**Exhibit 10.4**

**EXAR CORPORATION**

**2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN**

**PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT**

**THIS PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT** (this “**Agreement**”) is dated as of **[            ]** by and between Exar Corporation, a Delawarecorporation (the “**Corporation**”), and **[            ]** (the “**Participant**”). 

**W I T N E S S E T H**

**WHEREAS**, pursuant to the Exar Corporation 2006Equity Incentive Plan (the “**Plan**”), the Corporation has granted to the Participant effective as of the date hereof (the “**Award Date**”), a credit of performance stock units under the Plan (the“**Award**”), upon the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Plan. 

**NOW THEREFORE**, in consideration ofservices rendered and to be rendered by the Participant, and the mutual promises made herein and the mutual benefits to be derived therefrom, the parties agree as follows: 

**1.****Defined Terms**. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such terms inthe Plan. 

**2.****Grant**. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Corporation hereby grants to the Participant an Awardwith respect to an aggregate of **[            ]**performance stock units (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7.1 of the Plan) (the “**StockUnits**”). As used herein, the term “stock unit” shall mean a non-voting unit of measurement which is deemed for bookkeeping purposes to be equivalent to one outstanding share of the Corporation’s Common Stock (subject toadjustment as provided in Section 7.1 of the Plan) solely for purposes of the Plan and this Agreement. The Stock Units shall be used solely as a device for the determination of the payment to eventually be made to the Participant if such StockUnits vest pursuant to Section 3. The Stock Units shall not be treated as property or as a trust fund of any kind. 

**3.****Vesting**. Subject to Section 8 below, the Award shall vest and become nonforfeitable based on the achievement of the performance goals established by the Administrator and set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto for the“**Performance Period**” identified therein. The number of Stock Units that vest and become payable under this Agreement shall be determined based on the level of results or achievement of targets for each of the performance goals setforth on Exhibit A. Any Stock Units subject to the Award that do not vest in accordance with Exhibit A shall terminate as of the last day of the Performance Period. 

**4.****Continuance of Employment**. The vesting schedule requires continued employment or service through each applicable vesting date as a condition to the vesting of the applicable installment of theAward and the rights and benefits under this Agreement. Employment or service for only a portion of the vesting period, even if a substantial portion, will not entitle the Participant to any proportionate vesting or avoid or mitigate a terminationof rights and benefits upon or following a termination of employment or services as provided in Section 8 below or under the Plan. 

 

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Nothing contained in this Agreement or the Plan constitutes an employment or service commitment by theCorporation, affects the Participant’s status as an employee at will who is subject to termination without cause, confers upon the Participant any right to remain employed by or in service to the Corporation or any Subsidiary, interferes in anyway with the right of the Corporation or any Subsidiary at any time to terminate such employment or services, or affects the right of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to increase or decrease the Participant’s other compensation or benefits.Nothing in this paragraph, however, is intended to adversely affect any independent contractual right of the Participant without his consent thereto. 

**5. Dividend and Voting Rights.**

(a) **Limitations on Rights Associatedwith Units**. The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Corporation, no dividend rights (except as expressly provided in Section 5(b) with respect to Dividend Equivalent Rights) and no voting rights, with respect to theStock Units and any shares of Common Stock underlying or issuable in respect of such Stock Units until such shares of Common Stock are actually issued to and held of record by the Participant. No adjustments will be made for dividends or otherrights of a holder for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of the stock certificate. 

(b) **DividendEquivalent Rights Distributions**. As of any date that the Corporation pays an ordinary cash dividend on its Common Stock, the Corporation shall pay the Participant an amount equal to the per share cash dividend paid by the Corporation on itsCommon Stock on such date multiplied by the number of Stock Units remaining subject to this Award as of the related dividend payment record date. No such payment shall be made with respect to any Stock Units which, as of such record date, haveeither been paid pursuant to Section 7 or terminated pursuant to Section 8. 

**6.****Restrictions on Transfer**.Neither the Award, nor any interest therein or amount or shares payable in respect thereof may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of, alienated or encumbered, either voluntarily or involuntarily. The transfer restrictionsin the preceding sentence shall not apply to (a) transfers to the Corporation, or (b) transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 

**7.****Timing and Manner of Payment of Stock Units**. As soon as administratively practical following the Performance Period, the Administrator shall determine the number of Stock Units (if any) thathave vested pursuant to Section 3. On or as soon as practicable after the date of such determination (and in all events within two and one-half (2 1/2) months after the end of the Performance Period), or in the case of accelerated vesting ofthe Award pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan, as soon as administratively practicable after (and in all events within two and one-half (2 1/2) months after) the date of such acceleration event, the Corporation shall deliver to the Participant anumber of shares of Common Stock (either by delivering one or more certificates for such shares or by entering such shares in book entry form, as determined by the Corporation in its discretion) equal to the number of Stock Units subject to thisAward that vest on the applicable vesting date, unless such Stock Units terminate prior to such vesting date pursuant to Section 8. The Corporation’s obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock or otherwise make payment with respect tovested Stock Units is subject to the condition precedent that the Participant or other person entitled under the Plan to receive any shares with respect to the vested Stock Units deliver to the Corporation any representations or other documents orassurances required pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Plan. The Participant shall have no further rights with respect to any Stock Units that are paid or that terminate pursuant to Section 8. 

 

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**8.****Effect of Termination of Employment.** The Participant’s Stock Units shallterminate to the extent such units have not become vested prior to the first date the Participant is no longer employed by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, regardless of the reason for the termination of the Participant’s employmentwith the Corporation or a Subsidiary, whether with or without cause, voluntarily or involuntarily. If any unvested Stock Units are terminated hereunder, such Stock Units shall automatically terminate and be cancelled as of the applicable terminationdate without payment of any consideration by the Corporation and without any other action by the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be. 

**9.****Adjustments Upon Specified Events**. Upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Corporation’s stock contemplated bySection 7.1 of the Plan (including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such stock), the Administrator shall make adjustments in accordance with such section in the number of Stock Units then outstanding and the number andkind of securities that may be issued in respect of the Award. No such adjustment shall be made with respect to any ordinary cash dividend for which dividend equivalents are paid pursuant to Section 5(b). Furthermore, the Administrator shalladjust the performance measures and performance goals referenced in Section 3 hereof to the extent (if any) it determines that the adjustment is necessary or advisable to preserve the intended incentives and benefits to reflect (1) anymaterial change in corporate capitalization, any material corporate transaction (such as a reorganization, combination, separation, merger, acquisition, or any combination of the foregoing), or any complete or partial liquidation of the Corporation,(2) any change in accounting policies or practices, (3) the effects of any special charges to the Corporation’s earnings, or (4) any other similar special circumstances. 

**10.****Tax Withholding**. Subject to Section 8.1 of the Plan, upon any distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect of theStock Units, the Corporation shall automatically reduce the number of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of whole shares, valued at their then fair market value (with the “fair market value” of suchshares determined in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Plan), to satisfy any withholding obligations of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries with respect to such distribution of shares at the minimum applicable withholding rates. Inthe event that the Corporation cannot legally satisfy such withholding obligations by such reduction of shares, or in the event of a cash payment or any other withholding event in respect of the Stock Units, the Corporation (or a Subsidiary) shallbe entitled to require a cash payment by or on behalf of the Participant and/or to deduct from other compensation payable to the Participant any sums required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to such distribution orpayment. 

**11.****Notices**. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed tothe Corporation at its principal office to the attention of the Secretary, and to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Corporation’s records, or at such other address as either party may hereafter designate inwriting to the other. Any such notice shall be given only when received, but if the Participant is no longer an employee of the Corporation, shall be deemed to have been duly given by the Corporation when enclosed in a properly sealed envelopeaddressed as aforesaid, registered or certified, and deposited (postage and registry or certification fee prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Government. 

 

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**12.****Plan**. The Award and all rights of the Participant under this Agreement aresubject to the terms and conditions of the provisions of the Plan, incorporated herein by reference. The Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. The Participant acknowledges having read and understanding the Plan,the Prospectus for the Plan, and this Agreement. Unless otherwise expressly provided in other sections of this Agreement, provisions of the Plan that confer discretionary authority on the Board or the Administrator do not (and shall not be deemedto) create any rights in the Participant unless such rights are expressly set forth herein or are otherwise in the sole discretion of the Board or the Administrator so conferred by appropriate action of the Board or the Administrator under the Planafter the date hereof. 

**13.****Entire Agreement**. This Agreement and the Plan together constitute the entireagreement and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, written or oral, of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Plan and this Agreement may be amended pursuant to Section 8.6 of the Plan. Such amendmentmust be in writing and signed by the Corporation. The Corporation may, however, unilaterally waive any provision hereof in writing to the extent such waiver does not adversely affect the interests of the Participant hereunder, but no such waivershall operate as or be construed to be a subsequent waiver of the same provision or a waiver of any other provision hereof. 

**14.****Limitation on Participant’s Rights**. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Corporation as to amounts payableand shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Corporation with respect to amountscredited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Stock Units, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to Stock Units, as and when payable hereunder. 

**15.****Counterparts**. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed anoriginal but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

**16.****Section Headings**. The sectionheadings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect any provision hereof. 

**17.****Governing Law**. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflict of law principles thereunder. 

**18.****Construction**. It is intended that the terms of the Award will not result in the imposition of any tax liability pursuant toSection 409A of the Code. The Agreement shall be construed and interpreted consistent with that intent. 

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**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by aduly authorized officer and the Participant has hereunto set his or her hand as of the date and year first above written. 

 

**EXAR CORPORATION,**

**a Delawarecorporation**
  **PARTICIPANT**By:        *Signature*Print Name:    Its:        *Print Name*
 

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**CONSENT OF SPOUSE**

In consideration of the execution of the foregoing Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement by Exar Corporation, I,                    , the spouse of the Participant therein named, do hereby join with my spouse in executing the foregoing Performance StockUnit Award Agreement and do hereby agree to be bound by all of the terms and provisions thereof and of the Plan. 

Dated:                    

 
         *Signature of Spouse*         *Print Name*
 

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**EXHIBIT A**

**PERFORMANCE-BASED VESTING REQUIREMENTS**

Subject to Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement, the number ofStock Units subject to the Award that vest and become non-forfeitable shall be determined as provided in this Exhibit A. 

******1.Combined Revenue. If the aggregate Combined Revenue during the period commencing on ********[********October 1, 2007********]******** and ending on ********[********March 31,2008********]******** (the “********Performance Period********”) equals or exceeds********[********$            ********]********, then ********[********twenty percent(20%)********]******** of the total number of Stock Units subject to the Award shall become fully vested as of the last day of the Performance Period. ******

2. Synergies. If the aggregate **[**Synergies**]**during the Performance Period equals or exceeds**[**$            **]**, then **[**twenty percent (20%)**]** of the total number of Stock Units subject to the Award shall become fully vested as of the last day of thePerformance Period. 

3. Sipex Revenue. If the aggregate Sipex Revenue during the Performance Period equals or exceeds**[**$            **]**, then **[**fifteen percent (15%)**]** of the total number of Stock Units subject to the Award shall become fully vested as of the last day of thePerformance Period. 

4. Sipex Gross Margin. If the aggregate Sipex Gross Margin during the Performance Period equals or exceeds******[            ]**, then **[**fifteen percent (15%)**]** of the total number of Stock Units subject to the Award shall become fully vested as of the last day of thePerformance Period. 

5. Individual Performance. **[**Thirty percent (30%)**]** of the total number of Stock Units subject tothe Award shall be eligible to vest based on the Participant’s achievement during the Performance Period of the following performance goal(s): [INSERT]. 

6. Determination; Termination of Stock Units. As soon as practicable after the last day of the Performance Period, the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, if **[**and to the extentthat**]** the performance goals set forth in this Exhibit A have been met and the number of Stock Units subject to the Award that vest based on such determination. Any Stock Units subject to the Award that are not vested after giving effect tothe foregoing sentence shall terminate as of the last day of the Performance Period. 

7. Definitions. For purposes of the Award, thefollowing definitions shall apply: 

“**Combined Revenue**” shall mean the Corporation’s **[**gross revenue**]** asdetermined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the Corporation’s financial reporting. 

 

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“**Sipex Gross Margin**” shall mean the **[**gross operating margin] of Sipex Corporationas determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the Corporation’s financial reporting. 

“**Sipex Revenue**” shall mean the **[**gross revenue] of Sipex Corporation as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the Corporation’s financial reporting. 

“**Synergies**” shall mean **[            ]**. 

 

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