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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2006
Registration No. 333- _________
 
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
 
AEHR TEST SYSTEMS
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
California
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  94-2424084
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
400 Kato Terrace
Fremont, California 94539
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
2006 Equity Incentive Plan
2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the plans)
 
Rhea J. Posedel
Chief Executive Officer
400 Kato Terrace
Fremont, California 94539
(510) 623-9400
(Name and address including zip code and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

 
Copy to:
Mark L. Reinstra, Esq.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
(650) 493-9300

Calculation of Registration Fee
                             
 
              Proposed Maximum              
              Aggregate     Proposed Maximum        
  Title of Securities to     Amount to be     Offering Price     Aggregate     Amount of  
  be Registered     Registered (1)     Per Share     Offering Price     Registration Fee  
 
2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
                         
 
Common Stock available for issuance, par value $0.01 per share
    781,405     $6.64(2)     $5,188,529.20(2)     $555.17  
 
 
                         
 
2006 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                         
 
Common Stock available for issuance, par value $0.01 per share
    200,000     $5.64(3)     $1,128,000.00(3)     $120.70  
 
 
                         
 
TOTAL
    981,405           $6,316,529.20     $675.87  
 
(1)   Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock that become issuable under the plans by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of Registrant’s Common Stock.
 
(2)   Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, based on the average of the high and low price per share of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 23, 2006.
 
(3)   Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whereby the estimated proposed maximum offering price per share is $5.64 (85% of $6.64, the average of the high and low price per share of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 23, 2006). Pursuant to the 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the purchase price of a share of common stock shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the offering date or the exercise date, whichever is lower.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation Of Documents By Reference
Item 4. Description Of Securities
Item 5. Interest Of Named Experts And Counsel
Item 6. Indemnification Of Directors And Officers
Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed
Item 8. Exhibits
Item 9. Undertakings
SIGNATURES
Index to Exhibits
EXHIBIT 4.1
EXHIBIT 4.2
EXHIBIT 5.1
EXHIBIT 23.1
EXHIBIT 23.2


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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
     The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. Such documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation Of Documents By Reference.
     The following documents have been filed by Aehr Test Systems (the “Registrant”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and are incorporated herein by reference:
Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2006, filed on August 29, 2006;
Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended August 31, 2006, filed on October 13, 2006;
Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2006;
Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 27, 2006; and
Description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in its registration statement on Form 8-A, filed on July 29, 1997 including any amendments filed for the purpose of updating that description.
     All documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description Of Securities.
     Not applicable.
Item 5. Interest Of Named Experts And Counsel
     Mario M. Rosati, a member of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, (“WSGR”) is a Director and the Secretary of the Registrant. Mr. Rosati may be deemed to beneficially own 179,217 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.
Item 6. Indemnification Of Directors And Officers.
     Section 317 of the California General Corporations Law (the “CGCL”) authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers who are parties or are threatened to be made parties to any proceeding (with certain exceptions) by reason of the fact that the person is or was an agent of the corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in

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connection with the proceeding if that person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the person was unlawful.
     Section 204 of the CGCL provides that a corporation’s articles of incorporation may not limit the liability of directors (i) for acts or omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing and culpable violation of law, (ii) for acts or omissions that a director believes to be contrary to the best interests of the corporation or its shareholders or that involve the absence of good faith on the part of the director, (iii) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit, (iv) for acts or omissions that show a reckless disregard for the director’s duty to the corporation or its shareholders in circumstances in which the director was aware, or should have been aware, in the ordinary course of performing a director’s duties, of a risk of a serious injury to the corporation or its shareholders, (v) for acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director’s duty to the corporation or its shareholders, (vi) under Section 310 of the CGCL (concerning transactions between corporations and directors or corporations having interrelated directors) or (vii) under Section 316 of the CGCL (concerning directors’ liability for distributions, loans, and guarantees).
     Section 204 further provides that a corporation’s articles of incorporation may not limit the liability of directors for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when the provision became effective or any act or omission as an officer, notwithstanding that the officer is also a director or that his or her actions, if negligent or improper, have been ratified by the directors. Further, Section 317 has no effect on claims arising under federal or state securities laws and does not affect the availability of injunctions and other equitable remedies available to a corporation’s shareholders for any violation of a director’s fiduciary duty to the corporation or its shareholders.
     In accordance with Section 317, the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), of Aehr Test Systems (the “Company”) limit the liability of a director to the fullest extent permissible under California law. The Articles further authorize the Company to provide indemnification to its agents (including officers and directors), subject to the limitations set forth above. The Articles and the Company’s By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) further provide for indemnification of corporate agents to the maximum extent permitted by the CGCL.
     Pursuant to the authority provided in the Articles and By-Laws, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its executive officers and directors, indemnifying them against certain potential liabilities that may arise as a result of their service to the Company, and providing for certain other protection.
     The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of the statute, the Articles, the By-Laws and the agreements referred to above and are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.
Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.
     Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
4.1
  2006 Equity Incentive Plan
 
   
4.2
  2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
   
5.1
  Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, as to the legality of the securities being registered
 
   
23.1
  Consent of Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
   
23.2
  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
   
23.3
  Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1)
 
   
24.1
  Power of Attorney (see page 5)

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Item 9. Undertakings.
     (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
     (b) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to Item 6 of Part II of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on October 27, 2006.
             
    AEHR TEST SYSTEMS    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ RHEA J. POSEDEL    
 
           
 
      Rhea J. Posedel    
 
      Chief Executive Officer    
POWER OF ATTORNEY
      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS , that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Rhea J. Posedel and Gary L. Larson, and each of them, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto in all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
Signature   Title   Date
 
/s/ RHEA J. POSEDEL
  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the   October 27, 2006
         
Rhea J. Posedel
  Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)    
 
       
/s/ GARY L. LARSON
  Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial   October 27, 2006
         
Gary L. Larson
  Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
 
       
/s/ ROBERT R. ANDERSON
  Director   October 27, 2006
         
Robert R. Anderson
       
 
       
/s/ WILLIAM W. R. ELDER
  Director   October 27, 2006
         
William W. R. Elder
       
 
       
/s/ MUKESH PATEL
  Director   October 27, 2006
         
Mukesh Patel
       
 
       
/s/ MARIO M. ROSATI
  Director   October 27, 2006
         
Mario M. Rosati
       

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Index to Exhibits
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
4.1
  2006 Equity Incentive Plan
 
   
4.2
  2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
   
5.1
  Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, as to the legality of the securities being registered
 
   
23.1
  Consent of Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
   
23.2
  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
   
23.3
  Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1)
 
   
24.1
  Power of Attorney (see page 5)

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Exhibit 4.1
AEHR TEST SYSTEMS
2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1.  Purposes of the Plan . The purposes of this Plan are:
    to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,
 
    to provide incentives to individuals who perform services to the Company, and
 
    to promote the success of the Company’s business.
     The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
2.  Definitions . As used herein, the following definitions will apply:
  a)   Administrator ” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.
 
  b)   Affiliate ” means any corporation or any other entity (including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company.
 
  c)   Applicable Laws ” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
 
  d)   Award ” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares and other stock or cash awards as the Administrator may determine.
 
  e)   Award Agreement ” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
 
  f)   Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
  g)   Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
  i.   Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;
 
  ii.   The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets;
 
  iii.   A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan,

 


 

      or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company); or
 
  iv.   The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation.
  h)   Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.
 
  i)   Committee ” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 hereof.
 
  j)   Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company.
 
  k)   Company ” means Aehr Test Systems, Inc., a California corporation, or any successor thereto.
 
  l)   Consultant ” means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or its Affiliates to render services to such entity.
 
  m)   Determination Date ” means the latest possible date that will not jeopardize the qualification of an Award granted under the Plan as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
  n)   Director ” means a member of the Board.
 
  o)   Disability ” means total and permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
 
  p)   Employee ” means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or its Affiliates. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
 
  q)   Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
  r)   Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock as the Administrator may determine in good faith by reference to the price of such stock on any established stock exchange or a national market system on the day of determination if the Common Stock is so listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system. If the Common Stock is not listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, the value of the Common Stock will be determined by the Administrator in good faith.
 
  s)   Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 


 

  t)   Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
  u)   Nonstatutory Stock Option ” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
 
  v)   Officer ” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
  w)   Option ” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
 
  x)   Parent ” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
 
  y)   Participant ” means the holder of an outstanding Award.
 
  z)   Performance Goals ” will have the meaning set forth in Section 11 of the Plan.
 
  aa)   Performance Period ” means any Fiscal Year of the Company or such other period as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
 
  bb)   Performance Share ” means an Award denominated in Shares which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of Performance Goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine pursuant to Section 10.
 
  cc)   Performance Unit ” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon attainment of Performance Goals or other vesting criteria as the Administrator may determine and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of the foregoing pursuant to Section 10.
 
  dd)   Period of Restriction ” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.
 
  ee)   Plan ” means this 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
  ff)   Restricted Stock ” means Shares issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 8 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.
 
  gg)   Restricted Stock Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
 
  hh)   Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
 
  ii)   “Section 16(b)” means Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
 
  jj)   “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 


 

  kk)   Share ” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.
 
  ll)   Stock Appreciation Right ” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 7 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
 
  mm)   Subsidiary ” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
 
  nn)   Successor Corporation ” has the meaning given to such term in Section 14(c) of the Plan.
3. Stock Subject to the Plan .
  a)   Stock Subject to the Plan . Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded and sold under the Plan is 600,000 Shares plus (i) any Shares that, as of the date the Company’s Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (the “ 1996 Plan ”) terminated, were reserved but not issued pursuant to any award granted thereunder, and were not subject to any awards granted thereunder, and (ii) any Shares subject to stock options or similar awards granted under the 1996 Plan that expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full and Shares issued pursuant to awards granted under the 1996 Plan that are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company. The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
 
  b)   Full Value Awards . Any Shares subject to Awards granted with an exercise price less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such Awards will be counted against the numerical limits of this Section 3 as two Shares for every one Share subject thereto. Further, if Shares acquired pursuant to any such Award are forfeited or repurchased by the Company and would otherwise return to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c), two times the number of Shares so forfeited or repurchased will return to the Plan and will again become available for issuance.
 
  c)   Lapsed Awards . If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, or, with respect to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, all of the Shares covered by the Award (that is, Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right, as well as the Shares that represent payment of the exercise price) will cease to be available under the Plan. However, Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if unvested Shares of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the tax and exercise price of an Award will not become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment provided in Section 14, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Section 422 of the Code, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan under this Section 3(c).

 


 

4. Administration of the Plan .
     (a)  Procedure .
  i.   Multiple Administrative Bodies . Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.
 
  ii.   Section 162(m) . To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan will be administered by a Committee of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
  iii.   Rule 16b-3 . To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
 
  iv.   Other Administration . Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
     (b)  Powers of the Administrator . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
  i.   to determine the Fair Market Value;
 
  ii.   to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
 
  iii.   to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder;
 
  iv.   to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
 
  v.   to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws;
 
  vi.   to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 19(c) of the Plan). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Administrator may not modify or amend an Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right after it has been granted (except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 14), and neither may the Administrator cancel any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right and immediately replace it with a new Option or Stock Appreciation Right with a lower exercise price;
 
  vii.   to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
 
  viii.   to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine; and
 
  ix.   to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

 


 

     (c)  Effect of Administrator’s Decision . The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.
5. Eligibility . Nonstatutory Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Units, Performance Shares and such other cash or stock awards as the Administrator determines may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
6. Stock Options .
  a)   Limitations . Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. The Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted.
 
  b)   Number of Shares . The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Options granted to any Participant, provided that during any Fiscal Year, no Participant will be granted Options covering more than 200,000 Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, an Employee may be granted Options covering up to an additional 200,000 Shares.
 
  c)   Term of Option . The Administrator will determine the term of each Option in its sole discretion. Any Option granted under the Plan will not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.
 
  d)   Option Exercise Price and Consideration .
  i.   Exercise Price . The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, but will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In addition, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(c), Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the Code. The Administrator may not modify or amend an Option to reduce the exercise price of such Option after it has been granted (except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan) nor may the Administrator cancel any outstanding Option and replace it with a new Option,

 


 

      Stock Appreciation Right, or other Award with a lower exercise price, unless, in either case, such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
 
  ii.   Waiting Period and Exercise Dates . At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.
 
  iii.   Form of Consideration . The Administrator will determine the acceptable form(s) of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
     e) Exercise of Option .
  i.   Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
 
      An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with all applicable withholding taxes). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.
 
  ii.   Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider . If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
 
  iii.   Disability of Participant . If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of

 


 

      termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
 
  iv.   Death of Participant . If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
 
  v.   Other Termination . A Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b), then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement, or (B) the 10th day after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under Section 16(b). Finally, a Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term of the Option, or (B) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights .
  a)   Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights . Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.
 
  b)   Number of Shares . The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any Participant, provided that during any Fiscal Year, no Participant will be granted Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than 200,000 Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an

 


 

      Employee, an Employee may be granted Stock Appreciation Rights covering up to an additional 200,000 Shares.
 
  c)   Exercise Price and Other Terms . The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, provided, however, that the exercise price will be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Administrator may not modify or amend a Stock Appreciation Right to reduce the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right after it has been granted (except for adjustments made pursuant to Section 14 of the Plan) nor may the Administrator cancel any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right and replace it with a new Stock Appreciation Right, Option, or other Award with a lower exercise price, unless, in either case, such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders.
 
  d)   Stock Appreciation Right Agreement . Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
 
  e)   Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights . A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that no Stock Appreciation Right will have a term greater than ten (10) years from its date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(e) also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
  f)   Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount . Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:
  i.   The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times
 
  ii.   The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.
At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
8. Restricted Stock .
  a)   Grant of Restricted Stock . Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
 
  b)   Restricted Stock Agreement . Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, during any Fiscal Year no Participant will receive more than an aggregate of 75,000 Shares of Restricted Stock; provided, however, that in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, an Employee may be granted an aggregate of up to an additional 75,000 Shares of Restricted Stock. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.

 


 

  c)   Transferability . Except as provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
 
  d)   Other Restrictions . The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.
 
  e)   Removal of Restrictions . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
 
  f)   Voting Rights . During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
 
  g)   Dividends and Other Distributions . During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.
 
  h)   Return of Restricted Stock to Company . On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.
9. Restricted Stock Units .
  a)   Grant . Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. Each Restricted Stock Unit grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine, including all terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, the number of Restricted Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 9(d), may be left to the discretion of the Administrator. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection (a), during any Fiscal Year of the Company, no Participant will receive more than an aggregate of 75,000 Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, an Employee may be granted an aggregate of up to an additional 75,000 Restricted Stock Units.
 
  b)   Vesting Criteria and Other Terms . The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. After the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any restrictions for such Restricted Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the vesting criteria, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
 
  c)   Earning Restricted Stock Units . Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as specified in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

 


 

  d)   Form and Timing of Payment . Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination thereof. Shares represented by Restricted Stock Units that are fully paid in cash again will be available for grant under the Plan.
 
  e)   Cancellation . On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.
10. Performance Units and Performance Shares .
  a)   Grant of Performance Units/Shares . Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Units/Shares granted to each Participant provided that during any Fiscal Year, (a) no Participant will receive Performance Units having an initial value greater than $250,000, and (b) no Participant will receive more than 75,000 Performance Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, in connection with a Participant’s initial service as an Employee, an Employee may be granted up to an additional 75,000 Performance Shares and additional Performance Units having an initial value up to $250,000.
 
  b)   Value of Performance Units/Shares . Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant. Each Performance Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
 
  c)   Performance Objectives and Other Terms . The Administrator will set performance objectives or other vesting provisions (including, without limitation, continued status as a Service Provider) in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set performance objectives based upon the achievement of Company-wide, divisional, or individual goals, or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion. Each Award of Performance Units/Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Performance Period, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.
 
  d)   Earning of Performance Units/Shares . After the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units/Shares will be entitled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit/Share, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Unit/Share.
 
  e)   Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/Shares . Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares will be made as soon as practicable after the expiration of the applicable Performance Period. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash, in Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period) or in a combination thereof.

 


 

  f)   Cancellation of Performance Units/Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned or unvested Performance Units/Shares will be forfeited to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the Plan.
11. Performance Goals . The granting and/or vesting of Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units and other incentives under the Plan may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals relating to one or more business criteria within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and may provide for a targeted level or levels of achievement (“Performance Goals”) including one or more of the following measures: (a) business divestitures and acquisitions, (b) cash flow, (c) cash position, (d) earnings, (e) earnings before interest and taxes, (f) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (g) earnings per Share, (h) economic profit, (i) economic value added, (j) equity or stockholder’s equity, (k) expenses, (l)gross margin, (m) market share, (n) net income, (o) net profit, (p) net sales, (q) new product development milestones, (r) number of customers, (s) orders received, (t) backlog, (u) operating earnings, (v) operating income, (w) operating margin, (x)profit after taxes, (y) profit before taxes, (z) ratio of debt to debt plus equity, (aa) ratio of operating earnings to capital spending, (bb) return on capital, (cc) return on equity, (dd) return on investments, (ee) return on net assets, (ff) return on sales, (gg) return on stockholder equity, (hh) return to stockholders, (ii) revenue, (jj) sales, (kk) sales growth, (ll) time to market, and (mm) working capital. Any Performance Goals may be used to measure the performance of the Company as a whole or a business unit of the Company and may be measured relative to a peer group or index. The Performance Goals may differ from Participant to Participant and from Award to Award. Any criteria used may be (i) measured in absolute terms, (ii) compared to another company or companies, (iii) measured against the performance of the Company as a whole or a segment of the Company and/or (iv) measured on a pre-tax or post-tax basis (if applicable). Prior to the Determination Date, the Administrator will determine whether any significant element(s) will be included in or excluded from the calculation of any Performance Goal with respect to any Participant.
12. Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations . Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Service Provider will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company and its Affiliates. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then three (3) months following the ninety-first (91 st ) day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
13. Transferability of Awards . Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. With the approval of the Administrator, a Participant may, in a manner specified by the Administrator, (a) transfer an Award to a Participant’s spouse or former spouse pursuant to a court-approved domestic relations order which relates to the provision of child support, alimony payments or marital property rights, and (b) transfer an Option by bona fide gift and not for any consideration, to (i) a member or members of the Participant’s immediate family, (ii) a trust established for the exclusive benefit of the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family, (iii) a partnership, limited liability company of other entity whose only partners or members are the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family, or (iv) a foundation in which the Participant and/or member(s) of the Participant’s immediate family control the management of the foundation’s assets. For purposes of this Section 13, “immediate family” shall mean the Participant’s spouse, former spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, including adoptive or step relationships and any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than as a tenant or employee).

 


 

14. Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control .
  a)   Adjustments . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, shall adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the numerical Share limits set forth in Sections 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
 
  b)   Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.
 
  c)   Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation (the “ Successor Corporation ”). In the event that the Successor Corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock will lapse, and, with respect to Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units, all Performance Goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In addition, if the Successor Corporation refuses to assume or substitute an Option or Stock Appreciation Right in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be fully vested and exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
          For the purposes of this subsection (c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) or, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right upon the exercise of which the Administrator determines to pay cash or a Performance Share or Performance Unit which the Administrator can determine to pay in cash, the fair market value of the consideration received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control is not solely common stock of the Successor Corporation, the Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor Corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit, for each Share subject to such Award (or in the case of an Award settled in cash, the number of implied shares determined by dividing the value of the Award by the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control), to be solely common stock of the Successor Corporation equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.
          Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more Performance Goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such Performance Goals without the Participant’s consent;

 


 

provided, however, a modification to such Performance Goals only to reflect the Successor Corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.
15. Tax Withholding
  a)   Withholding Requirements . Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).
 
  b)   Withholding Arrangements . The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, or (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.
16. No Effect on Employment or Service . Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.
17. Date of Grant . The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
18. Term of Plan . Subject to Section 22 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless terminated earlier under Section 19 of the Plan.
19. Amendment and Termination of the Plan .
  a)   Amendment and Termination . The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.
 
  b)   Stockholder Approval . The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.
 
  c)   Effect of Amendment or Termination . No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 


 

20. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares .
  a)   Legal Compliance . Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
 
  b)   Investment Representations . As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.
21. Inability to Obtain Authority . The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.
22. Stockholder Approval . The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

 

 

Exhibit 4.2
AEHR TEST SYSTEMS
2006 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
1. Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock through accumulated payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of the Plan, accordingly, will be construed so as to extend and limit Plan participation in a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis consistent with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
2. Definitions .
  a)   Administrator ” means the Board or any Committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan pursuant to Section 14.
 
  b)   Applicable Laws ” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.
 
  c)   Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
  d)   Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
  i.   Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or
 
  ii.   The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; or
 
  iii.   The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
 
  iv.   A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a two (2)-year period, as a result of which less than a majority of the Directors are Incumbent Directors. “Incumbent Directors” means Directors who either (A) are Directors as of the effective date of the Plan, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of Directors to the Company).
  e)   Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.
 
  f)   Committee ” means a committee of the Board appointed in accordance with Section 14 hereof.

 


 

  g)   Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company.
 
  h)   Company ” means Aehr Test Systems, a California corporation.
 
  i)   Compensation ” means an Employee’s base straight time gross earnings, commissions (to the extent such commissions are an integral, recurring part of compensation), but exclusive of payments for overtime, shift premium, incentive compensation, incentive payments, bonuses and other compensation.
 
  j)   Designated Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that has been designated by the Administrator from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
  k)   Director ” means a member of the Board.
 
  l)   Eligible Employee ” means any individual who is a common law employee of an Employer and is customarily employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year by the Employer. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship will be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence that the Employer approves. Where the period of leave exceeds ninety (90) days and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the ninety-first (91 st ) day of such leave. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Offering Date for all options to be granted on such Offering Date, determine (on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) that the definition of Eligible Employee will or will not include an individual if he or she: (i) has not completed at least two (2) years of service since his or her last hire date (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (ii) customarily works not more than twenty (20) hours per week (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iii) customarily works not more than five (5) months per calendar year (or such lesser period of time as may be determined by the Administrator in its discretion), (iv) is an officer or other manager, or (v) is a highly compensated employee under Section 414(q) of the Code.
 
  m)   Employer ” means any one or all of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries.
 
  n)   Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
  o)   Exercise Date ” means the first Trading Day on or after April 1 and October 1 of each year. The first Exercise Date under the Plan will be April 1, 2007. The Administrator, in its discretion, from time to time may, prior to an Offering Date for all options to be granted on such Offering Date, determine (on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) when the Exercise Dates will occur during an Offering Period.
 
  p)   Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date and unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:
  i.   If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
 
  ii.   If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value will be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the

 


 

      Common Stock on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
 
  iii.   In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
  q)   Offering Date ” means the first Trading Day of each Offering Period.
 
  r)   Offering Periods ” means the period of time the Administrator may determine prior to Offering Date, for options to be granted on such Offering Date, during which an option granted under the Plan may be exercised, not to exceed twenty-seven (27) months. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, Offering Periods will have a duration of approximately twenty-four (24) months (i) commencing on the first Trading Day on or after April 1 of each year and terminating on the first Trading Day on or following April 1, approximately twenty-four (24) months later, and (ii) commencing on the first Trading Day on or after October 1 of each year and terminating on the first Trading Day on or following October 1, approximately twenty-four (24) months later. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be changed pursuant to Sections 4 and 20.
 
  s)   Parent ” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
 
  t)   Plan ” means this Aehr Test Systems 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
  u)   Purchase Period ” means the period during an Offering Period which shares of Common Stock may be purchased on a participant’s behalf in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Unless and until the Administrator provides otherwise, the Purchase Period will mean the approximately six (6) month period commencing on one Exercise Date and ending with the next Exercise Date, except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period will commence on the Enrollment Date and end with the next Exercise Date.
 
  v)   Purchase Price ” shall be determined by the Administrator (on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) prior to an Offering Date for all options to be granted on such Offering Date, subject to compliance with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or provision or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule) or pursuant to Section 20. Unless and until the Administrator provides otherwise, the Purchase Price will equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is lower.
 
  w)   Subsidiary ” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
 
  x)   Trading Day ” means a day on which the national stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading.
3. Eligibility .
  a)   Offering Periods . Any Eligible Employee on a given Offering Date will be eligible to participate in the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5.
 
  b)   Limitations . Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Eligible Employee will be granted an option under the Plan (i) to the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Eligible Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of the Company or any Parent or

 


 

      Subsidiary of the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) to the extent that his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans (as defined in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company accrues at a rate which exceeds twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the Fair Market Value of the stock 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 will be implemented by consecutive, overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first Trading Day on or after April 1 and October 1 each year, or on such other date as the Administrator will determine. The Administrator will have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change is announced prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected thereafter.
5. Participation . An Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 3(a) by (i) submitting to the Company’s payroll office (or its designee), on or before a date prescribed by the Administrator prior to an applicable Offering Date, a properly completed subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form provided by the Administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other enrollment procedure prescribed by the Administrator.
6. Payroll Deductions .
  a)   At the time a participant enrolls in the Plan pursuant to Section 5, he or she will elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the Compensation which he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering Period; provided, however, that should a pay day occur on an Exercise Date, a participant will have the payroll deductions made on such day applied to his or her account under the subsequent Purchase or Offering Period. A participant’s subscription agreement will remain in effect for successive Offering Periods unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.
 
  b)   Payroll deductions authorized by a participant will commence on the first pay day following the Offering Date and will end on the last pay day prior to the Exercise Date of such Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.
 
  c)   All payroll deductions made for a participant will be credited to his or her account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole percentages only. A participant may not make any additional payments into such account.
 
  d)   A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by (i) properly completing and submitting to the Company’s payroll office (or its designee), on or before a date prescribed by the Administrator prior to an applicable Exercise Date, a new subscription agreement authorizing the change in payroll deduction rate in the form provided by the Administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other procedure prescribed by the Administrator. If a participant has not followed such procedures to change the rate of payroll deductions, the rate of his or her payroll deductions will continue at the originally elected rate throughout the Offering Period and future Offering Periods (unless terminated as provided in Section 10). The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit the nature and/or number of payroll deduction rate changes that may be made by participants during any Offering Period. Any change in payroll deduction rate made pursuant to this Section 6(d) will be effective as of the first

 


 

      full payroll period following five (5) business days after the date on which the change is made by the participant (unless the Administrator, in its sole discretion, elects to process a given change in payroll deduction rate more quickly).
 
  e)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b), or if the Administrator reasonably anticipates a participant has contributed a sufficient amount to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock equal to or in excess of the applicable limit for such Purchase or Offering Period (as set forth in Section 7 or as established by the Administrator), a participant’s payroll deductions may be decreased to zero percent (0%) at any time during a Purchase Period. Subject to Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(c) hereof, or for participants who have had there contributions reduced due to the applicable limits on the maximum number of shares that may be purchased in any Purchase or Offering Period, payroll deductions will recommence at the rate originally elected by the participant effective as of the beginning of the first Purchase Period which is scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10.
 
  f)   At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time some or all of the Common Stock issued under the Plan is disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company’s or Employer’s federal, state, or any other tax liability payable to any authority, national insurance, social security or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock. At any time, the Company or the Employer may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the participant’s compensation the amount necessary for the Company or the Employer to meet applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company or the Employer any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of Common Stock by the Eligible Employee.
7. Grant of Option . On the Offering Date of each Offering Period, each Eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period will be granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing such Eligible Employee’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Eligible Employee’s account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event will an Eligible Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than three thousand (3,000) shares of the Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19), and provided further that such purchase will be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(c) and 13. The Eligible Employee may accept the grant of such option with respect to any Offering Period under the Plan, by electing to participate in the Plan in accordance with the requirements of Section 5. The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that a participant may purchase during each Purchase Period of an Offering Period. Exercise of the option will occur as provided in Section 8, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Section 10. The option will expire on the last day of the Offering Period.
8. Exercise of Option .
  a)   Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10, his or her option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock will be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full shares subject to the option will be purchased for such participant at the applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her account. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share will be retained in the participant’s account for the subsequent Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in Section 10. Any other funds left over in a participant’s account after the Exercise Date will be returned to the participant. During a

 


 

      participant’s lifetime, a participant’s option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.
 
  b)   Notwithstanding any contrary Plan provision, if the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the Offering Date of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator may in its sole discretion provide that the Company will make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such Offering Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as will be practicable and as it will determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and either (x) continue all Offering Periods then in effect or (y) terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the shares available on the Offering Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional shares for issuance under the Plan by the Company’s stockholders subsequent to such Offering Date.
9. Delivery . As soon as administratively practicable after each Exercise Date on which a purchase of shares of Common Stock occurs, the Company will arrange the delivery to each participant, as appropriate, the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option in a form determined by the Administrator (in its sole discretion) and pursuant to rules established by the Administrator. The Company may permit or require that shares be deposited directly with a broker designated by the Company or to a designated agent of the Company, and the Company may utilize electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a designated period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares. No participant will have any voting, dividend, or other stockholder rights with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to any option granted under the Plan until such shares have been purchased and delivered to the participant as provided in this Section 9.
10. Withdrawal .
  a)   Pursuant to procedures established by the Administrator, a participant may withdraw all but not less than all the payroll deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or her option under the Plan at any time by (i) submitting to the Company’s payroll office (or its designee) a written notice of withdrawal in the form prescribed by the Administrator for such purpose, or (ii) following an electronic or other withdrawal procedure prescribed by the Administrator. All of the participant’s payroll deductions credited to his or her account will be paid to such participant as promptly as practicable after the effective date of his or her withdrawal and such participant’s option for the Offering Period will be automatically terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period. If a participant withdraws from an Offering Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant re-enrolls in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.
 
  b)   A participant’s withdrawal from an Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the participant withdraws.

 


 

11. Termination of Employment . Upon a participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such participant’s account during the Offering Period but not yet used to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan will be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 15, and such participant’s option will be automatically terminated.
12. Interest . No interest will accrue on the payroll deductions of a participant in the Plan.
13. Stock .
  a)   Subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 19 hereof, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which will be made available for sale under the Plan will be 200,000 shares.
 
  b)   Until the shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), a participant will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares, and no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to such shares.
 
  c)   Shares of Common Stock 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.
14. Administration . The Plan will be administered by the Board or a Committee appointed by the Board, which Committee will be constituted to comply with Applicable Laws. The Administrator will have full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe, interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Administrator will, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, the Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures for jurisdictions outside of the United States. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding eligibility to participate, the definition of Compensation, handling of payroll deductions, making of contributions to the Plan (including, without limitation, in forms other than payroll deductions), establishment of bank or trust accounts to hold payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, obligations to pay payroll tax, determination of beneficiary designation requirements, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements.
15. Designation of Beneficiary .
  a)   A participant may designate a beneficiary who is to receive any shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, from the participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such participant’s death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may designate a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such participant’s death prior to exercise of the option. If a participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent will be required for such designation to be effective.
 
  b)   Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at any time by notice in a form determined by the Administrator. 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 will 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.
 
  c)   All beneficiary designations under this Section 15 will be made in such form and manner as the Administrator may prescribe from time to time.
16. Transferability . Neither payroll deductions credited to a participant’s account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive shares of Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in Section 15) by the participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10.
17. Use of Funds . The Company may use all payroll deductions received or held by it under the Plan for any corporate purpose, and the Company will not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions. Until shares of Common Stock are issued, participants will only have the rights of an unsecured creditor with respect to such shares.
18. Reports . Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Eligible Employees at least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.
19. Adjustments, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Change in Control .
  a)   Adjustments . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Common Stock occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust the number and class of Common Stock which may be delivered under the Plan, the Purchase Price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised, and the numerical limits of Section 7.
 
  b)   Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Offering Period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “ New Exercise Date ”), and will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date will be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator will notify each participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10.
 
  c)   Merger or Change in Control . In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the option, the Offering Period with respect to which such option relates will be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “ New Exercise Date ”) and will end on the

 


 

      New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date will occur before the date of the Company’s proposed merger or Change in Control. The Administrator will notify each participant in writing prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the participant’s option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the participant’s option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10.
20. Amendment or Termination .
  a)   The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Administrator, in its discretion, may elect to terminate all outstanding Offering Periods either immediately or upon completion of the purchase of shares of Common Stock on the next Exercise Date (which may be sooner than originally scheduled, if determined by the Administrator in its discretion), or may elect to permit Offering Periods to expire in accordance with their terms (and subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 19). If the Offering Periods are terminated prior to expiration, all amounts then credited to participants’ accounts which have not been used to purchase shares of Common Stock will be returned to the participants (without interest thereon, except as otherwise required under local laws) as soon as administratively practicable.
 
  b)   Without stockholder consent and without limiting Section 20(a), the Administrator will be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in the Company’s processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the participant’s Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion advisable which are consistent with the Plan.
 
  c)   In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify, amend or terminate the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:
  i.   amending the Plan to conform with the safe harbor definition under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123(R), including with respect to an Offering Period underway at the time;
 
  ii.   altering the Purchase Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Purchase Price;
 
  iii.   shortening any Offering Period so that Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Board action;
 
  iv.   reducing the maximum percentage of Compensation a participant may elect to set aside as payroll deductions; and

 


 

  v.   reducing the maximum number of Shares a participant may purchase during any Offering Period or Purchase Period.
Such modifications or amendments will not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Plan participants.
21. Notices . All notices or other communications by a participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan will be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form and manner specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
22. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares . Shares of Common Stock will not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such shares pursuant thereto will comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
                  As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.
23. Term of Plan . The Plan will become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company. It will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years, unless sooner terminated under Section 20.
24. Stockholder Approval . The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.
25. Automatic Transfer to Low Price Offering Period . To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offering Period is lower than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date of such Offering Period, then all participants in such Offering Period will be automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise of their option on such Exercise Date and automatically re-enrolled in the immediately following Offering Period.

 

 

Exhibit 5.1
October 27, 2006
Aehr Test Systems
400 Kato Terrace
Fremont, California 94539
      Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8
Ladies and Gentlemen:
     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by Aehr Test Systems, a California corporation (the “Company” or “you”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 27, 2006, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of 981,405 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “Shares”) reserved for issuance under the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and the Company’s 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the “Plans”). As your counsel in connection with the transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale and issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Plans.
     It is our opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in compliance with the applicable prospectus delivery requirements and in the manner referred to in the Plans and pursuant to the agreements that accompany the Plans, and upon completion of the actions being taken or proposed to be taken to permit such transactions to be carried out in accordance with the securities laws of the various states where required, will be legally and validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.
     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in the Registration Statement, including any Prospectus constituting a part thereof, and any amendments or supplements thereto.
     
 
  Very truly yours,
 
   
 
  WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
 
  Professional Corporation
 
   
 
  /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI

 

Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Aehr Test Systems of our report, dated July 17, 2006, relating to the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended May 31, 2006, which appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Aehr Test Systems for the year ended May 31, 2006.
/s/ Burr, Pilger & Mayer LLP
San Jose, California
October 26, 2006

 

Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Aehr Test Systems of our report dated August 26, 2005, relating to the consolidated financial statements, which appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Aehr Test Systems for the year ended May 31, 2006.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
October 26, 2006