Document:

Altera_2012Q2_10Q_Ex10.2

ALTERA CORPORATION 
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 
(as amended May 8, 2012) 
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Altera Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide incentives to attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential contributions are important to the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through awards of Options, Restricted Stock, Stock Bonuses, Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) and Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”). Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 26. 
2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. 
2.1 Number of Shares Available. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 21, 45,000,000 Shares are available for grant and issuance under the Plan plus any Shares remaining available for grant under the Company’s (i) 1998 Director Stock Option Plan and its (ii) 1996 Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “Prior Plans”) on the Effective Date (as defined below). Shares subject to Awards that are cancelled, forfeited, settled in cash or that expire by their terms, including Shares subject to Awards granted under the Prior Plans that are outstanding on the Effective Date, will be returned to the pool of Shares available for grant and issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that Shares: (i) tendered in payment of an Option or SAR, (ii) withheld from an Award to pay applicable taxes and (iii) repurchased by the Company using proceeds from Option exercises shall not be returned to the pool of Shares available for grant and issuance under the Plan.  Any Award other than an Option or a SAR shall reduce the number of Shares available for issuance by 2.25 Shares. Awards issued as an Option or a SAR shall reduce the number of Shares available for issuance by the number of Shares underlying the Award, regardless of the number of Shares actually issued upon exercise of the Award. No more than 3,000,000 Shares shall be issued as ISOs. The Company may issue Shares that are authorized but unissued shares pursuant to the Awards granted under the Plan. The Company will reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Awards granted under the Plan. 
2.2 Adjustment of Shares. If the number of outstanding Shares is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, without consideration, then (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance and future grant under the Plan set forth in Section 2.1; (b) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options and SARs; (c) the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards; (d) the maximum number of shares that may be issued as ISOs set forth in Section 2.1; and (e) the maximum number of shares that may be issued to an individual or to a new employee in any one fiscal year set forth in Section 3, will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided that fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be replaced by a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be rounded up to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee; and provided further that the Exercise Price of any Option or SAR may not be decreased to below the par value of the Shares. 
3. ELIGIBILITY. ISOs may be granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or Subsidiary. All other Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company or Subsidiary. The Committee (or its designee under 4.1(c)) will from time to time determine in its sole discretion and designate the eligible persons who will be granted Awards under the Plan. The Plan is discretionary in nature, and the grant of Awards by the Committee is voluntary and occasional. A person may be granted more than one Award under the Plan. However, no person will be eligible to receive more than 2,000,000 Shares issuable as Awards granted in any fiscal year, other than new employees of the Company or Subsidiary (including new employees who are also officers and directors of the Company or Subsidiary), who are eligible to receive up to a maximum of an additional 2,000,000 Shares issuable as Awards granted in the calendar year in which they commence their employment. 

4. ADMINISTRATION. 
4.1 Committee Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out the Plan. Without limiting the previous sentence, the Committee will have the authority to: 
 
	
			
	 
	(a)
	construe and interpret the Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document executed pursuant to the Plan;

 
	
			
	 
	(b)
	prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, including determining the forms and agreements used in connection with the Plan; provided that the Committee may delegate to the Company’s legal department the authority to approve revisions to the forms and agreements used in connection with the Plan that are designed to facilitate Plan administration, and that are not inconsistent with the Plan or with any resolutions of the Committee relating to the Plan;

 
	
			
	 
	(c)
	select persons to receive Awards; provided that the Committee may delegate to one or more Executive Officers (who would also be considered “officers” under Delaware law) the authority to grant an Award under the Plan to Participants who are not Insiders;

 
	
			
	 
	(d)
	determine the terms of Awards;

 
	
			
	 
	(e)
	determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to Awards;

 
	
			
	 
	(f)
	determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination, or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under the Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 
	
			
	 
	(g)
	grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions;

 
	
			
	 
	(h)
	determine the vesting, exercisability, transferability, and payment of Awards;

 
	
			
	 
	(i)
	correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;

 
	
			
	 
	(j)
	determine whether an Award has been earned;

 
	
			
	 
	(k)
	amend the Plan;

 
	
			
	 
	(l)
	to take any action consistent with the terms of the Plan, either before or after an Award has been granted, which it deems necessary or advisable to comply with any governmental laws or regulatory requirement of a foreign country, including, but not limited to, modifying or amending the terms and conditions governing any Awards or establishing any local country plans as sub-plans to this Plan; or

 
	
			
	 
	(m)
	make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

4.2 Committee Interpretation and Discretion. Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award shall be made in its sole discretion at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of the Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination shall be final and binding on the Company and all persons having an interest in any Award under the Plan. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be submitted by the Participant or Company to the Committee for review. The resolution of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant. The Committee may delegate to one or more Executive Officers the authority to review and resolve disputes with respect to Awards held by Participants who are not Insiders, and such resolution shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participant. 
 
5. OPTIONS. 
5.1 Grant of Options. The Committee may grant Options to Participants and will determine (a) whether the Options will be ISOs or NSOs; (b) the number of Shares subject to the Option, (c) the Exercise Price of the Option, (d) the period during which the Option may be exercised, (e) the vesting and exercisability of the Option and (f) all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the provisions of this Section 5 and the Plan. Options granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 10 hereof shall be governed by that Section. Each Option granted under the Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall expressly identify the Option as an ISO or NSO. The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant the Option, unless the Committee otherwise specifies a later date. 
5.2 Exercise Period; Expiration Date and Exercise. An Option will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement governing such Option and subject to Company policies established by the Committee (or by individuals to whom the Committee has delegated responsibility) from time to time. The Committee may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time, periodically or otherwise (including, without limitation, upon the attainment during a Performance Period of performance goals based on Performance Factors), in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares subject to the Option as the Committee determines. The Award Agreement shall set forth the Expiration Date; provided that no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the Option is granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date the Option is granted. 
5.3 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant; provided that the Exercise Price of any ISO granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. 
5.4 Vesting and Termination. 
(a) Vesting. Except as set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, any Option granted to a Participant will cease to vest on the Participant’s Termination Date. If the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Committee or as set forth in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate. 
(b) Post-Termination Exercise Period. Subject to Section 22.4, following a Participant’s Termination, the Participant’s Option may be exercised to the extent vested and exercisable as set forth below: 
(i) no later than 60 days after the Termination Date if a Participant is Terminated for any reason except death or Disability, unless a different period of time period is specifically set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement; provided that no Option may be exercised after the Expiration Date of the Option; or 
(ii) no later than twelve months after the Termination Date in the case of Termination due to Disability or death or if a Participant dies within 30 days of the Termination Date, unless a different time period is specifically set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement; provided that no Option may be exercised after the Expiration Date of the Option. 
5.5 Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan or under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not exceed $100,000. If the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the Options for the first $100,000 worth of Shares to become exercisable in that calendar year will be ISOs, and the Options for the Shares with a Fair Market Value in excess of $100,000 that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NSOs. If the Code is amended to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISOs, such different limit shall be automatically incorporated into the Plan and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of the Code’s amendment. 
5.6 Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions of Shares Acquired on Exercise of an ISO. If a Participant sells or otherwise disposes of any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO on or before the later of (a) the date two years after the Date of Grant, and (b) the date one year after the exercise of the ISO (in either case, a “Disqualifying Disposition”), the Company may require the Participant to immediately notify the Company in writing of such Disqualifying Disposition. 
5.7 No Disqualification. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs will be interpreted, amended or altered, and no discretion or authority granted under the Plan will be exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code or, without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under Section 422 of the Code. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered shall be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. 
6. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. 
6.1 Awards of Restricted Stock. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to a Participant Shares that are subject to restrictions. The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares the person may purchase, the Purchase Price, the restrictions under which the Shares will be subject and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award. A Participant accepts a Restricted Stock Award by signing and delivering to the Company an Award Agreement with full payment of the Purchase Price within 30 days from the date the Award Agreement was delivered to the Participant. If the Participant does not accept the Restricted Stock Award within 30 days, then the offer of the Restricted Stock Award will terminate, unless the Committee determines otherwise. Restricted Stock Awards will vest over a minimum of three years as measured from the date of grant. 
6.2 Purchase Price. The Purchase Price for a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee and may be less than Fair Market Value (but not less than the par value of the Shares) on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted. Payment of the Purchase Price must be made in accordance with Section 11 of the Plan and the Award Agreement, and in accordance with any procedures established by the Company. 
6.3 Termination. Except as set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, any Restricted Stock Award will cease to vest on the Participant’s Termination Date. 
7. STOCK BONUS AWARDS. 
7.1 Awards of Stock Bonuses. A Stock Bonus Award is an award to a Participant of Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units) for services to be rendered or for past services already rendered to the Company or any Subsidiary. No payment will be required for Shares awarded pursuant to a Stock Bonus Award. 
7.2 Form of Payment to Participant. The Stock Bonus Award shall be paid currently. Payment may be made in the form of cash, whole Shares, or a combination thereof, based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares earned under a Stock Bonus Award on the date of payment, and in either a lump sum payment or in installments, all as the Committee determines. 
7.3 Termination of Participant. Except as set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement, any Bonus Stock Award will cease to vest on the Participant’s Termination Date. 
 
8. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. 
8.1 Awards of SARs. A Stock Appreciation Right (“SAR”) is an award to a Participant that may be settled in cash, or Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock or RSUs), having a value equal to the value determined by multiplying the difference between the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Exercise Price and the number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is being settled. The SAR may be granted for services to be rendered or for past services already rendered to the Company, or any Subsidiary. 
8.2 Exercise Period and Expiration Date. A SAR will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement governing such SAR. The Award Agreement shall set forth the Expiration Date; provided that no SAR will be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date the SAR is granted. 
8.3 Exercise Price. The Committee will determine the Exercise Price of the SAR when the SAR is granted, and which may not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant and may be settled only in Shares. 
8.4 Termination. 
(a) Vesting. Any SAR granted to a Participant will cease to vest on the Participant’s Termination Date. In the event a Participant is Terminated as a result of such Participant’s Retirement, such Participant’s SARs shall, in the sole discretion of the Committee, accelerate vesting or continue to vest, continue to become exercisable, and may be exercised during such period of time as is determined by the Committee and as provided in the Award Agreement (but in no event may the SAR be exercised after the expiration date of the term of such SAR as set forth in the Award Agreement); if the Participant does not exercise his or her SAR within the time specified by the Committee or as set forth in the Award Agreement, the SAR shall terminate. 
(b) Post-Termination Exercise Period. Subject to Section 22.4, following a Participant’s Termination, the Participant’s SAR may be exercised to the extent vested and exercisable as set forth below: 
(i) no later than 60 days after the Termination Date if a Participant is Terminated for any reason except death or Disability, unless a different period of time period is specifically set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement; provided that no SAR may be exercised after the Expiration Date of the SAR; or 
(ii) no later than twelve months after the Termination Date in the case of Termination due to Disability or death or if a Participant dies within 30 days of the Termination Date, unless a different time period is specifically set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement; provided that no SAR may be exercised after the Expiration Date of the SAR. 
9. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. 
9.1 Awards of Restricted Stock Units. An RSU is an award to a Participant covering a number of Shares that may be settled in cash, or by issuance of those Shares for services to be rendered or for past services already rendered to the Company or any Subsidiary. RSUs will vest over a minimum of three years as measured from the date of grant. 
9.2 Form and Timing of Settlement. To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Committee may permit a Participant to defer payment under a RSU to a date or dates after the RSU is earned, provided that the terms of the RSU and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (or any successor) and any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder. Payment may be made in the form of cash or whole Shares or a combination thereof in a lump sum payment, all as the Committee determines. 
 
10. AWARD GRANTS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS. 
10.1 Eligibility. Non-Employee Directors are eligible to receive annual grants of any type of Award, except ISOs, offered under this Plan pursuant to this Section 10. Notwithstanding the  limitations set forth below in Section 10.2, Non-Employee Directors are also eligible to receive Awards pursuant to Sections 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 hereof. 
10.2 Initial Grant. Each Non-Employee Director upon first becoming a member of the Board may be granted, as determined by the Committee either (i) a combination of RSUs, Restricted Stock Awards, and/or Options representing up to a maximum number of Shares having an aggregate value equal to $300,000, with the aggregate number of Shares to be determined on the date of grant pursuant to a methodology in the Committee’s discretion, provided however, that for purposes of this 10.2(i), the Committee may not award Options if it does not also award either RSUs or Restricted Stock Awards, or (ii) a combination of Options and/or SARs representing up to a maximum aggregate number of 40,000 Shares.  
10.3 Succeeding Grant.  Each Non-Employee Director may be granted on an annual basis, as determined by the Committee either (i) a combination of RSUs, Restricted Stock Awards, and/or Options representing up to a maximum number of Shares having an aggregate value equal to $200,000, with the aggregate number of Shares to be determined on the date of grant pursuant to a methodology in the Committee’s discretion, provided however, that for purposes of this 10.3(i), the Committee may not award Options if it does not also award either RSUs or Restricted Stock Awards, or (ii) a combination of Options and/or SARs representing up to a maximum aggregate number of 20,000 Shares.   
10.4    Form and Timing of Settlement of RSUs.  To the extent permissible under applicable law, the Committee may permit a Non-Employee Director to defer payment under a RSU to a date or dates after the RSU is earned, provided that the terms of the RSU and any deferral satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (or any successor) and any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder.  Payment may be made in the form of cash or whole Shares or a combination thereof in a lump sum payment, all as the Committee determines. 
10.5 Vesting and Exercisability.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the vesting of all Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to this Section 10 will accelerate and such Awards will become exercisable (to the extent applicable) in full prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Awards are not exercised (to the extent applicable) on or prior to the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, they shall terminate. 
10.6 Post-Termination Exercise Period. Except as provided in Section 10.5 or this Section 10.5, each Option granted under this Section 10 shall expire ten years after its date of grant. The date on which the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board or a consultant of the Company shall be referred to as the “Non-Employee Director Termination Date” for purposes of this Section 10.5. An Option may be exercised after the Non-Employee Director Termination Date only as set forth below: 
(a) Termination Generally. If the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board or consultant of the Company for any reason except death, Disability or Non-Employee Director Retirement, then each Option, to the extent then vested and exercisable pursuant to Section 10.4 above, then held by such Non-Employee Director may be exercised by the Non-Employee Director within 60 days after the Non-Employee Director Termination Date, unless a different period of time is specifically set forth in the Non-Employee Director’s Award Agreement; provided that no Option may be exercised after its Expiration Date. 
 
(b) Death or Disability. If the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board or consultant of the Company because of his or her Disability or death, then each Option granted hereunder, to the extent then vested and exercisable, may be exercised no later than twelve months after the Termination Date in the case of Termination due to Disability or death or if a Participant dies within 30 days of the Termination Date, unless a longer time period is specifically set forth in the Participant’s Award Agreement; provided that no Option may be exercised after the Expiration Date of the Option. 
11. PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES. 
11.1 Payment. Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to the Plan may be made by any of the following methods (or any combination of such methods) that are described in the applicable Award Agreement and that are permitted by law: 
 
	
			
	 
	(a)
	in cash or cash equivalent (including by check);

 
	
			
	 
	(b)
	in the case of exercise by the Participant, a Participant’s guardian or legal representative or the authorized legal representative of a Participant’s heirs or legatees after a Participant’s death, by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant;

 
	
			
	 
	(c)
	by surrender of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that either: (1) were obtained by the Participant or Authorized Transferee in the public market; or (2) if the shares were not obtained in the public market, they have been owned by the Participant or Authorized Transferee for more than six months and have been paid for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144;

 
	
			
	 
	(d)
	in the case of exercise by the Participant, Participant’s guardian or legal representative or the authorized legal representative of a Participant’s heirs or legatees after a Participant’s death, by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered;

 
	
			
	 
	(e)
	with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option, and provided that a public market for the Shares exists:

 
	
			
	 
	(1)
	through a “same day sale” commitment from the Participant or Authorized Transferee and an NASD Dealer meeting the requirements of the Company’s “same day sale” procedures and in accordance with law; or

 
	
			
	 
	(2)
	through a “margin” commitment from the Participant or Authorized Transferee and an NASD Dealer meeting the requirements of the Company’s “margin” procedures and in accordance with law.

11.2 Issuance of Shares. Upon payment of the applicable Purchase Price or Exercise Price and compliance with other conditions and procedures established by the Company for the purchase of Shares, the Company shall issue the Shares registered in the name of the Participant or Authorized Transferee and shall deliver certificates representing the Shares (in physical or electronic form, as appropriate). The Shares may be subject to legends or other restrictions as described in Section 15 of the Plan. 
12. WITHHOLDING TAXES. 
12.1 Withholding Generally. Whenever Shares are to be issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under the Plan, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy minimum federal, state, local and foreign income or social security tax withholding requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate(s) for the Shares. If a payment in satisfaction of an Award is to be made in cash, the payment will be net of an amount sufficient to minimum satisfy federal, state, local and foreign income or social security tax withholding requirements. 
 
12.2 Stock Withholding. When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs income or social security tax liability in connection with the grant, exercise, vesting or payment of any Award that is subject to income or social security tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued that number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in accordance with the requirements established by the Committee and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee. 
13. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. No Participant or Authorized Transferee will have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant or Authorized Transferee. After Shares are issued to the Participant or Authorized Transferee, the Participant or Authorized Transferee will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares including the right to vote and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if the Shares are Restricted Stock, any new, additional or different securities the Participant or Authorized Transferee may become entitled to receive with respect to the Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same restrictions as the Restricted Stock; provided further, that the Participant or Authorized Transferee will have no right to retain such dividends or distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participant’s original Exercise Price or Purchase Price pursuant to Section 15. 
14. TRANSFERABILITY. As may be permitted by the Committee (and to the extent permitted by applicable law and the terms of the Award Agreement), a Participant may transfer an Award to an Authorized Transferee. Absent such permission, no Award and no interest therein, shall be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and no Award may be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process. 
15. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES. At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award documentation a right to repurchase all or a portion of a Participant’s Shares that are not “Vested” (as defined in the Award documentation), following the Participant’s Termination, at any time within ninety days after the later of (a) the Participant’s Termination Date or (b) the date the Participant purchases Shares under the Plan, for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness with respect to Shares, at the Participant’s original Exercise Price or Purchase Price; provided that upon assignment of the right to repurchase, the assignee must pay the Company cash equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares over the original Purchase Price. 
16. CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan (whether in physical or electronic form, as appropriate) will be subject to stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions that the Committee deems necessary or advisable, including without limitation restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may be listed. 
17. ESCROW. To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other transfer instruments approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company, to hold in escrow until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. 
18. SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. An Award shall not be effective unless the Award is in compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under the Plan prior to (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable, and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares under any state, federal or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company shall be under no obligation to register the Shares with the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state, federal or foreign securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company shall have no liability for any inability or failure to do so. 
19. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY. Nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship with, the Company or any Subsidiary or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate a Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause, as applicable laws allow. 
20. REPRICING PROHIBITED; EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS. The repricing of Options or SARs is prohibited without prior stockholder approval. The Committee may authorize the Company, with prior stockholder approval and the consent of the respective Participants, to issue new Option or SAR Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards. With prior stockholder approval, the Committee may at any time buy from a Participant an Option previously granted with payment in cash, Shares or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and the Participant shall agree, provided that if payment is in cash, the Committee may buy only an Option where the Fair Market Value of the Shares exceeds the Exercise Price. 
21. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS. 
21.1 Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor. In the event of a Corporate Transaction any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption or replacement shall be binding on all Participants. In the alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards). The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the event such successor corporation, if any, refuses to assume or replace the Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a Corporate Transaction or if there is no successor corporation due to a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, such Awards shall immediately vest as to 100% of the Shares subject thereto at such time and on such conditions as the Board shall determine and the Awards shall expire at the closing of the transaction or at the time of dissolution or liquidation. 
21.2 Other Treatment of Awards. Subject to any greater rights granted to Participants under Section 21.1, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, any outstanding Awards shall be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation or sale of assets. 
21.3 Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company, from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either (a) granting an Award under the Plan in substitution of such other company’s award, or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under the Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under the Plan. Such substitution or assumption shall be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under the Plan if the other company had applied the rules of the Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award shall remain unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of Shares issuable upon exercise of any such option will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to grant a new Option rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price. Shares subject to Awards granted to substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by another company in connection with an acquisition shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under Section 2.1 of the Plan. 
 
22. OTHER PROVISIONS. 
22.1 Distribution of Award Agreements and Plan. The Award Agreement, Plan and other documents may be delivered in any manner (including electronic distribution or posting) that meets applicable legal requirements. 
22.2 Form of Award Agreement(s). Each Award granted under the Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which will be in substantially a form (which need not be the same for each Participant) that the Committee or an officer of the Company (pursuant to Section 4.1(b)) has from time to time approved, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
22.3 Procedures for Exercising or Settling an Award. A Participant or Authorized Transferee may exercise or settle Awards by following the procedures established by the Company’s stock administration department, as communicated and made available to Participants through the Company’s electronic mail system, intranet site or otherwise. 
22.4 Black-out Periods and Post-Termination Exercisability. In the event a Participant is prevented from exercising an Option or selling Shares or the Company is unable to settle an Award due to any trading restrictions currently in effect with respect to the Company’s Shares at the time of such Participant’s Termination or during any post-termination exercise period, then any post-termination exercise period shall be paused until such trading restriction lapses. 
22.5 Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option or SAR; provided that the minimum number will not prevent a Participant from exercising an Option or SAR for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable. An Option or a SAR may only be exercised by the personal representative of a Participant or an Authorized Transferee or by the person or persons to whom a Participant’s rights under the Option or SAR shall pass by such person’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution of the state of such person’s domicile at the time of death, and then only as and to the extent that such person was entitled to exercise the Option or SAR on the date of death. 
22.6 Terms of Awards. The Committee will determine an Award’s terms, including, without limitation: (a) the number of Shares deemed subject to the Award; (b) the time or times during which the Award may be exercised and (c) such other terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. Awards may be subject to performance goals based on Performance Factors during any Performance Period as may be set out in advance in the Participant’s Award Agreement. The Committee may adjust the performance goals applicable to Awards to take into account changes in law and accounting and to make such adjustments as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances. 
22.7 Treatment of Awards Upon Retirement. Upon a Participant’s Retirement, and as determined by the Committee (and as evidenced in the Award Agreement), Awards granted to such Participant may accelerate, continue to vest, provide for an extended period of time in which to exercise an Award upon Termination or contain such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate. 
23. ADOPTION, STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL AND TERM. The Plan was adopted by the Board on March 8, 2005. The Plan shall become effective upon approval by stockholders of the Company, consistent with applicable laws. The Plan will terminate ten years following the earlier of (i) the date it was adopted by the Board or (ii) the date it became effective upon approval by stockholders of the Company, unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 24. 
24. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN AND AWARDS. The Board may at any time terminate, amend or suspend the Plan in any respect, including without limitation amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Board nor the Committee shall, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, amend the Plan in any manner that requires such stockholder approval pursuant to the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder as such provisions apply to ISO plans, or pursuant to the Exchange Act or any rule promulgated thereunder. The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards and authorize the grant of Awards in substitution thereof; provided that any such action (including any amendment to the Plan) may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of a Participant’s rights under any Award previously granted. 
25. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN; UNFUNDED PLAN. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of the Plan shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options and bonuses otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company nor the Board shall be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Awards made pursuant to the Plan. Neither the Company, the Committee, nor the Board shall be deemed to be a trustee of any amounts to be paid under the Plan. 
26. DEFINITIONS. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 
(a) “Authorized Transferee” means the permissible recipient, as authorized by this Plan and the Committee, of an NSO that is transferred during the Participant’s lifetime by the Participant by gift or domestic relations order. For purposes of this definition a “permissible recipient” is: (i) a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of the Participant, including any such person with such relationship to the Participant by adoption; (ii) any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the Participant’s household; (iii) a trust in which the persons in (i) or (ii) have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest; (iv) a foundation in which the persons in (i) or (ii) or the Participant control the management of assets; or (v) any other entity in which the person in (i) or (ii) or the Participant own more than fifty percent of the voting interest. 
(b) “Award” means any award under the Plan, including any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Stock Bonus. 
(c) “Award Agreement” means, with respect to each Award, the written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the Award. 
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
(e) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(f) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board and such other committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, including, without limitation, the Stock Option Committee. 
(g) “Company” means Altera Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor corporation. 
(h) “Corporate Transaction” means (a) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company and the Awards granted under the Plan are assumed or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption shall be binding on all Participants), (b) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (c) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, (d) a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger (other than any stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls another corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity interest in the Company; or (e) any other transaction which qualifies as a “corporate transaction” under Section 424(a) of the Code wherein the stockholders of the Company give up all of their equity interest in the Company (except for the acquisition, sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of the Company). 
 
 (i) “Disability” means a disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. 
(j) “Effective Date” means the date stockholders approve the Plan pursuant to Section 22 of the Plan. 
(k) “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(l) “Executive Officer” means a person who is an “executive officer” of the Company as defined in Rule 3b-7 promulgated under the Exchange Act. 
(m) “Exercise Price” means the price at which a Participant who holds an Option or SAR may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or SAR. 
(n) “Expiration Date” means the last date on which an Option or SAR may be exercised as determined by the Committee. 
(o) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock determined as follows: 
 
	
			
	 
	(1)
	if such Common Stock is then quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, its closing price on the NASDAQ National Market on such date;

 
	
			
	 
	(2)
	if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price on such date or, if no such reported sale takes place on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading;

 
	
			
	 
	(3)
	if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted on the NASDAQ National Market nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such date, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, for the over-the-counter market; or

 
	
			
	 
	(4)
	if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Board of Directors in good faith.

(p) “Insider” means an officer or director of the Company or any other person whose transactions in the Company’s Common Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. 
(q) “ISO” means an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of the Code. 
(r) “NSO” means a nonqualified stock option that does not qualify as an ISO. 
(s) “Option” means an Award pursuant to Section 5 or, in the case of a Non-Employee Director, Section 10 of the Plan. 
(t) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Company’s Board of Directors who is not a current employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. 
(u) “Participant” means a person who receives an Award under the Plan. 
(v) “Performance Factors” include, but are not limited to, some or all of the factors selected by the Committee from among the measures below to determine whether performance goals established by the Committee and applicable to Awards have been satisfied: 
 
	
			
	 
	(1)
	Net revenue and/or net revenue growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(2)
	Earnings before income taxes and amortization and/or earnings before income taxes and amortization growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(3)
	Operating income and/or operating income growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(4)
	Net income and/or net income growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(5)
	Earnings per share and/or earnings per share growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(6)
	Total stockholder return and/or total stockholder return growth;

 
	
			
	 
	(7)
	Return on equity;

 
	
			
	 
	(8)
	Operating cash flow return on income;

 
	
			
	 
	(9)
	Adjusted operating cash flow return on income;

 
	
			
	 
	(10)
	Economic value added; and

 
	
			
	 
	(11)
	Individual business objectives.

(w) “Performance Period” means the period of service determined by the Committee, not to exceed five years, during which years of service or performance is to be measured for the Award. 
(x) “Purchase Price” means the price to be paid for Shares acquired under the Plan, other than Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option or SAR. 
(y) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Shares pursuant to Section 6 or, in the case of a Non-Employee Director, Section 10 of the Plan. 
(z) “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 9 or, in the case of a Non-Employee Director, Section 10 of the Plan. 
(aa) “Retirement” means that the Committee has deemed a Participant retired within the meaning of the applicable retirement policy applicable to Awards as determined from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board. 
(bb) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 
(cc) “Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 
(dd) “Shares” means shares of the Company’s Common Stock $0.01 par value, reserved for issuance under the Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and 21, and any successor security. 
(ee) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 8 or, in the case of a Non-Employee Director, Section 10 of the Plan. 
(ff) “Stock Bonus” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan. 
(gg) “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of granting of the Award, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. 
(gg) “Ten Percent Stockholder” means any person who directly or by attribution owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. 
 
 (ii) “Termination” or “Terminated” means, for purposes of the Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has ceased to provide services as an employee, director, consultant, independent contractor or adviser to the Company or a Subsidiary; provided that a Participant shall not be deemed to be Terminated if the Participant is on a Company approved leave of absence; and provided further, that during any Company approved leave of absence, vesting of Awards shall be suspended or continue in accordance with applicable Company policies. Subject to the foregoing, the Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant ceased to provide services (the “Termination Date”); further, the Termination Date will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law. 
 

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00020081.docAltera_2012Q2_10Q_Ex10.3

 

ALTERA CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT 
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(U.S. FORM)

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in Altera’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) shall have the same defined meanings in this Award Agreement (the “Agreement”).  

You have been granted an option to purchase Shares (the “Option”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Stock Option Grant (“Notice of Grant”) and this Agreement.
        
1.    Vesting Rights.  Subject to the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, this Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant.

2.    Termination Period.

(a)    General Rule.  Except as provided below, and subject to Section 22.4 of the Plan, this Option may be exercised for 90 days after termination of Participant's employment with the Company.  In no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date set forth in the Notice of Grant.

(b)    Death; Disability.  Upon the termination of Participant’s employment with the Company by reason of his or her Disability or death, or if a Participant dies within 30 days of the Termination Date, this Option may be exercised for twelve months after the Termination Date, provided that in no event shall this Option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date set forth in the Notice of Grant.

3.    Grant of Option.  The Participant named in the Notice of Grant has been granted an Option for the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Exercise Price”).  Subject to Section 24 of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.

If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.  However, if this Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d) it shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).

4.    Exercise of Option.

(a)    Right to Exercise.  This Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Grant and the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement.  In the event of Participant’s death, Disability or other termination of Participant's employment relationship, the exercisability of the Option is governed by the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Agreement.

(b)    Cessation of Vesting Due to Employee Schedule Change.  In the event an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, who is regularly scheduled to work twenty (20) hours or more per week, voluntarily chooses (i.e., other than for reasons protected by law) to reduce his or her work schedule with the Company to fewer than twenty (20) hours per week, the Shares subject to the Option shall cease to vest during the period of time in which such employee regularly maintains such a schedule.  Shares subject to the Option shall begin to vest again once such employee is regularly scheduled to work twenty (20) hours or more per week.  The Committee shall make the determination as to when vesting 

U.S. Award Agreement (Options)

 

shall cease or begin again.  The Committee may, in its discretion, permit Shares subject to the Option to continue to vest during the time that such employee is regularly scheduled to work fewer than (20) hours per week.

(c)    Method of Exercise.  This Option is exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice (the “Exercise Notice”), which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.  The Exercise Notice shall be delivered in person, by mail, via electronic mail or facsimile or by other authorized method to the Secretary of the Company or other person designated by the Company.  The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares.  This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate Exercise Price.

No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless such issuance and exercise complies with all relevant provisions of law and the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation service upon which the Shares are then listed.  Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Exercised Shares shall be considered transferred to the Participant on the date the Option is exercised with respect to such Exercised Shares.

5.    Method of Payment.  Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Participant:

(a)    cash; or

(b)    check; or

(c)    “same day sale” (as described in Section 11(e)(1) of the Plan); or

(d)    surrender of other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares; or

(e)    other method authorized by the Company.

6.    Non-Transferability of Option.  This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or court order and may be exercised during the lifetime of Participant only by the Participant.  The terms of the Plan and this Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Participant. 

7.    Term of Option.  This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Notice of Grant, the Plan and the terms of this Agreement.

8.    U.S. Tax Consequences.  For Participants subject to U.S. income tax, some of the federal and California tax consequences relating to this Option, as of the date of this Option, are set forth below.  All other Participants should consult a tax advisor for tax consequences relating to this Option in their respective jurisdiction.  THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.  THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE SHARES.

(a)    Exercising the Option.

#PageNum#

 

(i)    Nonstatutory Stock Option.  The Participant may incur regular federal income tax and California income tax liability upon exercise of a NSO.  The Participant will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price.  If the Participant is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required to withhold from his or her compensation or collect from Participant and pay to the applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

(ii)    Incentive Stock Option.  If this Option qualifies as an ISO, the Participant will have no regular federal income tax or California income tax liability upon its exercise, although the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of the Exercised Shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price will be treated as an adjustment to alternative minimum taxable income for federal tax purposes and may subject the Participant to alternative minimum tax in the year of exercise.  

(b)    Disposition of Shares.  

(i)    NSO.  If the Participant holds NSO Shares for at least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.

(ii)    ISO.  If the Participant holds ISO Shares for at least one year after exercise and two years after the grant date, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.  If the Participant disposes of ISO Shares within one year after exercise or two years after the grant date, any gain realized on such disposition will be treated as compensation income (taxable at ordinary income rates) to the extent of the excess, if any, of the lesser of (A) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Shares acquired on the date of exercise and the aggregate Exercise Price, or (B) the difference between the sale price of such Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price.

(c)    Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares.  If the Participant sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to an ISO on or before the later of (i) two years after the grant date, or (ii) one year after the exercise date, the Participant shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.  The Participant agrees that he or she may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized from such early disposition of ISO Shares by payment in cash or out of the current earnings paid to the Participant.

9.    Entire Agreement; Governing Law.  The Plan is incorporated herein by reference.  The Plan, the Notice of Grant, and this Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Participant's interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Participant.  This agreement is governed by California law except for that body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.

10.    NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.  PARTICIPANT UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT HIS OR HER EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES IS FOR AN UNSPECIFIED DURATION AND CONSTITUTES “AT-WILL” EMPLOYMENT.  PARTICIPANT ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING SERVICE AS AN EMPLOYEE AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER).  PARTICIPANT FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING 

U.S. Award Agreement (Options)

 

SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH PARTICIPANT’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S AND/OR SUBSIDIARY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE PARTICIPANT’S EMPLOYMENT AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

By your signature and the signature of the Company’s representative on the Notice of Grant, you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant, and this Agreement.  Participant has reviewed the Plan, the Notice of Grant, and this Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing the Notice of Grant, and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, the Notice of Grant, and this Agreement.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Committee upon any questions relating to the Plan, the Notice of Grant, and the Agreement.  Participant further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated on the Notice of Grant.

#PageNum#

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