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EXHIBIT 10.3
COOPERATION AGREEMENT
This Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of this 15th day
of November, 1999, by and between TRW Inc. ("TRW") and RF Micro Devices, Inc.
("RFMD").
WHEREAS, TRW and RFMD have previously entered into a License and Technical
Assistance Agreement, dated as of June 6, 1996 (the "1996 Agreement"; and
WHEREAS, TRW and RFMD entered into a new License Agreement, dated the date
hereof (the "1999 Agreement"), whereby TRW has agreed to expand the scope of the
license granted under the 1996 Agreement to cover additional product
applications; and
WHEREAS, TRW and RFMD wish to reaffirm and extend the cooperative nature that
has characterized their relationship in the past; and
WHEREAS, TRW and RFMD wish to document their intentions concerning future
cooperative actions; .
NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Strategic Relationship. TRW and RFMD reaffirm their historical and ongoing
strategic relationship as evidenced in the 1996 Agreement and the 1999
Agreement. More specifically, the parties agree to continue to exchange
technical information with each other concerning the Licensed Products in the
Licensed Fields (as such terms are defined in the 1996 Agreement and the 1999
Agreement). Further, during the term of this Agreement, the parties shall on a
regular basis consult with each other concerning new technologies which are
developed by either party and which could be reasonably viewed as applicable to
other party's markets.
2. License Expansion. The parties agree that, during the term of this Agreement,
TRW, upon the request of RFMD, shall enter into good faith negotiations with
RFMD concerning the further expansion of the licenses granted in the 1996
Agreement and the 1999 Agreement beyond the respective Licensed Fields for the
respective Licensed Products (as defined in the 1996 Agreement and the 1999
Agreement). Further, TRW, upon the request of RFMD, shall enter into discussions
with RFMD concerning the possible licensing of new or existing TRW technologies
that may be applicable to RFMD's markets. Neither of the parties is obligated to
enter into any new or expanded license, and the terms of any such new or
expanded license shall be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties.
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3. Supply Agreement Amendment. Upon the request of TRW, RFMD agrees to enter
into good faith negotiations with TRW concerning the extension of the Supply
Agreement, dated as of June 6, 1996, as amended (the "Supply Agreement"),
between TRW and RFMD. Neither of the parties is obligated to enter into any
amendment of the Supply Agreement, and the terms of any such amendment to the
Supply Agreement shall be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties.
4. Stock Ownership Commitment. In conjunction with the announcement referred to
in paragraph 6 hereof, TRW shall publicly state that until May 1, 2001 it
(directly and/or indirectly through its affiliated entities) will continue to
beneficially hold at least 7,941,161 shares of RFMD common stock (such number to
be adjusted for stock divisions, stock combinations, stock recapitalizations and
stock reclassifications and stock dividends). Further, TRW agrees that it shall
beneficially hold 7,941,161 shares of RFMD common stock (directly and/or
indirectly through its affiliated entities) (such number to be adjusted for
stock divisions, stock combinations, stock recapitalizations and stock
reclassifications and stock dividends) until May 1, 2001 and shall not, at any
time prior to May 1, 2001, sell, assign or otherwise transfer, dispose of, grant
any option to purchase, make any short sale of or enter into any hedging,
synthetic sale or similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale
that would have the effect of causing its RFMD common stock ownership to fall
below such number of shares (as may be adjusted), except in conjunction with a
transaction involving a Change in Control of RFMD (as such term is defined in
paragraph 1(b) of Warrant 99-2 referred to in paragraph 5 hereof).
5. Warrant Issuance. In consideration of TRW executing the 1999 License and this
Agreement, RFMD shall issue to TRW contemporaneously herewith two warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 750,000 shares of RFMD common stock on the terms
provided in the form of warrants attached hereto as Attachment A.
6. Joint Announcement. The parties will coordinate a joint public announcement
concerning the 1999 Agreement and this Agreement as soon as possible following
execution of this Agreement.
7. Term of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date
written above and shall terminate on December 31, 2003.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments This Agreement may be amended at any time by a written
agreement executed by both parties hereto.
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(b) Severability If any provision of this Agreement shall finally be
determined to be unlawful, such provision shall be deemed to be severed from
this Agreement and every other provision of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.
(c) Notices All notices, requests and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given, if delivered by
hand, at the time of receipt or, if communicated by facsimile or similar
electronic means, at the time receipt thereof has been confirmed by return
electronic communication or signal that the message has been clearly received,
or if mailed, seven (7) days after mailing, registered or certified airmail
return receipt requested, with postage prepaid:
If to RFMD, to: RF Micro Devices, Inc.
7625 Thorndike Road
Greensboro, NC 27409
Fax No. 336.664.0311
Attention: Jerry Neal
If to TRW, to: TRW INC.
One Space Park
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Fax No. 310.813.4115
Attention: Wes Bush
provided, however, that if any party shall have designated a different address
by notice to the other given as provided above, then to the last address so
designated.
(d) Assignment This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the successors of each of the parties hereto. Neither this Agreement,
nor the rights or obligations of either party hereunder, may be assigned by
either party without the prior written consent of the other.
(e) Status This Agreement shall not in any respect constitute an
appointment of either party as the agent or legal representative of the other
for any purpose whatsoever.
(f) Third Parties This Agreement is not intended to, and shall not,
create any rights in or confer any benefits upon anyone other than the parties
hereto.
(g) Incorporation by Reference The attachment to this Agreement
constitutes an integral part of this Agreement and is hereby incorporated into
this Agreement by this reference.
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(h) Governing Law This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to contracts
entered into and wholly to be performed in such jurisdiction.
(i) Counterparts More than one counterpart of this Agreement may be
executed by the parties hereto, and each fully executed counterpart shall be
deemed an original without production of the others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, which shall
be effective as of the date first set forth above.
TRW Inc.
By:
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RF Micro Devices, Inc.
By:
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