Summary
Micron Technology, Inc. (MU) filed an 8-K on April 6, 2005, reporting a significant event on April 4, 2005: the acceleration of vesting for approximately 44.6 million outstanding stock options. This strategic move was primarily undertaken to comply with the upcoming adoption of FASB Statement No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment," which requires companies to recognize compensation expense for stock options. By accelerating the vesting, Micron aims to avoid recognizing an estimated $100 million in future compensation expense, with approximately $16.7 million attributable to options held by officers. In addition to the stock option acceleration, the report details a change in the Board of Directors. Ronald C. Foster resigned from the Board of Directors, effective April 3, 2005. The following day, April 4, 2005, the Board appointed Larry N. Mondry to the Board, effective April 5, 2005. The company also filed related press releases and forms of stock option agreements as exhibits to this report.
Key Highlights
- 1Micron accelerated the vesting of approximately 44.6 million stock options.
- 2The primary reason for acceleration was to avoid future compensation expense under the new FASB Statement 123R.
- 3An estimated $100 million in pre-tax compensation expense will be avoided by accelerating these options.
- 4Options held by officers accounted for approximately $16.7 million of the accelerated expense.
- 5The closing stock price on April 1, 2005, was $10.26, while the accelerated options had a weighted average exercise price of $14.08.
- 6Ronald C. Foster resigned from the Board of Directors.
- 7Larry N. Mondry was appointed to the Board of Directors.