Document:

Registrant's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan

 
Exhibit 10.08

 
VERISIGN, INC. 
 
2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 
 
As Adopted January 26, 2001 
and Amended Effective November 22, 2002 
 
1. PURPOSE.    The purpose of this 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, its Parent and Subsidiaries, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company’s future performance through awards of Options
and Restricted Stock. Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 22 if they are not otherwise defined in other sections of this Plan. 
 
2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. 
 
2.1    Number of Shares Available.    Subject to Sections 2.2 and 17, the
total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be 15,000,000 Shares. Subject to Sections 2.2 and 17, Shares that are subject to: (a) issuance upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such
Option for any reason other than exercise of such Award and (b) an Award granted hereunder but are forfeited or are repurchased by the Company at the original issue price because the Shares are Unvested Shares at the time of the Participant’s
Termination, will again be available for grant and issuance in connection with future Awards under this Plan. On each January 1, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance pursuant to this Plan will be increased
automatically by a number of Shares equal to two percent (2%) of the total outstanding shares of the Company as of the immediately preceding December 31; provided, that the Board may in its sole discretion reduce the amount of the increase in any
particular year. At all times the Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Awards granted under this 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 under this Plan, (b) the Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options, and (c) the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards,
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 paid in cash
at 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 Award may not be decreased to below the par value of the
Shares. 
 
3.
ELIGIBILITY.    Awards may be granted to employees, non-Section 16 officers, consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; provided such consultants,
independent contractors and advisors render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction. A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan. Awards granted to officers may not
exceed in the aggregate forty percent (40%) of all Shares that are reserved for grant under this Plan. Awards granted as Restricted Stock to officers may not exceed in the aggregate forty percent (40%) of all Shares that are granted as Restricted
Stock. 

 
4.
ADMINISTRATION. 
 
4.1    Committee Authority.    This Plan will be administered by the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general purposes, terms and conditions of this
Plan, and to the direction of the Board, the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without limitation, the Committee will have the authority to: 
 
(a) construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any other agreement or document
executed pursuant to this Plan; 
 
(b) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to this Plan or any Award; 
 
(c) select persons to receive Awards; 
 
(d) determine the form and terms of Awards; 
 
(e) determine the number of Shares subject to
Awards; 
 
(f) determine whether
Awards will be granted singly, in combination with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company;

 
(g) grant waivers of Plan or
Award conditions; 
 
(h) determine
the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards; 
 
(i) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement; 
 
(j) determine whether an Award has been earned; and 
 
(k) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan.

 
4.2    Committee Discretion.    Any determination made by the Committee with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion at the time of grant of the Award or, unless in
contravention of any express term of this Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination will be final and binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under this Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more
officers of the Company the authority to grant an Award under this Plan to Participants who are not officers. 
 
5. OPTIONS.    Only nonqualified stock options that do not qualify as incentive stock options within the
meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code may be granted under this Plan. The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons and will determine (i) the number of Shares subject to the Option, (ii) the Exercise Price of the Option, (iii) the period
during which the Option may be exercised, and (iv) all other terms and conditions of the Option, subject to the following: 
 
5.1    Form of Option Grant.    Each Option granted under this Plan will be
evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement will be in such form and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be
subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. 
 
5.2    Date of Grant.    The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant the Option, unless a later date is otherwise
specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time after the Option is granted. 

 
5.3    Exercise Period and Expiration Date.    Options will be exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock Option
Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted. The Committee also may provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or
from time to time, periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as the Committee determines. 
 
5.4    Exercise Price.    The Exercise Price of an Option will be
determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may be not less than the par value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares purchased must be made in accordance with Section 7 of this Plan. 
 
5.5    Method of
Exercise.    Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the “Exercise Agreement”) in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the
same for each Participant), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if any, and such representations and agreements regarding Participant’s investment intent
and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together with payment in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being purchased.

 
5.6    Termination.    Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the following: 
 
(a) If the Participant is Terminated for any
reason except death or Disability, then the Participant may exercise such Participant’s Options only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable upon the Termination Date no later than three (3) months after the Termination Date
(or such shorter or longer time period not exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by the Committee, but in any event, no later than the expiration date of the Options. 
 
(b) If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant’s death or Disability (or
the Participant dies within three (3) months after a Termination other than for Cause or because of Participant’s Disability), then Participant’s Options may be exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been exercisable by
Participant on the Termination Date and must be exercised by Participant (or Participant’s legal representative or authorized assignee) no later than twelve (12) months after the Termination Date (or such shorter or longer time period not
exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by the Committee) but in any event no later than the expiration date of the Options. 
 
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 5.6(a) above, if a Participant is terminated for Cause, neither the
Participant, the Participant’s estate nor such other person who may then hold the Option shall be entitled to exercise any Option with respect to any Shares whatsoever, after termination of service, whether or not after termination of service
the Participant may receive payment from the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company for vacation pay, for services rendered prior to termination, for services rendered for the day on which termination occurs, for salary in lieu of
notice, or for any other benefits. In making such determination, the Board shall give the Participant an opportunity to present to the Board evidence on his behalf. For the purpose of this paragraph, termination of service shall be deemed to occur
on the date when the Company dispatches notice or advice to the Participant that his service is terminated. 
 
5.7    Limitations on Exercise.    The Committee may specify a reasonable
minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that the minimum number will not prevent a Participant from exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then exercisable. 

 
5.8    Modification, Extension or Renewal.    The Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that
any such action may not, without the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant’s rights under any Option previously granted. The Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of
Participants affected by a written notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 5.4 of this Plan for Options granted on the date the
action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price; and provided, further, that the Exercise Price shall not be reduced below the par value of the Shares. 
 
6. RESTRICTED STOCK.    A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the Company to sell to an eligible
person 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 price to be paid (the “Purchase Price”), the restrictions to which
the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following: 
 
6.1    Form of Restricted Stock Award.    All purchases under a Restricted
Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement (“Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement”) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from
time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. The offer of Restricted Stock will be accepted by the Participant’s execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and full
payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the date the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement is delivered to the person. If such person does not execute and deliver the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full
payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless otherwise determined by the Committee. 
 
6.2    Purchase Price.    The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee on the date the Restricted Stock Award is granted and may be not less than the par value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment of the Purchase Price may be made in accordance with
Section 7 of this Plan. 
 
6.3    Terms of Restricted Stock Awards.    Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose. These restrictions may be based upon completion of
a specified number of years of service with the Company or upon completion of the performance goals as set out in advance in the Participant’s individual Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement. Restricted Stock Awards may vary from Participant to
Participant and between groups of Participants. Prior to the payment of any Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall determine the extent to which such Restricted Stock Award has been earned. 
 
6.4    Termination
During Performance Period.    If a Participant is Terminated during a performance period for any reason, then such Participant will be entitled to payment (whether in Shares, cash or otherwise) with respect to the Restricted
Stock Award only to the extent earned as of the date of Termination in accordance with the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, unless the Committee will determine otherwise. 
 
7. PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES. 
 
7.1    Payment.    Payment for Shares
purchased on exercise of an Award may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant by the Committee and where permitted by law: 
 
(a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Participant; 
 
(b) by surrender of shares that either: (1)
have been owned by Participant for more than six (6) months and have been paid for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to
such shares); or (2) were obtained by Participant in the public market; 

 
(c) by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided,
however, that a Participant who is not an employee of the Company may not purchase Shares with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other than the Shares; and provided, further, that the portion of the Exercise
Price equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash; 
 
(d) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant for services rendered; 
 
(e) provided that a public market for the Company’s stock exists: 
 
(1) through a “same day sale”
commitment from the Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (an “NASD Dealer”) whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion
of the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or 
 
(2) through a “margin” commitment
from the Participant and a NASD Dealer whereby the Participant irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the
Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or 
 
(f) by any combination of the foregoing. 
 
7.2    Loan Guarantees.    The Committee may
help the Participant pay for Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant. 
 
8. WITHHOLDING TAXES. 
 
8.1    Withholding Generally.    Whenever Shares are to be issued on
exercise of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or
certificates for such Shares. If a payment in satisfaction of an Award is to be made in cash, such payment will be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements. 
 
8.2    Stock
Withholding.    When, under applicable tax laws, a Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of any Award that is subject to 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 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 will be made in
accordance with the requirements established by the Committee and be in writing in a form acceptable to the Committee 
 
9. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.    No Participant will have any of the rights of a stockholder with
respect to any Shares until the Shares are issued to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote
and receive all dividends or other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, however, that if such Shares are Restricted Stock, any new, additional or different securities the Participant 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 will
have no right to retain such dividends or distributions with respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participant’s original Exercise Price pursuant to Section 11. 

 
10.
TRANSFERABILITY. 
 
10.1    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, Awards granted under this Plan, and any interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, and may not be made subject to execution,
attachment or similar process, otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. 
 
10.2    Unless otherwise restricted by the Committee, an Option shall be
exercisable: (i) during the Participant’s lifetime only by (A) the Participant, (B) the Participant’s guardian or legal representative, (C) a Family Member of the Participant who has acquired the Option by “permitted transfer;”
and (ii) after Participant’s death, by the legal representative of the Participant’s heirs or legatees. “Permitted transfer” means, as authorized by this Plan and the Committee in an Option, any transfer effected by the
Participant during the Participant’s lifetime of an interest in such Option but only such transfers which are by gift or domestic relations order. A permitted transfer does not include any transfer for value and neither of the following are
transfers for value: (a) a transfer of under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights or (b) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members or the Participant
in exchange for an interest in that entity. 
 
10.3    Unless otherwise restricted by the Committee, a Restricted Stock may be transferred during the Participant’s lifetime, only to (A) the Participant, or (B) the Participant’s guardian or legal
representative. 
 
11. RESTRICTIONS ON
SHARES.    At the discretion of the Committee, the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement a right to repurchase at the Participant’s Exercise Price a portion of or all Unvested
Shares held by a Participant following such Participant’s Termination at any time within ninety (90) days after the later of Participant’s Termination Date and the date Participant purchases Shares under this Plan, for cash and/or
cancellation of purchase money indebtedness, at the Participant’s Exercise Price or Purchase Price, as the case may be. 
 
12. CERTIFICATES.    All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under this Plan will be
subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable, including 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 upon which the Shares may be listed or quoted. 
 
13. ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES.    To enforce any restrictions on a Participant’s Shares, the
Committee may require the Participant to deposit all certificates representing the Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer 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. Any Participant who is permitted to
execute a promissory note as partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as collateral to secure the payment of
Participant’s obligation to the Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment of such obligation and, in any event, the
Company will have full recourse against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of the Participant’s Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of the Shares, Participant will be required to execute
and deliver a written pledge agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid. 
 
14. EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF
AWARDS.    The Committee may, at any time or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the respective Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and cancellation of any or all
outstanding Awards, including but not limited to an exchange pursuant to an option exchange program and including but not limited to an exchange for a new option at a lower exercise price, whether or not such exchange is simultaneous. The Committee
may at any time buy from a Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, Shares (including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee and the Participant may agree. 

 
15.
SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.    An Award will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental
body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, 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 this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this 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 or federal law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will 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 securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no
liability for any inability or failure to do so. 
 
16. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY.    Nothing in this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan will 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 Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate Participant’s employment or other relationship at any time,
with or without cause. 
 
17. CORPORATE
TRANSACTIONS. 
 
17.1    Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor.    In the event of (a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) 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 or their relative stock holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all Participants), (c) 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, (d) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (e) the acquisition, sale, or transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company by tender offer or similar
transaction, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed, converted or replaced by the successor corporation (if any), which assumption, conversion or replacement will 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
substitute Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in this Subsection 17.1, such Awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Committee will determine; provided, however, that the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that the vesting of any or all Awards granted pursuant to this Plan will accelerate. If the Committee exercises such discretion with respect to Options, such Options will become exercisable in full
prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the corporate transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by
the Committee. 

 
17.2    Other Treatment of Awards.    Subject to any greater rights granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section 17, in the event of the occurrence of any
transaction described in Section 17.1, any outstanding Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets. 
 
17.3    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 this Plan in substitution of such other company’s award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to an Award granted under this Plan.
Such substitution or assumption will be permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event
the Company assumes an award granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will 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. 
 
18. ADOPTION.    This Plan
will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”). 
 
19. TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW.    Unless earlier terminated as provided herein, this Plan will
terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date. This Plan and all agreements thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. 
 
20. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.    The Board may at any time
terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant to this Plan. 
 
21. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.    Neither the adoption of this Plan by the
Board, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock option
and bonuses otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. 
 
22. DEFINITIONS.    As used in this Plan, the following terms will have the following meanings:

 
“Award”
means any award under this Plan, including any Option or Restricted Stock. 
 
“Award Agreement” means, with respect to each Award, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the
Award. 
 
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 
 
“Cause” means the commission of an act of theft, embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty or a breach of
fiduciary duty to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. 
 
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
 
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board. 
 
“Company” means
VeriSign, Inc. or any successor corporation. 

 
“Disability” means a disability, whether temporary or permanent, partial or total, as determined by the Committee. 
 
“Exercise Price” means the price at which a holder of an Option may
purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option. 
 
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of the Company’s Common Stock determined as follows: 
 
(a) if such Common Stock is then quoted on
the Nasdaq National Market, its closing price on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal; 
 
(b) if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities
exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal; 
 
(c) 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 the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal; or

 
(d) if none of the foregoing is
applicable, by the Committee in good faith. 
 
“Family Member” includes any of the following: 
 
(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; 
 
(b) any person (other than a tenant or
employee) sharing the Participant’s household; 
 
(c) a trust in which the persons in (a) and (b) have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest; 
 
(d) a foundation in which the persons in (a) and (b) or the Participant control the management of assets; or 
 
(e) any other entity in which the persons in
(a) and (b) or the Participant own more than fifty percent of the voting interest. 
 
“Option” means an award of an option to purchase Shares pursuant to Section 5. 
 
“Parent” means any
corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such corporations other than the Company 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. 
 
“Participant” means a person who receives an Award under this Plan. 

 
“Plan” means this VeriSign, Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. 
 
“Restricted Stock Award” means an award of Shares pursuant to Section 6.

 
“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission. 
 
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 
 
“Shares” means shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan, as
adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and 17, and any successor security. 
 
“Stock Option Agreement” means, with respect to each Option, the signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of the
Option. 
 
“Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if 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. 
 
“Termination” or “Terminated” means, for purposes of this Plan with
respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, consultant, independent contractor, or advisor to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. An employee will not be
deemed to have ceased to provide services in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided, that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon
the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute or unless provided otherwise pursuant to formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any employee on an
approved leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company as it may deem appropriate, except that in no
event may an Award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee will 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”). 
 
“Unvested Shares” means “Unvested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement.

 
“Vested
Shares” means “Vested Shares” as defined in the Award Agreement.Description of Severance Arrangement

 
EXHIBIT 10.21

 
Description of Severance Arrangement with
William P. Fasig 
 
VeriSign has agreed to the
following severance agreement should Mr. Fasig be involuntarily terminated from VeriSign without cause: 
 
For up to 1 month of employment—receive 12 months salary 
After 1 month of employment—receive 11 months salary 
After 2 months of employment—receive 10 months salary 
After 3 months of employment—receive 9 months salary 
After 4 months of employment—receive 8 months salary 
After 5 months of employment—receive 7 months salary 
After 6 months of employment—receive 6 months salary 
 
No severance payment is made in the event Mr. Fasig resigns voluntarily

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