Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   January 22, 2008

Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 1-5560 04-2302115
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction 		_____________
(Commission 		______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
20 Sylvan Road, Woburn, Massachusetts   01801
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices) 		  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   781-376-3000

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) Agreement with Chief Executive Officer

On January 22, 2008, the Company entered into an amended and restated Change of Control / Severance Agreement with Mr. David J. Aldrich (the "Aldrich Agreement"), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Aldrich Agreement sets out severance benefits that become payable if, within two (2) years after a change of control, Mr. Aldrich either (i) is involuntarily terminated without cause or (ii) voluntarily terminates his employment. The severance benefits provided to Mr. Aldrich in such circumstances will consist of the following: (i) a payment equal to two and one-half (21/2) times the sum of (A) his annual base salary immediately prior to the change of control and (B) his annual short term cash incentive award (calculated as the greater of (x) the average short term cash incentive awards received for the three years prior to the year in which the change of control occurs or (y) the target annual short cash incentive award for the year in which the change of control occurs); (ii) all then outstanding stock options will remain exercisable for a period of thirty (30) months after the termination date (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms); and (iii) continued medical benefits for a period of eighteen (18) months after the termination date. The foregoing payments are subject to a gross-up payment for any applicable excise taxes incurred under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ("IRC"). Additionally, in the event of a change of control, Mr. Aldrich’s Agreement provides for full acceleration of the vesting of all then outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards and partial acceleration of any outstanding performance share awards.

The Aldrich Agreement also sets out severance benefits outside of a change of control that become payable if, while employed by the Company, Mr. Aldrich either (i) is involuntarily terminated without cause or (ii) terminates his employment for good reason (which is defined to include a material diminution in base salary, authority, duties or responsibility or a material change in office location). The severance benefits provided to Mr. Aldrich under either of these circumstances will consist of the following: (i) a payment equal to two (2) times the sum of (A) his annual base salary immediately prior to such termination and (B) his annual short term cash incentive award (calculated as the greater of (x) the average short term cash incentive awards received for the three years prior to the year in which the termination occurs or (y) the target annual short cash incentive award for the year in which the termination occurs); and (ii) full acceleration of the vesting of all outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards, with such stock options to remain exercisable for a period of two (2) years after the termination date (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms), and, with respect to any performance share awards outstanding, shares subject to such award will be deemed earned to the extent any such shares would have been earned pursuant to the terms of such award as of the day prior to the date of such termination (without regard to any continued service requirement) (collectively, "Severance Benefits"). In the event of Mr. Aldrich’s death or disability, all outstanding stock options will vest in full and remain exercisable for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of employment (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms).

In addition, the Aldrich Agreement provides that if Mr. Aldrich voluntarily terminates his employment after January 1, 2010, subject to certain notice requirements and his availability to continue to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company and as Chairman of a committee thereof for up to two (2) years, he shall be entitled to the Severance Benefits; provided however, that all Company stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and any other equity-based awards, which were both (a) granted to him in the eighteen (18) month period prior to such termination and (b) scheduled to vest more than two (2) years from the date of such termination, shall be forfeited.

The Aldrich Agreement is intended to be compliant with Section 409A of the IRC and has a three (3) year term. Additionally, the Aldrich Agreement requires Mr. Aldrich to sign a release of claims in favor of the Company before he is eligible to receive any benefits under the agreement, and contains non-compete and non-solicitation provisions applicable to him while he is employed by the Company and for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of his employment.

Agreements with Other Named Executive Officers

On January 22, 2008, the Company entered into new Change of Control/ Severance Agreements with each of Liam K. Griffin, Donald W. Palette and Gregory L. Waters (the "COC Agreement"). Each COC Agreement sets out severance benefits that become payable if, within twelve (12) months after a change of control, the executive either (i) is involuntarily terminated without cause or (ii) terminates his employment for good reason (which is defined to include a material diminution in base compensation, authority, duties or responsibility or a material change in office location). The severance benefits provided to the executive in such circumstances will consist of the following: (i) a payment equal to two (2) times the sum of (A) his annual base salary immediately prior to the change of control and (B) his annual short term cash incentive award (calculated as the greater of (x) the average short term cash incentive awards received for the three years prior to the year in which the change of control occurs or (y) the target annual short cash incentive award for the year in which the change of control occurs); (ii) all then outstanding stock options will remain exercisable for a period of eighteen (18) months after the termination date (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms); and (iii) continued medical benefits for eighteen (18) months after the termination date. The foregoing payments are subject to a gross-up payment limited to a maximum of $500,000 for any applicable excise taxes incurred under Section 4999 of the IRC. Additionally, in the event of a change of control, each COC Agreement provides for full acceleration of the vesting of all then outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards and partial acceleration of any outstanding performance share awards.

Each COC Agreement also sets out severance benefits outside a change of control that become payable if, while employed by the Company, the executive is involuntarily terminated without cause. The severance benefits provided to the executive under such circumstance will consist of the following: (i) a payment equal to the sum of (x) his annual base salary and (y) any short term cash incentive award then due; and (ii) all then vested outstanding stock options will remain exercisable for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination date (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms). In the event the executive’s death or disability, all outstanding stock options will vest and remain exercisable for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of employment (but not beyond the expiration of their respective maximum terms).

Each COC Agreement is intended to be compliant with Section 409A of the IRC and has an initial two (2) year term, which is thereafter renewable on an annual basis for up to five (5) additional years upon mutual agreement of the Company and the executive. Additionally, each COC Agreement requires that the executive sign a release of claims in favor of the Company before he is eligible to receive any benefits under the agreement, and contains non-compete and non-solicitation provisions applicable to the executive while he is employed by the Company and for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of his employment.





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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
          
January 22, 2008   By:   /s/ Donald W. Palette
       
        Name: Donald W. Palette
        Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer