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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 Registrantý

Filed by a Party other than the Registranto

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ýo

 

No fee required.

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
         
  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
         
  (5) Total fee paid:
         

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         
  (3) Filing Party:
         
  (4) Date Filed:
         

LOGOLOGO


NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
May 11, 2010
January 19, 2011

TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:

        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVENNotice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation, will be held on May 11, 2010January 19, 2011 at 9 a.m. local time at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village,Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, California 9136191301 for the following purposes:

        The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.

        Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26,December 1, 2010 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

        All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting. However,This year we are using the Internet as our primary means of furnishing proxy materials to assure your representation atour stockholders. Accordingly, most stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials. We will instead send our stockholders a notice with instructions for accessing the meeting, you are urged to mark, sign, dateproxy materials and returnvoting electronically over the enclosedInternet or by telephone. The notice also provides information on how stockholders may request paper copies of our proxy card as promptly as possible inmaterials. We believe electronic delivery of our proxy materials and annual report will help us reduce the postage-prepaid envelope enclosed for that purpose.environmental impact and costs of printing and distributing paper copies and improve the speed and efficiency by which our stockholders can access these materials. Any stockholder of record attending the meeting may vote in person even if he or she has returned a proxy. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.

  Sincerely,

 

 

GRAPHIC


Christopher R. Gardner
President and Chief Executive Officer

Camarillo, California
March 31,December 1, 2010



IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 11, 2010

        The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available atwww.vitesse.com/2010-annual-proxy.


YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

        In orderWhether or not you plan to assureattend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting and we urge you to vote as soon as possible. As an alternative to voting in person at the Annual Meeting, you may vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone, or if you receive a proxy card or voting instruction form in the mail, by mailing the completed proxy card or voting instruction form. Timely voting by any of these methods will ensure your representation at the meeting, you are requested to complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card as promptly as possible and return it in the enclosed envelope. Any stockholder attending the Annual Meeting may vote in person even if he or she returned a proxy card.Meeting.


VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
741 Calle Plano Drive
Camarillo, California 93012



PROXY STATEMENT




INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

General

        The enclosed Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation ("Vitesse" or the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village,Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, California 9136191301 on May 11, 2010January 19, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., local time, and at any adjournment(s) thereof, for the purposes set forth herein and in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Our telephone number is (805) 388-3700. These proxy solicitation materials wereThis Proxy Statement is first mailed on or about April 1, 2010being made available to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.Meeting on or about December 10, 2010.

Record Date and Share Ownership

        Stockholders of record at the close of business on March 26,December 1, 2010 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meetingAnnual Meeting and at any adjournment(s) thereof. On the Record Date, 404,841,80223,986,531 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value, were issued and outstanding.

Revocability of Proxies

        Any proxyProxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before its use (i) by delivering to us at our principal offices (Attention: Tracy Kern,Joyce Sheehan, Corporate Controller)Secretary) a written notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or (ii) by attending the meetingAnnual Meeting and voting in person. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote in person at the meeting,Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder, and you will need to provide a copy of such proxy at the meeting.Annual Meeting.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting

        All stockholders of record as of the Record Date may attend the Annual Meeting. Please note that cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the Annual Meeting. No items will be allowed into the Annual Meeting that might pose a concern for the safety of those attending. Additionally, to attend the meeting you will need to bring identification and proof sufficient to us that you were a stockholder of record as of the Record Date or that you are a representative of a stockholder of record as of the Record Date for a stockholder of record that is not a natural person.

        For directions to attend the Annual Meeting, please visit the Hyatt Westlake Plaza'sRenaissance Agoura Hills Hotel website athttp://westlake.hyatt.com/hyatt/ www.marriott.com/hotels/services/maps/index.jsptravel/laxag-renaissance-agoura-hills-hotel/ or contact the hotel via telephone at (805) 557-1234.(818) 707-1220.

Voting and Costs of Solicitation

        On all matters, other than the election of directors, each share has one vote.

If you are a stockholder of record as of"registered holder," that is your shares are registered in your name through our transfer agent, and you are viewing this proxy over the Record Date,Internet you may vote in person atelectronically over the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy using the enclosed proxy card.Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. As stated above, you may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy.


        If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting directions, your shares will be voted:

        If any other matter is properly presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxy holders (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares in their discretion.materials.

        If your shares are held in "street name," meaning that theyis, your shares are registeredheld in the name of a broker, nominee, fiduciarybrokerage firm, bank or other custodian, then generally only that broker, nominee, fiduciaryyou will receive instructions from the brokerage firm, bank or other custodian may execute a proxy andnominee, as your record holder, that must be followed in order for your brokerage firm, bank or other nominee to vote your shares. Your broker, nominee, fiduciaryshares per your instructions. If you have elected to receive paper copies of our proxy materials from your brokerage firm, bank or other custodian should providenominee, you withwill receive a voting instruction form. Please complete and return the enclosed voting instruction form for your use to provide them with instructions as to how toin the addressed, postage paid envelope provided.

        Only proxy cards and voting instruction forms that have been signed, dated and timely returned and only proxies that have been timely voted electronically or by telephone will be counted in the quorum and voted.The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, Tuesday, January 18, 2011. Stockholders who vote over the Internet or by telephone need not return a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail.

        You may also vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are a registered holder, you may request a ballot at the Annual Meeting. If your shares are held of record in "street name" by a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodianstreet name and you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from the record holder a "legal proxy" issued(e.g., your broker) and bring it with you to the Annual Meeting. We recommend that you vote your shares in advance as described above so that your name.vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

        Stockholders that receive more than oneWe will bear the entire cost of the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting, including the preparation, assembly, printing and mailing of the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, this proxy statement, the proxy card or voting instruction form have shares registered in different forms or in more than one account. Stockholders that receive more than one proxy card are requestedand any additional solicitation materials furnished to please sign, date and return all proxy cards and provide instructions for all voting instruction forms received to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

        The cost of this solicitation will be borne by us. Georgeson Inc. will distribute proxy materials to beneficial owners, may solicit proxies by personal interview, mail, telephone, and electronic communications, and will request brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of the common stock held on the record date by such persons.stockholders. The Company will pay Georgeson Inc. $7,500 for its proxy solicitation services and will reimburse Georgeson Inc. for payments made to brokers and other nominees for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials. Solicitations also may be made by personal interview, telephone, and electronic communications by directors, officers and other employees of the Company without additional compensation. We may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to such beneficial owners. No additional compensation will be paid to those individuals for any such services.

        If your proxy is properly submitted, the shares represented thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you are a registered holder and you do not specify how the shares represented thereby are to be voted, your shares will be voted as follows:

        Some stockholders receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials proxy card or voting instruction form because their shares are held in multiple accounts or registered in


different names or addresses. Please vote your shares held ineach account to ensure that all of your shares will be voted.

Quorum; Abstentions;Quorum, Abstentions, Broker Non-Votes;Non-Votes, Required Votes

        Our Bylaws provide that stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the Record Date constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders. Therefore, at the Annual Meeting, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least 202,420,90212,017,252 shares of Common Stock will be required to establish a quorum. Each outstanding share of



our Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each proposal at the Annual Meeting. Approval of the proposals requires the following votes: The fivethe six director nominees receiving the highest number of "For" votes will be elected as directors of the Company and each of ProposalsProposal 2 and 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock presentrepresented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will separately count "For" and (with respect to proposals other than the election of directors) "Against" votes, abstentions, and broker non-votes. Because directors are elected by a plurality vote, abstentions in the election of directors will have no impact once a quorum exists. Abstentions will be counted towards the vote total for each proposal, other than the election of directors, and will have the same effect as "Against" votes with respect to the proposals to approve the 2010 Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation Incentive PlanESPP and to ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.2011.

        A "broker non-vote" occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received instructions with respect to that proposal from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes represented by submitted proxies will not be taken into account in determining the outcome ofhave no effect on Proposal No. 1, the election of directors, because directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Broker non-votes will have no effect on Proposal No. 2, the approval of the Vitesse ESPP, because the shares constituting broker non-votes are not considered to be represented in person or by proxy at the proposalsAnnual Meeting and entitled to approvevote on the 2010 Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation Incentive Plan and to ratifyproposal. Broker non-votes will also have no effect on Proposal No. 3, ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.

        If you hold shares in your name, and you sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as recommended by our Boardbecause brokers or nominees have discretionary authority to vote on all matters and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that properly come before the meeting.this proposal.

Effect of Not Casting Your Vote

        If you hold your shares in street name it is critical that you cast your vote if you want it to count in the election of directors (Proposal One of this proxy statement). In the past, if you held your shares in street name, and you did not indicate how you wanted your shares voted in the election of directors, your bank or broker was allowed to vote those shares on your behalf in the election of directors as theyit felt appropriate.

        Recent changes in regulations were made to take away the ability of your bank or broker to vote your uninstructed shares in the election of directors on a discretionary basis. Your bank or broker likewise has no ability to vote your uninstructed shares on the proposal to approve the Vitesse ESPP (Proposal No. 2). Thus, if you hold your shares in street name and you do not instruct your bank or broker how to vote in the election of directors and approval of the Vitesse ESPP, no vote will be cast on your behalf.behalf for the election of directors or the proposal to approve the Vitesse ESPP. Your bank or broker does not have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares in favor of the approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan (Proposal Two of this proxy statement), however your bank or broker will continue to have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on the ratification of the appointment of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal Three of this proxy statement)No. 3).


Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals

        Proposals of stockholders that are intendedIn order for a stockholder proposal to be presented by such stockholders at theconsidered for inclusion in our proxy statement for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, for the 2010 fiscal yearwritten proposal must be received by us no later than the close of business on the 45th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 75th day, prior to the one year anniversary of the date these proxy materials were first mailed by us unless the annual meeting of stockholders is held prior to April 11, 2011 or after JulyAugust 10, 2011, in which case,and should contain the proposal must be received by us not earlier than the 120th day prior to the annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day prior to the annual meeting and the tenth day following public announcement of the date the annual meeting will be held and must otherwise be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. Under the federal securities laws, for such a matter to be included in the proxy materials



for the annual meeting of stockholders for the 2010 fiscal year, timely notice must be delivered to us atinformation required under our principal executive offices to the attention of Tracy Kern, our Corporate Controller, not less than 120 days beforebylaws. If the date of next year's annual meeting is moved more than 30 days before or after January 19, 2012, the first anniversary date of this year's Annual Meeting, the deadline for inclusion of proposals in our proxy statement releasedis instead a reasonable time before we begin to stockholders in connection with the previousprint and mail our proxy materials for next year's annual meeting, or December 2, 2010. Stockholdermeeting. Any proposals must otherwisewill also need to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")., regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. Proposals should be addressed to Joyce Sheehan, our Corporate Secretary, at our principal executive offices.

        If a stockholder who has notified us of his or her intentionyou intend to present a proposal at anour 2012 Annual Meeting of stockholders and the proposal is not intended to be included in our proxy statement relating to that meeting, you must give us advance notice of the proposal in accordance with our bylaws. Pursuant to our bylaws, in order for a stockholder proposal to be deemed properly presented in these circumstances, a stockholder must deliver notice of the proposal to Joyce Sheehan, our Corporate Secretary, at our principal executive offices after the close of business on October 21, 2011 and before the close of business on November 20, 2011. However, if the date of our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders is more than 30 days before or after January 19, 2012, the first anniversary of this year's Annual Meeting, stockholders must give us notice of any stockholder proposals within a reasonable time before the mailing date of the proxy statement. If a stockholder does not appearprovide us with notice of a stockholder proposal in accordance with the deadlines described above, the stockholder will not be permitted to present his or her proposal at such meeting, we need not present the proposal to the stockholders for a vote at suchthe meeting.

        However,The proxies to be solicited by us through our Board of Directors for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders will confer discretionary authority on the proxy holders to vote on any stockholder proposal properly presented at the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders if we fail to receive notice of the stockholder's proposal for the meeting by August 10, 2011.

        If a stockholder wishes only to recommend a candidate for consideration by the GovernanceNominating and NominatingCorporate Governance Committee as a potential nominee for the Company's Board, see the procedures discussed in "Proposal One—Election of Directors—Process for Recommending Candidates for Election to the Board of Directors."

        The attached proxy card grants to the proxyholders discretionary authority to vote on any matter raised at the Annual Meeting.

Delivery of Voting Materials to Stockholders Sharing an Address

        To reduce the expense of delivering duplicate voting materials to our stockholders who may hold shares of Vitesse common stock in more than one stock account, we are delivering only one set of the proxy solicitation materials to certain stockholders who share an address, unless otherwise requested. A separate proxy card is included in the voting materials for each of these stockholders. We will promptly deliver, upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the annual report or this proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the documents was delivered. To obtain an additional copy, you may write us at 741 Calle Plano Drive, Camarillo, California 93012, Attn: Investor Relations, or contact us by telephone at (805) 388-3700 and request to be connected to our Investor Relations department. Similarly, if you share an address with another stockholder and have received multiple copies of our proxy materials, you may contact us at the address or telephone number specified above to request that only a single copy of these materials be delivered to your address in the future. Stockholders sharing a single address may revoke their consent to receive a single copy of our proxy materials in the future at any time by contacting our distribution agent, Broadridge, either by calling toll-free at 1-800-542-1061, or by writing to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Broadridge will remove such stockholder from the householding program within 30 days of receipt of such written notice, after which each such stockholder will receive an individual copy of our proxy materials.

Further Information

        We will provide without charge to each stockholder solicited by these proxy solicitation materials a copy of Vitesse's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 20092010 without exhibits, and any amendments, thereto on Form 10-K/A upon request of such stockholder made in writing to Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, 741 Calle Plano Drive, Camarillo, California 93012, Attn: Investor Relations. We will also furnish any exhibit to the annual report on Form 10-K, if specifically requested in writing. You can also access our Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, and all amendments thereto filed on Form 10 K/A, on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.


IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 11, 2010

The        We have adopted a procedure called "householding" that allows us to deliver only one copy of our Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, and for those stockholders that received a paper copy of proxy statement andmaterials in the mail, one copy of our annual report to stockholders are available at www.vitesse.com/2010-annual-proxy.and this proxy statement, to multiple stockholders who share the same address (if they appear to be members of the same family) unless we have received contrary instructions from an affected stockholder. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards if they received a paper copy of proxy materials in the mail.



PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

        Five (5)Six (6) members of our Board are to be elected at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy holders will vote the proxies received by them for the nominees named below. Each nominee has consented to be named a nominee in the proxy statement and to continue to serve as a director if elected. If any nominee becomes unable or declines to serve as a director, if additional persons are nominated at the meeting, or if stockholders are entitled to cumulate votes, the proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in such a manner (in accordance with cumulative voting) as will ensure the election of as many of the nominees listed below as possible, and the specific nominees to be voted for will be determined by the proxy holders.

We are not aware of any reason that any nominee will be unable or will decline to serve as a director. The term of office of each person elected as a director will continue until the next Annual Meetingannual meeting of Stockholdersstockholders, or until a successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, or removal. There are no arrangements or understandings between any director or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which he or she is or was to be selected as a director or officer.

        The names of the nominees, all of whom are currently directors standing for re-election, and certain information about them as of March 26,December 1, 2010, are set forth below. All of the nominees have been recommended for nominationnominated by a majority of the Board acting on the recommendation of the GovernanceNominating and NominatingCorporate Governance Committee of the Board, which was approved by a majority vote of the members of such committee. The committee consists solely of independent members of the Board. There are no family relationships among directors or executive officers of Vitesse.

Name
 Age Director
Since
 Principal Occupation Age Director
Since
 Principal Occupation

Christopher R. Gardner

 49 2006 President and Chief Executive Officer 50 2006 President and Chief Executive Officer

Steven P. Hanson(1)(2)

 61 2007 Senior Partner at Southwest Value Acquisitions LLC 
62
 
2007
 

Retired President and CEO of ON Semiconductor

James H. Hugar(1)(2)

 63 2009 Retired Partner at Deloitte & Touche, LLP 
64
 
2009
 

Retired Partner of Deloitte & Touche, LLP

G. Grant Lyon(3)

 46 2009 President of Odyssey Capital Group, LLC 
47
 
2009
 

President of Odyssey Capital Group, LLC

Edward Rogas, Jr.(1)(3)

 69 2006 Chairman of the Board of Vitesse, Retired Senior Vice President at Teradyne, Inc. 
70
 
2006
 

Chairman of the Board of Vitesse, Retired Senior Vice President of Teradyne, Inc.

G. William LaRosa(2)(3)

 
64
 
2010
 

Chief Executive Officer of G.W. LaRosa & Associates, LLC


(1)
Member of the Audit Committee.Committee

(2)
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.Committee

(3)
Member of the Compensation Committee.Committee

        Except asBoard of Directors

        The authorized number of directors under our Bylaws is a minimum of five and a maximum of nine, with the exact number set forth below,by the Board. Currently the authorized number of directors of the Company is six. The following six persons are members of our Board: Christopher R. Gardner, Steven P. Hanson, James H. Hugar, G. Grant Lyon, Edward Rogas, Jr., and G. William LaRosa.

        There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers. Additional information regarding each of our directors has been engaged in his principal occupationis set forth above during the past five years.below.

        Christopher R. Gardner,, age 49,50, has beenserved as a director since October 26, 2006. Mr. Gardner has beenand our Chief Executive Officer since 2006. He served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2002. From 2002 until he was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2006, he served as Vice President



and General Manager of the Network Products Division. He served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2002. Prior to joining Vitesse in 1986, Mr. Gardner served as a member of the Technical Staff at Bell Laboratories from 1982 to 1986.Laboratories. Mr. Gardner's extensive career in the semiconductor industry, combined with his extensive knowledge and understanding of our Company, the industry and the markets in which we operate, and the issues facing the Company, make Mr. Gardner a valuable member of our Board. Mr. Gardner received his BSEE degree from Cornell University and his MSEE degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

        Steven P. Hanson,, age 61,62, has beenserved as a director since August 16, 2007. For more than 32 years, Mr. Hanson has served in senior executive roles at technology companies, including 28 years at Motorola in various engineering management and leadership positions. Mr. Hanson has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ON Semiconductor from 1999 to 2003. Mr. Hanson has been a senior partner at Southwest Value Acquisitions LLC, a private equity firm, since 2004. In addition Mr. Hanson serves on the Board of Deca Technologies Inc., a chip scale packaging company and subsidiary of



Cypress Semiconductor Corp. From 2007 to 2009, heHe served as the Chairman of InPlay Technologies, Inc., a high-technology firm delivering leadership human input device technologies and products. From 1999products from 2005 to 2003, Mr. Hanson was President and Chief Executive Officer of ON Semiconductor. He has served for more than 32 years in senior executive roles at technology companies, including 28 years at Motorola in various engineering management and leadership positions.2007. Mr. Hanson has served Arizona State University as a member of the Dean's Advisory Council, W.P. Carey School of Business and the Dean's Advisory Council for the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. As a former senior executive at technology companies including ON Semiconductor and the GM of Europe, Middle East and Africa Semiconductor Group of Motorola, Mr. Hanson brings operational, strategic and industry expertise to our Board. Mr. Hanson holds a BSEE degree from the College of Engineering at Arizona State University.

        James H. Hugar,, age 63, was appointed to the Board of Directors on64, has served as a director since October 30, 2009. Mr. Hugar recently retired from Deloitte & Touche, LLP, a public accounting firm, where he was an audit partner from 1982 to 2008, specializing in the financial services industry. Prior to his retirement, he also served as the partner-in-charge of the Southern California Investment Companies Industry and Broker/Dealer Practice Unit. Mr. Hugar currently expectsserves on the Board of Advisors of American Relocation & Logistics, Inc., a privately-held company. With over 35 years of experience in public accounting, including participation at hundreds of audit committee meetings and serving as director/advisor for both privately and publicly held companies, Mr. Hugar brings public company financial expertise to join the board of directors of Imperial Capital Group, Inc. in connection with the closing of Imperial Capital Group, Inc.'s initial public offering.Board. Mr. Hugar holds a bachelor'sBS degree in Accounting (cum laude) from Pennsylvania State University and an MSBA degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a Certified Public Accountant.

        G. Grant Lyon,, age 46, was appointed to the Board of Directors on47, has served as a director since October 30, 2009. Mr. Lyon is currently the president of Odyssey Capital Group, LLC, a financial advisory and management consulting firm, whichwhere he founded inhas been employed since 1998. In 2005, he served as interim Chief Financial Officer of Hypercom Corporation. BeforePrior to 2005, Mr. Lyon held positions as managing director at Ernst & Young Corporate Finance, LLC, and a managing member of Golf Equity, LLC vice president,and Vice President, Capital Markets at Evans Withycombe Residential, Inc. HeMr. Lyon began his career at Arthur Andersen, LLP, where he worked from 1987 to 1997. Mr. Lyon has been involved in corporate initiatives that have included capital acquisition, business and securities valuation, acquisitions and mergers, and bankruptcy reorganizations. Mr. Lyon is a director of Fairfield Residential LLC andserved as Chairman of the Board of Three Five Systems, Inc.Systems. He has also served as a director of Tickets.com, Inc. Mr. Lyon's breadth of experience in corporate finance and strategic initiatives, including capital raising, business and securities valuation, mergers and acquisitions and bankruptcy reorganizations allows Mr. Lyon to provide guidance to our Board and our Company regarding our operations, growth strategies and opportunities. Mr. Lyon holds a bachelor'sBS degree (magna cum laude) and an MBA degree (with high distinction) from Brigham Young University. HeMr. Lyon is a Certified Public Accountant and a published author and speaker.

        Edward Rogas, Jr.,, age 69,70, has beenserved as a director since January 24, 2006 and the Chairman of the Board of Directors since December 2006. Mr. Rogas is currently retired.a director and consultant to companies in the technology industry. He served as a Senior Vice President at Teradyne, Inc., an automated test equipment manufacturer, from 2000 throughto 2005. From 1976 to 2000, he held various management positions in the semiconductor ATE portion of Teradyne's business,Teradyne, Inc., including Vice President from 1984 to 2000. Prior to that, fromFrom 1973 to 1976, he served as a Vice President at American Research and Development. Mr. Rogas is currentlyserves on the Board of FormFactor, Inc.,



a manufacturing test-technology company, and Vignani Technologies, Pvt Ltd. (a private Indian company). Mr. Rogas previously served on the board of directors of Photon Dynamics, Inc., a provider of digital imaging technology. Mr. Rogas brings to our Board extensive experience in engineering development and operations in the technology industry, financial sophistication and public company board experience. Mr. Rogas holds a bachelor'sBS degree from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA (with distinction)degree from Harvard Business School.

        The authorized numberG. William LaRosa, age 64, has served as a director since August 2010. Mr. LaRosa is currently the Chief Executive Officer of directors under our bylawsG.W. LaRosa & Associates, LLC, a global technology sales and business development firm. Mr. LaRosa founded Lead Group International (LGI) and helped lead smaller technology companies including Silicon Graphics and American Motion Systems. Mr. LaRosa currently serves on the board of advisors for Silvatron Partners in Los Gatos, California. He is a minimumpast director for the advisory board for the Lubin School of fiveBusiness at PACE University, and a maximum of nine, with the exact number set by the Board. Currently the authorized number of directorsformer chairman of the Company is five.board at LGI. The experience he gained over 30 years holding various senior-level positions at industry-leading companies including General Electric, IBM and Advanced Micro Devices, allows Mr. LaRosa to provide the Board with industry experience and public company sales, marketing and operational expertise. Mr. LaRosa earned his MBA degree from the Lubin School of Business at PACE University and has a BS degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Manhattan College in New York City.

        As a condition to the closing of our recently announcedOctober 2009 debt restructuring transaction, the Company was obligated to appoint two qualified new directors prior to November 2, 2009 from a list of at least four persons identified by the holders of our convertible debentures. The Company received a list of eight director candidates from the holders of the convertible debentures, including James H. Hugar and G. Grant Lyon. Members of our Board reviewed the qualifications of each of the eight candidates and conducted interviews with four of the candidates. As per our independent directors selection process announced on July 17, 2007, these four candidates were also vetted by an independent executive search firm, McDermott & Bull. McDermott & Bull provided an assessment of each



candidate's experience as compared to the qualifications criteria"Current Criteria for Directors" and Independence Standards"Independence Standards" as documented in the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. This document is available on the Company's website,http://www.vitesse.com,, under "Investors—Corporate Governance." McDermott & Bull also conducted a comprehensive and confidential background investigation of the final candidates.

        The resignation of three of our former directors and the appointment of James H. Hugar and G. Grant Lyon to the Board to fill two of the resulting vacancies became effective on October 30, 2009, upon the closing of our debt restructuring transaction on October 30, 2009.transaction.

Director Independence

        The Board has determined that with the exception of Mr. Gardner, all of its current members meet the criteria for independence set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on our websitehttp:// at, www.vitesse.com,, under "Investors—Corporate Governance."

Board Meetings and Committees

Board of Directors

        The Board held a total of forty-four (44)seventeen (17) meetings during fiscal year 2009. During fiscal year 2009, the Board had three standing committees: the Audit Committee; the Compensation Committee; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, in fiscal year 2009, the Board had one additional committee: the Strategic Development Committee. The Strategic Development Committee was dissolved effective as of October 30, 2009. Three of the members of that Committee, Guy Adams, Willow Shire and Robert Lundy, resigned from the Board effective as of October 30, 2009.2010. Each of our incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of the Board and the committees of the Board upon which such director served in fiscal year 2009.2010. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board is required to hold an executive session at each meeting of the Board at which employee directors are not present.

        The Audit Committee, which has been established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, consists of directors Messrs. Hugar, Hanson and Rogas.Rogas, has been chaired by Mr. Hugar was appointed to the Committee as its Chairman onsince December 9, 2009. The Audit Committee held sixteen (16) meetings during fiscal year 2009. All of the members of the Audit Committee are "independent" as defined under rules promulgated by the SEC and meet the NASDAQ Listing Rules criteria for independence. The Board has determined that Mr. Hugar is an "audit committee financial expert" as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Among other things, the Audit Committee assists our Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, the qualifications and independence of our independent audits,auditors, the performance of our internal audit function, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our disclosure controls, and systemour systems of internal controls. The Audit Committee held fourteen (14) meetings during fiscal year 2010. A copy of the Audit Committee charter including any updates thereto, is available on our website at www.vitesse.com.

        The Compensation Committee, of the Boardwhich consists of directorsMessrs. Lyon, Rogas and LaRosa, has been chaired by Mr. Lyon since December 9, 2009. Mr. Lyon and Mr. Rogas both of whom were appointed tohave served on this Committee onsince December 9, 2009, following the resignation of directorsMr. Adams, LundyMs. Shire and ShireMr. Lundy from the Board effective as of October 30, 2009. The Compensation Committee held twelve (12) meetings during fiscal year 2009.Mr. LaRosa was appointed to this committee on August 11, 2010. The Compensation Committee, among other things, reviews and approves our executive compensation policies and programs, and grants stock options and other equity awards to our employees, including officers, pursuant to our stock optionincentive plans. See "Executive Officers and Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis" and "Director Compensation"


below for a description of our processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation. The Compensation Committee held twelve (12) meetings during fiscal year 2010. A copy of the Compensation Committee charter including any updates thereto, is available on our website at www.vitesse.com.

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which consists of directorsMessrs. Hanson, Hugar and Hugar. During fiscal year 2009, the Governance and Nominating Committee consisted of directors Shire,LaRosa, has been chaired by Mr. Hanson and Lundy.since June 29, 2009. Mr. Hugar has served on this committee since December 9, 2009, following the resignation of Ms. Shire and Mr. Lundy from the Board effective October 30, 2009. Mr. LaRosa was appointed to the Committee on December 9, 2009. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held six (6) meetings during fiscal year 2009.August 11, 2010. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, among other things, assists the Board by making recommendations to the Board on matters concerning director nominations and elections, board committees and corporate governance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held four (4) meetings during fiscal year 2010. A copy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter including any updates thereto, is available on our website at www.vitesse.com.

        The Company maintains a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines, which can also be found on our website under "Investors—Corporate Governance." The Corporate Governance Guidelines cover a range of governance-related matters, including requirements that the Board of Directors maintain an independent Chairman of the Board and that at least three-fourths of the Board and the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consist of independent members.

        We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for members of the Board, of Directors, a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for all officers and employees of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer/Officer and Controller and persons performing similar functions. Copies of these Codes are posted on our website,http://www.vitesse.com,, under "Investors—Corporate Governance." We intend to disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, the provisions of these Codes on our website under "Investors—Corporate Governance."

Board's Role in Risk Oversight

        Our management team is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing the material risks facing our company. The Board's role in risk oversight includes receiving regular updates from management on areas of material risks and key strategies and initiatives. The Board also participates in a review of the Company's annual operating plan, which includes the identification of the most significant risks facing our business and evaluation of how the Company's corporate strategies align to manage those risks. While the Board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight, each committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Audit Committee oversees management of financial risks. The Compensation Committee provides oversight of the company's compensation policies and practices including risks associated with executive compensation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee manages risks associated with corporate governance, including the independence of Board members, Board composition and policies and procedures such as our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines, used to promote ethical conduct and compliance with law.

Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders by Directors

        It is the policy of the Company that absent extraordinary circumstances each member of the Board of Directors shall attend our Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our board members attended the last year's annual meeting of stockholders.meeting.

Process for Recommending Candidates for Election to the Board of Directors

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider nominees recommended by stockholders. A stockholder that desires to recommend a candidate for election to the Board must direct the recommendation in writing to us at our principal offices (Attention: Tracy Kern,Joyce Sheehan, Corporate Controller)Secretary) and must include the candidate'scandidate name, age, home and business contact information, principal occupation or employment, the number of shares beneficially owned by the nominee, whether any hedging transactions have been entered into by the nominee or on his or her behalf, information regarding any arrangements or understandings between the nominee and the stockholder nominating the nominee or any other persons relating to the nomination, a written statement by the nominee acknowledging that the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty to the Company, if elected, and any other information required to be disclosed about the nominee if proxies were to be



solicited to elect the nominee as a director. For a stockholder recommendation to be considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as a potential candidate at an annual meeting,Annual Meeting, nominations must be received on or before the deadline for receipt of stockholder proposals for such meeting. In the event a



stockholder decides to nominate a candidate for director and solicits proxies for such candidate, the stockholder will need to follow the rules set forth by the SEC and in our bylaws.Bylaws. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting—DeadlineVoting-Deadline for Receipt of Stockholder Proposals."

        The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee's criteria and process for evaluating and identifying the candidates that it approves as director nominees are as follows:



Director Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 20092010

        The following table presents information regarding the compensation earned during fiscal year 20092010 by members of our Board of Directors who were not also our employees (referred to as "Non-Employee Directors"). The compensation paid to Mr. Gardner, who is employed by us, is presented below in the Summary Compensation Table and the related explanatory tables. Directors who



are also officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries receive no additional compensation for their services as directors.a director.

Name
 Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
 Option
Awards(1)
 Total 

Guy W. Adams(2)

 $175,337 $18,410 $193,747 

Vincent Chan, Ph.D(3)

  
28,771
  
18,749
  
47,520
 

Steven P. Hanson(4)

  
165,254
  
19,180
  
184,434
 

Robert A. Lundy(5)

  
93,754
  
14,230
  
107,984
 

Edward Rogas, Jr.(6)

  
185,750
  
25,473
  
211,223
 

Willow B. Shire(7)

  
112,504
  
19,149
  
131,653
 
Name
 Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
 Stock
Awards(1)(2)
 Option
Awards(2)
 Total 

Guy W. Adams(3)

 $18,918 $ $ $18,918 

Steven P. Hanson(4)(11)

  78,003  100,000  7,260  185,263 

James H. Hugar(5)(11)

  65,753  100,000  18,375  184,128 

G. William LaRosa(6)

  11,666  100,000    111,666 

Robert A. Lundy(7)

  18,418      18,418 

G. Grant Lyon(8)(11)

  52,754  100,000  18,375  171,129 

Edward Rogas, Jr.(9)(11)

  94,748  100,000  7,260  202,008 

Willow B. Shire(10)

  18,418      18,418 

(1)
Represents RSU awards. Each RSU entitled the director to receive one share of our common stock at the time of vesting, without the payment of an exercise price or other cash consideration.

(2)
Amounts shown do not reflect compensation actually received by the directors. Instead,Directors. These amounts represent the amounts shown are the stock option related compensation costs recognizedaggregate grant date fair value of these awards granted in fiscal year 2009 for financial statement reporting purposes as determined pursuant2010, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. These amounts may not correspond to ASC 718. The assumptionsthe actual value eventually realized by the director, which depends in part on the market value of our common stock in future periods. Assumptions used in the calculation of values of option awardscalculating these amounts are set forth underin the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Formsannual report on Form 10-K for the yearsyear ended September 30, 2009 and prior.2010. Vested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying the RSUs deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securities exchange.

(2)(3)
Mr. Adams became a director on October 25, 2007 and resigned as a director effective October 30, 2009. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for stock option grants with the following fair values as of the grant date: 75,000 options granted on October 25, 2007 with a grant date fair value of $46,500 and 40,000 options granted on January 1, 2009 with a grant date fair value of $9,796. As of September 30, 2009,2010, Mr. Adams had 115,000no options outstanding.

(3)
Dr. Chan resigned as a director on July 7, 2009. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for stock option grants with the following fair values as of the grant date: 40,000 options granted on January 1, 2004 with a fair value of $179,851, 40,000 options granted on January 1, 2005 with a fair value of $86,583, and 40,000 options granted on January 1, 2006 with a fair value of $57,531. As of September 30, 2009, Dr. Chan had 100,000 optionsor RSUs outstanding.

(4)
Mr. Hanson became a director on August 16, 2007. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for 75,000 optionsStock and option award amounts reflect fair value of the 12,919 RSUs granted on August 16, 2007May 11, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $49,655$100,000 and 40,0002,000 options granted on January 1, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $7,260. As of September 30, 2010, Mr. Hanson had 7,750 options and 12,919 RSUs outstanding.

(5)
Mr. Hugar became director on October 30, 2009. Stock and option award amounts reflect fair value of the 12,919 RSUs granted on May 11, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $100,000, 3,750 options granted on October 30, 2009 with a grant date fair value of $9,796.$11,115, and 2,000 options granted on January 1, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $7,260. As of September 30, 2009,2010, Mr. HansonHugar had 115,0005,750 options and 12,919 RSUs outstanding.

(5)(6)
Mr. LaRosa became a director on August 4, 2010. There were no option awards granted to Mr. LaRosa for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010. Mr. LaRosa received an RSU award covering 18,691 shares of our common stock on August 4, 2010 with a grant fair value of $100,000. The RSU granted on August 4, 2010 will vest in three (3) annual installments of 33% on August 4, 2011, 2012 and 2013. As of September 30, 2010, Mr. LaRosa had no options and 18,691 RSUs outstanding.

(7)
Mr. Lundy became a director on May 2, 2008 and resigned as a director effective October 30, 2009. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for a stockAs of September 30, 2010, Mr. Lundy had no options or RSUs outstanding.

(8)
Mr. Lyon became director on October 30, 2009. Stock and option grantaward amounts reflect fair value of 75,000 optionsthe 12,919 RSUs granted on May 2, 200811, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $29,250 and 40,000$100,000, 3,750 options granted on January 1,October 30, 2009 with a grant date fair value of $9,796.$11,115, and 2,000 options granted on January 1, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $7,260. As of September 30, 2009,2010, Mr. LundyLyon had 115,0005,750 options and 12,919 RSUs outstanding.

(6)(9)
Mr. Rogas became a director on January 24, 2006. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for 40,000 optionsStock and option award amounts reflect fair value of the 12,919 RSUs granted on January 24, 2006May 11, 2010 with a grant date fair value of $75,732$100,000 and 40,0002,000 options granted on January 1, 20092010 with a grant date fair value of $9,796.$7,260. As of September 30, 2009,2010, Mr. Rogas had 80,0006,000 options and 12,919 RSUs outstanding.


(7)(10)
Ms. Shire became a director on June 26, 2007 and resigned as a director effective October 30, 2009. Option awards amount reflects compensation costs recognized in fiscal year 2009 for stock option grants with the following fair values as of the grant date: 40,000 options granted on June 26, 2007 with a grant date fair value of $29,179, 35,000 options granted on July 27, 2007 with a grant date fair value of $25,172, and 40,000 options granted on January 1, 2009 with a grant date fair value of $9,796. As of September 30, 2009,2010, Ms. Shire had 115,000no options or RSUs outstanding.

(11)
On May 11, 2010, each of the following directors received an RSU award covering 12,919 shares of our common stock: Messrs. Rogas, Hugar, Hanson, and Lyon. The total value of the RSUs issued on May 11, 2010 was $100,000 for each director. The RSUs granted on May 11, 2010 will vest in three (3) annual installments of 33% on May 12, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Vote Required

        If a quorum is present, the five (5)six (6) nominees receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to the Board. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting—Quorum; Abstentions;Quorum, Abstentions, Broker Non-Votes.Non-Votes, Required Votes."

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE FIVESIX NOMINEES
PRESENTED HEREIN.



PROPOSAL TWO2


APPROVAL OF THE VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

        Our board of directors believes that the effective use of stock-based, long-term incentive compensation is vitalWe are asking stockholders to our ability to achieve continued strong performance in the future by providing a direct link between executive compensation and long-term stockholder value creation. Accordingly, we are seeking stockholder approval of the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2010 Incentive Plan, or the "2010 Incentive Plan." The board adopted the 2010 Incentive Plan, upon recommendation of its Compensation Committee, subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting.

        If the 2010 Incentive Plan is approved by stockholders, it will replace the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, which we refer in this proposal as the "Current Incentive Plan" and in the text of the 2010 Incentive Plan as the "Prior Plan." If stockholders approve the 2010 IncentiveCompany's 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan no new awards will be granted under the Current Incentive Plan. If stockholders do not approve the 2010 Incentive Plan, the Current Incentive Plan will remain available for new grants until it expires on October 17, 2010.

(the "ESPP"). The 2010 Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance of 50,000,000ESPP allows employees to purchase shares of our common stock. Asstock at a discount using payroll deductions. Stockholder approval of March 26,the ESPP would entitle employees in the United States to receive special tax treatment provided by the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

        Our Board of Directors adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan on November 23, 2010, 4,957,794 shares were availablesubject to stockholder approval. The ESPP provides for the issuance under the Current Incentive Plan, and these shares will be cancelled if the stockholders approve the 2010 Incentive Plan. The Board believes that these additional reserved shares are required in order for usof up to have an appropriate reserve of equity incentives to recruit, hire and retain the top talent that we will require to successfully execute our business strategy.

        As of March 26, 2009, we had outstanding 404,841,802 shares of our common stock. The new shares authorized for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan represent approximately 11.1% of our2.5 million shares of common stock currently outstanding. We anticipate granting awards for up to approximately 3.7% of the outstanding shares per year, as compared to the average run rate of 3% to 4% for our industry group. We anticipate that with the additional shares for which we are seeking stockholder approval, we will have sufficient shares reserved for our equity compensation program through fiscal year 2012, and that we will need to seek stockholder approval for additional shares at our 2012 annual stockholders meeting.

        While authorizing these additional shares for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan will increase the potential dilution represented by equity compensation awards, the potential dilution represented by our current outstanding equity compensation awards is very small relative to our peer group companies. The primary reason for this is that we have granted equity compensation awards with respect to relatively few shares over the past three years. In addition, a significant number of our outstanding stock options are "underwater" (the exercise prices are above the current market price of our common stock), which means that these stock options are unlikely to be exercised before they expire.

        In addition to the new shares authorized for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan, up to 40,577,825 shares subject to awards outstanding under the Current Incentive Plan may become available for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan to the extent that these shares on or after the date of stockholder approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan, cease to be subject to the awards (such as by expiration, cancellation or forfeiture of the awards).

        Although currently our common stock is not listed on any stock exchange, we are voluntarily soliciting stockholder approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan to provide the Compensation Committee with the flexibility to grant incentive stock options to employees under the 2010 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."


        The principal features of the 2010 Incentive Plan are summarized below. This summary does not contain all information about the 2010 Incentive Plan.stock. A copy of the complete text of the 2010 Incentive PlanESPP is included as Appendix Aattached to this proxy statement as Appendix A. The description below is a summary and the followingnot intended to be a complete description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2010 Incentive Plan.ESPP. Please read the ESPP for more detailed information.


DESCRIPTION OF THE 2010 INCENTIVE PLAN

PurposeDescription of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        The purpose of the 2010 Incentive PlanESPP is to attract, retain and motivate ourprovide employees officers and directors by providing them with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and to align their interests and efforts to the long-term interests of our stockholders. The 2010 Incentive Plan would also allow us to provide the same opportunity to consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors.

Administration

        The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors will administer the 2010 Incentive Plan, except that the board will administer the 2010 Incentive Plan with respect to our non-employee directors. The Board or the Committee may delegate administration of the 2010 Incentive Plan in accordance with its terms. References to the "Committee" in this Proposal Two are, as applicable, to the Compensation Committee, the Board or other delegate, including an officer of the Company authorized by the board or Compensation Committee to make grants to certain eligible employees of the Company.

Eligibility

        Awards may be granted under the 2010 Incentive Plan to employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and itsthose subsidiaries designated to participate in the ESPP with an opportunity to purchase shares of common stock. The ESPP has two portions—one portion for employees in the United States and affiliates. Asone portion for international employees.

        The portion of March 26, 2009, approximately 439the ESPP for employees 3 executive officers,in the United States is intended to qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of such portion of the ESPP, accordingly, will be construed so as to extend and 4 non-employee directors were eligible to receive awardslimit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of the Code.

        A total of 2.5 million shares of common stock will be available for issuance and purchase under the 2010 Incentive Plan.

Number of Shares

ESPP. The number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan is 50,000,000. In addition, any shares subject to outstanding awards under the Current Incentive Plan as of the date of stockholder approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan that cease to be subject to these awards (other than from exercise or settlement of the awards in shares) will automatically become available for issuance and purchase under the 2010 Incentive Plan, up to an aggregate maximumportion of up to 40,577,825 shares. The maximumthe ESPP for United States employees will be 2.5 million shares of common stock less the number of shares of common stock thatused for the employee stock purchase programs for employees outside the United States. If any purchase right terminates for any reason without having been exercised, the shares of common stock not purchased under such purchase right shall again become available for the ESPP.

        The ESPP will be administered by the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of our Board or any other Committee appointed by the Board to administer the ESPP. The Committee has the full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe and interpret the ESPP and the rights granted under it, to designate from time-to-time which subsidiaries of the Company will participate in the ESPP, to establish rules and regulations for the administration of the ESPP, and to amend the ESPP to satisfy applicable laws, to obtain any exemption under such laws or to reduce or eliminate any unfavorable legal, accounting or other consequences. The Committee also may be issued pursuantadopt special rules for employees of the Company's international subsidiaries to conform to the exerciseparticular laws and practices of incentive stockthe countries in which such employees reside.

Eligibility

        Generally, all employees of the Company and its designated subsidiaries whose customary employment is for more than 20 hours per week and who have completed at least six months of service with the Company or any subsidiary are eligible to participate in the ESPP. Employees of designated subsidiaries outside the United States may have different eligibility requirements as determined appropriate by the Committee, for example, to accommodate local requirements and practices. However, any employee who would own or have options is the same asto acquire five percent (5%) or more of the total numbercombined voting power or value of shares authorized under the 2010 Incentive Plan.

        The following shares will be available again for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan:



excluded from participating in the ESPP. As of November 12, 2010, there would have been approximately 418 employees eligible to participate in the ESPP.

Purchase of Shares of Common Stock

        Awards granted in assumptionPursuant to procedures established by the Committee, eligible employees may elect to have a portion of or substitutiontheir compensation used to purchase shares of common stock. Purchase periods are established and purchases of shares of common stock are made on the last trading day of the purchase period with compensation amounts withheld from employees during the purchase period. Pursuant to procedures established by the Committee, employees may withdraw with respect to a future purchase period. If an employee withdraws from a future purchase period, such employee may not recommence withholding of compensation for previously granted awards in acquisition transactionsthe purchase of shares of common stock until the following purchase period.

        On each purchase date (the last trading day of each purchase period), any amounts withheld from an employee's compensation during the applicable purchase period for purposes of the ESPP will not reducebe used to purchase the greatest number of whole shares authorizedof common stock that can be purchased with such amounts. The purchase price for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan.

        If any change in oura share of common 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,will be set, unless the Committee will make proportional adjustments todetermines higher percentages, at the maximum number and kindlesser of securities (a) available for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan, (b) issuable as incentive stock options, (c) issuable to certain individuals subject to Code Section 162(m), and (d) subject to any outstanding award, including the per share price of such securities.

Types of Awards

        The 2010 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 nonqualified stock options. The committee sets option exercise prices and terms, except that the exercise price of stock options granted under the 2010 Incentive Plan must be at least 100%(i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of thea share of 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 2010 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 excessfirst trading day of the share's fair market value on the datepurchase period or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of exercise over its fair market value on the date the SAR was granted. Exercise of an 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 2010 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 with us 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 2010 Incentive Plan and any other terms and conditions determined by the Committee.

Repricing

        The 2010 Incentive Plan prohibits the Committee, without stockholder approval, from lowering the price of an option after it is granted, except in connection with adjustments provided under the 2010



Incentive Plan, taking any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles, or canceling an option at a time when its strike price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying stock, in exchange for another option, restricted stock or units, or other equity, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off or other similar corporate transaction.

Performance-Based Compensation under Code Section 162(m)

        Performance Goals and Criteria.    If the Committee intends to qualify an award under the 2010 Incentive Plan as "qualified performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m)share of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (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); working capital; earnings per share; book value per share; operating income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); revenues; operating margins; return on assets; return on equity; debt; debt plus equity; market or economic value added; stock price appreciation; total stockholder return; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; net income; 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 Principles Board Opinion No. 30 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, 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 2010 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 5,000,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year, except that additional awards for up to 5,000,000 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 $3,000,000 in any calendar year.


Change of Control

        Under the 2010 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:

        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:

Amendment and Termination

        The Board of Directors or the committee may amend the 2010 Incentive Plan, except that if any applicable statute, rule or regulation requires stockholder approval for an amendment to the 2010 Incentive Plan, then to the extent so required, stockholder approval will be obtained. The Board or the Committee may also suspend or terminate all or any portion of the 2010 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 or Committee, the 2010 Incentive Plan will terminate ten years after the date of stockholder approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan.


U.S. Federal Income Tax Information

        The following is a brief summary of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the 2010 Incentive Plan generally applicable to us and to participants in the 2010 Incentive Plan who are subject to U.S. federal taxes. The summary is based on the Code, 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.

        Nonqualified 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 datepurchase date. For purposes of grant and no additional deferral feature. Whenthe ESPP, "fair market value" generally means the closing sales price of a nonqualifiedshare of common stock option is exercised,for the day. As of November 12, 2010 the closing sales price of a participant generally will recognize compensation taxableshare of common stock as ordinary income in an amount equal toreported on the difference betweenPink Sheets electronic quotation system was $4.35 per share.

        The Code limits the aggregate 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,common stock (determined 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 basisbeginning of the purchase period) that any employee in the United States may purchase under the ESPP during any calendar year to $25,000. In addition, an employee may purchase a maximum number of shares generally will be equal to the greater ofdetermined by dividing $25,000 by the fair market value of the shares on the exercisefirst day of the applicable offering period and the Committee may further limit the number of shares that an employee may purchase in any purchase period. Employees in the United States must notify the Company if shares of common stock are disposed of in a disposition that does not satisfy the holding period requirements of Section 423 of the Code (generally, as discussed below, two years from the beginning of the applicable purchase period).

        The Company will pay the administrative costs associated with the operation of the ESPP. The employees will pay any brokerage commissions that result from their sales of shares of common stock.

        The Company may deduct or withhold or require employees to pay to the Company any federal, state, local and other taxes the Company is required to withhold with respect to any event arising as a result of the ESPP. The Company may also deduct those amounts from the employees' wages or compensation.

Effect of Certain Corporate Events

        The ESPP provides for adjustment of the number of shares of common stock which may be granted under the ESPP as well as the purchase price per share of common stock and the number of shares of common stock covered by each purchase right for any increase or decrease in the number of shares of common stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock or recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, split-up, spin-off or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.


        In the event of any corporate transaction, the Committee may make such adjustment it deems appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights in the ESPP, in the number, class of or price of shares of common stock available for purchase under the ESPP and in the number of shares of common stock which an employee is entitled to purchase and any other adjustments it deems appropriate. In the event of any such transaction, the Committee may elect to have the purchase rights under the ESPP assumed or such purchase rights substituted by a successor entity, to set an earlier purchase date, prior to the consummation of such corporate transaction, to terminate all outstanding purchase rights either prior to their expiration or upon completion of the purchase of shares of common stock on the next purchase date, or to take such other action deemed appropriate by the option exercise price.Committee.

        Incentive Stock Options.Amendment or Termination

        The Board may amend the ESPP at any time, provided such amendment does not cause rights issued under the portion of the ESPP for United States employees to fail to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Moreover, any amendment for which stockholder approval is required under Section 423 of the Code or any securities exchange on which the shares are traded must be submitted to the stockholders for approval. The Board may suspend or terminate the ESPP any time.

    A participant generallyU.S Federal Income Tax Consequences

        The following discussion is only a brief summary of the United States federal income tax consequences to the Company and employees under the portion of the ESPP applicable to employees in the United States. It is based on the Code as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement. The discussion relates only to United States federal income tax treatment; state, local, foreign, estate, gift and other tax consequences are not discussed. The summary is not intended to be a complete analysis or discussion of all potential tax consequences.

        The amounts deducted from an employee's pay pursuant to the ESPP will not recognizebe included in the employee's compensation and be subject to federal income uponand employment tax. Generally, no additional income will be recognized by the grantemployee either at the beginning of an incentivethe purchase period when purchase rights are granted pursuant to the ESPP or at the time the employee purchases shares of common stock option.pursuant to the ESPP.

        If a participant exercises an incentivethe shares of common stock option during employment as anare disposed of at least two years after the first day of the purchase period to which the shares of common stock relate and at least one year after the shares of common stock were acquired under the ESPP (the "Holding Period"), or if the employee or within three months after his or her employment ends (12 monthsdies while holding the shares of common stock, the employee (or in the case of permanent and total disability), the participant will not recognize income atemployee's death, the time of exercise for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes (although the participant generallyemployee's estate) will recognize income for alternative minimum tax purposes at that time as if the option were a nonqualified 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 or death in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the datefirst trading day of exercisethe purchase period over the option exercisepurchase price (or, if less,of the share of common stock, or (b) the excess of fair market value of the shares of common stock at the time of such disposition over the purchase price of the shares of common stock.

        If the shares of common stock are sold or disposed of (including by way of most gifts) before the expiration of the Holding Period, the employee will recognize ordinary income in the year of sale or disposition in an amount equal to the excess of the amount realized on the disposition of the sharessales price over the option exercise price). The balance ofpurchase price. Even if 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 nonqualified 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 theare sold for less than their fair market value of our common stock on the purchase date, the same amount of grant and no additional deferral feature. Uponordinary income is included in income.

        In addition, the exercise of an SAR, a participantemployee generally will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary incomecapital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market valueamount realized upon the sale of shares of common stock and the employee's tax basis in the shares of common stock (generally, the amount the employee paid for the shares of common stock plus the amount, if any, taxed as ordinary income). Capital gain or loss recognized on a



disposition of shares of common stock will be long-term capital gain or loss if the employee's holding period for the shares of common stock exceeds one year. The purchase date begins the holding period for determining whether the gain or loss realized is short or long term.

        If the employee disposes of shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the ESPP after the Holding Period, the Company will not be entitled to any federal income tax deduction with respect to the shares of common stock issued under the ESPP. If the employee disposes of such shares of common stock prior to the expiration of the shares underlyingHolding Period, 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 participantCompany generally, will recognize compensation taxable as ordinarybe entitled to a federal income tax deduction 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 atby 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 recognizedemployee 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.such disposition.

        Restricted Stock Units.New Plan Benefits    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        Participation 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 2010 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"ESPP 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 2010 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 2010 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).

        Tax Withholding.    We are authorized to deduct or withhold from any award granted or payment due under the 2010 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 2010 Incentive Plan until all tax withholding obligations are satisfied.

Plan Benefits

        All awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants under the 2010 Incentive Plan are made atentirely within the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Therefore,eligible employees. Because the benefitsCompany cannot presently determine the participation levels by employees, the rate of contributions by employees and amounts that will be received or allocatedthe eventual purchase price under the 2010 Incentive PlanESPP, it is not possible to determine the value of benefits which may be obtained by executive officers and other employees under the ESPP. Nonemployee directors are not determinable at this time. However, please refereligible to the description of grants made to our named executive officersparticipate in the last fiscal year described in the "Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2009" table. Grants made to our non-employee directors in the last fiscal year are described in the "Director Compensation" section. The closing price of our common stock, as reported on the Pink Sheets on March 26, 2010, was $0.349 per share.



EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Equity Compensation Plan Information TableESPP.

        The following table provides information as of September 30, 2009 concerning securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plansaffirmative vote of the Company.

 
 A B C 
Plan Category
 Number of
Securities to be
Issued upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
 Weighted
Average Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants and
Rights
 Number of
Securities
Remaining
Available for
Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities
Reflected in
Column A)
 

Equity Compensation Plans approved by Shareholders(1)

  21,939,222(2)$4.56(3) 25,394,347 

Equity Compensation Plans not approved by Shareholders(4)

  2,696,743  6.05  560,215 
        
 

Total(5)

  24,635,965 $4.72  25,954,562 
        

(1)
Consistsholders of the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, the 1991 Stock Option Plan, the 1991 Directors' Stock Option Plan and the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. No additional awards are being made under the 1991 Stock Option Plan or the 1991 Directors' Stock Option Plan. The 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was suspended in July 2006.

(2)
Includes 3,443,253 RSUs, which do not have an exercise price.

(3)
Includes weighted average exercise price for stock options only.

(4)
Consists of the Vitesse International Inc. 1999 International Stock Option Plan, which was adopted in 1999 to provide for the grant to international employees of incentive stock options and the assumption of options under plans of foreign subsidiaries. The Vitesse International Inc. 1999 International Stock Option Plan expired on October 31, 2009.

(5)
The table does not include information for equity compensation plans assumed by the Company in connection with acquisitions of the companies that originally established those plans. As of September 30, 2009, a total of 56,971 shares of the Company's common stock were issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under those assumed plans. The weighted average exercise price of those options outstanding is $19.55 per share. No additional options may be granted under those assumed plans.

Vote Required

        If a quorum is present, the approval of the 2010 Incentive Plan will require a majority of the shares votingrepresented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. See "Information Concerning SolicitationMeeting and Voting—Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes."entitled to vote on the resolution is required for approval of the ESPP. The Board has unanimously approved the ESPP and believes it to be in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR"
APPROVAL OFFOR THE VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN.



PROPOSAL THREE

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The Audit Committee of the Board has selected BDO Seidman,USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010,2011, and recommends that stockholders vote for ratification of such appointment. BDO Seidman,USA, LLP has audited our financial statements since the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. Although ratification by stockholders is not required by law, the Audit Committee has determined that it is desirable to request ratification of this selection by the stockholders as a matter of good corporate practice. Notwithstanding its selection, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may appoint a new independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the Audit Committee believes that such a change would be in the best interest of Vitesse and its stockholders. If the stockholders do not ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection. The Audit Committee selected BDO Seidman,USA, LLP to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.2010.

        Representatives of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP are expected to be present at the meeting and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. The representatives of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP are also expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Principal AccountingAccountant Fees and Services

        The following table shows the approximate fees billed to us, for fiscal years 2010 and 2009, by BDO Seidman,USA, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm:


 2009 2008  2010 2009 

Audit Fees

 $2,694,422 $2,376,850  $1,297,594 $2,694,422 

Audit-Related Fees

 
140,958
 
   140,958 

Tax Fees

 
309,892
 
120,450
  207,175 309,892 

All Other Fees

 
 
    
          

Total

 
$

3,145,272
 
$

2,497,300
  $1,504,769 $3,145,272 
          

Audit Fees

        This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.engagements. This category also includes advice on accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements, statutory audits required by non-U.S. jurisdictions and the preparation of an annual "management letter" on internal control matters.

Audit-Related Fees

        This category consists of professional services rendered primarily in connection with our debt restructuring activities. These professional services continued through consummation of the debt restructuring on October 30, 2009, as discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.


Tax Fees

        This category consists of professional services rendered primarily in connection with computationour debt restructuring activities. These professional services continued through consummation of the debt



restructuring on October 30, 2009, as discussed in our tax provision as well as tax compliance activities, includingannual report on Form 10-K for the preparation of tax returns in certain overseas jurisdictions and technical tax advice related to the preparation of tax returns.year ended September 30, 2009.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

        The Audit Committee, in its sole discretion, pre-approved and reviewed audit and non-audit services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the fees charged for such services. Requests for approval are considered at each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting or, if necessary, are approved by the unanimous consent of all members of the Audit Committee. In its pre-approval and review of non-audit service fees, the Audit Committee considers, among other factors, the possible effect of the performance of such services on the auditors' independence. The Audit Committee considered and pre-approved all services rendered during fiscal years 20092010 and 2008.2009.

Vote Required

        If a quorum is present, the approval of the ratification of the appointment of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 20102011 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares votingrepresented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting.Meeting and entitled to vote on the resolution. See "Information Concerning Solicitation and Voting—Quorum; Abstentions; Broker Non-Votes."

THE AUDIT COMMITTEEBOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BDO SEIDMAN,USA, LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010.2011.



SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

        The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock based on 404,841,80223,986,531 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 26,December 1, 2010 by: (i) all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock; (ii) each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table; (iii) each of our current directors; and (iv) all of our current executive officers and directors as a group. Five percent or greater shareholder information is based on information contained in Schedule 13D/13G filings. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the beneficial owners listed in this table is: c/o Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, 741 Calle Plano, Camarillo, California 93012.

Name of Individuals or Identity of Group
 Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 Shares
Exercisable
Within 60
Days of
March 26,
2010
 Total Shares
Beneficially
Owned Plus
Exercisable
Within 60
Days of
March 26,
2010
 Additional
Shares
Exercisable
Within 60 Days
of March 26,
2010 and upon
the Company's
Listing on an
Exchange
 Percent of
Total
Shares
Outstanding
 

AQR Capital Management, LLC; AQR

  33,677,288(1) 7,329,630  41,006,918    9.9%
 

Absolute Return Master Account L.P.

                
 

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

                
 

Greenwich, CT 06830

                

CNH CA Master Account, L.P. 

  
39,980,338

(2)
 
403,798
  
40,384,136
  
  
9.9

%
 

Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor

                
 

Greenwich, CT 06830

                

Linden Capital, L.P. 

  
12,471,723

(3)
 
30,934,598
  
43,406,321
  
  
9.9

%
 

c/o Wakefield Quin

                
 

Victoria Place

                
 

31 Victoria Street

                
 

Hamilton HM10, Bermuda

                

Whitebox Advisors, LLC

  
40,712,026

(4)
    
40,712,026
  
  
9.9

%
 

3033 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 300

                
 

Minneapolis, MN 55416

                

Aristeia Master, L.P. 

  
30,811.017

(5)
 
  
30,811,017
  
  
7.6

%
 

136 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor

                
 

New York, NY 10016

                

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,

  
26,726,116

(6)
 
  
26,726,116
  
  
6.6

%
 

London Branch

                
 

c/o RBS Global Banking & Markets

                
 

600 Washington Boulevard

                
 

Stamford, CT 06901

                

Kopp Investment Advisors, LLC

  
21,138,676

(7)
 
  
21,138,676
  
  
5.2

%
 

7701 France Avenue South,

                
 

Suite 500

                
 

Edina, MN 55435

                

Lake Union Capital Fund, L.P. 

  
20,210,000

(8)
    
20,210000
     
5.0

%
 

600 University Street, Suite 1520

                
 

Seattle, WA 98101

                

Christopher R. Gardner

  
399,316
  
1,677,885
  
2,077,021
  
300,000

(9)
 
*
 

Richard C. Yonker

  
  
225,000
  
225,000
  
150,000

(10)
 
*
 

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

  
  
100,000
  
100,000
  
75,000

(11)
 
*
 

Steven P. Hanson

  
  
49,500
  
49,500
  
40,000

(12)
 
*
 
Name of Individuals or Identity of Group
 Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 Series B
Preferred
Stock and
Debentures
Convertible
Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010
 Total Shares
Beneficially
Owned Plus
Exercisable
Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010
 Stock Options
and RSUs
Vested Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010 and upon
the Company's
Listing on an
Exchange
 Percent of
Total Shares
Outstanding
 

Linden Capital, L.P.
c/o Wakefield Quin
Victoria Place
31 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM10, Bermuda

  1,807,036(1) 589,219  2,396,255     9.9%

CNH CA Master Account, L.P.
Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor
Greenwich, CT 06830

  
  
2,396,255

(2)
 
2,396,255
     
9.9

%

Whitebox Advisors, LLC
3033 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55416

  
1,987,875

(3)
 
408,380
  
2,396,255
     
9.9

%

Kopp Investment Advisors, LLC
7701 France Avenue South, Suite 500
Edina, MN 55435

  
2,252,554

(4)
 
  
2,252,554
     
9.4

%

AQR Capital Management, LLC; AQR Absolute Return Master Account L.P.
Two Greenwich Plaza, 3rd Floor
Greenwich, CT 06830

  
1,683,864

(5)
 
366,482
  
2,050,346
     
8.5

%

Aristeia Capital L.L.C.
136 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10016

  
1,540,551

(6)
    
1,540,551
     
6.4

%

Columbia Pacific Opportunity Fund, L.P.
1910 Fairview Avenue East, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98102

  
1,537,860

(7)
    
1,537,860
     
6.4

%

Lake Union Capital Fund, L.P.
600 University Street, Suite 1520
Seattle, WA 98101

  
1,500,000

(8)
    
1,500,000
     
6.3

%

ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,
London Branch
c/o RBS Global Banking & Markets
600 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901

  
  
1,187,778

(9)
 
1,187,778
     
5.0

%

Name of Individuals or Identity of Group
 Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 Shares
Exercisable
Within 60
Days of
March 26,
2010
 Total Shares
Beneficially
Owned Plus
Exercisable
Within 60
Days of
March 26,
2010
 Additional
Shares
Exercisable
Within 60 Days
of March 26,
2010 and upon
the Company's
Listing on an
Exchange
 Percent of
Total
Shares
Outstanding
  Shares
Beneficially
Owned
 Series B
Preferred
Stock and
Debentures
Convertible
Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010
 Total Shares
Beneficially
Owned Plus
Exercisable
Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010
 Stock Options
and RSUs
Vested Within
60 Days of
December 1,
2010 and upon
the Company's
Listing on an
Exchange
 Percent of
Total Shares
Outstanding
 

Christopher R. Gardner

 17,466  17,466 138,057(10) * 

Richard C. Yonker

 
4,000
 
 
4,000
 
26,250

(11)
 
*
 

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

 
 
 
 
13,125

(12)
 
*
 

Steven P. Hanson

 
3,100
 
 
3,100
 
7,075

(13)
 
*
 

Edward Rogas, Jr.

  40,000 40,000 40,000(12) *  
3,000
 
 
3,000
 
6,000

(14)
 
*
 

G. Grant Lyon

 
 
 
 
 
*
  
10,000
 
 
10,000
 
5,750

(15)
 
*
 

James H. Hugar

 
 
 
 
 
*
  
14,000
 
 
14,000
 
5,750

(16)
 
*
 

All executive officers and Directors as a group (7 persons)

 
399,316
 
2,092,385
 
2,491,701
 
605,000
 
*
 

Former Executive Officers:

 

Michael B. Green(13)

 
 
 
 
 
 

G. William LaRosa

 
500
 
 
500
 
 
*
 

All executive officers and Directors as a group (8 persons)

  
52,066
 
 
52,066
 
202,007
 
*
 

*
Less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.

(1)
A Schedule 13G/A was filed on February 11, 2010 by AQR Capital Management, LLC and its affiliates which together beneficially own an aggregate of 33,677,288 shares of common stock and debt securities that are convertible into 7,329,630 shares of common stock.

(2)
CNH CA Master Account, L.P. and its affiliates beneficially own an aggregate of 134,718.93 shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are convertible into an aggregate of 13,471,893 shares of common stock and $10,689,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities that are convertible into an aggregate of 47,506,666 shares of common stock. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the Debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock but only to the extent that conversion would not cause the holder to become a beneficial owner of more than 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding.

(3)
A Schedule 13G/A was filed by Linden Capital, L.P. ("Linden Capital"), Linden GP LLC ("Linden GP") and Siu Min Wong with the SEC on January 15, 2010. Linden GP is the general partner of Linden Capital and Mr. Wong is the managing member of Linden GP. Therefore, Linden GP and Mr. Wong may each be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock owned by Linden Capital. Linden Capital, Linden GP and Mr. Wong have shared power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares held by Linden Capital. The shares exercisable within 60 days include shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the 187,503.01 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and $6,150,000$2,900,000 principal amount of debt securities held by Linden Capital. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock but only to the extent that conversion would not cause the holder to become a beneficial owner of more than 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding.

(4)
A Schedule 13G/A was filed by Linden Capital, L.P. ("Linden Capital"), Linden GP LLC ("Linden GP") and Siu Min Wong with the SEC on February 16, 2010January 15, 2010. Based on the information reported in the Schedule 13G/A, (i) Linden GP is the general partner of Linden Capital and Mr. Wong is the managing member of Linden GP, and (ii) as of December 31, 2009, Linden Capital, Linden GP and Mr. Wong had shared power to vote or direct the vote and to dispose or direct the disposition of the shares held by Whitebox Advisors, LLCLinden Capital.

(2)
CNH CA Master Account, L.P. and its affiliates who, as of such date, together beneficially owned (i)own an aggregate of 448,563.71134,718.93 shares of Series B Preferred Stock that wereare convertible into an aggregate of 44,856,371673,595 shares of common stock and (ii) $16,963,000$10,689,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities that are convertible into an aggregate of 75,391,1102,375,333 shares of common stock. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock but only to the extent that conversion would not cause the holder to become a beneficial owner of more than 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding. The Schedule 13G/A does not identify the number

(3)
Whitebox Advisors, LLC and its affiliates, together hold an aggregate of outstanding50,988.92 shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are convertible into an aggregate of 254,945 shares of common stock, owned beneficially by Whitebox Advisors and its affiliates.

(5)
On February 16, 2010, a Schedule 13G was filed by Aristeia Capital LLC ("ACLLC") as the investment manager for the 30,810,017 shares held by Aristeria Master L.P., Aristeia International Limited and Aristeia Partners, L.P. (the "Aristeia Funds") for which it has shared voting and investment control. ACLLC and its affiliates disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Funds except to the extent of their respective economic interests in each Fund.

(6)
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., London Branch beneficially owns $5,345,000$16,963,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities that are convertible into an aggregate of 23,755,5563,769,556 shares of common stock. The shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock but only to the extent that conversion would not cause the holder to become a beneficial owner of more than 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding.

(7)(4)
On January 22,November 5, 2010, a Schedule 13D/A was filed by Kopp Investment Advisors, LLC ("KIA"), Kopp Holding Company, LLC ("KHCLLC"), and LeRoy C. Kopp with the SEC. With respect toBased on the sharesinformation reported onin the Schedule 13D/A, KIA is an investment advisor managing discretionary accounts owned by numerous third-party clients, KHCLLC is a holding company, and the parent company of KIA, engaged in the investment industry, and Mr. Kopp is serving as the sole governor, chairman and chief investment officer of KIA and KHCLLC. As reported in the Schedule 13D/A, both KIA has soleand KHCLLC have shared voting power with respect to 21,074,7762,249,959 shares and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,266,004 shares, and beneficially owns 2,249,959 shares, and Mr. Kopp has shared voting power with respect to 2,249,959 shares,

(5)
A Schedule 13G/A was filed on February 11, 2010 by AQR Capital Management, LLC and its affiliates which, based on the information reported in the Schedule 13G/A, together beneficially own an aggregate of 1,683,864 shares of common stock and debt securities that are convertible into 366,482 shares of common stock. The numbers that appear in the table above and in this footnote have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-20 reverse stock split effected subsequent to the filing of the Schedule 13G/A on February 11, 2010.

(6)
On February 16, 2010, a Schedule 13G was filed by Aristeia Capital L.L.C. ("ACLLC") as the investment manager for the 1,540,551 shares held by Aristeia Master L.P., Aristeia International Limited and Aristeia Partners, L.P. (the "Funds"). Based on the information reported in the Schedule 13G, ACLLC shares voting and investment control over shares held by the Funds, and ACLLC and its affiliates disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Funds except to the extent of their respective economic interests in each Fund. The numbers that appear in the table above and in this footnote have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-20 reverse stock split effected subsequent to the filing of the Schedule 13G on February 16, 2010.

(7)
On November 8, 2010, a Schedule 13G was filed by Columbia Pacific Opportunity Fund, L.P., Columbia Pacific Advisors, LLC ("CPA"), Alexander B. Washburn, Daniel R. Baty, Stanley L. Baty, and Brandon D. Baty with the SEC. Based on the information reported in the Schedule 13G, CPA has the sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to the 1,537,860 shares of common stock to which the Schedule 13G relates.

(8)
On March 5,April 29, 2010, a Schedule 13G/A was filed by Lake Union Capital Fund, LP ("LULP"), Lake Union Capital Management, LLC ("LULLC"), and Michael Self with the SEC. AsBased on the information reported in the Schedule 13G,13G/A, LULP, LULLC and Mr. Self have shared voting and dispositive power with respect to all 20,210,0001,500,000 shares. The numbers that appear in the table above and in this footnote have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-20 reverse stock split effected subsequent to the filing of the Schedule 13G/A on April 29, 2010.

(9)
ABN AMRO Bank N.V., London Branch beneficially owns $5,345,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities that are convertible into an aggregate of 1,187,777 shares of common stock. The debt securities are convertible into shares of common stock but only to the extent that conversion would not cause the holder to become a beneficial owner of more than 9.99% of the shares of common stock outstanding.

(10)
Represents vested restricted stock units7,500 RSUs and 130,557 options vested as of March 26,December 1, 2010 or that will become vested within 60 days of March 26,December 1, 2010. Each restricted stock unitRSU represents a right to receive one share of common stock. Of 200,000 restricted stock units granted on October 13, 2008, 50% vested on October 14, 2009, with the remainder vesting in two annual installments of 25% each on October 13, 2010 and October 13, 2011, respectively. Such vested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying restricted stock unitsRSUs deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securitysecurities exchange.

(10)(11)
Represents vested restricted stock units3,750 RSUs and 22,500 options vested as of March 26,December 1, 2010 or that will become vested within 60 days of March 26,December 1, 2010. Each restricted stock unitRSU represents a right to receive one share of common stock. Of 100,000 restricted stock units granted on October 13, 2008, 50% vested on October 14, 2009, with the remainder vesting in two annual installments of 25% each on October 13, 2010 and October 13, 2011, respectively. Such vested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying restricted stock unitsRSUs deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securitysecurities exchange.

(11)(12)
Represents vested restricted stock units1,875 RSUs and 11,250 options vested as of March 26,December 1, 2010 or that will become vested within 60 days of March 26,December 1, 2010. Each restricted stock unitRSU represents a right to receive one share of common stock. Of 50,000 restricted stock units granted on October 13, 2008, 50% vested on October 14, 2009, with the remainder vesting in two annual installments of 25% each on October 13, 2010 and October 13, 2011, respectively. Such vested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying restricted stock unitsRSUs deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securitysecurities exchange.

(12)(13)
Represents 7,075 stock options vested as of March 26,December 1, 2010 or that become vested within 60 days of March 26,December 1, 2010. Such vestedVested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying restricted stock units deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securitysecurities exchange.

(13)(14)
Mr. Green resigned from the Company effectiveRepresents 6,000 stock options vested as of February 5,December 1, 2010 or that become vested within 60 days of December 1, 2010. Vested options are not exercisable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securities exchange.

(15)
Represents 5,750 stock options vested as of December 1, 2010 or that become vested within 60 days of December 1, 2010. Vested options are not exercisable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securities exchange.

(16)
Represents 5,750 stock options vested as of December 1, 2010 or that become vested within 60 days of December 1, 2010. Vested options are not exercisable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securities exchange.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers, directors, and persons who own beneficially more than 10 percent of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership within specified periods with the SEC. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of Section 16(a) forms required to be furnished to us with respect to fiscal year 20092010 and any written representations that no other reports were required, we believe that our executive officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders complied with the Section 16(a) reporting requirements for reports required to be filed forduring fiscal year 2009 were met.2010.

Compensation Committee Report

        The following Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting materials and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filings by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Compensation Committee Report by reference therein.

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this proxy statement with management. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and the fiscal year 2010 annual report on Form 10-K.

        The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Compensation Committee:

G. Grant Lyon, Chairman
Edward Rogas, Jr., member
G. William LaRosa, member

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        The Compensation Committee currently consists of G. Grant Lyon, Chairperson, Edward Rogas, Jr. and G. William LaRosa. Former directors Guy W. Adams, Vincent Chan, Robert A. Lundy, and Willow B. Shire served as members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2010 or until their resignation on October 30, 2009. No director who served on the Compensation Committee of our Board during fiscal year 2010 currently is, or during fiscal year 2010, was an officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship requiring disclosure by us under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In addition, no member of our Compensation Committee is, or during fiscal year 2010 was, employed by a company whose Board of Directors includes or included any members of our management.



EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Executive Officers

        Set forth below is information regarding our executive officers, other than Christopher R. Gardner, our President and Chief Executive Officer, for whom information is set forth above under "Nominees."

        Richard C. Yonker, age 62,63, was appointed our Chief Financial Officer onin December 14, 2006. Prior to joining Vitesse, Mr. Yonker wasserved as the Chief Financial Officer of Capella Photonics, a telecommunications company, from October 2005 to November 2006. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of Avanex Corporation, an optical telecommunications company, from April 2005 to September 2005; Actelis Networks, a telecommunications company, from May 2004 to April 2005; Bermai, a WiFiWi-Fi semiconductor company, from November 2003 to April 2004; Gluon Networks, a telecommunications switch company, from February 2003 to October 2003; and Agility Communications, a telecommunications company, from November 2000 to January 2003. Mr. Yonker served as a director of LogicVision, a semiconductor company providing built-in-self-test and diagnostic solutions, from January 2005 until the company merged with Mentor Graphics in August 2009. Mr. Yonker holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the General Motors Institute and a master's degree in finance management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


        Dr. Martin C. Nuss, age 53, was appointed our Vice President of Technology and Strategy onin November 16, 2007. Prior to joining Vitesse, Dr. Nuss was most recentlyserved as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Ciena'sthe Optical Ethernet group.group of Ciena provides leadingCorporation, a network infrastructure solutions and intelligent software. Prior to Ciena's acquisition of the companysoftware provider. Dr. Nuss founded Internet Photonics in 2004, he was founder2000, and served as its Chief Technology Officer of Internet Photonics since 2000. Heuntil the company was acquired by Ciena in 2004. Dr. Nuss also served 15 years at Bell Labs in various technical and management roles including Director of the Optical Data Networks Research Department. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and a member of IEEE. Dr. Nuss holds a doctorate in applied physics from the Technical University in Munich, Germany.

Steve Perna, age 52, was appointed our Vice President of Product Marketing in August 2010. Prior to joining Vitesse, Mr. Perna held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at Wiquest Communications, a wireless networking start-up, from 2007 to 2009. From 1995 to 2007 Mr. Perna held various vice president and executive-level roles at PMC-Sierra. Prior to PMC-Sierra, he spent 15 years as the Director of Marketing and Management at Texas Instruments in Dallas. Mr. Perna earned a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1980. He also earned an MBA degree in marketing management and an MS degree in corporate finance from the University of Dallas, as well as an MS degree in biomedical/electrical engineering from the University of Texas.



EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Overview

        The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines the overall executive compensation practices for our named executive officers. For fiscal year 2009,2010, our named executive officers were: Christopher R. Gardner, Chief Executive Officer; Richard C. Yonker, Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Martin C. Nuss, Vice President, Technology and Strategy; Steve Perna, Vice President, Product Marketing; and Michael B. Green, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Green resigned from the Company effective as February 5, 2010.

        Executive compensation for our named executive officers consists of three components:

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

        The basic philosophy of the Compensation Committee is to pay a reasonable and competitive base salary and to reward named executive officers for achievements during the previous fiscal year and incentivize performance in future years. Its overall goal is to establish and administer an executive compensation program that effectively attracts and retains highly skilled executive officers, enhances shareholderstockholder value, motivates technological innovation, and rewards executive officers who contribute to the Company's long-term success. The Compensation Committee uses all three components of compensation in an effort to create a balanced compensation package that provides adequate incentive for outstanding performance without creating undue incentives for executives to undertake risks that could have material adverse effects on the Company.

Consideration of Competitors' Compensation Practices

        Each year, the Compensation Committee determines the amounts of each named executive officer's base salary, annual cash bonus, and equity grants. The Compensation Committee reviews industry data as described below to gain an understanding of compensation levels within the industry for each executive position.

        The Compensation Committee previously reviewed the Radford Executive Survey to obtain industry data. Starting in fiscal year 2009 and again in 2010, the Compensation Committee contracted with DolmatConnell, independent compensation consultants, to assess its competitors'conduct a peer group compensation survey. DolmatConnell provides pay data for semiconductor companies, including the majority of our competitors, consisting of executive compensation levels for base salary, annual cash bonus and equity awards.


        The Compensation Committee considers industry compensation data because it wishes to provide compensation packages that are neither at the low nor high ends of the range of comparable companies but, instead, are targeted toward the mid-point of the range of comparable companies. Overall, the Company's compensation for fiscal year 2009 for its named executive officers is competitive with the market. While base salaries slightly lagged the market by approximately five to 15 percent, bonus targets bring total cash compensation to the 50th percentile for comparable companies. Equity or long-term incentive compensation for fiscal year 2009 for named executives is in line with or slightly below the 50th percentile for comparable companies. The Compensation Committee's determinations regarding individual compensation elements are based on several factors beyondin addition to industry data,data; including, but not limited to, the committee's subjective



assessment of the criticality of the position, individual performance, and companyCompany performance. After reviewing industry data and assessing the role and performance of each named executive officer, the Compensation Committee uses its discretion to set compensation levels for each of the three components, base salary, annual cash bonus, and equity compensation, for the named executive officers.

Consideration of Competitors' Compensation

        In fiscal year 2010, Vitesse was positioned, on average, at the market 50th percentile for base salary and actual total cash. The Compensation Committee selected independentCompany's equity compensation consultants, DolmatConnell, to conduct a peer group compensation survey. DolmatConnell provides pay datawas generally positioned between the market 50th and 75th percentiles, in terms of semiconductor companies, including the majority of our competitors.grant date fair value.

        DolmatConnell's October 28, 20082010 study benchmarked Vitesse's executive compensation and long-term incentives against 1916 peer firms:companies. In general, DolmatConnell included firms that have similar products and/or services to ours and that have revenues and market capitalizations that are one-half to two times those of our Company. Due to the relative lack of companies within these desired ranges, we chose to expand our scope to include companies that fall within one-third to three times Vitesse's metrics. We employed a revenue range of $50M to $500M, reflecting the expanded range around Vitesse's most recent four quarters' revenue. Consistent with our previous methodology, the following factors were used to redefine our peer group:

Actel CorporationMagma Design Automation, Inc.
Anadigics, Inc.Mindspeed Technologies, Inc.
Applied Digital Solutions, Inc.MIPS Technologies, Inc.
Applied Micro Circuits CorporationNanometrics, Inc.
Cirrus Logic, Inc.Oplink Communications, Inc.
DSP Group, Inc.Pericom Semiconductor Corporation
Emcore CorporationSigma Designs, Inc.
Entropic Communications, Inc.Silicon Image, Inc.
Ikanos Communications, Inc.Sirf Technology Holdings, Inc.
IXYS Corporation

        DolmatConnell reviewed the potential peer landscape by assessing direct product competitors listed in Hoover's database, companies that listed Vitesse in their peer groups, local labor market companies, and firms in Vitesse's related industries as referenced in Hoover's database. The resulting peer group of 19 companies was then selected usingCompensation benchmarking for the following criteria:

        The peer group usedother vice presidents included information published in the compensationpeer group's most recent proxy statements and Radford's Executive Compensation survey is representative of the market for executive talent in which Vitesse competes, although some ofdata. Although these firms may not be in direct competition with Vitesse. The list also differs fromVitesse, DolmattConnell believes that this peer group is representative of the previous Radford Executive Survey, as methodology and criteria were altered to reflect company size andCompany's market capitalization.for executive talent.


Anadigics, Inc.Magma Design Automation, Inc.
Applied Micro Circuits CorporationMindspeed Technologies, Inc.
Conexant Systems, Inc.Oplink Communications, Inc.
DSP Group, Inc.Pericom Semiconductor Corporation
EMCORE CorporationSigma Designs, Inc.
Exar CorporationSilicon Image, Inc.
Ikanos Communications, Inc.Supertex, Inc
IXYS Corporation

The Role of Management in Setting Executive Compensation

        Compensation for our named executive officers, other than our Chief Executive Officer, Christopher R. Gardner, is established by the Compensation Committee upon the recommendation ofin consultation with Mr. Gardner. With regard to our named executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gardner recommends individual goals and presents to the Compensation Committee his subjective evaluation of the other named executive officers in executive sessions. After consideration of Mr. Gardner's presentation, the ultimate decision as to compensation to be paid to those named executive officers is made by the Compensation Committee.


        The Compensation Committee is solely responsible for setting compensation for the Chief Executive Officer, including establishing goals and evaluating performance. Mr. Gardner does not participate in any Compensation Committee decisions regarding his own compensation.

Fiscal Year 20092010 Compensation Practices

        During fiscal year 2009, pursuant to an interim and temporary plan designed to protect our immediate operating performance and cash position, the Compensation Committee reduced the base salaries of our named executive officers and suspended all matching contributions for its named executive officers in connection with the Company's 401(k) plan. In addition, there were reduced wages and benefits to substantially all other employees of the Company. The Compensation Committee continued the reduced base salaries for the named executive officers during fiscal year 2010.

        On October 1, 2010, the Compensation Committee increased the base salaries of the named executives back to their levels prior to the fiscal year 2009 reductions in recognition of improvements to our operating performance and cash position. Wages for all other employees impacted by the temporary reduction were likewise returned to prior levels and furloughs were discontinued. The Company has not re-instituted 401(k) plan matching contributions for its named officers or other employees.

        The Compensation Committee determined bonuses for executives for the fiscal year 2010 based on 1) the Company's attainment of specific financial performance objectives for the 2010 fiscal year and 2)each executive's personal performance.

        The bonus payment to the executive's achievement of personal goals, includingChief Executive Officer for fiscal year 2010 was determined at the successful restructuringdiscretion of the Compensation Committee after assessing the Company's debtfinancial performance and reviewing Mr. Gardner's achievement in four areas, which are described in the table below, along with the portion of Mr. Gardner's potential bonus payment that related to each performance metric and the Committee's determination to what extent each metric was achieved.

Performance Metric
 Weighting of Each
Metric as a Percentage
of Total Potential Bonus
Payment
 Percentage
Achievement of
Performance Metric
(Between 0% and
150%)
 Bonus Payment as a
Percentage of
Potential Bonus
Payment
 

Financial Performance of the Company based on:

          

•       Revenue from Operations

  10% 0% 0%

•       Gross Margin

  15% 150% 22.5%

•       Cash

  15% 50% 7.2%

Execution of the Company's Annual Operating Plan established by the Board of Directors

  
20

%
 
50

%
 
10

%

Market Position of the Company based on:

          

•       Successful Execution of Major Product Strategies

  30% 30% 9%

Strengthening the Organization

  
10

%
 
50

%
 
5

%
  

Total:

  100%    55%

        Mr. Gardner had the potential to earn a bonus payment of up to 150% of his annual base salary as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. Based on the Committee's subjective evaluation of Mr. Gardner's performance relative to the performance metrics described above, the Compensation Committee determined Mr. Gardner's bonus payment to be 55% of his base salary for fiscal year 2009.2010.

        For namedNamed executive officers other than Mr. Gardner participate in the Company's Fiscal Year 2010 Executive Bonus Plan, under which their bonus amount ispayments are based partially on the Company achieving a minimum Adjusted EBITDA.EBITDA and partially on achievement of personal goals, according to the following formula:

Total
Bonus
=Base
Salary
x% of Total Bonus with 100% of Goals Achieved
for the respective Adjusted EBITDA
x% of Personal
Goals Achieved

        Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income before interest, expenses for taxes, depreciation, amortization, deferred stock compensation, and non-recurring professional fees, with the possibility of adjustment for certain unusual or non-recurring events. The Company under-performed itstable below shows the fiscal year 2010 Adjusted EBITDA goals and minimum, target and maximum bonus payments for fiscal year 2009 and thus this element was rated with zero weight for these officers in 2009.each level of Adjusted EBITDA assuming achievement of all personal performance goals (expressed as a percentage of annual base salary).

 
 Adjusted EBITDA Total Bonus with
100% of Goals
Achieved for
Mr. Yonker
 Total Bonus with
100% of Goals
Achieved for
Other Named
Executive Officers
(other than the
CEO and CFO)
 

Minimum

 Less than $12.2 million  25% 15.0%

Target

 

$12.2 million

  
40

%
 
30.0

%

 

More than $18.8 million

  
50

%
 
35.0

%

Maximum

 

More than $20 million

  
60

%
 
40.0

%

        The Company requested, andachieved less than the SEC granted, confidential treatmenttarget of $12.2 million in Adjusted EBITDA. As a result, the target bonus for Mr. Yonker was 25% times the percent of personal goals achieved. The target bonus for Dr. Nuss was 15% times the percentage of personal goals achieved.

        The personal goals for each of the EBITDA goals inother named executive officers under the Company's 2009Fiscal Year 2010 Executive Bonus Plan based on potential competitive injury toare established by Mr. Gardner and approved by the Company if such information were disclosed. The EBITDA goals were established at multiple tiers of difficulty, with lower payouts at moderate 'plan' performance levels and higher payouts at higher 'stretch' performance levels. EBITDA goals were also used as a financial measure for bonuses inCompensation Committee. Following fiscal year 2008.

        Because the minimum Adjusted EBITDA goal was not met, the maximum bonus under the formal 2009 Executive Bonus Plan for personal performance was 15% for each of Mr. Green and Dr. Nuss and 25% for Mr. Yonker.end 2010, Mr. Gardner made a subjective assessmentdetermination regarding the extent to which such goals have been met for each of the other named executive officers' performance, including his view ofofficers.

        The bonus payment to Mr. Yonker's and Mr. Green's performance with respect to the Company's legal and financial reporting, Mr. Green's and Dr. Nuss' achievement of intellectual property and patent sales, Dr. Nuss' contribution to the development of the Company's strategic directions and plan, and Mr. Yonker's contribution towardsYonker for fiscal year 2010 was determined after assessing the Company's financial performance measures such as gross margin and cash. Based on this assessment,reviewing Mr. Yonker's achievement in four areas, which are described in the named executive officers earned 55%table below, along with the portion of Mr. Yonker's potential bonus payment that



related to 70% ofeach performance metric and the personal goals component of their incentive compensation.CEO's determination to what extent each metric was achieved.

Performance Metric
 Weighting of
Each Metric as
a Percentage of
Total Potential
Bonus Payment
 Percentage
Achievement of
Performance Metric
(Between
0% and 100%)
 Bonus Payment as
a Percentage of
Potential
Bonus Payment
 

Financial Performance of the Company based on:

          
 

• Operating income

  20% 100% 20%
 

• Gross Margin

  10% 100% 10%
 

• Cash

  20% 50% 10%

Execution of the Company's Annual Operating Plan established by the Board of Directors

  
20

%
 
0

%
 
0

%

Market Position of the Company based on:

          
 

• Customer Position

  10% 80% 8%

Strengthening the Organization

  
20

%
 
0

%
 
0

%
  

Total:

  
100

%
    
48

%

        Because the Compensation Committee considered the debt restructuring as an important Company objective, the Compensation Committee also included in this year'sThe bonus program a componentpayment to reward the named executive officersDr. Nuss for the extra time and effort required during fiscal year 20092010 was determined after assessing the Company's financial performance and reviewing Dr. Nuss's achievement in negotiating and supportingfour areas, which are described in the debt restructuring that was successfully completed on October 30, 2009. Such component was awarded based ontable below, along with the named executive officer's contribution to such successful debt restructuring. Because Mr. Yonker and Mr. Green contributed a substantial portion of Dr. Nuss's potential bonus payment that related to each performance metric and the effort onCEO's determination to what extent each metric was achieved.

Performance Metric
 Weighting of
Each Metric as
a Percentage of
Total Potential
Bonus Payment
 Percentage
Achievement of
Performance Metric
(Between
0% and 100%)
 Bonus Payment as
a Percentage of
Potential
Bonus Payment
 

New Product Concepts

  30% 100% 30%

Creation of Strategic Plan

  
20

%
 
50

%
 
10

%

Market Position of the Company based on:

          
 

• Industry perception of Vitesse as a leader

  10% 100% 10%
 

• Market share

  20% 100% 20%

Strengthening the Organization

  
20

%
 
50

%
 
10

%
  

Total:

  
100

%
    
80

%

        Per the debt restructuring, they earnedEmployment Agreement between Mr. Perna and our Company, he was not eligible to participate in or receive a bonus under the larger portion of this component resulting in a 25% incremental incentive payment based on this goal. Dr Nuss, who had a less substantial roleFiscal Year 2010 Executive Bonus Plan, but instead received the compensation set forth in the debt restructuring, received an incremental 8.3% incentive payment.Employment Agreement, which is described in the narrative following the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table below.

        The total incentive based on personal performance as described in this and the prior paragraph is set forth for the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table.


        The bonus payment to the Chief Executive Officerpayments for fiscal year 2009 was determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee after assessing the Company's financial performance and reviewing Mr. Gardner's achievement in the following three areas: strategic execution (strategic plan, product execution), financial performance (revenue, gross margin, cash) and market position (growth, customer position) with strategic execution and financial performance weighted twice as heavily as market position. Based on achieved financial performance of the Company and a subjective evaluation of Mr. Gardner's performance, the Compensation Committee determined Mr. Gardner's incentive compensation to be 75% of his base salary, as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.

        In prior years, bonus payments were made in two equal installments, one before2010 are paid by the end of the second quarter of the following fiscal year and one before the end of the fourth quarter of the following fiscal year. The bonus payments for 2009 are to be made in a lump sum in the secondfirst quarter of fiscal year 20102011, or as soon as practicable after determination and certification of the actual financial performance levels for the year and grant of approval by the Compensation Committee in a duly held meeting, but, in no event, later than March 15, 2011.


        On February 25, 2010, in order to comply with Section 409A of the IRS tax code.

        In October 2008, the Compensation Committee determined that it was appropriate to grant equity awards to its named executive officers.officers and other employees. Such grants were weighted in such a way to achieve short termshort-term retention by granting restricted stock awards and with a focus towards long termlong-term incentive and retention by granting stock options. The number of grants of each type of award made to executive officers was determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee after consultation with DolmatConnell and taking into consideration market data provided by DolmatConnell and each officer's total percent of stock ownership. The grants were considered by DolmatConnell to be within an acceptable run rate for our peer group (median of 4.3% and the low- to mid-end75th percentile of ranges5.8%) given Vitesse's lack of equity grants based on peer group market data.

compensation awards between 2006 and 2008. The Compensation Committee determined that these grants shouldthe RSUs would have a three rather thanyear vesting while the stock options would have a four year vesting schedule to promote retention. The Compensation Committee may consider a four year vesting schedule for future grants. As part of the terms of the awards, the Compensation Committee determined that regardless of the vesting schedule no options would be exercisable, nor would any restricted stock unitsRSUs be converted to shares of common stock until the shares of the Company were listed on a national securities exchange.

Fiscal Year 2009 Actions

        On January 26, 2009, pursuant to an interim and temporary plan designed to protect the immediate operating performance and cash position of the Company, we reduced the base salaries of our named executive officers, effective February 1, 2009 through the end of the fiscal year, as follows: (i) Mr. Gardner—20% reduction; (ii) Mr. Yonker—10% reduction; (iii) Dr. Nuss—10% reduction; and (iv) Mr. Green—10% reduction. Also effective February 1, 2009, the Company suspended all matching contributions for its named executive officers in connection with the Company's 401(k) plan. In addition, there were reduced wages and benefits to substantially all other employees of the Company. These actions remained in effect through the end of the Company's 2009 fiscal year. These temporary salary reductions were not intended to reduce potential payments upon termination or change in control. Earned bonuses pursuant to the fiscal year 2009 Executive Bonus Plan were calculated based upon the officers' full salaries before the temporary salary reduction.

        The Compensation Committee thought it appropriate to offer its named executive officers Change in Control Agreements in response to uncertainties surrounding the Company's imminent debt restructuring. Details of these agreements for Mr. Yonker and Mr. Green are set forth below under Employment Agreements. The Compensation Committee also agreed during the year to amend and restate Mr. Gardner's agreement to address certain tax issues as well as to incorporate an obligation to disgorge to the Company certain bonus payments and profits if the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement to correct an accounting error on an interim or annual financial statement



included in a report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and the Company's board of directors determines that misconduct by Mr. Gardner has occurred and caused such restatement. The Compensation Committee also later agreed to extend the term of Mr. Gardner's agreement until January 27, 2010. Mr. Gardner's agreement terminated by its terms on January 27, 2010. On February 12, 2010 the Company entered into a new Employment Agreement with Mr. Gardner (see "Employment Agreements" below for a discussion of its terms).

Other Compensation

        The named executive officers enjoy the same benefits as all other employees of the Company, including medical, dental, vision, accidental death and dismemberment, group term life insurance in the amount of two times annual compensation (up to $280,000), business travel insurance, and a 401(k) plan. Paid leave benefits include vacation, sick leave, holidays and a sabbatical after 10 years of employment. The Company offers education assistance and a health/fitness benefit of $100 per year for health club membership or health/fitness classes. The Company also offers monetary rewards for patents.


Compensation Committee Report

        The following Compensation Committee Report does not constitute soliciting materials and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filings by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Compensation Committee Report by reference therein.

        The Board's Compensation Committee has submitted the following report for inclusion in this Amendment:

        We have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained in this Amendment with management. Based on our review of and the discussions with management with respect to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Amendment.

        The foregoing report is provided by the following directors, who constitute the Compensation Committee:

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        The Compensation Committee currently consists of G. Grant Lyon, Chairperson, and Edward Rogas, Jr. Former directors Guy W. Adams, Vincent Chan, Robert A. Lundy, and Willow B. Shire served as members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2009. No director who served on the Compensation Committee of our Board during fiscal year 2009 currently is, or during fiscal year 2009, was an officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship requiring disclosure by us under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In addition, no member of our Compensation Committee is, or during fiscal year 2009 was, employed by a company whose Board of Directors includes or included any members of our management.


Fiscal Year 2009 Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Year 2010

        The following table sets forth the compensation earned by our named executive officers for services rendered in all capacities to the Company during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2010, 2009 2008 and 2007:2008:

Name and Principal Position
Name and Principal Position
 Year Salary(1) Bonus(2) Stock
Awards(3)
 Option
Awards(3)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation(4)
 All Other
Compensation(5)
 Total(6) 
Name and Principal Position
 Year Salary(1) Bonus Stock
Awards(2)
 Option
Awards(2)
 Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
 All Other
Compensation
 Total 

Christopher R. Gardner

Christopher R. Gardner

 2009 $303,333 $ $23,788 $273,218 $262,500 $1,212 $864,051 

Christopher R. Gardner

 2010 $410,676 $ $468,000 $347,760 $206,250 $ $1,432,686 

Chief Executive Officer

 2008 350,000 262,500  316,679  6,926 936,105 

Chief Executive Officer

 2009 346,744  74,000 90,160 262,500 1,212 774,616 

 2007 328,462 175,000  320,540  5,723 829,725 

 2008 388,063 262,500    6,926 657,489 

Richard C. Yonker

Richard C. Yonker

 
2009
 
256,667
 
 
11,894
 
54,457
 
116,875
 
2,689
 
442,582
 

Richard C. Yonker

 
2010
 
288,799
 
 
234,000
 
173,790
 
33,915
 
 
730,504
 

Chief Financial Officer

 2008 275,000   41,098 74,250 7,734 398,082 

Chief Financial Officer

 2009 272,912  37,000 45,080 116,875 2,689 474,556 

 2007 223,438 25,000  30,939 80,000 6,029 365,406 

 2008 278,226    74,250 7,734 360,210 

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

 
2009
 
205,333
 
 
5,947
 
7,246
 
38,133
 
2,539
 
259,198
 

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

 
2010
 
240,077
 
 
104,000
 
77,240
 
24,675
 
 
445,992
 

Vice President, Technology

 2008 193,991   23,672 66,000 5,312 288,975 

Vice President,

 2009 209,761  18,500 22,540 38,133 2,539 291,473 

and Strategy

 

Technology and Strategy

 2008 194,668    198,000 66,000 5,312 463,980 

Michael B. Green(7)

 
2009
 
205,333
 
 
5,947
 
5,797
 
73,150
 
2,400
 
292,627
 

Steve Perna

Steve Perna

 
2010
 
38,242
 
75,000
 
95,750
 
70,203
 
 
 
279,195
 

Vice President, General

 2008 205,000    53,300 6,150 264,450 

Vice President, Product

 2009        

Counsel and Secretary

 2007 153,750 20,000   41,000 4,021 218,771 

Marketing

 2008        

Michael B. Green

Michael B. Green

 
2010
 
218,077
 
 
 
 
 
 
218,077
 

Vice President, General

 2009 217,068  18,500 18,032 73,150 2,400 329,150 

Counsel and Secretary

 2008 213,985    53,300 6,150 273,435 

(1)
Salary amounts reflect the actual base salary payments, madeand the value of accrued vacation as of the end of the respective fiscal year, to the named executive officers in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007.officers.

(2)
Bonus amounts for fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007 reflect non-incentive plan based cash payments.

(3)
Amounts reflectedshown for stock and option awards aredo not reflect compensation actually received by the dollarnamed executive officers. These amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007represent the aggregate grant date fair values of such awards calculated in accordance with ASC 718. The dollar amount recognized is computed under ASC 718, applying the same valuation model and assumptions used for financial reporting purposes,but disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. SeeAssumptions used in calculating these amounts are set forth in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the yearsyear ended September 30, 20092010 and prior for the weighted-average assumptions used in calculating the ASC 718 grant date fair values of all awards and options.

(4)
Non-equity incentive plan compensation represents incentive bonuses earned for services rendered during fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007. The bonus payments for 2009 are to be made in a lump sum by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2010 or as soon as practicable after determination by the Compensation Committee, but in no event later than March 15, 2010.

(5)
Represents matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan from October 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, and for fiscal years 2008 and 2007. Effective February 1, 2009, the Company suspended all matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) plan for its named executive officers.

(6)
Compensation reflected in the table does not include perquisites, personal benefits and other compensation amounts that do not, in the aggregate for each named individual for each year, exceed $10,000.

(7)
Mr. Green resigned from the Company effective as February 5, 2010.years.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 20092010

        The following table sets forth information relating to plan-based awards granted to our named executive officers in fiscal year 2009:2010:


  
  
  
  
 All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
 All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
 All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
  
  
 

 Estimate Future
Payouts Under Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Awards(1)
  
  
 Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards(2)
  Estimate Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards(1)
  
 All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Stock Units
  
 Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards(2)
 

  
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
 All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
  
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
Name
 Threshold Target Maximum Grant Date Threshold Target Maximum Grant Date 

Christopher R. Gardner

 $ $350,000 $525,000         $ $375,000 $562,500        

       10/13/2008   400,000 $90,160       2/12/2010   90,000 $347,760

       10/13/2008 200,000     74,000        2/12/2010 90,000     468,000 

Richard C. Yonker

 
 
110,000
 
165,000
            
$

 
$

33,915
 
$

135,375
           

       10/13/2008   200,000 0.37 45,080        2/25/2010   45,000 3.86 173,790 

       10/13/2008 100,000     37,000        2/25/2010 45,000     234,000 

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

 
 
66,000
 
88,000
            
$

 
$

24,675
 
$

164,500
           

       10/13/2008   100,000 0.37 22,540        2/25/2010   20,000 3.86 77,240 

       10/13/2008 50,000     18,500        2/25/2010 20,000     104,000 

Michael B. Green(3)

 
 
66,000
 
88,000
           

Steve Perna

 
$

 
$

 
$

           

       10/13/2008   80,000 0.37 18,032        8/11/2010   25,000 2.81 70,203 

       10/13/2008 50,000     18,500        8/11/2010 25,000     95,750 

(1)
Represents possible payouts for fiscal year 20092010 for the named executive officers under their respective bonus plans. Amounts actually earned are displayed in the Summary Compensation Table.

(2)
TheAmounts shown for stock and option awards do not reflect compensation actually received by the named executive officers. These amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of optionthese awards has been calculated in accordance with ASC 718. In contrast718, but disregarding the estimate of forfeitures related to how we presentservice-based vesting conditions. Assumptions used in calculating these amounts are set forth in the "SummaryNotes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010 and prior years.

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table" we report and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

        Salary amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table reflect the actual base salary payments, made in the respective fiscal year and the value of accrued vacation as of the last day of the respective fiscal year, to the named executive officers. Bonus amounts reflect non-incentive plan based cash payments. Non-equity incentive plan compensation represents incentive bonuses earned for services rendered during the respective fiscal year. The non-equity incentive plan compensation payments for fiscal year 2010 are paid in this columna lump sum by the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year following the year in which the bonus is earned, or as soon as practicable after determination and certification of the actual financial performance levels for the year and grant of approval by the Compensation Committee but, in no event, later than March 15, 2011.

        Each option grant reflected in the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table entitles the officer to purchase one share of our common stock at the time of vesting based on the price of our common stock on the date the option was granted. Each RSU entitles the officer to receive one share of our common stock at the time of vesting without apportioning the amount overpayment of an exercise price or other cash consideration. The actual value that an officer will realize on each RSU award will depend on the applicable service or vesting period.price per share of our common stock at the time shares underlying the RSU awards are sold. Vested options are not exercisable nor are the shares underlying RSU awards deliverable until the Company's common stock is listed on a national securities exchange.



(3)
Mr. Green resigned from

        The terms and conditions of the employment agreements between the Company effective as of February 5, 2010.


and the named executive officers are described below under "Employment Agreements."

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 20092010

        The following table provides information regarding the holdings of equity awards by our named executive officers at September 30, 2009:2010:


 Option Awards Stock Awards  Option Awards Stock Awards 
Name
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
 Option
Exercise
Price per
Share
 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not
Vested
 Market Value of
Shares or Units of
Stock That Have
Not Vested(a)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
 Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
 Option
Exercise
Price per
Share
 Option
Expiration
Date
 Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
 Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested(a)
 

Christopher R. Gardner

 120,000(1)  $35.91 10/19/2009 200,000(b)$74,000  10,000(1)  348.75 4/6/2011 92,500(21)$333,925 

 200,000(2)  17.44 4/6/2011      6,000(2)  145.40 10/2/2011     

 120,000(3)  7.27 10/2/2011      1,000(3)  145.40 10/2/2011     

 20,000(4)  7.27 10/2/2011      144(4)  145.40 10/2/2011     

 2,885(5)  7.27 10/2/2011      13,530(5)  145.40 10/2/2011     

 270,600(6)  7.27 10/2/2011      1,470(6)  145.40 10/2/2011     

 29,400(7)  7.27 10/2/2011      11,250(7)  16.52 10/17/2012     

 225,000(8)  0.83 10/17/2012      5,000(8)  139.40 10/20/2013     

 100,000(9)  6.97 10/20/2013      3,750(9)  51.60 10/27/2014     

 75,000(10)  2.58 10/27/2014      3,750(10)  51.60 10/27/2014     

 75,000(11)  2.58 10/27/2014      5,625(11)  51.60 10/27/2014     

 112,500(12)  2.58 10/27/2014      1,875(12)  51.60 10/27/2014     

  37,500(13) 2.58 10/27/2014      5,500(13)  48.00 12/2/2015     

 82,500(14) 27,500(14) 2.40 12/2/2015      20,000(14)  30.60 6/21/2016     

 300,000(15) 100,000(15) 1.53 6/21/2016      10,000(15) 10,000(15) 7.40 10/13/2018     

  400,000(16) 0.37 10/13/2018        90,000(16) 5.20 2/12/2020     

Richard C. Yonker

 
150,000

(17)
 
150,000

(17)
 
0.86
 
12/11/2016
 
100,000

(b)
 
37,000
  
11,250

(17)
 
3,750

(17)
 
17.20
 
12/11/2016
 
46,250

(22)
 
166,963
 

  200,000(16) 0.37 10/13/2018      5,000(15) 5,000(15) 7.40 10/13/2018     

   45,000(19) 3.86 2/25/2020     

Dr. Martin C. Nuss

 
50,000

(18)
 
150,000

(18)
 
0.99
 
11/16/2017
 
50,000

(b)
 
18,500
  
5,000

(18)
 
5,000

(18)
 
19.80
 
11/16/2017
 
20,625

(23)
 
74,456
 

  100,000(16) 0.37 10/13/2018      2,500(15) 2,500(15) 7.40 10/13/2018     

Michael B. Green

 
 
80,000

(16)
 
0.37
 
10/13/2018
 
50,000

(b)
 
18,500
 

   20,000(19) 3.86 2/25/2020     

Steve Perna

   
25,000

(20)
 
2.81
 
8/11/2020
 
25,000

(24)
 
90,250
 

(1)
Annual Grant: Vested 20% on 10/1/00, 20% on 10/1/01, 20% on 10/1/02, 20% on 10/1/03, and 20% on 10/1/04

(2)
Annual Grant: Vested 20% on 1/1/02, 20% on 1/1/03, 20% on 1/1/04, 20% on 1/1/05, and 20% on 1/1/0606.

(3)(2)
Special Grant: Vested 25% on 10/1/01, 25% on 10/1/02, 25% on 10/1/03, and 25% on 10/1/0404.

(4)(3)
Special Grant: Vested 20% on 1/1/02, 20% on 1/1/03, 20% on 1/1/04, 20% on 1/1/05, and 20% on 1/1/0606.

(5)(4)
Special Grant: Vested 100% on 12/31/0202.

(6)(5)
Annual Grant: Vested 22% on 10/1/02, 22% on 10/1/03, 22% on 10/1/04, 17% on 10/1/05, and 17% on 10/1/0606.

(7)(6)
Annual Grant: Vested 1% on 10/1/02, 1% on 10/1/03, 4% on 10/1/04, 47% on 10/1/05, and 47% on 10/1/0606.


(8)(7)
Annual Grant: Vested 20% on 10/17/02, 20% on 4/17/03, 20% on 10/17/03, 20% on 4/17/04, and 20% on 10/17/0404.

(9)(8)
Annual Grant: Vested 25% on 10/20/04, 25% on 10/20/05, 25% on 10/20/06, and 25% on 10/20/0707.

(10)(9)
Annual Grant: Vested 50% on 10/27/07 and 50% on 10/27/0808.

(11)(10)
Annual Grant: Vested 50% on 10/27/05 and 50% on 10/27/0606.

(12)(11)
Annual Grant: Vested 33% on 10/27/06, 33% on 10/27/07, and 34%33% on 10/27/0808.

(13)(12)
Annual Grant: Vested 100% on 10/27/0909.


(14)(13)
Annual Grant: Vested 25% on 12/2/06, 25% on 12/2/07, 25% on 12/2/08, and 25% on 12/2/0909.

(15)(14)
Retention Grant: Vested 25% on 6/21/07, 25% on 6/21/08, and 25% on 6/21/09 and vests 25% on 6/21/1010.

(16)(15)
Annual Grant: Vested 50% on 10/14/09 and vests 25% on 10/13/10 and 25% on 10/13/11. Mr. Green resigned from the Company effective as February 5, 2010.

(16)
Employment Agreement Grant: Vested 25% on 2/12/11, 25% on 2/12/12, and 25% on 2/12/13 and vests 25% on 2/12/14.

(17)
Employment Agreement Grant: Vested 25% on 12/11/07, 25% on 12/11/08, and 25% on 12/11/09 and vests 25% on 12/11/1010.

(18)
Employment Agreement Grant: Vested 25% on 11/16/08 and 25% on 11/16/09 and vests 25% on 11/16/10 and 25% on 11/16/11.

(19)
Annual Grant: Vested 25% on 2/25/11 and 25% on 2/25/12 and vests 25% on 2/25/13 and 25% on 2/25/14.

(20)
Employment Agreement Grant: Vested 25% on 8/11/11 and 25% on 8/11/12 and vests 25% on 8/11/13 and 25% on 8/11/14.

(21)
Annual Grant-10,000: Vested 50% on 10/14/09 and vests 25% on 10/13/10 and 25% on 10/13/11. Employment Agreement Grant-90,000: Vested 33% on 2/12/11 and 33% on 2/12/12 and vests 33% on 2/12/13.

(22)
Annual Grant-5,000: Vested 50% on 10/14/09 and vests 25% on 10/13/10 and 25% on 10/13/11. Employment Agreement Grant-45,000: Vested 33% on 2/25/11 and 33% on 2/25/12 and vests 33% on 2/25/13.

(23)
Annual Grant-2,500: Vested 50% on 10/14/09 and vests 25% on 10/13/10 and 25% on 10/13/11.Employment Agreement Grant-20,000: Vested 33% on 2/25/11 and 33% on 2/25/12 and vests 33% on 2/25/13.

(24)
Employment Agreement Grant-25,000: Vested 50% on 8/11/11 and 50% on 8/11/12.

(a)
The market value of the stock awards is based on the closing price per share of Vitesse's stock on September 30, 2009,2010, which was $0.37.

(b)
Annual Grant: Vested 50% on 10/14/09 and vests 25% on 10/13/10 and 25% on 10/13/11$3.61.

Stock Option Exercises

        There were no stock options exercised by our named executive officers or vesting of restricted stock awards held by our named executive officers during fiscal year 2009.

Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal Year 2009

        We do not have any plans that provide pension benefits to our named executive officers, nor do we have any nonqualified deferred compensation plans that provide for deferred compensation to our named executive officers.

Employment Agreements

        Mr. Gardner's compensation was established by his employment agreement,On January 27, 2010, the Amended and Rested Employment Agreement, initially dated June 26, 2006. On July 27, 2007, the employment agreement with Mr. Gardner was amended. Under the amended agreement, his base salary was increased to $350,000 per year, effective April 1, 2007. On February 23, 2009, his agreement was amended and restated (as amended, the2006 (the "Prior GardnerEmployment Agreement") with no change in salary to address certain tax issues and provide for a return of bonuses paid under certain circumstances described below. During 2009,, between the Company implemented several measures to reduce expenses, including reductions in executive salaries. Effective February 1, 2009, Mr. Gardner's base salary was reducedand Christopher Gardner, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, terminated by 20%, which reduction remained in effect through September 30, 2009. On July 8, 2009, his contract was amended to extend the term of the contract to January 27, 2010.

its terms. On February 12, 2010, the Company entered into a new Employment Agreement with Mr. Gardner (the "2010 Employment Agreement"). The 2010 Employment Agreement terminates on February 12, 2012.

Pursuant to the terms of the 2010 Employment Agreement, Mr. Gardner will receive a base annual salary of $375,000 and is eligible to receive a target bonus of 100% of his base salary and a maximum bonus of 150% of his base salary. The amount of any such bonus is subject to the discretion of the Company's Compensation Committee. In connection with entering into the 2010 Employment Agreement, the Company's Compensation Committee granted Mr. Gardner 1,800,000 restricted stock units ("RSUs") and stock options to purchase 1,800,000 shares.90,000 shares and 90,000 RSUs. The RSUsstock options and stock optionsRSUs were granted pursuant to the terms of the Company's amended and restated 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. The stock options have an exercise price of $0.26$5.20 per share and vest 25% per year over four years. The RSUs vest over three years, with one-third of the RSU grantRSUs vesting on each one-year anniversary of the date of grant. Mr. Gardner is to receive five (5) weeks of vacation per year.

        If Mr. Gardner's employment is terminated by him for Good Reason or by Vitesse other than For Cause, Mr. Gardner would be entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to (a) two years of his



base salary plus (b) two times histhe maximum target bonus plus (c) a pro rata portion (based upon the portion of the fiscal year prior to his termination date) of either (i) his target bonus or (ii) in the case of a termination for such reasons within 24 months following a Change of Control Event (as defined in Vitesse's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan), a pro rata portion of the greater of his target bonus or the amount of his bonus in the prior fiscal year, whichever is greater. If Mr. Gardner's employment is terminated by Vitesse other than For Cause during the one-year period prior to a Change of Control Event and Mr. Gardner can demonstrate that his termination arose in connection with or in anticipation of such Change of Control Event (including as a result of the request of a third party which had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect such Change of Control Event), then all RSUs which are subject solely to time-based vesting and were outstanding immediately prior to Mr. Gardner's final day of employment will become fully vested and, to the extent such Change of Control Event occurs during the six-month period following the termination date of Mr. Gardner's employment, all of his outstanding options which are subject solely to time-based vesting shall become fully vested as of the Change of Control Event. If Mr. Gardner's employment is terminated by him for Good Reason or by the Company other than For Cause during the 24-month period following a Change of Control Event, then all outstanding stock options and RSUs which are subject solely to time-based vesting shall become fully vested.

        "Change of Control Event" means (i) a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other entity or entities or the effectuation by the Company of a transaction or series of related transactions in which more than 50% of the voting power of the Company is disposed of or (ii) a sale, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company.

        "For Cause"For "Cause" is defined as termination by reason of: (i) the executive's conviction of a felony or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) the executive's intentional failure or refusal to perform his employment duties and responsibilities; (iii) the executive's intentional misconduct that injures the Company's business; (iv) the executive's intentional violation of any other material provision of his employment agreement or the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics; or (v) as otherwise provided for in Section 8 of the employment agreement. Section 8 of Mr. Gardner's employment agreement is titled"Complianceregarding "Compliance with Vitesse Policies and Procedures" and which states:


        The term "Good Reason" is defined asand "Disability" have substantially the occurrence, without the executive's written consent, of any of the following actions unless the action is fully corrected (if possible) within 15 days after the Company receives written notice of the action from the executive: (i) a material reductionsame meaning in the executive's base salary; (ii)2010 Employment Agreement as in the Company's failure to pay the executive any material amountPrior Employment Agreement except that is expressly required to be paid under his employment agreement; (iii) the Company's material and adverse reductionit does not include a "Change of the nature of the executive's duties and responsibilities, disregarding mere changes in title; or (iv) the Company's requirement that the executive perform his principal employment duties at an office that is more than 35 miles from Camarillo, California.Control Event" as a basis for a "Good Reason" termination by Mr. Gardner.

        The 2010 Employment Agreement contains a provision that would require Mr. Gardner to return any bonus payments earned if the Company were required to prepare an accounting restatement to correct an accounting error on an interim or annual financial statement included in a report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and the Company's Board of Directors determines that misconduct by Mr. Gardner occurred and caused such restatement.

        The 2010 Employment Agreement terminates on February 12, 2012.


        Mr. Yonker's compensation was established by his employment agreement, dated November 16, 2006, and was amended on June 26, 2007. An employment agreement dated February 20, 2009 superseded the prior Agreement and Amendment. Under his current agreement, Mr. Yonker receives a base salary of $275,000 per year. During 2009, the Company implemented several measures to reduce expenses, including reductions in executive salaries. Effective February 1, 2009, Mr. Yonker's base salary was reduced by 10%, which reduction remained in effect through September 30, 2009. On May 10, 2010, Mr. Yonker received a merit adjustment increasing his annual base salary to $285,000. Mr. Yonker's employment agreement terminates on February 20, 2011, but automatically renews for an additional 24 months if no prior written notice of termination is provided.

        If Mr. Yonker's employment is terminated for Good Reason or other than For Cause (defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment agreement), death, or Disability (defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment agreement), he will receive severance pay equal to 12 months of his then base salary and be eligible for his earned bonus, prorated through his date of termination. In addition, if such termination of employment occurs within the 12 months following a change in control (defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment agreement),; Mr. Yonker would be entitled to an additional bonus equal to the amount of his maximum potential annual bonus for the fiscal year. If such termination of employment does not occur within 12 months following a change in control, Mr. Yonker would be eligible for an additional bonus equal to a full year bonus based on his performance. In the event of a Change in Control (defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment agreement) of the Company (or its successor) and any involuntary termination other than For Cause or Mr. Yonker's resignation for Good Reason within one year of such a Change in Control, then any equity awards granted prior to the Change in Control would be accelerated and immediately become vested as though the equity awards were vesting over four years in 48 equal monthly amounts, and as though Mr. Yonker had completed an additional two years of service with the Company, and those options would be exercisable for an additional 90 days following the date of termination of employment.

        "Good Reason" is defined as the occurrence, without the executive's written consent, of any of the following actions unless the action is fully corrected (if possible) within 15 days after the Company receives written notice of the action from the executive: (i) a material reduction in the executive's base salary; (ii) the Company's failure to pay the executive any material amount that is expressly required to be paid under his employment agreement; (iii) the Company's material and adverse reduction of the nature of the executive's duties and responsibilities, disregarding mere changes in title; (iv) the Company's requirement that the executive perform his principal employment duties at an office that is more than 35 miles from Camarillo, California or (v) the Company's failure to renew the agreement.

        Mr. Yonker is bound by a non-solicitation clause for the duration of his employment pursuant to his agreement and for two years thereafter. This clause precludes him from directly or indirectly



soliciting any person who is currently employed or has been employed by the Company within the prior six months. During the term of his agreement, Mr. Yonker is also precluded from influencing customers, vendors, and other partners of the Company in a way that would divert business away from the Company or otherwise materially interfere with any business relationship of the Company.

        Mr. Yonker's agreement contains a provision that would require him to return any bonus payments earned if the Company were required to prepare an accounting restatement to correct an accounting error on an interim or annual financial statement included in a report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and the Board determines that misconduct by Mr. Yonker occurred and caused such restatement. Mr. Yonker is also eligible to participate in the Executive Bonus Plan.


        On November 16, 2007, the Board of Directors appointed Dr. Martin Nuss as Vice President Technology and Strategy. Dr. Nuss received an employment letter from the Company pursuant to which the Company agreed that he is entitled to receive $220,000 as an annual base salary. During 2009, the Company implemented several measures to reduce expenses, including reductions in executive salaries. Effective February 1, 2009, Dr. Nuss' base salary was reduced by 10%, which reduction remained in effect through September 30, 2009. On May 10, 2010, Mr. Nuss received a merit adjustment increasing his annual base salary to $235,000.

        Dr. Nuss is eligible to participate in the Executive Bonus Plan and he is also entitled to employee benefits provided to other senior executives. In the event that his employment is terminated at any time by the Company other than for causeFor Cause or he terminates his employment within nine months after a Change in Control resulting in a material change in his position, responsibilities, or compensation, Dr. Nuss will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of his then base salary. For this purpose, "for cause""For Cause" is defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment agreement with the addition of failure to effectively perform his job duties and responsibilities and "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

        Mr. Perna's compensation was established by his employment agreement dated August 2, 2010. Under his agreement, Mr. Perna receives a base salary of $235,000 per year and an equity grant of 25,000 shares of RSUs with a vesting schedule of 50% per year over two years, and 25,000 share of nonqualified stock options with a vesting schedule of 25% per year over four years. In addition, he is eligible to receive a total relocation allowance of $150,000, pre tax. Payment will be made in two


installments: 50% on the Friday following Mr. Perna's employment date, and 50% after completing 90 days of successful employment. The relocation allowance required the relocation of Mr. Perna to within 45 miles of the Company's Camarillo, California office. In the event that Mr. Perna voluntarily terminates employment with Vitesse or is terminated "For Cause" before completing four full years of service, it is agreed that Mr. Perna will repay Vitesse for this relocation allowance.

        Mr. Perna is eligible to participate in the Executive Bonus Plan for fiscal year 2011 and thereafter and eligible for evergreen grants in cycle with the employee offering periods beginning in January 2011. He is also entitled to employee benefits provided to other senior executives.

        If Mr. Perna's employment is terminated (i) by mutual agreement, (ii) by Vitesse "For Cause", (iii) by Executive for other than Good Reason, or (iv) because of the Executive's Disability or death, Mr. Perna will receive his base salary through executive's final day of employment and any fully accrued and unpaid bonus, but shall not be eligible to receive any Severance Pay, earned bonus, or any other bonus or other compensation unless agreed upon by both parties.

        If his employment is terminated by Vitesse other than For Cause or by executive for Good Reason and such termination occurs within the 12-month period following a Change in Control Event, he will receive (a) his base salary and vacation accrued through the termination date of his employment, (b) the earned bonus, (c) severance pay, (d) an additional bonus equal to the amount of the his maximum potential annual bonus pursuant to the bonus plan for the said fiscal year, (e) vesting of outstanding stock options and other equity arrangements as though he had completed an additional 24-months of service with Vitesse and would be exercisable, provided the Company is listed on a National Exchange, for an additional 90days, (f) COBRA benefits paid by the Company for a period of 12-months.

        If termination does not occur within the 12-month period following a Change in Control Event, Mr. Perna shall receive items (a) and (b) noted above plus six additional months of base salary and an additional bonus equal to the earned bonus multiplied by 365 and divided by the number of days in the fiscal year that have occurred prior to the his termination date, all payable on the date of termination of employment.

        "Severance Pay" means six (6) months of the executive's base salary plus one (1) week of base salary for every 12 months the executive has been employed by the Company.

        "For Cause" is defined as termination by reason of (i) Executive's conviction of a felony or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) Executive's intentional failure or refusal to perform his employment duties and responsibilities; (iii) Executive's intentional misconduct that injures Vitesse's business; (iv) Executive's intentional violation of any other material provision of this Agreement or Vitesse's code of business conduct and ethics; or (v) as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement. Executive's inability to perform his duties because of death or Disability shall not constitute a basis for Vitesse's termination of Executive's employment For Cause. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive's employment shall not be subject to termination For Cause without Vitesse's delivery to Executive of a written notice of intention to terminate. Such notice must describe the reasons for the proposed employment termination For Cause, and must be delivered to Executive at least fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed termination date (the "Notice Period"). Executive shall be provided an opportunity within the Notice Period to cure any such breach (if curable) giving rise to the proposed termination, and shall be provided an opportunity to be heard before the Board. Thereafter, the Board shall deliver to Executive a written notice of termination after the expiration of the Notice Period stating that a majority of the members of the Board have found that Executive engaged in the conduct described in this paragraph.

        "Change in Control" is defined in a manner substantially the same as in Mr. Gardner's employment arrangement.


        Mr. Perna is bound by a non-solicitation clause for the duration of his employment pursuant to his agreement and for two years thereafter. This clause precludes him from directly or indirectly soliciting any person who is currently employed or has been employed by the Company within the prior six months. During the term of his agreement, Mr. Perna is also precluded from influencing customers, vendors, and other partners of the Company in a way that would divert business away from the Company or otherwise materially interfere with any business relationship of the Company.

        Mr. Perna's agreement contains a provision that would require him to return any bonus payments earned if the Company were required to prepare an accounting restatement to correct an accounting error on an interim or annual financial statement included in a report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal securities laws, and the Board determines that misconduct by Mr. Perna occurred and caused such restatement.

        On February 5, 2010 (the "Separation Date"), Mr. Green resigned as Vice President/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company and all of its applicable subsidiaries. Mr. Green received payment of all amounts due from the Company for all salary, wages, bonuses, and commissions earned through the Separation Date and all amounts due from the Company for unused vacation time accrued by him through the close of business on the Separation Date, less all applicable taxes and withholdings. Coverage under Executive's existing health benefits plan continued through the end of the month of the Separation Date, and Executive will thereafter receive any benefits to which Executive may be entitled under COBRA. Mr. Green received all reimbursements due for his outstanding and approved reimbursable expenses. More specifically, Mr. Green received in exchange for his executing a Separation Agreement and Release of Claims agreement:

        Mr. Green further agreed to cooperate with and assist the Company with respect to any pending or future litigation, disputed claims or other matters, including without limitation, by truthfully testifying, as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Company. If the Company requests and additional expenditure of time by Mr. Green, any if the time involved is more than de minimus, he will be entitled to reasonable compensation as agreed upon between the parties taking into consideration the expected burdens of time and preparation imposed upon him and any potential impact upon then pending responsibilities.

        Mr. Green released and waived any other claims he may have against the Company and its present and former owners, agents, officers, stockholders, employees, directors, attorneys, subscribers, subsidiaries, parent, affiliates, successors and assigns.


Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control

        Under the terms of the Prior Gardner Agreement, ifIf Mr. Gardner's employment were to have beenis terminated on September 30, 2009,2010 for Good Reason or for reasonsby Vitesse other than For Cause, death or disability, heMr. Gardner would have receivedbe entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment of $1,575,000 and$2,081,250 which is equal to (a) two years of his base salary($750,000), plus (b) two times the maximum target bonus ($1,125,000), plus (c) a pro rata portion (based upon the portion of the fiscal year prior to his termination date) of his target bonus ($206,250).

        In the case of a termination for such reasons within 24 months following a Change of Control Event, he would be engagedearn a pro rata portion of the greater of his target bonus or the amount of his bonus in the prior fiscal year, whichever is greater.

        If Mr. Gardner's employment is terminated by Vitesse other than For Cause during the one-year period prior to a Change of Control Event and Mr. Gardner can demonstrate that his termination arose in connection with or anticipation of such Change of Control Event (including as a consultant at $3,000 per month untilresult of the earlier of: (i) three years afterrequest of a third party which had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect such Change of Control Event), then all RSUs which are subject solely to time-based vesting and were outstanding immediately prior to Mr. Gardner's final day of employment will become fully vested and, to the extent such Change of Control Event occurs during the six-month period following the termination date of Mr. Gardner's employment, all of his employment; and (ii) one year afteroutstanding options which are subject solely to time-vesting shall become fully vested as of the date we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares to be issued upon exerciseChange of options granted to him. In addition,Control Event. If Mr. Gardner's stockemployment is terminated for Good Reason or other than For Cause during the 24-month period following a Change of Control Event, then all outstanding options outstanding on the date of his termination would continueand RSUs which are subject solely to vest normally during his service as a consultant and those options would be exercisable until the earlier of 90 days following his termination as a consultant and the normal expiration dates of those options.time-based vesting shall become fully vested. As of September 30, 2009,2010 all of Mr. Gardner's outstanding stock option awards were out-of-the-money. The vesting of 100,000 of Mr. Gardner's RSUs would be accelerated. Based on the closing price per share of the Company's stock on September 30, 2010 of $3.61, the value of such RSUs subject to accelerated vesting was $361,000.

        If Mr. Yonker's employment were to have been terminated on September 30, 2009,2010, for Good Reason or for reasons other than For Cause, death or Disability, he would have received a lump sum payment of $352,830 which is equal to his annual base salary of $275,000$285,000, plus $233,750$67,830 (twice his earned bonus of $116,875)$33,915). If a Change in Control had occurred within the 12 months prior to September 30, 2009,2010, Mr. Yonker would have received a lump sum payment of $489,915 which is equal to his annual base salary of $275,000$285,000 plus $281,875$204,915 (his earned bonus of $116,875$33,915 and an additional $165,000$171,000 upon such termination, representing his maximum bonus for the year). In addition,



the shares underlying all of Mr. Yonker's outstanding stock options and restricted stock unitRSU awards would be accelerated and immediately become vested as though equity awards were vesting over four years in 48 equal monthly amounts, and he had completed an additional 24 months of service with the Company. Those options would be exercisable for an additional 90 days after termination. As of September 30, 2009,2010, all of Mr. Yonker's outstanding stock option awards were out-of-the-money. The vesting of 72,91750,000 of Mr. Yonker's restricted stock unitsRSUs would be accelerated. Based on the closing price per share of the Company's stock on September 30, 20092010 of $0.37,$3.61, the value of such restricted stock unitsRSUs subject to accelerated vesting was $26,979.$180,500.

        If Dr. Nuss' employment were to have been terminated on September 30, 20092010 by the Company other than for cause or by Dr. Nuss within nine months after a Change in Control resulting in a material change in his position, responsibilities, or compensation, he would have received a lump sum payment of $220,000.$235,000, which is equal to one year of his base salary ($235,000).

        If Mr. Perna's employment were to have been terminated on September 30, 2010 by the Company other than for cause or within 12 months after a Change in Control resulting in a material change in his position, responsibilities, or compensation, he would have received a lump sum payment of $117,500. In addition, the shares underlying all of Mr. Perna's outstanding stock options and RSU awards would be accelerated and immediately become vested as though equity awards were vesting over four years in 48 equal monthly amounts, and he had completed an additional 24 months of service



with the Company. Those options would be exercisable for an additional 90 days after termination. As of September 30, 2010, all of Mr. Perna's outstanding stock option awards were out-of-the-money. The vesting of 25,000 of Mr. Perna's RSUs would be accelerated. Based on the closing price per share of the Company's stock on the grant date of $3.61, the value of such RSUs subject to accelerated vesting was $90,250.

        Upon termination, all named executive officers would also receive any vacation accrued and unpaid as of the date of termination.



EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

Equity Compensation Plan Information Table

        The following table provides information as of September 30, 2010 concerning securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans of the Company.

 
 A B C 
Plan Category
 Number of Securities to be
Issued upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants or Rights
 Weighted Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants or Rights
 Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in Column A)
 

Equity Compensation Plans approved by Stockholders(1)

  2,129,685(2)$31.51  2,691,759(4)

Equity Compensation Plans not approved by Stockholders(5)

  128,693 $110.17   
        
 

Total(6)

  2,258,378 $35.99(3) 2,691,759 
        

(1)
Consists of the 2010 Incentive Plan, the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, the 1991 Stock Option Plan, the 1991 Directors' Stock Option Plan and the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. No additional awards are being made under the 1991 Stock Option Plan, the 1991 Directors' Stock Option Plan or the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, which was suspended after stockholders approved the 2010 Incentive Plan at the Annual Meeting held in May 2010. The 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was suspended in July 2006.

(2)
Includes 770,786 RSUs, which do not have an exercise price.

(3)
Includes weighted average exercise price for stock options only.

(4)
Consists of 2,464,229 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan and 227,530 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Shares available for issuance under the 2010 Incentive Plan can be granted pursuant to stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or units, performance units, performance shares and any other stock based award selected by the compensation committee.

(5)
Consists of the Vitesse International Inc. 1999 International Stock Option Plan, which was adopted in 1999 to provide for the grant to international employees of incentive stock options and the assumption of options under plans of foreign subsidiaries. The Vitesse International Inc. 1999 International Stock Option Plan expired on October 31, 2009.

(6)
The table does not include information for equity compensation plans assumed by the Company in connection with acquisitions of the companies that originally established those plans. As of September 30, 2010, a total of 2,772 shares of the Company's common stock were issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under those assumed plans. The weighted average exercise price of those options outstanding is $400.00 per share. No additional options may be granted under those assumed plans.


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Review, Approval or Ratification of Related Person Transactions

        In accordance with the charter for the Audit Committee of the Board, the members of the Audit Committee, all of whom are independent directors, review and approve in advance any proposed related person transactions. Additionally, from time to time the Board may directly consider these transactions. For purposes of these procedures, the individuals and entities that are considered "related persons" include:

Related Person Transactions

Certain Transactions with Related Persons

        We are currently        There has not been a transaction or series of related transactions to which Vitesse was or is a party to a consulting agreement with Lynn Jones, who shares a household with Mr. Gardner,involving an amount in excess of $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer, holder of more than five percent (5%) of any class of our Chief Executive Officer and a director. Ms. Jones was previously employed with the Company as a paralegal from September 2000 until July 2006. She was asked to assist the Company in fiscal year 2009 because of her experience and her knowledgevoting securities, or any member of the Company, as well as the increasing demands placed on the Company's legal resources as a resultimmediate family of any of the imminent debt restructuring that was completed on October 30, 2009. From October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009, we paid Ms. Jones an aggregate of $137,086 in cash compensation, atforegoing persons, had or will have a rate of $80.00 per hour, pursuant to the consulting agreement for her services as a legal consultant. Ms. Jones' consulting relationship was approved by the Board of Directors which received full disclosure of Mr. Gardner's relationship to Ms. Jones.direct or indirect material interest.

        The charter of our Board's Audit Committee provides that the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing, in consultation with our General Counsel, reports and disclosures of insider and affiliated party transactions and compliance with our policy and procedures with respect to related party transactions. Our policies and procedures regarding related party transactions are evidenced in writing



by our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which we refer to as our Employees' Code, and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Members of the Board of Directors, which we refer to as our Directors' Code. The Employees' Code requires all officers and employees to discharge their responsibilities solely on the basis of the Company's best interests, independent of personal interests, considerations or relationships. This code also requires anyone who personally becomes involved in a situation that gives rise to an actual or potential conflict of interest to immediately notify our General Counsel.Corporate Secretary. The Directors' Code requires members of our Board to take all reasonable steps to avoid conflicts of interest with the Company. Additionally, the Directors' Code requires members of our Board to promptly disclose to the Chairperson of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee any situation that involves, or may reasonably be expected to involve, a conflict of interest with the Company. The charter of our Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee provides that this committee will review potential conflicts of interest involving members of our Board and will determine whether such directorDirector or directorsDirectors may vote on any issue as to which there may be a conflict.

Directors' Independence

        Except for Christopher R. Gardner, our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director, all of our directors meet the independence requirements set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. The members of our Audit Committee also meet the additional independence requirements set forth in the NASDAQ Listing Rules and the SEC rules for Audit Committee members.



REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The Audit Committee is responsibleReport does not constitute soliciting materials and shall not be deemed filed or incorporated by reference into any other filings by us under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this Audit Committee Report by reference therein.

        The Audit Committee hereby reports as follows:



  Respectively submitted by
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

 

James H. Hugar, ChairChairman
Steve Hanson, member
Ed Rogas, Jr., member


OTHER MATTERS

        We know of no other matters to be submitted to the meeting. If any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form Proxyproxy to vote the shares they represent as the Board may recommend.



  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dated: March 31,December 1, 2010

 

GRAPHICGRAPHIC


Christopher R. Gardner
President and Chief Executive Officer


APPENDIX A

VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

        The purposeVitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is comprised of two sub-plans as set forth below, each of which is intended to constitute a separate offering: The Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation U.S. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation International Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

        The number of shares of the Common Stock of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation reserved for sale and authorized for issuance pursuant to the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, comprised of the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2010 IncentiveU.S. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation International Employee Stock Purchase Plan, is 2,500,000 shares, subject to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, agents, advisors 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 meaningsadjustment as set forth in Appendix A.


SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION

3.1    AdministrationSection 9 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 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, except with respect to Awards to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or Awards granted 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 authority has been delegated 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 Award 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 and regulations as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration 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 price of an option after it is granted, except in connection with adjustments provided in Section 15.1; (ii) take any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles; or (iii) cancel an option at a time when its strike price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying stock, in exchange for another option, restricted stock, or other equity, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a merger, acquisition, spin-off or other similar corporate transaction.

        (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

        (a)   50,000,000 shares; plus

        (b)   up to 40,457,825 shares subject to outstanding awards under the Company's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Prior Plan") on the Effective Date that cease to be subject to such awards (other than by reason of exercise or settlement of the awards to the extent they are exercised for or settled in shares) subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 15.1, which shares shall cease, as of such date, to be available for grant and issuance under the Prior Plan and shall instead be available for issuance under the Plan.

        (c)sub-plan. 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 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. Any shares of Common Stock (i) tendered by a Participant or retained by the Company as full or partial payment to the Company for the purchase price of an Award or to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award, or (ii) covered by an Award that is settled in cash, or in a manner such that some or all of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Award are not issued, shall 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.


        (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, then, to the extent determined by the Board or the Compensation Committee, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such preexisting plan (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 common stock 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 the other provisions in 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.


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 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 they are paid to other shareholders 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 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. For Incentive Stock Options, the Option Term shall be as specified in Section 8.4.

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 Sections 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 the 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 the registration requirements under the Securities Act or similar requirements under the laws of any state or foreign jurisdiction, then the Option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (a)the Option Expiration Date and (b) the expiration of a period of three months (or such longer period of time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) after the Participant's Termination of Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such Securities Act or other 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.


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 or alone ("freestanding"). 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. An SAR may be exercised upon such terms and conditions and for the 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 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 of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, as determined by the Committee (a) the shares of Restricted Stock 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 Unit under such circumstances and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.



SECTION 11. PERFORMANCE AWARDSVITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
U.S. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

11.1    Performance Shares SECTION 1.    PURPOSE

        The Committee may grant Awardspurpose of Performance Shares, designatethis Plan is to provide employees of the ParticipantsCompany and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity 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 ofpurchase Common Stock of the valueCompany. It is the intention of which maythe Company to have the Plan qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of this Plan, accordingly, shall be paidconstrued so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with the Participant by deliveryrequirements of sharesthat Section 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.Code.


SECTION 12. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDS2.    DEFINITIONS

        SubjectCertain terms used in this Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.


SECTION 3.    ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

3.1   Initial Eligibility

        Except as provided in Section 3.2, each Employee shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 4 on the first Enrollment Date on or following the later of (a) the date on which such Employee completes six (6) months of employment; and (b) the Effective Date. Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary.

3.2   Limitations on Eligibility

        The following Employees are not eligible to participate in the Plan:


SECTION 4.    ENROLLMENT

        Any Eligible Employee may enroll in the Plan for any Offering Period by completing and signing an enrollment election form or by such other means as the Committee shall prescribe and submitting such enrollment election to the termsCompany in accordance with procedures established by the Committee on or before the Cut-Off Date with respect to such Offering Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the enrollment election and the designated rate of payroll deduction shall continue for future Offering Periods unless the Participant changes or cancels the enrollment election or designated rate of payroll deduction prior to the Cut-Off Date.


SECTION 5.    GRANT OF OPTIONS ON ENROLLMENT

5.1   Option Grant

        Enrollment by an Eligible Employee in the Plan as of an Enrollment Date will constitute the grant by the Company to such Participant of an option on such Enrollment Date to purchase Shares from the Company pursuant to the Plan.


5.2   Option Expiration

        An option granted to a Participant pursuant to this Plan shall expire, if not terminated for any reason first, on the earliest to occur of: (a) the end of the Offering Period in which such option was granted; (b) the completion of the purchase of Shares under the option under Section 7; or (c) the date on which participation of such Participant in the Plan andterminates for any reason.

5.3   Purchase of Shares

        An option granted to a Participant under the Plan shall give the Participant a right to purchase on a Purchase Date the largest number of whole Shares, as determined by the Committee, which the funds accumulated in the Participant's Account as of such Purchase Date will purchase at the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that such option shall be for a maximum number of shares determined by dividing $25,000 by the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the first day of the applicable Offering Period; provided, further, that the Committee may, in its discretion, limit the number of Shares purchased by each Participant in any Purchase Period.

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent required by Section 423 of the Code, no Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (or any other plan of the Company or a Subsidiary intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code) which would permit the Employee to purchase Shares under the Plan (and such other plan) in any calendar year with a Fair Market Value (determined at the time such option is granted) in excess of $25,000 and any payments made by a Participant in excess of this limitation shall be returned to the Participant in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.


SECTION 6.    PAYMENT

        The Committee may designate the time and manner for payment of Shares to be purchased during the Purchase Period, including, but not limited to, through payroll deductions from Eligible Compensation, the terms and conditions of which are designated by the Committee. Payment amounts shall be credited on a bookkeeping basis to a Participant's Account under this Plan. All payment amounts may be used by the Company for any purpose and the Company shall have no obligation to segregate such funds. No interest accrues on payments by Participants.


SECTION 7.    PURCHASE OF SHARES

7.1   Option Exercise

        Any option held by the Participant that was granted under this Plan and that remains outstanding as of a Purchase Date shall be deemed to have been exercised on such Purchase Date for the number of whole Shares, as determined by the Committee, which the funds accumulated in the Participant's Account as of the Purchase Date will purchase at the applicable Purchase Price (but not in excess of the number of Shares for which options have been granted to the Participant pursuant to Section 5.3). Options for other Shares for which options have been granted that are not purchased on the last Purchase Date during the Offering Period shall terminate. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Committee may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.


7.2   Refund of Excess Amount

        If, after a Participant's exercise of an option under Section 7.1, an amount remains credited to the Participant's Account as of a Purchase Date, then the remaining amount shall be (a) if no further Purchase Periods are immediately contemplated by the Committee, distributed to the Participant as soon as administratively feasible, or (b) if another Purchase Period is contemplated by the Committee, carried forward in the Account for application to the purchase of Shares on the next following Purchase Date.

7.3   Employees of Subsidiary

        In the case of Participants employed by a Designated Subsidiary, the Committee may provide for Shares to be sold through the Subsidiary to such Participants, to the extent consistent with Section 423 of the Code.

7.4   Pro Rata Allocation

        If the total number of Shares for which options are or could be exercised on any Purchase Date in accordance with this Section 7, when aggregated with all Shares for which options have been previously exercised under this Plan, exceeds the maximum number of Shares reserved in Section 12, the Company may, in accordance with Section 12, allocate the Shares available for delivery and distribution in the ratio that the balance in each Participant's Account bears to the aggregate balances of all Participants' Accounts, and the remaining balance of the amount credited to the Account of each Participant under the Plan shall be returned to him or her as promptly as possible.

7.5   Notice of Disposition

        If a Participant or former Participant sells, transfers or otherwise makes a disposition of Shares purchased pursuant to an option granted under the Plan if such Participant or former Participant is subject to United States federal income tax, then such Participant or former Participant shall notify the Company or the Employer in writing of such sale, transfer or other disposition within ten (10) days of the consummation of such sale, transfer or other disposition. Without limitation on the Participant or former Participant's ability to sell, transfer or otherwise make a disposition of Shares and without limitation on Section 11.2, Participants and former Participants must maintain any Shares purchased pursuant to an option granted under the Plan within two (2) years after the date such option is granted or within one (1) year after the date such Shares were transferred to the Participant at the broker designated by the Committee, unless the Committee determines otherwise.


SECTION 8.    WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN, TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT, AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE

8.1   Withdrawal From the Plan

        A Participant may withdraw all funds accumulated in the Participant's Account from the Plan with respect to a future Purchase Period by delivering a notice of withdrawal to the Company or the Employer (in a manner prescribed by the Committee) at any time up to but not including the thirty (30) days prior to the Enrollment Date next following the date such notice of withdrawal is delivered, or at such shorter time in advance of such Enrollment Date as the Committee deems appropriate,may permit. If a notice of complete withdrawal as described in the preceding sentence is timely received, the Company or the Employer will cease the Participant's payroll withholding for the Plan in accordance with timing and other procedures established by the Committee. An Employee who has withdrawn with respect to a future Purchase Period may not return funds to the Company or the Employer during that Purchase Period and require the Company or the Employer to apply those funds to the purchase of Shares. Any



Eligible Employee who has withdrawn from the Plan may, however, re-enroll in the Plan on the next subsequent Enrollment Date, if any.

8.2   Termination of Participation

        Participation in the Plan terminates immediately on the date on which a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or the Employer for any reason whatsoever or otherwise ceases to be an Eligible Employee, and all funds then accumulated in the Participant's Account shall not be used to purchase Shares, but shall instead be distributed to the Participant as soon as administratively feasible.

8.3   Leaves of Absence

        If a Participant takes a leave of absence, such Participant shall have the right, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Committee, to elect to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 8.1. To the extent determined by the Committee or required by Section 423 of the Code, certain leaves of absence may grant other incentives payable in cash or in sharesbe treated as cessations of Common Stock underemployment for purposes of the Plan.


SECTION 13. WITHHOLDING9.    ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION,
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE

13.19.1   Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization    Payment of Tax Withholding and Other Obligations

        The Company may requireSubject to any required action by the Participant to pay tostockholders of the Company, the amount of (a) any taxes that the Company is required by applicable federal, state, local or foreign lawright to withhold with respect to the grant, vesting or exercise of an Award ("tax withholding obligations") and (b) 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 sharespurchase Shares of Common Stock or otherwise settle an Award undercovered by a current Offering Period and 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 (a) paying cash to the Company, (b) having the Company withhold an amount from any cash amounts otherwise due or to become due from the Company to the Participant, (c) 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, (d) surrendering a number of shares of Common Stock the Participant already owns having



a value equal to the tax withholding obligations and other obligations, (e) selling shares of Common Stock issued under an Award on the open market or to the Company, or (f) 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 the Participant designates 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

        (a)   In the event, 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 which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan; (ii)Plan for any future Offering Period, the maximum number and kind of securities issuableShares each Participant may purchase each Offering Period (pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof), as Incentive Stock Optionswell as set forth in Section 4.2; (iii) the maximum numberprice per Share and kind of securities set forth in Section 4.3; (iv) the maximum numbers and kind of securities set forth in Section 16.3; and (v) the number and kind of securities that are subject to any outstanding Award andShares covered by each right under the per share price of such securities, without any changePlan which have not yet been purchased shall be proportionately adjusted in the aggregate price to be paid therefor. The determinationsole discretion of the Committee for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, or any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. Except as expressly provided otherwise by the Committee, as to the terms of any of the foregoing adjustments shall be conclusive and binding.

        (b)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, theno 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 dissolutionnumber or liquidationprice 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.Shares.

15.29.2   Adjustment Upon Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or LiquidationAsset Sale

        ToWithout limitation on 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,preceding provisions, in the event of a Change in Control:

        (a)   All outstanding Awards, other than Performance Shares and Performance Units, shall become fully and immediately exercisable, andany dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation, sale of all applicable restrictions or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, immediately prior to the Change in Control and shall terminate at the effective timesubstantially all 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 or replaced by the Successor Company, such Awards shall become fully and immediately exercisable, and all applicable restrictions or forfeiture provisions shall lapse, only if and to the extent such Awards are not converted, assumed or replaced by the Successor Company.

        For the purposes of this Section 15.3(a), an Award shall be considered converted, assumed or replaced by the Successor Company if following the Company Transaction the option or right 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, cashCompany's outstanding voting securities, sales, lease, exchange or other securitiestransfer of all or property) received in the Company Transaction by holders of Common Stock for each share held on the effective datesubstantially all 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 SharesCompany's assets, or Performance Units 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 Performance Shares or Performance Units (including any applicable performance period) for which the payout level has not been determined shall be prorated at the target payout level up to and including the date of such Change in Control 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 casesimilar transaction as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, multiplied bythe Committee may make such adjustment it deems appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under Section 12, in the number, class of or price of Shares available for purchase under the Plan and in the number of shares of Common Stock subjectShares which a Participant is entitled to such outstanding Awards (whether or not then vestedpurchase and exercisable) exceeds (y) if applicable,any other adjustments it deems appropriate. Without limiting the respective aggregate exercise price or grant price for such Awards.


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 shallCommittee's authority under this Plan, 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    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.

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, thentransaction, the Committee may provide that this Section 16 is applicableelect to have the options hereunder assumed or such Award.

16.1    Performance Criteria

        (a)   If an Award is subjectoptions substituted by a successor entity, to this Section 16, thenterminate all outstanding options either prior to their expiration or upon completion of the lapsingpurchase of restrictions thereon andShares on the distribution of cash, shares of Common Stocknext Purchase Date, to shorten the Offering Period by setting a new Purchase Date, or to take such other property pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be subject to the achievement of one or more objective performance goals establishedaction deemed appropriate 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); working capital; earnings per share; book value per share; operating income (including or excluding depreciation, amortization, extraordinary items, restructuring charges or other expenses); revenues; operating margins; return on assets; return on equity; debt; debt plus equity; market or economic value added; stock price appreciation; total



stockholder return; cost control; strategic initiatives; market share; net income; 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 Principles Board Opinion No. 30 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 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for such Awards, except that the Company may make additional onetime grants of such Awards for up to 5,000,000 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 $3,000,000.

        (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.Committee.



SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION10.    DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

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 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 applicable terms and conditions and the Plan's terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten years after the later of (a) the adoption of the Plan by the Board and (b) the adoption by the Board of any amendment to the Plan that constitutes the adoption of a new plan for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

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        Each Participant under the Plan. Any changePlan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or adjustmentbeneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to an outstanding Incentive Stock Optionwhom the amount in his or her Account is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall not, withoutrevoke all prior designations by the consent ofsame Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Committee during the Participant's lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, any Account balance remaining unpaid at the Participant's death shall be made in a manner so aspaid 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.Participant's estate.


SECTION 18. GENERAL11.    ADMINISTRATION

18.111.1 Administration by Committee    No Individual Rights

        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. Furthermore, nothing in the Plan or any Award granted under theThe 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 createdadministered by the Plan, or to continue in effect any such registrations or qualifications if made.

        (c)   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 (a) 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 (b) such other action or agreement by the Participant as may from time to time be necessary to comply with the 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.Committee. 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.

        (d)   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 noncertificated 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, or a committee appointed by 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, 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, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such person's own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute.

        (b)   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 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 409, 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.

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,delegate duties to officers, directors or employees of the Company.

11.2 Authority of Committee

        The Committee shall have the full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and options granted under it; to establish, amend, and revoke rules and regulations for administration of the Plan (including, without limitation, the determination and change of Offering Periods, Purchase Periods and payment procedures, subplansthe requirement that Shares be held by a specified broker, and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisionsestablishment of the laws or regulationsexchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars); to determine all questions of other countries or jurisdictionseligibility, disputed claims and policy that may arise in which the Company or any Related Company may operate or have employees to ensure the viabilityadministration 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, orPlan; to make any special deposits forchanges to the Plan or its operations to reduce or eliminate any immediateunfavorable legal, accounting or deferred amounts payableother consequences to any Participant,the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee; and, no Participant shall have any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor ofgenerally, to exercise such powers and perform such acts as the Company.


18.8    Successors

        All obligationsCommittee deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company, underincluding, but not limited to, designating from time to time which Subsidiaries of the Company shall be part of the Employer. The Committee's determinations as to the interpretation and operation of this Plan with respect to Awardsshall be final and conclusive and each action of the Committee shall be binding on any successor toall persons.

        In exercising the Company, whetherpowers described in the existence of such successor isforegoing paragraph, the result of a directCommittee may adopt special or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially alldifferent rules for the business and/or assets of the Company.

18.9    Severability

        If any provisionoperation of the Plan orincluding, but not limited to, rules which allow employees of any Award is determinedforeign Subsidiary to be invalid, illegal or unenforceableparticipate in, and enjoy the tax benefits offered by, the Plan; provided that such rules shall not result in any jurisdiction, grantees of options having different rights and/or as to any person, or would disqualifyprivileges under the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicablein violation of Section 423 of the Code nor otherwise cause the Plan to fail to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

11.3 Administrative Modifications

        The Plan provisions relating to the administration of the Plan may be modified by the Committee such provision shallfrom time to time as may be construeddesirable to satisfy any requirements of or deemed amended to conform tounder the federal securities and/or other 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 governedto obtain any exemption under such laws, or to reduce or eliminate any unfavorable legal, accounting or other consequences or for any other purpose deemed appropriate 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 Delaware.

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.Committee.


SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATE12.    NUMBER OF SHARES

        Subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 9, the number of Shares reserved for sale and authorized for issuance pursuant to the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is 2,500,000 shares and, therefore, the number of Shares authorized for issuance pursuant to the Plan is the number of Shares specified above less the number of Shares issued pursuant



to the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation International Employee Stock Purchase Plan. If any option granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such option shall again become available for the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. If on a given Purchase Date, the number of Shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of Shares then available under the Plan, the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practical and as it shall determine to be equitable.


SECTION 13.    MISCELLANEOUS

        The effective date (the "Effective Date") is the date13.1 Restrictions on which the Plan is adopted by the Board. If the stockholders of the Company do not approve the Plan within 12 months after the Board's adoption of the Plan, any Incentive StockTransfer

        Options granted under the Plan to a Participant may not be exercised during the Participant's lifetime other than by the Participant. Neither amounts credited to a Participant's Account nor any rights with respect to the exercise of an option or to receive stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 8.1.

13.2 Administrative Assistance

        If the Committee in its discretion so elects, it may retain a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution to assist in the purchase of Shares, delivery of reports or other administrative aspects of the Plan. If the Committee so elects, each Participant shall (unless prohibited by applicable law) be deemed upon enrollment in the Plan to have authorized the establishment of an account on his or her behalf at such institution. Shares purchased by a Participant under the Plan shall be held in the Account in the Participant's name, or if the Participant so indicates in the enrollment form, in the Participant's name together with the name of his or her spouse in joint tenancy with right of survivorship or spousal community property, or in certain forms of trust approved by the Committee.

13.3 Treatment of Non-U.S. Participants

        Participants who are employed by non-U.S. Designated Subsidiaries, who are paid in foreign currency, and who contribute foreign currency to the Plan through contributions or payroll deductions will have such contributions converted to U.S. dollars. The exchange rate and method for such conversion will be treateddetermined as Nonqualified Stock Options.prescribed by the Committee. In no event will any procedure implemented for dealing with exchange rate fluctuations that may occur during an Offering Period result in a purchase price below the Purchase Date Price permitted under the Plan. Each Participant shall bear the risk of any currency exchange fluctuations (if applicable) between the date on which any Participant contributions are converted to U.S. dollars and the following Purchase Date.

13.4 Withholding

        The Company or any Employer shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or any member of the Employer, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

13.5 Equal Rights and Privileges

        All Eligible Employees shall have equal rights and privileges with respect to the Plan so that the Plan qualifies as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code and the related regulations. Notwithstanding the express terms of the



Plan, any provision of the Plan which is inconsistent with Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code shall without further act or amendment by the Company or the Committee be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. This Section 13.5 shall take precedence over all other provisions in the Plan.

13.6 Applicable Law

        The Plan shall be governed by the substantive laws (excluding the conflict of laws rules) of the State of Delaware.

13.7 Amendment and Termination

        The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that (1) the Plan may not be amended in a way which will cause rights issued under the Plan to fail to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the Code; and (2) no amendment that would amend or modify the Plan in a manner requiring stockholder approval under Section 423 of the Code or the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Shares are traded shall be effective unless such stockholder approval is obtained. In addition, the Committee may amend the Plan as provided in Section 11.3, subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 13.7.

        If the Plan is terminated, the Committee may elect to terminate all outstanding options either prior to their expiration or upon completion of the purchase of Shares on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to permit options to expire in accordance with their terms (and participation to continue through such expiration dates). If the options are terminated prior to expiration, all funds accumulated in Participants' Accounts as of the date the options are terminated shall be returned to the Participants as soon as administratively feasible.

13.8 No Right of Employment

        Neither the grant nor the exercise of any rights to purchase Shares under this Plan nor anything in this Plan shall impose upon the Company or a member of the Employer any obligation to employ or continue to employ any Employee. The right of the Company or a member of the Employer to terminate any Employee shall not be diminished or affected because any rights to purchase Shares have been granted to such Employee.

13.9 Rights as Shareholder

        No Participant shall have any rights as shareholder unless and until Shares have been issued to him or her.

13.10  Governmental Regulation

        The Company's obligation to sell and deliver Shares under this Plan is subject to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such Shares.

13.11  Gender

        When used herein, masculine terms shall be deemed to include the feminine, except when the context indicates to the contrary.

13.12  Condition for Participation

        As a condition to participation in the Plan, Eligible Employees agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan (including, without limitation, the notification and holding requirements of Section 7.5) and the determinations of the Committee.



APPENDIX AA-1

DEFINITIONS

        As used in the Plan,

"Account" "Acquired Entity" means any entity acquired by the Company or a Related Company or withrecordkeeping account maintained for a Participant to which the Company or a Related Company merges or combines.Participant contributions and payroll deductions, if applicable, shall be credited.

"Board"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.

"Code"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 40% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company (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, or (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 during any two-year period such that the individuals who, as of the beginning of such two-year period, 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 beginning of the two-year period, 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)   the consummation of a Company Transaction.


        "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.amended.

"Committee"Committee" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

        "Common Stock" means the common stock, no par value,Compensation Committee or any other committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

"Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.

"Company"Company" means Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

"Cut-Off Date" "Company Transaction," unlessmeans the date established by the Committee determines otherwise with respectfrom time to time by which enrollment forms must be received prior to an Award atEnrollment Date.

"Designated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which has been designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Award is granted or unless otherwise definedPlan and which has adopted the Plan with the approval of the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.

"Effective Date" means the first trading day for purposes of an Award in a written employment, servicesthe Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange 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 all 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 immediatelyapplicable trading market 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 lastPlan is approved by the Company's stockholders.

"Eligible Compensation" means all base gross earnings, including such amounts of such transactions is consummated.

        "Compensation Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

        "Coveredgross earnings as are deferred by an Eligible Employee" means (a) under a "covered employee" as that term is defined for purposes ofqualified cash or deferred arrangement described in Section 162(m)(3)401(k) of the Code or (b) to a plan qualified under Section 125 of the Code. Eligible Compensation does not include overtime, cash bonuses, commissions, severance pay, hiring and relocation bonuses, pay in lieu of vacations or sabbaticals, sick leave, gain from stock option exercises or any successor provision.other special payments.

"Eligible Employee" "Disability," unless otherwise defined by the Committee for purposes ofmeans an Employee eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 3.

"Employee" means any individual who is an employee of the instrument evidencing an Award or in a written employment, services or other agreement between the Participant andEmployer for tax purposes.

"Employer" means the Company or a Related Company, means a mental or physical impairmentany Designated Subsidiary of the Participant thatCompany by which an Employee is expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a continuous periodemployed.

"Enrollment Date" means the first Trading Day 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 Compensation Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding.

        "Effective Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 19.an Offering Period.

"Exchange Act"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.amended.

"Fair Market ValueValue"" means, as of any date, 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 a date on which an Eligible Employee is granted an option under the Plan pursuant to Section 5.

"Grant Price" means the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date for such option.


"Offering Period" means the period beginning and ending on the dates designated by the Committee; provided, that each period shall in no event end later than twenty-seven (27) months from the Grant Date. The Offering Period may but need not be the same as the Purchase Period, as determined by the Committee.

"Participant" means an Eligible Employee who has enrolled in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.

"Plan" means this Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation U.S. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

"Purchase Date" with respect to a Purchase Period means the last Trading Day in such Purchase Period.

"Purchase Date Price" means the Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable Purchase Date.

"Purchase Period" means the period beginning and ending on the dates designated by the Committee; provided, that each period shall, in no event end later than twenty-seven (27) months from the Grant Date.

"Purchase Price" means the price designated by the Committee, at which each Share may be purchased under any option, but in no event less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of:

"Shares" means shares of the Company's Common Stock.

"Subsidiary" means a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not less than 50% of the combined voting power is held by the Company or a Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

"Trading Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or other alternative exchange or service on which the Common Stock is traded, listed or quoted is open for trading.



GrantVITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

SECTION 1.    PURPOSE

        The purpose of this Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company.


SECTION 2.    DEFINITIONS

        Certain terms used in this Plan have the meanings set forth in Appendix A.


SECTION 3.    ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

3.1   Initial Eligibility

        Except as provided in Section 3.2, each Employee shall become eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 4 on the first Enrollment Date" means on or following the later of (a) the date on which the Committeesuch Employee completes the corporate action authorizing the grantsix (6) months of an Awardemployment or such later date specifiedshorter period determined appropriate by the Committee; and (b) the Effective Date. Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary.

3.2   Limitations on Eligibility

        The following Employees are not eligible to participate in the Plan:


SECTION 4.    ENROLLMENT

        Any Eligible Employee may enroll in the Plan for any Offering Period by completing and signing an enrollment election form or by such other means as the Committee shall prescribe and submitting such enrollment election to the Company in accordance with procedures established by the Committee on or before the Cut-Off Date with respect to such Offering Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the enrollment election and the designated rate of payroll deduction shall continue for future Offering Periods unless the Participant changes or cancels the enrollment election or designated rate of payroll deduction prior to the Cut-Off Date.


SECTION 5.    GRANT OF OPTIONS ON ENROLLMENT

5.1   Option Grant

        Enrollment by an Eligible Employee in the Plan as of an Enrollment Date will constitute the grant by the Company to such Participant of an option on such Enrollment Date to purchase Shares from the Company pursuant to the Plan.

5.2   Option Expiration

        An option granted to a Participant pursuant to this Plan shall expire, if not terminated for any reason first, on the earliest to occur of: (a) the end of the Offering Period in which such option was granted; (b) the completion of the purchase of Shares under the option under Section 7; or (c) the date on which all conditions precedentparticipation of such Participant in the Plan terminates for any reason.


5.3   Purchase of Shares

        An option granted to an Award have been satisfied, provided that conditions toa Participant under the exercisability or vesting of AwardsPlan shall not defergive 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.

        "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

        "Option" meansParticipant a right to purchase Common Stockon a Purchase Date the largest number of whole Shares, as determined by the Committee, which the funds accumulated in the Participant's Account as of such Purchase Date will purchase at the applicable Purchase Price; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its discretion, limit the number of Shares purchased by each Participant in any Purchase Period.


SECTION 6.    PAYMENT

        The Committee may designate the time and manner for payment of Shares to be purchased during the Purchase Period, including, but not limited to, through payroll deductions from Eligible Compensation, the terms and conditions of which are designated by the Committee. Payment amounts shall be credited on a bookkeeping basis to a Participant's Account under this Plan. All payment amounts may be used by the Company for any purpose and the Company shall have no obligation to segregate such funds. No interest accrues on payments by Participants.


SECTION 7.    PURCHASE OF SHARES

7.1   Option Exercise

        Any option held by the Participant that was granted under this Plan and that remains outstanding as of a Purchase Date shall be deemed to have been exercised on such Purchase Date for the number of whole Shares, as determined by the Committee, that the funds accumulated in the Participant's Account as of the Purchase Date will purchase at the applicable Purchase Price (but not in excess of the number of Shares for which options have been granted to the Participant pursuant to Section 7.5.3). Options for other Shares for which options have been granted that are not purchased on the last Purchase Date during the Offering Period shall terminate. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed. As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Committee may require the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.

7.2   Refund of Excess Amount

        If, after a Participant's exercise of an option under Section 7.1, an amount remains credited to the Participant's Account as of a Purchase Date, then the remaining amount shall be: (a) if no further Purchase Periods are immediately contemplated by the Committee, distributed to the Participant as soon as administratively feasible or (b) if another Purchase Period is contemplated by the Committee, carried forward in the Account for application to the purchase of Shares on the next following Purchase Date.

7.3   Employees of Subsidiary

        In the case of Participants employed by a Designated Subsidiary, the Committee may provide for Shares to be sold through the Subsidiary to such Participants.


7.4   Pro Rata Allocation

        If the total number of Shares for which options are or could be exercised on any Purchase Date in accordance with this Section 7, when aggregated with all Shares for which options have been previously exercised under this Plan, exceeds the maximum number of Shares reserved in Section 12, the Company may, in accordance with Section 12, allocate the Shares available for delivery and distribution in the ratio that the balance in each Participant's Account bears to the aggregate balances of all Participants' Accounts, and the remaining balance of the amount credited to the Account of each Participant under the Plan shall be returned to him or her as promptly as possible.


SECTION 8.    WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN, TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT, AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE

        "Option Expiration Date" means the last day of the maximum term of an Option.8.1   Withdrawal From The Plan

        "Outstanding Company Common Stock" has the meaning set forth        A Participant may withdraw all funds accumulated in the definitionParticipant's Account from the Plan for the next future Purchase Period by delivering a notice 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 ownswithdrawal to the Company or the Employer (in a manner prescribed by the Committee) at any time up to but not including the thirty (30) days prior to the Enrollment Date next following the date such notice of withdrawal is delivered, or at such shorter time in advance of such Enrollment Date as the Committee may permit. If a notice of complete withdrawal as described in the preceding sentence is timely received, the Company or the Employer will cease the Participant's payroll withholding for the Plan in accordance with timing and other procedures established by the Committee. An Employee who has withdrawn from a future Purchase Period may not return funds to the Company or the Employer during that Purchase Period and require the Company or the Employer to apply those funds to the purchase of Shares. Any Eligible Employee who has withdrawn from the Plan may, however, re-enroll in the Plan on the next subsequent Enrollment Date, if any.

8.2   Termination of Participation

        Participation in the Plan terminates immediately on the date on which a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or the Employer for any reason whatsoever or otherwise ceases to be an Eligible Employee, and all funds then accumulated in the Participant's Account shall not be used to purchase Shares, but shall instead be distributed to the Participant as soon as administratively feasible.

8.3   Leaves of Absence

        If a Participant takes a leave of absence, such Participant shall have the right, in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Committee, to elect to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 8.1. To the extent determined by the Committee, certain leaves of absence may be treated as cessations of employment for purposes of the Plan.


SECTION 9.    ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION,
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE

9.1   Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization

        Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the right to purchase Shares of Common Stock covered by a current Offering Period and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan for any future Offering Period, the maximum number of Shares each Participant may purchase each Offering Period (pursuant to Section 5.3 hereof), as well as the price per Share and the number of Shares covered by each right under the Plan which have not yet been purchased shall be proportionately adjusted in the sole discretion of the Committee for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split,



stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, or any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company. Except as expressly provided otherwise by the Committee, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares.

9.2   Adjustments Upon Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Sale of Assets

        Without limitation on the preceding provisions, in the event of any dissolution, liquidation, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's outstanding voting securities, sales, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or any similar transaction as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, the Committee may make such adjustment it deems appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under Section 12, in the number, class of or price of Shares available for purchase under the Plan and in the number of Shares which a Participant is entitled to purchase and any other adjustments it deems appropriate. Without limiting the Committee's authority under this Plan, in the event of any such transaction, the Committee may elect to have the options hereunder assumed or such options substituted by a successor entity, to terminate all outstanding options either directlyprior to their expiration or through oneupon completion of the purchase of Shares on the next Purchase Date, to shorten the Offering Period by setting a new Purchase Date, or more subsidiaries.to take such other action deemed appropriate by the Committee.


SECTION 10.    DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

        Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom the amount in his or her Account is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Committee during the Participant's lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, any Account balance remaining unpaid at the Participant's death shall be paid to the Participant's estate.


SECTION 11.    ADMINISTRATION

        "11.1 Administration by CommitteeParticipant" means any Eligible Person

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to whom an Award is granted.delegate duties to officers, directors or employees of the Company.

11.2 Authority of Committee

        "Performance Award" means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units        The Committee shall have the full and exclusive discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and options granted under Section 11.it; to establish, amend, and revoke rules and regulations for administration of the Plan (including, without limitation, the determination and change of Offering Periods, Purchase Periods and payment procedures, the requirement that Shares be held by a specified broker, and the establishment of the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars); to determine all questions of eligibility, disputed claims and policy that may arise in the administration of the Plan; to make any changes to the Plan or its operations to reduce or eliminate any unfavorable legal, accounting or other consequences to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee; and, generally, to exercise such powers and perform such acts as the Committee deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company, including, but not limited to, designating from time to time which Subsidiaries of the Company shall be part of the Employer. The



Committee's determinations as to the interpretation and operation of this Plan shall be final and conclusive and each action of the Committee shall be binding on all persons. The Committee may adopt special or different rules for the operation of the Plan for different Participants, including, but not limited to, rules designed to accommodate the practices of the applicable jurisdiction.

11.3 Administrative Modification

        The Plan provisions relating to the administration of the Plan may be modified by the Committee from time to time as may be desirable to satisfy any requirements of or under the securities or other applicable laws of the United States or other jurisdiction, to obtain any exemption under such laws, or to reduce or eliminate any unfavorable legal, accounting or other consequences or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Committee.

        "
Performance CriteriaSECTION 12.    NUMBER OF SHARES
" has the meaning

        Subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 16.1.

        "Performance Share" means an Award9, the number 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" meansShares reserved for sale and authorized for issuance pursuant to the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2010 Incentive2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is 2,500,000 shares and, therefore, the number of Shares authorized for issuance pursuant to the Plan is the number of Shares specified above less the number of Shares issued pursuant to the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation U.S. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. If any option granted under the Plan shall for any reason terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such option shall again become available for the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. If on a given Purchase Date, the number of Shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the number of Shares then available under the Plan, the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practical and as it shall determine to be equitable.


SECTION 13.    MISCELLANEOUS

        "13.1 Restrictions on TransferRelated Company" means

        Options granted under the Plan to a Participant may not be exercised during the Participant's lifetime other than by the Participant. Neither amounts credited to a Participant's Account nor any entityrights with respect to the exercise of an option or to receive stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that is directlythe Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw from the Plan in accordance with Section 8.1.

13.2 Administrative Assistance

        If the Committee in its discretion so elects, it may retain a brokerage firm, bank or indirectly controlledother financial institution to assist in the purchase of Shares, delivery of reports or other administrative aspects of the Plan. If the Committee so elects, each Participant shall (unless prohibited by applicable law) be deemed upon enrollment in controlthe Plan to have authorized the establishment of an account on his or her behalf at such institution. Shares purchased by a Participant under common controlthe Plan shall be held in the Account in the Participant's name, or if the Participant so indicates in the enrollment form, in the Participant's name together with the Company.name of his or her spouse in joint tenancy with right of survivorship or spousal community property, or in certain forms of trust approved by the Committee.

13.3 Treatment of Non-U.S. Participants

        Participants who are employed by non-U.S. Designated Subsidiaries, who are paid in foreign currency, and who contribute foreign currency to the Plan through contributions or payroll deductions



        "Restricted Stock" means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which are subjectwill have such contributions converted to restrictionsU.S. dollars. The exchange rate and method for such conversion will be determined as prescribed by the Committee. Each Participant shall bear the risk of any currency exchange fluctuations (if applicable) between the date on which any Participant contributions are converted to U.S. dollars and the following Purchase Date.

13.4 Withholding

        "Retirement," unless otherwise defined in        The Company or any Employer shall have the instrument evidencingpower and the Awardright to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company or any member of the Employer, an amount sufficient to satisfy taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

13.5 Applicable Law

        The Plan shall be governed by the substantive laws (excluding the conflict of laws rules) of the State of Oregon.

13.6 Amendment and Termination

        The Board may amend, alter or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that no amendment which would amend or modify the Plan in a written employment, servicesmanner requiring stockholder approval under the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Shares are traded shall be effective unless such stockholder approval is obtained. In addition, the Committee may amend the Plan as provided in Section 11.3, subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 13.6.

        If the Plan is terminated, the Committee may elect to terminate all outstanding options either prior to their expiration or other agreement betweenupon completion of the Participant andpurchase of Shares on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to permit options to expire in accordance with their terms (and participation to continue through such expiration dates). If the options are terminated prior to expiration, all funds accumulated in Participants' Accounts as of the date the options are terminated shall be returned to the Participants as soon as administratively feasible.

13.7 No Right of Employment

        Neither the grant nor the exercise of any rights to purchase Shares under this Plan nor anything in this Plan shall impose upon the Company or a Relatedmember of the Employer any obligation to employ or continue to employ any Employee. The right of the Company or a member of the Employer to terminate any Employee shall not be diminished or affected because any rights to purchase Shares have been granted to such Employee.

13.8 Rights as Shareholder

        No Participant shall have any rights as shareholder unless and until Shares have been issued to him or her.

13.9 Governmental Regulation

        The Company's obligation to sell and deliver Shares under this Plan is subject to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such Shares.

13.10  Gender

        When used herein, masculine terms shall be deemed to include the feminine, except when the context indicates to the contrary.

13.11  Condition for Participation

        As a condition to participation in the Plan, Eligible Employees agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan and the determinations of the Committee.



APPENDIX A

DEFINITIONS

        As used in the Plan,

"Account"means "Retirement"a recordkeeping account maintained for a Participant to which Participant contributions and payroll deductions, if applicable, shall be credited.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as definedamended.

"Committee" means the Compensation Committee or any other committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

"Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.

"Company" means Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

"Cut-Off Date" means the date established by the Committee from time to time by which enrollment forms must be received prior to an Enrollment Date.

"Designated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which has been designated by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan and which has adopted the Plan with the approval of the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.

"Effective Date" means the first trading day for the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable trading market after the date on which the Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders.

"Eligible Compensation" means all base gross earnings, including such amounts of gross earnings as are deferred by an Eligible Employee (a) under a qualified cash or deferred arrangement described in Section 401(k) of the Code or (b) to a plan qualified under Section 125 of the Code. Eligible Compensation does not include overtime, cash bonuses, commissions, severance pay, hiring and relocation bonuses, pay in lieu of vacations or sabbaticals, sick leave, gain from stock option exercises or any other special payments.

"Eligible Employee" means an Employee eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 3.

"Employee" means any individual who is an employee of the Employer for purposes of the Plan as determined by the Committee.

"Employer" means the Company or any Designated Subsidiary of the Company by which an Employee is employed.

"Enrollment Date" means the first Trading Day of an Offering Period.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

"Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, 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 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,"procedures as that term is defined in Section 411(a)(8) of the Code.it may establish.

"Grant Date"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

        "Section 409A" means Section 409A of the Code.

        "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means a rightdate on which an Eligible Employee is granted an option under the Plan pursuant to Section 9.1 to receive the excess of5.

"Grant Price" means the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock overShare on the grant price.Grant Date for such option.


"Offering Period" "Stock Award" means an Award of shares of Common Stock granted under Section 10, the rights of ownership of which areperiod beginning and ending on the dates designated by the Committee; provided, that each period shall in no event end later than twenty-seven (27) months from the Grant Date. The Offering Period may but need not subject to restrictions prescribedbe the same as the Purchase Period, as determined by the Committee.

"Participant"Stock Unit" means an Award denominatedEligible Employee who has enrolled in unitsthe Plan pursuant to Section 4.

"Plan" means this Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation International Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

"Purchase Date" with respect to a Purchase Period means the last Trading Day in such Purchase Period.

"Purchase Date Price" means the Fair Market Value of Common Stock granteda Share on the applicable Purchase Date.

"Purchase Period" means the period beginning and ending on the dates designated by the Committee; provided, that each period shall, in no event end later than twenty-seven (27) months from the Grant Date.

"Purchase Price" means the price designated by the Committee, at which each Share may be purchased under Section 10.any option, but in no event less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of:

    (1)
    The Grant Price and

    (2)
    The Purchase Date Price.

"Shares" "Substitute Awards" means Awards granted or shares of the Company's Common Stock issued by the Company in substitution or exchange for awards previously granted by an Acquired Entity.Stock.

"Subsidiary"Successor Company" means the surviving company, the successor company or Parent Company, as applicable, in connection with a Company Transaction.

        "Termination of Service" means a terminationcorporation, domestic or foreign, of employment or service relationship withwhich not less than 50% of the combined voting power is held by the Company or a Related Company for any reason,Subsidiary, whether voluntary or involuntary, includingnot such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired 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 Compensation 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 toSubsidiary.

"Trading Day" means a nonemployee director, consultant, advisor,day on which the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or independent contractor ofother alternative exchange or service on which the CompanyCommon Stock is traded, listed or a Related Company or a change in status from a nonemployee 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.quoted is open for trading.


Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. X 0163AD 50198GH 6 2 D V +   PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Annual Meeting Proxy Card . Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted — Date and Sign Below C Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. + Change of Address — Please print your new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below. B Non-Voting Items A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3. For Against Abstain 2. To approve the Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation 2010 Incentive2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. For Against Abstain 3. To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman,USA, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.2011. Meeting Attendance Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. 01 - Christopher R. Gardner 04 - G. Grant Lyon 02 - Steve P. Hanson 05 - Edward Rogas, Jr. 03 - James H. Hugar 1. Election of Directors: For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext06 - G. William LaRosa IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION 000004 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 ADD 5 ADD 6 ENDORSEMENT_LINE SACKPACK MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM 044444444400000000.0000 00 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext MMMMMMM 1 0 2 5 2 7 13 9 1 MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MMMMMMMMM C 1234567890 J N T C123456789 1234 5678 9012 345 Admission Ticket


PLEASE IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. Electronic Voting Instructions You can vote by Internet or telephone! Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy. VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR. Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 18, 2011. Vote by Internet • Log on to the Internet and go to www.envisionreports.com/VTSS • Follow the steps outlined on the secured website. Vote by telephone • Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call. • Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message.


. Notice of 20102011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Proxy Solicited by Board of Directors for Annual Meeting — May 11, 2010January 19, 2011 The undersigned, stockholder of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, each dated March 31,December 1, 2010, and hereby appoints Christopher R. Gardner and Richard C. Yonker, and each of them, proxies and attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation to be held on May 11, 2010January 19, 2011 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in Thousand Oaks, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village,Renaissance Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, California 91361,91301, and at any adjournment(s) thereof and to vote all shares of common stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if then and there personally present, on all the matters set forth on the reverse side. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO CONTRARY DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED (1) TO ENSURE AS MANY OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL ONE ARE ELECTED AS DIRECTORS, (2) FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AS SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL TWO, (3) FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AS SET FORTH IN PROPOSAL THREE, AND AS SAID PROXIES DEEM ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) THEREOF. Proxy — VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 20102011 Annual Meeting Admission Ticket 20102011 Annual Meeting of VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION May 11, 2010January 19, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. Local Time Hyatt Westlake Plaza Thousand Oaks 880 S. Westlake Blvd. Westlake Village,Renaissance Hotel 30100 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, California 9136191301 Upon arrival, please present this admission ticket and photo identification at the registration desk. Directions From Los Angeles Int’l Airport: Take Century Blvd. to 405 San Diego Freeway North to 101 West/Ventura Fwy.-North. Exit at Westlake Blvd., turn left. PassFollow the 101 to the Reyes Adobe exit. Turn left and drive over the freeway to first signalAgoura Road. Turn left onto Agoura Road and turn left. Hotel is on right.make an immediate right into the hotel driveway. From Burbank Airport: Exit to Hollywood Way South. Turn left onto Alameda Ave. Follow signs to 134 Ventura Fwy.-West. Hwy 134 converts to 101 Ventura Fwy.-North. Exit at Westlake Blvd., turn left. PassFollow the 101 to the Reyes Adobe exit. Turn left and drive over the freeway to first signalAgoura Road. Turn left onto Agoura Road and turn left. Hotel is on right.make an immediate right into the hotel driveway. IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

 



QuickLinks

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS May 11, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 11, 2010
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 11, 2010
PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
PROPOSAL TWO
DESCRIPTION2 APPROVAL OF THE 2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
PROPOSAL THREE RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OTHER MATTERS
VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION 2010 INCENTIVE2011 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION U.S. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATIONELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 4. ENROLLMENT
SECTION 5. GRANT OF OPTIONS ON ENROLLMENT
SECTION 6. PAYMENT
SECTION 7. PURCHASE OF SHARES SUBJECT TO
SECTION 8. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN, TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE
SECTION 9. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE
SECTION 10. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
SECTION 11. ADMINISTRATION
SECTION 12. NUMBER OF SHARES
SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS
APPENDIX A-1 DEFINITIONS
VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
SECTION 1. PURPOSE
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS
SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 4. ENROLLMENT
SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITYGRANT OF OPTIONS ON ENROLLMENT
SECTION 6. AWARDSPAYMENT
SECTION 7. OPTIONSPURCHASE OF SHARES
SECTION 8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION LIMITATIONSWITHDRAWAL FROM THE PLAN, TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT, AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE
SECTION 9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTSADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE
SECTION 10. STOCK AWARDS, RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITSDESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
SECTION 11. PERFORMANCE AWARDSADMINISTRATION
SECTION 12. OTHER STOCK OR CASH-BASED AWARDSNUMBER OF SHARES
SECTION 13. WITHHOLDING
SECTION 14. ASSIGNABILITY
SECTION 15. ADJUSTMENTS
SECTION 16. CODE SECTION 162(m) PROVISIONS
SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
SECTION 18. GENERAL
SECTION 19. EFFECTIVE DATEMISCELLANEOUS
APPENDIX A DEFINITIONS