portion of the Licensed Product (as defined under the License Agreement).  After the Effective Time Period, Rambus and its Subsidiaries covenant not to rely on such acknowledgement or agreement in any manner against Samsung or its Subsidiaries or their past, present or future distributors or customers in negotiations, and further covenant that no evidence of such acknowledgement or agreement may be introduced in any negotiation by or on behalf of Rambus or its Subsidiaries against Samsung or its Subsidiaries or their past, present or future distributors or customers.  Rambus and its Subsidiaries further covenant, with respect to any acts or omissions occurring after the Effective Time Period, not to rely on such acknowledgement or agreement in any manner against Samsung or its Subsidiaries or their past, present or future distributors or customers before any court, government agencies, other regulatory body or arbitrator, and further covenant that no evidence of such acknowledgement or agreement may be introduced in any motion, hearing, trial or other proceeding by or on behalf of Rambus or its Subsidiaries against Samsung or its Subsidiaries or their past, present or future distributors or customers.
 
3.2            Stock Purchase Agreement .  Rambus and Samsung Electronics shall enter into the Stock Purchase Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”).  Concurrent with the execution and delivery of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Rambus and Samsung Electronics shall complete the equity investment in Rambus in accordance with the terms thereof.
 
3.3            Memorandum of Understanding .  Samsung Electronics and Rambus shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ MOU ”).
 

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
8

 
 
Article 4
 
Releases
 
Effective as of the Release Date but subject to the delivery of the Initial Payment in accordance with Article 2, the execution and delivery of the License Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the MOU in accordance with Article 3, and the completion of the equity investment in Rambus in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, none of the Parties’ releases, covenants not to sue, or other obligations under this Article 4 shall be effective until Samsung has delivered the full amount of the Initial Payment in accordance with Article 2 and the Parties have complied with their other obligations under this sentence):
 
4.1            Release by Rambus .  Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably releases, acquits, and forever discharges Samsung, its Subsidiaries, its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys from any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind arising from or that could have been raised based upon the facts and circumstances alleged or asserted in any pleading, motion, brief or other paper filed by Rambus in the Patent Litigation, the Antitrust Litigation, the Delaware Litigation or the Virginia Litigation up until the Effective Date.  To the extent not covered in the preceding sentence, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby further irrevocably releases, acquits, and forever discharges Samsung, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys from any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind (i) for infringement of the Rambus Patents arising from the manufacture, use, importation, sale and offer for sale of Samsung Products up until the Effective Date to the extent that infringement by such Samsung Products would have been licensed under the License Agreement if such License Agreement had been in existence at the time of such infringing activity or (ii) otherwise relating in any way to any act or omission concerning any anticompetitive, tortious or unfair business practice arising from the manufacture, use, marketing, sale, offer for sale, and/or importation of any Samsung Product up until the Effective Date.
 
4.2            Release by Samsung .  Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges Rambus, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys from any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind arising from or that could have been raised based upon the facts and circumstances alleged or asserted in any pleading, motion, brief or other paper filed by Samsung in the Patent Litigation, the Antitrust Litigation, the Delaware Litigation or the Virginia Litigation up until the Effective Date.  To the extent not covered in the preceding sentence, Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby further irrevocably releases, acquits, and forever discharges Rambus, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys from any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind (i) for infringement of any Samsung Patents arising from the manufacture, use, importation, sale and offer for sale of any Rambus product up until the Effective Date to the extent that infringement by such product would have been licensed under the License Agreement if such License Agreement had been in existence at the time of such infringing activity. or (ii) otherwise relating in any way to any act or omission concerning any anticompetitive, tortious or unfair business practice arising from the manufacture, use, marketing, sale, offer for sale, and/or importation of any Rambus Product up until the Effective Date.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
9

 
 
4.3            Additional Release by Samsung .  Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby irrevocably releases, acquits and forever discharges Rambus from any defenses, claims, counterclaims, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action of any kind and nature that Samsung or its Subsidiaries might raise or assert in an effort avoid, defer or modify its obligations under the License Agreement, including but not limited to its obligation to make the License Payments, except as expressly permitted under the License Agreement, including for instance and by way of example, claims or defenses based on the allegation, or on the finding, determination or judgment in any reexamination, action or other proceeding that one or more of the patent claims licensed under the License Agreement is invalid, unenforceable or not infringed, that the License Agreement is not enforceable or should be rescinded or revised, or that Rambus has committed any type of patent misuse.
 
4.4            Releases Shall Remain Effective .  Each of Rambus and Samsung acknowledges that, after entering into this Agreement, they may discover facts different from, or in addition to, those they now believe to be true with respect to the conduct of the other Party.  Each of Rambus and Samsung intends that the releases and discharges set forth in this Article 4 shall be, and shall remain, in effect in all respects as written, notwithstanding the discovery of any different or additional facts.
 
4.5            Waiver of California Civil Code § 1542 .  In connection with the releases and discharges described in this Article 4, each of Rambus and Samsung acknowledges that it is aware of the provisions of section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, and hereby expressly waives and relinquishes all rights and benefits that it has or may have had under that section (or any equivalent law or rule of any other jurisdiction), which reads as follows:
 
A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
10

 
 
4.6            Covenants Not to Sue .
 
(a)           Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby covenants not to assert any claims of infringement of the Rambus Patents against Samsung, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, attorneys, distributors and customers solely arising from the use, importation, sale and offer for sale of Samsung Products up until the Effective Date to the extent that Samsung, its Subsidiaries, and such former or current directors, officers, employees, attorneys, distributors or customers would not have been liable for such use, importation, sale and offer for sale of Samsung Products had the License Agreement been in existence at the time of such infringing activity.
 
(b)           Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby covenants not to assert any claims of infringement of the Samsung Patents against Rambus, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, attorneys, distributors and customers solely arising from the use, importation, sale or offer for sale of any Rambus product up until the Effective Date to the extent that Rambus, its Subsidiaries, and such former or current directors, officers, employees, attorneys, distributors or customers would not have been liable for such use, importation, sale and offer for sale of Rambus products had the License Agreement been in existence at the time of such infringing activity.
 
(c)           Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby covenants not to assert against Samsung, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys any action or other proceeding based upon any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action released by Rambus pursuant to clause (ii) of the last sentence of Section 4.1.
 
(d)           Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby covenants not to assert against Rambus, its Subsidiaries, and its and their respective former or current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys any action or other proceeding based upon any claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action released by Samsung pursuant to clause (ii) of the last sentence of Section 4.2.
 
4.7            Certain Exclusions .  For the avoidance of doubt:
 
(a)           The releases and covenants not to sue contained in this Article 4 (other than the releases set forth in Section 4.3) shall apply solely to activities occurring prior to the Effective Date.  In no event shall the releases and covenants not to sue contained in this Article 4 apply to (i) any Third Party that may acquire or combine with any Party or its Subsidiaries or (ii) any Third Party, portion of a Third Party, and/or any portion of the assets of business of a Third Party that may be acquired by or combined with any Party or its Subsidiaries, in each case after the Effective Date.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
11

 
 
(b)           The releases and covenants not to sue contained in this Article 4 are not intended to and do not extend to any defendant in either the Patent Litigation or the Antitrust Litigation (or any of their Subsidiaries), unless that defendant is explicitly named as a Party to this Agreement, or to any Excluded Entity or its Subsidiaries.
 
4.8            Dismissals and Other Provisions Terminating the Disputes .
 
(a)           On the Effective Date, Samsung and Rambus, through their respective counsel, shall execute or cause to be executed stipulations for dismissal dismissing with prejudice all of the claims, counterclaims, cross-claims and cross-complaints asserted against one another (but only as to one another and not to the extent asserted against others) in the Patent Litigation and the Antitrust Litigation in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits D-1 through D-6.  On the Release Date, Samsung and Rambus, through their respective counsel, shall cause such stipulations for dismissal to be entered, subject to receipt by Rambus of the full amount of the Initial Payment pursuant to Section 2.1.
 
(b)           Samsung shall, within five (5) business days of the Release Date, file a request to withdraw its Amicus Curiae Brief in Hynix Semiconductor, Inc., et al. v. Rambus, Inc. , United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Case No. 2009-1299, -1347.
 
(c)           Both Parties shall, within ten (10) business days following the Release Date, withdraw any pending complaints, actions, or other proceedings they may have pending against the other Party or its Subsidiaries before any regulatory body anywhere in the world related to the claims, counterclaims, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action released by this Agreement or that relate in any way to the Rambus Patents or the Samsung Patents.  For the avoidance of doubt, this provision does not require Rambus to withdraw any complaint or other proceeding as against parties other than other than Samsung or its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to the Patent Litigation and the Antitrust Litigation.
 
(d)           Within ten (10) business days following the Release Date, Samsung shall, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, withdraw, cease to prosecute or pursue and notify the Patent and Trademark Office that it no longer intends to participate in, the Patent Actions.
 
(e)           In the event that Rambus sues Samsung, its Subsidiaries, or its or their respective former or current directors, officers, employees and attorneys for infringement of one or more of the patents asserted by Rambus in the Patent Litigation as a result of the manufacture (or having manufactured), use, importation, sale or offer for sale of Samsung Products, to the extent that such Samsung Products are not Licensed Product under the License Agreement, Rambus agrees that it will not contend that the stipulations for dismissal with prejudice filed in the Patent Litigation pursuant to subparagraph (a) above bar Samsung, its Subsidiaries, or its or their respective former or current directors, officers, employees and attorneys from raising in its or their defense in such action involving Samsung Products that are not Licensed Product under the License Agreement that (i) all or any of such patents are invalid, or that (ii) all or any of such patents are unenforceable by reason of failure to disclose art or other information to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, to the extent such defense was raised in the Patent Litigation.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
12

 
 
4.9            Costs and Attorneys’ Fees .  For all cases, including but not limited to the Patent Litigation and the Antitrust Litigation, the Parties agree that each will pay its own costs and attorneys’ fees.
 
4.10           No Admission .  Nothing contained in any of the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements, or done or omitted in connection with any of the Comprehensive Resolution Agreements, is intended as, or shall be construed as, an admission by any Party of any fault, liability or wrongdoing.
 
4.11           No Further Actions .  As part of the settlement of claims and releases contemplated by this Agreement, during the term of the License Agreement, and in each case unless and to the extent required by subpoena or judicial or regulatory agency order or rule:
 
(a)           Samsung covenants not to bring, or aid, assist or participate in, any action challenging or contesting the assertion, enforcement, validity or enforceability of, or any use or infringement by any Third Party of, the Rambus Patents, including but not limited to filing, requesting, participating or assisting in any of the Patent Actions; and
 
(b)           Each Party covenants not to support, cooperate with or otherwise assist any entity in any dispute against the other Party or its Subsidiaries, or any regulatory body in any proceeding involving the other Party or its Subsidiaries, in any matter related to the claims, counterclaims, defenses, demands, damages, debts, liabilities, accounts, actions and causes of action released by this Agreement, including but not limited to filing, requesting, participating or assisting in any United States, European, or other patent office reexamination proceedings, actions, challenges, oppositions or interferences with respect to Patents of the other Party or its Subsidiaries, and filing amicus curiae briefs in the Patent Litigation, the Antitrust Litigation, or any other Dispute.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
13

 
 
Article 5
 
Warranties
 
Each Party represents, warrants and covenants, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, to the other Party during the term of this Agreement:
 
5.1            Due Organization .  Such Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation with the requisite corporate authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.
 
5.2            Due Authorization; Enforceability .  Such Party has the requisite corporate or other authority to enter into, and to grant the releases and discharges, make the covenants, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, and otherwise to carry out its and its Subsidiaries’ obligations hereunder.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Party and its Subsidiaries has been duly authorized by all necessary action of such Party and its Subsidiaries, and no other act or proceeding on the part of or on behalf of such Party and its Subsidiaries is necessary to approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance by such Party and its Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Party and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally, by general equity principles or by limitations on indemnification pursuant to public policy.
 
5.3            No Conflicts; No Consents .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Party and its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to the granting of the releases and discharges contemplated hereby, will not infringe any law, regulation, judgment or order applicable to such Party and its Subsidiaries and is not and will not be contrary to the provisions of the constitutional documents of such Party and its Subsidiaries and will not (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) result in any breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any instrument or agreement to which such Party and its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or its property is bound.  All consents and approvals of any court, government agencies or other regulatory body required by such Party and its Subsidiaries for the execution, delivery and performance of the terms of this Agreement have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
 
5.4            No Assignment of Claims .  Each Party represents and warrants that it has not assigned, transferred or granted to any Third Party any rights or interests with respect to any claim or cause of action, or any right(s) underlying any claim or cause of action, it had, has, or may have against the other or its Subsidiaries as of, or prior to, the Effective Date of this Agreement.
 
 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
14

 
 
Article 6
 
Notices and other Communications
 
6.1           Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be made or given to either Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficiently made or given within three (3) business days of the date of mailing if sent to such Party by overnight express air courier and by registered First Class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such Party at the address set forth below, or to such other address as a Party shall designate by written notice given to the other Party:
 
In the case of Samsung:
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Jay Shim
Vice President and General Patent Counsel
San #16 Banwol-Dong
Hwaseong-City, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea 445-701
 
In the case of Rambus:
 
Rambus Inc.
Thomas R. Lavelle
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
4440 El Camino Real
Los Altos, CA 94022
 
(with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to the following:)
 
Satish Rishi
Chief Financial Officer
Rambus Inc.
4440 El Camino Real
Los Altos, CA 94022
 
 
Article 7
 
Successors and Assigns
 
7.1           Subject to the limitation in Section 4.7, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, and upon any corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other entity into or with which any Party hereto may merge, combine or consolidate.  For the avoidance of doubt, this provision does not govern the rights or obligations of successors or assigns of the Parties under either the License Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement or the MOU.  The releases, dismissals and covenants granted by each Party and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement (but not any benefits received by such Party or its Subsidiaries under this Agreement) shall run with (i) in the case of Samsung, the Samsung Patents or (ii) in the case of Rambus, the Rambus Patents, and remain in full force and effect regardless of any subsequent assignment, sale or other transfer of any such Samsung Patents or Rambus Patents or any rights or interests therein.  Any such assignment, sale, or transfer of rights in contravention of the foregoing shall be null and void ab initio and of no force or effect.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
15

 

 
Article 8
 
Dispute Resolution
 
8.1            Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law provision or rule (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
 
8.2            English Language .  This Agreement is executed in the English language and no translation shall have any legal effect.
 
8.3            Jurisdiction and Venue .  Any legal action, suit or proceeding arising under, or relating to, this Agreement, shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California or, if such court shall decline to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, in the San Francisco Superior Court, and each Party agrees that any such action, suit or proceeding may be brought only in such courts.  Each Party further waives any objection to the laying of jurisdiction and venue for any such suit, action or proceeding in such courts.
 
Article 9
 
Miscellaneous
 
9.1            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the License Agreement, the Stock Purchase Agreement, and the MOU, constitute the entire agreement between the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all prior negotiations, representations, warranties, undertakings or agreements, written or oral, between the Parties regarding such subject matter.
 
9.2            Relationship of the Parties .  Nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Comprehensive Resolution Agreement shall be construed as creating any association, partnership, joint venture or the relation of principal and agent between Rambus and Samsung.  Each Party is acting as an independent contractor, and no Party shall have the authority to bind any other Party or its representatives in any way.
 
9.3            Headings and Recitals .  The headings of the several articles and sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  The recitals to this Agreement are intended to be a part of and affect the meaning and interpretation of this Agreement.
 
9.4            Amendment .  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing executed by authorized representatives of each of the Parties.
 
 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
16

 
 
9.5            No Assignment .  This Agreement is personal to the Parties, and the Agreement and/or any right or obligation hereunder is not assignable, whether in conjunction with a change in ownership, merger, acquisition, the sale or transfer of all, or substantially all or any part of either Party’s or any of their respective Subsidiaries’ business or assets or otherwise, voluntarily, by operation of law, reverse triangular merger or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of such other Party.  Each Party understands that, as a condition to such consent, the other Party may require it to convey, assign or otherwise transfer its rights and obligations under the other Comprehensive Resolution Agreements to the entity assuming such Party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any such purported or attempted assignment or transfer in violation of the foregoing shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement and shall be null and void.  A Change of Control of either Party shall be deemed an assignment.  For purposes of the foregoing, a Change of Control” means a transaction or a series of related transactions in which (a) one or more Third Parties who did not previously Control a Party obtain Control of such Party, or (b) the subject Party merges with or transfers substantially all of its assets to a Third Party where the shareholders of the assigning Party, immediately before the transaction or series of related transactions, own less than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the acquiring or surviving entity immediately after the transaction or series of related transactions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either Party shall be entitled to, and each Party hereby agrees to, assign this Agreement to a successor to all or substantially all of a Party’s assets in a transaction entered into solely to change a Party’s place of incorporation.
 
9.6            Interpretation .  Each Party confirms that it and its respective counsel have reviewed, negotiated and adopted this Agreement as the agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto and the language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties hereto to express their mutual intent.  Neither Party shall be considered to be the drafter of this Agreement or any of its provisions for the purpose of any statute, case law, or rule of interpretation or construction that would, or might cause, any provision to be construed against such Party.
 
9.7            Authority .  Each Party represents that it is fully authorized to enter into the terms and conditions of, and to execute, this Agreement.
 
9.8            No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the Parties hereto or their respective permitted assignees, successors in interest, and Subsidiaries any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.  The former and current directors, officers, employees, and attorneys of the Parties and their Subsidiaries are intended beneficiaries of Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7.
 
9.9            Severability .  If any provision of any Comprehensive Resolution Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the meaning of such provision shall be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable and to effectuate the intent and purpose of the Parties with respect to such invalid or unenforceable provision, and if no feasible interpretation shall save such provision, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to effectuate, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of the Parties with respect to such invalid or unenforceable provision, and (b) the remainder of such Comprehensive Resolution Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
17

 
 
9.10           No Waiver .  The failure of either Party to enforce, at any time, any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions, and shall not be deemed in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part thereof, or the right of either Party to later enforce each and every such provision.  No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
 
9.11           Counterparts; Facsimile Transmission .  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Each Party may rely on facsimile or .pdf signature pages as if such facsimile or .pdf pages were originals.
 
9.12           Further Actions .  Each of the Parties hereto agrees to take and cause its Subsidiaries to take any and all actions reasonably necessary in order to effectuate the intent, and to carry out the provisions, of this Agreement.
 
9.13           Public Disclosures and Confidentiality .  The Parties shall issue a press release with respect to the Comprehensive Resolution Agreement in a mutually acceptable form.  Each Party agrees that, after the issuance of such press release, each Party shall be entitled to disclose the general nature of this Agreement, but that the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to the extent not already disclosed pursuant to such press release, shall be treated as confidential information and that neither Party will disclose such terms or conditions to any Third Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, provided, however, that each Party may disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement:
 
(a)          as required by any court or other governmental body;
 
(b)          as otherwise required by law;
 
(c)          as otherwise may be required by applicable securities and other law and regulation, including to legal and financial advisors in their capacity of advising a party in such matters, so long as the disclosing Party shall seek confidential treatment of such terms and conditions to the extent reasonably possible;
 
(d)          to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional advisors of the Parties;
 
(e)          in confidence, to banks, investors and other financing sources and their advisors;
 
(f)           in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or rights under this Agreement;
 
     (g)         during the course of litigation so long as the disclosure of such terms and conditions are restricted in the same manner as is the confidential information of other litigating parties and so long as (A) the restrictions are embodied in a court-entered protective order limiting disclosure to outside counsel and (B) the disclosing party informs the other party in writing at least ten (10) business days in advance of the disclosure and discusses the nature and contents of the disclosure, in good faith, with the other party (for purposes of this provision, the Protective Order entered in the Antitrust Litigation is acceptable, as long as the disclosure is designated as both “Highly Confidential-BP and Highly Confidential-IP”); or
 
     (h)          in confidence, in connection with an actual or prospective merger or acquisition or similar transaction.
 
In addition, upon execution of this Agreement, or thereafter, Rambus, in its discretion, shall be entitled to file a copy of this Agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, so long as Rambus seeks confidential treatment of such agreement to the extent reasonably possible.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
18

 
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly and executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the Parties hereto as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
RAMBUS INC.
 
By:   /s/ Harold Hughes                                                                                                                          
 
Name: Harold Hughes                                                                                                            
 
 
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
 
By:   /s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon                                                                                                                         
 
Name: Oh-Hyun Kwon                                                                                                           
 
 
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS AMERICA, INC.
 
By:   /s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon for CS Choi                                                                                                    
 
Name: Changsoo Choi                                                                                                            
 
 
SAMSUNG SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
 
By:  /s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon for WH Hong                                                                                               
 
Name: Wanhoon Hong                                                                                                           
 
 
SAMSUNG AUSTIN SEMICONDUCTOR, L.P.
 
By:  /s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon for WS Han                                                                                                   
 
Name: Woosung Han                                                                                                             
 

 

 

The registrant agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit.
 



Exhibit 10.2
 
Conformed Copy
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
Semiconductor Patent License Agreement
 
 
Between
 
 
Rambus Inc.
 
 
and
 
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
SEMICONDUCTOR PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT
 

This SEMICONDUCTOR PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on this 19 th day of January, 2010 (“Effective Date”) by and between Rambus Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware, U.S.A., having its principal place of business at 4440 El Camino Real, Los Altos, California 94022, U.S.A., (hereinafter “Rambus”) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a Korean corporation having its principal place of business at San # 16, Banwol-Dong, Hwasung-City, Gyeonggi-Do, Korea, 445-701 (hereinafter “Samsung”).
 
WHEREAS, the parties are currently parties to a number of disputes relating to the Samsung products and the Rambus patents, including but not limited to disputes as to whether claims of Rambus patents are infringed by Samsung products and the Antitrust Litigation, and recognize that, without this Agreement, given the diversity of claims of the Rambus patents, and the breadth of technologies utilized by the Samsung products, Rambus could, after the Effective Date, assert that other claims of Rambus patents are infringed by Samsung products;
 
WHEREAS , the parties recognize that litigation of such is inherently uncertain, and is subject to certain risks and to various possible outcomes, some of which would b e more favorable to Rambus, and some of which would be more favorable to Samsung;
 
WHEREAS , concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties have entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) to eliminate the risks associated with such litigation and to enter into a comprehensive resolution to compromise, settle and release certain existing disputes between them, and to compromise, resolve and avoid other disputes that may arise after the Effective Date with respect to the Samsung products and the Rambus patents;
 
WHEREAS , as part of such comprehensive resolution, the parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS , because this Agreement is part of such comprehensive resolution, the parties acknowledge that it is therefore essential that their respective obligations under this Agreement be certain and not subject to collateral attack, or otherwise subject to change or modification except on the terms expressly set forth herein.
 
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and premises contained herein, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties agree as follows:

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
2

 
 
1.            DEFINITIONS
 
1.1
“Acquired Business” means a Third Party, the portion of a Third Party, and/or any portion of the assets or business of a Third Party that Samsung or its Subsidiaries acquire in an Acquisition.
 
1.2
“Acquisition” means, as to a party, a transaction or a series of related transactions in which such party acquires, through merger (including reverse triangular merger), acquisition of stock, acquisition of assets or otherwise, a Third Party and/or any portion of the assets or business of a Third Party.
 
1.3
“Acquisition Date” means the effective date of any Acquisition completed by Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries as described under Section 3.3.
 
1.4
Antitrust Litigation means the matter entitled Rambus Inc. v. Micron Technology Inc. et al. , No. 04-431105 (Supr. Ct. Cal., San Fran. Filed May 5, 2004).
 
1.5
“Change of Control” means a transaction or a series of related transactions in which (i) one or more Third Parties who did not previously Control a party obtain Control of such party, or (ii) the subject party merges with or transfers substantially all of its assets to a Third Party where the shareholders of the assigning party, immediately before the transaction or series of related transactions, own less than a fifty percent (50%) interest in the acquiring or surviving entity immediately after the transaction or series of related transactions.
 
1.6
“Combination Product” means either (a) a Component containing two (2) or more Integrated Circuits at least one of which is a Licensed Product and where all other Integrated Circuits contained in such Component are each either a Licensed Product or a Permitted Third Party Product, or (b) solely that portion of a Component consisting of a combination of two (2) or more Integrated Circuits that are each a Licensed Product (“Eligible Portion”) where such Component also contains an Integrated Circuit that is neither a Licensed Product nor a Permitted Third Party Product.  For clarity, an Eligible Portion may not contain any Integrated Circuit that is not a Licensed Product.
 
1.7
“Combination Product License” means the rights and licenses granted under Section 2.1(c).
 
1.8
“Component” means a product comprised of one or more Integrated Circuits physically connected, stacked, or attached to a unitary substrate or other Integrated Circuit where all other elements of such product are passive elements intended to provide physical support, packaging and/or connectivity with respect to such Integrated Circuits.  Examples of Components would include DIMMs, SIMMs and other modules, and cards, multi-chip packages (MCP), system-on-chip, system-in-package, system-on-insulator, solid state storage devices, and other form factors.
 

  ________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
3

 
 
1.9
“Control” (including “Controlled” and other forms) of an entity means (a) beneficial ownership (whether directly or indirectly through entities or other means) of more than  fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of that entity or (b) in the case of an entity that has no outstanding voting securities, having the power (whether directly or indirectly through entities or other means) presently to designate more than fifty percent (50%) of the directors of a corporation, or in the case of unincorporated entities, of individuals exercising similar functions. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, where Samsung has fifty percent (50%) of such beneficial ownership or power to designate with respect to any other entity, Samsung shall be deemed to “Control” such other entity if such other entity is part of the “Samsung Group of Companies” and such entity is lawfully registered under a corporate name, and lawfully operates and generally and routinely conducts its business under a corporate name, that includes “Samsung,” provided that , such entity agrees in a writing, delivered to both Parties within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date (or if later, within thirty (30) days after formation of such entity), to be bound by all applicable terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
1.10
“DDR DRAM” means each double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for DDR DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x4, x8 and/or x16.
 
1.11
“DDR2 DRAM” means each double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for DDR2 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x4, x8 and/or x16.
 
1.12
“DDR3 DRAM” means each double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for DDR3 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x4, x8 and/or x16.
 
1.13
“DRAM” means a dynamic random access memory Integrated Circuit the primary purpose of which is data storage and retrieval.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
4

 
 
1.14
“DRAM Controller” means any Integrated Circuit having circuitry integrated thereon or contained therein that is capable through an Interface of transmitting and/or receiving data from a DRAM.
 
1.15
“Effective Date” has the meaning assigned in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
 
1.16
“Existing Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 3.3(b) below.
 
1.17
“Expiration Date” means the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the Effective Date.
 
1.18
“Foundry Product” means any product that would constitute a Paid-up Product or Term Product but for the fact that such product does not constitute a Samsung Product.
 
1.19
“Foundry Product License” means the rights and licenses granted under Section 2.1(d) below.
 
1.20
“GDDR DRAM” means each graphics double date rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for GDDR DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x16 and x32.
 
1.21
“GDDR2 DRAM” means each graphics double date rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for GDDR2 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x16 and x32.
 
1.22
“GDDR3 DRAM” means each graphics double date rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for GDDR3 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x16 and x32.
 
1.23
“GDDR4 DRAM” means each graphics double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for GDDR4 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x16 and x32.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
5

 
 
1.24
“GDDR5 DRAM” means each graphics double data rate DRAM that (a) implements those interface features, parameters, and protocols in the same manner in all material respects as the DRAM Sold by Samsung or its Subsidiaries on or before the Effective Date as “GDDR5 DRAM” or implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for GDDR5 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol contained in DRAM Sold by Samsung or its Subsidiaries on or before the Effective Date as “GDDR5 DRAM;” and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; (2) with data bit width other than x16 and x32.
 
1.25
“Indirect Infringement” means any form of alleged patent infringement where the accused infringer is not directly infringing the subject patent right(s), but is in some manner liable for a Third Party’s direct infringement of the subject patent right(s) by, for example (without limitation), supplying designs, parts or instructions to the Third Party that enable such Third Party to infringe directly the subject patent right(s). Indirect Infringement includes without limitation contributory infringement and inducing infringement.
 
1.26
“Integrated Circuit” means a single, discrete integrated circuit chip, whether in wafer, cingulated die or packaged die form.
 
1.27
“Interface” means an electrical, optical, RF, mechanical, or software data path that is capable of transmitting and/or receiving information between two or more (a) Integrated Circuits or (b) portions of an Integrated Circuit, in each case together with the set of protocols defining the electrical, physical, timing and/or functional characteristics, sequences and/or control procedures of such data path.
 
1.28
“JEDEC” means the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, originally known as the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council, a non-stock corporation organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
 
1.29
“Licensed Product” means a Paid-up Product, Term Product, or Combination Product made (including have made), used, Sold, offered for Sale, and/or imported pursuant to the Paid-up Product License, the Term Product License and Combination Product License, respectively.
 
1.30
“Licensed Foundry Product Portion” means that portion of a Foundry Product made, used, Sold, offered for Sale, and/or imported pursuant to the Foundry Product License.
 
1.31
“LPDDR DRAM” means each low-power double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for LPDDR DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x8, x16 and/or x32.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
6

 
 
1.32
“LPDDR2 DRAM” means each low-power double data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for LPDDR2 DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x8, x16 and/or x32.
 
1.33
“Other DRAM” means any DRAM that does not constitute a Paid-up Product.
 
1.34
“Paid-up Product” means each Samsung Product that is SDR DRAM, DDR DRAM, DDR2 DRAM, DDR3 DRAM, GDDR DRAM, GDDR2 DRAM, GDDR3 DRAM, GDDR4 DRAM, GDDR5 DRAM, LPDDR DRAM, and LPDDR2 DRAM.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, any product that constitutes a Rambus Leadership Product shall be deemed not to be a Paid-up Product.
 
1.35
“Paid-up Product License” means the rights and licenses granted pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
 
1.36
“Patents” means patents and utility models and applications therefor, including, without limitation, all continuations, continuations-in-part and divisionals thereof, in all countries of the world that now or hereafter are (i) owned or controlled by the applicable party hereto and its Subsidiaries and/or (ii) otherwise licensable by the applicable party hereto and its Subsidiaries, in each case of (i) and (ii) where such party and its Subsidiaries have the right to grant the licenses, sublicenses or other rights and covenants of the scope granted herein.
 
1.37
“Permitted Third Party Product” means any Integrated Circuit that is neither a Samsung Product nor a DRAM, SerDes IC, DRAM Controller, Synchronous Flash Memory or Synchronous Flash Controller.
 
1.38
“Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment” means each quarterly fixed amount initially payable by Samsung under this Agreement upon Samsung’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Acquisition of any Acquisition Products as provided for under Section 3.3.
 
1.39
“Quarterly Base Payment” means twenty-five million United States Dollars (US$25,000,000).

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
7

 
 
1.40
“Quarterly Buffer” means, for a subject quarter during this Agreement, the following upper limit (“Ceiling”) and lower limit (“Floor”) for such quarter.

 
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
Quarter
 
5 – 8
9 – 12
13 – 16
17 – 20
Ceiling
[***]
[***]
[***]
[***]
Floor
[***]
[***]
[***]
[***]
 
1.41
“Quarterly DRAM Revenue” means the total amount of revenue Samsung and its Subsidiaries received for Sales of DRAM during a subject quarter as reported by iSuppli Corporation (“iSuppli”) in its DRAM Market Tracker (or in such alternate source as may be used as set forth below) for the subject quarter. Upon the earlier of, either iSuppli (or such alternate source) (1) ceasing to report such information on a quarterly basis, or (2) failing to report such information by the end of the quarter two (2) quarters after the subject quarter, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine an alternate source for determining the Quarterly DRAM Revenue for the subject quarter, provided that, if the parties fail to reach agreement on such alternate source within thirty (30) days following the second quarter after the subject quarter for which such Quarterly DRAM Revenue report was not available, then either party may, as its sole and exclusive remedy to resolve such dispute, submit such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to Section 8 and Samsung’s obligation to remit its Quarterly License Payment pursuant to Section 4.1 for the subject quarter shall be tolled until the earlier of either the final resolution of such arbitration determining such alternate source or the parties’ agreement on an alternate source.
 
1.42
“Quarterly License Payment” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1.
 
1.43
“Quarterly Reference DRAM Revenue” means the sum of the Quarterly DRAM Revenue for 2010 divided by four (4).
 
1.44
“Quarterly DRAM Revenue Ratio” means the ratio of the Quarterly DRAM Revenue and the Quarterly Reference DRAM Revenue.
 
1.45
“Rambus Applicable Manufacturing Claims” are defined and determined separately for each specific product. For each such product, a Rambus Applicable Manufacturing Claim means each process or method claim of a Rambus Patent [***] infringed when such product is made (or have made).
 
1.46
“Rambus Applicable Patent Claims” means Rambus Applicable Manufacturing Claims and Rambus Applicable Product Claims.
 
1.47
“Rambus Applicable Product Claims” are defined and determined separately for each specific product. For each such product, a Rambus Applicable Product Claim means each claim of a Rambus Patent [***] infringed by the use, Sale, Offer for Sale, or import of such product in the form first made (or have made).

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
8

 
 
1.48
“Rambus Leadership Product” means any product that implements a Rambus Proprietary Specification.
 
1.49
“Rambus Patents” means Patents of Rambus and its Subsidiaries.
 
1.50
“Rambus Product Design” means any human or machine readable representation of the design, such as a circuit layout in a drawing or a register transfer level description (RTL) file, for any product, element or instrumentality, including, but not limited to any Rambus Leadership Product.
 
1.51
“Rambus Product Design License” means the rights and licenses granted under Section 2.2.
 
1.52
“Rambus Proprietary Specification” means any Technical Specification that is first designed and developed (as demonstrated by customary means, including, but not limited to, engineering notebooks) by, or on behalf of, Rambus or any of its Subsidiaries, over which Rambus and/or any of its Subsidiaries has exclusive control and that neither Rambus nor any of its Subsidiaries has voluntarily (a) disclosed except under a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement; or (b) proposed or disclosed to any standards setting organization. In addition to the foregoing sentence, Rambus Proprietary Specification also includes any Technical Specification exclusively acquired by Rambus from a Third Party where such Technical Specification would otherwise meet the definition of a Rambus Proprietary Specification had Rambus, and not the relevant Third Party, been the original developer and owner of such Technical Specification.  Notwithstanding the above, a Technical Specification independently developed by or on behalf of Samsung, or by a Third Party and acquired by Samsung, shall not be deemed to be a Rambus Proprietary Specification, even if it describes similar or identical functions.  A Technical Specification shall not be deemed to be independently developed for purposes of the preceding sentence to the extent such Technical Specification, or any portion thereof, was developed or derived based on information (i) for which Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Third Party, is bound by an obligation of confidentiality or non-use to Rambus; (ii) obtained from any other Third Party in violation of its obligation of confidentiality or non-use to Rambus; or (iii) obtained by Samsung, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Third Party based on reverse engineering of any product that implements a Rambus Proprietary Specification.
 
1.53
“Samsung Applicable Manufacturing Claims” are defined and determined separately for each specific product. For each such product, a Samsung Applicable Manufacturing Claim means each process or method claim of a Samsung Patent [***] infringed when such product is made (or have made).
 
1.54
“Samsung Applicable Patent Claims” means Samsung Applicable Manufacturing Claims and Samsung Applicable Product Claims.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
9

 
 
1.55
“Samsung Applicable Product Claims” are defined and determined separately for each specific product. For each such product, a Samsung Applicable Product Claim means each claim of a Samsung Patent [***] infringed by the use, Sale, Offer for Sale, or import of such product in the form first made (or have made).
 
1.56
“Samsung Patent” means Patents of Samsung and its Subsidiaries.
 
1.57
“Samsung Product” means, an Integrated Circuit, for which Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries either:
 
 
(a)
owns the entire design of such Integrated Circuit with no limitations on how it may use such design; and/or
 
 
(b)
has a license from the party or parties that created or otherwise owns the design of such Integrated Circuit, under which license Samsung and/or its Subsidiaries (i) can make (and/or have made) such Integrated Circuit; (ii) is free to Sell such made (or have made) Integrated Circuit without restriction as to whom Samsung and/or its Subsidiaries may Sell such Integrated Circuit and (iii) is not required or bound to discriminate in price or other terms with respect to such Integrated Circuit.
 
1.58
“SDR DRAM” means each single data rate DRAM that (a) implements the minimum set of features, parameters, and protocols defined or recommended in any final JEDEC-published specification for SDR DRAM; and (b) is solely capable of communicating with any other Integrated Circuit through the protocol defined or recommended in any such JEDEC-published specification and (c) is not Sold or specified as being capable of operating: (1) at a data transfer rate exceeding [***]; or (2) with data bit width other than x4, x8 and/or x16.
 
1.59
“Second Preceding Quarter” means, with respect to a subject quarter, the quarter that is two (2) quarters earlier than the subject quarter.  For example, the Second Preceding Quarter to the fourth (4 th ) quarter of this Agreement would be the second (2 nd ) quarter.
 
1.60
“Sell” (including “Sale” and “Sold” and other forms) means to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer or dispose of a product, or if the product is transferred and used internally by an entity, then such transfer and use shall also be deemed a Sale.
 
1.61
“SerDes IC” means any Integrated Circuit having circuitry integrated thereon or contained therein that (a) de-serializes data received by such Integrated Circuit from a different Integrated Circuit and/or (b) serializes data originating on such Integrated Circuit prior to transmitting such data to a different Integrated Circuit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Integrated Circuit, the primary purpose of which is data storage and/or retrieval shall be deemed not to be a SerDes IC.
 
1.62
“Settlement Agreement” has the meaning assigned in the recitals to this Agreement.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 

 
 
10

 
 
1.63
“Subsidiary” means with respect to any identified entity (“Identified Entity”), any entity Controlled by such Identified Entity, but only so long as such Control exists.
 
1.64
“Synchronous Flash Controller” means any Integrated Circuit having circuitry integrated thereon or contained therein that is capable through an Interface of transmitting and/or receiving data from a Synchronous Flash Memory.
 
1.65
“Synchronous Flash Memory” means any Integrated Circuit the primary purpose of which is data storage or retrieval that has a synchronous Interface and memory cells that retain data stored in such memory cells even when it ceases to receive electrical power.
 
1.66
“Technical Specification” means a final specification for an optical, RF, electrical, mechanical, or software component that describes all of the characteristics of such component necessary for such component to operate. As example, the electrical interface (including timing and signaling parameters and characteristics) for a data bus connecting two (2) Integrated Circuits would meet the definition of a Technical Specification provided that such interface specified all of the signals necessary for such data bus to function.
 
1.67
“Term” means, as the case may be, the (a) term of the Paid-Up License, (b) the term of the Term Product License; (c) term of the Combination Product License, and/or (d) term of the Foundry Product License in each case of (a), (b), (c) and (d) as provided for under Section 6.1.
 
1.68
“Term Product” means each Samsung Product that is a (a) Other DRAM; (b) DRAM Controller; (c) Synchronous Flash Memory; (d) Synchronous Flash Controller; (e) SerDes IC; and (f) any other Integrated Circuit other than a Paid-up Product. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, any product that constitutes a Rambus Leadership Product shall be deemed not to be a Term Product.
 
1.69
“Term Product License” means the rights and licenses granted under Section 2.1(b).
 
1.70
“Third Party” means with respect to (i) Rambus or any Subsidiary of Rambus, any entity that is not a Subsidiary of Rambus and (ii) with respect to Samsung or any Subsidiary of Samsung, any entity that is not a Subsidiary of Samsung.
 
1.71
“Ultimate Parent” means with respect to any identified entity (“Identified Entity”), any entity that Controls such Identified Entity and where such Controlling entity is not under the Control of any other entity.
 
2.
Grant of Rights
 
2.1
License to Samsung .
 
(a)            Paid-up Product License .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Samsung and its

 
 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
11

 
 
Subsidiaries, for each product that falls within the definition of a Paid-up Product:  a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-bearing, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the associated Rambus Applicable Patent Claims for such Paid-up Product, to make (including have made), use, Sell, offer for Sale, and/or import such Paid-up Product until the expiration or termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(a).
 
(b)            Term Product License .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Samsung and its Subsidiaries, for each product that falls within the definition of a Term Product:  a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-bearing, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the associated Rambus Applicable Patent Claims for such Term Product, to make (including have made), use, Sell, offer for Sale, and/or import such Term Product until the expiration or termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(b).
 
(c)            Combination Product License .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Samsung and its Subsidiaries, for each product that falls within the definition of a Combination Product:  a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-bearing, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the associated Rambus Applicable Patent Claims for such Combination Product, to make (including have made), use, Sell, offer for Sale, and/or import such Combination Product until the expiration or termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(c).  For clarity, the grant of the license to Combination Products pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) does not supersede or otherwise limit the licenses granted to each Term Product and Paid-up Product under Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.1(b), respectively, that may be contained in any such Combination Product.
 
(d)            Foundry Product License .  Except as expressly set forth in Sections 2.1(d)(i) and 2.1(d)(ii) below, all Foundry Products are expressly excluded from the licenses granted under Sections 2.1(a), 2.1(b) and 2.1(c) of this Agreement.
 
 
(i)
Manufacturing .  Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Samsung and its Subsidiaries, for any product that constitutes a Foundry Product: a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, under the associated Rambus Applicable Manufacturing Claims for such Foundry Product, to make (but not have made), use, Sell, and offer for Sale any such Foundry Product until the expiration or termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(d). For the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly set forth in Section 2.1(d)(ii), no license is granted under any Rambus Applicable Product Claims for any Foundry Products.
 
 
(ii)
Samsung Supplied Technology .  For any portion of a Foundry Product supplied by Samsung and/or its Subsidiaries (“Samsung Supplied Portion”) for which Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries either (1) owns the entire design of such Samsung Supplied Portion with no limitations on how it may use such design; and/or (2) has a license from the Third Party (or Third Parties) that created or otherwise owns the design of such  Samsung Supplied Portion, under which license Samsung and/or its Subsidiaries (i) can make (and/or have made) such  Samsung Supplied Portion; (ii) is free to Sell such made Samsung Supplied Portion without restriction as to whom Samsung and/or its Subsidiaries may Sell such Samsung Supplied Portion and (iii) is not required or bound to discriminate in price or other terms with respect to such Samsung Supplied Portion, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Samsung and its Subsidiaries, a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, under the associated Rambus Applicable Product Claims for such  Samsung Supplied Portion, to use, Sell, offer for Sale, or import any such Samsung Supplied Portion as part of any such Foundry Product until the expiration of termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(d).

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
12

 
 
2.2
Rambus Product Design License .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Samsung, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby grants to Rambus and its Subsidiaries, for each product that falls within the definition of Rambus Product Design:  a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license, without the right to sublicense, solely under the associated Samsung Applicable Patent Claims for such Rambus Product Design, to make (including have made), use, Sell, offer for Sale, and/or import such Rambus Product Design until the expiration or termination of this license pursuant to Section 6.1(e).  For the avoidance of doubt, this license does not in any way, expressly or impliedly, extend, nor is it intended to extend, to any devices or products made essentially based on or incorporating such Rambus Product Design or in combination of such Rambus Product Design.
 
2.3
Obligations When Transferring Patents .  Each party agrees that it shall take all actions necessary to ensure that any Third Party to whom any Patents are transferred, assigned or exclusively licensed or any right to enforce is granted (including any successor in interest thereto) is bound in writing to all covenants, licenses and other rights granted hereunder with respect such transferred, assigned or exclusively licensed Patents, provided further that if Rambus or any of its Subsidiaries transfers to any Third Party ownership of, or otherwise grants any Third Party the right to enforce, any claim of any Rambus Patent that is subject to the Covenant to Sue Last provided for under Section 2.4 below, such claim shall, upon such transfer of ownership or grant of right to enforce, automatically and immediately be deemed to be included in the rights and licenses granted hereunder with respect to Licensed Products and Licensed Foundry Product Portions notwithstanding the fact that such claim does not constitute a Rambus Applicable Patent Claim.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
13

 
 
2.4
Covenant [***] .  For so long as a product constitutes a Licensed Product or Licensed Foundry Product Portion hereunder, Rambus, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, covenants that [***].
 
2.5
Full Force and Effect .  The parties expressly acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Agreement shall in any way limit or alter the effect of the first sale or patent exhaustion doctrines under U.S. law, and any equivalent or similar doctrines under the law of any jurisdiction with respect to Rambus Applicable Patent Claims with respect to any Licensed Product or Licensed Foundry Product Portion based on the Sale of such Licensed Product or Licensed Foundry Product Portion.
 
2.6
No Release, No Implied or Other Rights and Licenses .
 
 
(a)
The rights and licenses granted and covenants made herein apply solely to those products and activities expressly licensed during the Term.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to, and shall not be construed to, constitute any release, forbearance, forfeiture or other waiver of any rights of either party or their respective Subsidiaries to enforce any of their respective intellectual property rights with respect to any activities undertaken by either party, their respective Subsidiaries and/or any other Third Party to the extent not expressly granted or made hereunder. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit or alter any rights under applicable law relating to patent exhaustion.
 
 
(b)
Except as expressly provided for under this Agreement, no authorization, release, license, covenant or other right is granted or made, by implication, estoppel, acquiescence or otherwise under this Agreement, to either party, their respective Subsidiaries and/or any other Third Party under any patents, utility models, patent or utility model claims, or other intellectual property rights now or hereafter owned or controlled by either party or their respective Subsidiaries.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit or alter any rights under applicable law relating to patent exhaustion.
 
 
(c)
Except as expressly provided for under this Agreement, none of the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to, and shall not be construed to, constitute, whether by implication, estoppel, acquiescence or otherwise, (i) an authorization by either party, their respective Subsidiaries and/or any other Third Party to Sell, offer for Sale and/or import any product (1) in or for combination with any other element (including, but not limited to any function or feature), product or instrumentality; or (2) unconditionally for use in or for combination with any other element (including, but not limited to any function or feature), product or instrumentality; or (ii) a waiver by either party or their respective Subsidiaries of any liability for infringement based on either party’s, their respective Subsidiaries and/or any other Third Party’s use, Sale, offer for Sale and/or import of any product in combination with any other element (including, but not limited to any function or feature), product or instrumentality.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to limit or alter any rights under applicable law relating to patent exhaustion.
 
3.
Subsidiaries, Former Subsidiaries and Acquisitions
 
3.1
Subsidiaries . The parties intend that this Agreement shall extend to all of each party’s Subsidiaries.  The parties agree that to the extent they are not already bound, each party

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
14

 
 
shall ensure that all of its Subsidiaries (including without limitation all entities that become Subsidiaries after the Effective Date (“New Subsidiaries”)) are bound by the terms of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing:
 
 
(a)
each party shall ensure that each New Subsidiary’s patents, utility models and applications therefor are included within the definition of the applicable party’s Patents; and
 
 
(b)
each party shall ensure that each New Subsidiary is bound as applicable, by Section 2.3 and 2.4.
 
3.2
Former Subsidiaries . All rights and licenses granted and covenants made to any Subsidiary of either party shall immediately and automatically terminate upon a party ceasing to Control such entity (“Former Subsidiary”).  However, if a Subsidiary of a party that holds any patent or utility model or applications therefor that are subject to the rights and licenses granted or covenants made hereunder becomes a Former Subsidiary, such rights and licenses granted or covenants made by such Former Subsidiary (including every successor entity in interest to any such patents or utility models and applications therefor) shall continue in accordance with the terms of this Agreement after such entity becomes a Former Subsidiary.
 
3.3
Acquisitions .
 
 
(a)
Acquired Business [***] .  If Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries completes an Acquisition where [***] then Samsung shall pay Rambus a fixed quarterly payment (in addition to Samsung’s Quarterly License Payments or any other Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment owed pursuant to Section 3.3(b) in connection with such Acquisition or any other Acquisition), based on such Acquisition, starting, on a prorated basis, with the first calendar quarter during which the Acquisition Date occurred, [***].  If iSuppli data as required for the calculations in this Section 3.3(a) is not available for an Acquired Business or for Samsung, or the most recent version of such data covers a period ending more than twelve (12) months before the Acquisition Date, the parties shall initially meet within thirty (30) days following the associated Acquisition Date and negotiate in good faith an alternate source for the information that was to be provided by iSuppli. If the parties cannot reach agreement on such alternate source within thirty (30) days following the date required for such initial meeting, either party may, as its sole and exclusive remedy to resolve such dispute, submit such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3(d).  For the avoidance of doubt, any Acquired Business that has revenue attributable from the Sale of Acquisition Products of [***] or less (as reported by iSuppli for the most recent twelve (12) months preceding the Acquisition Date for which iSuppli has reported such Sales) shall be licensed without additional payments of any kind.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
15

 

 
 
(b)
Acquired Business [***] .  If Samsung or any of its Subsidiaries completes an Acquisition where [***], Samsung shall pay Rambus a fixed quarterly payment (in addition to Samsung’s Quarterly License Payments or any other Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment owed pursuant to Section 3.3(a) in connection with such Acquisition or any other Acquisition), based on such Acquisition, starting, on a pro-rated basis with the first calendar quarter during which the Acquisition Date occurred. [***] If the Existing Agreement required payments for less than four (4) quarters prior to the Acquisition Date, the parties shall initially meet within thirty (30) days following the associated Acquisition Date and negotiate in good faith an alternate method to determine the average quarterly payments from the Existing Agreement. If the parties cannot reach agreement on such alternate method within thirty (30) days following the date required for such initial meeting, then either party may, as its sole and exclusive remedy to resolve such dispute, submit such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3(d).
 
 
(c)
Attributable Revenue .  For purposes of the calculations in this Section 3.3, [***].
 
 
(d)
Dispute Resolution .  If the parties fail to resolve any dispute identified in this Section 3.3 as subject to binding arbitration, then either party may, as its sole and exclusive remedy, submit such dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to Section 8 and Samsung’s obligation to remit its Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment based on such disputed Acquisition pursuant to Section 5.1(a)(ii) shall be tolled until the earlier of either the final resolution of such arbitration or the parties’ resolution of such dispute, and in either case within thirty (30) days after such resolution Samsung will make all payments necessary to satisfy its payment obligations under this Section 3.3 from the date such obligations accrued.
 
3.4
No Release .  The releases granted and covenants made under Article IV of the Settlement Agreement shall not apply to any Acquired Business.  None of the rights and licenses granted and covenants made under Section 2 shall apply to any activity of any Acquired Business unless and until such Acquired Business becomes licensed hereunder in accordance with this Section 3, and in any case, none of the rights and licenses granted and covenants made under Section 2 shall apply to nor in any way reduce any liability associated with any activity of any Acquired Business that took place prior to the applicable Acquisition Date, provided that nothing in this Section 3.4 shall have the effect of negating or nullifying any release or license granted in any Existing Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 3.3, for any Acquisition for which Samsung wishes to acquire a release of liability for the Acquired Business for infringement of Rambus’ patents and/or utility models that took place prior to the applicable Acquisition Date, the parties will negotiate such release in good faith and may consider the calculations set forth in Section 3.3(a) and/or the total past liability for infringing Rambus’ patents and/or utility models incurred by such Acquired Business.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
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4.
CONSIDERATION
 
4.1
Quarterly License Payment . Beginning with the first calendar quarter of 2010, Samsung will pay Rambus the following quarterly payments (each a “Quarterly License Payment”):
 
 
(a)
First 6 Quarterly License Payments . Each of the first six (6) Quarterly License Payments due hereunder will be in the amount of the Quarterly Base Payment.
 
 
(b)
Quarterly License Payment for all remaining Quarters . The amount of each Quarterly License Payment for quarters seven (7) through twenty (20) will be calculated as follows.
 
 
(i)
If the Quarterly DRAM Revenue Ratio for the Second Preceding Quarter is [***], then the Quarterly License Payment for the subject quarter will be equal to the Quarterly Base Payment.
 
 
(ii)
If the Quarterly DRAM Revenue Ratio for the Second Preceding Quarter is [***], then the Quarterly License Payment for the subject quarter shall be equal to an amount based on the following calculation.
 
[***]
 
 
(iii)
If the Quarterly DRAM Revenue Ratio for the Second Preceding Quarter is [***], then the Quarterly License Payment for the subject quarter shall be equal to an amount based on the following calculation.
 
[***]
 
 
(iv)
Minimum and Maximum Quarterly License Payments .  Notwithstanding any adjustment to the Quarterly Base Payment made pursuant to the terms of this Section 4.1(b), in no event shall any Quarterly License Payment (i) be less than ten (10) million United States Dollars (US$10,000,000) or (ii) be greater than forty (40) million United States Dollars (US$40,000,000).
 
 
(c)
Final Adjustment .  If, in Quarter twenty-one (21) of this Agreement, the Quarterly DRAM Revenue Ratio for the Second Preceding Quarter is [***], then Samsung shall pay Rambus a final, adjustment payment (“Final Adjustment Payment”) based on the following calculation, provided that, in no event shall the Final Adjustment Payment exceed [***].
 
[***]
 
4.2
Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment . To the extent required pursuant to Section 3.3, Samsung shall pay Rambus a Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment for each Acquisition occurring during the Term of this Agreement.

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
17

 
 
5.
PAYMENTS
 
5.1
Payments .
 
 
(a)
Timing of Payments.
 
 
(i)
Quarterly License Payments and Final Adjustment Payment .  Samsung shall pay Rambus each Quarterly License Payment and the Final Adjustment Payment (if any) within ten (10) United States business days of its receipt (as determined for notices under Section 9.2) of Rambus’ invoice therefor.  Rambus shall invoice Samsung for each of the twenty (20) Quarterly License Payments and the Final Adjustment Payment (if any) no earlier than thirty (30) days after the first day of the quarter to which each such Quarterly License Payment or the Final Adjustment Payment (if any) relates.
 
 
(ii)
Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payments .  Samsung shall pay Rambus each Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment within ten (10) United States business days of its receipt (as determined for notices under Section 9.2) of Rambus’ invoice therefor.  Rambus shall invoice Samsung for each Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment no earlier than the end of the quarter to which such Quarterly Acquisition Adjustment Payment relates.
 
 
(b)
Method of Payment .  Samsung’s payments to Rambus of all amounts hereunder shall be made by electronic transfer either directly to or via the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for credit to the following account or another designated in writing by Rambus:
 
Rambus Inc.
[***]
 
5.2
Currency and Late Payments . All payments to Rambus hereunder shall be in United States Dollars. Late payments hereunder shall be subject to interest at the 1-year U.S. Government Treasury Constant Maturity Rate, as published by the Federal Reserve (www.federalreserve.gov) on the date the amount payable was due, plus five percent (5%) (or the maximum interest rate allowed by applicable law, if lower).The amount of interest shall be calculated from the payment due date to the date of electronic transfer.
 
5.3
Taxes .  If the Korean government imposes any withholding tax on any amounts paid by Samsung to Rambus hereunder, such tax shall be borne by Rambus.  Samsung agrees, at its reasonable discretion, to assist Rambus in its efforts to minimize Rambus’ tax liability.  Samsung shall withhold the amount of any such taxes levied on such payments to Rambus imposed by the Korean government, shall promptly effect payment of the taxes so withheld to the Korean tax office, and Samsung shall send to Rambus the official certificate of such payment in a form reasonably sufficient to enable Rambus to support a claim for a foreign tax credit with respect to any such taxes so withheld.

 
________________
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5.4
No Escrow .  Payment of amounts due under this Agreement to any person, firm or entity, other than Rambus, including without limitation, any escrow fund or escrow agent, unless agreed by Rambus or ordered by any court or government agency of competent jurisdiction or arbitration panel, shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. Any payment once made by Samsung to Rambus shall not be refunded or refundable to Samsung for any reason except as may be required pursuant to Section 8.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case of clerical error with respect to any payment made hereunder, the parties agree to remedy any such error through proper payment adjustments.
 
6.
Term & Termination
 
6.1
Term .
 
 
(a)
Paid-up Product License .  The Paid-up Product License shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect unless and until terminated in accordance with this Section 6.
 
 
(b)
Term Product License . The Term Product License shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until the Expiration Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section 6.
 
 
(c)
Combination Product License .  The Combination Product License shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until the Expiration Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section 6.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Combination Product License shall continue in full force and effect solely for combinations consisting solely of two (2) or more Paid-up Products for so long as the Paid-up Product License remains in full force and effect.
 
 
(d)
Foundry Product License .  The Foundry Product License shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until the Expiration Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section 6.
 
 
(e)
Rambus Product Design License .  The Rambus Product Design License shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until the Expiration Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section 6.
 
6.2
Material Breach . A party may terminate this Agreement upon notice if the other party hereto (or any of its Subsidiaries) commits a material breach of Section 1.41 or Section 3.3(d) with respect to the exclusive resolution though arbitration of disputes regarding alternate sources and/or methods pursuant to Section 8 as provided for in such sections

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
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and does not correct such breach within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice complaining thereof.  In addition, Rambus may terminate this Agreement upon notice if Samsung materially breaches its payment obligations under this Agreement and does not correct such breach within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice complaining thereof.   Failure of Samsung to remit any payment due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, any payments tolled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall not be due and payable during such tolling period.
 
6.3
Bankruptcy . Either party may terminate this Agreement effective upon written notice to the other party if the other party becomes the subject of a voluntary or involuntary petition in bankruptcy or any proceeding relating to insolvency, or composition for the benefit of creditors, if that petition or proceeding is not dismissed within sixty (60) days after filing.
 
6.4
Change of Control .  In addition to the rights set forth in Sections 6.2 and 6.3 above, if prior to the Expiration Date, Samsung undergoes a Change of Control, Rambus may terminate this Agreement effective upon written notice thereof to Samsung or the relevant successor in interest.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Rambus receives written notice of such Change of Control from Samsung (or its successor in interest) no later than ten (10) business days after such Change of Control, Rambus agrees to negotiate in good faith with such successor in interest, for a period of one hundred and eighty (180) days after receipt of such notice, the application of this Agreement to such successors’ business activities prior to terminating this Agreement based on such Change of Control. Rambus’ failure to terminate this Agreement after a given Change of Control by Samsung (or any successor in interest) shall not in any way limit Rambus’ right to exercise these rights for any subsequent Change of Control.  Termination of this Agreement based on a Change of Control shall be deemed to be effective immediately prior to the effective date of such Change of Control.
 
6.5
Survival . All payment obligations accruing prior to any termination of this Agreement shall survive any such termination. In addition, the following Sections shall survive and remain in full force and effect after any termination of this Agreement:  Section 1 (Definitions), Section 2.3 (Obligations When Transferring Patents), Section 2.5 (Full Force and Effect), 2.6 (No Release, No Implied or Other Rights and Licenses), Section 3.1 (Subsidiaries), 3.2 (Former Subsidiaries), 3.3(d) (Dispute Resolution), Section 3.4 (No Release), Section 4 (Consideration) and Section 5 (Payments) (in each case with respect to amounts incurred prior to termination of this Agreement), this Section 6.4 (Survival), Section 7.2 (Confidentiality), Section 8 (Dispute Resolution), and Section 9 (Miscellaneous).
 
7.
Confidentiality
 
7.1
Press Release . The parties intend to issue a press release as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

 
________________
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20

 

 
7.2
Confidentiality . Each party agrees that only after the announcement referenced in Section 7.1 above, each party shall be entitled to disclose the general nature of this Agreement but that the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to the extent not already disclosed pursuant to Section 7.1 above, shall be treated as Confidential Information and that neither party will disclose such terms or conditions to any Third Party without the prior written consent of the other party, provided, however, that each party may disclose the terms and conditions of this Agreement:
 
 
(a)
as required by any court or other governmental body;
 
 
(b)
as otherwise required by law;
 
 
(c)
as otherwise may be required by applicable securities and other law and regulation, including to legal and financial advisors in their capacity of advising a party in such matters so long as the disclosing party shall seek confidential treatment of such terms and conditions to the extent reasonably possible;
 
 
(d)
to legal counsel, accountants, and other professional advisors of the parties;
 
 
(e)
in confidence, to banks, investors and other financing sources and their advisors;
 
 
(f)
in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or rights under this Agreement;
 
 
(g)
during the course of litigation so long as the disclosure of such terms and conditions are restricted in the same manner as is the confidential information of other litigating parties and so long as (A) the restrictions are embodied in a court-entered protective order limiting disclosure to outside counsel and (B) the disclosing party informs the other party in writing at least ten (10) business days in advance of the disclosure and discusses the nature and contents of the disclosure, in good faith, with the other party; or
 
 
(h)
in confidence, in connection with an actual or prospective merger or acquisition or similar transaction.
 
Upon execution of this Agreement, or thereafter, Rambus, in its discretion, shall be entitled to file a copy of this Agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, so long as Rambus seeks confidential treatment of such agreement to the extent reasonably possible.
 
8.
Dispute Resolution
 
Any dispute submitted to binding arbitration pursuant to Section 1.41 or Section 3.3 shall take place in Santa Clara County, California before one arbitrator, and shall be administered by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. pursuant to its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures, except that each party shall submit to the arbitrator and exchange with each other in advance of the hearing their last, best alternate sources and/or methods, as applicable, and the arbitrator shall be limited to awarding only one or the other of the two alternate sources and/or methods, as applicable, submitted.  Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

 
 
________________
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9.
Miscellaneous
 
9.1
Disclaimers . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as:
 
 
(a)
a warranty or representation by either party as to the validity, enforceability, and/or scope of any intellectual property rights;
 
 
(b)
imposing upon either party any obligation to institute any suit or action for infringement of any intellectual property right, or to defend any suit or action brought by a Third Party which challenges or concerns the validity, enforceability or scope of any intellectual property rights;
 
 
(c)
imposing on either party any obligation to file any application or registration with respect to any intellectual property rights or to secure or maintain in force any intellectual property rights;
 
 
(d)
imposing on either party any obligation to furnish any technical information or know-how; or
 
 
(e)
imposing or requiring, whether by implication or otherwise, any support, maintenance or any technology deliverable obligations on either party’s or their respective Subsidiaries’ part under this Agreement (and neither party nor any of their respective Subsidiaries are providing any support, maintenance or technology deliverables under this Agreement).
 
9.2
Notices . All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by first class air mail (registered or certified if available), postage prepaid, or otherwise delivered by hand, by messenger or by telecommunication, addressed to the addresses first set forth above or at such other address furnished with a notice in the manner set forth herein. Such notices shall be deemed to have been effective when delivered or, if delivery is not accomplished by reason of some fault or refusal of the addressee, when tendered. All notices shall be in English.
 
9.3
Governing Law & Venue .
 
 
(a)
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law provision or rule (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
 

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
22

 
 
 
(b)
This Agreement is executed in the English language and no translation shall have any legal effect.
 
 
(c)
Except for disputes subject to Section 8, any legal action, suit or proceeding arising under, or relating to, this Agreement, shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California or, if such court shall decline to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, in the San Francisco Superior Court, and each Party agrees that any such action, suit or proceeding may be brought only in such courts.  Each Party further waives any objection to the laying of jurisdiction and venue for any such suit, action or proceeding in such courts.
 
9.4
No Assignment . This Agreement is personal to the parties, and the Agreement and/or any right or obligation hereunder is not assignable, whether in conjunction with a change in ownership, merger, acquisition, the sale or transfer of all, or substantially all or any part of either party’s or any of their respective Subsidiaries business or assets or otherwise, voluntarily, by operation of law, reverse triangular merger or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of such other party.  Any such purported or attempted assignment or transfer in violation of the foregoing shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement and shall be null and void.  Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their permitted successors and assigns.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party shall be entitled to, and each party hereby agrees to, assign this Agreement to a successor to all or substantially all of a party’s assets in a transaction entered into solely to change a party’s place of incorporation.
 
9.5
No Rule of Strict Construction . Regardless of which party may have drafted this Agreement or any part thereof, no rule of strict construction shall be applied against either party. For the avoidance of doubt “includes”, “including”, “included”, and other variations of such terms shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”.
 
9.6
Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the meaning of such provision shall be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable, and if no feasible interpretation shall save such provision, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefore in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision, and (b) the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
 
9.7
Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Settlement Agreement embodies the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and merges all prior oral or written communications between them, and neither of the parties shall be bound by any conditions, definitions, warranties, understandings, or representations with respect to the subject matter hereof other than as expressly provided herein. No oral explanation or oral information by either party hereto shall alter the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 
________________
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9.8
Modification; Waiver . No modification or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights, will be effective unless assented to in writing by the party to be charged, and the waiver of any breach or default will not constitute a waiver of any other right hereunder or any subsequent breach or default.
 
9.9
Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, all of which, taken together, shall be regarded as one and the same instrument.
 
9.10
Bankruptcy Code .  All rights, licenses, privileges, releases, and immunities granted under this Agreement shall be deemed to be, for the purposes of Section 365(n) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Code”), licenses of rights to “intellectual property” as defined under Section 101(35A) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties agree that each of the parties shall retain and may fully exercise all of their respective rights and elections under the Bankruptcy Code. The parties further agree that, in the event that any proceeding shall be instituted by or against a party seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of that party or that party’s debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking an entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for that party or any substantial part of its property or if a party hereto shall take any action to authorize any of the foregoing actions, the other party shall have the right to retain and enforce their respective rights under this Agreement.
 
9.11
Non-Controlled Entity .  Samsung hereby represents and warrants that on the Effective Date it is not a Subsidiary of any entity or person.

 
________________
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by duly authorized officers or representatives as of the date first above written.
 
 
RAMBUS INC.                                                                            SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
 
 
 
 
By: /s/ Harold Hughes                                                                          By: /s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon                                                                                                     
 
Name: Harold Hughes                                                                           Name: Oh-Hyun Kwon                                                                                                     
 
Title: CEO                                                                                                Title: President                                                                                                                   
 
Date: January 19, 2010                                                                          Date: January 19, 2010                                                                                                        
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
________________
[***] Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portions.  The confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 


 
25

 

Exhibit 10.3
 
CONFORMED COPY

 

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
This   STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), is made as of January 19, 2010, by and between Rambus Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of Korea (“ Purchaser ”).
 
WHEREAS, the parties and certain of their affiliates have entered into the Settlement Agreement (as defined below) in order to enter into a comprehensive resolution to compromise, settle and release certain existing disputes between them as described in the Settlement Agreement, and to compromise, resolve and avoid other disputes that may arise after the date hereof;
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the Settlement Agreement as part of such comprehensive resolution, Purchaser wishes to purchase, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, 9,576,250 shares of Common Stock of the Company, par value US$0.001 per share, for US$199,999,981.25 in cash as set forth herein (the “ Shares ”);
 
WHEREAS, the sale of the Shares is being undertaken in reliance upon a valid exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”);
 
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to grant to Purchaser a one-time put right, exercisable at the option of Purchaser as specified herein, to require the Company to purchase for cash up to one-half of the Shares from Purchaser at the original purchase price at which the Shares were sold to Purchaser under this Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company and Purchaser wish to agree to certain other rights and obligations in connection with the purchase, ownership, transfer and sale of the Shares as set forth herein.
 
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
 
 
ARTICLE I
 
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES; PUT RIGHT
 
1.1            Purchase of the Shares .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser agrees to purchase at the Closing (as defined below), and the Company agrees to sell and issue to Purchaser, 9,576,250 Shares, at a price per Share equal to US$20.885 (which is the average of the open and close trading prices on January 15, 2010) (the “ Original Issue Price ”), for an aggregate purchase price of US$199,999,981.25 (the “ Aggregate Purchase Price ”).

 
 

 
 
1.2            Closing Date .  The purchase and sale of the Shares shall take place at the offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time, on the date of this Agreement, or such other date as the Company and Purchaser mutually agree (the “ Closing ”).  The date and time of the Closing is hereafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”
 
1.3            Form of Payment; Delivery of Shares .  On the Closing Date, (i) Purchaser shall pay the Aggregate Purchase Price to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in U.S. dollars to the account of the Company previously designated in writing to Purchaser, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to Purchaser a stock certificate representing the Shares purchased by Purchaser (the “ Stock Certificate ”), which Stock Certificate shall include the legends required pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof.
 
1.4            Put Right .  Beginning on the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 19 months after the Closing Date (the “ Put Exercise Period ”), Purchaser shall have a one-time right, but not an obligation, to elect to sell to the Company on any Trading Day during the Put Exercise Period (the “ Put Exercise Date ”), and if such right is exercised, the Company shall have the obligation to purchase from Purchaser, up to 4,788,125 Shares (the “ Maximum Put Shares ”) at a price per share equal to the Original Issuance Price (the “ Put Right ”) (for an aggregate put purchase price of up to US$99,999,990.63 (the “ Aggregate Put Price ”)) pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 1.4.  On the Put Exercise Date, Purchaser must provide written notice to the Company (the “ Put Notice ”) of its election to exercise the Put Right and the number of Shares (up to the Maximum Put Shares) that Purchaser is electing to be subject to the Put Right (the “ Put Shares ”).  Upon receipt of the Put Notice, the Company shall have up to 30 days from the receipt of the Put Notice (or if such 30 th day is not a Trading Day, the next Trading Day thereafter) (the “ Put Closing Date ”) to purchase and pay for the Put Shares (the “ Put Closing ”).  The Company may, at its sole discretion, by providing at least three Trading Days prior written notice to Purchaser, elect that the Put Closing Date will be earlier than such 30 th day after receipt of the Put Notice.  On the Put Closing Date, (i) Purchaser shall sell to the Company the Put Shares, free and clear of any liens and encumbrances, shall provide such documentation as is reasonably required by the Company, including, without limitation, the representations and warranties set forth on Schedule 1.4 hereto, and deliver to the Company the Stock Certificate representing the Put Shares, (ii) the Company shall pay the Aggregate Put Price to Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately available funds denominated in U.S. dollars to the account of Purchaser previously designated in writing to the Company, and (iii) if applicable, the Company shall deliver to the Company’s transfer agent any required documentation and instructions to issue a Stock Certificate representing the balance of the Shares owned by Purchaser after giving effect to the purchase of the Put Shares, which Stock Certificate shall include, to the extent applicable, the legends required pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof.

 
2

 
 
ARTICLE II
 
PURCHASER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:
 
2.1            Due Organization .  Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation with the requisite corporate authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.  Purchaser is not in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents.
 
2.2            Due Authorization; Enforceability .  Purchaser has the requisite corporate authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser has been duly authorized by all necessary action of Purchaser, and no other act or proceeding on the part of or on behalf of Purchaser or its stockholders is necessary to approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally, by general equity principles or by limitations on indemnification pursuant to public policy.
 
2.3            No Conflicts; No Consents .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser will not infringe any law, regulation, judgment or order applicable to Purchaser and is not and will not be contrary to the provisions of the constitutional documents of Purchaser and will not (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) result in any breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any instrument or agreement to which Purchaser is a party or by which it or its property is bound.  There are no restrictions (contractual or otherwise) prohibiting or otherwise affecting the purchase of the Shares by Purchaser, other than any necessary to ensure compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom, and no consents or approvals, except for approvals of Korean banking authorities which have been obtained, are required to be obtained by Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Shares by Purchaser.  All consents and approvals of any court, government agencies or other regulatory body required by Purchaser for the purchase of the Shares and the execution, delivery and performance of the terms of this Agreement have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
 
2.4            Investment Purpose .  Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act; provided , however , that by making the representations herein, Purchaser does not, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, agree to hold any of the Shares for any minimum or other specific term and, except as otherwise provided herein, reserves the right to dispose of the Shares at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the Securities Act.  Purchaser has no present intention of participating in or influencing the formulation, determination, or direction of the Company’s business decisions.

 
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2.5            Investor Status .  Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
 
2.6            Reliance on Exemptions .  Purchaser understands that the Shares are being offered and sold to it in reliance on a specific exemption from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws, including the Securities Act, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemption and the eligibility of Purchaser to acquire the Shares.
 
2.7            Information .  Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company related to the Company and its business.  Purchaser understands that its investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk.  Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Shares.
 
2.8            No Governmental Review .  Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Shares nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Shares.
 
2.9            Transfer or Resale .  Purchaser understands that except as provided herein: (i) the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred in the absence of registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements; and (ii) the Company is not under any obligation to register the Shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) for resale under the Securities Act or any state securities laws.
 
2.10            Legends .  Purchaser understands that the certificates or other instruments representing the Shares, until such time as the sale of the Shares have been registered under the Securities Act, or as otherwise provided below, shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates in contravention of such legend):
 
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.  THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SAID ACT.

 
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The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall promptly issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Shares upon which it is stamped, if, unless otherwise required by state securities laws, (i) such Shares are registered for sale under the Securities Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a reasonably acceptable form to the Company, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Shares may be made without registration under the Securities Act, or (iii) such holder provides the Company with reasonable and customary assurance that the Shares can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 without any restriction as to the number of securities that can then be immediately sold.

Purchaser understands that the certificate or other instruments representing the Shares will also contain a legend reading substantially as follows while the terms of this Agreement are applicable (and the Company agrees that such legend shall not be included on, and shall be removed from, certificates for Shares as to which the terms of this Agreement (other than the availability of registration rights) no longer are applicable):
 
THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY) WHICH IMPOSES CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, VOTING AGREEMENTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS ON THE HOLDER OF SUCH SHARES, AND BY ACCEPTING ANY INTEREST IN SUCH SHARES THE PERSON HOLDING SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE DEEMED TO AGREE TO AND SHALL BECOME BOUND BY ALL THE PROVISIONS OF SAID STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT.
 
 
 
ARTICLE III
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
 
The Company represents and warrants to Purchaser that:
 
3.1            Due Organization .  The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation with the requisite corporate authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted.  The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents.
 
3.2            Capitalization .  As of September 30, 2009, the authorized capital stock of the Company consisted of (i) 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 105,418,043 shares were outstanding, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which no shares were outstanding.  As of September 30, 2009, the Company had stock options and other awards outstanding for 14,996,452 shares of Common Stock and stock options and other awards available for grant for 7,628,030 shares of Common Stock.  Since September 30, 2009, the authorized capital stock of the Company has not changed and the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding has not decreased.  Since September 30, 2009, the Company has not issued any equity securities except through employee or director stock option exercises in the ordinary course and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any shares of its own capital stock or other equity interests.  There are no outstanding contractual obligations or rights of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or other equity interests (other than the Company’s outstanding zero coupon convertible senior notes due February 1, 2010 and 5% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2014, each in accordance with its terms).

 
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3.3            Due Authorization; Enforceability .  The Company has the requisite corporate authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company has been duly authorized by all necessary action of the Company, and no other act or proceeding on the part of or on behalf of the Company or its stockholders is necessary to approve the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally, by general equity principles or by limitations on indemnification pursuant to public policy.
 
3.4            No Conflicts; No Consents .  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company will not infringe any law, regulation, judgment or order applicable to the Company and is not and will not be contrary to the provisions of the constitutional documents of the Company and will not (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) result in any breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any instrument or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it or its property is bound.  There are no restrictions (contractual or otherwise) prohibiting or otherwise affecting the sale of the Shares by the Company, other than any necessary to ensure compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom, and no consents or approvals are required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the sale of the Shares by the Company.  All consents and approvals of any court, government agencies or other regulatory body required by the Company for the sale of the Shares and the execution, deliver and performance of the terms of this Agreement have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
 
3.5            SEC Filings; Financial Statements .
 
(a)      Since January 1, 2009, the Company has filed on a timely basis all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof.  Such reports required to be filed by the Company under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, together with any materials filed by the Company under the Exchange Act, whether or not any such reports were required to be filed, being collectively referred to herein as the “ SEC Reports .”  As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports filed by the Company complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed by the Company, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing.  Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“ GAAP ”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements, the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP or may be condensed or summary statements, and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments.

 
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(b)      Since September 30, 2009, (i) there has been no event, occurrence, circumstance or development that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the passage of time, has had or that would result in a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) on the Company and (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be disclosed in filings made with the SEC (other than in connection with the Company’s lease transaction reported on a Form 8-K dated December 15, 2009).
 
3.6            Issuance of Securities .  The Shares are duly authorized and, upon payment for the Shares and issuance at the Closing pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges and will not be subject to preemptive or similar rights of any securityholders of the Company.
 
3.7            The NASDAQ Stock Market . The Company’s Common Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market, and there are no proceedings to revoke or suspend such listing.
 
3.8            Absence of Litigation .  Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, there is no proceeding, or, to the Company’s knowledge, inquiry or investigation, before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company that could, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
3.9            FIRPTA .  The Company is not, during the five year period ending on the Closing Date has not been, and on the Closing Date will not be, a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 
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ARTICLE IV
 
COVENANTS
 
4.1            Form D and “Blue Sky;” Listing .  The Company shall file a Form D with respect to the Shares as required under Regulation D and will provide a copy thereof to Purchaser promptly after such filing.  The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Shares for sale to Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States.  The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.  The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market (or any successor or other national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock of the Company is then traded) in a reasonably prompt manner.
 
4.2            Expenses; Fees .  The Company and Purchaser shall each pay their own expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the exercise of the Put Right, unless otherwise provided herein.
 
4.3            Further Assurances .  The Company and Purchaser agree to cooperate with each other and their respective officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and other agents, and, generally, do such other reasonable acts and things in good faith as may be necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and compliance with applicable law, including taking reasonable action to facilitate the filing of any document or the taking of reasonable action to assist the other parties hereto in complying with the terms hereof.
 
4.4            Standstill .
 
(a)           Purchaser agrees that, until the earlier of (x) the date that is 18 months after the Closing Date or (y) a Standstill Termination Event (as defined below), without the prior consent of the Board of Directors of the Company (or except as explicitly provided for herein), Purchaser shall not, and Purchaser shall cause each of its Affiliates (as defined below) not to, directly or indirectly:
 
(i)       acquire or beneficially own any Common Stock of the Company (or any securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company) or authorize or make any offer to acquire any Common Stock of the Company or any securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company), in addition to the Shares;
 
(ii)      authorize, commence or endorse any tender offer or exchange offer for shares of the Common Stock of the Company;
 
(iii)     make, or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any “solicitation” of “proxies” to vote (as such terms are used in the rules of the SEC), or seek to advise or influence any person or entity with respect to the voting of any of the Common Stock of the Company;

 
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(iv)     publicly announce or submit to the Company a proposal or offer concerning (with or without conditions) any extraordinary transaction involving the Company or any successor thereto, any subsidiary or division thereof, or any of their securities or assets;
 
(v)      form, join or in any way participate in a 13D Group (as defined below), for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any securities of the Company;
 
(vi)     take any action that could reasonably be expected to require the Company or any successor thereto to make a public announcement regarding the possibility of any of the events described in clauses (i) through (v) above;
 
(vii)    enter into any arrangements with any third party concerning any of the foregoing; or
 
(viii)   request the Company, directly or indirectly, to amend or waive any provision of this Section 4.4;
 
provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit in any way Purchaser or its Affiliates from:
 
(i)         subject to Article V and Section 7.1 of this Agreement, voting (including the granting or withholding of any consent) or disposing of any voting securities then beneficially owned by Purchaser or its Affiliates in any manner;
 
(ii)    making any offer or entering into any agreement with respect to, or otherwise consummating, any transaction involving the Company or Company assets or properties in the ordinary course of business; or
 
(iii)     acquiring or offering to acquire, directly or indirectly, any company or business unit thereof that beneficially owns Company securities so long as such securities are not a material portion of the assets of such company or business unit; provided, however, that if such securities are Common Stock of the Company, or securities that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company, such securities shall become subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
 
For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Standstill Termination Event ” means (i) a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company or (ii) the Company makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or commences any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction or any such petition is filed or any such proceeding is commenced against the Company and either (A) the Company by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein or (B) such petition, application or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days.
 
(b)           The restrictions of Section 4.4(a)(i) shall not apply to any securities acquired through the conversion or exchange of the Shares or any securities issued as dividends on or in a stock split of or otherwise issued in exchange or in consideration of or with respect to the Shares, including, without limitation, pursuant to a rights offering, in connection with any event or transaction in which Purchaser has not violated the restrictions of Section 4.4(a)(ii) through 4.4(a)(vii) above.

 
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(c)           Upon an increase in the beneficial ownership percentage of Purchaser and its Affiliates to an amount in excess of the Closing Date Purchaser Ownership resulting solely from a repurchase or redemption of Common Stock by the Company or any similar transaction that reduces the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company, or from the participation by Purchaser or its Affiliates in a rights offering, neither Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates shall be required to dispose of any Shares.  The “ Closing Date Purchaser Ownership ” means the beneficial ownership of Purchaser of the Shares as a percentage of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company on the Closing Date after giving effect to the purchase of the Shares.
 
 
 
ARTICLE V
 
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
 
5.1            Restrictions on Transfer of Shares Within Transfer Restriction Period .  Purchaser agrees not to sell, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber or dispose of in any way (each, a “ Transfer ”), all or any part of or any interest in the Shares, for a period ending on the earliest of (w) 18 months after the Closing Date, (x) a Change in Control, (y) such time as the Shares owned by Purchaser represent less than 3.00% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock or (z) the Company makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or commences any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction or any such petition is filed or any such proceeding is commenced against the Company and either (A) the Company by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein or (B) such petition, application or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days (the “ Transfer Restriction Period ”).  Any Transfer of the Shares made within the Transfer Restriction Period shall be null and void, shall not be recorded on the books of the Company and shall not be recognized by the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser may transfer all or part of the Shares (i) to one or more Affiliates of Purchaser, provided that any such transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of, and receive the rights and benefits under, this Agreement and (ii) in connection with and pursuant to the terms of any Change in Control transaction that has been approved and recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
5.2            Restrictions on Transfer of Shares After Transfer Restriction Period .  After the Transfer Restriction Period has expired, Purchaser agrees that, except as provided and subject to the limitations specified in Section 5.3 and Article VI below, any Transfer of the Shares in any one or a related series of transactions shall be limited to no more than the number of Shares on any given day equal to 12.00% of the average daily trading volume of the Common Stock of the Company on The NASDAQ Stock Market (or any successor or other national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock of the Company is then traded) over the previous four calendar weeks prior to such proposed Transfer (the “ Transfer Volume Limitation ”).

 
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5.3            Right of First Offer of the Company; Other Transfers .
 
(a)           Except as otherwise provided herein, if at any time after the Transfer Restriction Period Purchaser proposes to Transfer any Shares to one or more third parties, or otherwise, in any one or a related series of transactions in excess of the Transfer Volume Limitation (an “ Excess Transfer ”), then Purchaser shall give the Company written notice of its intention to make the Transfer (the “ Transfer Notice ”) and, if applicable, will include in such Transfer Notice (i) the name, address and other contact information of any proposed transferee(s) (The “ Proposed Transferee(s) ”), (ii) the aggregate number of Shares offered to the Proposed Transferee or offered to be transferred otherwise (the “ Offered Shares ”), (iii) the material terms and conditions upon which the Transfer is proposed to be made, and (iv) if applicable, the price at which a Proposed Transferee has offered to purchase the Shares.
 
(b)           For a period of five Trading Days after receipt of the Transfer Notice, the Company and/or its assignee(s) may, by giving written notice to Purchaser, provide an offer to Purchaser (the “ Offer to Purchaser ”) to purchase all, but not fewer than all, of the Offered Shares at a price determined by the Company and/or its assignee(s) (the “ Offered Price ”).  For a period of five Trading Days after receipt of the Offer to Purchaser, Purchaser may accept the Offer to Purchaser (the “ Purchaser Acceptance ”).  Upon the Purchaser Acceptance, the Company and/or its assigns shall effect the purchase of all of the Offered Shares at the Offered Price within a period of 30 days after submission of the Purchaser Acceptance by Purchaser.  On the closing date, (i) Purchaser shall sell to the Company and/or its assignee(s) the Offered Shares, free and clear of any liens and encumbrances, shall provide such documentation as is reasonably required by the Company and/or its assignee(s), including, without limitation, the representations and warranties in a form substantially consistent with those set forth on Schedule 1.4 hereto (applicable to such transfer), and deliver the Stock Certificate representing the Offered Shares, (ii) the Company and/or its assignee(s) shall pay the Offered Price to Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of Purchaser previously designated in writing to the Company and/or its assignee(s), and (iii) if applicable, the Company shall deliver to the Company’s transfer agent any required documentation and instructions to issue a Stock Certificate representing Shares owned by Purchaser after giving effect to the purchase of the Offered Shares, which Stock Certificate shall include the legends required pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof.
 
(c)           Any Excess Transfer for which the Company and/or its assignee(s) do not exercise the right of first offer or as to which an Offer to Purchase is not accepted by Purchaser as specified in this Section 5.3 shall be made in a private sale (to the Proposed Transferee or otherwise as specified in the Transfer Notice) or by using an underwritten public offering, block trade or other distribution method, and shall, as applicable and as required by state and federal securities laws, be subject to Article VI below; provided that Purchaser and the Company shall mutually agree (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) with respect to any such other distribution method.
 
5.4            Lapse of Transfer Restrictions .  Notwithstanding anything else under this Article V, all restrictions on Transfers under this Article V shall lapse and no longer be under effect if (a) there has been a Change in Control or (b) the Company makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or commences any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction or any such petition is filed or any such proceeding is commenced against the Company and either (A) the Company by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein or (B) such petition, application or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days.

 
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ARTICLE VI
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
6.1            Requested Registration .
 
(a)           If (A) (i) the Transfer Restriction Period shall have expired pursuant to clause (w) or (y) of the definition thereof, (ii) Purchaser seeks to make an Excess Transfer and (iii) the Company and/or its assignee(s) do not exercise the right of first offer specified in Section 5.3 above (including in the event Purchaser does not accept the Offer to Purchaser made pursuant to Section 5.3(b) above) or (B) the Transfer Restriction Period shall have expired pursuant to clause (x) or (z) of the definition thereof, Purchaser shall have the right to make a written request that the Company effect a registration under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to all or a part of the Shares (such request shall state the number of Shares to be disposed of and the intended methods of disposition of such shares by Purchaser) (a “ Registration Request ”).  Purchaser shall furnish to the Company such information regarding Purchaser and the distribution proposed by Purchaser as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration, qualification, or compliance referred to in this Article VI.  As used in this Article VI, the term “Shares” shall include the Shares, any additional shares of Common Stock issued by the Company that are acquired by Purchaser after the date of this Agreement without violation of this Agreement, and all securities issued directly or indirectly with respect to the Shares.  Purchaser shall be entitled to no more than two Registration Requests pursuant to this Section 6.1 from the Company.  No Registration Request will count for the purposes of the limitations in the preceding sentence if: (A) Purchaser withdraws the Registration Request prior to (x) in the case of a Registration Request in which a roadshow or significant marketing activity involving the management of the Company is contemplated, the earlier of (1) the commencement of any such roadshow or significant marketing activities or (2) the effectiveness of any new registration statement filed by the Company in response to such request, or (y) in cases other than the immediately preceding clause (x), the effectiveness of any new registration statement filed by the Company in response to such request, if in either case (x) or (y) Purchaser reimburses the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses otherwise payable by the Company incurred in connection therewith (it being understood that the Company thereafter may abandon or withdraw such registration); (B) the registration statement relating to such request is not declared effective by the SEC within 60 days of the date such registration statement is first filed with the SEC; (C) prior to the sale of at least two-thirds of the Shares included in the applicable registration relating to such request, such registration is adversely affected by any stop order, injunction or other order of the SEC or other governmental authority or court not related solely to acts or omissions by Purchaser; or (D) the conditions to closing specified in any underwriting agreement or purchase agreement entered into in connection with the registration relating to such request are not satisfied (other than as a result of a material default or breach thereunder by Purchaser).

 
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(b)           Upon receipt of the Registration Request, the Company will, as promptly as practicable thereafter but in any event within 45 days of receipt of the Registration Request, file (unless an applicable shelf registration statement has already been filed) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration on an appropriate and available form of registration statement (including, if available, an automatic registration statement for a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under the Securities Act, and including, without limitation, to cause such registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, and filing post-effective amendments, appropriate qualifications under applicable “Blue Sky” or other state securities laws, and appropriate compliance with the Securities Act) to permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Shares as are specified in such request.  No securities other than Shares held by Purchaser shall be included under any such registration statement without the written consent of Purchaser (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that in no event shall any such additional securities take priority over the sale of Shares held by Purchaser in any offering thereunder.
 
(c)           If the Company provides notice to Purchaser in a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company that (i) in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, the filing of a registration statement covering the Shares at such time would be materially detrimental to the Company, and the reason for such judgment (which shall not be stated in such notice) is because such filing (A) would materially interfere with a bona fide and imminent material financing of the Company or imminent material transaction under consideration by the Company or (B) would require the disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would be materially detrimental to the Company and (ii) the Board of Directors of the Company concluded, as a result, that it is in the best interests of the Company to defer the filing (or, in the case of clause (B), suspend the use) of the registration statement specified in Section 6.1(b) above at such time, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing (and, in the case of clause (B), suspend the use) of the registration statement for a reasonable period not to exceed (x) 60 days in any case and (y) 105 days in the aggregate in any twelve-month period.  If the Company so postpones effecting a registration (or suspends the ability to use a shelf registration), Purchaser shall be entitled to withdraw its Registration Request, in which case such Registration Request shall not count for purposes of the limitation set forth in Section 6.1(a).
 
(d)           In addition to the foregoing, in the event Purchaser shall in good faith determine, based on the advice of reputable U.S. securities legal counsel (and after consultation with the Company and its reputable U.S. securities legal counsel), that Purchaser might be deemed an “affiliate” of the Company under the U.S. federal securities laws as a result of an increase in its beneficial ownership percentage of the Company (except as a result of its purchase or acquisition of shares of Common Stock other than from the Company), upon the request of Purchaser, the Company will, as promptly as practicable thereafter but in any event within 45 days of receipt of such request, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify for registration on a Form S-3 registration statement (including, if available, an automatic registration statement for a “well-known seasoned issuer”

 
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as defined under the Securities Act) or any comparable or successor form (“ Short-Form Registration ”), which shall constitute a “shelf” registration statement providing for the registration of, and the sale on a continuous or delayed basis of, the Shares, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, to permit the distribution of the Shares in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by Purchaser, including by means of an underwritten offering or block sale that could be effected pursuant to a Registration Request.  Upon filing a Short-Form Registration, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Short-Form Registration effective with the SEC at all times and any Short-Form Registration shall be re-filed upon its expiration, and the Company shall cooperate in any shelf take-down by amending or supplementing the prospectus related to such Short-Form Registration as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser or as otherwise required, until the disposition of all of Purchaser’s Shares is complete or the date that is 90 days after the date Purchaser ceases to be deemed an “affiliate” of the Company (as determined in good faith by Purchaser, based on the advice of reputable U.S. securities legal counsel (and after consultation with the Company and its reputable U.S. securities legal counsel)).
 
6.2            Company Registration .
 
(a)           After the Transfer Restriction Period shall have expired, if the Company shall determine to register any of its Common Stock for its own account, other than a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, a registration relating to the offer and sale of convertible or other debt securities, a registration relating to a corporate reorganization or other Rule 145 transaction, or a registration on any registration form that does not permit secondary sales, the Company will (i) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to Purchaser and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to include in such registration (and any related qualification under “Blue Sky” laws or other compliance), except as set forth in Section 6.2(b) below, and in any underwriting involved therein, all of such Shares as are specified in a written request made by Purchaser received by the Company within ten Trading Days after such written notice from the Company is mailed or delivered. Such written request may specify that all or a part of the Shares are requested to be registered.
 
(b)           If the registration of which the Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an underwriting, the Company shall so advise Purchaser as a part of the written notice given pursuant to Section 6.2(a)(i). In such event, the right of Purchaser to registration pursuant to this Section 6.2(b) shall be conditioned upon Purchaser’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of the Shares in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. If Purchaser proposes to distribute its securities through such underwriting, Purchaser shall (together with the Company) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative of the underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.2, if the underwriters advise the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock to be underwritten, the underwriters may (subject to the limitations set forth below) exclude all Shares from, or limit the number of Shares to be included in, the registration and underwriting. The Company shall so advise all holders of securities requesting registration, and the number of shares of Common Stock that are entitled to be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated, as follows: (i) first, to the Company for shares of Common Stock being sold for its own account and (ii) second, to Purchaser requesting

 
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to include the Shares in such registration statement. If Purchaser requests inclusion in such registration but does not agree to the terms of any such underwriting, Purchaser shall also be excluded therefrom by written notice from the Company or the underwriter.  The Shares so excluded shall also be withdrawn from such underwriting. Any Shares excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration.
 
(c)           The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 6.2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not Purchaser has elected to include Shares in such registration.  Purchaser shall have the right to withdraw all or part of the Shares from such registration.
 
(d)           No registration pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall count towards registrations required pursuant to Section 6.1.
 
6.3            Expenses of Registration .  Except as otherwise provided below, the Company and Purchaser shall pay equally all out-of-pocket expenses (a) incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Article VI, including, without limitation, (i) all registration, filing and listing fees, (ii) printing expenses and (iii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants (including, without limitation, the expenses of any “comfort” letters) and (b) of Purchaser in connection with the registration and sale of Shares under this Article VI (including, without limitation, reasonable out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of one outside counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) for Purchaser).  Notwithstanding the forgoing, (w) the Company shall pay its own internal expenses, (x) Purchaser shall pay its own internal expenses, (y) Purchaser shall pay all underwriting discounts and any other selling commissions relating to Shares sold by it, and (z) in connection with the registration and sale of Shares by Purchaser under Section 6.2, the Company shall pay all expenses except the expenses set forth in clauses (x) and (y) above and fees and disbursements of counsel for Purchaser.
 
6.4            Registration Procedures .  In the case of a registration effected by the Company at the request of Purchaser, the Company will advise Purchaser in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as to the completion thereof.  The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
 
(a)           Keep such registration effective (i) in the case of a shelf registration statement, in accordance with Section 6.1(d), or (ii) in all other cases, for a period ending on the earlier of the date which is 120 days from the effective date of the registration statement or such time as Purchaser has completed the distribution and actual sale of all Shares described in the registration statement relating thereto (plus such additional time thereafter equal to the period of any suspension of an effective registration statement pursuant to Section 6.1(c) above and as may be customarily required by the underwriters pursuant to the underwriting agreement);
 
(b)           Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement for the period set forth in Section 6.4(a)

 
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above, including, without limitation, to promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as may reasonably be requested in order to permit the intended method of distribution of Shares (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to Purchaser, Purchaser’s counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and comment of such counsel), and such other documents reasonably requested by such counsel (including, without limitation, any comment letter from the SEC));
 
(c)           Furnish such number of prospectuses, including any preliminary prospectuses, and other documents incident thereto, including any amendment of or supplement to the prospectus, as Purchaser or underwriters from time to time may reasonably request;
 
(d)           Register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdiction as shall be reasonably requested by Purchaser; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions;
 
(e)           Notify Purchaser (i) of the happening of any event as a result of which such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (or as a result of which the prospectus that is part of such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading), and following such event as promptly as practicable prepare, file with the SEC (if required) and furnish to such seller a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement and prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such shares, such registration statement and prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) when a prospectus or any supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a registration statement or amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (iii) of any request by the SEC or any other governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a registration statement or related prospectus or for additional information, or (iv) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose (and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement at the reasonably earliest practical date);
 
(f)           Make available, upon reasonable prior notice and during normal business hours, at the headquarters offices of the Company, for inspection by Purchaser, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a registration hereof and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by Purchaser or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company;

 
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(g)           Instruct the Company’s independent public accountants (and where applicable, provide such assistance and information as required) to be available to discuss with Purchaser and underwriters, in connection with an underwritten offering and in a reasonable and customary fashion, the audit reports and interim financial information procedures as well as general information concerning the relationship and review of the Company's financial statements;
 
(h)           Cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter in an underwritten offering; and
 
(i)           Upon the request by Purchaser, if such Purchaser intends to undertake a block trade or an underwritten offering of Shares, enter into customary agreements (including without limitation, an underwriting agreement in customary form that requires indemnification by the Company on terms customary for issuers under underwriting agreements and requires of the Company delivery (i) by the Company’s independent accountants of comfort letters and (ii) by counsel for the Company of legal opinions, in each case in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by comfort letters and legal opinions, respectively, to underwriters in connection with public offerings) and take such other actions (including, without limitation, making senior management of the Company available to participate on a reasonable and customary basis in road show presentations and in due diligence presentations, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by Purchaser or any such underwriter) as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Shares included in the registration statement.  If any offering of Shares in a registration pursuant to Section 6.1 is an underwritten offering, Purchaser shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer the offering, subject to approval by the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  The Company shall have the right to select the investment banker or investment bankers and managers to administer any offering pursuant to Section 6.2.
 
Purchaser agrees to notify the Company as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in information previously furnished by Purchaser to the Company as a result of which any prospectus relating to such registration contains or would contain an untrue statement of a material fact regarding Purchaser or Purchaser’s intended method of disposition of such Shares or omits to state any material fact regarding Purchaser or Purchaser’s intended method of disposition of such Shares necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and promptly to furnish to the Company any additional information required to correct and update any previously furnished information or required so that such prospectus shall not contain, with respect to Purchaser or the disposition of such Shares, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
 

 
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6.5            Indemnification .
 
                  (a)           To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser, each of its officers, directors, legal counsel and accountants and each person controlling Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, each holder of Shares with respect to which registration, qualification or compliance has been effected pursuant to this Article VI, and each underwriter, if any, and each person who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act any such holder or underwriter against all expenses, claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions, proceedings or settlements in respect thereof) arising out of or based on: (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any registration statement, any prospectus included in the registration statement, any issuer free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act), any issuer information (as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act) filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or any other document incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company, (ii) any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation (or alleged violation) by the Company of the Securities Act, any state securities laws or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any offering covered by such registration, qualification or compliance, and the Company will reimburse Purchaser, each of its officers, directors, partners, legal counsel and accountants and each person controlling Purchaser, each such underwriter and each person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission based upon written information furnished to the Company by Purchaser, any of Purchaser’s officers, directors, legal counsel or accountants, any person controlling Purchaser, such underwriter acting for Purchaser or any person who controls any such underwriter, and stated to be specifically for use therein; and provided, further that, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6.5(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).  Such indemnity (A) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any such indemnitee and shall survive the transfer of the Shares and (B) is in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.
 
               (b)           To the extent permitted by law, Purchaser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, officers, legal counsel and accountants, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on: (i) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained or incorporated by reference in any prospectus, offering circular or other document (including any related registration statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or (ii) any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and such directors, officers, legal counsel and accountants, persons, or control persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim,

 
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loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by Purchaser and stated to be specifically for use therein; provided, however, that the obligations of Purchaser hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claims, losses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected without the consent of Purchaser (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
 
(c)           Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 6.5 (the “ Indemnified Party ”) shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party’s expense (provided that the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel and participate, at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, in the defense conducted by the Indemnifying Party and its counsel, if in the Indemnified Party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claims, provided further that the Indemnifying Party shall not, in connection with any one claim or separate but substantially similar or related claims in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one firm of attorneys (together with appropriate local counsel) at any time for all of the Indemnified Parties); and provided further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 6.5 to the extent such failure is not prejudicial.  No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.  Each Indemnified Party shall furnish such information regarding itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying Party may reasonably request in writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with defense of such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.
 
(d)           If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.5 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the

 
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Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  No person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity that was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6.5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 6.5(d).
 
(e)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Purchaser shall not be required to indemnify or contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by Purchaser from the sale of Shares in the applicable offering exceeds the amount of any damages that Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the applicable untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
 
6.6            Termination of Registration Rights .  The right of Purchaser to request registration pursuant to (i) Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.2 shall terminate on the date Purchaser ceases to own at least 2,000,000 Shares unless extended as mutually determined by the Company and Purchaser, and (ii) Section 6.1(d), if ever applicable, shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date Purchaser (as determined pursuant to Section 6.1(d)) ceases to be deemed an “affiliate” of the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, Section 6.5 and any unsatisfied obligations under Section 6.3 shall survive such termination.
 
6.7            Furnishing of Information .  As long as Purchaser owns Shares, the Company covenants to file all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act in order to allow Purchaser to satisfy the requirements of Rule 144.  As long as Purchaser owns Shares, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to Purchaser and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for Purchaser to sell the Shares under Rule 144.  The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as Purchaser may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time to enable Purchaser to sell such Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the requirements of the exemption provided by Rule 144.
 
 
 
ARTICLE VII
 
VOTING OF SHARES
 
7.1            Voting Agreement .  Until a Voting Agreement Early Termination Event (as defined below), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, Purchaser will appear or otherwise cause all Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum, through granting a proxy or otherwise.  In addition, until such earlier date with respect to the voting of the Shares:
 
(a)           In the case of Routine Proposals (as defined below), Purchaser will vote (or cause to be voted), or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering all Shares, in favor of such nominees and proposals that are

 
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recommended by the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to such meeting or for such action, and against such director nominees and proposals as to which the Board of Directors of the Company recommends a “no” or “withhold” vote.
 
(b)           In the case of Non-Routine Proposals (as defined below), Purchaser shall vote (or cause to be voted), or execute and deliver a written consent (or cause a written consent to be executed and delivered) covering all Shares, in the same proportion (for, against, withheld, and/or abstain) as the votes that are collectively cast by all other holders of the Company’s Common Stock who are present and voting with respect to such matter.
 
7.2            Termination of Voting Agreement .  The provisions of this Section 7 shall terminate with respect to any Shares that are transferred (i) pursuant to the Transfer Volume Limitation or (ii) pursuant to an Excess Transfer made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
 
 
 
ARTICLE VIII
 
CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL
 
The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Shares to Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing Purchaser with prior written notice thereof:
 
8.1           Purchaser (and/or its applicable Affiliates) shall have executed and delivered to the Company each of the Settlement Agreement, License Agreement (as defined below) and MOU (as defined below) and such agreements shall be in full force and effect consistent with their terms.
 
8.2           Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company the Aggregate Purchase Price for the Shares being purchased by Purchaser at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.
 
8.3           The representations and warranties of Purchaser shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time, and Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Purchaser at or prior to the Closing Date.

 
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ARTICLE IX
 
CONDITIONS TO PURCHASER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE
 
The obligation of Purchaser hereunder to purchase the Shares is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for Purchaser’s sole benefit and may be waived by Purchaser at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
 
9.1           The Company shall have executed and delivered to Purchaser (and/or its applicable Affiliates) each of the Settlement Agreement, License Agreement and MOU and such agreements shall be in full force and effect consistent with their terms.
 
9.2           The Company’s transfer agent shall have issued in the name of Purchaser a stock certificate evidencing the Shares being purchased by Purchaser at the Closing.
 
9.3           The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date.
 
9.4           The Company shall deliver a certificate to Purchaser, signed by an officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 3.9.
 
 
 
ARTICLE X
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
10.1            Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice-of-law or conflict-of-law provision or rule (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.
 
10.2            English Language .  This Agreement is executed in the English language and no translation shall have any legal effect.
 
10.3            Jurisdiction and Venue .  Any legal action, suit or proceeding arising under, or relating to, this Agreement, shall be brought in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California or, if such court shall decline to accept jurisdiction over a particular matter, in the San Francisco Superior Court, and each party agrees that any such action, suit or proceeding may be brought only in such courts.  Each party further waives any objection to the laying of jurisdiction and venue for any such suit, action or proceeding in such courts.
 
10.4            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the Settlement Agreement, the License Agreement and the MOU, constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all prior negotiations, representations, warranties, undertakings or agreements, written or oral, between the parties regarding such subject matter.

 
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10.5            Relationship of the Parties .  Nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Comprehensive Resolution Agreement (as defined below) shall be construed as creating any association, partnership, joint venture or the relation of principal and agent between the Company and Purchaser.  Each party is acting as an independent contractor, and no party shall have the authority to bind any other party or its representatives in any way.
 
10.6            Headings and Recitals .  The headings of the several articles and sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  The recitals to this Agreement are intended to be a part of and affect the meaning and interpretation of this Agreement.
 
10.7            Amendment .  This Agreement may not be modified or amended except in a writing executed by authorized representatives of each of the Company and Purchaser.
 
10.8            No Assignment .  Subject to the provisions of Section 5.1 with respect to transfers by Purchaser to one or more Affiliates of Purchaser, this Agreement is personal to the Company and Purchaser, and the Agreement and/or any right or obligation hereunder is not assignable without the prior written consent of the other party.  Each party understands that, as a condition to such consent, the other party may require it to convey, assign or otherwise transfer its rights and obligations under the other Comprehensive Resolution Agreements to the entity assuming such party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any such purported or attempted assignment or transfer in violation of the foregoing shall be deemed a breach of this Agreement and shall be null and void.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party shall be entitled to, and each party hereby agrees to, assign this Agreement to a successor to all or substantially all of a party’s assets in a transaction entered into solely to change a party’s place of incorporation.  Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.8, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, and upon any corporation, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other entity into or with which any party hereto may merge, combine or consolidate.  For the avoidance of doubt, this provision does not govern the rights or obligations of successors or assigns of the parties under the Settlement Agreement, License Agreement or MOU.
 
10.9            Interpretation .  Each party confirms that it and its respective counsel have reviewed, negotiated and adopted this Agreement as the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and the language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent.  Neither party shall be considered to be the drafter of this Agreement or any of its provisions for the purpose of any statute, case law, or rule of interpretation or construction that would, or might cause, any provision to be construed against such party.  For purposes of this Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock, including the Shares, and related prices, including the Original Issue Price, shall be appropriately adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, consolidations, combinations, exchanges of shares or similar events that are applicable to the shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 
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10.10            No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto or their respective permitted assignees, successors in interest, and subsidiaries any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
 
10.11            Severability .  If any provision of any Comprehensive Resolution Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the meaning of such provision shall be construed, to the extent feasible, so as to render the provision enforceable and to effectuate the intent and purpose of the parties with respect to such invalid or unenforceable provision, and if no feasible interpretation shall save such provision, (i) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to effectuate, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of the parties with respect to such invalid or unenforceable provision, and (ii) the remainder of such Comprehensive Resolution Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
 
10.12            No Waiver .  The failure of either party to enforce, at any time, any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions, and shall not be deemed in any way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part thereof, or the right of either party to later enforce each and every such provision.  No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
 
10.13            Counterparts; Facsimile Transmission .  This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Each party may rely on facsimile or .pdf signature pages as if such facsimile or .pdf pages were originals.
 
10.14            Public Disclosures and Statements .  The Company and Purchaser agree that neither party nor any of their Affiliates will make any public disclosure regarding this Agreement except as contemplated by the Settlement Agreement; provided, however, that this provision shall not limit either party’s right to effect any public disclosure that it is or may be required to make under applicable law upon advice of outside legal counsel, or the rules of applicable securities exchanges.
 
10.15            Notices .  Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party and a copy of the notice is sent by e-mail); or (iii) one business day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same.  The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be (unless changed pursuant to a notice delivered to each of the parties listed below in accordance with the terms of this section):

 
24

 
 
If to the Company:

 
Rambus Inc.
 
4440 El Camino Real
 
Los Altos, CA 94022
 
Facsimile:
(650) 947-5001
 
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
   
General Counsel
 
E-mail:
srishi@rambus.com
   
tlavelle@rambus.com
 
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation
 
650 Page Mill Road
 
Palo Alto, CA 94304
 
Facsimile:
(650) 493-6811
 
Attention:
Aaron Alter
 
E-mail:
aalter@wsgr.com
 
If to Purchaser:

 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
 
San #16 Banwol-Dong
 
Hwaseong-City, Gyeonggi-Do
 
Korea 445-701
 
Facsimile:
82-31-208-0699
 
Attention:
Jay Shim, Vice President and General Patent Counsel
 
E-mail:
jshim@samsung.com
 
With a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
 
767 Fifth Avenue
 
New York, NY 10153
 
Facsimile:
(212) 310-8007
 
Attention:
Howard Chatzinoff (e-mail: howard.chatzinoff@weil.com)
   
David Lefkowitz (e-mail: david.lefkowitz@weil.com)
 
Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission (and electronic e-mail receipt for the e-mail notice) or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
 
25

 
 
10.16            Further Assurances .  Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
10.17            Certain Definitions .
 
(a)      “ Affiliate ” means, for a certain entity, any other person or entity (i) that is a Subsidiary of such entity; or (ii) that Controls or is under common Control of such entity, but only so long as such Control exists.
 
(b)      “ Change in Control ” means any of the following: (i) a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or other business combination or transaction involving the Company where the existing stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of such merger, consolidation or other business combination or transaction own less than 50% of the total voting securities of the surviving corporation following such merger, consolidation or other business combination or transaction in equivalent proportions to their interests prior to such effective date; (ii) any person or 13D Group becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the aggregate number of the voting securities of the Company or of properties or assets constituting 50% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) in any case not covered by (ii), the Company issues securities representing 50% or more of its total voting power, including by way of a merger or other business combination with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) a sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company.
 
(c)      “ Comprehensive Resolution Agreements ” means the Settlement Agreement, the License Agreement, this Agreement and the MOU.
 
(d)      “ Control ” (including “Controlled” and other forms) of an entity means (i) either (A) beneficial ownership (whether direct, or indirect through Controlled entities or other means) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of that entity or (B) in the case of an entity that has no outstanding voting securities, having the right (directly or indirectly) to more than fifty percent (50%) of the profits of the entity, or having the right (directly or indirectly) in the event of dissolution to more than fifty percent (50%) of the assets of the entity; or (ii) having the contractual power (directly or indirectly) presently to designate more than fifty percent (50%) of the directors of a corporation, or in the case of unincorporated entities, of individuals exercising similar functions.
 
(e)      “ License Agreement ” means the License Agreement between the Company and Purchaser dated the date hereof.
 
(f)      “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any change, effect, fact, event or circumstance that, individually or when taken together with all other such similar or related changes, effects, facts, events or circumstances (i) is materially adverse to, or may reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to, the business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations, or assets and liabilities, taken as a whole, of the Company or (ii) would reasonably be expected to prevent the Company from performing any of its material obligations under this Agreement before the Closing.

 
26

 
 
(g)      “ MOU ” means the Memorandum of Understanding between the Company and Purchaser dated the date hereof.
 
(h)      “ Non-Routine Proposals ” shall mean all proposals with respect to  matters (other than Routine Proposals) which may be presented at any annual or special meeting or that may otherwise require or be presented for the vote, approval or consent of the stockholders of the Company, including any proposals for which stockholder approval is required pursuant to the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market (or any successor or other national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock of the Company is then traded).
 
(i)      “ Routine Proposals ” shall include:
 
(i)      Any proposal to elect any candidate as a director of the Company;
 
(ii)     Any proposal with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plan and other management or employee compensation matters;
 
(iii)    Any proposal with respect to any amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the authorization of additional shares of Common Stock of the Company; or
 
(iv)    Any proposal to approve the Company’s independent auditors.
 
(j)      “ Settlement Agreement ” means the Settlement Agreement among the Company, Purchaser, Samsung Electronics America, Inc., Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, L.P. dated the date hereof.
 
(k)      “ Subsidiary ” means, for a certain entity, any entity Controlled by such entity, but only so long as such Control exists.
 
(l)      “ 13D Group ” means any group of persons formed for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of voting securities which would be required under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, to file a statement on Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or a Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) with the SEC as a “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act if such group beneficially owned voting securities of the Company representing more than 5% of any class of voting securities then outstanding.
 
(m)      “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the Common Stock of the Company is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market (or any successor or other national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock of the Company is then traded).
           
             (n)      “ Voting Agreement Early Termination Event ” shall mean the first to occur of (i) such time as the Shares owned by Purchaser represent less than 3.00% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company, (ii) a Change in Control occurs with respect to the Company and (iii) the Company makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or commences any proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction or any such petition is filed or any such proceeding is commenced against the Company and either (A) the Company by any act indicates its approval thereof, consent thereto or acquiescence therein or (B) such petition, application or proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days.

 
27

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
 
 

 

                                                               
 
RAMBUS INC.
 
 
By: /s/ Harold Hughes                                            
 
       Name: Harold Hughes
 
       Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
 

 

 
 
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
 
 
By: / s/ Oh-Hyun Kwon                                          
 
       Name: Oh-Hyun Kwon
 
       Title: President of Semiconductor Business



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
[Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement]
 


 
 

 
 
Schedule 1.4
 
Representations and Warranties Required of Purchaser in Connection with the Put Closing or
a Closing after Exercise of the Company’s Right of First Offer Pursuant to Section 5.3(b)
 
1.            Ownership of Applicable Shares .  Purchaser is the record and beneficial owner of the applicable Shares.  The certificates representing the applicable Shares are held by Purchaser, free and clear of any liens, charges and other encumbrances, except for those created by this Agreement or arising under applicable federal and state securities laws.  Purchaser has the power and authority to sell the applicable Shares and no person has any conflicting right, contingent or otherwise, to purchase or to be offered for purchase, the applicable Shares, or any of them.
 
2.            Valid and Binding Obligations .  The stock certificates, stock powers, endorsements, assignments and other instruments to be executed and delivered by Purchaser to the Company at the closing will be valid and binding obligations of Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, and will effectively vest in the Company good and marketable title to all of the applicable Shares, free and clear of all liens, charges and other encumbrances, except restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable federal and state securities laws.
 
3.            Organization; Good Standing .  Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation.
 
4.            Authorization .  The [exercise of the Put Right] [sale of the Shares] by Purchaser has been duly authorized by all necessary action of Purchaser, and no other act or proceeding on the part of or on behalf of Purchaser is necessary to approve such [exercise] [sale].
 
5.            No Violation .  The [exercise of the Put Right] [sale of the Shares] will not infringe any law or regulation applicable to Purchaser and is not contrary to the provisions of the constitutional documents of Purchaser and will not result in any breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, any instrument or agreement to which Purchaser is a party or by which it or its property is bound.  There are no restrictions (contractual or otherwise) prohibiting or otherwise affecting the sale or transfer of the applicable Shares to the Company, other than any necessary to ensure compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom, and no consents or approvals are required to be obtained in connection with the sale of the applicable Shares to the Company and the sale of the applicable Shares to the Company will not violate or breach any representation or warranty made by Purchaser pertaining to the applicable Shares.  All consents and approvals of any court, government agencies or other regulatory body required by Purchaser for the sale of the applicable Shares have been obtained and are in full force and effect.


Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Harold Hughes, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Rambus Inc.;
 
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
Date: April 30, 2010
   
 
By:            /s/ Harold Hughes                                           
 
Name:      Harold Hughes
 
Title:        Chief Executive Officer and President



Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Satish Rishi, certify that:

 
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Rambus Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


 
Date: April 30, 2010
   
 
By:            /s/ Satish Rishi                            
 
Name:      Satish Rishi
 
Title:        Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer


Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Harold Hughes, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Rambus Inc. on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Rambus Inc.

Date: April 30, 2010

 
By:            /s/ Harold Hughes                                           
 
Name:      Harold Hughes
 
Title:        Chief Executive Officer and President


Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Satish Rishi, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the Quarterly Report of Rambus Inc. on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that information contained in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Rambus Inc.

Date: April 30, 2010

 
By:            /s/ Satish Rishi                                                
 
Name:       Satish Rishi
 
Title:         Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer