DEFA14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ý Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
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y | Definitive Additional Materials |
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| Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 13, 2016
Supplemental Soliciting Materials
Explanatory Note:
Lattice Semiconductor Corporation is sending this information to certain stockholders and we are using it to communicate with our stockholders about the upcoming Annual Meeting of Stockholders. For more information, see our 2016 Proxy Statement. Our 2016 Proxy Statement and 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders may be viewed online at www.edocumentview.com/lscc. This supplemental material to the 2016 Proxy Statement should be read together with the 2016 Proxy Statement. The information contained in this supplemental material modifies or supersedes any inconsistent material contained in the 2016 Proxy Statement.
We urge you to vote “FOR” Proposal 3 in the 2016 Proxy Statement.
We recently became aware that the 2016 Proxy Statement that we mailed or made available to our stockholders proxy materials in connection with our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 13, 2016 did not include an accurate description of the amended Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan in Proposal 3: Approval of the Amended Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan.
We are providing these supplemental soliciting materials to replace Proposal 3 with a corrected Proposal 3 that includes a correct description of the amended Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan.
Please note that an “Abstain” vote on Proposal 3 will have the same effect as a vote “Against” the proposal. Your vote “For” this proposal is important. If you have already voted “Against” or “Abstain” on Proposal 3, we urge you to reconsider and to submit a new vote “FOR” both Proposal 3.
PROPOSAL 3: APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
2013 INCENTIVE PLAN
We are seeking stockholder approval of our amended 2013 Incentive Plan. Our board of directors recently amended the 2013 Incentive Plan, upon recommendation of its compensation committee and subject to stockholder approval, to increase by 6,500,000 shares (from 8,340,000 shares to 14,840,000 shares) the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
In order to continue to have an appropriate supply of shares for equity incentives to recruit, hire and retain the talent required to successfully execute our business plans, our board of directors believes that we will need the additional 6,500,000 new shares to be available under the 2013 Incentive Plan. As of March 18, 2016, we had outstanding 119,019,832 shares of our common stock. The additional shares to be authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan represent approximately 5.46% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Although the additional 6,500,000 new shares to be available under the 2013 Incentive Plan will increase the potential dilution to stockholders represented by Lattice's equity compensation programs, our board of directors and compensation committee believe that the potential dilution represented by our equity compensation programs and the new shares to be authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan is reasonable and below norms for our industry, and that our equity compensation programs are well-managed.
We anticipate the additional shares for which we are seeking stockholder approval will be sufficient for our equity compensation program through fiscal year 2017, and that we will need to seek stockholder approval for additional shares at our annual stockholders meeting in 2017.
If stockholders do not approve the amended 2013 Incentive Plan, the amendment to the 2013 Incentive Plan previously approved by the board of directors will not become effective and the remaining shares available for issuance under the 2013
Incentive Plan will remain available for new grants until awards have been granted covering all the shares authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan or it is terminated by our board of directors.
As of March 18, 2016, 3,611,488 shares were reserved and available for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan, not including the additional 6,500,000 new shares added to the 2013 Incentive Plan pursuant to the amendments recently approved by the Company's board of directors and subject to stockholder approval, In addition shares that are subject to outstanding awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan or the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan that are forfeited or canceled or expire can be reused under the 2013 Incentive Plan. For more information regarding the shares of our common stock that may be issued under our existing equity compensation plans please refer to the information set forth in the 2016 Proxy Statement under the "Equity Compensation Plan Information" subheading starting on page 29.
Under applicable rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market, we are required to obtain stockholder approval of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan. In addition, stockholder approval of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan is necessary to provide the compensation committee with the flexibility to grant incentive stock options to employees under the amended 2013 Incentive Plan and certain awards that qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Information” below for more information about these issues.
The principal features of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan are summarized below. This summary does not contain all information about the amended 2013 Incentive Plan. A copy of the complete text of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan is included as Appendix 1 to these supplemental proxy materials, and the following description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan included as Appendix 1 to these supplemental proxy materials.
Shareholder approval of the amended 2013 Incentive Plan pursuant to this Proposal 3 will also constitute re-approval of amended 2013 Incentive Plan for purposes of Section 162(m). In general, this re-approval is required at least once every five years to comply with certain requirements under Section 162(m). See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” below for more information.
Description of the Amended 2013 Incentive Plan
Purpose. The purpose of the 2013 Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate our employees, officers and directors by providing them with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in Lattice and to align their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of our stockholders. The 2013 Incentive Plan would also allow us to provide the same opportunity to consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors.
Administration. The compensation committee will administer the 2013 Incentive Plan. The board of directors or the compensation committee may delegate authority to approve awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan in accordance with its terms. References to the “committee” in this Proposal 3 are, as applicable, to the compensation committee, the board of directors or other delegate, including an officer of Lattice authorized by the board of directors or compensation committee to make grants to certain eligible employees of Lattice.
Eligibility. Awards may be granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan to employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of Lattice and its subsidiaries and affiliates. As of March 18, 2016, approximately 1,125 employees, executive officers, and zero non-employee directors were eligible to receive awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
Number of Shares. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan is 14,840,000 shares. In addition, the shares underlying awards that are currently subject to outstanding awards under the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2013 Incentive Plan that are forfeited or canceled or expired can be reused under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
The following shares will also become available again for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan:
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• | Shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan that lapse, expire, terminate or are canceled prior to issuance of the underlying shares; |
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• | Shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan that are subsequently forfeited to or otherwise reacquired by us; and |
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• | Shares related to an award granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan that is settled in cash or in another manner where some or all of the shares covered by the award are not issued. |
Shares subject to an award granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan that are tendered or withheld in payment of purchase price or tax withholding obligations will not become available again for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
Awards granted in assumption of or substitution for previously granted awards in acquisition transactions will not reduce the number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
Limitation on Full Value Awards. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to full value Awards granted under the Plan, which includes all Awards other than Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, is 50% of the aggregate number of shares authorized under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
Minimum Vesting For Full Value Awards. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to full value awards granted under the Plan, which includes all awards other than awards of options or stock appreciation rights, without specified minimum vesting conditions is 5% of the aggregate maximum number of shares authorized under the 2013 Incentive Plan.
Adjustments. If any change in our stock occurs by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares, distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend or other change in our corporate or capital structure, the committee will make proportional adjustments to the maximum number and kind of securities (a) available for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan, (b) issuable as incentive stock options, (c) issuable to certain individuals subject to Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) Section 162(m), (d) issuable as full value awards, and (e) subject to any outstanding award, including the per share price of such securities.
Types of Awards. The 2013 Incentive Plan permits the grant of any or all of the following types of awards.
Stock Options. The committee may grant either incentive stock options, which must comply with Code Section 422, or non-qualified stock options. The committee sets option exercise prices and terms, except that the exercise price of stock options granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, except in the case of options granted in connection with assuming or substituting options in acquisition transactions. At the time of grant, the committee determines when stock options are exercisable and when they expire, except that the term of a stock option cannot exceed ten years. Unless the committee otherwise determines, fair market value means, as of a given date, the closing price of our common stock.
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs). The committee may grant SARs as a right in tandem with the number of shares underlying stock options granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan or on a stand-alone basis. SARs are the right to receive payment per share of an exercised SAR in stock or cash, or a combination of stock and cash, equal to the excess of the share's fair market value on the date of exercise over its fair market value on the date the SAR was granted. Exercise of a SAR issued in tandem with stock options will result in the reduction of the number of shares underlying the related SAR to the extent of the SAR exercised. The term of a stand-alone SAR cannot be more than ten years, and the term of a tandem SAR will not exceed the term of the related option.
Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units. The committee may grant awards of shares of common stock, or awards designated in units of common stock, under the 2013 Incentive Plan. These awards may be made subject to repurchase or forfeiture restrictions at the committee's discretion. The restrictions may be based on continuous service or the achievement of specified performance criteria, as determined by the committee.
Performance Awards. The committee may grant performance awards in the form of performance shares or performance units. Performance shares are units valued by reference to a designated number of shares of common stock, and performance units are units valued by reference to a designated amount of cash. Either may be payable in stock or cash, or a combination of stock and cash, upon the attainment of performance criteria and other terms and conditions as established by the committee.
Other Stock or Cash-Based Awards. The committee may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of common stock, subject to the terms of the 2013 Incentive Plan and any other terms and conditions determined by the committee.
Minimum Vesting Requirements. The committee’s ability to grant full value awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan that do not comply with specified minimum vesting requirements is capped at 5% of the aggregate maximum number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2013 Incentive Plan. The 2013 Incentive Plan provides for minimum vesting requirements of three years for vesting based solely on continuous employment or services and one year for vesting based on other factors (except if accelerated pursuant to a change in control or in the event of a termination of service). These minimum vesting requirements do not apply to stock options or stock appreciation rights.
Limitation on Acceleration of Vesting. The committee ability to accelerate vesting of an award or otherwise waive or lapse any restriction on an award is subject to the minimum vesting requirement, other than in connection with a participant's death or disability, or a change of control.
Repricing. The 2013 Incentive Plan prohibits the committee, without stockholder approval, from lowering the exercise or grant price of an option after it is granted, except in connection with adjustments provided under the 2013 Incentive Plan, taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, canceling an option at a time when its exercise or grant price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying stock, in exchange for cash, another option or stock appreciation right, restricted stock, or other equity award, or issuing an option or stock appreciation right or amending an outstanding option or stock appreciation right to provide for the grant or issuance of a new option or stock appreciation right on exercise of the original option or stock appreciation right.
Performance-Based Compensation under Code Section 162(m)
Performance Goals and Criteria. If the committee intends to qualify an award under the 2013 Incentive Plan as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the performance goals selected by the committee may be based on the attainment of specified levels of one, or any combination, of the following performance criteria for the Company as a whole or any business unit, as reported or calculated by the Company: cash flows (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); cash position; working capital; earnings per share; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; book value per share; operating income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); revenues; operating margins; operating earnings; economic profit; profit before tax; return on assets; return on equity; debt; debt plus equity; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; ratio of operating earnings to capital spending; sales growth; market or economic value added; equity or stockholder's equity; stock price appreciation; total stockholder return; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; net income; net profit; net sales; return on invested capital; improvements in capital structure; or customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, services performance, subscriber, cash management or asset management metrics. The performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels of performance for the Company as a whole or any business unit or applicable affiliate under one or more of the performance goals described above relative to the performance of other corporations.
The committee may provide in any award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a performance period: asset write-downs, litigation or claim judgments or settlements, the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, any reorganization and restructuring programs, extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Standards Codification 225-20 and/or in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in our annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, acquisitions or divestitures, foreign exchange gains and losses, and gains and losses on asset sales.
Adjustments and Certification. The committee may adjust the amount payable pursuant to an award under the 2013 Incentive Plan that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) downward, but not upward. The committee may not waive the achievement of performance goals related to an award except in the case of a participant's death or disability. Section 162(m) requires that the committee certify that performance goals were achieved before the payment of the “performance-based compensation.”
Limitations. Subject to certain adjustments, participants who are granted awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) may not be granted awards, other than performance units, for more than 2,000,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year, except that additional awards for up to 2,000,000 shares may be granted to newly hired or promoted individuals in any calendar year. The maximum dollar value payable to any participant with respect to performance units or other awards payable in cash that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” cannot exceed $10,000,000 in any calendar year.
Change of Control. Under the 2013 Incentive Plan, unless otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing an award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the participant and us, in the event of a change of control:
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• | All unearned performance shares, performance units and other outstanding awards that are subject to vesting based on the achievement of specified performance goals will prorated and will be paid in accordance with the payout schedule for the award. |
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• | In the event of certain reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, the committee may, in its discretion, instead provide that a participant's outstanding awards will be cashed out. |
Definition of Change of Control. Unless the committee determines otherwise with respect to an award at the time it is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an award in a written employment, services or other agreement between a participant and us, a change of control of the Company generally means the occurrence of any of the following events:
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• | an acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of either (a) the then outstanding shares of common stock or (b) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of Lattice entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (excluding generally any acquisition directly from Lattice, any acquisition by Lattice, any acquisition by any employee benefit plan of Lattice or an affiliate, or the completion of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Lattice pursuant to which specific requirements are met); |
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• | a change in the composition of the board of directors with the result that the incumbent board members cease to constitute at least a majority of the board (not including directors whose election, or nomination for election by stockholders, was approved by a majority of the incumbent board); or |
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• | completion of specified reorganizations, mergers or consolidations or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Lattice. |
Amendment and Termination. The board of directors or the committee may amend the 2013 Incentive Plan, except that if any applicable statute, rule or regulation requires stockholder approval for an amendment to the 2013 Incentive Plan, then to the extent so required, stockholder approval will be obtained. The board of directors or the committee may also suspend or terminate all or any portion of the 2013 Incentive Plan at any time, but any suspension or termination may not, without a participant's consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any outstanding award. Unless sooner terminated by the board of directors or the committee, the 2013 Incentive Plan will terminate ten years after the date of the initial stockholder approval of the 2013 Incentive Plan.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Information
The following is a brief summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the 2013 Incentive Plan generally applicable to us and to participants in the 2013 Incentive Plan who are subject to U.S. federal taxes. The summary is based on the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, each as in effect on the date of this proxy statement and is, therefore, subject to future changes in the law, possibly with retroactive effect. The summary is general in nature and does not purport to be legal or tax advice. Furthermore, the summary does not address issues relating to any U.S. gift or estate tax consequences or the consequences of any state, local or foreign tax laws.
Non-qualified Stock Options. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant or vesting of a nonqualified stock option with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and no additional deferral feature. When a non-qualified stock option is exercised, a participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares underlying the option on the date of exercise and the option exercise price. When a participant sells the shares, the participant will have short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount the participant received from the sale and the tax basis of the shares sold. The tax basis of the shares generally will be equal to the greater of the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date or the option exercise price.
Incentive Stock Options. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant of an incentive stock option. If a participant exercises an incentive stock option during employment as an employee or within three months after his or her employment ends (12 months in the case of permanent and total disability), the participant will not recognize income at the time of exercise for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes (although the participant generally will recognize income for alternative minimum tax purposes at that time as if the option were a non-qualified stock option). If a participant sells or otherwise disposes of the shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option after the later of (a) one year from the date the participant exercised the option and (b) two years from the grant date of the option, the participant generally will recognize long-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount the participant received in the disposition and the option exercise price. If a participant sells or otherwise disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option before these holding period requirements are satisfied, the disposition will constitute a “disqualifying disposition,” and the participant generally will recognize taxable ordinary income in the year of disposition equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option exercise price (or, if less, the excess of the amount realized on the disposition of the shares over the option exercise price). The balance of the participant's gain on a disqualifying disposition, if any, will be taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, as the case may be.
With respect to both non-qualified stock options and incentive stock options, special rules apply if a participant uses shares of common stock already held by the participant to pay the exercise price.
Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant or vesting of an SAR with a grant price at least equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant and no additional deferral feature. Upon the exercise of an SAR, a participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares underlying the SAR on the date of exercise and the grant price of the SAR.
Unrestricted Stock Awards. Upon receipt of an unrestricted stock award, a participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid by the participant with respect to the shares.
Restricted Stock Awards. Upon receipt of a restricted stock award, a participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income when the shares cease to be subject to restrictions in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at such time over the amount, if any, paid for the shares. Instead of postponing the federal income tax consequences of a restricted stock award until the restrictions lapse, a participant may elect to recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in the year of the award in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares at the time of receipt. This election is made under Section 83(b) of the Code. In general, a Section 83(b) election is made by filing a written notice with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days of the date of grant of the restricted stock award for which the election is made and must meet certain technical requirements.
The tax treatment of a subsequent disposition of restricted stock will depend upon whether a participant has made a timely and proper Section 83(b) election. If a participant makes a timely and proper Section 83(b) election, when the participant sells the restricted shares, the participant generally will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount the participant receives from the sale and the tax basis of the shares sold. If no Section 83(b) election is made, any disposition after the restriction lapses generally will result in short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the difference between the amount the participant received from the sale and the tax basis of the shares sold. The tax basis of the shares generally will be equal to the amount, if any, the participant paid for the shares plus the amount of taxable ordinary income recognized either at the time the restrictions lapsed or at the time of the Section 83(b) election, if an election was made. If a participant has to forfeit the shares to us (e.g., upon the participant's termination prior to expiration of the restriction period), the participant may not claim a deduction for the amount of compensation income recognized as a result of making the Section 83(b) election, and the participant generally will have a capital loss equal to the amount, if any, paid for the shares.
Restricted Stock Units. A participant generally will not recognize income at the time a stock unit is granted. When any part of a stock unit is issued or paid, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income at the time of such issuance or payment in an amount equal to the then fair market value of any shares, cash or property the participant receives.
Performance Shares and Performance Units. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant of performance shares or performance units. Upon the distribution of cash, shares or other property to the participant pursuant to the terms of the performance shares or units, the participant generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income equal to the excess of the amount of cash or the fair market value of any property transferred to the participant over any amount paid by the participant with respect to the performance shares or units.
Tax Consequences to the Company. In the foregoing cases, we generally will be entitled to a deduction at the same time and in the same amount as a participant recognizes ordinary income, subject to certain limitations imposed under the Code.
Code Section 409A. We intend that awards granted under the 2013 Incentive Plan comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Code Section 409A, but make no representation or warranty to that effect.
Code Section 162(m). Under Code Section 162(m), we are generally prohibited from deducting compensation paid to “covered employees” in excess of $1,000,000 per person in any year. “Covered employees” are defined as the principal executive officer and any one of the three highest paid executive officers (other than the principal executive officer or the principal financial officer) as of the close of the applicable taxable year. Compensation that qualifies as “performance-based” is excluded for purposes of calculating the amount of compensation subject to the $1,000,000 limit. In general, one of the requirements that must be satisfied to qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) is that the material terms of the performance goals under which the compensation may be paid must be disclosed to and approved by a majority vote of our stockholders. Accordingly, stockholder approval of the 2013 Incentive Plan is necessary to ensure that we have the ability to exclude taxable compensation attributable to stock options, stock appreciation rights and performance-based awards under the 2013 Incentive Plan that are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) from the limits on tax deductibility imposed by Section 162(m). In the future, we may from time to time pay compensation to our executive officers that may not be deductible when, for example, we believe such compensation is appropriate and in the best interests of the stockholders, after taking into consideration changing business conditions and/or the executive's performance.
Tax Withholding. We are authorized to deduct or withhold from any award granted or payment due under the 2013 Incentive Plan, or require a participant to remit to us, the amount of any withholding taxes due in respect of the award or payment and to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy all obligations for the payment of applicable withholding taxes. We are not required to issue any shares of common stock or otherwise settle an award under the 2013 Incentive Plan until all tax withholding obligations are satisfied.
Plan Benefits
All awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants under the 2013 Incentive Plan are made at the discretion of the committee. Therefore, the benefits and amounts that will be received or allocated under the 2013 Incentive Plan are not determinable at this time. However, please refer to the description of grants made to our named executive officers in the last fiscal year described in the “2015 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table” in our 2016 Proxy Statement. Grants made to our non-employee directors in the last fiscal year are described in the “2015 Director Compensation Table” section in our 2016 Proxy Statement. As of March 18, 2016 the closing sales price of a share of common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $6.25 per share.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2013 INCENTIVE PLAN
We urge you to vote “FOR” Proposal 3: Approval of the Amended Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan as described above.
If you have voted or hereafter vote your shares by proxy “FOR” approval of Proposal 3, such vote will constitute a vote “FOR” approval of Proposal 3, as described above.
Your vote is important. As a reminder, the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on Friday, May 13, 2016, so we appreciate your timely consideration of our request.
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• | If you vote by telephone or on the Internet and wish to change your vote, you should call the toll-free number or go to the Internet site (www.envisionreports.com/LSCC), whichever method you used earlier, and follow the directions for changing your vote. Computershare’s telephone and Internet voting sites for the Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will close at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on May 12, 2016. |
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• | If you are a beneficial owner, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, trustee or nominee as set forth in the voting instruction form. |
Please make sure that your Lattice Semiconductor Corporation shares are voted at our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 13, 2016. Thank you.
Appendix 1
LATTICE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
2013 INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan is to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisor's and independent contractors of the Company and its Related Companies by providing them the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to align their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of the Company's stockholders.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
Certain capitalized terms used in the Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Administration of the Plan
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board or the Compensation Committee, which shall be composed of two or more directors, each of whom is a "non‑employee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and an "outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or Compensation Committee may delegate concurrent responsibility for administering the Plan, including with respect to designated classes of Eligible Persons, to different committees consisting of one or more members of the Board, subject to such limitations as the Board deems appropriate, including limitations with respect to grants of Awards to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or pursuant to Section 16 of the Plan. Members of any committee shall serve for such term as the Board may determine, subject to removal by the Board at any time. To the extent consistent with applicable law, the Board or the Compensation Committee may authorize one or more officers of the Company to grant Awards to designated classes of Eligible Persons, within limits specifically prescribed by the Board or the Compensation Committee; provided, however, that no such officer shall have or obtain authority to grant Awards to himself or herself or to any person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(c) All references in the Plan to the "Committee" shall be, as applicable, to the Board, the Compensation Committee or any other committee or any officer to whom the Board or the Compensation Committee has delegated authority to administer the Plan.
3.2 Administration and Interpretation by Committee
(a) Except for the terms and conditions explicitly set forth in the Plan and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and exclusive authority, subject to such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board or a Committee composed of members of the Board, to (i) select the Eligible Persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted under the Plan; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted under the Plan; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan; (v) approve the forms of notice or agreement for use under the Plan; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property or canceled or suspended; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument evidencing an Award, notice or agreement executed or entered into under the Plan; (viii) establish such rules, regulations and sub-plans as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration and operation of the Plan; (ix) delegate ministerial duties to such of the Company's employees as it so determines; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.
(b) In no event, however, shall the Committee have the right, without stockholder approval, to (i) lower the exercise or grant price of an Option or SAR after it is granted, except in connection with adjustments provided in Section 15; (ii) cancel an Option or SAR at a time when its exercise or grant price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying stock, in exchange for cash, another option or stock appreciation right, restricted stock, or other equity award; (iii) take any other action that is treated
as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, or (iv) issue an Option or SAR or amend an outstanding Option or SAR to provide for the grant or issuance of a new Option or SAR on exercise of the original Option or SAR.
(c) The effect on the vesting of an Award of a Company-approved leave of absence or a Participant's reduction in hours of employment or service shall be determined by the Company's chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors or executive officers, by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be final.
(d) Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, any Participant, any stockholder and any Eligible Person. A majority of the members of the Committee may determine its actions.
SECTION 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
4.1 Authorized Number of Shares
Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1, the aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be:
(a) 14,840,000 shares; plus
(b) (i) any authorized shares available for issuance, and not issued or subject to outstanding awards, under the Company's 1996 Stock Plan (the "Prior Plan") on the Effective Date shall cease to be set aside and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Prior Plan, effective on the Effective Date, and shall instead be set aside and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and (ii) any shares subject to outstanding awards under the Prior Plan on the Effective Date that cease to be subject to such awards following the Effective Date (other than by reason of exercise or settlement of the awards to the extent they are exercised for or settled in vested or non-forfeitable shares) shall cease to be set aside or reserved for issuance pursuant to the Prior Plan, effective on the date upon which they cease to be so subject to such awards, and shall instead be set aside and reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan, up to an aggregate maximum of 8,699,550 shares pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this paragraph (b).
Shares issued under the Plan shall be drawn from authorized and unissued shares or shares now held or subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares.
4.2 Share Usage
(a) Shares of Common Stock covered by an Award shall not be counted as used unless and until they are actually issued and delivered to a Participant. If any Award lapses, expires, terminates or is canceled prior to the issuance of shares thereunder, is settled in cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock, or if shares of Common Stock are issued under the Plan to a Participant and thereafter are forfeited to or otherwise reacquired by the Company, the shares subject to such Awards and the forfeited or reacquired shares shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. covered by an Award that is settled in such a manner such that some or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Award are not issued, shall again be available for Awards under the Plan. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional shares of Common Stock or credited as additional shares of Common Stock subject or paid with respect to an Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any shares of Common Stock tendered by a Participant or retained by the Company as full or partial payment to the Company for the exercise or purchase price of an Award, or to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award, shall not again be available for Awards under the Plan.
(b) The Committee shall also, without limitation, have the authority to grant Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may grant Substitute Awards under the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not reduce the number of shares authorized for issuance under the Plan. In the event that an Acquired Entity has shares available for awards or grants under one or more preexisting plans not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination and previously approved by the Acquired Entity's stockholders, then, to the extent determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such preexisting plans (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to holders of securities of the entities that are parties to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided, however, that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of such preexisting plans, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or a Related Company prior to such acquisition or combination. In the event that a written agreement between the Company and an Acquired Entity pursuant to which a merger or consolidation is completed is approved by the Board and that agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the substitution for or assumption of outstanding awards of the Acquired Entity, those terms and conditions shall be
deemed to be the action of the Committee without any further action by the Committee, except as may be required for compliance with Rule 16b‑3 under the Exchange Act, and the persons holding such awards shall be deemed to be Participants.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.2 to the contrary, the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate share number stated in Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1.
4.3 Limitations
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to full value Awards granted under the Plan, which includes all Awards other than Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, may not exceed 50% of the aggregate number of shares authorized under the Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (other than Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) that either (a) contain no restrictions or restrictions based solely on continuous employment or services over fewer than three years (except if accelerated pursuant to a Change in Control or in the event of a Termination of Service) or (b) vest over less than one year (except if accelerated pursuant to a Change in Control or in the event of a Termination of Service) based on factors other than solely continuous employment or services shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate maximum number of shares specified in Section 4.1. In addition, if and to the extent the Committee accelerates vesting or exercisability of an Award or otherwise acts to waive or lapse any restriction on an Award, other than in connection with a Participant's death, Disability or Retirement or a Change of Control, the shares covered by such Committee action shall similarly count towards the 5% limitation described in this Section 4.3.
SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY
An Award may be granted to any employee, officer or director of the Company or a Related Company whom the Committee from time to time selects. An Award may also be granted to any consultant, agent, advisor or independent contractor for bona fide services rendered to the Company or any Related Company that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company's securities in a capital‑raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company's securities.
SECTION 6. AWARDS
6.1 Form, Grant and Settlement of Awards
The Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted under the Plan. Such Awards may be granted either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other type of Award. Any Award settlement may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine.
6.2 Evidence of Awards
Awards granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written, including an electronic, instrument that shall contain such terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions as the Committee shall deem advisable and that are not inconsistent with the Plan.
6.3 Dividends and Distributions
Participants may, if the Committee so determines, be credited with dividends or dividend equivalents paid with respect to shares of Common Stock underlying an Award in a manner determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the dividends or dividend equivalents that the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the form of payment of dividends or dividend equivalents, including cash, shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to any dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on the number of shares underlying an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right may not be contingent, directly or indirectly, on the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and must comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to any dividends or dividend equivalents declared and paid on Restricted Stock must (i) be paid at the same time such dividends or dividend equivalents are paid to other stockholders and (ii) comply with or qualify for an exemption under Section 409A.
SECTION 7. OPTIONS
7.1 Grant of Options
The Committee may grant Options designated as Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options.
7.2 Option Exercise Price
Options shall be granted with an exercise price per share not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date (and such exercise price shall not be less than the minimum exercise price required by Section 422 of the Code with respect to Incentive Stock Options), except in the case of Substitute Awards.
7.3 Term of Options
Subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the Option, the maximum term of an Option shall be ten years from the Grant Date.
7.4 Exercise of Options
(a) The Committee shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option the time at which, or the installments in which, the Option shall vest and become exercisable, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time.
(b) To the extent an Option has vested and become exercisable, the Option may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by delivery to or as directed or approved by the Company of a properly executed stock option exercise agreement or notice, in a form and in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, the restrictions imposed on the shares purchased under such exercise agreement or notice, if any, and such representations and agreements as may be required by the Committee, accompanied by payment in full as described in Section 7.5. An Option may be exercised only for whole shares and may not be exercised for less than a reasonable number of shares at any one time, as determined by the Committee.
7.5 Payment of Exercise Price
The exercise price for shares purchased under an Option shall be paid in full to the Company by delivery of consideration equal to the product of the Option exercise price and the number of shares purchased. Such consideration must be paid before the Company will issue the shares being purchased and must be in a form or a combination of forms acceptable to the Committee for that purchase, which forms may include:
(a) cash;
(b) check or wire transfer;
(c) having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued on exercise of a Non-qualified Stock Option that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;
(d) tendering (either actually or, so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, by attestation) shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares being purchased under the Option;
(e) so long as the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent permitted by law, delivery of a properly executed exercise agreement or notice, together with irrevocable instructions to a brokerage firm designated or approved by the Company to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of proceeds to pay the Option exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise, all in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board; or
(f) such other consideration as the Committee may permit.
7.6 Effect of Termination of Service
(a) The Committee shall establish and set forth in each instrument that evidences an Option whether the Option shall continue to be exercisable, and the terms and conditions of such exercise, after a Termination of Service, any of which provisions may be waived or modified by the Committee at any time.
(b) If the exercise of the Option following a Participant's Termination of Service, but while the Option is otherwise exercisable, would be prohibited solely because the issuance of Common Stock would violate either the registration requirements under the Securities Act or the Company's insider trading policy, then the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) the Option Expiration Date or (ii) the expiration of a period of three months (or such longer period of time as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, which longer period shall not be more than two months beyond the aforementioned three months) after the Participant's Termination of Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such Securities Act or insider trading policy requirements.
SECTION 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the terms and conditions of any Incentive Stock Options shall in addition comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and any applicable regulations thereunder. If the shareholders of the Company do not approve the Plan within 12 months after the Board's adoption of the Plan (or the Board's adoption of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code) Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan after the date of the Board's adoption (or approval) will be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the earlier of the approval by the Board or the shareholders of the Plan (or any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code).
SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
9.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights
The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants at any time on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. An SAR may be granted in tandem with an Option (a "tandem SAR") or alone (a "freestanding SAR"). The grant price of a tandem SAR shall be equal to the exercise price of the related Option. The grant price of a freestanding SAR shall be established in accordance with procedures for Options set forth in Section 7.2. A SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for such term as the Committee determines in its sole discretion; provided, however, that, subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instrument evidencing the SAR, the maximum term of a freestanding SAR shall be ten years, and in the case of a tandem SAR, (a) the term shall not exceed the term of the related Option and (b) the tandem SAR may be exercised for all or part of the shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option, except that the tandem SAR may be exercised only with respect to the shares for which its related Option is then exercisable.
9.2 Payment of SAR Amount
Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in an amount determined by multiplying: (a) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise over the grant price of the SAR by (b) the number of shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised. At the discretion of the Committee as set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, the payment upon exercise of an SAR may be in cash, in shares, in some combination thereof or in any other manner approved by the Committee in its sole discretion.
9.3 Waiver of Restrictions
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any SAR under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
SECTION 10. STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS
10.1 Grant of Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units
The Committee may grant Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Stock Units on such terms and conditions and subject to such repurchase or forfeiture restrictions, if any, which may be based on continuous employment or service with the Company or a Related Company or the achievement of any performance goals, as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion, which terms, conditions and restrictions shall be set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award.
10.2 Vesting of Restricted Stock and Stock Units
Upon the satisfaction of any terms, conditions and restrictions prescribed with respect to Restricted Stock or Stock Units, or upon a Participant's release from any terms, conditions and restrictions on Restricted Stock or Stock Units, as determined by the Committee, and subject to the provisions of Section 13, (a) the shares covered by each Award of Restricted Stock shall become freely transferable by the Participant, and (b) Stock Units shall be paid in shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Awards, in cash or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. Any fractional shares subject to such Awards shall be paid to the Participant in cash.
10.3 Waiver of Restrictions
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive the repurchase or forfeiture period and any other terms, conditions or restrictions on any Restricted Stock or Stock Units under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
SECTION 11. PERFORMANCE AWARDS
11.1 Performance Shares
The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Shares, designate the Participants to whom Performance Shares are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Shares and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Shares shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated number of shares of Common Stock, the value of which may be paid to the Participant by delivery of shares of Common Stock or, if set forth in the instrument evidencing the Award, of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, shares of Common Stock, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. The amount to be paid under an Award of Performance Shares may be adjusted on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.
11.2 Performance Units
The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Units, designate the Participants to whom Performance Units are to be awarded and determine the number of Performance Units and the terms and conditions of each such Award. Performance Units shall consist of a unit valued by reference to a designated amount of property other than shares of Common Stock, which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, shares of Common Stock, other property, or any combination thereof, upon the attainment of performance goals, as established by the Committee, and other terms and conditions specified by the Committee. The amount to be paid under an Award of Performance Units may be adjusted on the basis of such further consideration as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.
SECTION 12. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDS
Subject to the terms of the Plan and such other terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate, the Committee may grant other incentives payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock under the Plan.
SECTION 13. WITHHOLDING
13.1 Payment of Tax Withholding and Other Obligations
The Company may require the Participant to pay to the Company or a Related Company, as applicable, the amount of (i) any taxes that the Company or a Related Company is required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign law to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award or any other taxable or tax withholding event related to an Award ("tax withholding obligations") and (ii) any amounts due from the Participant to the Company or to any Related Company ("other obligations"). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock or otherwise settle an Award under the Plan until such tax withholding obligations and other obligations are satisfied.
13.2 Payment Methods
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of the Participant's tax withholding obligations and other obligations by one or a combination of any of the following: (i) paying cash to the Company or a Related Company, as applicable, (ii) having the Company, or a Related Company, as applicable, withhold an amount from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company or a Related Company to the Participant, (iii) having the Company withhold a number of shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued to the Participant (or become vested, in the case of Restricted Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, (iv) surrendering a number of shares of Common Stock the Participant already owns having a value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, (v) selling shares of Common Stock issued under an Award on the open market or to the Company, or (vi) taking such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligations. The value of the shares so withheld or tendered may not exceed the employer's applicable minimum required tax withholding rate or such other applicable rate as is necessary to avoid adverse treatment for financial accounting purposes, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
SECTION 14. ASSIGNABILITY
No Award or interest in an Award may be sold, assigned, pledged (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose) or transferred by a Participant or made subject to attachment or similar proceedings otherwise than by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution, except to the extent, at the discretion of the Committee, the instrument evidencing the Award permits the Participant to designate one or more beneficiaries on a Company-approved form who may exercise the Award or receive payment under the Award after the Participant's death. During a Participant's lifetime, an Award may be exercised only by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by Section 422 of the Code, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a Participant to assign or transfer an Award subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall specify.
SECTION 15. ADJUSTMENTS
15.1 Adjustment of Shares
In the event that, at any time or from time to time, a stock dividend, stock split, spin‑off, combination or exchange of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, or other change in the Company's corporate or capital structure results in (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or any securities exchanged therefor or received in their place, being exchanged for a different number or kind of securities of the Company or (b) new, different or additional securities of the Company or any other company being received by the holders of shares of Common Stock, then the Committee shall make proportional adjustments in (i) the maximum number and kind of securities available for issuance under the Plan; (ii) the maximum number and kind of securities issuable as Incentive Stock Options as set forth in Section 4.2; (iii) the maximum numbers and kind of securities set forth in Section 16.3; (iv) the maximum number and kind of securities set forth in Section 4.3; and (v) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award and the per share price of such securities, without any change in the aggregate price to be paid therefor. The determination by the Committee as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services rendered, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, outstanding Awards. Also notwithstanding the foregoing, a dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a Company Transaction shall not be governed by this Section 15.1 but shall be governed by Sections 15.2 and 15.3, respectively.
15.2 Dissolution or Liquidation
To the extent not previously exercised or settled, and unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company. To the extent a vesting condition, forfeiture provision or repurchase right applicable to an Award has not been waived by the Committee, the Award shall be forfeited immediately prior to the consummation of the dissolution or liquidation.
15.3 Change in Control
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, in the event of a Change in Control:
(a) All outstanding Awards that are subject to vesting based on continued employment or service with the Company or a Related Company shall become fully vested and immediately exercisable or payable, and all applicable restrictions or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, immediately prior to the Change in Control and such Awards shall terminate at the effective time of the Change in Control; provided, however, that with respect to a Change in Control that is a Company Transaction in which such Awards could be converted, assumed, substituted for or replaced by the Successor Company, such Awards shall become fully vested and exercisable or payable, and all applicable restrictions or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, only if and to the extent such Awards are not converted, assumed, substituted for or replaced by the Successor Company. If and to the extent that the Successor Company converts, assumes, substitutes for or replaces an Award, the vesting restrictions and/or forfeiture provisions applicable to such Award shall not be accelerated or lapse, and all such vesting restrictions and/or forfeiture provisions shall continue with respect to any shares of the Successor Company or other consideration that may be received with respect to such Award.
For the purposes of this Section 15.3(a), an Award shall be considered converted, assumed, substituted for or replaced by the Successor Company if following the Company Transaction the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to the Award immediately prior to the Company Transaction, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the Company Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Company Transaction is not solely common stock of the Successor Company, the Committee may, with the consent of the Successor Company, provide for the consideration to be received pursuant to the Award, for each share of Common Stock subject thereto, to be solely common stock of the Successor Company substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Company Transaction. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee, and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.
(b) All Performance Shares, Performance Units and other outstanding Awards that are subject to vesting based on the achievement of specified performance goals and that are earned and outstanding as of the date the Change in Control is determined to have occurred and for which the payout level has been determined shall be payable in full in accordance with the payout schedule pursuant to the instrument evidencing the Award. Any remaining outstanding Performance Shares, Performance Units and other outstanding Awards that are subject to vesting based on the achievement of specified performance goals (including any applicable performance period) for which the payout level has not been determined shall be prorated and shall be payable in accordance with the payout schedule pursuant to the instrument evidencing the Award. Any existing deferrals or other restrictions not waived by the Committee in its sole discretion shall remain in effect.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may instead provide in the event of a Change in Control that is a Company Transaction that a Participant's outstanding Awards shall terminate upon or immediately prior to such Company Transaction and that such Participant shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (x) the value of the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Company Transaction, or, in the event the Company Transaction is one of the transactions listed under subsection (c) in the definition of Company Transaction or otherwise does not result in direct receipt of consideration by holders of Common Stock, the value of the deemed per share consideration received, in each case as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Awards (to the extent then vested and exercisable or whether or not then vested and exercisable, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) exceeds (y) if applicable, the respective aggregate exercise price or grant price for such Awards.
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 15.3 requires all outstanding Awards to be treated similarly.
15.4 Further Adjustment of Awards
Subject to Sections 15.2 and 15.3, the Committee shall have the discretion, exercisable at any time before a sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change of control of the Company, as defined by the Committee, to take such further action as it determines to be necessary or advisable with respect to Awards. Such authorized action may include (but shall not be limited to) establishing, amending or waiving the type, terms, conditions or duration of, or restrictions on, Awards so as to provide for earlier, later, extended or additional time for exercise, lifting restrictions and other modifications, and the Committee may take such actions with respect to all Participants, to certain categories of Participants or only to individual Participants. The Committee may take such action before or after granting Awards to which the action relates and before or after any public announcement with respect to such sale, merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or change of control that is the reason for such action.
15.5 No Limitations
The grant of Awards shall in no way affect the Company's right to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
15.6 No Fractional Shares
In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any Award, each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from such adjustment, and any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded.
15.7 Section 409A
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, (a) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 15 to Awards that are considered "deferred compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A shall be made in compliance with the requirements of Section 409A and (b) any adjustments made pursuant to this Section 15 to Awards that are not considered "deferred compensation" subject to Section 409A shall be made in such a manner as to ensure that after such adjustment the Awards either (i) continue not to be subject to Section 409A or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A.
SECTION 16. CODE SECTION 162(m) PROVISIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Committee determines, at the time Awards are granted to a Participant who is, or is likely to be as of the end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in connection with such Award, a Covered Employee, then the Committee may provide that this Section 16 is applicable to such Award.
16.1 Performance Criteria
(a) If an Award is subject to this Section 16, then the lapsing of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, shares of Common Stock or other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals established by the Committee, which shall be based on the attainment of specified levels of one of or any combination of the following "performance criteria" for the Company as a whole or any business unit of the Company, as reported or calculated by the Company: cash flows (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); cash position; working capital; earnings per share; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; book value per share; operating income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); revenues; operating margins; operating earnings; economic profit; profit before tax; return on assets; return on equity; debt; debt plus equity; ratio of debt to debt plus equity; ratio of operating earnings to capital spending; sales growth; market or economic value added; equity or stockholder's equity; stock price appreciation; total stockholder return; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; net income; net profit; net sales; return on invested capital; improvements in capital structure; or customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, services performance, subscriber, cash management or asset management metrics (together, the "Performance Criteria").
(b) Such performance goals also may be based on the achievement of specified levels of Company performance (or performance of an applicable affiliate or business unit of the Company) under one or more of the Performance Criteria described above relative to the performance of other corporations. Such performance goals shall be set by the Committee within the time period prescribed by, and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of, Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto, and the regulations thereunder.
(c) The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Standards Codification 225-20 and/or in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in the Company's annual report to stockholders for the applicable year, (vi) acquisitions or divestitures, (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses, and (viii) gains and losses on asset sales. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that satisfies the requirements for "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
16.2 Compensation Committee Certification; Adjustment of Awards
(a) After the completion of each performance period, the Compensation Committee shall certify the extent to which any performance goal established under this Section 16 has been satisfied, and the amount payable as a result thereof, prior to payment, settlement or vesting, as applicable, of any Award subject to this Section 16.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan other than Section 15, with respect to any Award that is subject to this Section 16, the Committee may adjust downwards, but not upwards, the amount payable pursuant to such Award, and the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable performance goals except in the case of the death or disability of the Covered Employee.
16.3 Limitations
(a) Subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1, no Covered Employee may be granted Awards other than Performance Units subject to this Section 16 in any calendar year period with respect to more than 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock for such Awards, except that the Company may make additional onetime grants of such Awards for up to 2,000,000 shares to newly hired or newly promoted individuals, and the maximum dollar value payable with respect to Performance Units or other awards payable in cash subject to this Section 16 granted to any Covered Employee in any one calendar year is $10,000,000.
(b) The Committee shall have the power to impose such other restrictions on Awards subject to this Section 16 as it may deem necessary or appropriate to ensure that such Awards satisfy all requirements for "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, or any successor provision thereto.
SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
17.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination
The Board or the Compensation Committee may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion of the Plan at any time and in such respects as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment to the Plan; and provided, further, that any amendment that requires stockholder approval may be made only by the Board. Subject to Section 17.3, the Committee may amend the terms of any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively.
17.2 Term of the Plan
Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, the Plan shall automatically terminate ten years from the Effective Date. After the Plan is terminated, no future Awards may be granted, but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their terms and conditions and the Plan's terms and conditions.
17.3 Consent of Participant
The amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan or a portion thereof or the amendment of an outstanding Award shall not, without the Participant's consent, materially adversely affect any rights under any Award theretofore granted to the Participant under the Plan. Any change or adjustment to an outstanding Incentive Stock Option shall not, without the consent of the Participant, be made in a manner so as to constitute a "modification" that would cause such Incentive Stock Option to fail to continue to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to Section 15 shall not be subject to these restrictions.
SECTION 18. GENERAL
18.1 No Individual Rights
(a) No individual or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and the Company has no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants under the Plan.
(b) Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to constitute an employment contract or 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 Related Company or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Related Company to terminate a Participant's employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.
18.2 Issuance of Shares
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to issue or deliver any shares of Common Stock under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, such issuance, delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act or the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction) and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.
(b) The Company shall be under no obligation to any Participant to register for offering or resale or to qualify for exemption under the Securities Act, or to register or qualify under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, any shares of Common Stock, security or interest in a security paid or issued under, or created by, the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.
(c) The inability of the Company or impracticability for the Company, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, to obtain or maintain approval from any regulatory body having jurisdiction or to comply with applicable requirements, which approval and compliance are deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance, delivery, and sale of any shares of Common Stock, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue, deliver, or sell such shares as to which the requisite approval has not been obtained or as to which any necessary requirements are not met.
(d) As a condition to the exercise of an Option or any other receipt of Common Stock pursuant to an Award under the Plan, the Company may require (i) the Participant to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise or receipt that such shares are being purchased or received only for the Participant's own account and without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares and (ii) such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with federal, state and foreign securities laws. At the option of the Company, a stop-transfer order against any such shares may be placed on the official stock books and records of the Company, and a legend indicating that such shares may not be pledged, sold or otherwise transferred, unless an opinion of counsel is provided (concurred in by counsel for the Company)
stating that such transfer is not in violation of any applicable law or regulation, may be stamped on stock certificates to ensure exemption from registration. The Committee may also require the Participant to execute and deliver to the Company a purchase agreement or such other agreement as may be in use by the Company at such time that describes certain terms and conditions applicable to the shares.
(e) To the extent the Plan or any instrument evidencing an Award provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Common Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange.
18.3 Indemnification
(a) Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board, the Compensation Committee, or a committee of the Board or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Section 3, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in settlement thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit or proceeding against such person; provided, however, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such person's own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute, that such person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it on such person's own behalf.
(b) The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such person may be entitled under the Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or of any power that the Company may have to indemnify or hold harmless.
18.4 No Rights as a Stockholder
Unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement, no Award, other than a Stock Award or an Restricted Stock Award, shall entitle the Participant to any cash dividend, voting or other right of a stockholder unless and until the date of issuance under the Plan of the shares that are the subject of such Award.
18.5 Compliance with Laws and Regulations
(a) In interpreting and applying the provisions of the Plan, any Option granted as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent permitted by law, be construed as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(b) The Plan and Awards granted under the Plan are intended to be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A to the maximum extent possible, whether pursuant to the short-term deferral exception described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), the exclusion applicable to stock options, stock appreciation rights and certain other equity-based compensation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5), or otherwise. To the extent Section 409A is applicable to the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, it is intended that the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan comply with the deferral, payout and other limitations and restrictions imposed under Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the contrary, the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan shall be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner consistent with such intentions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the contrary, with respect to any payments and benefits under the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to which Section 409A applies, all references in the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan to the termination of the Participant's employment or service are intended to mean the Participant's "separation from service," within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i). In addition, if the Participant is a "specified employee," within the meaning of Section 409A, then to the extent necessary to avoid subjecting the Participant to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable under the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan during the six-month period immediately following the Participant's "separation from service," within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i), shall not be paid to the Participant during such period, but shall instead be accumulated and paid to the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant's death, the Participant's estate) in a lump sum on the first business day after the earlier of the date that is six months following the Participant's separation from service or the Participant's death. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, reserves the right, but shall not be required, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan and any Award granted under the Plan so that the Award qualifies for exemption from or complies with Section 409A; provided, however, that the Committee makes no representations that Awards granted under the Plan shall be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to Awards granted under the Plan.
(c) Also notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Board or the Compensation Committee shall have broad authority to amend the Plan or any outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant to the extent the Board
or the Compensation Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with, or take into account, changes in applicable tax laws, securities laws, accounting rules or other applicable laws, rules or regulations.
18.6 Participants in Other Countries or Jurisdictions
Without amending the Plan, the Committee may grant Awards to Eligible Persons who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan and shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, sub-plans and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions in which the Company or any Related Company may operate or have employees to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax-efficient manner, comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations and meet the objectives of the Plan.
18.7 No Trust or Fund
The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan. Nothing contained herein shall require the Company to segregate any monies or other property, or shares of Common Stock, or to create any trusts, or to make any special deposits for any immediate or deferred amounts payable to any Participant, and no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
18.8 Successors
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business and/or assets of the Company.
18.9 Severability
If any provision of the Plan or any Award is determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or, if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the Committee's determination, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
18.10 Choice of Law and Venue
The Plan, all Awards granted thereunder and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law. Participants irrevocably consent to the nonexclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the State of Oregon.
18.11 Legal Requirements
The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan are subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required, whether located in the United States or a foreign jurisdiction.
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE
The Plan shall become effective on the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the "Effective Date").
APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
As used in the Plan,
"Acquired Entity" means any entity acquired by the Company or a Related Company or with which the Company or a Related Company merges or combines.
"Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, cash-based award or other incentive payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock as may be designated by the Committee from time to time.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Cause," unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means dishonesty, fraud, serious or willful misconduct, unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets, or conduct prohibited by law (except minor violations), in each case as determined by the Company's chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.
"Change in Control," unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to an Award at the time the Award is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an Award in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) an acquisition by any Entity of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d‑3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (1) the number of then outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (2) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege where the security being so converted was not acquired directly from the Company by the party exercising the conversion privilege, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Related Company, (iv) an acquisition by any Entity pursuant to a transaction that meets the conditions of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) set forth in the definition of Company Transaction;
(b) a change in the composition of the Board such that the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Entity other than the Board shall not be considered a member of the Incumbent Board; or
(c) consummation of a Company Transaction.
"Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
"Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
"Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.
"Company" means Lattice Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
"Company Transaction," unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to an Award at the time the Award is granted or unless otherwise defined for purposes of an Award in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means consummation of:
(a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other company;
(b) a sale in one transaction or a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose of at least 50% of the Company's outstanding voting securities; or
(c) a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions undertaken with a common purpose of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, excluding, however, in each case, a transaction pursuant to which
(i) the Entities who are the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Company Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the Successor Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Company Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities;
(ii) no Entity (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, a Related Company or a Successor Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the Successor Company or the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Successor Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors unless such ownership resulted solely from ownership of securities of the Company prior to the Company Transaction; and
(iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will immediately after the consummation of the Company Transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Successor Company.
Where a series of transactions undertaken with a common purpose is deemed to be a Company Transaction, the date of such Company Transaction shall be the date on which the last of such transactions is consummated.
"Compensation Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
"Covered Employee" means a "covered employee" as that term is defined for purposes of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code or any successor provision.
"Disability," unless otherwise defined by the Committee for purposes of the Plan in the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means a mental or physical impairment of the Participant that is expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or more and that causes the Participant to be unable to perform his or her material duties for the Company or a Related Company and to be engaged in any substantial gainful activity, in each case as determined by the Company's chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, in the case of directors and executive officers, the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.
"Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 19.
"Eligible Person" means any person eligible to receive an Award as set forth in Section 5.
"Entity" means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
"Fair Market Value" means the closing price for the Common Stock on any given date during regular trading, or if not trading on that date, such price on the last preceding date on which the Common Stock was traded, unless determined otherwise by the Committee using such methods or procedures as it may establish.
"Grant Date" means the later of (a) the date on which the Committee completes the corporate action authorizing the grant of an Award or such later date specified by the Committee and (b) the date on which all conditions precedent to an Award have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the exercisability or vesting of Awards shall not defer the Grant Date.
"Incentive Stock Option" means an Option granted with the intention that it qualify as an "incentive stock option" as that term is defined for purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
"Incumbent Board" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Change in Control."
"Non-qualified Stock Option" means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.
"Option" means a right to purchase Common Stock granted under Section 7.
"Option Expiration Date" means the last day of the maximum term of an Option.
"Outstanding Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Change in Control."
"Outstanding Company Voting Securities" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Change in Control."
"Parent Company" means a company or other entity which as a result of a Company Transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries.
"Participant" means any Eligible Person to whom an Award is granted.
"Performance Award" means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted under Section 11.
"Performance Criteria" has the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.
"Performance Share" means an Award of units denominated in shares of Common Stock granted under Section 11.1.
"Performance Unit" means an Award of units denominated in cash or property other than shares of Common Stock granted under Section 11.2.
"Plan" means the Lattice Semiconductor Corporation 2013 Incentive Plan.
"Prior Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).
"Related Company" means any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by, in control of or under common control with the Company, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
"Restricted Stock" means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.
"Restricted Stock Unit" means a Stock Unit subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.
“Retirement," unless otherwise defined in the instrument evidencing the Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Company, means "Retirement" as defined for purposes of the Plan by the Committee or the Company's chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, if not so defined, means Termination of Service on or after the date the Participant reaches "normal retirement age," as that term is defined in Section 411(a)(8) of the Code.
"Section 409A" means Section 409A of the Code.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
"Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means a right granted under Section 9.1 to receive the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock over the grant price.
"Stock Award" means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are not subject to restrictions prescribed by the Committee.
"Stock Unit," including a Restricted Stock Unit, means an Award denominated in units of Common Stock granted under Section 10.
"Substitute Awards" means Awards granted or shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by an Acquired Entity.
"Successor Company" means the surviving company, the successor company or Parent Company, as applicable, in connection with a Company Transaction.
"Termination of Service," unless the Committee determines otherwise with respect to an Award, means a termination of employment or service relationship with the Company or a Related Company for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by reason of death, Disability or Retirement. Any question as to whether and when there has been a Termination of Service for the purposes of an Award and the cause of such Termination of Service shall be determined by the Company's chief human resources officer or other person performing that function or, with respect to directors and executive officers, by the Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding. Transfer of a Participant's employment or
service relationship between the Company and any Related Company shall not be considered a Termination of Service for purposes of an Award. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Termination of Service shall be deemed to occur if the Participant's employment or service relationship is with an entity that has ceased to be a Related Company. A Participant's change in status from an employee of the Company or a Related Company to a non-employee director, consultant, advisor, or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company, or a change in status from a non-employee director, consultant, advisor or independent contractor of the Company or a Related Company to an employee of the Company or a Related Company, shall not be considered a Termination of Service.
"Vesting Commencement Date" means the Grant Date or such other date selected by the Committee as the date from which an Award begins to vest.