<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726514</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESIO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001306671</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DeBakker Robert</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13900 NW SCIENCE PARK DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97229</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Worldwide Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>168000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.52</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>38000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>180000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>35000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>183000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.2</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>218000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.83</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>204000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-05-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>210000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Apprec Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-05-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>218000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on September 27, 2004 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on September 27, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on July 20, 2005 and provided for full vesting on May 26, 2006.  There was a three-year sale restriction on the underlying shares which lapsed on July 19, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on May 24, 2006 and provided for full vesting on May 26, 2006.  There was a three-year sale restriction on the underlying shares which lapsed one third each year for the first three years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on July 25, 2007 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on July 25, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on May 15, 2008 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 15, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 14, 2009 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 14, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 13, 2010 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 13, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the &quot;old&quot; SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 12, 2011 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 12, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kerry L Mustoe for Robert DeBakker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 39125}]
X0306
4
2013-01-30
0
0000726514
ELECTRO SCIENTIFIC INDUSTRIES INC
ESIO
0001306671
DeBakker Robert
13900 NW SCIENCE PARK DR.
PORTLAND
OR
97229
0
1
0
0
VP Worldwide Operations
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
17.32
2013-01-30
4
D
0
50000
D
2014-09-26
Common Stock
50000
168000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
16.52
2013-01-30
4
A
0
50000
A
2014-09-26
Common Stock
50000
218000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
19.84
2013-01-30
4
D
0
38000
D
2015-07-20
Common Stock
38000
180000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
19.04
2013-01-30
4
A
0
38000
A
2015-07-20
Common Stock
38000
218000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
20
2013-01-30
4
D
0
35000
D
2016-05-24
Common Stock
35000
183000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
19.2
2013-01-30
4
A
0
35000
A
2016-05-24
Common Stock
35000
218000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
22.83
2013-01-30
4
D
0
14000
D
2017-07-24
Common Stock
14000
204000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
22.03
2013-01-30
4
A
0
14000
A
2017-07-24
Common Stock
14000
218000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
16.58
2013-01-30
4
D
0
12000
D
2018-05-14
Common Stock
12000
206000
D
Emp Stock Option (right to buy)
15.78
2013-01-30
4
A
0
12000
A
2018-05-14
Common Stock
12000
218000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
8.26
2013-01-30
4
D
0
50000
D
2019-05-13
Common Stock
50000
168000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
7.26
2013-01-30
4
A
0
50000
A
2019-05-13
Common Stock
50000
218000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
14.64
2013-01-30
4
D
0
11000
D
2020-05-12
Common Stock
11000
207000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
13.84
2013-01-30
4
A
0
11000
A
2020-05-12
Common Stock
11000
218000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
18.82
2013-01-30
4
D
0
8000
D
2021-05-11
Common Stock
8000
210000
D
Stock Apprec Rights
18.02
2013-01-30
4
A
0
8000
A
2021-05-11
Common Stock
8000
218000
D
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on September 27, 2004 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on September 27, 2005.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on July 20, 2005 and provided for full vesting on May 26, 2006.  There was a three-year sale restriction on the underlying shares which lapsed on July 19, 2008.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on May 24, 2006 and provided for full vesting on May 26, 2006.  There was a three-year sale restriction on the underlying shares which lapsed one third each year for the first three years.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on July 25, 2007 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on July 25, 2008.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding option, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" option and the grant of a replacement option.  The option was originally granted on May 15, 2008 and provided for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 15, 2009.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 14, 2009 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 14, 2010.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 13, 2010 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 13, 2011.
The two reported transactions involved an amendment of an outstanding SOSAR, resulting in the deemed cancellation of the "old" SOSAR and the grant of a replacement SOSAR.  The SOSAR was originally granted on May 12, 2011 and provides for vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on May 12, 2012.
By: Kerry L Mustoe for Robert DeBakker
2013-01-30