UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 19, 2010
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
DELAWARE   000-49602   77-0118518
         
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
3120 SCOTT BLVD.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
   
95054
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 454-5100
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 


 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Election of Russell J. Knittel as a Director
Effective October 19, 2010, our Board of Directors elected Russell J. Knittel to serve as a class 2 director of our company. There was no arrangement or understanding pursuant to which Mr. Knittel was appointed as a director, and since the beginning of our last fiscal year, there have been no related party transactions between Mr. Knittel and our company.
Approval of the 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and the 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2010 ESPP”)
Reference is made to the information set forth under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the approval of the 2010 Plan and the 2010 ESPP. The disclosure contained in Item 5.07 and the information contained in Exhibits 10.24(a), 10.24(b), 10.24(c), 10.24(d), and 10.25 attached hereto are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this Item 5.02.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Changes in Fiscal Year.
Reference is made to the information set forth under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding our annual meeting of stockholders held on October 19, 2010. At such meeting, our stockholders approved a proposal to increase our authorized share capital. Accordingly, on October 20, 2010, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware to increase our authorized shares of common stock from 60,000,000 to 120,000,000. Our authorized shares of preferred stock remain unchanged at 10,000,000.
A copy of the Certificate of Amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.4 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On October 19, 2010, we held an annual meeting of stockholders to consider and vote upon the following proposals: (1) to approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of our authorized shares of common stock from 60,000,000 to 120,000,000; (2) to approve our 2010 Plan to replace our expiring 2001 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2001 Plan”); (3) to approve our 2010 ESPP to replace our expiring 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2001 ESPP”); and (4) to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.
Our stockholders did not vote on the proposal to elect Thomas J. Tiernan to serve as a director for a three-term expiring in 2013. As we previously disclosed, Mr. Tiernan resigned as our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director. Mr. Tiernan also withdrew as a nominee for election to our Board of Directors.

 

1


 

The results of the vote to approve the proposals were as follows:
                                         
                                    Broker  
            For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  1.    
To approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the total number of our authorized shares of common stock from 60,000,000 to 120,000,000
    26,313,785       4,351,483       80,014        
       
 
                               
  2.    
To approve our 2010 Plan to replace our expiring 2001 Plan
    16,111,570       10,739,251       77,563       3,816,900  
       
 
                               
  3.    
To approve our 2010 ESPP to replace our expiring 2001 ESPP
    26,632,629       220,620       75,135       3,816,900  
       
 
                               
  4.    
Ratification of KPMG, LLP as independent registered public accountants
    30,571,978       88,144       85,162        
The proposals received the necessary votes in favor to be adopted by our stockholders at the annual meeting.
Approval of the 2010 Plan and 2010 ESPP
2010 Plan
The 2010 Plan replaces our expiring 2001 Plan.
Purpose
The 2010 Plan is designed to attract, motivate, retain, and reward our executives, employees, officers, directors, and consultants by providing such persons with annual and long-term performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value.
Awards
The 2010 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock units, restricted stock, bonus stock, dividend equivalents, other stock-related awards, and performance awards that may be settled in cash, stock, or other property.
Shares Available for Awards
The total number of shares of our common stock that may be subject to awards under the 2010 Plan will include only those shares available for issuance and not subject to an award under the 2001 Plan as of the date the 2010 Plan is approved by our stockholders.

 

2


 

Any shares under the 2010 Plan that are not issued because the awards terminate without the issuance of shares, or because of the withholding of shares to pay taxes or the exercise price of an award will be available for issuance under the 2010 Plan.
Limitations on Awards
The 2010 Plan imposes individual limitations on certain awards, in part to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). No more than 1,000,000 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2010 Plan may be granted to an individual during any fiscal year pursuant to awards granted under the 2010 Plan. The maximum amount that may be earned by any individual on annual incentive award or other cash award for any fiscal year is $2.0 million, and the maximum amount that may be earned by any individual as a performance award or other cash award for a performance period is $5.0 million.
No outstanding options may be repriced without stockholder approval (that is, we cannot amend an outstanding option to lower the exercise price or exchange an outstanding option for a new option with a lower exercise price). In addition, the 2010 Plan prohibits us from exchanging an outstanding option with an exercise price above the then current fair market value of our common stock for cash or another award, or taking any other action that may be treated as a repricing.
Capitalization Adjustments
In the event that any dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spinoff, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects our common stock, then the committee (as defined below) will substitute, exchange, or adjust any or all of the following in such manner as it deems equitable: (1) the kind and number of shares available under the 2010 Plan; (2) the kind and number of shares subject to limitations on awards described in the preceding section; (3) the kind and number of shares subject to all outstanding awards; (4) the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price relating to any award; and (5) any other affected terms of awards.
Eligibility
The persons eligible to receive awards under the 2010 Plan consist of officers, directors, employees, and consultants. However, incentive stock options may be granted under the 2010 Plan only to our employees, including our officers who are employees.
Administration
The 2010 Plan will be administered by a committee approved by our Board of Directors. The committee members will be (i) “non-employee directors” as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), unless administration of the 2010 Plan by “non-employee directors” is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to apply to transactions under the 2010 Plan, and (ii) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, unless administration of the 2010 Plan by “outside directors” is not then required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code. Subject to the terms of the 2010 Plan, the committee is authorized to select eligible

 

3


 

persons to receive awards, determine the type and number of awards to be granted and the number of shares of our common stock to which awards will relate, specify times at which awards will be exercisable or may be settled (including performance conditions that may be required as a condition thereof), set other terms and conditions of awards, prescribe forms of award agreements, interpret and specify rules and regulations relating to the 2010 Plan, and make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2010 Plan. The committee may amend the terms of outstanding awards, in its discretion. Any amendment that adversely affects the rights of the award recipient, however, must receive the approval of such recipient.
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
The committee is authorized to grant stock options, including both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. In addition, the committee is authorized to grant stock appreciation rights, which entitle the participant to receive the appreciation of our common stock between the grant date and the exercise date of the stock appreciation right. The committee determines the exercise price per share subject to an option and the grant price of a stock appreciation right; however, the per share exercise price of an option or stock appreciation right must not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date. The committee generally will fix the maximum term of each option or stock appreciation right, the times at which each option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable, and provisions requiring forfeiture of unexercised options or stock appreciation rights at or following termination of employment or service, except that no option or stock appreciation right may have a term exceeding seven years. Options may be exercised by payment of the exercise price in any form of legal consideration specified by the committee, including cash, shares (including cancellation of a portion of the shares subject to the award), outstanding awards, or other property having a fair market value equal to the exercise price. Options may also be exercisable in connection with a broker-assisted sales transaction (a “cashless exercise”) as determined by the committee. The committee determines methods of exercise and settlement and other terms of the stock appreciation rights.
Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Units
The committee is authorized to grant restricted stock and deferred stock units. Restricted stock is a grant of shares of our common stock, which may not be sold or disposed of and which may be forfeited in the event of certain terminations of employment or service prior to the end of a restricted period specified by the committee. A participant granted restricted stock generally has all of the rights of one of our stockholders, unless otherwise determined by the committee. An award of deferred stock units confers upon a participant the right to receive shares of our common stock at the end of a specified period or upon achievement of performance goals and may be subject to possible forfeiture of the award in the event of certain terminations of employment prior to the end of a specified period. Restricted stock and deferred stock units that are not performance-based will have minimum restriction periods of not less than three years, and performance-based restricted stock and deferred stock units will have minimum restrictive periods of not less than one year provided that a total of not more than 400,000 shares of common stock may be the subject of restricted stock and deferred stock units without regard to such minimum restriction periods. Prior to settlement, an award of deferred stock units carries no voting or dividend rights or other rights associated with share ownership, although dividend equivalents may be granted, as discussed below. The committee determines all of the terms of the restricted stock and deferred stock units awards subject to the terms of the 2010 Plan.

 

4


 

Dividend Equivalents
The committee is authorized to grant dividend equivalents conferring on participants the right to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, cash, shares of our common stock, other awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid on a specific number of shares of our common stock or other periodic payments. Dividend equivalents may be granted alone or in connection with another award, may be paid currently or on a deferred basis and, if deferred, may be deemed to have been reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, awards, or otherwise as specified by the committee. The committee determines all of the terms of the dividend equivalent awards subject to the terms of the 2010 Plan.
Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Cash Obligations
The committee is authorized to grant shares of our common stock as a bonus free of restrictions for services performed for us or to grant shares of our common stock or other awards in lieu of our obligations to pay cash under the 2010 Plan or other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as the committee may specify.
Other Stock Based Awards
The committee is authorized to grant awards under the 2010 Plan that are denominated or payable in, valued by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to shares of our common stock. Such awards might include convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock, purchase rights for shares of our common stock, awards with value and payment contingent upon our performance or any other factors designated by the committee, and awards valued by reference to the book value of shares of our common stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified subsidiaries or business units. The committee determines the terms and conditions of such awards provided that such awards shall have a restricted period of not less than three years or not less than one year in the case of performance-based awards.
Performance Awards
The right of a participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of an award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions, including subjective individual goals, as may be specified by the committee. In addition, the 2010 Plan authorizes specific performance awards, which represent a conditional right to receive cash, shares of our common stock, or other awards upon achievement of certain pre-established performance goals and subjective individual goals during a specified fiscal year or years. Performance awards granted to persons whom the committee expects will, for the year in which a deduction arises, be “covered employees” (as defined below) may, if and to the extent intended by the committee, be subject to provisions that should qualify such awards as “performance based” compensation not subject to the limitation on the tax deductibility by us under Section 162(m). For purposes of Section 162(m), the term “covered employee” means our Chief Executive Officer and our three other highest compensated officers (excluding our Chief Financial Officer) as of the end of a taxable year as disclosed in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. If and to the extent required under Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to a performance award intended to qualify under Section 162(m) is to be exercised by a committee which will qualify under Section 162(m).

 

5


 

Subject to the requirements of the 2010 Plan, the committee will determine performance award terms, including the required levels of performance with respect to specified business criteria, the corresponding amounts payable upon achievement of such levels of performance, termination and forfeiture provisions, and the form of settlement. One or more of the following business criteria based on our consolidated financial statements, and/or those of our affiliates, or for our business units (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), will be used by the committee in establishing performance goals for performance awards designed to comply with the performance-based compensation exception to Section 162(m): (1) total stockholder return, (2) total stockholder return compared to total return (on a comparable basis) of a publicly available index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index, (3) net income, (4) pretax earnings, (5) earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, (6) pretax operating earnings after interest expense but before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special items, (7) operating margin, (8) earnings per share, (9) return on equity, (10) return on capital, (11) return on investment, (12) operating earnings, (13) working capital or inventory, (14) operating earnings before the expense for share based awards, and (15) ratio of debt to stockholders’ equity. In granting performance awards, the committee may establish unfunded award “pools,” the amounts of which will be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of certain business criteria described in the 2010 Plan. During the first 90 days of a performance period, the committee will determine who will potentially receive performance awards for that performance period, either out of the pool or otherwise. For performance awards that are intended to qualify as performance based awards under Section 162(m), the performance goals and the determination of their achievement will be made in accordance with Section 162(m). The committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable as a performance award will be reduced from the amount of any potential award. The committee is authorized to adjust performance conditions and other terms of awards in response to unusual or nonrecurring events or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.
Other Terms of Awards
Awards may be settled in the form of cash, shares of our common stock, other awards, or other property in the discretion of the committee. Awards under the 2010 Plan are generally granted without a requirement that the participant pay consideration in the form of cash or property for the grant (as distinguished from the exercise), except to the extent required by law. The committee may require or permit participants to defer the settlement of all or part of an award in accordance with such terms and conditions as the committee may establish, including payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents on deferred amounts, and the crediting of earnings, gains, and losses based on deemed investment of deferred amounts in specified investment vehicles. The committee is authorized to place cash, shares of our common stock, or other property in trusts or make other arrangements to provide for payment of our obligations under the 2010 Plan. The committee may condition any payment relating to an award on the withholding of taxes and may provide that a portion of any shares of our common stock or other property to be distributed will be withheld (or previously acquired shares of our common stock or other property be surrendered by the participant) to satisfy withholding and other tax obligations. Awards granted under the 2010 Plan generally may not be pledged or otherwise encumbered and are not transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or to a designated beneficiary upon the participant’s death, except that the committee may, in its discretion, permit transfers of awards subject to any applicable legal restrictions.

 

6


 

Acceleration of Vesting; Change in Control
The committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the vesting, exercisability, lapsing of restrictions, or expiration of deferral of any award, including if we undergo a “change in control,” as defined in the 2010 Plan. In addition, the committee may provide that the performance goals relating to any performance-based award will be deemed to have been met upon the occurrence of any change in control. The award agreement may provide for the vesting of an award upon a change of control, including vesting if a participant is terminated by us or our successor without “cause” or terminates for “good reason,” as defined in the 2010 Plan.
In the event of a “corporate transaction,” as defined in the 2010 Plan, the acquiror may assume or substitute for each outstanding stock option. If the acquiror does not assume or substitute for an outstanding stock option, such stock option will terminate immediately prior to the close of such corporate transaction to the extent the option is not exercised.
Amendment and Termination
Our Board of Directors may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the 2010 Plan or the committee’s authority to grant awards without further stockholder approval, except stockholder approval will be obtained for any amendment or alteration if such approval is deemed necessary and advisable by our Board of Directors or any amendment for which stockholder approval is required by law or the primary stock exchange on which our common stock trades, or the amendment or alteration to the Plan materially increases the benefits accruing to the participants under the 2010 Plan, materially increases the number of securities that may be issued under the Plan, or materially modifies the requirements for participation in the Plan. Unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors, the 2010 Plan will terminate 10 years after the adoption by our Board of Directors of the 2010 Plan. Amendments to the 2010 Plan or any award require the consent of the affected participant if the amendment has a material adverse effect on the participant’s previously granted and outstanding awards.
The foregoing is a summary only and does not purport to be a complete description of all of the terms contained in the 2010 Plan, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2010 Plan, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.24(a) and is incorporated herein by reference. The form of non-qualified stock option agreement, form of incentive stock option agreement, and form of deferred stock award agreement for the 2010 Plan are included as Exhibits 10.24(b), 10.24(c), and 10.24(d), respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
2010 ESPP
The 2010 ESPP replaces our expiring 2001 ESPP.

 

7


 

General Terms of the 2010 ESPP; Shares Available For Issuance
The 2010 ESPP is intended to provide a method whereby our employees will have an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in our company through the purchase of shares of our common stock through accumulated voluntary payroll deductions. We intend to have the 2010 ESPP qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The 2010 ESPP permits eligible employees to authorize payroll deductions that will be utilized to purchase shares of our common stock during a series of consecutive 24-month offering periods, with four six-month purchase or exercise periods within the offering periods (except for the first offering period, which is a 22 1/2-month offering period and the first exercise date is 4 1/2 months after the beginning of that offering period). Employees may purchase shares of common stock pursuant to the 2010 ESPP at a purchase price equal to the lower of (i) 85% of the greater of (A) the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or (B) the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the entry date on which an employee becomes a participant within the offering period or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of our common stock on the last trading day of the applicable purchase period. The fair market value of a share of our common stock on a given date is determined by the Plan Committee (as defined below), provided that as long as there is a public market for our common stock, the fair market value will either be (i) the closing price of our common stock on such date (or, if our common stock is not traded on such date, the immediately preceding trading date) as reported by Nasdaq; (ii) if such price is not reported, the average of the bid and asked prices for our common stock on such date (or, if not traded on such date, the immediately preceding trading date) as reported by Nasdaq; (iii) in the event our common stock is listed on a stock exchange, the closing price of our common stock on such exchange on such date (or, if not traded on such date, the immediately preceding trading date), as reported in the Wall Street Journal; or (iv) if no such quotations are available for a date within a reasonable time prior to the valuation date, the value of our common stock as determined by the Plan Committee using any reasonable means. Any funds (other than an amount which is insufficient to purchase a full share of our common stock) remaining in the participant’s bookkeeping account after the end of an offering period will be returned to the participant. No interest is paid on funds withheld, and those funds are used by our company for general operating purposes.
Initially, the shares of our common stock reserved under the 2010 ESPP will include any shares available for issuance under the 2001 ESPP on the first offering date under the 2010 ESPP, but not to exceed 650,000 shares. Such shares will no longer be available for issuance under the 2001 ESPP. On the first day of each of our fiscal years beginning in 2012 and ending in 2019, an annual increase in the number of shares available under the 2010 ESPP will be made equal to the lesser of 500,000 shares, 1% of all shares of common stock outstanding, or a lesser amount determined by the Board of Directors. The cumulative shares authorized under the 2010 ESPP will be less than 10% of our shares outstanding from time to time, unless a greater number of shares is authorized by our stockholders. If any change is made in the stock subject to the 2010 ESPP or subject to any outstanding options under the 2010 ESPP (through reorganization, restructuring, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, stock repurchase, or similar transaction), equitable and proportionate adjustments will be made by the Plan Committee in the number and kind of shares, and the per-share option price thereof, which may be issued in the aggregate and to any participant upon exercise of the options granted under the 2010 ESPP.

 

8


 

Eligibility and Administration
All employees of our company or of those subsidiaries designated by the Board of Directors who are regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week for more than five months per calendar year are eligible to participate after completing three months of employment. Any employee who meets the eligibility requirements during an offering period may elect to participate as of the first day of any of the purchase periods that begin on or after the employee becomes eligible. An employee will not be granted an option under the 2010 ESPP if (i) immediately after the grant, such employee would own common stock, including outstanding options to purchase common stock under the 2010 ESPP, possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of our common stock, or (ii) participation in the 2010 ESPP would permit such employee’s rights to purchase our common stock under all of our employee stock purchase plans to exceed $25,000 in fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of our common stock for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding.
Our Board of Directors will appoint a committee to administer the 2010 ESPP, the “Plan Committee.” The Plan Committee will have the authority to (a) interpret and construe any provision of the 2010 ESPP, (b) adopt rules and regulations for administering the 2010 ESPP, and (c) make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the 2010 ESPP.
Offering Periods and Employee Participation
The 2010 ESPP will be implemented in a series of successive offering periods, each with a maximum duration of 24 months. If the fair market value per share of our common stock on any purchase date is less than the fair market value per share on the start date of a 24-month offering period, then that offering period will automatically terminate, and a new 24-month offering period will begin on the next business day. Each offering period will begin on the May 16 or November 16, as applicable, immediately following the end of the previous offering period.
Under the 2010 ESPP, eligible employees may elect to participate in the 2010 ESPP on May 16 or November 16 of each year, the “entry date.” Subject to certain limitations determined in accordance with calculations set forth in the 2010 ESPP, a participating employee is granted the right to purchase shares of our common stock on the last business day on or before each May 15 and November 15 during which the employee is a participant in the 2010 ESPP, the “purchase date” or “exercise date.” Upon enrollment in the 2010 ESPP, the participant authorizes a payroll deduction, on an after-tax basis, in an amount of not less than 1% and not more than 15% of the participant’s compensation on each payroll date. Unless the participant withdraws from the 2010 ESPP, the participant’s option for the purchase of shares will be exercised automatically on each exercise date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to the option will be purchased for the participant at the applicable exercise price with the accumulated plan contributions then credited to the participant’s account under the 2010 ESPP. The option exercise price per share will equal 85% of the lower of the fair market value on the first day of the offering period or the fair market value on the exercise date, unless the participant’s entry date is not the first day of the offering period, in which case the exercise price will equal 85% of the lower of (i) the greater of the fair market value on the first day of the offering period or the fair market value of our common stock on the entry date or (ii) the fair market value on the exercise date.

 

9


 

At the time an employee becomes a participant in the 2010 ESPP, the employee may elect payroll deductions of up to 15% of such employee’s compensation for each pay period during an offering. For purposes of the 2010 ESPP, compensation consists of base salary and overtime paid by us to employees that participate in the 2010 ESPP. Compensation for purposes of the 2010 ESPP excludes bonuses, commissions, our contributions to pension plans, automobile or relocation allowances, starting bonuses or finder’s fees, amounts realized from stock options or incentive awards, our payments for any welfare or fringe benefits, and other similar forms of extraordinary compensation. Participants may discontinue, reduce, or increase future payroll deductions during an offering period, however, participants may change the rate or amount of payroll deductions only once in any purchase period. A participant’s payroll deductions will continue at the same rate or amount for subsequent offering periods unless the participant elects otherwise before the beginning of the offering periods. To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code, the Plan Committee may reduce a participant’s payroll deduction percentage to 0% at such time during any purchase period scheduled to end during the current calendar year when the participant’s aggregate payroll deductions for the calendar year exceeds $25,000 multiplied by the applicable percentage (i.e., 85%). All payroll deductions made by each participant will be credited to a bookkeeping account set up for that participant under the 2010 ESPP.
Grants and Exercises of Options
On a participant’s entry date, the participant will be granted an option to purchase, on each subsequent purchase date during the offering period in which the entry date occurs, up to a number of shares of our common stock determined by dividing (i) the amount of such participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to the purchase date and retained in the participant’s account as of the exercise date by (ii) the option exercise price. The option exercise price is an amount equal to 85% of the lower of (a) the greater of the fair market value of our common stock at the beginning of the offering period or the fair market value of our common stock on the participant’s entry date, or (b) the fair market value of our common stock at the end of the exercise period. The participant’s option will be deemed to have been exercised automatically on the last day of the exercise period. The maximum number of shares that a participant may purchase during any exercise period is 650 shares. A participant will have no interest or voting right in shares of our common stock covered by the participant’s option until such option has been exercised.
Reclassifications and Mergers
The 2010 ESPP provides for adjustment of the number of shares for which options may be granted, the number of shares subject to outstanding options, and the exercise price of outstanding options in the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding shares as a result of one or more reorganizations, restructurings, recapitalizations, reclassifications, stock splits, reverse stock splits, or stock dividends. If our company dissolves or liquidates, the offering period will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of that action, unless otherwise provided by the Plan Committee. In the event of a merger or a sale of all or substantially all of our company’s assets, each option under the 2010 ESPP will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation, unless the Plan Committee, in its sole discretion, accelerates the date on which the options may be exercised.

 

10


 

Participation in the 2010 ESPP
Participation in the 2010 ESPP is voluntary and depends on each eligible employee’s election to participate and his or her determination as to the level of payroll deductions. Accordingly, future purchases under the 2010 ESPP are not determinable.
Withdrawal; Termination; Leave Of Absence
A participant in the 2010 ESPP may withdraw, at any time, from the 2010 ESPP by giving us written notice. All payroll deductions credited to such participant’s account and not yet invested in our common stock will be returned to the participant. If a participant withdraws from an offering period, he or she may not participate again in that offering but may participate in any succeeding offering under the 2010 ESPP or in any similar plan that we may adopt.
Upon termination of a participant’s employment for any reason, including retirement or death, the payroll deductions credited to such participant’s account, and not yet invested in our common stock, will be returned to the participant or the participant’s beneficiary and the unexercised portion of any option granted to an employee under the 2010 ESPP shall be automatically terminated.
A participant on an approved leave of absence will be deemed to be an employee during the first 90 days of the leave of absence and may continue to be a participant in the 2010 ESPP during that 90-day period. A participant who has been on leave of absence for more than 90 days will be deemed to have been terminated as an employee and will not be entitled to participate in the 2010 ESPP commencing after the 90th day of such leave of absence. The payroll deductions credited to such participant’s account, and not yet invested in our common stock, will be returned to the participant and the unexercised portion of any option granted to an employee under the 2010 ESPP shall be automatically terminated.
Transferability
Neither the payroll deductions credited to a participant’s account nor any rights with respect to an option granted under the 2010 ESPP may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of by the participant, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, or other disposition will be ineffective and we may treat any such act as an election to withdraw from participation in the 2001 ESPP.
Duration and Modification
The 2010 ESPP will remain in effect until the earliest of (a) the exercise date that participants become entitled to purchase a number of shares greater than the number of reserved shares available for purchase under the 2010 ESPP or (b) such date as is determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion. The 2010 ESPP’s “effective date” means the date immediately following the end of the current offering period under the 2001 ESPP.

 

11


 

The Board of Directors or the Plan Committee may amend the 2010 ESPP at any time, provided that such amendment may not adversely affect the rights of any participant with respect to previously granted options and the 2010 ESPP may not be amended if such amendment would in any way cause rights issued under the 2010 ESPP to fail to meet the requirements for employee stock purchase plans as defined in Section 423 of the Code. To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, Section 423 of the Code, or any other applicable law or regulation, the Board of Directors will obtain stockholder approval for an amendment.
The foregoing is a summary only and does not purport to be a complete description of all of the terms contained in the 2010 ESPP, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2010 ESPP, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.25 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a)  
Financial Statements of Business Acquired .
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(b)  
Pro Forma Financial Information .
 
   
Not applicable.
 
(c)  
Shell Company Transactions .
 
(d)  
Exhibits .
     
Exhibit No.   Description
 
   
3.4
  Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on October 20, 2010
10.24(a)
  2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(b)
  Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(c)
  Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(d)
  Form of Deferred Stock Award Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.25
  2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

12


 

SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
         
  SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
 
 
Date: October 22, 2010  By:   /s/ Kathleen A. Bayless    
    Kathleen A. Bayless   
    Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer   

 

 


 

         
EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
   
3.4
  Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Delaware on October 20, 2010
10.24(a)
  2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(b)
  Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(c)
  Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.24(d)
  Form of Deferred Stock Award Agreement for 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
10.25
  2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

 

Exhibit 3.4
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
Synaptics Incorporated, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the state of Delaware (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify:
FIRST: That the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted a resolution proposing and declaring advisable a proposed amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, amending the first paragraph of Article FOURTH to read in its entirety as set forth on Exhibit A hereto.
SECOND: That the aforesaid amendment was approved by the stockholders of the Corporation at a meeting held on October 19, 2010.
THIRD: That the aforesaid amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation law of the state of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Synaptics Incorporated has caused this Certificate of Amendment to be signed by Russell J. Knittel, its Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, as of the 19th day of October, 2010.
         
  SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
 
 
  By:   /s/ Russell J. Knittel    
  Name:   Russell J. Knittel   
  Its:   Interim President and
Chief Executive Officer 
 
 

 

 


 

EXHIBIT A
FOURTH: The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of shares of capital stock, to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one hundred thirty million (130,000,000) of which one hundred twenty million (120,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock and ten million (10,000,000) shall be Preferred Stock. The par value of the shares of Common Stock is one-tenth of one cent ($.001) per share. The par value of the shares of Preferred Stock is one-tenth of one cent ($.001) per share.

 

 

Exhibit 10.24(a)
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
2010 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1.  Purpose . The purpose of this PLAN (the “Plan”) is to assist SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and its Related Entities in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other Employees, officers, Directors and Consultants by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company’s stockholders, and providing such persons with annual and long term performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of stockholder value. The Plan is intended to qualify certain compensation awarded under the Plan for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code (as hereafter defined) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee.
2.  Definitions . For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof.
(a) “ Annual Incentive Award ” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 7(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, after the end of a specified fiscal year.
(b) “ Award ” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock Unit, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest, granted to a Participant under the Plan.
(c) “ Beneficiary ” means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(b) hereof. If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.
(d) “ Beneficial Owner ”, “ Beneficially Owning ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.
(e) “ Board ” means the Company’s Board of Directors.
(f) “ Cause ” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the equivalent meaning (or the same meaning as “cause” or “for cause”) set forth in any employment, consulting, change in control or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the failure by the Participant to perform his or her duties as assigned by the Company (or a Related Entity) in a reasonable manner, (ii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company (or a Related Entity), if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her non-competition and/or non-disclosure agreement with the Company (or a Related Entity), if any, (iv) any act by the Participant of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company (or a Related Entity), (v) chronic addiction to alcohol, drugs or other similar substances affecting the Participant’s work performance, or (vi) the commission by the Participant of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Participant or the Company or any Related Entity. The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s Continuous Service was terminated by the Company for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.
(g) “ Change in Control ” means a Change in Control as defined with related terms in Section 9 of the Plan.
(h) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

 

1


 

(i) “ Committee ” means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall consist of at least two directors, and each member of which shall be (i) a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan by “non-employee directors” is not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to apply to transactions under the Plan, and (ii) an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, unless administration of the Plan by “outside directors” is not then required in order to qualify for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(j) “ Consultant ” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
(k) “ Continuous Service ” means uninterrupted provision of services to the Company in any capacity of Employee, Director, or Consultant. Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any capacity of Employee Director, or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement). An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.
(l) “ Corporate Transaction ” means a Corporate Transaction as defined in Section 9(b)(i) of the Plan.
(m) “ Covered Employee ” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 7(e) of the Plan.
(n) “ Deferred Stock Unit ” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified deferral period.
(o) “ Director ” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
(p) “ Disability ” means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.
(q) “ Dividend Equivalent ” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.
(r) “ Effective Date ” means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be the date of stockholder approval of this Plan.
(s) “ Eligible Person ” means each Executive Officer of the Company (as defined under the Exchange Act) and other officers, Directors and Employees of the Company or of any Related Entity, and Consultants with the Company or any Related Entity. The foregoing notwithstanding, only employees of the Company, the Parent, or any Subsidiary shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options. An Employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.
(t) “ Employee ” means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Related Entity. The Payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(u) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

 

2


 

(v) “ Executive Officer ” means an executive officer of the Company as defined under the Exchange Act.
(w) “ Fair Market Value ” means the fair market value of Stock, Awards or other property as determined by the Committee, or under procedures established by the Committee. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of Stock as of any given date shall be the closing sale price per share reported on a consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Stock is traded on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.
(x) “ Good Reason ” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the equivalent meaning (or the same meaning as “good reason” or “for good reason”) set forth in any employment, consulting, change in control or other agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Participant’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as assigned by the Company (or a Related Entity), or any other action by the Company (or a Related Entity) which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company (or a Related Entity) promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant; (ii) any failure by the Company (or a Related Entity) to comply with its obligations to the Participant as agreed upon, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company (or a Related Entity) promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant; (iii) the Company’s (or Related Entity’s) requiring the Participant to be based at any office or location outside of fifty miles from the location of employment as of the date of Award, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Participant’s responsibilities; (iv) any purported termination by the Company (or a Related Entity) of the Participant’s Continuous Service otherwise than for Cause as defined in Section 2(f), or by reason of the Participant’s Disability as defined in Section 2(q). For purposes of this Section 2(y), any good faith determination of “Good Reason” made by the Committee shall be conclusive.
(y) “ Incentive Stock Option ” means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
(z) “ Incumbent Board ” means the Incumbent Board as defined in Section 9(b)(ii) of the Plan.
(aa) “ Option ” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.
(bb) “ Optionee ” means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.
(cc) “ Other Stock-Based Awards ” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(h) hereof.
(dd) “ Parent ” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(ee) “ Participant ” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.
(ff) “ Performance Award ” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 7 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Committee.

 

3


 

(gg) “ Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
(hh) “ Related Entity ” means any Parent, Subsidiary, and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity designated by the Committee in which the Company, a Parent, or a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, holds a substantial ownership interest.
(ii) “ Restricted Stock ” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.
(jj) “ Rule 16b-3” and “Rule 16a- 1(c)(3) ” means Rule 16b-3 and Rule 16a-1(c)(3), as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(kk) “ Stock ” means the Company’s Common Stock, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof.
(ll) “ Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.
(mm) “ Subsidiary ” means a “subsidiary corporation” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3.  Administration .
(a)  Authority of the Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards, determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Awards, prescribe Award agreements (which need not be identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, construe and interpret the Plan and Award agreements and correct defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make all other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. In exercising any discretion granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent with past practices, or treat any Eligible Person in a manner consistent with the treatment of other Eligible Persons.
(b)  Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority . Any action of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, its Related Entities, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under Section 10(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a Participant, and stockholders. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, (i) to perform administrative functions, (ii) with respect to Participants not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such other functions as the Committee may determine, and (iii) with respect to Participants subject to Section 16, to perform such other functions of the Committee as the Committee may determine to the extent performance of such functions will not result in the loss of an exemption under Rule 16b-3 otherwise available for transactions by such persons, in each case to the extent permitted under applicable law and subject to the requirements set forth in Section 7(d). The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.
(c)  Limitation of Liability . The Committee, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any Executive Officer, other officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee, and any officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

4


 

4.  Stock Subject to Plan .
(a)  Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Subject to Awards . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2001 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2001 Plan”) that are not subject to an outstanding award under the 2001 Plan as of the date of stockholder approval of this Plan (and such shares shall no longer be available for issuance under the 2001 Plan). Any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b)  Availability of Shares Not Issued pursuant to Awards . In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised through the withholding of shares of Stock from the Award by the Company or withholding tax liabilities arising from such Option or other Award are satisfied by the withholding of shares of Stock from the Award by the Company, then only the number of shares of Stock issued net of the shares of Stock withheld shall be counted as issued for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for grant under the Plan, subject to Section 4(c) below.
(c)  Limitation on Number of Incentive Stock Option Shares . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options shall be the lesser of (i) the number of shares of Stock that may be subject to Awards under Section 4(a), or (ii) 15,000,000.
(d)  Application of Limitations . The limitation contained in this Section 4 shall apply not only to Awards that are settled by the delivery of shares of Stock but also to Awards relating to shares of Stock but settled only in cash (such as cash-only Stock Appreciation Rights). The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.
5.  Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations . Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. In each fiscal year during any part of which the Plan is in effect, an Eligible Person may not be granted Awards relating to more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c), under each of Sections 6(b), 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f), 6(g), 6(h), 7(b) and 7(c). In addition, the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any fiscal year by any one Participant shall be $2,000,000, and the maximum amount that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period by any one Participant shall be $5,000,000.
6.  Specific Terms of Awards .
(a)  General . Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Delaware law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award.

 

5


 

(b)  Options . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i)  Stock Option Agreement . Each grant of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement. Such Stock Option Agreement shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Committee deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement. The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.
(ii)  Number of Shares . Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of shares of Stock that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10(c) hereof. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(iii)  Exercise Price .
(A)  In General . Each Stock Option Agreement shall state the price at which shares of Stock subject to the Option may be purchased (the “Exercise Price”), which shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.
(B)  Ten Percent Stockholder . If an individual owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Entity, the Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option must be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant and such Incentive Stock Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant.
(iv)  Time and Method of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), provided that in the case of an Optionee who is not an officer, Director, or Consultant of the Company or a Related Entity, his or her Options shall become exercisable at least as rapidly as 20% per year, over a 5 year period commencing on the date of the grant, unless a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such vesting requirements are not required in the circumstances under applicable federal or state securities laws. The Committee may also determine the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions; provided, however, if the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated for any reason other than Cause, that portion of the Option that is exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain exercisable for at least 6 months from the date of termination if by reason of death or Disability, and for at least 30 days from the date of termination if by reason other than the Optionee’s death or Disability. The Committee may determine the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion of the Committee a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.
(v)  Incentive Stock Options . The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options (including any Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has first requested the change that will result in such disqualification. Thus, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following special terms and conditions:
(A) the Option shall not be exercisable more than seven years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent Corporation and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant; and

 

6


 

(B) The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company or its Parent Corporation during any calendar year are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed $100,000.
(vi)  Repurchase Rights . The Committee shall have the discretion to grant Options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee’s Continuous Service cease while holding such unvested shares, the Company shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.
(c)  Stock Appreciation Rights . The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i)  Right to Payment . A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of stock on the date of exercise, over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee. The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.
(ii)  Other Terms . The Committee shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right. Stock Appreciation Rights may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.
(d)  Restricted Stock . The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i)  Grant and Restrictions . Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan. The restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant or thereafter provided that the restrictions shall not lapse in less than three years or less than one year in the case of performance-based Restricted Stock except that a total of not more than 400,000 shares of Common Stock may be subject of restricted stock and deferred stock units without regard to such restriction period. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Committee). During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, subject to Section 10(b) below, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii)  Forfeiture . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the Award, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable restriction period, the Participant’s Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited (or, in accordance with Section 6(b)(vi), reacquired by the Company); provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

 

7


 

(iii)  Certificates for Stock . Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.
(iv)  Dividends and Splits . As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.
(e)  Deferred Stock Units . The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred Stock Units to Participants, which are rights to receive Stock, cash, or a combination thereof at the end of a specified time period, subject to the following terms and conditions:
(i)  Award and Restrictions . Satisfaction of an Award of Deferred Stock Units shall occur upon expiration of the time specified for such Deferred Stock Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant). In addition, Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the time period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine provided that the restrictions shall not lapse in less than three years or less than one year in the case of performance-based Deferred Stock Units except that a total of not more than 400,000 shares of Common Stock may be the subject of restricted stock and deferred stock units without regard to such restriction period. The terms of an Award of Deferred Stock Units shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement that shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. Deferred Stock Units may be satisfied by delivery of Stock, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Deferred Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter. Prior to satisfaction of an Award of Deferred Stock Units, an Award of Deferred Stock Units carries no voting or dividend or other rights associated with share ownership. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan, (A) all grants of Deferred Stock Units shall comply with the vesting terms of Section 6(b)(iv), and (B) unless otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code or otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, each Award of Deferred Stock Units shall be structured to avoid the imposition of any excise tax under Section 409A of the Code.
(ii)  Forfeiture . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable time period thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award agreement evidencing the Deferred Stock Units), the Participant’s Deferred Stock Units (other than those Deferred Stock Units subject to deferral at the election of the Participant) shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Deferred Stock Units shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Deferred Stock Units.
(iii)  Dividend Equivalents . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at date of grant, any Dividend Equivalents that are granted with respect to any Award of Deferred Stock Units shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Deferred Stock Units at the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Deferred Stock Units and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Deferred Stock Units, other Awards or other investment vehicles, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect.

 

8


 

(f)  Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations . The Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans provided each such Award shall have a restricted period of not less than three years or not less than one year in the case of performance-based Awards or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.
(g)  Dividend Equivalents . The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant entitling the Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments. Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code or otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, each Dividend Equivalent shall be structured to avoid the imposition of any excise tax under Section 409A of the Code.
(h)  Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Committee, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Related Entities or business units. The Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards provided each such Award shall have a restricted period of not less than three years or not less than one year in the case of performance-based Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration (including without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity), paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine. The Committee shall have the discretion to grant such other Awards which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock. Should the Optionee’s Continuous Service cease while holding such unvested shares, the Company shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right. Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise exempt from Section 409A of the Code or otherwise specifically determined by the Committee, each such Award shall be structured to avoid the imposition of any excise tax under Section 409A of the Code.
7.  Performance and Annual Incentive Awards .
(a)  Performance Conditions . The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 7(b) and 7(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).

 

9


 

(b)  Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees . If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 7(b).
(i)  Performance Goals Generally . The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 7(b). Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.
(ii)  Business Criteria . One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or specified Related Entities or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total stockholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) total stockholder return; (2) such total stockholder return as compared to total return (on a comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or the S&P Specialty Retailer Index; (3) net income; (4) pretax earnings; (5) earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization; (6) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (7) operating margin; (8) earnings per share; (9) return on equity; (10) return on capital; (11) return on investment; (12) operating earnings; (13) working capital or inventory; (14) operating earnings before the expense for share based awards; and (15) ratio of debt to stockholders’ equity. One or more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 7(c) hereof that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m).
(iii)  Performance Period; Timing For Establishing Performance Goals . Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to seven years, as specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later than 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).
(iv)  Performance Award Pool . The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in connection with Performance Awards. The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.
(v)  Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms . Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

 

10


 

(c)  Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees . The Committee may, within its discretion, grant one or more Annual Incentive Awards to any Eligible Person, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7(c).
(i)  Annual Incentive Award Pool . The Committee may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in connection with Annual Incentive Awards. In the case of Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b)(iii) hereof. The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.
(ii)  Potential Annual Incentive Awards . Not later than the end of the 90th day of each fiscal year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 7(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards. In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the amount potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee; in other cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the Committee. In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5 hereof.
(iii)  Payout of Annual Incentive Awards . After the end of each fiscal year, the Committee shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (B) the amount of potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant. The Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as an Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no Award whatsoever. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant prior to the end of a fiscal year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.
(d)  Written Determinations . All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section 7(b), and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards under Section 7(c), shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). The Committee may not delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards if and to the extent required to comply with Code Section 162(m).
(e)  Status of Section 7(b) and Section 7(c) Awards Under Code Section 162(m) . It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Section 7(b) and 7(c) hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 7(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

11


 

8.  Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards or Sales .
(a)  Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related Entity. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related Entity in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation.
(b)  Term of Awards . The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee or the Board; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of seven years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code).
(c)  Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals . Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control). Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Committee (subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.
(d)  Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability . It is the intent of the Company that this Plan comply in all respects with applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) to the extent necessary to ensure that neither the grant of any Awards to nor other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act is subject to liability under Section 16(b) thereof (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision will be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a- I (c)(3) so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).
(e)  Code Section 409A . If and to the extent that the Committee believes that any Awards may constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code, the terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreement for that Award shall be drafted in a manner that is intended to comply with, and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Participant and the Company.
(f)  No Option Repricing . Other than pursuant to Section 10(c), without approval of the Company’s stockholders, the Committee shall not be permitted to (A) lower the exercise price per share of Stock of an Option after it is granted, (B) cancel an Option when the exercise price per share of Stock exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying share of Stock in exchange for another Award or cash, or (C) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing.

 

12


 

9.  Change in Control .
(a)  Effect of “Change in Control .” If and to the extent provided in the Award, in the event of a “Change in Control,” as defined in Section 9(b):
(i) The Committee may, within its discretion, accelerate the vesting and exercisability of any Award carrying a right to exercise that was not previously vested and exercisable as of the time of the Change in Control, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 10(a) hereof;
(ii) The Committee may, within its discretion, accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Rights and provide for the settlement of such Stock Appreciation Rights for amounts, in cash;
(iii) The Committee may, within its discretion, lapse the restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any other Award granted under the Plan and such Awards may be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section 10(a) hereof; and
(iv) With respect to any such outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance goals and conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, within its discretion, deem such performance goals and other conditions as having been met as of the date of the Change in Control.
(b)  Definition of “Change in Control .” A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon:
(i) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of corporate transaction or series of transactions, in each case, with respect to which persons who were the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation or other transaction do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50% of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated company’s then outstanding voting securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (unless such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other corporate transaction, liquidation, dissolution or sale (any such event being referred to as a “Corporate Transaction”) is subsequently abandoned);
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date on which the Award is granted, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date on which the Award was granted whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company) shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(iii) the acquisition (other than from the Company) by any person, entity or “group”, within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act, of more than 50% of either the then outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (hereinafter referred to as the ownership of a “Controlling Interest”) excluding, for this purpose, any acquisitions by (1) the Company or a Related Entity, (2) any person, entity or “group” that as of the date on which the Award is granted owns beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act) of a Controlling Interest or (3) any employee benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity.

 

13


 

10.  General Provisions .
(a)  Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements . The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Stock or other Company securities are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change in Control.
(b)  Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries .
(i)  General . Except as provided herein, a Participant may not assign, sell, transfer, or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien any Award or other right or interest granted under this Plan, in whole or in part, including any Award or right which constitutes a derivative security as generally defined in Rule 16a1(c) under the Exchange Act, other than by will or by operation of the laws of descent and distribution, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.
(ii)  Permitted Transfer of Option . The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of an Option (but not an Incentive Stock Option, or any other right to purchase Stock other than an Option) as follows: (A) by gift to a member of the Participant’s Immediate Family or (B) by transfer by instrument to a trust providing that the Option is to be passed to beneficiaries upon death of the Optionee. For purposes of this Section 10(b)(ii), “Immediate Family” shall mean the Optionee’s spouse (including a former spouse subject to terms of a domestic relations order); child, stepchild, grandchild, child-in-law; parent, stepparent, grandparent, parent-in-law; sibling and sibling-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships. If a determination is made by counsel for the Company that the restrictions contained in this Section 10(b)(ii) are not required by applicable federal or state securities laws under the circumstances, then the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, which may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an Award agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon, and further subject to any prohibitions and restrictions on such transfers pursuant to Rule 16b-3). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
(c)  Adjustments .
(i)  Adjustments to Awards . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Stock and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer such that a substitution, exchange, or adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it deems equitable, substitute, exchange, or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of shares of Stock by which annual per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5 hereof, (C) the number and kind of shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (E) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (F) any other aspect of any Award that the Committee determines to be appropriate.

 

14


 

(ii)  Adjustments in Case of Certain Corporate Transactions . In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other form of corporate transaction in which the Company does not survive, or in which the shares of Stock are exchanged for or converted into securities issued by another entity, then the successor or acquiring entity or an affiliate thereof may, with the consent of the Committee, assume each outstanding Option or substitute an equivalent option or right. If the successor or acquiring entity or an affiliate thereof, does not cause such an assumption or substitution, then each Option shall terminate upon the consummation of sale, merger, consolidation, or other corporate transaction. The Committee shall give written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section I 0(c)(ii) a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which notice may be given either before or after the approval of such transaction), in order that Optionees may have a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise any Options that are then exercisable (including any Options that may become exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction). An Optionee may condition his exercise of any Option upon the consummation of the transaction.
(iii)  Other Adjustments . In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Performance Awards and performance goals, and Annual Incentive Awards and any Annual Incentive Award pool or performance goals relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Related Entity or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Related Entity, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any Related Entity or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to the extent that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards granted under Section 8(b) hereof or Annual Incentive Awards granted under Section 8(c) hereof to Participants designated by the Committee as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder to otherwise fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.
(d)  Taxes . The Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations; either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.
(e)  Changes to the Plan and Awards . The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan, without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if (i) such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 or Code Section 162(m)) or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, or (ii) the amendment or alternation to the Plan materially increases the benefits accruing to the participants under the Plan, materially increases the number of securities that may be issued under the Plan, or materially modifies the requirements for participant in the Plan, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to stockholders for approval; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.

 

15


 

(f)  Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan . Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.
(g)  Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts . The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan. Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant. The trustee of such trusts may be authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify and in accordance with applicable law.
(h)  Nonexclusivity of the Plan . Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m).
(i)  Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(j)  Governing Law . The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and any Award agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.
(k)  Plan Effective Date and Stockholder Approval; Termination of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, provided the Plan is approved within 12 months of its adoption by the Board by stockholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable NASDAQ requirements, and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan. The Plan shall terminate no later than 10 years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or 10 years from the date the Plan is approved by the stockholders, whichever is earlier.

 

16

Exhibit 10.24(b)
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
2010 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
1.  Grant of Option . SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED (the “Company”) hereby grants, as of the date of grant (“Date of Grant”) set forth in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock Options attached hereto and made a part hereof, to the person whose name is set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options (the “Optionee”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Shares”) set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, at the exercise price per share set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options. The Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Option was issued pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein for all purposes. The Option is a nonqualified stock option, and not an Incentive Stock Option. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and thereof and all applicable laws and regulations.
2.  Definitions . Unless otherwise provided herein, terms used herein that are defined in the Plan and not defined herein shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the Plan.
3.  Exercise Schedule . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6 or 8 of this Option Agreement, or in the Plan, the Option is exercisable in installments as provided in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, which shall be cumulative. To the extent that the Option has become exercisable with respect to a percentage of Shares as provided in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, the Option may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein. The Notice of Grant of Stock Options table indicates each date (the “Vesting Date”) upon which the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the Option with respect to the number of Shares granted as indicated beside the date, provided that the Continuous Service of the Optionee continues through and on the applicable Vesting Date. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, there shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate Vesting Date. Upon the termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service, any unvested portion of the Option shall terminate and be null and void.
4.  Method of Exercise . The vested portion of this Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part in accordance with the exercise schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options by written notice, which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as to the holder’s investment intent with respect to such Shares as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Such written notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The written notice shall be accompanied by payment of the exercise price. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised after both (a) receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied by the exercise price and (b) arrangements that are satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion have been made for Optionee’s payment to the Company of the amount that is necessary to be withheld in accordance with applicable Federal or state withholding requirements. No Shares will be issued pursuant to the Option unless and until such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all relevant provisions of applicable law, including the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares then may be traded.

 

1


 

5.  Method of Payment . Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee: (a) cash, (b) check, or (c) such other consideration or in such other manner as may be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion.
6.  Termination of Option .
(a) Any unexercised portion of the Option shall automatically and without notice terminate and become null and void at the time of the earliest to occur of:
(i) three months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated other than by reason of (A) Cause, (B) a mental or physical disability (within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 22(e)) of the Optionee as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee, or (C) the death of the Optionee;
(ii) immediately upon the termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service for Cause;
(iii) twelve months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated by reason of a mental or physical disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code) as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee;
(iv) (A) twelve months after the date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service by reason of the death of the Optionee, or , if later, (B) three months after the date on which the Optionee shall die if such death shall occur during the one year period specified in Subsection 6(a)(iii) hereof; or
(v) the seventh anniversary of the date as of which the Option is granted.
(b) To the extent not previously exercised, (i) the Option shall terminate immediately in the event of (1) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (2) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other form of corporate transaction in which the Company does not survive or the shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for securities issued by another entity, unless the successor or acquiring entity, or an affiliate of such successor or acquiring entity, assumes the Option or substitutes an equivalent option or right pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan, and (ii) the Committee in its sole discretion may by written notice (“cancellation notice”) cancel, effective upon the consummation of any Corporate Transaction described in Subsection 9(b)(i) of the Plan in which the Company does survive, the Option (or portion thereof) that remains unexercised on such date. The Committee shall give written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 6(b) a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which notice may be given either before or after approval of such transaction), in order that the Optionee may have a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise the Option if and to the extent that it then is exercisable (including any portion of the Option that may become exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction). The Optionee may condition his exercise of the Option upon the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 6(b).

 

2


 

7.  Transferability
(a)  General . Except as provided herein, a Participant may not assign, sell, transfer, or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien any Award or other right or interest granted under this Plan, in whole or in part, including any Award or right which constitutes a derivative security as generally defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,, other than by will or by operation of the laws of descent and distribution, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.
(b)  Permitted Transfer of Option . The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of an Option granted under this Option Agreement as follows: (A) by gift to a member of the Participant’s Immediate Family or (B) by transfer by instrument to a trust providing that the Option is to be passed to beneficiaries upon death of the Optionee. For purposes of this Section 7(b), “Immediate Family” shall mean the Optionee’s spouse (including a former spouse subject to terms of a domestic relations order), child, stepchild, grandchild, child-in-law; parent, stepparent, grandparent, parent-in-law; sibling, and sibling-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships. If a determination is made by counsel for the Company that the restrictions contained in this Section 7(b) are not required by applicable federal or state securities laws under the circumstances, then the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of Options granted under this Option Agreement to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, which may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of this Option Agreement, but only if and to the extent permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of this Option Agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may impose thereon, and further subject to any prohibitions and restrictions on such transfers pursuant to Rule 16b-3). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
8.  Acceleration of Exercisability of Option .
[Optional] (a) [ This Option shall become exercisable to the extent set forth in an employment, compensation, or severance agreement with or from the Company in the event that, prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 6 hereof, (i) there is a “Change in Control,” as defined in such agreements, that occurs while the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the Committee exercises its discretion to provide a cancellation notice with respect to the Option pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, or (iii) the Option is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) hereof. ]

 

3


 

[Alternate] (a) [ This Option shall become exercisable to the extent set forth in (b) below in the event that, prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 6 hereof, (i) there is a “Change in Control,” as defined in (b) below, that occurs while the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the Committee exercises its discretion to provide a cancellation notice with respect to the Option pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, or (iii) the Option is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) hereof.
(b) Individual Change of Control Provisions ]
9.  No Rights of Stockholders . Neither the Optionee nor any personal representative (or beneficiary) shall be, or shall have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Stock purchasable or issuable upon the exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, prior to the date of exercise of the Option.
10.  Market Stand-Off Agreement . At the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Company’s securities, the Optionee agrees not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Stock (other than those included in the registration) acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option, without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed 180 days) from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters.
11.  No Right to Continued Employment . Neither the Option nor this Option Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continued employment or service with the Company.
12.  Law Governing . Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the vesting of shares pursuant to the Option granted is earned only by continuing employment or consultancy at the will of the Company (not through the act of being hired, being granted this Option or acquiring shares hereunder). Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Option Agreement, nor in the Plan, shall confer upon Optionee any right with respect to continuation of employment or consultancy by the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with Optionee’s right or the Company’s right to terminate Optionee’s employment or consultancy at any time, with or without Cause.
13.  Interpretation / Provisions of Plan Control . This Option Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan adopted by the Committee as may be in effect from time to time. If and to the extent that this Option Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Option Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. The Optionee accepts the Option subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. The undersigned Optionee hereby accepts as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan and this Option Agreement.

 

4


 

14.  Notices . Any notice under this Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally or when deposited in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company’s Secretary at:
Synaptics Incorporated
3120 Scott Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95054
or if the Company should move its principal office, to such principal office, and, in the case of the Optionee, to the Optionee’s last permanent address as shown on the Company’s records, subject to the right of either party to designate some other address at any time hereafter in a notice satisfying the requirements of this Section.
15.  Tax Consequences . Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of this Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
(a)  Exercise of Option . There may be a regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option. The Optionee will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price. If Optionee is an employee, the Company will be required to withhold from Optionee’s compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise.
(b)  Disposition of Shares . If Shares are held for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing discussion assumes that, and only is applicable if, the fair market value of the Shares as of the date on which the Option is granted is not significantly less than the exercise price. The Company believes that it has made a good faith effort to determine the fair market value of the Shares and does not believe that the exercise price is significantly less than the fair market value of the Shares on the Date of Grant. No assurances can be given, however, that the Internal Revenue Service would not take a contrary position. It is possible that if the fair market value is determined to be significantly greater than the exercise price, the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the Option is not in effect a stock option but should be treated as a restricted stock for tax purposes. The Optionee should consult with his or her own tax advisors as to whether any action should be taken to minimize these risks.
16.  Execution . This Option Agreement is executed by the parties hereto on the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

5

Exhibit 10.24(c)
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
2010 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
1.  Grant of Option . SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED (the “Company”) hereby grants, as of the date of grant (the “Date of Grant”) set forth in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock Options attached hereto and made a part hereof, to the person whose name is set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options (the “Optionee”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Shares”) set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, at the exercise price per share set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options. The Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Option was issued pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), which is incorporated herein for all purposes. The Option is an Incentive Stock Option, and not a nonqualified stock option. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and thereof and all applicable laws and regulations.
2.  Definitions . Unless otherwise provided herein, terms used herein that are defined in the Plan and not defined herein shall have the meanings attributed thereto in the Plan.
3.  Exercise Schedule . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6 or 10 of this Option Agreement, or in the Plan, the Option is exercisable in installments as provided in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, which shall be cumulative. To the extent that the Option has become exercisable with respect to a percentage of Shares as provided in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, the Option may thereafter be exercised by the Optionee, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein. The Notice of Grant of Stock Options table indicates each date (the “Vesting Date”) upon which the Optionee shall be entitled to exercise the Option with respect to the number of Shares granted as indicated beside the date, provided that the Continuous Service of the Optionee continues through and on the applicable Vesting Date. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, there shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each Vesting Date, and all vesting shall occur only on the appropriate Vesting Date. Upon the termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service, any unvested portion of the Option shall terminate and be null and void.
4.  Method of Exercise . The vested portion of this Option shall be exercisable in whole or in part in accordance with the exercise schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant of Stock Options by written notice, which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as to the holder’s investment intent with respect to such Shares as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Such written notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the Company. The written notice shall be accompanied by payment of the exercise price. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised after both (a) receipt by the Company of such written notice accompanied by the exercise price and (b) arrangements that are satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion have been made for Optionee’s payment to the Company of the amount, if any, that is necessary to be withheld in accordance with applicable Federal or state withholding requirements. No Shares will be issued pursuant to the Option unless and until such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all relevant provisions of applicable law, including the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares then may be traded.

 

1


 

5.  Method of Payment . Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee: (a) cash, (b) check, or (c) such other consideration or in such other manner as may be determined by the Committee in its absolute discretion.
6.  Termination of Option .
(a) Any unexercised portion of the Option shall automatically and without notice terminate and become null and void at the time of the earliest to occur of the following:
(i) three months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated other than by reason of (A) Cause, (B) a mental or physical disability (within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 22(e)) of the Optionee as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee, or (C) the death of the Optionee;
(ii) immediately upon the termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service for Cause;
(iii) twelve months after the date on which the Optionee’s Continuous Service is terminated by reason of a mental or physical disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code) as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee;
(iv) (A) twelve months after the date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service by reason of the death of the Optionee, or, if later, (B) three months after the date on which the Optionee shall die if such death shall occur during the one year period specified in Subsection 6(a)(iii) hereof; or
(v) the seventh anniversary of the date as of which the Option is granted.
(b) To the extent not previously exercised, (i) the Option shall terminate immediately in the event of (1) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (2) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other form of corporate transaction in which the Company does not survive or the shares of Stock are converted into or exchanged for securities issued by another entity, unless the successor or acquiring entity, or an affiliate of such successor or acquiring entity, assumes the Option or substitutes an equivalent option or right pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan, and (ii) the Committee in its sole discretion may by written notice (“cancellation notice”) cancel, effective upon the consummation of any Corporate Transaction described in Subsection 9(b)(i) of the Plan in which the Company does survive, the Option (or portion thereof) that remains unexercised on such date. The Committee shall give written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 6(b) a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction (which notice may be given either before or after approval of such transaction), in order that the Optionee may have a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise the Option if and to the extent that it then is exercisable (including any portion of the Option that may become exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction). The Optionee may condition his exercise of the Option upon the consummation of a transaction referred to in this Section 6(b).

 

2


 

7.  Transferability . The Option is not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the Optionee the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee. The terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors, and assigns of the Optionee.
8.  No Rights of Stockholders . Neither the Optionee nor any personal representative (or beneficiary) shall be, or shall have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Stock purchasable or issuable upon the exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, prior to the date of exercise of the Option.
9.  Market Stand-Off Agreement . At the request of the Company or the underwriters managing any underwritten offering of the Company’s securities, the Optionee agrees not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Stock (other than those included in the registration) acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option, without the prior written consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be, for such period of time (not to exceed 180 days) from the effective date of such registration as may be requested by the Company or such managing underwriters.
10.  Acceleration of Exercisability of Option .
[Optional] (a) [ This Option shall become exercisable to the extent set forth in an employment, compensation, or severance agreement with or from the Company in the event that, prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 6 hereof, (i) there is a “Change in Control,” as defined in such agreements, that occurs while the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the Committee exercises its discretion to provide a cancellation notice with respect to the Option pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, or (iii) the Option is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) hereof. ]
[Alternate] (a) [ This Option shall become exercisable to the extent set forth in (b) below in the event that, prior to the termination of the Option pursuant to Section 6 hereof, (i) there is a “Change in Control,” as defined in (b) below, that occurs while the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the Committee exercises its discretion to provide a cancellation notice with respect to the Option pursuant to Section 6(b)(ii) hereof, or (iii) the Option is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b)(i) hereof.
(b) Individual Change of Control Provisions ]
11.  No Right to Continued Employment . Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the vesting of shares pursuant to the Option granted is earned only by continuing employment or consultancy at the will of the Company (not through the act of being hired, being granted this Option, or acquiring shares hereunder). Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Option Agreement, nor in the Plan, shall confer upon Optionee any right with respect to continuation of employment or consultancy by the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with Optionee’s right or the Company’s right to terminate Optionee’s employment or consultancy at any time, with or without Cause.

 

3


 

12.  Law Governing . This Option Agreement shall be governed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the state of Delaware.
13.  Incentive Stock Option Treatment . The terms of this Option shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the intent of the Company and the Optionee that the Option qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code. If any provision of the Plan or this Option Agreement shall be impermissible in order for the Option to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then the Option shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had never been included in the Plan or the Option. If and to the extent that the number of Options granted pursuant to this Option Agreement exceeds the limitations contained in Section 4(c) of the Plan or the value of Shares with respect to which this Option may qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, this Option shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
14.  Interpretation / Provisions of Plan Control . This Option Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions, and provisions of the Plan, including, without limitation, the amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations, and interpretations relating to the Plan adopted by the Committee as may be in effect from time to time. If and to the extent that this Option Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions, and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Option Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. The Optionee accepts the Option subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. The undersigned Optionee hereby accepts as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions arising under the Plan and this Option Agreement.
15.  Notices . Any notice under this Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally or when deposited in the United States mail, registered, postage prepaid, and addressed, in the case of the Company, to the Company’s Secretary at:
Synaptics Incorporated
3120 Scott Boulevard
Santa Clara, California 95054
or if the Company should move its principal office, to such principal office, and, in the case of the Optionee, to the Optionee’s last permanent address as shown on the Company’s records, subject to the right of either party to designate some other address at any time hereafter in a notice satisfying the requirements of this Section.

 

4


 

16.  Tax Consequences . Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date of this Option of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of this Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. OPTIONEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.
(a)  Exercise of Option . There will be no regular federal income tax liability upon the exercise of the Option, although the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be treated as an adjustment to the alternative minimum tax for federal tax purposes and may subject the Optionee to the alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.
(b)  Disposition of Shares . If Shares transferred pursuant to the Option are held for at least one year after exercise and are disposed of at least two years after the date of grant, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will also be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. If Shares purchased under an Option are disposed of within such one-year period or within two years after the Date of Grant, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the difference between the exercise price and the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the Shares on the date of exercise, or (2) the sale price of the Shares.
(c)  Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of Option Shares . If Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Option on or before the later of (1) the date two years after the date of grant, or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition. Optionee agrees that Optionee may be subject to the income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee from the early disposition by payment in cash or out of the current earnings paid to the Optionee.
If and to the extent that the number of Options granted hereunder exceeds the limitations contained in Section 4(c) of the Plan or the value of Shares with respect to which this Option may qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, this Option shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The holder of a Non-Qualified Stock Option will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) at the time the Option is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price. If the shares of Stock transferred pursuant to the Non-Qualified Stock Option are held for at least one year after the Option is exercised, any gain realized on disposition of the shares of Stock will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing discussion assumes that, and only is applicable if, the fair market value of the Shares as of the date on which the Option is granted is not less than the exercise price. The Company believes that it has made a good faith effort to determine the fair market value of the Shares and does not believe that the exercise price is less than the fair market value of the Shares on the Date of Grant. No assurances can be given, however, that the Internal Revenue Service would not take a contrary position, or that the Internal Revenue Service would not treat the Option as an Incentive Stock Option for some other reason. If the exercise price is determined to be less than the fair market value of a Share on the Date of Grant, then the Option may be taxable as a Non-Qualified Stock Option. It is also possible that if the fair market value is determined to be significantly greater than the exercise price, the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the Option is not in effect a stock option but should be treated as a restricted stock for tax purposes. The Optionee should consult with his or her own tax advisors as to whether any action should be taken to minimize these risks.
17.  Execution . This Option Agreement is executed by the parties hereto on the Notice of Grant of Stock Options, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

 

5

Exhibit 10.24(d)
Synaptics Incorporated
2010 Incentive Compensation Plan
Deferred Stock Award Agreement
Synaptics Incorporated (the “Company”) wishes to grant to [                                           ] (the “Participant”) a Deferred Stock Award (the “Award”) pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2010 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). The Award will entitle the Participant to shares of Stock from the Company, if the Participant meets the vesting requirements described herein. Therefore, pursuant to the terms of the attached Notice of Grant (“Notice of Grant”) and this Deferred Stock Award Agreement (the “Agreement”), the Company grants the Participant the number of Deferred Stock Units listed below in Section 2.
The details of the Award are as follows:
1.  Grant Pursuant to Plan . This Award is granted pursuant to the Plan, which is incorporated herein for all purposes. The Participant hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Plan. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to them in this Agreement, or, if such term is not defined in this Agreement, such term shall have the meaning assigned to it under the Plan.
2.  Deferred Stock Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant [             ] Deferred Stock Units as of [ Grant Date ] (the “Grant Date”). Such number of Deferred Stock Units may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan.
3.  Vesting and Forfeiture of Deferred Stock Units .
(a)  Vesting . The Participant shall become vested in the Deferred Stock Units in accordance with the vesting schedule in the Notice of Grant.
(b)  Forfeiture . The Participant shall forfeit any unvested Deferred Stock Units, if any, in the event that the Participant’s Continuous Service is terminated for any reason, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion, which determination need not be uniform as to all Participants.
4.  Settlement of Deferred Stock Units Award .
(a)  Delivery of Stock . The Company shall deliver to the Participant one share of Stock for each vested Deferred Stock Unit subject of this Agreement. Shares of Stock shall be delivered on the following dates:
[                                                           ]
(b) Once shares of Stock are delivered with respect to vested Deferred Stock Units, such vested Deferred Stock Units shall terminate and the Company shall have no further obligation to deliver shares of Stock for such vested Deferred Stock Units.

 

1


 

(c)  [ Deferral of Delivery . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant may elect, in a writing received by the Plan administrator at least twelve (12) months prior to a Delivery Date, to defer that date until any later date (which such date is at least five years after the original Delivery Date). ]
5.  No Rights as Shareholder until Delivery . The Participant shall not have any rights, benefits, or entitlements with respect to any Stock subject to this Agreement unless and until the Stock has been delivered to the Participant. On or after delivery of the Stock, the Participant shall have, with respect to the Stock delivered, all of the rights of an equity interest holder of the Company, including the right to vote the Stock and the right to receive all dividends, if any, as may be declared on the Stock from time to time.
6.  Adjustments in Case of Certain Corporate Transactions . In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or other form of corporate transaction in which the Company does not survive, or in which the shares of Stock are exchanged for or converted into securities issued by another entity, then the successor or acquiring entity or an affiliate thereof may, with the consent of the Committee, assume this Award or substitute an equivalent award. If the successor or acquiring entity or an affiliate thereof does not cause such an assumption or substitution, then this Award shall terminate upon the consummation of such sale, merger, consolidation, or other corporate transaction. Immediately prior to and contingent on the consummation of a corporate transaction as described in this Section 6, the Company shall deliver shares of Stock to the extent of the vested Deferred Stock Units as of the date of the consummation of such corporate transaction.
7.  Tax Provisions .
(a)  Tax Consequences . The Participant has reviewed with the Participant’s own tax advisors the federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences of this investment and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Participant understands that the Participant (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b)  Withholding Obligations . At the time the Award is granted, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the Participant hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to the Participant, including the shares of Stock deliverable pursuant to this Award, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for, any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local, and foreign tax withholding obligations of the Company or a Related Entity, if any, which arise in connection with the Award.
The Company, in its sole discretion, and in compliance with any applicable legal conditions or restrictions, may withhold from fully vested shares of Stock otherwise deliverable to the Participant upon the vesting of the Award a number of whole shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company as of the date the Participant recognizes income with respect to those shares of Stock, not in excess of the amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid adverse financial accounting treatment). Any adverse consequences to the Participant arising in connection with such Stock withholding procedure shall be the Participant’s sole responsibility.

 

2


 

In addition, the Company, in its sole discretion, may establish a procedure whereby the Participant may make an irrevocable election to direct a broker (determined by the Company) to sell sufficient shares of Stock from the Award to cover the tax withholding obligations of the Company or any Related Entity and deliver such proceeds to the Company.
Unless the tax withholding obligations of the Company or any Related Entity are satisfied, the Company shall have no obligation to issue a certificate for such shares of Stock.
(c)  Section 409A Amendments . The Company agrees to cooperate with the Participant to amend this Agreement to the extent either the Company or the Participant deems necessary to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to the Participant under Code Section 409A and any temporary or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance thereunder, but only to the extent such amendment would not have an adverse effect on the Company and would not provide the Participant with any additional rights, in each case as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.
8.  Consideration . With respect to the value of the shares of Stock to be delivered pursuant to the Award, such shares of Stock are granted in consideration for the services the Participant shall provide to the Company during the vesting period.
9.  Transferability . The Deferred Stock Units granted under this Agreement are not transferable otherwise than by will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution. In addition, the Deferred Stock Units shall not be assigned, negotiated, pledged, or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and the Deferred Stock Units shall not be subject to execution, attachment, or similar process.
10.  General Provisions .
(a)  Employment At Will . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the service of the Company or its Related Entities for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Related Entity employing or retaining the Participant) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate the Participant’s service at any time for any reason, with or without cause.
(b)  Notices . Any notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the U.S. mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party entitled to such notice at the address indicated below such party’s signature line on this Agreement or at such other address as such party may designate by ten (10) days’ advance written notice under this section to all other parties to this Agreement.
(c)  No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall preclude the Company from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and those arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

3


 

(d)  Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify this Agreement or the Award under any applicable law, that provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable law (or if that provision cannot be so construed or deemed amended without materially altering the purpose or intent of this Agreement and the Award, that provision shall be stricken as to that jurisdiction and the remainder of this Agreement and the Award shall remain in full force and effect).
(e)  No Trust or Fund Created . Neither this Agreement nor the grant of the Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and the Participant or any other person. The Deferred Stock Units subject to this Agreement represent only the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue Stock to the Participant in the future. To the extent that the Participant or any other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to this Agreement, that right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
(f)  Cancellation of Award . If any Deferred Stock Units subject to this Agreement are forfeited, then from and after such time, the person from whom such Deferred Stock Units are forfeited shall no longer have any rights to such Deferred Stock Units or the corresponding shares of Stock. Such Deferred Stock Units shall be deemed forfeited in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof.
(g)  Participant Undertaking . The Participant hereby agrees to take whatever additional action and execute whatever additional documents the Company may deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on either the Participant or the shares of Stock deliverable pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
(h)  Amendment, Modification, and Entire Agreement . No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless that waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Participant and the Plan administrator. This Agreement constitutes the entire contract between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement is made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and shall in all respects be construed in conformity with the terms of the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern. The Participant further acknowledges that as of the Grant Date, this Agreement and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between the Participant and the Company regarding the acquisition of Stock pursuant to this Award and supersede all prior oral and written agreements on that subject with the exception of awards from the Company previously granted and delivered to the Participant. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.

 

4


 

(i)  Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Delaware without regard to the conflict-of-laws rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.
(j)  Interpretation . The Participant accepts this Award subject to all the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan. The undersigned Participant hereby accepts as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions or interpretations of the Plan Administrator upon any questions arising under this Agreement.
(k)  Successors and Assigns . The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and its successors and assigns and upon the Participant, the Participant’s assigns and the legal representatives, heirs, and legatees of Participant’s estate, whether or not any such person shall have become a party to this Agreement and have agreed in writing to join herein and be bound by the terms hereof. The Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the forfeiture provision of Section 3(b) to any person or entity selected by the Board.
(l)  Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(m)  Headings . Headings are given to the Sections and Subsections of this Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. The headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision thereof.
11.  Representations . The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant has reviewed the Agreement in its entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing and accepting the Award, and fully understands all provisions of the Award.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 

5


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year first indicated above.
         
  SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
 
 
  By:      
  Title:     
       
 
         
  PARTICIPANT



 

 
 
  Address:      
       
       
 

 

Exhibit 10.25
SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
2010 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1.  Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to provide incentive for present and future employees of the Company and any Designated Subsidiary to acquire a proprietary interest (or increase an existing proprietary interest) in the Company through the purchase of Common Stock. It is the Company’s intention that the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan shall be administered, interpreted and construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.
2.  Definitions .
(a) “ Applicable Percentage ” means the percentage specified in Section 8, subject to adjustment by the Committee as provided in Section 8.
(b) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder, and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
(d) “ Committee ” means the committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan as described in Section 13 of the Plan or, if no such Committee is appointed, the Board.
(e) “ Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share.
(f) “ Company ” means Synaptics Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.
(g) “ Compensation ” means, with respect to each Participant for each pay period, the full base salary and overtime paid to such Participant by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, “Compensation” does not include: (i) bonuses or commissions; (ii) any amounts contributed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary to any pension plan; (iii) any automobile or relocation allowances (or reimbursement for any such expenses); (iv) any amounts paid as a starting bonus or finder’s fee; (v) any amounts realized from the exercise of any stock options or incentive awards; (vi) any amounts paid by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary for other fringe benefits, such as health and welfare, hospitalization and group life insurance benefits, or perquisites, or paid in lieu of such benefits, or; (vii) other similar forms of extraordinary compensation.
(h) “ Continuous Status as an Employee ” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of a leave of absence agreed to in writing by the Company or the Designated Subsidiary that employs the Employee, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days or reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute.
(i) “ Designated Subsidiaries ” means the Subsidiaries that have been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan.
(j) “ Employee ” means any person, including an Officer, whose customary employment with the Company or one of its Designated Subsidiaries is at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year.
(k) “ Entry Date ” means the first day of each Exercise Period.
(l) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “ Exercise Date ” means the last Trading Day ending on or before the May 15 or November 15, as applicable, immediately following the First Offering Date, and the last Trading Day ending on or before each May 15 and November 15 thereafter.

 

1


 

(n) “ Exercise Period ” means, for any Offering Period, each period commencing on the Offering Date and on the day after each Exercise Date, and terminating on the immediately following Exercise Date.
(o) “ Exercise Price ” means the price per share of Common Stock offered in a given Offering Period determined as provided in Section 8.
(p) “ Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to a share of Common Stock, the Fair Market Value as determined under Section 7(b).
(q) “ First Offering Date ” means January 1, 2011; provided, however, that if the offering period under the Company’s 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”) ends prior to December 31, 2010, the First Offering Date shall mean the January 1 or July 1, as applicable, immediately following the end of the offering period under the Prior Plan.
(r) “ Offering Date ” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period; provided, that in the case of an individual who becomes eligible to become a Participant under Section 3 after the first Trading Day of an Offering Period, the term “Offering Date” shall mean the first Trading Day of the Exercise Period coinciding with or next succeeding the day on which that individual becomes eligible to become a Participant. Options granted after the first day of an Offering Period will be subject to the same terms as the options granted on the first Trading Day of such Offering Period except that they will have a different grant date (thus, potentially, a different exercise price) and, because they expire at the same time as the options granted on the first Trading Day of such Offering Period, a shorter term.
(s) “ Offering Period ” means, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4, (i) with respect to the first Offering Period, the period beginning on the First Offering Date and ending on May 15 or November 15, as applicable, which is 22 1/2 months thereafter, and (ii) with respect to each Offering Period thereafter, the period beginning on May 16 or November 16, as applicable, immediately following the end of the previous Offering Period and ending on May 15 or November 15, as applicable, which is 24 months thereafter.
(t) “ Officer ” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(u) “ Participant ” means an Employee who has elected to participate in the Plan by filing an enrollment agreement with the Company as provided in Section 5 of the Plan.
(v) “ Plan ” shall mean this 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(w) “ Plan Contributions ” means, with respect to each Participant, the after-tax payroll deductions withheld from the Compensation of the Participant and contributed to the Plan for the Participant as provided in Section 6 of the Plan and any other amounts contributed to the Plan for the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
(x) “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation, domestic or foreign, of which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, and that otherwise qualifies as a “subsidiary corporation” within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.
(y) “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the national stock exchanges and the Nasdaq system are open for trading.
3.  Eligibility .
(a) Any Employee who has completed at least three (3) months of employment with the Company or any Designated Subsidiary and who is an Employee as of the Offering Date of a given Offering Period shall be eligible to become a Participant as of any Entry Date within that Offering Period under the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5(a) and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code; provided, however, that any Employee who is an Employee as of the First Offering Date shall be eligible to become a Participant as of such First Offering Date.

 

2


 

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that if, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own stock and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.
4.  Offering Periods . The Plan shall generally be implemented by a series of Offering Periods. The first Offering Period shall commence on the First Offering Date and end on May 15 or November 15, as applicable, which is 22 1/2 months thereafter, and succeeding Offering Periods shall commence on May 16 or November 16, as applicable, immediately following the end of the previous Offering Period and end on May 15 or November 15, as applicable, which is 24 months thereafter. If, however, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any Exercise Date (except the final scheduled Exercise Date of any Offering Period) is lower than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date, then the Offering Period in progress shall end immediately following the close of trading on such Exercise Date, and a new Offering Period shall begin on the next subsequent May 16 or November 16, as applicable, and shall extend for a 24 month period ending on November 15 or May 15, as applicable. Subsequent Offering Periods shall commence on the May 16 or November 16, as applicable, immediately following the end of the previous Offering Period and shall extend for a 24 month period ending on November 15 or May 15, as applicable. The Committee shall have the power to make other changes to the duration and/or the frequency of Offering Periods with respect to future offerings if such change is announced at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected and the Offering Period does not exceed 24 months.
5.  Election to Participate .
(a) An eligible Employee may elect to participate in the Plan commencing on any Entry Date by completing an enrollment agreement on the form provided by the Company and filing the enrollment agreement with the Company on or prior to such Entry Date, unless a later time for filing the enrollment agreement is set by the Committee for all eligible Employees with respect to a given offering. The enrollment agreement shall set forth the percentage of the Participant’s Compensation that is to be withheld by payroll deduction pursuant to the Plan.
(b) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee under rules applicable to all Participants, payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the first payroll date following the Entry Date on which the Participant elects to participate in accordance with Section 5(a) and shall end on the last payroll date in the Offering Period, unless sooner terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 11.
(c) Unless a Participant elects otherwise prior to the last Exercise Date of an Offering Period, including the last Exercise Date prior to termination in the case of an Offering Period terminated by operation of the rule contained in Section 4 hereof, such Participant shall be deemed (i) to have elected to participate in the immediately succeeding Offering Period (and, for purposes of such Offering Period such Participant’s “Entry Date” shall be deemed to be the first day of such Offering Period) and (ii) to have authorized the same payroll deduction for such immediately succeeding Offering Period as was in effect for such Participant immediately prior to the commencement of such succeeding Offering Period.
6.  Participant Contributions .
(a) Except as otherwise authorized by the Committee pursuant to Section 6(d) below, all Participant contributions to the Plan shall be made only by payroll deductions. At the time a Participant files the enrollment agreement with respect to an Offering Period, the Participant may authorize payroll deductions to be made on each payroll date during the portion of the Offering Period that he or she is a Participant in an amount not less than 1% and not more than 15% of the Participant’s Compensation on each payroll date during the portion of the Offering Period that he or she is a Participant (or subsequent Offering Periods as provided in Section 5(c)). The amount of payroll deductions shall be a whole percentage (i.e., 1%, 2%, 3%, etc.) of the Participant’s Compensation.

 

3


 

(b) A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 11, or may decrease or increase the rate or amount of his or her payroll deductions during such Offering Period (within the limitations of Section 6(a) above) by completing and filing with the Company a new enrollment agreement authorizing a change in the rate or amount of payroll deductions; provided, that a Participant may not change the rate or amount of his or her payroll deductions more than once in any Exercise Period. The change in rate or amount shall be effective with the first full payroll period following ten (10) business days after the Company’s receipt of the new enrollment agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a Participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to 0% at such time during any Exercise Period which is scheduled to end during the current calendar year that the aggregate of all payroll deductions accumulated with respect to such Exercise Period and any other Exercise Period ending within the same calendar year are equal to the product of $25,000 multiplied by the Applicable Percentage for the calendar year. Payroll deductions shall recommence at the rate provided in the Participant’s enrollment agreement at the beginning of the following Exercise Period which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the Participant as provided in Section 11.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, but subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3(b), the Committee may permit Participants to make after-tax contributions to the Plan at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may in its discretion determine. All such additional contributions shall be made in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 423 of the Code or any successor thereto, and shall be held in Participants’ accounts and applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to options granted under this Plan in the same manner as payroll deductions contributed to the Plan as provided above.
(e) All Plan Contributions made for a Participant shall be deposited in the Company’s general corporate account and shall be credited to the Participant’s account under the Plan. No interest shall accrue or be credited with respect to a Participant’s Plan Contributions. All Plan Contributions received or held by the Company may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate or otherwise set apart such Plan Contributions from any other corporate funds.
7.  Grant of Option .
(a) On a Participant’s Entry Date, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 12(a), the Participant shall be granted an option to purchase on each subsequent Exercise Date during the Offering Period in which such Entry Date occurs (at the Exercise Price determined as provided in Section 8 below) up to a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing such Participant’s Plan Contributions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s account as of such Exercise Date by the Exercise Price; provided, that the maximum number of shares an Employee may purchase during any Exercise Period shall be Six Hundred Fifty (650) shares. The Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined as provided in Section 7(b).
(b) The Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on a given date shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided, that if there is a public market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value per share shall be either (i) the closing price of the Common Stock on such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (Nasdaq) National Market System, (ii) if such price is not reported, the average of the bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as reported by Nasdaq, (iii) in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock exchange, the closing price of the Common Stock on such exchange on such date (or, in the event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as reported in The Wall Street Journal, or (iv) if no such quotations are available for a date within a reasonable time prior to the valuation date, the value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee using any reasonable means.

 

4


 

8.  Exercise Price . The Exercise Price per share of Common Stock offered to each Participant in a given Offering Period shall be the lower of: (i) the Applicable Percentage of the greater of (A) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Entry Date on which the Employee elects to become a Participant within the Offering Period or (ii) the Applicable Percentage of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Exercise Date. The Applicable Percentage with respect to each Offering Period shall be 85%, unless and until such Applicable Percentage is increased by the Committee, in its sole discretion, provided that any such increase in the Applicable Percentage with respect to a given Offering Period must be established not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the Offering Date thereof.
9.  Exercise of Options . Unless the Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 11, the Participant’s option for the purchase of shares will be exercised automatically on each Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to such option shall be purchased for the Participant at the applicable Exercise Price with the accumulated Plan Contributions then credited to the Participant’s account under the Plan. During a Participant’s lifetime, a Participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by the Participant.
10.  Delivery . As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date, the Company shall arrange for the delivery to each Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary), as appropriate, or to a custodial account for the benefit of each Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary) as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares purchased upon exercise of such Participant’s option. Any amount remaining to the credit of a Participant’s account after an Offering Period (other than an amount which is insufficient to purchase a full share of common stock) shall be returned to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable after the end of the Offering Period.
11.  Withdrawal; Termination of Employment .
(a) A Participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company. All of the Plan Contributions credited to the Participant’s account and not yet invested in Common Stock will be paid to the Participant as soon as administratively practicable after receipt of the Participant’s notice of withdrawal, the Participant’s option to purchase shares pursuant to the Plan automatically will be terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made for the Participant’s account. Payroll deductions will not resume on behalf of a Participant who has withdrawn from the Plan (a “Former Participant”) unless the Former Participant enrolls in a subsequent Offering Period in accordance with Section 5(a).
(b) Upon termination of the Participant’s Continuous Status as an Employee prior to any Exercise Date for any reason, including retirement or death, the Plan Contributions credited to the Participant’s account and not yet invested in Common Stock will be returned to the Participant or, in the case of death, to the Participant’s beneficiary as determined pursuant to Section 14, and the Participant’s option to purchase shares under the Plan will automatically terminate.
(c) A Participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon the Participant’s eligibility to participate in succeeding Offering Periods or in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.
12.  Stock .
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17, the maximum number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) any shares available for issuance under the Company’s 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”) on the First Offering Date (and such shares shall no longer be available for issuance under the Prior Plan) but not to exceed 650,000 shares, (ii) an automatic annual increase on the first day of each of the Company’s fiscal years beginning in 2012 and ending in 2019 equal to the lesser of (A) Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares, (B) 1% of all shares of Common Stock outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year, or (C) a lesser amount determined by the Board. The cumulative shares authorized under the Plan shall be less than 10% of shares outstanding from time to time, unless a greater number of shares is authorized by shareholders. Shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be newly issued shares or shares reacquired in private transactions or open market purchases. If and to the extent that any right to purchase reserved shares shall not be exercised by any Participant for any reason or if such right to purchase shall terminate as provided herein, shares that have not been so purchased hereunder shall again become available for the purpose of the Plan unless the Plan shall have been terminated, but all shares sold under the Plan, regardless of source, shall be counted against the limitation set forth above.

 

5


 

(b) A Participant will have no interest or voting right in shares covered by his option until such option has been exercised.
(c) Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse, as requested by the Participant.
13.  Administration .
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The administration, interpretation, or application of the Plan by the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section 13, in the event that Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto (“Rule 16b-3”) provides specific requirements for the administrators of plans of this type, the Plan shall only be administered by such body and in such a manner as shall comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3. Unless permitted by Rule 16b-3, no discretion concerning decisions regarding the Plan shall be afforded to any person that is not “disinterested” as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.
14.  Designation of Beneficiary .
(a) A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the Participant’s option hereunder is exercised but prior to delivery to the Participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death prior to the exercise of the option.
(b) A Participant’s beneficiary designation may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant’s death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may designate.
15.  Transferability . Neither Plan Contributions credited to a Participant’s account nor any rights to exercise any option or receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section 14). Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or other distribution shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with Section 11.
16.  Participant Accounts . Individual accounts will be maintained for each Participant in the Plan to account for the balance of his Plan Contributions and options issued and shares purchased under the Plan. Statements of account will be given to Participants semi-annually in due course following each Exercise Date, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the per share purchase price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
17.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization; Corporate Transactions .
(a) If the outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased or decreased, or are changed into or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares, as a result of one or more reorganizations, restructurings, recapitalizations, reclassifications, stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends stock repurchases, or the like, equitable and proportionate adjustments shall be made by the Committee in the number and/or kind of shares, and the per-share option price thereof, which may be issued in the aggregate and to any Participant upon exercise of options granted under the Plan.

 

6


 

(b) In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation (each, a “Sale Transaction”), each option under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Committee determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, to shorten the Exercise Period then in progress by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”). If the Committee shortens the Exercise Period then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Sale Transaction, the Committee shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the exercise date for such Participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that such Participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Plan as provided in Section 11. For purposes of this Section 17(b), an option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to have been assumed if, following the Sale Transaction, the option confers the right to purchase, for each share of option stock subject to the option immediately prior to the Sale Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Sale Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held on the effective date of the Sale Transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock); provided, that if the consideration received in the Sale Transaction was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation and the Participant, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by the holders of Common Stock in the Sale Transaction.
(c) In all cases, the Committee shall have sole discretion to exercise any of the powers and authority provided under this Section 17, and the Committee’s actions hereunder shall be final and binding on all Participants. No fractional shares of stock shall be issued under the Plan pursuant to any adjustment authorized under the provisions of this Section 17.
18.  Amendment of the Plan . The Board or the Committee may at any time, or from time to time, amend the Plan in any respect; provided, that (i) no such amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which adversely affects the rights of any Participant and (ii) the Plan may not be amended in any way that will cause rights issued under the Plan to fail to meet the requirements for employee stock purchase plans as defined in Section 423 of the Code or any successor thereto. To the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, Section 423 of the Code, or any other applicable law or regulation), the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any such amendment.
19.  Termination of the Plan . The Plan and all rights of Employees hereunder shall terminate on the earliest of:
(a) the Exercise Date that Participants become entitled to purchase a number of shares greater than the number of reserved shares remaining available for purchase under the Plan; or
(b) such date as is determined by the Board in its discretion.
In the event that the Plan terminates under circumstances described in Section 19(a) above, reserved shares remaining as of the termination date shall be sold to Participants on a pro rata basis.
20.  Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

 

7


 

21.  Effective Date . Subject to adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Plan shall become effective on the First Offering Date. The Board shall submit the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval within twelve months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
22.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares .
(a) The Plan, the grant and exercise of options to purchase shares under the Plan, and the Company’s obligation to sell and deliver shares upon the exercise of options to purchase shares shall be subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules and regulations and the requirements of any stock exchange on which the shares may then be listed.
(b) The Company may make such provisions as it deems appropriate for withholding by the Company pursuant to federal or state tax laws of such amounts as the Company determines it is required to withhold in connection with the purchase or sale by a Participant of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan. The Company may require a Participant to satisfy any relevant tax requirements before authorizing any issuance of Common Stock to such Participant.
23.  Expenses of the Plan . All costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company, except that any stamp duties or transfer taxes applicable to participation in the Plan may be charged to the account of such Participant by the Company.
24.  No Employment Rights . The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create any right for the benefit of any employee or class of employees to purchase any shares under the Plan, or create in any employee or class of employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company’s right to terminate, or otherwise modify, an employee’s employment at any time.
25.  Applicable Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all matter relating to this Plan except to the extent (if any) superseded by the laws of the United States.
26.  Additional Restrictions of Rule 16b-3 . The terms and conditions of options granted hereunder to, and the purchase of shares by, persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3. This Plan shall be deemed to contain, and such options shall contain, and the shares issued upon exercise thereof shall be subject to, such additional conditions and restrictions as may be required by Rule 16b-3 to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

 

8