As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 23, 2018

Registration No.                     

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

LOGO

Apple Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

California   94-2404110

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Apple Park Way

Cupertino, California 95014

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Katherine Adams

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Apple Inc.

One Apple Park Way

Cupertino, California 95014

(Name and address of agent for service)

(408) 996-1010

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer

 

  

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

    

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Deferred Compensation Obligations(1)

  $180,000,000   100%   $180,000,000(2)   $22,410(2)

 

 

(1)

The Deferred Compensation Obligations being registered are general unsecured obligations of Apple Inc. (the “Company” or the “Registrant”) to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of the Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”).

(2)

Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), based upon an estimate of the amount of compensation participants may defer under the Deferred Compensation Plan.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The document(s) containing the information specified in this Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Deferred Compensation Plan as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. The documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, when 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

The following documents of the Company filed with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

 

  (a)

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, filed with the Commission on November 3, 2017 (Commission File No. 001-36743); and

 

  (b)

All other reports of the Company filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) 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 Company’s Annual Report referred to in (a) above.

All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 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; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document 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 such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4.

Description of Securities

An aggregate principal amount of $180,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations (the “Obligations”) are being registered hereby based on estimated contributions of eligible employees and non-employee board members (each a “Participant” and, collectively, “Participants”) under the Deferred Compensation Plan. Further amounts may be registered and issued as new or existing Participants of the Deferred Compensation Plan elect to defer portions of their compensation in subsequent years. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan, there is no limitation on the Registrant’s right to issue senior debt or other securities. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Deferred Compensation Plan document, which is filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement and incorporated by reference into this Item 4.

The Deferred Compensation Plan is effective as of September 1, 2018. The adoption of the Deferred Compensation Plan supports the Registrant’s strategy to attract, motivate, and retain key employees. Under the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan, a select group of the Registrant’s management and highly compensated employees are permitted to defer a portion of their base salary, commissions and cash bonus for a particular year. All of the Registrant’s non-employee directors may elect to defer payment of all or a portion of their annual cash compensation in accordance with the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. The amount to be deferred by each Participant will be determined in accordance with the Deferred Compensation Plan based on elections by the Participant.

Amounts deferred by a Participant are credited to a bookkeeping account maintained on behalf of each Participant. These bookkeeping accounts are utilized solely to measure and determine the amounts to be paid to a Participant, or his or her designated beneficiary, pursuant to the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Amounts deferred by a Participant will be invested in certain notional investment funds offered under the Deferred Compensation Plan and selected by the Participant.

 

1


The Obligations are generally payable upon a date or dates selected by the Participant under the Deferred Compensation Plan, subject to exceptions for hardship withdrawals and payments upon separation from service or in the event of death. The Obligations are payable in cash in the form of a lump-sum distribution or in installments, at the election of the Participant.

The Obligations are general unsecured unsubordinated obligations of the Registrant, and will rank  pari passu  with other unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness of the Registrant from time to time outstanding. All amounts payable under the Deferred Compensation Plan are paid from the Registrant’s general funds, and the rights of any Participant, or their respective beneficiaries, under the Deferred Compensation Plan are no more than those of an unsecured general creditor of the Registrant with no special or prior right to any assets of the Registrant for payment of such obligations. The Deferred Compensation Plan is considered unfunded for tax purposes, and is intended to be exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). All deferrals of compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan are intended to either comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Internal Revenue Code”).

A Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries to receive any portion of the Obligations payable in the event of death. Other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, the Obligations are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition. Any attempt by any person to transfer or assign benefits under the Deferred Compensation Plan, other than a claim for benefits by a Participant or his or her beneficiary(ies), will be null and void. The Obligations are not convertible into any other security of the Registrant. No trustee has been appointed to take action with respect to the Obligations and each Participant or beneficiary will be responsible for enforcing his or her own rights with respect to the Obligations.

The Registrant reserves the right to amend modify, suspend or terminate the Deferred Compensation Plan at any time, except that no amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall have any retroactive effect to reduce the value of any amounts allocated to a Participant’s account at the time of the amendment, modification, suspension or termination. The Deferred Compensation Plan will remain in effect until it is terminated.

 

Item 5.

Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 317 of the California Corporations Code, or the California Code, authorizes a corporation to indemnify, subject to certain exceptions, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor) by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation, as the term “agent” is defined in section 317(a) of the California Code, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such 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 such person was unlawful. A corporation is further authorized to indemnify, subject to certain exceptions, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was an agent of the corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of the action if the person acted in good faith, in a manner the person believed to be in the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders.

Section 204 of the California Code 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 California Code (concerning transactions between corporations and directors or corporations having interrelated directors) or (vii) under Section 316 of the California Code (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.

 

2


The Registrant’s Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for the elimination of liability for its directors to the fullest extent permissible under California law and authorize it to provide indemnification to directors, officers, employees or other agents through bylaw provisions, agreements with agents, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification otherwise permitted by Section 317 of the California Code, subject only to the applicable limits set forth in Section 204 of the California Code with respect to actions for breach of duty to the Registrant and its shareholders.

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that it shall indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was its agent. As included in the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, a “director” or “officer” includes any person (a) who is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, (b) who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (c) who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation. The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws also contain provisions authorizing it, to the extent and in the manner permitted by the California Code, to indemnify each of its employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was its agent. As included in the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, an “employee” or “agent” (other than a director or officer), includes any person who (a) is or was an employee or agent of the Registrant, (b) is or was serving at the Registrant’s request as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (c) was an employee or agent of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws further provide that it may advance expenses incurred in defending any proceeding for which indemnification is required or permitted pursuant to its Amended and Restated Bylaws, following authorization thereof by the board of directors, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to repay that amount if it shall be determined ultimately that the indemnified person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by its Amended and Restated Bylaws. The indemnification provided for in the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws for acts, omissions or transactions while acting in the capacity of, or while serving as, a director or officer of the Registrant but not involving a breach of duty to the Registrant and its shareholders will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, to the extent the additional rights to indemnification are authorized in its Restated Articles of Incorporation.

In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and officers, and maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance under which its directors and officers are insured against loss (as defined in the policy) as a result of certain claims brought against them in such capacities.

The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of the statutes, the Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws 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

  

Exhibit Description

4.1    Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.
5.1    Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.
23.1    Consent of counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24.1    Power of Attorney (contained on signature page hereto).

 

3


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;

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) or the Securities Act of 1933;

(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 a 20% 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)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each 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) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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 the foregoing provisions, 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 Act 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

4


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 Cupertino, State of California, on August 23, 2018.

 

Apple Inc.

By:    

 

/s/ Luca Maestri

 

Luca Maestri

 

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Katherine Adams and Luca Maestri and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, severally, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, 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, 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 said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Name    Title   Date

/s/    Timothy D. Cook

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

August 23, 2018

TIMOTHY D. COOK

    

/s/    Luca Maestri

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

August 23, 2018

LUCA MAESTRI

    

/s/    Chris Kondo

  

Senior Director of Corporate Accounting

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

August 23, 2018

CHRIS KONDO

    

/s/    James A. Bell

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

JAMES A. BELL

    

/s/    Al Gore

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

AL GORE

    

/s/    Robert A. Iger

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

ROBERT A. IGER

    

/s/    Andrea Jung

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

ANDREA JUNG

    

/s/    Arthur D. Levinson

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

ARTHUR D. LEVINSON

    

/s/    Ronald D. Sugar

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

RONALD D. SUGAR

    

/s/    Susan L. Wagner

  

Director

 

August 23, 2018

SUSAN L. WAGNER

    

LOGO

Exhibit 4.1

APPLE INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

The Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is established effective September 1, 2018, and shall be administered as an unfunded plan which is maintained primarily for the purpose of allowing a select group of management or highly compensated employees and outside members of the Board of Directors of Apple Inc. and its eligible U.S. affiliates to defer eligible compensation (a “top-hat plan”) under ERISA sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1). The Plan is not intended to meet the qualification requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 401(a).

SECTION 1

DEFINITIONS

Whenever the following words and phrases are used in this Plan with the first letter capitalized, they shall have the meanings specified below:

 

1.1.

Account . The Account maintained by the Company for each Participant in accordance with Section 4.1 with respect to any deferrals and contributions under the Plan and any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

1.2.

Administrative Committee . The Company’s Benefits Administrative Committee.

 

1.3.

Affiliate . The Company and all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Code sections
414(b) or 414(c). For purposes of Section 1.17, however, the language of “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” when applying the applicable standards under Code sections 414(b) or 414(c), in accordance with Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(h)(3).

 

1.4.

Beneficiary . The person, people, estate, trust, or organization entitled to receive death benefits under Section 5.3.

 

1.5.

Benefits Committee . The Company’s management Benefits Committee.

 

1.6.

Board of Directors . The Board of Directors of the Company as constituted from time to time.

 

1.7.

Code . The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1.8.

Code Section  409A . Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

 

1.9.

Company . Apple Inc., a California corporation, who is the Plan sponsor.

 

1


1.10.

Compensation . The Participant’s base salary (including vacation pay, sick pay, and holiday pay), cash fees paid to a Non-Employee Director (including the cash retainer), overtime, shift differentials, commissions, and any cash bonus payments made to a Participant by a Participating Company. For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s Compensation shall include: (i) any salary or bonus deferrals or reductions pursuant to Code sections 401(k) and 125; (ii) any short-term disability pay or similar leave of absence pay (other than workers’ compensation or long-term disability) paid from the Participating Company’s W-2 payroll; and (iii) payment of, prior to a Participant’s Separation from Service, accrued but unused vacation and sick pay. Compensation shall not include: (i) any amounts paid by an entity that is a foreign Affiliate or by an entity that is not a Participating Company; (ii) severance pay; (iii) income arising from taxable non-cash fringe benefits; and (iv) any compensation attributable to stock incentives such as stock option exercises, restricted stock, or restricted stock units. For purposes of clarity, Compensation shall include amounts described in the first and second sentence of this Section 1.10 that are paid with respect to the pay period in which such Participant’s Separation from Service occurs, but which shall not include payouts for unused accrued vacation paid as a result of the Separation from Service or any amounts paid as severance.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Benefits Committee may, in its sole discretion, identify specific forms of compensation to be included in or excluded from a Participant’s Compensation, provided that such Benefits Committee action shall be taken prior to the deadline for submitting deferral elections under Code Section 409A.

 

1.11.

Deferral Election Form . A paper or electronic election form prescribed by the Administrative Committee on which an individual may elect to defer Compensation in accordance with Section 3.1.

 

1.12.

Effective Date . The date set forth above in this Plan document.

 

1.13.

ERISA . The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.14.

In-Service Distribution Date . The March 1 of the year selected by the Participant for the commencement of payment prior to the Participant’s Separation from Service in accordance with the procedures established by the Administrative Committee.

 

1.15.

Non-Employee Director . A member of the Board of Directors who is not an employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

 

1.16.

Participant . An employee or a Non-Employee Director who satisfies the eligibility requirements of Section 2 and has made a deferral election under Section 3.

 

1.17.

Participating Company . The Company and each U.S. Affiliate, other than a U.S. Affiliate that has been excluded from Plan participation by the Benefits Committee.

 

2


1.18.

Separation from Service . A separation from service as defined under Code Section 409A. In accordance with Code Section 409A, an employee’s employment relationship is treated as continuing intact while the employee is on military leave, sick leave, or other “bona fide leave of absence” if the period of such leave does not exceed six months, or if longer, so long as the employee retains a right to reemployment with the Company or an Affiliate under an applicable statute or by contract. A leave of absence constitutes a “bona fide leave of absence” only if there is a reasonable expectation that the employee will return to perform services for the Company or an Affiliate. If the period of leave exceeds six months and the individual does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract, the employment relationship is deemed to terminate on the first date immediately following such six-month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a leave of absence is due to any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, where such impairment causes the employee to be unable to perform the duties of his or her position of employment or any substantially similar position of employment, a period of absence up to 29 months shall be substituted for such six-month period.

 

1.19.

Separation from Service Payment Date . The first March 1 or September 1 that follows the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s Separation from Service.

SECTION 2

ELIGIBILITY

 

2.1.

Eligibility Requirements . An individual shall be eligible to elect to defer Compensation under the Plan if the individual is: (i) an employee who is designated by the Board of Directors as an “officer” of a Participating Company for purposes of Section 16 of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) a Non-Employee Director; or (iii) other employee of a Participating Company that is a member of select group of management or highly compensated employees as determined by the Benefits Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Benefits Committee shall have the authority to modify, in its sole discretion and from time to time, the employee classifications eligible and other eligibility requirements to participate in the Plan. An employee or a Non-Employee Director shall be eligible to participate in the Plan only if the employee or the Non-Employee Director is so notified, in writing, by the Company of the material terms of the Plan.

 

2.2.

Termination of Eligibility . In the event that a Participant, other than a Non-Employee Director, ceases to be an eligible employee, the Participant’s Deferral Election Form shall remain in effect through the end of the applicable deferral period in which the Participant remains employed but has ceased to be an eligible employee, and thereafter, the Participant shall submit no further Deferral Election Forms unless and until the Participant again becomes an eligible employee. In the event that a Participant performs services outside the United States (i.e., international assignment) but remains employed by, and receives Compensation from, a Participating Company, the Participant’s Deferral Election Form shall remain in effect through the end of the applicable deferral period, and thereafter, the Participant shall submit no further Deferral Election Forms unless and until permitted by the Administrative Committee.

 

3


SECTION 3

DEFERRALS

 

3.1.

Deferral Elections .

 

  (a)

General Rule . Except as otherwise provided below and in accordance with the deadlines established by the Administrative Committee under Section 3.2, each eligible employee and Non-Employee Director may elect to defer Compensation for services performed during a calendar year by submitting a Deferral Election Form no later than the end of the calendar year preceding the calendar year to which the election relates. The Administrative Committee may establish different election periods for certain types of Compensation to the extent permitted under Code Section 409A, including but not limited to, Compensation that qualifies as “performance-based compensation” or “fiscal-year compensation” under Code Section 409A. To the extent permitted by the Administrative Committee, an individual who is newly eligible to participate in the Plan may submit a Deferral Election Form in the time and manner determined by the Administrative Committee in accordance with Code Section 409A.

 

  (b)

Distribution Schedule . A Participant’s Deferral Election Form shall, in accordance with the procedures established by the Administrative Committee, set forth the Participant’s elections regarding the time and form of payment with respect to the Compensation deferred under that Deferral Election Form and any adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 4.1, subject to the requirements described in Section 5 and Code Section 409A.

 

3.2.

Administrative Committee Authority . The Administrative Committee shall establish from time to time the election periods during which Deferral Election Forms may be submitted, including periods otherwise ending prior to those described in Section 3.1 but otherwise in accordance with Code Section 409A.

 

3.3.

Manner of Deferral . A Participant’s deferrals of base salary (or with respect to a Non-Employee Director, the cash retainer) may be taken ratably during the applicable calendar year or in any manner determined by the Administrative Committee; provided that such deferrals during the calendar year, in the aggregate, reflect the Participant’s Deferral Election Form with respect to base salary (or with respect to a Non-Employee Director, the cash retainer) in accordance with Code Section 409A.

 

3.4.

Vesting . A Participant shall have a nonforfeitable right to amounts deferred pursuant to his or her Deferral Election Form and adjustments thereto pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

4


3.5.

Change in Compensation . A Deferral Election Form shall continue in effect notwithstanding any change in the Participant’s Compensation ( e.g., changes due to demotion, promotion, leaves of absence, etc.) If, during a deferral period, a Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence with the Participating Company’s consent, or in military service in conformity with the Participating Company’s policies, the Participant’s Deferral Election Form for that period shall continue if Compensation is being continued by the Participating Company. If Compensation is not being continued, then, upon the Participant’s return to employment during the same deferral period, his or her deferrals will be resumed in accordance with the Deferral Election Form then in effect, but no additional deferrals will be required or permitted to make up for amounts not deferred during periods of no Compensation.

 

3.6.

Hardship . In the event a Participant receives a hardship distribution pursuant to Section 5.4, the Participant’s deferrals pursuant to the Deferral Election Form with respect to the deferral period in which the hardship distribution occurs shall be cancelled in accordance with Code Section 409A. The Participant may submit a new Deferral Election Form with respect to subsequent deferral periods to the extent permitted under this Section 3.

 

3.7.

Company Contribution . The Company may, in its discretion, cause a credit of additional amounts to one or more Participant Account(s). The Benefits Committee may, with respect to such amounts, establish terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, including vesting and distribution schedules; provided that, in the absence of the Benefits Committee establishing such distribution schedule, any amount credited under this Section 3.7 shall be paid in a lump sum following Separation from Service as described in Section 5.1.

SECTION 4

ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS

 

4.1.

Accounts . For record keeping purposes only, a separate Account shall be maintained for each Participant. Separate sub-accounts shall be maintained to the extent necessary to properly reflect the Participant’s election of investment funds under Section 4.2 and the Participant’s election of different distribution schedules under Section 3.1(b). A Participant’s Account shall be credited or debited from time to time, as applicable, to reflect a Participant’s deferrals under Section 3.1, any Company contributions under Section 3.7, any earnings, losses, and fees credited or debited pursuant to Section 4.2, and any expenses and distributions. The specific method of valuing the Accounts shall be in the sole discretion of the Administrative Committee.

 

4.2.

Investment Election . A Participant may elect, pursuant to procedures established by the Administrative Committee, that his or her Account be credited or debited with gains and losses (and any applicable fees) as if the Account had been invested in one or more of the investment funds offered under the Plan, as may be determined by the Administrative Committee from time to time. In no event may a Participant direct the notional investment of his or her Account directly into stock, debt, or other securities of the Company. A Participant may change investment elections pursuant to procedures established by the Administrative Committee.

 

5


SECTION 5

DISTRIBUTION

 

5.1.

Distribution on Separation from Service .

 

  (a)

Payment of a Participant’s Account shall commence as of the Participant’s Separation from Service Payment Date or any such later date as may be permitted under Code Section 409A. Except as otherwise required by Sections 5.1(b) or (c), payment of a Participant’s Account shall be made in the form of a lump sum unless the Participant has elected to receive all or part of his or her Account following Separation from Service in the form of installments for between two (2) and ten (10) years, in which case, the first installment shall be paid on the Participant’s Separation from Service Payment Date and each subsequent installment paid as of each following March. Such installment election must be made at the same time that the Participant submits his or her Deferral Election Form for such deferral period. In no event will any payment under this Section 5.1 be made within the six-month period following a Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

  (b)

If the Participant has elected for amounts to be paid upon an In-Service Distribution Date and the Participant incurs a Separation from Service prior to such In-Service Distribution Date, payment of such amounts shall commence on the Separation from Service Payment Date but in the form (lump sum or installments) applicable to that In-Service Distribution Date. If a Participant incurs a Separation from Service on or after the Participant’s In-Service Distribution Date, such payments designated under the In-Service Distribution Date election shall continue as scheduled without regard to the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

  (c)

Notwithstanding Sections 5.1(a) or (b) above, if any election to receive installment payments has been made and a Participant’s Account, when aggregated with any other amounts that are treated as under a single “plan” with the Plan as described in Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-1(c), is less than the deferral limit under Code section 402(g)(1)(B) as of the Separation from Service Payment Date (i.e., when the initial installment payment would otherwise occur), the Account shall be paid in a lump sum on the applicable Separation from Service Payment Date.

 

5.2.

In-Service Distributions .

 

  (a)

A Participant’s Deferral Election Form may designate an In-Service Distribution Date. Payment will be made in a lump sum unless the Participant has elected to receive payment in installments between two (2) and ten (10) years. Any election under this Section 5.2(a) must be made at the same time that the Participant submits his or her Deferral Election Form for such deferral period.

 

6


  (b)

A Participant may modify a previously submitted distribution election under this Section 5.2 to receive an in-service distribution provided that: (i) such modification shall not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which such modification is made, (ii) the scheduled payment date under such modification is deferred at least five (5) years from the previously scheduled payment date, and (iii) that such modification must be made no less than twelve (12) months before the previously scheduled payment date. Such modification shall be made in the manner prescribed by the Administrative Committee.

 

5.3.

Distribution upon Death .

 

  (a)

Timing and Form of Payment . If a Participant dies prior to receiving a complete distribution of the Participant’s Account (including any remaining installments), the Company will pay to the Participant’s Beneficiary the remaining Account in a single lump sum by December 31 of the first calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant died.

 

  (b)

Beneficiaries . In accordance with procedures established by the Administrative Committee, each Participant may designate a Beneficiary to receive his or her Account in the event of his or her death. A Participant may change or revoke a previous designation of a Beneficiary at any time. A designation or revocation shall be effective only if it is made in accordance with procedures established by the Administrative Committee and received by the Administrative Committee prior to the Participant’s death. If a Participant has no valid beneficiary designation on file with the Administrative Committee, or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries have predeceased him, death benefits shall be paid to the Participant’s current lawful spouse, if then living, and if none, to the Participant’s estate.

The Administrative Committee may require and rely upon such proof of death and such evidence of the right of any Beneficiary or other person to receive a deceased Participant’s Account as the Administrative Committee may deem proper, and the Administrative Committee’s determination of death and of the right of the Beneficiary or other person to receive payment shall be conclusive and binding on all persons. A Beneficiary who has become entitled to death benefits may also designate one or more Beneficiaries to receive benefits upon his or her death in accordance with the foregoing as if the Beneficiary were the Participant. In the absence of a valid beneficiary designation, any remaining benefits shall be paid in accordance with the last sentence of the preceding paragraph as if the Beneficiary were the Participant. The payment of benefits under the Plan to a Beneficiary shall fully and completely discharge the Company and the Administrative Committee from all further obligations under the Plan with respect to the Participant and the Beneficiary.

 

7


5.4.

Hardship Distributions Upon an Unforeseeable Emergency . Upon a finding that a Participant has suffered an “unforeseeable emergency” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, the Administrative Committee, or its authorized delegatee, may, in its sole discretion, make a hardship distribution from the Participant’s Account. A Participant requesting a hardship distribution shall do so in the form and manner prescribed by the Administrative Committee (or its delegatee) and shall provide such information as the Administrative Committee (or its delegatee) may require. The amount of the hardship distribution shall be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the Participant’s needs resulting from the unforeseeable emergency, including any amounts necessary to pay federal, state and/or local income taxes reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution. If a hardship distribution is made under this Section 5.4, the Participant’s deferrals shall cease in accordance with Section 3.6.

 

5.5.

Delayed Distribution for Payments Subject to Code Section  162(m) . The Administrative Committee may elect to delay a payment in accordance with Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(i) to the extent that, if the payment were made as scheduled, the Company’s deduction with respect to the payment would not be permitted due to the application of Code section 162(m).

 

5.6.

Reemployment . If, after a Participant’s Separation from Service, the Participant is reemployed by the Company or an Affiliate prior to receiving complete distribution of his or her Account (including any remaining installments), payment of the remaining amounts shall be made as scheduled without regard to the Participant’s reemployment.

 

5.7.

Distribution for Domestic Relations Order . Subject to any policies and procedures established by the Administrative Committee, benefits may be paid from the balance of a Participant’s Account in accordance with a “domestic relations order” referred to under Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii).

 

5.8.

Valuation and Settlement . The amount of the lump sum distribution or the amount of the installment under this Section 5 shall be based on the value of the Participant’s Account as of the first day of the month in which the applicable payment date occurs, and such other dates as the Administrative Committee may determine. If the first day of the month in which the applicable payment date occurs is a non-business day, the amount of the lump sum distribution or the amount of the installment under this Section 5 shall be based on the value of the Participant’s Account as of the last business day of the month preceding the applicable payment date.

 

8


SECTION 6

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

 

6.1.

General Rules . A Participant or Beneficiary who does not receive a benefit to which he or she believes he or she is entitled may present a claim to the Administrative Committee. Each Participant or Beneficiary who wishes to file a claim for benefits with the Administrative Committee shall do so in the manner prescribed by the Administrative Committee. Any claim for benefits shall be filed within the earlier of (a) one hundred eighty (180) days after payment of the benefit has commenced, or (b) one hundred eighty (180) days after the claimant first knew or reasonably should have known the principal facts on which the claim is based.

 

6.2.

Claims Review . If the claim for benefits is wholly or partially denied, the Administrative Committee shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial of benefits within a reasonable period of time (not to exceed ninety (90) days) after the Administrative Committee initially received the benefit claim. If additional time is needed to process the claim, the Administrative Committee shall provide the claimant with notice of the extension prior to the termination of the initial ninety (90) day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of ninety (90) days from the end of such initial period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Administrative Committee expects to make the benefit determination. Any notice of a denial of benefits shall advise the claimant of: (a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial; (b) reference to the specific provisions of the Plan provisions on which the denial is based; (c) a description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures; and (d) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to complete his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary.

 

6.3.

Right of Appeal . Each claimant whose claim for benefits has been denied shall have the opportunity to file with the Administrative Committee a written request for a full and fair review of his or her claim, to be provided, upon request, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to his or her claim (without regard to whether such documents, records, or information were considered or relied upon in the initial denial of the claim) and to submit written comments, documents, records, and other information regarding his or her claim. Such written request for review of his or her claim must be filed by the claimant within sixty (60) days after receipt of written notification of the denial of the claim.

 

6.4.

Review of Appeal . The Administrative Committee shall issue a decision regarding the claim not later than sixty (60) days (or such additional period required by special circumstances, but not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days, provided written notice of the extension is furnished to the claimant prior to the commencement of the extension) after receipt of such request for review. Such review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The decision on review shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, shall include specific reasons for any adverse decision with references to the specific Plan provisions on which the decision is based, and shall also include: (a) a statement that upon request and free of charge, the claimant is entitled to receive reasonable access to and copies of all documents and records relevant to his or her claim for benefits; and (b) a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA section 502(a) following denial of the claim after review.

 

9


6.5.

Legal Actions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan:

 

  (a)

No legal action for benefits under the Plan shall be brought unless and until the claimant, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, (i) has submitted a claim for benefits; (ii) has been notified by the Administrative Committee that the claim is denied; (iii) has filed a written request for a review of the claim; and (iv) has been notified in writing that the Administrative Committee has affirmed the denial of the claim.

 

  (b)

No legal action may be brought against the Plan (or the Administrative Committee or any of its agents), the Company or any Affiliate (or any members of the Board of Directors, Benefits Committee, employees or agents of the Company or an Affiliate) more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the claimant is first given a written notice of the denial of his or her appeal by the Administrative Committee. Unless the Administrative Committee specifically determines otherwise, this limitations period shall not be extended even if the Administrative Committee again considers the matter after the initial denial. This limitations period shall apply to all actions arising out of or relating to a claim for benefits, including, but not limited to, any action under ERISA section 502(a)(1)(B) and any action under ERISA section 502(a)(3) to the extent said claim relates to the provision of benefits or rights under the Plan.

 

  (c)

Any legal action under ERISA, involving the Plan (or the Administrative Committee or any of its agents), the Company, or any Affiliate (or any members of the Board of Directors, Benefits Committee, employees or agents of the Company or an Affiliate), including, but not limited to, a claim for benefits described in (b) above, shall be brought only in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

SECTION 7

ADMINISTRATION

 

7.1.

Function of Administrative Committee . The general administration and operation of the Plan shall be vested in the Administrative Committee. Pursuant to its charter, the Administrative Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the Plan in accordance with its terms and any applicable laws and regulations, and shall have all powers reasonably necessary to carry out such responsibilities. The Administrative Committee shall have the exclusive right and discretionary authority to carry out its responsibilities hereunder, including (but not limited to) the following: determining eligibility for, entitlement to, and amount of benefits payable under the Plan, including the authority to make determination as to the applicability of particular limitations, exclusions or other restrictions; interpreting the terms and provisions of the Plan and determining any and all questions arising under the Plan or in connection with the administration thereof, including the right to remedy or resolve possible ambiguities, inconsistencies or omissions; and making any finding of fact necessary or appropriate for any purpose under the Plan. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Administrative Committee shall have the utmost discretion permitted by law, and all rules and regulations, findings of fact, determinations, interpretations and decisions of the Administrative Committee shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons having or claiming to have any interest or right under the plan.

 

10


The Administrative Committee may (i) allocate among any of its members any of the responsibilities of the Administrative Committee under the Plan or (ii) delegate to any person, firm or corporation that is not the Administrative Committee any of the responsibilities of the Administrative Committee under the Plan. Any such allocation or delegation shall be made pursuant to a written instrument, and any delegate shall have the same authority as the Administrative Committee with respect to the matter allocated or delegated.

 

7.2.

Plan Expenses . The Administrative Committee may allocate fees related to the administration of the Plan to individual Participant Accounts and the value of such Accounts shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 8

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The Company reserves the right to amend the Plan at any time and for any reason on behalf of all Participating Companies and to terminate the Plan and distribute any and all Accounts following such termination in accordance with Code Section 409A, by action of its Board of Directors or delegatee. In addition, the Benefits Committee may amend the Plan to the extent it determines necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or to reflect any changes it determines are ministerial or necessary or appropriate to facilitate the Plan’s administration, but in either case only to the extent that such amendment does not have a substantive effect on the benefits provided hereunder.

SECTION 9

MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1.

Funding . This Plan is unfunded. All obligations hereunder shall constitute an unsecured promise of the Company to pay a Participant’s benefit out of the general assets of the Company, subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, as amended from time to time, and applicable law. A Participant shall have no greater right to benefits provided hereunder than that of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

11


9.2.

Taxation .

 

  (a)

Code Section  409A Compliance . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered in accordance with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations or guidance issued with regard thereto, and any distribution, acceleration or election feature that could result in the early inclusion in gross income shall be deemed restricted or limited to the extent necessary to avoid such result.

 

  (b)

Tax Withholding and Reporting . All deferrals and payments under the Plan shall be subject to such taxes and other withholdings (federal, state, or local) as may be due thereon, and the determination of the Company or any designee thereof as to withholding with respect to deferrals, distributions, and payments shall be binding upon the Participant and each Beneficiary.

 

  (c)

Favorable Tax Treatment Not Guaranteed . The Company does not guarantee any particular tax treatment to Participants under the Plan.

 

9.3.

Nonassignability . Except as provided below, the benefits provided by this Plan may not be assigned or alienated. Neither the Administrative Committee nor the Company shall recognize any transfer, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, order, or assignment by any Participant or Beneficiary of all or part of his or her interest under the Plan, and the interest shall not be subject in any manner to transfer by operation of law and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors or other claimants from all orders, decrees, levies, garnishment, and/or executions, and other legal or equitable process or proceedings against the Participant or Beneficiary to the fullest extent that may be permitted by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to benefits payable with respect to a Participant pursuant to a domestic relations order may be created, assigned, or recognized, and paid in accordance with Section 5.7.

 

9.4.

Limitation of Rights; Employment or Service Relationship . Neither the establishment of the Plan and nor any modifications thereof, nor the creation of any Account, nor the payment of any benefits, shall be construed as modifying or affecting in any way the terms of employment of any employee or of services on the Board of Directors.

 

9.5.

Gender and Number; Captions or Headings . Wherever appropriate to the meaning or interpretation of this Plan, the masculine gender shall include the feminine, and the singular number shall include the plural and vice versa. Captions or headings are inserted and intended for organizational format and convenience of reference only; they are not to be given independent substantive meaning for effect.

 

9.6.

Applicable Law; Severability . This Plan shall be construed, administered, and governed in all respects in accordance with ERISA, Code Section 409A and the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. If any provision of this instrument shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Plan shall continue to be fully effective.

 

12


9.7.

Indemnification . To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each member of the Board of Directors, Benefits Committee, Administrative Committee, and any other employee of the Company with duties under the Plan, against expenses (including any amount paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such individual or damages imposed upon such individual in connection with any claims against him or her by reason of his or her conduct (except for willful misconduct) in the performance of duties under the Plan.

 

13

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

    

MORRISON  & FOERSTER LLP

 

BEIJING , BERLIN , BRUSSELS ,
DENVER , HONG KONG , LONDON ,
LOS ANGELES , NEW YORK ,
NORTHERN VIRGINIA , PALO ALTO ,
SAN DIEGO , SAN FRANCISCO , SHANGHAI ,
SINGAPORE , TOKYO , WASHINGTON , D . C .

August 23, 2018

Board of Directors

Apple Inc.

One Apple Park Way

Cupertino, California 95014

Re: Registration Statement on Form  S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Apple Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the purpose of registering $180,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations (the “Obligations”) of the Company all of which are to be issued under the Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”).

As counsel for the Company, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of rendering this opinion and we are familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the authorization and issuance of the Obligations. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the California Corporations Code, as amended, and Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations. As used herein, the term “California Corporations Code, as amended” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the California Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

The opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

 

  (i)

the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination;


LOGO

 

  (ii)

limitations imposed by general principles of equity upon the availability of equitable remedies or the enforcement of provisions of any securities, and the effect of judicial decisions which have held that certain provisions are unenforceable where their enforcement would violate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or would be commercially unreasonable, or where their breach is not material; and

 

  (iii)

our opinion is based upon current statutes, rules, regulations, cases and official interpretive opinions, and it covers certain items that are not directly or definitively addressed by such authorities.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Obligations, when issued in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Plan, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

In addition, the Plan is intended to constitute a “top-hat” plan described in Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, which is a plan that is unfunded and maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The provisions of the written Plan document comply with the provisions applicable to top-hat plans. We express no opinion as to whether the Plan will be operated by the Company in accordance with the rules and reporting requirements applicable to a top-hat plan under ERISA, or whether the employees that the Company has deemed eligible to participate in the Plan would constitute a select group of management or highly compensated employees.

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) of Apple Inc. pertaining to the Apple Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan of our reports dated November 3, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Apple Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Apple Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 2017, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Jose, California

August 23, 2018