Exhibit 99.2
NOTICE
TO: KLA-TENCOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
FROM: RICK WALLACE
RE: SARBANES-OXLEY BLACKOUT PERIOD
DATED: SEPTEMBER 28, 2006
As you may already know, the Company determined yesterday that its financial statements for one or
more prior fiscal years will have to be restated as a result of improper accounting for option
grants made to officers and employees. This determination has substantial implications for the
Companys various equity incentive programs and your ability to engage in transactions involving
the Companys common stock. You are currently under a Company-imposed black-out on your ability to
trade in the Companys common stock in open-market transactions, but as a result of the impact
which the restatement decision will have upon certain employee stock programs, including the
Companys 401(k) Savings Plan, you will now also be subject to the restrictions of Section 306(a)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which prohibit you from purchasing selling, acquiring or transferring any
equity securities of the Company, to the extent those securities were acquired in connection with
your service as an executive officer or Board member.
Shares of the Companys common stock can only be issued under the Companys equity incentive
programs pursuant to an effective registration statement under the federal securities laws. The
Company currently has S-8 registration statements on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the SEC) covering the shares of common stock issuable under those programs. However,
the S-8 registration statements incorporate historical financial statements for one or more fiscal
years which are likely to be restated because of the improper accounting of employee stock options
during those years. For that reason, participation in the various equity incentive programs
covered by those S-8 registration statements must be suspended. The suspension period began at
9:00AM Pacific Time today, September 28, 2006, and will continue until 9:00 AM Pacific Time of the
day immediately following the day on which the restated financial statements are filed with the
SEC.
Your participation in the Companys equity incentive plans will accordingly be affected as follows:
401(k) Plan: During the suspension period, the executive officers will
continue to be precluded from directing the investment of their 401(k) plan
contributions into shares of the Companys common stock or from moving their
existing account balance under the plan into the Company common stock fund. However,
all other participants in the 401(k) plan will now be subject to the same
restrictions while the suspension period remains in effect. In addition, to the
extent one or more executive officers may have their 401(k) account currently
invested in the Company common stock fund, they will not be allowed during the
suspension period to liquidate that investment and move it into another available
investment fund.
Stock Option Plans: No further exercises of outstanding options, including
same-day exercise and sale transactions, can be effected during the suspension
period.
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan: No further contributions can be made to the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the suspension period. If you are currently a
participant in the ESPP, you may request a refund of any contributions you have made
to date for the current purchase period. However if you do withdraw those
contributions, then you would immediately cease participation in the ESPP and could
not rejoin the plan until the next scheduled entry date, at which time a new maximum
purchase price would be set for you. Should you leave your existing contributions
in the plan, then those contributions would be applied to the purchase of shares of
the Companys common stock at the end of the current purchase period, provided the
S-8 registration statement is in effect at that time; otherwise, the purchase date
will have to be deferred until the S-8 is reactivated. You would continue to have
the right to request a refund of your existing contributions during the deferral
period.
Excess Profit Stock Plan: No allocations of the Companys common stock may be
made during the suspension period to the accounts of the executive officers who
participate in this non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
As a result of the foregoing blackout period under the 401(k) Plan, executive officers and Board
members will be prohibited pursuant to Section 306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act from purchasing,
selling or otherwise acquiring any shares of the Companys common stock or any derivative security
tied to the value of the Companys common stock (such as put or call options or pre-paid variable
forward sale contracts) during the blackout period in effect under the 401(k) plan. The
prohibition covers any acquisition of the Companys common stock or derivative security in
connection with the covered individuals service or employment with the Company (e.g., an option
grant, restricted stock unit award or Excess Profit Stock Plan allocation) or any sale of the
Companys common stock which the executive officer or Board member acquired in connection with his
or her service in such capacity (e.g., through the exercise of stock options or the vesting of
restricted stock or restricted stock units). However, the prohibition would not extend to any
transactions effected pursuant to certain pre-existing Rule 10b5-1 plans.
Because of the complexity of the Sarbanes-Oxley prohibition, executive officers and Board members
are strongly advised not to engage in any transactions involving the Companys common stock or any
derivative security tied to the value of the stock during the suspension period.
If you have any questions concerning the suspension period or the Sarbanes-Oxley prohibition on
transactions involving the Companys common stock or any related derivative security, please
contact Larry Gross at the Companys headquarters at 160 Rio Robles, San Jose, CA 95134 or by
telephoning him at 408-875-3000.
The Company can provide no assurances as to when the necessary restatements will be completed and
filed with the SEC, since completion of those restatements are not entirely within the Companys
control. However, the Company will notify you promptly when the S-8 registration statements are
re-activated and the Sarbanes-Oxley blackout period ends.