EXHIBIT 99.3
FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
SANDISK CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
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RECITALS
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A. The Board has adopted the Special Plan for the purpose of
providing stock option grants to certain individuals in connection with their
commencement of employment with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
B. Optionee is to render valuable services to the Corporation (or a
Parent or Subsidiary), and this Agreement is executed pursuant to, and is
intended to carry out the purposes of, the Special Plan in connection with the
Corporation's grant of a stock option to Optionee in connection with his or her
commencement of employment.
C. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the attached Appendix.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. Grant of Option. The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as of
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the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares
specified in the Grant Notice. The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time
to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at the Exercise Price.
This option shall be a non-statutory option which is not intended to meet the
requirements of an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
2. Option Term. This option shall have a maximum term of ten (10)
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years measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of
business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Paragraph 5 or 6.
3. Limited Transferability.
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(a) This option shall be neither transferable nor assignable by
Optionee other than by will or the laws of inheritance following Optionee's
death and may be exercised, during Optionee's lifetime, only by Optionee.
However, this option may, in connection with the Optionee's estate plan, be
assigned in whole or in part during Optionee's lifetime to one or more members
of Optionee's immediate family or to a trust established for the exclusive
benefit of one or more such family members. The assigned portion shall be
exercisable only by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in
the option pursuant to such assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned
portion shall be the same as those in effect for this option immediately prior
to such assignment.
(b) Optionee may also designate one or more persons as the
beneficiary or beneficiaries of this option, and this option shall, in
accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such
beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee's death while holding this
option. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred option
subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including (without
limitation) the limited time period during which this option may, pursuant to
Paragraph 5, be exercised following Optionee's death.
4. Dates of Exercise. This option shall become exercisable for the
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Option Shares in one or more installments as specified in the Grant Notice. As
the option becomes exercisable for such installments, those installments shall
accumulate, and the option shall remain exercisable for the accumulated
installments until the Expiration Date or sooner termination of the option term
under Paragraph 5 or 6.
5. Cessation of Service. The option term specified in Paragraph 2
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shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the
Expiration Date should any of the following provisions become applicable:
(a) Should Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason
(other than death, Permanent Disability or Misconduct) while holding this
option, then Optionee shall have a period of three (3) months (commencing with
the date of such cessation of Service) during which to exercise this option, but
in no event shall this option be exercisable at any time after the Expiration
Date.
(b) Should Optionee die while holding this option, then the
personal representative of Optionee's estate or the person or persons to whom
the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee's will or the laws of inheritance
shall have the right to exercise this option. However, if Optionee has
designated one or more beneficiaries of this option, then those persons shall
have the exclusive right to exercise this option following Optionee's death. Any
such right to exercise this option shall lapse, and this option shall cease to
be outstanding, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the twelve (12)-month
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period measured from the date of Optionee's death or (ii) the Expiration Date.
(c) Should Optionee cease Service by reason of Permanent
Disability while holding this option, then Optionee shall have a period of
twelve (12) months (commencing with the date of such cessation of Service)
during which to exercise this option. In no event shall this option be
exercisable at any time after the Expiration Date.
(d) During the limited period of post-Service exercisability,
this option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of
Option Shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of Optionee's
cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of such limited exercise period or (if
earlier) upon the Expiration Date, this option shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding for any exercisable Option Shares for which the option has not been
exercised. However, this option shall, immediately upon Optionee's cessation of
Service for any reason, terminate and cease to be outstanding with respect to
any Option Shares for which this option is not otherwise at that time
exercisable.
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(e) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct or
should Optionee otherwise engage in Misconduct while this option is outstanding,
then this option shall terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.
6. Special Acceleration of Option.
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(a) This option, to the extent outstanding at the time of a
Corporate Transaction but not otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically
accelerate so that this option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of
such Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all of the Option Shares at
the time subject to this option and may be exercised for any or all of those
Option Shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. No such acceleration of
this option shall occur, however, if and to the extent: (i) this option is, in
connection with the Corporate Transaction, to be assumed by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) this option is to be replaced with a
cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread
existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction on the Option Shares for which
this option is not otherwise at that time exercisable (the excess of the Fair
Market Value of those Option Shares over the aggregate Exercise Price payable
for such shares) and provides for subsequent payout of that spread in accordance
with the same option exercise/vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice.
(b) Immediately following the Corporate Transaction, this option
shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with the Corporate
Transaction.
(c) If this option is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction, then this option shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after
such Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which
would have been issuable to Optionee in consummation of such Corporate
Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction, and appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the Exercise
Price, provided the aggregate Exercise Price shall remain the same. To the
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extent the actual holders of the Corporation's outstanding Common Stock receive
cash consideration for their Common Stock in consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, the successor corporation may, in connection with the assumption of
this option, substitute one or more shares of its own common stock with a fair
market value equivalent to the cash consideration paid per share of Common Stock
in such Corporate Transaction.
(d) This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right of the
Corporation 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.
7. Adjustment in Option Shares. Should any change be made to the
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Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class
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without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments
shall be made to (i) the total number and/or class of securities subject to this
option and (ii) the Exercise Price in order to reflect such change and thereby
preclude a dilution or enlargement of benefits hereunder.
8. Stockholder Rights. The holder of this option shall not have any
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stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person shall
have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of record
of the purchased shares.
9. Manner of Exercising Option.
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(a) In order to exercise this option with respect to all or any
part of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable,
Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the
following actions:
(i) Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of
Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised.
(ii) Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased
shares in one or more of the following forms:
(A) cash or check made payable to the Corporation;
(B) shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or any
other person or persons exercising the option) for the requisite
period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for
financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the
Exercise Date; or
(C) through a special sale and remittance procedure
pursuant to which Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising
the option) shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (i) to
a Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale
of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale
proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover
the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased shares plus all
applicable Federal, state and local income and employment taxes
required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise
and (ii) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete
the sale.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is
utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the
Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the
Corporation in connection with the option exercise.
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(iii) Furnish to the Corporation appropriate documentation
that the person or persons exercising the option (if other than Optionee)
have the right to exercise this option.
(iv) Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation (or
Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction
of all Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding
requirements applicable to the option exercise.
(b) As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, the Corporation
shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or persons
exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares, with the
appropriate legends affixed thereto.
(c) In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional
shares.
10. Compliance with Laws and Regulations.
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(a) The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option
Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and
Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all
applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if
applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of
such exercise and issuance.
(b) The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from any
regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary to
the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall
relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or
sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not have been obtained.
The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all such
approvals.
11. Successors and Assigns. Except to the extent otherwise provided in
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Paragraphs 3 and 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns and
Optionee, Optionee's assigns, the legal representatives, heirs and legatees of
Optionee's estate and any beneficiaries of this option designated by Optionee.
12. Notices. Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
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Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed
to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices. Any notice required to be
given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee at
the address indicated below Optionee's signature line on the Grant Notice. All
notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the
U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified.
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13. Construction. This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are
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made and granted pursuant to the Supplemental Plan and are in all respects
limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan. All decisions of the Plan
Administrator with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or
this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest
in this option.
14. Governing Law. The interpretation, performance and enforcement of
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this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without
resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
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EXHIBIT I
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
I hereby notify SanDisk Corporation (the "Corporation") that I elect
to purchase ______________ shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (the
"Purchased Shares") at the option exercise price of $_______ per share (the
"Exercise Price") pursuant to that certain option (the "Option") granted to me
under the Corporation's Special Stock Option Plan on __________, _____.
Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the
Corporation, I shall hereby pay to the Corporation the Exercise Price for the
Purchased Shares in accordance with the provisions of my agreement with the
Corporation (or other documents) evidencing the Option and shall deliver
whatever additional documents may be required by such agreement as a condition
for exercise. Alternatively, I may utilize the special broker-dealer sale and
remittance procedure specified in my agreement to effect payment of the Exercise
Price.
______________________, ________
Date
________________________________________
Optionee
Address: _______________________________
________________________________________
Print name in exact manner it is to
appear on the stock certificate: ________________________________________
Address to which certificate is to
be sent, if different from address
above: ________________________________________
________________________________________
Social Security Number: ________________________________________
APPENDIX
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The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:
A. Agreement shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.
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B. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
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C. Common Stock shall mean shares of the Corporation's common stock.
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D. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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E. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following stockholder-
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approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons
different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to
such transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation.
F. Corporation shall mean SanDisk Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and
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any successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting
stock of SanDisk Corporation which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.
G. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
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Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
H. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the option shall have been
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exercised in accordance with Paragraph 9 of the Agreement.
I. Exercise Price shall mean the exercise price per Option Share as
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specified in the Grant Notice.
J. Expiration Date shall mean the date on which the option expires as
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specified in the Grant Notice.
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K. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall
be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be deemed equal to the
closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as
the price is reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on
the Nasdaq National Market. If there is no closing selling price for the
Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be
the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such
quotation exists, or
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be deemed equal to the closing
selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the
Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary
market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the
composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing
selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair
Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date
for which such quotation exists.
X. Xxxxx Date shall mean the date of grant of the option as specified in
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the Grant Notice.
X. Xxxxx Notice shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option
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accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.
N. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement
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or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by Optionee of
confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary) or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely affecting
the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a
material manner. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or
restrict the right of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) to discharge
or dismiss the Optionee or any other person in the Service of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary) for any other acts or omissions, but such other
acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for purposes of this Agreement, to
constitute grounds for termination for Misconduct.
O. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the
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requirements of Code Section 422.
P. Notice of Exercise shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
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attached hereto as Exhibit I.
Q. Option Shares shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock subject
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to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.
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R. Optionee shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
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specified in the Grant Notice.
S. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
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unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.
T. Permanent Disability shall mean the inability of Optionee to engage in
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any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death or has lasted
or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12) months or
more.
U. Plan Administrator shall mean the committee of the Board acting in its
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capacity as administrator of the Supplemental Plan.
V. Service shall mean the Optionee's performance of services for the
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Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Employee or a
consultant or other independent advisor.
W. Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New York
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Stock Exchange.
X. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
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an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided each
corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns, at the
time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.
Y. Special Plan shall mean the Corporation's Special Stock Option Plan.
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