LOS ALTOS, Calif., Apr 23, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), one of the world's premier technology
licensing companies specializing in high-speed memory architectures,
today issued the following letter to its stockholders:
April 23, 2009
Dear Stockholders:
Rambus will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders next week and we, as
the founders of the company, believe it is important to share our views
on one of the proposals up for vote: Approval of the Amendment to the
Company's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. This is not our normal practice,
but on this issue, we felt it was imperative to communicate directly to
stockholders.
We have been involved in Rambus and its Board of Directors since we
founded the company in 1990. What was true then is true today - we must
continually attract top talent in all areas of the business to invent,
market and license the extraordinary solutions for which Rambus is
famous. Hiring and retaining top talent for a company of our size is a
constant challenge and is critical to our business success. The Rambus
culture is one of employee ownership, and we believe this is a vital
part of that success. Rambus management stresses to employees to think
and act like owners. Stock options are the best way to align the
interests of our employees with those of our stockholders.
Innovation doesn't happen by itself, nor is Rambus' technology
leadership some god-given right. Only through the concerted efforts of
the best and brightest minds in the industry is Rambus able to create
innovations that lead the world. But we must compete for this critical
talent with large companies in Silicon Valley and elsewhere that have
vastly greater financial resources. It is insufficient for us to be "as
good" as our competitors. Our business demands that we are the
undisputed leaders in our fields of focus. Taking away stock options
robs Rambus of a vital tool in its efforts to attract and retain the
industry's leading engineers and scientists on which our future success
depends.
In 2008, roughly 80% of all grants of equity incentives were to
non-executive employees. The 2006 Equity Incentive Plan is used to
incent every Rambus employee, and we are one of the few companies where
every employee is eligible to receive stock options. As stockholders,
you have the ability to provide the company with the resources needed to
ensure Rambus maintains its technology leadership. Without these tools,
we put at risk the very foundation of Rambus' future business success.
We ask for your support in acting in the best interests of all Rambus
stockholders by voting for Approval of the Amendment to the Company's
2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
Thank you,
Mike Farmwald and Mark Horowitz
Rambus Founders
About Rambus Inc.
Rambus is one of the world's premier technology licensing companies
specializing in the invention and design of high-speed memory
architectures. Since its founding in 1990, the Company's patented
innovations, breakthrough technologies and renowned integration
expertise have helped industry-leading chip and system companies bring
superior products to market. Rambus' technology and products solve
customers' most complex chip and system-level interface challenges
enabling unprecedented performance in computing, communications and
consumer electronics applications. Rambus licenses both its world-class
patent portfolio as well as its family of leadership and
industry-standard interface products. Headquartered in Los Altos,
California, Rambus has regional offices in North Carolina, India,
Germany, Japan, and Taiwan. Additional information is available at www.rambus.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding
our intention to invent, market, and license our solutions, hiring and
retaining top talent, continuing our innovations, filing of patents and
efforts to be fairly compensated for our patented inventions. Such
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates
and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain
assumptions made by our management. Actual results may differ
materially. Our business generally is subject to a number of risks which
are described more fully in our SEC filings including our 10-K and 10-Qs.
RMBSFN
SOURCE: Rambus Inc.
Rambus
Linda Ashmore, 650-947-5411 (Public Relations)
lashmore@rambus.com
Nicole Noutsios, 650-947-5050 (Investor Relations)
nnoutsios@rambus.com
Copyright Business Wire 2009