EXHIBIT 10.3
CONTROL AGREEMENT
This CONTROL AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of December 8, 2004
by and among Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. (the "Pledgor") and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank,
N.A., in its capacity as trustee (the "Trustee"), and ▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, N.A., a
national banking association, in its capacity as securities intermediary and
depository bank (the "Account Holder").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:
(1) The Pledgor has granted the Trustee a security interest (the
"Security Interest") in certain security entitlements (the "Pledged Security
Entitlements") with respect to certain U.S. Treasury securities (the "Pledged
Financial Assets") identified on Schedule I attached hereto maintained by the
Trustee with the Account Holder and carried from time to time in an account with
the Account Holder, ABA No. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Account No. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and entitled
"Mindspeed Technologies, Inc. 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2009,
Collateral Pledge Account" (the "Pledged Account") and all additions thereto and
substitutions and proceeds thereof (collectively, the "Collateral"), pursuant
to, and as more particularly described in, a Pledge Agreement dated as of
December 8, 2004, among the Pledgor and the Trustee (as the same may hereafter
be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Pledge
Agreement"; terms defined in the Pledge Agreement and not otherwise defined
herein are used herein as therein defined). The Pledgor acknowledges having
received value for such pledge of the Collateral.
(2) Terms defined in Article 8 or 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as
in effect in the State of New York (the "UCC") are used in this Agreement
(including, without limitation, paragraph (1) above) as such terms are defined
in such Article 8 or 9.
(3) The Pledgor, the Trustee and the Account Holder are delivering this
Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Notice of Exclusive Control. The Pledgor and Trustee are
entering into this Agreement to perfect, and confirm the first priority lien of,
the Trustee's Security Interest in the Collateral. The Account Holder agrees to
promptly make all necessary entries or notations in its books and records to
reflect the Trustee's Security Interest in the Collateral and to apply any value
distributed on account of any Pledged Financial Assets as directed in writing by
the Trustee without further consent from the Pledgor. The Account Holder
acknowledges that the Trustee has exclusive control over the Pledged Account and
all Pledged Security Entitlements contained therein from time to time.
SECTION 2. The Account. The Account Holder represents and warrants to,
and agrees with, the Pledgor and the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes that:
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(a) The Account Holder has established the Pledged Account and shall
not change the name or account number of the Pledged Account without the prior
written consent of the Trustee.
(b) The Account Holder maintains the Pledged Account for the Trustee,
and all property (including, without limitation, all funds and financial assets)
held by the Account Holder for the account of the Trustee is, and will continue
to be, credited to the Pledged Account. The Account Holder is a securities
intermediary (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(xiv) of the UCC) and is acting in
such capacity in relation to the Trustee, the Pledgor and the Pledged Account
and with respect to all property credited thereto, from time to time.
(c) The Pledged Account is a securities account. The Account Holder is
the securities intermediary with respect to financial assets credited to the
Pledged Account from time to time. The Trustee is the entitlement holder with
respect to financial assets credited from time to time to the Pledged Account.
(d) All financial assets in registered form or payable to or to the
order of and credited to the Pledged Account shall be registered in the name of,
payable to or to the order of, or endorsed to, the Account Holder and in no case
during the term of the Pledge Agreement will any financial asset credited to the
Pledged Account be registered in the name of, payable to or to the order of, or
endorsed to, the Pledgor, except to the extent the foregoing have been
subsequently endorsed by the Pledgor to the Account Holder or in blank.
(e) Notwithstanding any other agreement to the contrary, the Account
Holder's jurisdiction with respect to the Pledged Account for purposes of the
UCC is, and will continue to be for so long as the Security Interest shall be in
effect, the State of New York.
(f) The Account Holder does not know of any claim to or interest in the
Pledged Account or any property (including, without limitation, all funds and
financial assets) credited to the Pledged Account, except for claims and
interests of the parties referred to in this Agreement.
SECTION 3. Control by Trustee. (a) The Account Holder will comply with
(A) all written instructions directing disposition of the funds in the Pledged
Account (such instructions, a "Payment Order"), (B) all notifications and
entitlement orders that the Account Holder receives directing it to transfer or
redeem any financial asset in the Pledged Account and (C) all other directions
concerning the Collateral, including, without limitation, directions to
distribute to the Trustee proceeds of any such transfer or redemption or
interest on any property in the Pledged Account (any such instruction,
notification or direction referred to in clause (A), (B) or (C) above being an
"Account Direction"), in each case of clauses (A), (B) and (C) above originated
by the Trustee without further consent by the Pledgor or any other person.
(b) The Trustee hereby acknowledges that it shall maintain and exercise
control of the Pledged Account on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
(c) The Account Holder will not (i) comply with Account Directions or
other directions concerning the Collateral originated by the Pledgor or (ii)
distribute to the Pledgor
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interest or other distributions on or in respect of the Collateral, unless
instructed to do so by the Trustee, in its absolute discretion.
SECTION 4. Priority of Trustee's Security Interest. (a) The Account
Holder (i) hereby subordinates to the Security Interest and in favor of the
Trustee any security interest, lien, or right of setoff the Account Holder may
have, now or in the future, against the Pledged Account or property in the
Pledged Account, and (ii) agrees that it will not exercise any right in respect
of any such security interest or lien or any such right of setoff until the
Security Interest is terminated, except that the Account Holder will retain its
prior lien on property in the Pledged Account to secure payment for property
purchased for the Pledged Account and normal commissions and fees for the
Pledged Account.
(b) The Account Holder will not enter into any other agreement with any
Person relating to Account Directions or other directions with respect to the
Pledged Account.
SECTION 5. Statements, Confirmations, and Notices of Adverse Claims.
(a) The Account Holder will send copies of all statements and confirmations for
the Pledged Account simultaneously to the Pledgor and the Trustee. So long as
the Trustee and the Account Holder are the same institution, the Account Holder
is not required to send copies of statements and confirmations as provided in
the preceding sentence.
(b) When the Account Holder knows of any claim or interest in the
Pledged Account or any property credited to the Pledged Account other than the
claims and interests of the parties referred to in this Agreement, the Account
Holder will promptly notify the Trustee and the Pledgor of such claim or
interest.
SECTION 6. The Account Holder's Responsibility. (a) The Account Holder
will not be liable to the Pledgor or the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes for
complying with an Account Direction or other direction concerning the Collateral
originated by the Trustee, even if the Pledgor notifies the Account Holder that
the Trustee is not legally entitled to issue the Account Direction or such other
direction unless the Account Holder takes the action after it is served with an
injunction, restraining order, or other legal process enjoining it from doing
so, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, and had a reasonable
opportunity to act on the injunction, restraining order or other legal process.
(b) This Agreement does not create any obligation of the Account Holder
except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement, in Part 5 of Article 8
of the UCC, or in Article 4 of the UCC. In particular, the Account Holder need
not investigate whether the Trustee is entitled under the Trustee's agreements
with the Pledgor to give an Account Direction or other direction concerning the
Pledged Account. The Account Holder may conclusively rely on notices and
communications it believes given by the appropriate party.
(c) In no event shall the Account Holder or any of its affiliates,
shareholders, directors, officers, employees or agents be liable for indirect,
special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever
even if advised of the possibility of such damages, other than such damages
caused by its own bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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(d) Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary elsewhere, the Account Holder and its affiliates, shareholders,
directors, officers, employees or agents:
(i) shall have no responsibilities, obligations or duties in
respect of the subject matter hereof other than those expressly set forth in
this Agreement, and no implied duties, responsibilities, covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Account Holder.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Account Holder shall have no duty or
authority to determine and/or investigate whether or not an event of default
exists under any agreement between the Pledgor and the Trustee, or to determine
and/or investigate whether or not the Trustee is entitled to give any Account
Direction with respect to the Collateral;
(ii) may in any instance where the Account Holder determines that
it lacks or is uncertain as to its authority to take or refrain from taking
certain action hereunder, or as to any of the requirements of this Agreement
under the circumstance before it, delay or refrain from taking any action unless
and until it shall have received appropriate written instructions from the
Trustee or advice from legal counsel selected by it (or other appropriate
advisor), as the case may be, detailing the action required to be taken
hereunder and the Account Holder may rely conclusively on any such instructions
or advice;
(iii) so long as it and they shall have acted (or refrained from
acting) in good faith and within the reasonable belief that such action or
omission is duly authorized or within the discretion or powers granted to it
hereunder, shall not be responsible or liable for any error of judgment in any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it or them, or for any act done or step
taken or omitted, or for any mistake of fact or law, unless such action
constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a
non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction on its (or their)
part;
(iv) will not be responsible or liable to the Pledgor, the
Trustee, or any other person or entity whatsoever for the due execution,
legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, effectiveness or sufficiency of
this Agreement (provided, however, that the Account Holder warrants that the
Account Holder has legal capacity and has been duly authorized to enter into
this Agreement) or for any statement, warranty or representation made by any
other party in connection with this Agreement;
(v) will not incur any responsibility or liability by acting or
not acting in reliance upon advice of counsel, or upon any notice, consent,
certificate, instruction, Account Direction, statement, wire instruction,
telecopy or other writing reasonably and in good faith believed by it or them to
be genuine and in conformance with this Agreement and signed or sent by the
proper party or parties and contemplated herein; and
(vi) shall not be required to expend or risk its or their own
funds, or to take any action (including the institution or defense of legal
proceedings) which in its or their reasonable judgment may cause it or them to
incur or suffer any expense or liability, unless the Account Holder shall have
been provided with security or indemnity, acceptable to Account Holder in its
sole discretion, for the payment of the costs, expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees) and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.
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(e) If any Collateral subject to this Agreement is at any time attached
or levied upon, or in case the transfer or delivery of any such Collateral shall
be stayed or enjoined, or in the case of any other legal process or judicial
order affecting such Collateral, the Account Holder is authorized to comply with
any such order in any manner as the Account Holder or its legal counsel
reasonably deems appropriate. The Account Holder shall give prompt written
notice to the Pledgor and the Trustee of any such attachment, levy, stay,
injunction or legal process. If the Account Holder complies with any process,
order, writ, judgment or decree relating to the Collateral subject to this
Agreement, then the Account Holder shall not be liable or responsible to the
Pledgor, the Trustee, or any other person or entity whatsoever even if such
order, writ, judgment, decree or process is subsequently modified, vacated or
otherwise determined to have been without legal force or effect.
(f) The Account Holder shall not be liable or responsible for any
delays or failures in performance of any of its duties hereunder which result
from events or conditions beyond its reasonable control and so long as the same
exist or continue and cannot reasonably be remedied by the Account Holder in
accordance with its normal business practices. Such events or conditions shall
include, but shall not be limited to, acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots,
acts of war or terrorism, epidemics, nationalization, expropriation, currency
restrictions, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire,
communication line failures (including the unavailability of the Federal Reserve
Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility), power failures,
earthquakes or other disasters.
(g) Subject to the provisions hereof, so long as the Account Holder and
the Trustee are the same institution, the Account Holder may rely on written
directions given by the Pledgor to the Trustee (including but not limited to
Issuer Orders) and shall not require separate corresponding instructions from
the Trustee (including but not limited to Payment Orders).
SECTION 7. Indemnity. The Pledgor will indemnify the Account Holder,
its officers, directors, employees and agents against claims, liabilities and
expenses arising out of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorney's fees and disbursements), except to the extent the claims,
liabilities or expenses are caused by the Account Holder's or the Trustee's
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 8. Termination; Survival. (a) This Agreement shall terminate
automatically upon receipt by the Account Holder of written notice executed by
an authorized officer of the Trustee that (i) all of the Secured Obligations
have been paid in full in cash or otherwise satisfied or (ii) all of the
Collateral has been released, whichever is earlier, and the Account Holder shall
thereafter be relieved of all duties and obligations hereunder. The Account
Holder may terminate this Agreement on 60 days' prior notice to the Trustee and
the Pledgor, provided that before such termination the Account Holder and the
Pledgor shall make arrangements to transfer the property in the Pledged Account
to another securities intermediary that shall have executed, together with the
Trustee and the Pledgor, a control agreement in favor of the Trustee and the
Holders of the Notes in respect of such property in substantially the form of
this Agreement or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee.
(b) In the event that the Trustee no longer serves as Trustee for the
Collateral, the Trustee, the Account Holder and the Pledgor shall make
arrangements for another Person to
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assume the rights and obligations of the Trustee hereunder, and such Person
shall have executed, together with the Account Holder and the Pledgor, a control
agreement in favor of such Person and the Holders of the Notes in substantially
the form of this Agreement or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to
the Trustee.
(c) Sections 7 and 8 will survive termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 9. Conflict with Other Agreements. (a) In the event of any
conflict between this Agreement (or any portion thereof) and any other agreement
now existing or hereafter entered into, the terms of this Agreement shall
prevail.
(b) The Account Holder hereby confirms and agrees that:
(i) There are no other agreements entered into between the Account
Holder and the Pledgor with respect to the Pledged Account;
(ii) It has not entered into, and until the termination of this
Agreement will not enter into, any agreement with any other person relating to
the Pledged Account and/or any financial assets credited thereto or funds
therein pursuant to which it has agreed to comply with entitlement orders (as
defined in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the UCC) of such other person; and
(iii) It has not entered into, and until the termination of this
Agreement will not enter into, any agreement with the Pledgor or the Trustee
purporting to limit or condition the obligation of the Account Holder to comply
with Account Directions as set forth in Section 3 hereof.
SECTION 10. Permitted Investments. In accordance with the Pledge
Agreement, the Trustee shall direct the Account Holder with respect to the
selection of investments to be made with the funds in the Pledged Account.
SECTION 11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the entire agreement,
and supersedes any prior agreements, and contemporaneous oral agreements, of the
parties concerning its subject matter. The Trustee and the Account Holder shall
be entitled to all the rights, benefits, privileges and immunities accorded to
the Trustee under the Indenture.
SECTION 12. Amendments. No modification, amendment or waiver of, nor
consent to any departure by any party from, any provision of this Agreement will
be effective unless made in writing signed by the parties hereto, and then such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
purpose for which given.
SECTION 13. Financial Assets. The Account Holder agrees with Trustee
and the Pledgor that all property credited from time to time to the Pledged
Account will be treated as financial assets under Article 8 of the UCC.
SECTION 14. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals and other communications required or permitted hereunder must be in
writing and will be effective upon receipt if delivered personally, or if sent
by facsimile transmission with confirmation of delivery, or by nationally
recognized overnight courier service, to the Pledgor's and the Trustee's
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addresses as set forth in the Pledge Agreement, and to the Account Holder's
address as set forth on the signature page below, or to such other address as
any party may give to the others in writing for such purpose.
SECTION 15. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when
it shall have been executed by the Pledgor, the Trustee and the Account Holder,
and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Pledgor,
the Trustee and the Account Holder and their respective successors and assigns.
SECTION 16. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by
telecopier shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of
this Agreement.
SECTION 17. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
(including Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New
York but otherwise without regard to conflict of laws principles). Each of the
parties hereby irrevocably submits for itself and its property in any legal
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, or for recognition and
enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general
jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the
United States of America in New York, and appellate courts from any thereof.
SECTION 18. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION, PROCEEDING OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) OF
ANY NATURE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY DOCUMENTS EXECUTED IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED IN ANY OF SUCH DOCUMENTS. EACH
PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVER IS KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE UCC, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL BE DEEMED TO BE
THE ACCOUNT HOLDER'S JURISDICTION AND THE PLEDGED ACCOUNT (AS WELL AS THE
SECURITIES ENTITLEMENTS RELATED THERETO) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.
Pledgor:
MINDSPEED TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Financial Officer
[Signature page to the Control Agreement]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.
Trustee:
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, N.A.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: Corporate Trust Officer
[Signature page to the Control Agreement]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date
first above written.
Account Holder:
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK, N.A.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: Corporate Trust Officer
Address for Notices:
▇▇▇▇▇ Fargo Bank, N.A.
Corporate Trust Services
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
[Signature page to the Control Agreement]
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SCHEDULE I
Pledged Financial Assets
Par Amount Maturity Date CUSIP No.
---------- ------------- ---------
767,000 5/15/2005 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
863,000 11/15/2005 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
862,000 5/15/2006 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
863,000 11/15/2006 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
