As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2005.

Registration No. 333-            


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

DSP GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

Delaware   94-2683643

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3120 Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA   95054
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

DSP GROUP, INC.

2003 Israeli Share Option Plan

Individual Stock Option Agreements, each granted on December 1, 2004

(Full Title of the Plan)

 


 

Eliyahu Ayalon

Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors

DSP Group, Inc.

3120 Scott Boulevard

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(Name and Address of Agent For Service)

 

408/986-4300

(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 


 

With a copy to:

Bruce Alan Mann, Esq.

Morrison & Foerster LLP

425 California Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

 


 

Calculation of Registration Fee


Title of Securities to be Registered   

Number of Shares

to be
Registered

   Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per Share
    Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
    Amount of
Registration Fee
 

Common Stock

   1,077,624    $  25.37 (2)   $  27,339,320 (2)   $  3,217.84 (2)

(1) This Registration Statement on Form S-8 registers (a) 838,624 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable under the 2003 Israeli Share Option Plan pursuant to an evergreen feature under the terms of the said plan; and (b) 239,000 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock issuable pursuant to exercise of options granted pursuant to individual stock option agreements, each granted on December 1, 2004, which options were granted in connection with an acquisition to former employees of the target company as a material inducement of employment.
(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933 on the basis of the average of the high and low price per share of the Registrant’s Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market on July 18, 2005.

 



Part I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

 

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Registration Statement on Form S-8 will be sent or given to the employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (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 THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

 

DSP Group, Inc. (the “Registrant”) hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”):

 

  (a) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2005, which includes audited financials for the Registrant’s latest fiscal year.

 

  (b) The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2005.

 

  (c) The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2005.

 

  (d) The Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 20, 2005.

 

  (e) The Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 20, 2005.

 

  (f) All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K described in (a) above.

 

  (g) The Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-23006) filed with the SEC on December 3, 1993, in which there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant’s Common Stock, 0.001 per value (the “Common Stock”).

 

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  (h) In accordance with General Instruction E for Registration Statement on Form S-8, the contents of the following Registration Statements on Form S-8 previously filed with the SEC:

 

  (i) Registration Statement on Form S-B (File No. 333-108937) filed with the SEC on September 19, 2003.

 

  (ii) Registration Statement on Form S-B (File No. 333-112417) filed with the SEC on February 2, 2004.

 

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into 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 deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such 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. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Registrant has broad powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities that they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Registrant’s Bylaws also provide for mandatory indemnification of its directors and executive officers, to the fullest extent permissible under Delaware law.

 

The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a company will not be personally liable to the company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for (a) any breach of their duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders, (b) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions or (d) any transaction from which the directors

 

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derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation also provides that the Registrant shall indemnify any director or officer to the maximum extent provided by Delaware law, and that such right of indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Registrant. Responsibility for determinations with respect to such indemnification will be made by the Registrant’s Board of Directors.

 

In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors and certain of its executive officers that require the Registrant to indemnify such persons against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred (including expenses of a derivative action) in connection with any proceeding, whether actual or threatened, to which any such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Registrant or any of its affiliated enterprises, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.

 

The Registrant has obtained a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures the Registrant’s directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment under certain circumstances.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

 

Not Applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


4.1   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement Providing for the Grant of Options as a Material Inducement of Employment.
5.1   Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1   Consent of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kassierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, independent auditors.
23.2   Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (contained in the opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
24.1   Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

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Item 9. Undertakings

 

(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

 

(iii) 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;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(i) and (A)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

 

(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.

 

(c) 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.

 

(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this 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.

 

(e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of the 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 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, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on July 20, 2005.

 

DSP GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ Inon Beracha


    Inon Beracha
    Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Eliyahu Ayalon and Moshe Zelnik, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do so 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

 

Further, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Signature


  

Title


  Date

/s/ Eliyahu Ayalon


Eliyahu Ayalon

   Executive Chairman of the Board  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Inon Beracha


Inon Beracha

   Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Moshe Zelnik


Moshe Zelnik

   Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)  

July 20, 2005

 

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Signature


  

Title


  Date

/s/ Zvi Limon


Zvi Limon

   Director  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Yair Shamir


Yair Shamir

   Director  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Yair Seroussi


Yair Seroussi

   Director  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Louis Silver


Louis Silver

   Director  

July 20, 2005

/s/ Patrick Tanguy


Patrick Tanguy

   Director  

July 20, 2005

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description


4.1   Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement Providing for the Grant of Options as a Material Inducement of Employment.
5.1   Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP as to the legality of the securities being registered.
23.1   Consent of Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kassierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, independent auditors.
23.2   Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (contained in the opinion of counsel filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).
24.1   Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page of this Registration Statement).

 

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EXHIBIT 4.1

 

DSP GROUP, INC.

 

NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

 

 

Grantee’s Name and Address:    _______________________________
     _______________________________
     _______________________________

 

You (the “Grantee”) have been granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock of DSP Group, Inc. (the “Company”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Notice of Stock Option Award (the “Notice”) and the Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) attached hereto, as follows. This Option is granted as an inducement material to the Grantee’s entering into Continuous Service as an Employee. The Grantee has not previously been an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or any Related Entity. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Option Agreement shall have the same defined meanings in this Notice.

 

Award Number

   _______________________________

Date of Award

   December 1, 2004

Vesting Commencement Date

   December 1, 2004

Exercise Price per Share

   $
Total Number of Shares Subject
to the Option (the “Shares”)
    

Total Exercise Price

   $

Type of Option

   Non-Qualified Stock Option

Expiration Date:

   December 1, 2011

Post-Termination Exercise Period:

   Ninety (90) Days

 

Vesting Schedule :

 

Subject to the Grantee’s Continuous Service and other limitations set forth in this Notice and the Option Agreement, the Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:

 

25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve (12) months after the Vesting Commencement Date, and 6.25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest at the end of each three (3) month period thereafter.

 

During any authorized leave of absence, the vesting of the Option as provided in this schedule shall cease after the leave of absence exceeds a period of ninety (90) days. Vesting of the Option shall resume upon the Grantee’s termination of the leave of absence and return to service to the Company or a Related Entity.

 

In the event of the Grantee’s change in status from Employee to Consultant, vesting of the Option shall continue only to the extent determined by the Board as of such change in status.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Notice and agree that the Option is to be governed by the terms and conditions of this Notice and the Option Agreement.

 

DSP Group, Inc.,

a Delaware corporation

By:

 

 


Title:

 

 


 

1


THE GRANTEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE SHARES SUBJECT TO THE OPTION SHALL VEST, IF AT ALL, ONLY DURING THE PERIOD OF GRANTEE’S CONTINUOUS SERVICE (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED THE OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER). THE GRANTEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT NOTHING IN THIS NOTICE ORTHE OPTION AGREEMENT SHALL CONFER UPON THE GRANTEE ANY RIGHT WITH RESPECT TO CONTINUATION OF GRANTEE’S CONTINUOUS SERVICE, NOR SHALL IT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH THE GRANTEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE GRANTEE’S CONTINUOUS SERVICE, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

 

The Grantee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Option Agreement, and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and provisions hereof and thereof. The Grantee has reviewed this Notice and the Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Notice, and fully understands all provisions of this Notice and the Option Agreement. The Grantee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board upon any questions arising under this Notice or the Option Agreement. The Grantee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated in this Notice.

 

Dated:                     

  Signed:  

 


        Grantee

 

2


Award Number:                     

 

DSP GROUP, INC.

 

STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

 

1. Grant of Option . DSP Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to the Grantee (the “Grantee”) named in the Notice of Stock Option Award (the “Notice”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the Total Number of Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (the “Shares”) set forth in the Notice, at the Exercise Price per Share set forth in the Notice (the “Exercise Price”) subject to the terms and provisions of this Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) and the Notice which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

2. Exercise of Option .

 

(a) Right to Exercise . The Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice and with the applicable provisions of this Option Agreement. The Option shall be subject to the provisions of Section 16 of this Option Agreement relating to the exercisability or termination of the Option in the event of a Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition. No partial exercise of the Option may be for less than the lesser of five percent (5%) of the total number of Shares subject to the Option or the remaining number of Shares subject to the Option. In no event shall the Company issue fractional Shares.

 

(b) Method of Exercise . The Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice (a form of which is attached as Exhibit A) or by such other procedure as specified from time to time by the Board which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the whole number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, and such other provisions as may be required by the Board. The exercise notice shall be delivered in person, by certified mail, or by such other method (including electronic transmission) as determined from time to time by the Board to the Company accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such notice accompanied by the Exercise Price, which, to the extent selected, shall be deemed to be satisfied by use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the Exercise Price provided in Section 4(c), below.

 

No Shares will be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option unless such issuance and such exercise shall comply with all Applicable Laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes, the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Grantee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

(c) Taxes . No Shares will be delivered to the Grantee or other person pursuant to the exercise of the Option until the Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Board for the satisfaction of non-U.S., federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding obligations.

 

3. Method of Payment . Payment of the Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Grantee; provided, however, that such exercise method does not then violate any Applicable Law and, provided further, that the portion of the Exercise Price equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law:

 

(i) check;

 

(ii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Board may require (including withholding of Shares otherwise deliverable upon exercise of the Option) which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares as to which the Option is being exercised (but only to the extent that such exercise of the Option would not result in an accounting compensation charge with respect to the Shares used to pay the exercise price); or

 

1


(iii) through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (A) shall provide written instructions to a Company designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.

 

4. Restrictions on Exercise . The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of the Shares subject to the Option upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws.

 

5. Termination or Change of Continuous Service . In the event the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates, the Grantee may, to the extent otherwise so entitled at the date of such termination (the “Termination Date”), exercise the Option during the Post-Termination Exercise Period. In no event shall the Option be exercised later than the Expiration Date set forth in the Notice. In the event of the Grantee’s change in status from Employee, Director or Consultant to any other status of Employee, Director or Consultant, the Option shall remain in effect and, except to the extent otherwise determined by the Board, continue to vest. Except as provided in Sections 6 and 7 below, to the extent that the Grantee is not entitled to exercise the Option on the Termination Date, or if the Grantee does not exercise the Option within the Post-Termination Exercise Period, the Option shall terminate.

 

6. Disability of Grantee . In the event the Grantee’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of his or her Disability, the Grantee may, but only within twelve (12) months from the Termination Date (and in no event later than the Expiration Date), exercise the Option to the extent he or she was otherwise entitled to exercise it on the Termination Date. To the extent that the Grantee is not entitled to exercise the Option on the Termination Date, or if the Grantee does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

 

7. Death of Grantee . In the event of the termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service as a result of his or her death, or in the event of the Grantee’s death during the Post-Termination Exercise Period, the Grantee’s estate, or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, may exercise the Option, but only to the extent the Grantee could exercise the Option at the date of termination, within twelve (12) months from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the Expiration Date). To the extent that the Grantee is not entitled to exercise the Option on the date of death, or if the Option is not exercised to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

 

8. Transferability of Option . The Option may be transferred by the Grantee in a manner and to the extent acceptable to the Board as evidenced by a writing signed by the Company and the Grantee. The terms of the Option shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Grantee.

 

9. Term of Option . The Option may be exercised no later than the Expiration Date set forth in the Notice or such earlier date as otherwise provided herein.

 

10. Tax Consequences . Set forth below is a brief summary as of the date of this Option Agreement of some of the federal tax consequences of exercise of the Option and disposition of the Shares. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE GRANTEE SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THE OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

 

(a) Exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Option . On exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the Grantee will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price. If the Grantee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from the Grantee’s

 

2


compensation or collect from the Grantee and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

 

(b) Disposition of Shares . If Shares are held for more than one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.

 

11. Notices . All notices, demands, consents or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been received when personally delivered or on the fifth business day (including Saturday) following mailing if sent by first class airmail, return receipt requested or the next business day if sent by telefax, Express Mail, Federal Express or similar service, addressed, if to the Company, to its principal place of business in Santa Clara, California, and if to the Grantee, to his address as it appears on the Company’s records.

 

12. Entire Agreement: Governing Law . The Notice and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Grantee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Grantee. The Notice and this Option Agreement are to be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of California without giving effect to any choice of law rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the internal laws of the State of California to the rights and duties of the parties. Should any provision of the Notice or this Option Agreement be determined to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law and the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.

 

13. Headings . The captions used in this Option Agreement are inserted for convenience and shall not be deemed a part of this Option Agreement for construction or interpretation.

 

14. Interpretation . Any question or dispute regarding the administration or interpretation of the Notice or this Option Agreement shall be submitted by the Grantee or by the Company to the Board. The resolution of such question or dispute by the Board shall be final and binding on all persons.

 

15. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by the Option, the exercise price of the Option, as well as any other terms that the Board determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii) as the Board may determine in its discretion, any other transaction with respect to Common Stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as the Board determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to the Option.

 

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16. Corporate Transaction/Change in Control/Related Entity Disposition .

 

(a) Termination of Option to Extent Not Assumed in Corporate Transaction . Effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, the Option shall terminate. However, the Option shall not terminate to the extent it is assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction.

 

(b) Acceleration of Option Upon Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition . The Board shall have the authority, exercisable either in advance of any actual or anticipited Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition or at the time of an actual Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition and exercisable at any time while the Option remains outstanding, to provide for the full or partial automatic vesting and exercisability of the Option and the release from restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture rights of the Option in connection with a Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition, on such terms and conditions as the Board may specify. The Board also shall have the authority to condition the Option vesting and exercisability or release from such limitations upon the subsequent termination of the Continuous Service of the Grantee within a specified period following the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, Change in Control or Related Entity Disposition.

 

17. Definitions . As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a) “ Affiliate ” and “ Associate ” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

(b) “ Applicable Laws ” means the legal requirements applicable to the Option, if any, under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Options granted to residents therein.

 

(c) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company and shall include any committee of the Board or Officer of the Company to which the Board has delegated its authority under this Agreement.

 

(d) “ Change in Control ” means a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through either of the following transactions:

 

(i) the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than an acquisition from or by the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or by a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Company’s stockholders which a majority of the Continuing Directors who are not Affiliates or Associates of the offeror do not recommend such stockholders accept, or

 

(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of twenty-four (24) months or less such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who are Continuing Directors.

 

(e) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(f) “ Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(g) “ Company ” means DSP Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(h) “ Consultant ” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.

 

4


(i) “ Continuing Directors ” means members of the Board who either (i) have been Board members continuously for a period of at least twenty-four (24) months or (ii) have been Board members for less than twenty-four (24) months and were elected or nominated for election as Board members by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board.

 

(j) “ Continuous Service ” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant. An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.

 

(k) “ Corporate Transaction ” means any of the following transactions:

 

(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

 

(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of the Company’s subsidiary corporations) in connection with the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

(iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or

 

(iv) an acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities (whether or not in a transaction also constituting a Change in Control), but excluding any such transaction that the Board determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.

 

(l) “ Director ” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

 

(m) “ Disability ” means that the Grantee would qualify for benefit payments under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides services regardless of whether the Grantee is covered by such policy.

 

(n) “ Employee ” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(o) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(p) “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market

 

5


of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Board) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable;

 

(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

 

(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Board in good faith.

 

(q) “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” means an Option not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(r) “ Officer ” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(s) “ Parent ” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(t) “ Related Entity ” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly.

 

(u) “ Related Entity Disposition ” means the sale, distribution or other disposition by the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company of all or substantially all of the interests of the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company in any Related Entity effected by a sale, merger or consolidation or other transaction involving that Related Entity or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of that Related Entity, other than any Related Entity Disposition to the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(v) “ Share ” means a share of the Common Stock.

 

(w) “ Subsidiary ” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

END OF AGREEMENT

 

6


EXHIBIT A

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

DSP Group, Inc.

3120 Scott Boulevard

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Attention: Secretary

 

1. Effective as of today,                      ,          the undersigned (the “Grantee”) hereby elects to exercise the Grantee’s option to purchase                      shares of the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of DSP Group, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the Stock Option Award Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) and Notice of Stock Option Award (the “Notice”) dated                      ,          . Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Option Agreement shall have the same defined meanings in this Exercise Notice.

 

2. Representations of the Grantee . The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee has received, read and understood the Notice and the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

 

3. Rights as Stockholder . Until the stock certificate evidencing such Shares is issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the Option Agreement.

 

4. Delivery of Payment . The Grantee herewith delivers to the Company the full Exercise Price for the Shares, which, to the extent selected, shall be deemed to be satisfied by use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the Exercise Price provided in Section 4(c) of the Option Agreement.

 

5. Tax Consultation . The Grantee understands that the Grantee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the Grantee’s purchase or disposition of the Shares. The Grantee represents that the Grantee has consulted with any tax consultants the Grantee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that the Grantee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 

6. Taxes . The Grantee agrees to satisfy all applicable non-U.S., federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding obligations and herewith delivers to the Company the full amount of such obligations or has made arrangements acceptable to the Company to satisfy such obligations.

 

7. Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice shall be binding upon the Grantee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

8. Headings . The captions used in this Exercise Notice are inserted for convenience and shall not be deemed a part of this agreement for construction or interpretation.

 

9. Interpretation . Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by the Grantee or by the Company forthwith to the Board, which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting. The resolution of such a dispute by the Board shall be final and binding on all persons.

 

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10. Governing Law; Severability . This Exercise Notice is to be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of California without giving effect to any choice of law rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the internal laws of the State of California to the rights and duties of the parties. Should any provision of this Exercise Notice be determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent allowed by law and the other provisions shall nevertheless remain effective and shall remain enforceable.

 

11. Notices . All notices, demands, consents or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been received when personally delivered or on the fifth business day (including Saturday) following mailing if sent by first class airmail, return receipt requested or the next business day if sent by telefax, Express Mail, Federal Express or similar service, addressed, if to the Company, to its principal place of business in Santa Clara, California, and if to the Grantee, to his address as it appears on the Company’s records.

 

12. Further Instruments . The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this agreement.

 

13. Entire Agreement . The Notice and the Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and together with this Exercise Notice constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Grantee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Grantee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Grantee. Nothing in the Notice the Option Agreement and this Exercise Notice (except as expressly provided therein) is intended to confer any rights or remedies on any persons other than the parties.

 

Submitted by:

     

Accepted by:

GRANTEE:

     

DSP GROUP, INC.

       

By:

 

 


 


     

Title:

 

 


(Signature)            

Address :

     

Address :

 


     

3120 Scott Boulevard

 


     

Santa Clara, CA 95054

 

2

Exhibit 5.1

 

July 21, 2005

 

DSP Group, Inc.

3120 Scott Boulevard

Santa Clara, California 95054

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by DSP Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 21, 2005 (the “Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of (a) 838,624 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the “Common Stock”) reserved for issuance under the Company’s 2003 Israeli Share Option Plan (the “2003 Plan”) and (b) 239,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to individual stock option agreements, which options were granted in connection with an acquisition to former employees of the target company as a material inducement of employment (the “Inducement Grants”).

 

As counsel to the Company, we have examined the proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the reservation of an aggregate of 1,077,624 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2003 Plan and pursuant to the Inducement Grants.

 

It is our opinion that the 1,077,624 shares of Common Stock which may be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the 2003 Plan and the Inducement Grants, when issued and sold in the manner referenced in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any further amendments thereto.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 pertaining to the 2003 Israeli Share Option Plan and Individual Stock Option Agreements, each dated on December 1, 2004, of our reports dated March 14, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of DSP Group, Inc. included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, DSP Group, Inc. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial report of DSP Group, Inc., filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Kost Forer Gabby & Kasierer
Kost Forer Gabby & Kasierer
A Member of Ernst & Young Global

 

July 20, 2005

Tel-Aviv, Israel