Document:

Exempt Employee Letter Agreement - David Torre

 EXHIBIT 10.23 
 T-SPAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION 
 EXEMPT EMPLOYEE LETTER AGREEMENT 
 December 30th, 1999 
 Dear Mr. David Torre: 
 On behalf of T-Span Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), I am pleased to extend
you an offer to join the Company. This letter sets forth the basic terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. We would like you to begin your employment with the Company on a date to be mutually agreed upon, but no later than
February 1st , 2000. By signing this letter, you will be agreeing to these terms. It is important that you understand clearly both what your
benefits are and what is expected of you by the Company. 
  

	1.	Salary. You will be paid an annual base salary of $175,000, less regular payroll deductions, which covers all hours worked. Generally, your salary will be reviewed annually
but the Company reserves the right to change your compensation from time to time on reasonable notice. In addition, you will receive a $15,000 signing bonus. 

  

	2.	Stock Option. You will receive an option to purchase 135,000 shares of the common stock of the Company. The option will vest over a period of four (4) years with a
one-year cliff. 

  

	3.	Duties. Your job title will be VP of Administration and Controller. Your responsibilities will include all financial planning, policies, and controls as well as
administrative functions such as legal, HR, MIS/telecom and purchasing, but you may be assigned other duties as needed and your duties may change from time to time on reasonable notice, based on the needs of the Company and your skills, as
determined by the Company. 

 As an exempt employee, you are required to exercise your specialized expertise, independent
judgment and discretion to provide high-quality services. You are required to follow office policies and procedures adopted from time to time by the Company and to take such general direction as you may be given from time to time by your superiors.
The Company reserves the right to change these policies and procedures at any time. (Also see Adjustments and Changes in Employment Status). You are required to devote your full energies, efforts and abilities to your employment, unless The Company
expressly agrees otherwise. You are not permitted to engage in any business activity that competes with the Company. 
  

	4.	Hours of Work. As an exempt employee, you are expected to work the number of hours required to get the job done. However, you are generally expected to be present during
normal working hours of the Company. Normal working hours will be established by the Company and may be changed as needed to meet the needs of the business. 

  

	5.	Adjustments and Changes in Employment Status. You understand that the Company reserves the right to make personnel decisions regarding your employment, including but not
limited to decisions regarding any promotion, salary adjustment, transfer or disciplinary action, up to and including termination, consistent with the needs of the business. 

  

	6.	Proprietary Information Agreement. You will be required to sign and abide by the terms of the enclosed proprietary information agreement, which is incorporated into this
agreement by reference as Exhibit A. 

  

	7.	Immigration Documentation. Please be advised that your employment is contingent on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company.
You must comply with the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s employment verification requirements. 

  

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	8.	Representation and Warranty of Employee. You represent and warrant to the Company that the performance of your duties will not violate any agreements with or trade secrets of
any other person or entity. 

  

	9.	Employee Benefits. You will be eligible for paid vacation, sick leave and holidays. You will be provided with health insurance benefits and dental insurance benefits, as
provided in our benefit plans. These benefits may change from time to time. You will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and State Disability Insurance, as required by state law. 

  

	10.	Term of Employment. Your employment with the Company is “at-will.” In other words, either you or the Company can terminate your employment at any time for any
reason, with or without cause and with or without notice. 

 If you are terminated without cause, you will receive two
weeks’ notice or two weeks’ pay in lieu of notice. Termination for cause requires no notice and no additional pay. 
  

	11.	Dispute Resolution Procedure. Subject to Subparagraph (e) of this Section, you and the Company (“the parties”) agree that any dispute arising out of or related
to the employment relationship between them, including the termination of that relationship and any allegations of unfair or discriminatory treatment arising under state or federal law or otherwise, shall be resolved by final and binding
arbitration, except where the law specifically forbids the use of arbitration as a final and binding remedy. The following dispute resolution procedure shall apply: 

  

	 	(a)	The party claiming to be aggrieved shall furnish to the other party a written statement of the grievance identifying any witnesses or documents that support the grievance and the
relief requested or proposed. 

  

	 	(b)	The responding party shall furnish a statement of the relief, if any, that it is willing to provide, and the witnesses or documents that support its position as to the appropriate
action. The parties can mutually agree to waive this step. If the matter is not resolved at this step, the parties shall submit the dispute to nonbinding mediation before a mediator to be jointly selected by the parties. The Company will pay the
cost of the mediation. 

  

	 	(c)	If the mediation does not produce a resolution of the dispute, the parties agree that the dispute shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration. The parties shall attempt to
agree to the identity of an arbitrator, and, if they are unable to do so, they will obtain a list from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and select an arbitrator by striking names from that list. 

 The arbitrator shall have the authority to determine whether the conduct complained of in paragraph (a) of this section violates the rights of the
complaining party and, if so, to grant any relief authorized by law; provided, however, the parties agree, that for violations of the employee’s trade secret obligations, the Company retains the right to seek preliminary injunctive relief in
court in order to preserve the status quo or prevent irreparable injury before the matter can be heard in arbitration. The arbitrator shall not have the authority to modify, change or refuse to enforce the terms of any employment agreement between
the parties. In addition, the arbitrator shall not have the authority to require the Company to change any lawful policy or benefit plan. 
 The hearing shall be transcribed. The Company shall bear the costs of the arbitration if the employee prevails. If the Company prevails, the employee will pay half the cost of the arbitration or $500, whichever is less. Each party shall be
responsible for paying its own attorneys fees. 
 Subject to subparagraph (e) of this Section, arbitration shall be the exclusive
final remedy for any dispute between the parties, including but not limited to disputes involving claims for discrimination or harassment (such as claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, or the Age 

  

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Discrimination in Employment Act), wrongful termination, breach of contract, breach of public policy, physical or mental harm or distress or any other
disputes, and the parties agree that no dispute shall be submitted to arbitration where the party claiming to be aggrieved has not complied with the preliminary steps provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above. 
 The parties agree that the arbitration award shall be enforceable in any court having jurisdiction to enforce this Agreement, so long as the
arbitrator’s findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence on the whole and the arbitrator has not made errors of law. 
  

	 	(d)	The company reserves the right to modify, change or cancel this provision upon 30 days written notice. However, such cancellation shall not affect matters which have already been
submitted to arbitration. 

  

	 	(e)	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, either party may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction located in or serving Santa Clara County regarding
or relating to matters involving the Company’s Proprietary Information. 

  

	12.	Integrated Agreement. Please note that this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements, representations or promises of any kind, whether written, oral, express or implied
between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matters herein. It constitutes the full, complete and exclusive agreement between you and the Company with respect to the subject matters herein. This agreement cannot be changed unless in
writing, signed by you and the President. 

  

	13.	Severability. If any term of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in
no way be affected; and, the parties shall use their best efforts to find an alternative way to achieve the same result. 

 We
look forward to your joining our organization. In order to confirm your agreement with and acceptance of these terms, please sign one copy of this letter and return it to me. The other copy is for your records. If there is any matter in this letter
which you wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to speak to me. 
  

			
	 Very truly yours,
  
 T-SPAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

		
	By:	 	/s/ Richard Redelfs
	Title:	 	Chief Executive Officer

 I agree to the terms of employment set forth in this Agreement. 
  

							
				
	 /s/ David Torre
	 		 	1/3/00	 	 
	David Torre	 		 	Date	 	

  

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 EXHIBIT A 
 EMPLOYEE’S PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS AGREEMENT 
  

 4Severance and Change in Control Agreement - David Torre

 EXHIBIT 10.24 
 SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT 
 David Torre 
 Address on File 
 Dear David: 
 This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (this “Agreement”) amends the employment letter agreement dated December 30, 1999 (the “Prior Agreement”), by and between Atheros Communications,
Inc. (the “Company”) and you. This Agreement supersedes any provisions in the Prior Agreement relating to severance payments and benefits, including payments and benefits upon termination in the event of a change in control of the Company.

 Severance. If the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause (as defined below) prior to a Change of Control (as
defined below) or more than 12 months following a Change of Control, and provided that you sign and do not revoke within the time period specified by the Company a standard release of claims in a form mutually acceptable to the Company and you, then
you will receive the following: (a) a lump sum severance payment within 30 days following your termination equal to six months of your base salary at the highest rate in effect during your employment with the Company, and (b) if you
properly elect to continue the Company’s group health plan coverage under COBRA, the continuation of your health coverage for you and your enrolled dependents at no cost to you for six months following the effective date of termination. You
will be able to continue your health benefits beyond six months at your own expense as allowed under the Company’s health plans. 
 Change In Control: In the event of a Change of Control (as defined below), if your employment is terminated without Cause (as defined below) or you terminate your employment for Good Reason (as defined below), in either case within
12 months following the Change of Control, and provided that you sign and do not revoke within the time period specified by the Company (or its successor) a standard release of claims in a form mutually acceptable to the Company (or its successor)
and you, then you shall receive the following: (a) a lump sum severance payment within 30 days following your termination equal to 12 months of your base salary at the highest rate in effect during your employment with the Company; (b) if
you properly elect to continue the Company’s group health plan coverage under COBRA, continuation by the Company (or its successor) of your health coverage for you and your enrolled dependents at no cost to you for 12 months following the
effective date of termination (you will be able to continue your health benefits beyond 12 months at your own expense as allowed under the Company’s health plans); (c) if not already paid to you at the time of termination, your earned cash
incentive bonus under the Company’s bonus plan in effect for the calendar year immediately prior to the termination, as determined by the Board of Directors, payable at the time of termination or the time at which the Board of Directors has
determined the amount of the bonus, whichever is later; (d) your baseline target annual cash incentive bonus under the Company’s bonus plan in effect during the calendar year of the termination, pro rated for the portion of the then
current calendar year prior to the date of termination, payable within 30 days after the date of your termination; and (e) all of your unvested stock options and restricted stock units granted by the Company to you prior to the Change of
Control and that have been assumed or substituted by the acquiring company, shall become fully vested as of the date of termination, and (f) the period in which vested stock options may be exercised will be extended to the earlier of one year
following your termination date or the original expiration date of the option grant. 

 “Change of Control” means: (a) any merger, acquisition or similar transaction or series of
related transactions in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated, (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (c) any reverse merger or acquisition in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s outstanding voting stock is
transferred to holders different from those who held the stock immediately prior to such merger. 
 “Cause” means
(a) intentional and material dishonesty in the performance of your duties for the Company; (b) conduct (including conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony) which has a direct and material adverse effect on the Company or its
reputation; (c) failure to materially perform your reasonable duties or comply with your obligations under this Agreement or the Company’s Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement after receipt of written notice
specifying the failure, if you do not remedy that failure within 10 business days of receipt of written notice from the Company, which notice will state that failure to remedy such conduct may result in termination for Cause; or (d) an
incurable material breach of the Company’s Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement, including, without limitation, theft or other misappropriation of the Company’s proprietary information. 
 “Good Reason” means (a) any material reduction in your authorities, duties or responsibilities not approved in writing by you; provided,
however, that any reduction in your authorities, duties or responsibilities occurring in connection with a Change in Control of the Company shall not constitute either Good Reason or a constructive termination of your employment; (b) any
material reduction in your then current base salary plus target bonus opportunity compensation; or (c) any requirement that your principal place of work for the Company be relocated more than 50 miles from its then current location.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a termination shall not be considered to be for “Good Reason” unless you notify the Company of the existence of the condition constituting Good Reason within 90 days following the initial existence thereof,
the Company fails to remedy the condition within 30 days following the receipt of such notice, and you terminate employment within 120 days following the initial existence of such condition. 
 All payments and benefits under this Agreement shall be subject to applicable withholding taxes. 
 Section 409A: 
  

	 	•	 	 If, as of the date of your “separation from service” from the Company, you are a “specified employee” (each, for purposes of this Agreement,
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and the guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”)), then each payment under this Agreement that would otherwise be paid within the
six-month period following your “separation from service” shall not be paid until the date that is six months and one day after such separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of your death), with any such payment that is required
to be delayed being accumulated during the six-month period and paid in a lump sum on the date that is six months and one day following your separation from service and subsequent payments, if any, being paid in accordance with the dates and terms
set forth herein; provided, however, that the preceding provisions of this sentence shall not apply to any payments if and to the maximum extent that such payments are excluded from the definition of nonqualified deferred compensation subject to
Section 409A, or can otherwise be paid during such six-month period without violating the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2) under applicable guidance under Section 409A. Such payments shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to
the prime rate as set forth in the Eastern edition of the Wall Street Journal on the date of termination, from the date of termination to the date of payment. 

  

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	 	•	 	 Your date of termination for purposes of determining the date that any payment that is treated as nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A is to
be paid or provided (or in determining whether an exemption to such treatment applies), shall be the date on which you have incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of applicable Treasury Department or Internal Revenue
Service guidance under Section 409A. 

 Section 280G: 
 In the event that any benefits payable to you pursuant to this Agreement (“Termination Benefits”) (i) constitute “parachute
payments” within the meaning of the Code, and (ii) but for this paragraph would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then your Termination Benefits shall be reduced to such
lesser amount which would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax. Unless the Company and you otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this paragraph shall be made in writing in good faith by a
nationally recognized accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accountants”). In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, benefits shall be reduced in the order which results in the greatest economic benefit to you. For
purposes of making the calculations required by this paragraph, the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the
Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and you shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this paragraph. The Company shall bear
the cost of all fees the Accountants charge in connection with any calculations contemplated by this paragraph. 
 Nothing in this Agreement
shall alter the at-will nature of your employment or provide an obligation express or implied for the payment of severance except as expressly provided herein. 
 Except as amended hereby, all other terms and conditions of the Prior Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. This Agreement and the Prior Agreement constitute the complete and entire agreement among the
parties relating to the subject matter thereof, and there are no prior or contemporaneous oral or written representations, promises or agreements not expressly set forth therein. This Agreement may not be modified in any respect except by a writing
dated and signed by the parties hereto. 
  

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 In order to confirm your agreement with and acceptance of the foregoing provisions of this Agreement,
please sign one copy of this letter and return it to Sharon Thompson. The other copy is for your records. 
  

			
	 Very truly yours,
  
 ATHEROS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

		
	By:	 	/s/ Sharon Thompson
	Title:	 	Vice President Global Human Resources

 The undersigned agrees to the amendment of the Prior Agreement set forth in this Severance and Change in
Control Agreement. 
  

							
				
	 /s/ David Torre
	 		 	02/12/2009	 	 
	David Torre	 		 	Date	 	

  

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