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EXHIBIT 10.15    
    


SILICON VALLEY BANCSHARES  


 
  1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN    
    


Adopted December 19, 1996

Approved by Shareholders April 17, 1997

Amended as of September 8, 1997

Amended as of July 20, 2000

Amended as of February 15, 2001

Amended as of April 19, 2001

Amended as of May 16, 2001

Amended as of April 18, 2002

Amended as of January 16, 2003

Amended as of April 17, 2003

Amended as of April 22, 2004

Amended as of July 22, 2004  


 1.     PURPOSES.  


        (a)   The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected Employees and Directors of and Consultants to the
Company, and its Affiliates, may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the stock of the Company through the granting of (i) Incentive Stock Options,
(ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses, (iv) rights to purchase restricted stock, (v) restricted stock units, and (vi) stock appreciation rights, all
as defined below. 


        (b)   The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of persons who are now Employees or Directors of or
Consultants to the Company or its Affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors and Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the
success of the Company and its Affiliates. 


        (c)   The Company intends that the Stock Awards issued under the Plan shall, in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to
which responsibility for administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c), be either (i) Options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, including Incentive Stock
Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options, (ii) stock bonuses or rights to purchase restricted stock, or restricted stock units granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof, or (iii) stock
appreciation rights granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and in such form
as issued pursuant to Section 6, and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on exercise of each type of Option. 


2.     DEFINITIONS.  


        (a)   "Affiliate" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) respectively, of the Code. 


        (b)   "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. 


        (c)   "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 


        (d)   "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance with subsection 3(c) of the
Plan. 


        (e)   "Company" means Silicon Valley Bancshares, a Delaware corporation. 


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        (f)    "Concurrent Stock Appreciation Right" or "Concurrent
Right" means a right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(2) of the Plan. 



        (g)   "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to
render consulting services and who is compensated for such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not
compensated by the Company for their services as Directors. 


        (h)   "Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant" means that the service of an
individual to the Company, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company may determine, in that party's sole
discretion, whether Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or the chief
executive officer of the Company, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; or (ii) transfers between the Company, Affiliates or their successors. 


        (i)    "Covered Employee" means the chief executive officer and the four (4) other highest
compensated officers of the Company for whom total compensation is required to be reported to shareholders under the Exchange Act, as determined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. 



        (j)    "Director" means a member of the Board. 


        (k)   "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any
Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company. 


        (l)    "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 



        (m)  "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of the common stock of the Company
determined as follows: 



        (1)   If the common stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market
(or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Company's common stock) on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable. 


        (2)   In the absence of such markets for the common stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the
Board. 




        (n)   "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 



        (o)   "Independent Stock Appreciation Right" or "Independent
Right" means a right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(3) of the Plan. 


        (p)   "Non-Employee Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or subsidiary for services rendered as a
consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to
the Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of
Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is
otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3. 


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        (q)   Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. 



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


        (s)   "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. 


        (t)    "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionee evidencing the
terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 


        (u)   "Optionee" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable,
such other person who holds an outstanding Option. 


        (v)   "Outside Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee of the
Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an "affiliated
corporation" receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" at any time, and is
not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an
"outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. 


        (w)  "Plan" means this 1997 Equity Incentive Plan. 



        (x)   "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect with respect to the Company at the time discretion is being exercised regarding the Plan. 


        (y)   "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 


        (z)   "Stock Appreciation Right" means any of the various types of rights which may be granted under
Section 8 of the Plan. 


        (aa) "Stock Award" means any award granted under the Plan, including any Option, any stock bonus, any right to
purchase restricted stock, any restricted stock unit, and any Stock Appreciation Right. 


        (bb) "Stock Award Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Award
evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 



        (cc) "Tandem Stock Appreciation Right" or "Tandem Right" means a
right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(1) of the Plan. 


3.     ADMINISTRATION.  


        (a)   The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as
provided in subsection 3(c). 


        (b)   The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan: 



        (1)   To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how
each Stock Award shall be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase restricted stock, a Stock Appreciation
Right, or a combination of the foregoing; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a 



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person
shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to a Stock Award; whether a person shall be permitted to receive stock upon exercise of an Independent Stock Appreciation Right; and the number of
shares with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person. 


        (2)   To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and
regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement, in a manner and to the
extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective. 


        (3)   To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section 14. 


        (4)   Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best
interests of the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan. 




        (c)   The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of the Board composed of one (1) or
more members (the "Committee"). In the discretion of the Board, the Committee may be composed of two (2) or more Non-Employee Directors and/or Outside Directors. If administration
is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, (and references in this Plan to the Board shall
thereafter be to the Committee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the
Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. 


4.     SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  


        (a)   Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be
issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate twelve-million—fifty thousand (12,050,000) shares of the Company's common stock. If any Stock Award shall for any reason
expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under
the Plan. Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights exercised in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. 


        (b)   The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise. 


        (c)   Effective February 24, 2004, and subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, of the one million one hundred fifty-three thousand and twenty seven (1,153,027) shares of the Company's common stock available for issuance under the Incentive Plan, the total
number of shares available to grant as stock bonus awards, under restricted stock purchase agreements, and restricted stock units shall not exceed four hundred and five thousand nine hundred eighty
(405,980) shares of the Company's common stock. 


        (d)   Effective April 22, 2004, and subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, the one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of the Company's common stock were added to the Incentive Plan (the "2004 Share Reserve"). To the extent that a Stock Award is
granted from the 2004 Share Reserve in the form of stock bonus awards, under restricted stock purchase agreements or restricted stock units, the 2004 Share Reserve will be reduced by an amount equal
to 2.0 times the number of shares subject to that award. Further, if unvested shares acquired from the 2004 Share Reserve pursuant to a stock bonus award, restricted stock purchase agreement or
restricted stock unit are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, 2.0 times the number of shares of common stock so forfeited or repurchased will return to the 2004 Share Reserve and will again
become available for issuance. 


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5.     ELIGIBILITY.  



        (a)   Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant thereto may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards
other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant thereto may be granted only to Employees, Directors or Consultants. 


        (b)   No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option if, at the time of grant, such person owns (or is
deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its
Affiliates unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. 


        (c)   Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no person shall be eligible
to be granted Options and Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares of the Company's common stock in any calendar year. 


6.     OPTION PROVISIONS.  



        Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Options need not be
identical, but each Option shall
include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: 


        (a)   Term.    No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was
granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Option granted between April 17, 2003 and April 21, 2004 shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date
of grant. Any Option granted on or after April 22, 2004 shall not be exercisable after the expiration of seven (7) years from the date of grant. 


        (b)   Price.    The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option or Nonstatutory Stock shall be not less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than one
hundred percent (100%) the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted and will be in lieu of cash compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option
(whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an
assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. 


        (c)   Consideration.    The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent
permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the
grant of the Option, (a) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (b) according to a deferred payment or other arrangement (which may include, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock of the Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d), or
(c) in any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Board. In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the
minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment
arrangement. 


        (d)   Transferability.    An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive Stock Option is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall only be 


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transferable
by the Optionee upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Option Agreement for such Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or the Committee shall determine in its sole
discretion. The person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of
the Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. 



        (e)   Vesting.    The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option may, but need not, be allotted in periodic
installments (which may, but need not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest") with
respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period and/or any prior period as to which the Option
became vested but was not fully exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other
criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The provisions of this subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised. 


        (f)    Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or Consultant.    In the event an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or disability or for Cause), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionee
was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall
revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option
shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. 


        In
the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates for Cause, then the Option shall immediately terminate, and the shares covered by such
Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. "Cause" shall be defined as an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, or breach of fiduciary duty to the Company, a
deliberate disregard of the rules of the Company which results in loss, damage or injury to the Company, any unauthorized disclosure of any of the secrets or confidential information of the Company,
inducing any client or customer of the Company to break any contract with the Company or inducing any principal for whom the Company acts as agent to terminate such agency relations, or engaging in
any conduct which constitutes unfair competition with the Company, or any act which results in Optionee being removed from any office of the Company by any bank regulatory agency. 



        An
Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director, or Consultant
(other than upon the Optionee's death or disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Finally, an Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee, Director or Consultant (other than upon the Optionee's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares would violate the registration
requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option, or (ii) the expiration of a period of three
(3) months 


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after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements. 


        (g)   Disability of Optionee.    In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant
terminates as a result of the Optionee's disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination), but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or
(ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. 



        (h)   Death of Optionee.    In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant
terminates as a result of Optionee's death, the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option as of the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person
who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to subsection 6(d), but only within the
period ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the Option
shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. 


        (i)    Early Exercise.    The Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionee may elect at any time
while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so purchased may
be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate. 


7.     TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES, PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.  


        Each stock bonus, restricted stock unit, or restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or
the Committee shall deem appropriate; provided, however, in no event may shares subject to stock bonus awards be issued for more than 5% of the aggregate number of shares of the Company's common stock
reserved for issuance hereunder pursuant to Section 4(a). To the extent any shares issued pursuant to stock bonus awards are forfeited or otherwise return to the Plan, such shares will not
count against the foregoing limit and may once again be issued pursuant to stock bonus awards as if the original award were never granted. The terms and conditions of stock bonuses, restricted stock
units, or restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus, restricted stock unit or
restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions as
appropriate and will be issued in lieu of cash compensation: 


        (a)   Purchase Price.    The purchase price under each restricted stock purchase agreement shall be such amount as
the Board or Committee shall determine and designate in such Stock Award Agreement, but in no event shall the purchase price be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the 


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stock's
Fair Market Value on the date such award is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may determine that eligible participants in the Plan may be awarded stock pursuant
to a Stock Award Agreement in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit. 


        (b)   Transferability.    Stock bonuses, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards shall be transferable by
the grantee only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the applicable Stock Award Agreement, as the Board or the Committee shall determine in its discretion, so long as stock awarded
remains subject to the terms of the Stock Award Agreement. 


        (c)   Consideration.    The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to a stock purchase agreement shall be paid
either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, according to a deferred payment or other arrangement with the person to whom the stock
is sold; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board or the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee to
which administration of the Plan has been delegated may award stock bonuses and restricted stock bonus units in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit. 



        (d)   Vesting.    Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but need not, be subject to a repurchase option
in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the Committee. 


        (e)   Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or Consultant.    In the event a grantee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of stock held by that person which have not vested as of the date
of termination under the terms of the Stock Award Agreement between the Company and such person. 



        (f)    Restricted Stock Units.    The Administrator is authorized to make restricted stock awards denominated in units
of common stock on such terms and conditions and subject to such restrictions, if any, as the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be
set forth in the instrument evidencing the restricted stock unit award. The terms, conditions and restrictions that the Administrator shall have the power to determine shall include, without
limitation, the manner in which shares subject to restricted stock unit award are held during the periods they are subject to restrictions and the circumstances under which forfeiture of the
restricted stock unit award shall occur by reason of termination of the grantee's employment or service relationship. 


8.     STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  


        (a)   The Board or Committee shall have full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant Stock
Appreciation Rights under the Plan to Employees or Directors of or Consultants to, the Company or its Affiliates. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the holder must provide written
notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such right. Except as provided in subsection 5(c), no limitation shall exist on the
aggregate amount of cash payments the Company may make under the Plan in connection with the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right. 


        (b)   Three types of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be authorized for issuance under the Plan: 



        (1)   Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights.    Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights will be granted appurtenant to an Option,
and shall, except as specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains. Tandem Stock
Appreciation Rights will require the holder to elect between the exercise of the underlying Option for shares of stock and the surrender, in whole or in part, of such Option for an 



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appreciation
distribution. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Tandem Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair Market
Value on the date of the Option surrender) in an amount up to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value (on the date of the Option surrender) of the number of shares of stock covered by that
portion of the surrendered Option in which the Optionee is vested over (b) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested shares. 


        (2)   Concurrent Stock Appreciation Rights.    Concurrent Rights will be granted appurtenant to an Option and may
apply to all or any portion of the shares of stock subject to the underlying Option and shall, except as specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and conditions
applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains. A Concurrent Right shall be exercised automatically at the same time the underlying Option is exercised with respect to the particular
shares of stock to which the Concurrent Right pertains. The appreciation distribution payable on an exercised Concurrent Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares
of stock based on Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise of the Concurrent Right) in an amount equal to such portion as shall be determined by the Board or the Committee at the time of the
grant of the excess of (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Concurrent Right) of the vested shares of stock purchased under the underlying Option which have
Concurrent Rights appurtenant to them over (b) the aggregate exercise price paid for such shares. 


        (3)   Independent Stock Appreciation Rights.    Independent Rights will be granted independently of any Option and
shall, except as specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to Nonstatutory Stock Options as set forth in Section 6. They shall be
denominated in share equivalents. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Independent Right shall be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (a) the aggregate Fair
Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Independent Right) of a number of shares of Company stock equal to the number of share equivalents in which the holder is vested under such Independent
Right, and with respect to which the holder is exercising the Independent Right on such date, over (b) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the grant of the Independent Right) of
such number of shares of Company stock. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Independent Right shall be in cash or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based
on Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise of the Independent Right. 




9.     CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.  


        (a)   Subject to Section 9(c), the Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time
to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of the affected holders of Options and/or Stock
Appreciation Rights, the cancellation of any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options and/or Stock Appreciation
Rights under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares of stock, but having an exercise price per share not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value
(one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) or, in the case of a 10% shareholder (as described in subsection 5(b)) receiving a new grant of an
Incentive Stock Option, not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value) per share of stock on the new grant date. 



        (b)   Shares subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right canceled under this Section 9 shall continue to be counted
against the maximum award of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights permitted to be granted pursuant to subsection 5(c) of the Plan. The repricing of an Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right under
this Section 9, resulting in a reduction of the exercise price, shall be 


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deemed
to be a cancellation of the original Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right and the grant of a substitute Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right; in the event of such repricing, both the
original and the substituted Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against the maximum awards of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights permitted to be granted pursuant to subsection
5(c) of the Plan. The provisions of this subsection 9(b) shall be applicable only to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code. 


        (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or Committee will need shareholder approval prior to effecting the repricing of
any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan or the cancellation and re-granting under this Section 9 of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right. 



10.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.  


        (a)   During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of stock
required to satisfy such Stock Awards. 


        (b)   The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Stock Award; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities
Act either the Plan, any Stock Award or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission
or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue
and sell stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained. 


11.   USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.  



        Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company. 


12.   MISCELLANEOUS.  


        (a)   The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during
which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest pursuant to subsection 6(e), 7(d) or 8(b), notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or
the time during which it will vest. 


        (b)   Neither an Employee, Director or Consultant nor any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred under subsection 6(d),
7(b), or 8(b) shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such Stock Award unless and until such person has satisfied all
requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms. 


        (c)   Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee,
Director, Consultant or other holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall affect the right
of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any Employee with or without cause the right of the Company's Board of Directors and/or the Company's shareholders to remove any Director
as provided in the Company's Bylaws and the provisions of the California Corporations Code, or the right to terminate the relationship of any Consultant subject to the terms of such Consultant's
agreement with the Company or Affiliate. 


        (d)   To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during 


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any
calendar year under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in
which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. 



        (e)   The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is granted, or any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred
pursuant to subsection 6(d), 7(b) or 8(b), as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Stock Award, (1) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to such person's
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and
business matters, and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (2) to give written
assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such person is acquiring the stock subject to the Stock Award for such person's own account and not with any present intention of selling or
otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or
acquisition of stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a
determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the
Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to,
legends restricting the transfer of the stock. 


        (f)    To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the person to whom a Stock Award is granted may satisfy
any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock under a Stock Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such means:
(1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise issuable to the participant as a result of the exercise or
acquisition of stock under the Stock Award; or (3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock of the Company. 


13.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.  


        (a)   If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in
corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s) and maximum number of securities subject to
the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a) and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person during any calendar year pursuant to Section 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards
will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or the
Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company.)" 


        (b)   In the event of "Change in Control," unless otherwise determined by the Board or Committee at the time of grant, all
outstanding Stock Awards shall immediately become one hundred percent (100%) vested, and the Board shall notify all participants that their outstanding Stock Awards shall be fully exercisable for a
period of three (3) months (or such other period of time not exceeding six (6) months as is determined by the Board at the time of grant) from the date of such notice, and any
unexercised Stock Awards shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. 


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        "Change
in Control" means the consummation of any of the following transactions: 



        (1)   a merger or consolidation of Silicon Valley Bank (the "Bank") or Company with any other corporation, other than a merger
or consolidation which would result in beneficial owners of the total voting power in the election of directors represented by the voting securities ("Voting Securities") of the Bank or Company (as
the case may be) outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to beneficially own securities representing (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total Voting Securities of the Bank or the Company, or of such surviving entity, outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; 


        (2)   the filing of a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or the closing of the sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer or disposition by the Bank or Company of all or substantially all of the Bank's assets; 



        (3)   any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")), other than (a) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Bank or Company, (b) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by
the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their beneficial ownership of stock in the Company, or (c) the Company (with respect to the Company's' ownership of the
stock of the Bank), is or becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the securities of the Bank or the
Company representing 50% or more of the Voting Securities; or 


        (4)   any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than (a) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Bank or the Company, (b) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Bank, or (c) the Company (with respect to the Company's ownership of the stock of the Bank) is or becomes the beneficial owner (within
the meaning or Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the securities of the Bank or the Company representing 25% or more of the Voting Securities of such
corporation, and within twelve (12) months of the occurrence of such event, a change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company occurs as a result of which sixty percent (60%)
or fewer of the directors are Incumbent Directors. 




        "Incumbent
Directors" shall mean directors who either 




        (A)  are directors of the Company as of the date hereof; 


        (B)  are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors
of the Company who are Incumbent Directors described in (a) above at the time of such election or nomination; or 


        (C)  are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the directors
of the Company who are Incumbent Directors described in (a) or (b) above at the time of such election or nomination. 





        Notwithstanding
the foregoing, "Incumbent Directors" shall not include an individual whose election or nomination to the Board occurs in order to provide representation for a person or
group of related persons who have initiated or encouraged an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company. 


14.   AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.  


        (a)   The Board may amend, alter, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which
would impair the rights of an optionee under any Award 


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theretofore
granted without the optionee's or recipient's consent, except such an amendment made to cause the Plan to comply with applicable law, stock exchange rules or accounting rules. In addition,
no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company's shareholders to the extent such approval is required by law or agreement or if such amendment would: 



        (1)   Materially increase benefits accruing to participants under the Plan; 


        (2)   Increase the aggregate number of securities issued under the Plan; 


        (3)   Significantly modify the eligibility requirements for participants in the Plan; and 


        (4)   Reprice any Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Options. 




        (b)   The Board may amend the terms of any Stock Option or other Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively, but
no such amendment (a) shall cause a qualified award to cease to qualify for the Section 162(m) of the Code or (b) impair the rights of any holder without the holder's consent
except such an amendment made to cause the Plan or Award to qualify for any exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 or (c) modify the terms of any Stock Option or other Award in a
manner inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan. 


        (c)   Subject to the above provisions, the Board shall have the authority to amend the Plan to take into account changes in law
and tax and accounting rules as well as other developments, and to grant Awards which qualify for beneficial treatment under such rules without shareholder approval. 


15.   TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF PLAN.  


        (a)   The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on
December 18, 2006 which shall be within ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the shareholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. 


        (b)   Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or
termination of the Plan, except with the written consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was granted. 



16.   EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.  


        The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been
approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, and, if required, an appropriate permit
has been issued by the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California. 


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QuickLinks



EXHIBIT 10.15


1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN