CONEXANT SYSTEMS INC
S-8, 2000-05-26
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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                                         Registration Statement No. 333-

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Conexant Systems, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Delaware                              25-1799439
   (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)

         4311 Jamboree Road
      Newport Beach, California                     92660-3095
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            DENNIS E. O'REILLY, ESQ.
                     Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                  and Secretary
                             Conexant Systems, Inc.
                               4311 Jamboree Road
                      Newport Beach, California 92660-3095
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (949) 483-4600
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    Copy to:
                              PETER R. KOLYER, ESQ.
                             Chadbourne & Parke LLP
                              30 Rockefeller Plaza
                            New York, New York 10112
                                 (212) 408-5100

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Calculation of Registration Fee
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===================================================================================================================================
                                         Amount to be      Proposed maximum offering   Proposed maximum aggregate      Amount of
Title of securities to be registered     registered (1)        price per unit (2)         offering price (2)       registration fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                 <C>                        <C>                         <C>
Common Stock, par value $1 per share
(including the associated Preferred
Share Purchase Rights)..............     7,500,000 shares        $ 33.4375                  $ 250,781,250              $ 66,207
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)  The shares of Common Stock set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee
     table and which may be offered pursuant to this Registration Statement
     include, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     (the "Securities Act"), such additional number of shares of the
     Registrant's Common Stock as may become issuable as a result of any stock
     splits, stock dividends or similar events.

(2)  Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high
     and low prices of the Common Stock on May 24, 2000, as reported on The
     Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. National Market System.

                                ---------------
         Pursuant to Rule 429 of the General Rules and Regulations under the
     Securities Act, the prospectus that is part of this Registration Statement
     will be used in connection with the offer and sale of Common Stock of the
     Registrant previously registered under the Registrant's Registration
     Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-69385).


<PAGE>


                                EXPLANATORY NOTE


Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement
hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-69385) filed by the Company on December 22, 1998,
relating to the Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives Plan (the
"Plan") and the Conexant Systems, Inc. Directors Stock Plan, except as expressly
modified herein.

On February 10, 2000, the shareowners of the Company approved an amendment to
the Plan previously adopted by the Board of Directors, subject to shareowner
approval, to increase by 7,500,000 shares the number of shares of Common Stock
of the Company available for issuance under the Plan. This Registration
Statement registers such 7,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock.


<PAGE>


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following documents, which have been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), are incorporated herein by reference and
made a part hereof:

         (a)  Annual Report on Form 10-K of Conexant Systems, Inc. (the
              "Company") for the year ended September 30, 1999 (including the
              portions of the Proxy Statement for the Company's 2000 Annual
              Meeting of Shareowners that are incorporated therein by
              reference);

         (b)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
              December 31, 1999;

         (c)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
              March 31, 1999;

         (d)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 4, 2000, as
              amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated
              January 11, 2000;

         (e)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 16, 2000;

         (f)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2000;

         (g)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 3, 2000;

         (h)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 12, 2000;

         (i)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 17, 2000; and

         (j)  The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in Item 11
              of the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended
              (File No. 000-24923), dated December 1, 1998, as amended by Part
              II, Item 2 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
              quarter ended December 31, 1999.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
Act") prior to




                                      II-1
<PAGE>


the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not constitute a part of this Registration Statement, except as
so modified or superseded.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

4.1        Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed as
           Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
           (Registration No. 333-68755) (the "Savings Plan Form S-8"), is
           incorporated herein by reference.

4.2        Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
           filed as Exhibit 4.a.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on
           Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-30596), is incorporated herein by
           reference.

4.3        Amended By-Laws of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Savings
           Plan Form S-8, is incorporated herein by reference.

4.4        Specimen certificate for the Company's Common Stock, par value $1 per
           share, filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement
           on Form 10 (File No. 000-24923), is incorporated herein by reference.

4.5        Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 1998, by and between the
           Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as rights
           agent, filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Savings Plan Form S-8, is
           incorporated herein by reference.

4.6        First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999,
           filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
           for the quarter ended December 31, 1999, is incorporated herein by
           reference.

4.7        Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives Plan, as amended.

5          Opinion of Jasmina A. Theodore, Esq., Associate General Counsel and
           Assistant Secretary of the Company, as to the legality of any newly
           issued shares of Common Stock of the Company covered by this
           Registration Statement.

23.1       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors.

23.2       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.




                                      II-2
<PAGE>


23.3       Consent of Jasmina A. Theodore, Esq., contained in her opinion filed
           as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement.

23.4       Consent of Chadbourne & Parke LLP.

24         Power of Attorney authorizing certain persons to sign this
           Registration Statement on behalf of certain directors and officers of
           the Company.
















                                      II-3
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Newport Beach, State of California, on the 26th day
of May, 2000.

                                        CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC.

                                        By  /s/ Dwight W. Decker
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            (Dwight W. Decker, Chairman and
                                               Chief Executive Officer)


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on the 26th day of May, 2000 by the
following persons in the capacities indicated:

        Signature                                    Title
        ---------                                    -----


     DWIGHT W. DECKER*                 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                         Officer (principal executive officer)
                                                   and Director


     DONALD R. BEALL*                              Director


     RICHARD M. BRESSLER*                          Director


     F. CRAIG FARRILL*                             Director


     JERRE L. STEAD*                               Director


     BALAKRISHNAN S. IYER*             Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
                                         Officer (principal financial officer)

     STEVEN M. THOMSON*                    Vice President and Controller
                                           (principal accounting officer)


     *By   /s/ Dennis E. O'Reilly
        ----------------------------------------
        (Dennis E. O'Reilly, Attorney-in-fact)**


** By authority of the power of attorney filed as Exhibit 24 to this
   Registration Statement.




                                      II-4
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                                                                     Page
- ------                                                                     ----

4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, filed
         as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
         Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-68755) (the "Savings Plan Form
         S-8"), is incorporated herein by reference.

4.2      Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
         Company, filed as Exhibit 4.a.2 to the Company's Registration
         Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-30596), is
         incorporated herein by reference.

4.3      Amended By-Laws of the Company, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the
         Savings Plan Form S-8, is incorporated herein by reference.

4.4      Specimen certificate for the Company's Common Stock, par
         value $1 per share, filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's
         Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-24923), is
         incorporated herein by reference.

4.5      Rights Agreement, dated as of November 30, 1998, by and
         between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
         L.L.C., as rights agent, filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Savings
         Plan Form S-8, is incorporated herein by reference.

4.6      First Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 9,
         1999, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report
         on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1999, is
         incorporated herein by reference.

4.7      Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives Plan, as
         amended.

5        Opinion of Jasmina A. Theodore, Esq., Associate General
         Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the Company, as to the
         legality of any newly issued shares of Common Stock of the
         Company covered by this Registration Statement.

23.1     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors.

23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
         accountants.

23.3     Consent of Jasmina A. Theodore, Esq., contained in her
         opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement.

23.4     Consent of Chadbourne & Parke LLP.

24       Power of Attorney authorizing certain persons to sign this
         Registration Statement on behalf of certain directors and
         officers of the Company.

                                                                    Exhibit 4.7
                                                                    -----------


                             CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC.

                         1999 LONG-TERM INCENTIVES PLAN

                          AS AMENDED FEBRUARY 10, 2000

                         -----------------------------




Section 1: Purpose

The  purpose  of the Plan is to  provide  incentive  compensation  to  officers,
executives and other  employees,  and  prospective  employees,  contractors  and
consultants  of the  Corporation  and its  Subsidiaries;  to attract  and retain
individuals of outstanding ability; and to align the interests of such officers,
executives and other  employees,  and  prospective  employees,  contractors  and
consultants with the interests of the Corporation's shareowners.

Section 2: Definitions

The following terms, as used herein, shall have the meaning specified:

         "Award" means an award granted pursuant to Section 4.

         "Award  Agreement"  means an  agreement  described in Section 6 entered
         into between the Corporation and a Participant, setting forth the terms
         and conditions applicable to the Award granted to the Participant.

         "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Corporation as
it may be comprised from time to time.

         "Cause"  means  (i) a  felony  conviction  of a  Participant;  (ii) the
         commission by a Participant of an act of fraud or embezzlement  against
         the Corporation and/or a Subsidiary;  (iii) willful misconduct or gross
         negligence   materially   detrimental  to  the  Corporation   and/or  a
         Subsidiary;  (iv) the  Participant's  continued  failure  to  implement
         reasonable  requests  or  directions  received in


<PAGE>


         the  course  of  his  employment;   (v)  the   Participant's   wrongful
         dissemination  or use of  confidential or proprietary  information;  or
         (vi) the  intentional  and habitual  neglect by the  Participant of his
         duties to the Corporation and/or a Subsidiary.

         "Change of Control" means Change of Control as defined in Section 10.

         "Code"  means the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  and any  successor
         statute, as it or they may be amended from time to time.

         "Committee" means the Compensation and Management Development Committee
         of the Board of Directors  as it may be comprised  from time to time or
         such other Committee of the Board of Directors  designated by the Board
         of Directors to administer the Plan.

         "Corporation" means Conexant Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and
         any successor corporation.

         "Disability" means permanent and total disability within the meaning of
         the Corporation's  long-term disability plan, as it may be amended from
         time to time,  or,  if  there is no such  plan,  as  determined  by the
         Committee.

         "Employee",  subject to the exclusions  set forth below,  shall include
         those  individuals  who were  hired (and  advised  that they were being
         hired) directly by the Corporation as regular employees and who perform
         regular employment services directly for the Corporation.

                  Exclusions:

                  The terms "Employee" or "Employees" as used in this Plan shall
                  not include  any  individuals  who work,  or who were hired to
                  work, or who were advised that they work:

                  1.  as  independent  contractors  or employees of  independent
                      contractors;  or
                  2.  as temporary  employees,  regardless of the length of time
                      that  they  work  at  the  Corporation;  or




                                       2
<PAGE>


                  3.  through  a  temporary  employment  agency,  job  placement
                      agency or other third party;  or
                  4.  as part of an  employee  leasing  arrangement  between the
                      Corporation and any third party.

                  For the purposes of this Plan, the exclusions  described above
                  shall remain in effect even if the described individuals could
                  otherwise  be  construed  as  employees  under any  applicable
                  common law.

         "Exchange  Act"  means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  and any
         successor statute, as it may be amended from time to time.

         "Fair Market Value" means the closing price of the Stock as reported in
         the NASDAQ  reporting system on the relevant date, or if no sale of the
         Stock is reported for such date, the next preceding day for which there
         is a reported sale.

         "Incentive  Stock  Option"  means an option to  purchase  Stock that is
         granted  pursuant to Section  4(b) or pursuant to any other Plan of the
         Corporation or its Subsidiaries that complies with Code section 422.

         "Non-Employee"  means an individual  who (1) has been extended an offer
         of employment  with the Corporation or a Subsidiary but who has not yet
         accepted said offer and become an Employee or (2) performs  consulting,
         contracting or other services for the Corporation or a Subsidiary other
         than in a capacity as an Employee or who has been  extended an offer to
         perform  consulting,  contracting or other services for the Corporation
         or a Subsidiary.

         "Participant"  means any Employee or Non-Employee  who has been granted
         an Award pursuant to this Plan.

         "Retirement"  means  retirement at or after age 62 or, with the advance
         consent of the Committee, before age 62 but at or after age 55.

         "Stock"  means  shares  of  common  stock  of the  Corporation,  or any
         security of the Corporation  issued in  substitution,  exchange or lieu
         thereof.




                                       3
<PAGE>


         "Subsidiary"  means any corporation in which the Corporation,  directly
         or indirectly,  controls 50% or more of the total combined voting power
         of all classes of such corporation's stock.

         "Ten-percent  Shareowner"  means  any  person  who  owns,  directly  or
         indirectly, on the relevant date securities having ten percent (10%) or
         more of the combined  voting power of all classes of the  Corporation's
         securities or of its parent or  subsidiaries.  For purposes of applying
         the foregoing ten percent (10%)  limitation,  the rules of Code section
         425(d) shall apply.

Section 3: Eligibility

Persons  eligible for Awards shall  consist of Employees and  Non-Employees  who
hold or are proposed to hold  positions of significant  responsibility  with the
Corporation and/or a Subsidiary or whose performance or potential  contribution,
in the  judgment  of the  Committee,  will  benefit  the  future  success of the
Corporation and/or a Subsidiary.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  only Employees
will be eligible for Awards of Incentive Stock Options and/or  Restricted  Stock
under this Plan.

Section 4: Awards

The Committee may grant any of the following types of Awards,  either singly, in
tandem or in combination with other types of Awards, as the Committee may in its
sole discretion determine:

         a.   Non-qualified  Stock Options.  A Non-qualified  Stock Option is an
              Award to an Employee or  Non-Employee  in the form of an option to
              purchase a specific number of shares of Stock  exercisable at such
              time or times,  and during such  specified  time not to exceed ten
              (10) years,  as the Committee may  determine,  at a price not less
              than  100% of the Fair  Market  Value of the Stock on the date the
              option is granted.

              (i)   The purchase price of the Stock subject to the option may be
                    paid  in  cash.  At the  discretion  of the  Committee,  the
                    purchase  price may also be paid by the tender of Stock (the
                    value of such Stock  shall be its Fair  Market  Value on the
                    date of  exercise),  or




                                       4
<PAGE>


                    through a  combination  of Stock and cash,  or through  such
                    other means as the Committee  determines are consistent with
                    the Plan's purpose and applicable law. No fractional  shares
                    of Stock will be issued or accepted.

              (ii)  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  the  Committee may permit
                    Participants,  either on a selective or aggregate  basis, to
                    simultaneously exercise options and sell the shares of Stock
                    thereby  acquired,   pursuant  to  a  brokerage  or  similar
                    arrangement  approved in advance by the  Committee,  and use
                    the proceeds from such sale as payment of the purchase price
                    of such Stock and any applicable withholding taxes.

         b.   Incentive Stock Options.  An Incentive Stock Option is an Award to
              an  Employee  in the form of an option  to  purchase  a  specified
              number of shares of Stock that complies with the  requirements  of
              Code Section 422,  which option  shall,  subject to the  following
              provisions,  be exercisable at such time or times, and during such
              specified time, as the Committee may determine.

              (i)   The aggregate  Fair Market Value  (determined at the time of
                    the grant of the  Award) of the  shares of Stock  subject to
                    Incentive  Stock Options which are exercisable by one person
                    for the first time during a particular  calendar  year shall
                    not exceed $100,000.

              (ii)  No Incentive  Stock Option may be granted under this Plan on
                    or after  the  tenth  anniversary  of the date  this Plan is
                    adopted,  or the date this Plan is approved by  shareowners,
                    whichever is earlier.

              (iii) No Incentive Stock Option may be exercisable more than:

                    a)   in the  case of an  Employee  who is not a  Ten-Percent
                         Shareowner on the date that the option is granted,  ten
                         (10) years after the date the option is granted, and

                    b)   in  the  case  of  an  Employee  who  is a  Ten-Percent
                         Shareowner on the date the option is granted,  five (5)
                         years after the date the option is granted.




                                       5
<PAGE>


              (iv) The exercise price of any Incentive Stock Option shall not be
less than:

                    a)   in the  case of an  Employee  who is not a  Ten-Percent
                         Shareowner on the date that the option is granted,  the
                         Fair Market Value of the Stock subject to the option on
                         such date; and

                    b)   in  the  case  of  an  Employee  who  is a  Ten-Percent
                         Shareowner on the date that the option is granted, 110%
                         of the Fair  Market  Value of the Stock  subject to the
                         option on such date.

              (v)   The  Committee  may provide  that the  exercise  price of an
                    Incentive  Stock  Option  may be  paid by one or more of the
                    methods  available  for  paying  the  exercise  price  of  a
                    Non-qualified Stock Option.

         c.   Restricted  Stock.  Restricted  Stock is an Award of Stock that is
              issued to an Employee subject to restrictions on transfer and such
              other  restrictions on incidents of ownership as the Committee may
              determine. Subject to such restrictions,  the Participant as owner
              of such  shares of  Restricted  Stock shall have the rights of the
              holder thereof,  except that the Committee may provide at the time
              of the Award that any  dividends  or other  distributions  paid on
              such Stock while subject to such restrictions shall be accumulated
              or reinvested  in Stock and held subject to the same  restrictions
              as the Restricted Stock and such other terms and conditions as the
              Committee  shall  determine.  A  certificate  for  the  shares  of
              Restricted  Stock,  which  certificate  shall be registered in the
              name of the  Participant,  shall bear an  appropriate  restrictive
              legend and shall be subject to appropriate  stop-transfer  orders;
              provided,  however,  that the certificates  representing shares of
              Restricted Stock shall be held in custody by the Corporation until
              the  restrictions   relating  thereto  otherwise  lapse,  and  the
              Participant  shall  deliver  to  the  Corporation  a  stock  power
              endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock.




                                       6
<PAGE>


Section 5: Shares of Stock Available Under Plan

       a.     Subject to the  adjustment  provisions of Section 9, the number of
              shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted  under
              the Plan shall not  exceed  27,870,000  shares of Stock;  provided
              that no more than  8,200,000 of the shares of Stock  available for
              Awards  shall be  available  for Awards in the form of  Restricted
              Stock. No single  Participant  shall receive,  in any one calendar
              year,  Awards which,  over any three-year period exceed a per-year
              average of (i)  1,000,000  stock  options,  whether  Non-qualified
              Stock Options or (in the case of Employees  only)  Incentive Stock
              Options and (ii) 200,000 shares (in the case of Employees only) of
              Restricted Stock.

       b.     Shares of Stock with respect to the  unexercised or  undistributed
              portion of any  terminated  or forfeited  Award shall be available
              for further Awards in addition to those shares of Stock  available
              under Section 5(a). Additional rules for determining the number of
              shares  of Stock  granted  under  the Plan may be  adopted  by the
              Committee, as it deems necessary and appropriate.

       c.     The Stock that may be issued  pursuant  to an Award under the Plan
              may be treasury or authorized but unissued  Stock, or Stock may be
              acquired,  subsequently or in anticipation of the transaction,  in
              the open market to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

Section 6: Award Agreements

Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award  Agreement.  Each Award
Agreement shall set forth the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award and
shall  include  the terms set forth  below and such other  terms and  conditions
applicable to the Award, as determined by the Committee,  not inconsistent  with
the  terms  of the  Plan.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  provisions  of
subsection  (b) below may be  modified  to the extent  deemed  advisable  by the
Committee in Award Agreements pertaining to Non-Employees  providing consulting,
contracting or other services to the  Corporation or a Subsidiary.  In the event
of any conflict  between an Award Agreement and this Plan, the terms of the Plan
shall govern.




                                       7
<PAGE>


         a.   Assignability.  A provision setting forth the conditions  pursuant
              to which an Award may be assigned or transferred.

         b.   Termination of Employment.

              (i)   A  provision  describing  the  treatment  of an Award in the
                    event  of  the  Retirement,   Disability,   death  or  other
                    termination   of  a   Participant's   employment   with  the
                    Corporation  or a  Subsidiary,  including but not limited to
                    terms relating to the vesting, time for exercise, forfeiture
                    or   cancellation   of  an  Award  in  such   circumstances.
                    Participants  who terminate  employment  due to  Retirement,
                    Disability, or death prior to the satisfaction of applicable
                    conditions and  restrictions  associated with their Award(s)
                    may be entitled to a prorated  Award(s) as and to the extent
                    determined by the Committee.

              (ii)  A provision that for purposes of the Plan, (i) a transfer of
                    an  Employee  from  the   Corporation  to  a  Subsidiary  or
                    affiliate of the Corporation,  whether or not  incorporated,
                    or visa versa,  or from one  Subsidiary  or affiliate of the
                    Corporation  to another,  and (ii) a leave of absence,  duly
                    authorized  in  writing  by the  Corporation,  shall  not be
                    deemed a termination of employment.

              (iii) A  provision  stating  that in the event  the  Participant's
                    employment  is  terminated  for Cause,  anything else in the
                    Plan or the Award Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
                    all Awards  granted to such  Participant  shall  immediately
                    terminate and be forfeited.

         c.   Rights as a  Shareowner.  A provision  stating that a  Participant
              shall  have no rights as a  shareowner  with  respect to any Stock
              covered by an Award  until the date the  Participant  becomes  the
              holder of record  thereof.  Except as  provided  in  Section 9, no
              adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights, unless the
              Award Agreement specifically requires such adjustment.

         d.   Withholding.  A provision  requiring the withholding of applicable
              taxes required by law from all amounts paid in  satisfaction of an
              Award.  A




                                       8
<PAGE>


              Participant may satisfy the  withholding  obligation by paying the
              amount  of  any  taxes  in  cash  or,  with  the  approval  of the
              Committee, shares of Stock may be deducted from the payment or, in
              accordance with Section  4(a)(ii),  sold to satisfy the obligation
              in full or in part.

         e.   Treatment of Options.  Each Award of an option shall state whether
              it will or will not be treated as an Incentive Stock Option.

         f.   Performance  Conditions.  The Committee may condition,  or provide
              for the  acceleration  of,  the  exercisability  or vesting of any
              Award upon such prerequisites as it, in its sole discretion, deems
              appropriate,   including,  but  not  limited  to,  achievement  of
              specific objectives,  whether absolute or relative to a peer group
              or index designated by the Committee,  with respect to one or more
              measures of the performance of the Corporation  and/or one or more
              Subsidiaries,  including earnings per share,  revenue,  net income
              (whether  before  or after  extraordinary  items),  net  operating
              income,   earnings  before  interest,   taxes,   depreciation  and
              amortization  (EBIDTA),  stock price and total shareholder return.
              Such performance objectives shall be determined in accordance with
              the  Corporation's  audited  financial  statements,  to the extent
              applicable,  and so that a third  party  having  knowledge  of the
              relevant facts could determine whether such performance  objective
              is met.


Section 7: Amendment and Termination

The Board of Directors may at any time amend,  suspend or discontinue  the Plan,
in whole or in part, and the Committee may at any time alter or amend any or all
Award  Agreements  under the Plan to the extent  permitted  by law,  but no such
alteration  or  amendment  shall  impair  the  rights of any  holder of an Award
without the holder's consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such action may,
without approval of the shareowners of the  Corporation,  increase the number of
shares of Stock  with  respect  to which  Awards  may be  granted  or reduce the
exercise price of any Option below Fair Market Value on the date of grant.




                                       9
<PAGE>


Section 8: Administration

         a.   The Committee shall have full and complete authority,  in its sole
              and absolute discretion, (i) to exercise all of the powers granted
              to it under the Plan,  (ii) to construe,  interpret  and implement
              the Plan and any related document,  (iii)to  prescribe,  amend and
              rescind   rules   relating   to  the   Plan,   (iv)  to  make  all
              determinations  necessary or advisable in administering  the Plan,
              and (v) to correct any defect,  supply any omission and  reconcile
              any  inconsistency in the Plan. The actions and  determinations of
              the  Committee on all matters  relating to the Plan and any Awards
              will be final and conclusive. The Committee's determinations under
              the Plan  need not be  uniform  and may be made by it  selectively
              among Employees and Non-Employees who receive, or who are eligible
              to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are
              similarly situated.

         b.   The Committee and others to whom the Committee has delegated  such
              duties  shall keep a record of all their  proceedings  and actions
              and shall  maintain  all such books of account,  records and other
              data as shall be necessary  for the proper  administration  of the
              Plan.

         c.   The Corporation shall pay all reasonable expenses of administering
              the  Plan,   including,   but  not  limited  to,  the  payment  of
              professional fees.

         d.   The Committee  may appoint such  accountants,  counsel,  and other
              experts as it deems  necessary or desirable in connection with the
              administration  of the Plan.  The  Committee  may  delegate to the
              officers or employees of the Corporation and its  Subsidiaries the
              authority to execute and deliver such  instruments  and documents,
              to do all such acts and  things,  and to take all such other steps
              deemed  necessary,  advisable  or  convenient  for  the  effective
              administration  of the  Plan in  accordance  with  its  terms  and
              purpose,   except  that  the   Committee   may  not  delegate  any
              discretionary  authority with respect to substantive  decisions or
              functions  regarding the Plan or Awards thereunder as these relate
              to executive  officers  (within the meaning of Rule 3b-7 under the
              Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of the Corporation.




                                       10
<PAGE>


Section 9: Adjustment Provisions

         a.   In the event of any change in the  outstanding  shares of Stock by
              reason of a stock dividend or split,  recapitalization,  merger or
              consolidation  (whether  or not  the  Corporation  is a  surviving
              corporation), reorganization, combination or exchange of shares or
              other  similar  corporate  changes  or an  extraordinary  dividend
              payback  in cash or  property,  the  number of shares of Stock (or
              other  securities)  then  remaining  subject to this Plan, and the
              maximum  number  of  shares  that  may be  issued  to  any  single
              Participant  pursuant to this Plan,  including those that are then
              covered  by  outstanding  Awards,  shall  (i) in the  event  of an
              increase in the number of outstanding  shares, be  proportionately
              increased  and  the  price  for  each  share  then  covered  by an
              outstanding Award shall be  proportionately  reduced,  and (ii) in
              the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding  shares,  be
              proportionately  reduced and the price for each share then covered
              by an outstanding Award shall be proportionately increased.

         b.   The  Committee  shall  make any  further  adjustments  as it deems
              necessary to ensure equitable  treatment of any holder of an Award
              as the result of any transaction  affecting the securities subject
              to the Plan not  described in (a), or as is required or authorized
              under the terms of any applicable Award Agreement.

         c.   The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted  hereunder  shall
              not affect or  restrict in any way the right or power of the Board
              of Directors or the  shareholders  of the  Corporation  to make or
              authorize  any  adjustment,  recapitalization,  reorganization  or
              other   capital   structure  of  its   business,   any  merger  or
              consolidation of the Corporation,  any issue of bonds, debentures,
              preferred  or prior  preference  stock ahead of or  affecting  the
              Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the
              Corporation  or any  sale or  transfer  of all or any  part of its
              assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding.




                                       11
<PAGE>


Section 10: Change of Control

         a.   Subject to the provisions of Section 10(c),  in the event a Change
              of Control shall occur,  then, (i) all Awards granted on or before
              December 9, 1999 as Non-qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock
              Options  then  outstanding  pursuant  to the Plan shall  forthwith
              become fully exercisable whether or not otherwise then exercisable
              and (ii) the restrictions on all Stock granted as Restricted Stock
              under  the Plan on or before  December  9,  1999  shall  forthwith
              lapse.

         b.   Change of Control means:

                    (i) The  acquisition  by any  individual,  entity  or  group
              (within  the  meaning  of  Section  13(d)(3)  or  14(d)(2)  of the
              Exchange  Act) (a  Person) of  beneficial  ownership  (within  the
              meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Exchange Act) of 20%
              or more of either (A) the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock
              of Conexant  (the  Outstanding  Conexant  Common Stock) or (B) the
              combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
              Conexant  entitled to vote  generally in the election of directors
              (the Outstanding Conexant Voting Securities);  provided,  however,
              that  for  purposes  of  this   subparagraph  (i),  the  following
              acquisitions  shall not  constitute  a Change of Control:  (w) any
              acquisition  directly  from  Conexant,   (x)  any  acquisition  by
              Conexant,  (y) any  acquisition  by any employee  benefit plan (or
              related  trust)  sponsored or  maintained  by  Conexant,  Rockwell
              International Corporation (Rockwell) or any corporation controlled
              by  Conexant  or  Rockwell  or (z) any  acquisition  pursuant to a
              transaction  which  complies  with  clauses  (A),  (B)  and (C) of
              subsection (iii) of this Section 10(b); or

                    (ii)  Individuals  who,  as of  the  date  of the  pro  rata
              distribution  of all the  outstanding  Stock  by  Rockwell  to its
              shareowners (Conexant Distribution Date),  constitute the Board of
              Directors (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute
              at least a majority of the Board of Directors;  provided, however,
              that any  individual  becoming a director  subsequent to that date
              whose   election,   or  nomination   for  election  by  Conexant's
              shareowners,  was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
              directors then  comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered
              as though such




                                       12
<PAGE>


              individual  were a member of the Incumbent  Board,  but excluding,
              for this purpose,  any such individual whose initial assumption of
              office  occurs as a result of an  actual  or  threatened  election
              contest  with  respect to the  election or removal of directors or
              other actual or threatened  solicitation of proxies or consents by
              or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of Directors; or

                    (iii)   Consummation   of  a   reorganization,   merger   or
              consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
              all of the  assets of  Conexant  or the  acquisition  of assets of
              another entity (a Corporate  Transaction),  in each case,  unless,
              following such Corporate Transaction, (A) all or substantially all
              of the  individuals  and entities who were the beneficial  owners,
              respectively,   of  the  Outstanding  Conexant  Common  Stock  and
              Outstanding  Conexant Voting Securities  immediately prior to such
              Corporate  Transaction  beneficially  own, directly or indirectly,
              more than 60% of,  respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares of
              common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
              voting  securities  entitled to vote  generally in the election of
              directors,  as the case may be, of the corporation  resulting from
              such  Corporate  Transaction  (including,  without  limitation,  a
              corporation  which  as a  result  of  such  transaction  owns  the
              Corporation  or all  or  substantially  all  of the  Corporation's
              assets  either  directly or through one or more  subsidiaries)  in
              substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately
              prior to such Corporate  Transaction of the  Outstanding  Conexant
              Common Stock and Outstanding  Conexant Voting  Securities,  as the
              case may be, (B) no Person  (excluding  any employee  benefit plan
              (or  related  trust)  of  the  Corporation  or  such   corporation
              resulting  from such  Corporate  Transaction)  beneficially  owns,
              directly or  indirectly,  20% or more of,  respectively,  the then
              outstanding  shares of common stock of the  corporation  resulting
              from such Corporate  Transaction  or the combined  voting power of
              the then outstanding  voting securities of such corporation except
              to the extent that such  ownership  existed prior to the Corporate
              Transaction  and (C) at least a  majority  of the  members  of the
              board  of  directors  of  the  corporation   resulting  from  such
              Corporate  Transaction  were members of the Incumbent Board at the
              time of the execution of the initial  agreement,  or of the action
              of  the  Board  of  Directors,   providing   for  such   Corporate
              Transaction; or




                                       13
<PAGE>


                    (iv)  Approval  by  Conexant's  shareowners  of  a  complete
              liquidation or dissolution of Conexant.

         c.   The Change of Control  provisions of Section 10(a) shall not apply
              to any Awards granted after December 9, 1999.


Section 11: Miscellaneous

         a.   Other Payments or Awards.  Nothing  contained in the Plan shall be
              deemed  in any way to  limit  or  restrict  the  Corporation  or a
              Subsidiary  from  making any award or payment to any person  under
              any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing
              or hereafter in effect.

         b.   Payments to Other Persons.  If payments are legally required to be
              made to any  person  other  than the  person to whom any amount is
              made available under the Plan, payments shall be made accordingly.
              Any such payment  shall be a complete  discharge of the  liability
              hereunder.

         c.   Unfunded  Plan.  The Plan shall be  unfunded.  No provision of the
              Plan or any Award  Agreement  shall require the  Corporation  or a
              Subsidiary,  for the purpose of satisfying any  obligations  under
              the Plan,  to  purchase  assets or place any  assets in a trust or
              other  entity  to which  contributions  are made or  otherwise  to
              segregate any assets,  nor shall the  Corporation  or a Subsidiary
              maintain separate bank accounts,  books, records or other evidence
              of the  existence  of a segregated  or  separately  maintained  or
              administered  fund for such purposes.  Participants  shall have no
              rights under the Plan other than as unsecured general creditors of
              the  Corporation or a Subsidiary,  except that insofar as they may
              have become  entitled  to payment of  additional  compensation  by
              performance of services,  they shall have the same rights as other
              employees under generally applicable law.

         d.   Limits  of  Liability.  Any  liability  of  the  Corporation  or a
              Subsidiary  to any  Participant  with respect to an Award shall be
              based solely upon contractual  obligations created by the Plan and
              the Award Agreement.  Neither the Corporation or its Subsidiaries,
              nor any member of the Board of Directors




                                       14
<PAGE>


              or of the  Committee,  nor any other person  participating  in any
              determination   of  any  question   under  the  Plan,  or  in  the
              interpretation,  administration  or application of the Plan, shall
              have any  liability  to any party  for any  action  taken,  or not
              taken, in good faith under the Plan.

         e.   Rights of  Employees  and  Non-Employees.  Status  as an  eligible
              Employee or  Non-Employee  shall not be  construed as a commitment
              that any Award  shall be made  under  this  Plan to such  eligible
              Employee or Non-Employee or to eligible Employees or Non-Employees
              generally.  Nothing  contained  in  this  Plan  or  in  any  Award
              Agreement shall confer upon any Employee or Non-Employee any right
              to continue  in the employ or other  service of or, in the case of
              prospective  employees,  become  employed by the  Corporation or a
              Subsidiary  or  constitute  any  contract  or limit in any way the
              right of the  Corporation  or a Subsidiary to change such person's
              compensation  or other  benefits  or,  in the case of  prospective
              employees,  prospective  compensation  or benefits or to terminate
              the  employment  or other  service or, in the case of  prospective
              employees,  withdraw an offer of employment of such person with or
              without Cause.

         f.   Section  Headings.  The section headings  contained herein are for
              the purpose of convenience only, and in the event of any conflict,
              the text of the Plan,  rather  than the  section  headings,  shall
              control.

         g.   Gender,  Etc. In interpreting the Plan, the masculine gender shall
              include  the  feminine,   the  neuter  gender  shall  include  the
              masculine or feminine,  and the singular  shall include the plural
              unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

         h.   Invalidity.  If any term or provision  contained  herein or in any
              Award Agreement  shall to any extent be invalid or  unenforceable,
              such term or provision  will be reformed so that it is valid,  and
              such  invalidity  or  unenforceability  shall not affect any other
              provision or part thereof.

         i.   Applicable  Law. The Plan,  the Award  Agreements  and all actions
              taken hereunder or thereunder  shall be governed by, and construed
              in accordance  with,  the laws of the State of California  without
              regard to the conflict of law principles thereof.




                                       15
<PAGE>


         j.   Compliance with Laws. Notwithstanding anything contained herein or
              in any Award Agreement to the contrary,  the Corporation shall not
              be  required  to  sell or  issue  shares  of  Stock  hereunder  or
              thereunder if the issuance thereof would constitute a violation by
              the Participant or the Corporation of any provisions of any law or
              regulation   of  any   governmental   authority  or  any  national
              securities  exchange;  and as a condition  of any sale or issuance
              the Corporation may require such  agreements or  undertakings,  if
              any, as the  Corporation may deem necessary or advisable to assure
              compliance with any such law or regulation.

         k.   Non-Assignability. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee
              in  an  Award   Agreement,   no  Award  shall  be   assignable  or
              transferable  except  by  will  or by  the  laws  of  descent  and
              distribution,  and, during the lifetime of a Participant, an Award
              shall  be  exercised  only  by such  Participant  or by his or her
              guardian or legal representative.

         l.   Effective  Date and  Term.  The Plan was  adopted  by the Board of
              Directors and sole  shareowner of the  Corporation  on November 4,
              1998 and became  effective as of December 31, 1998.  The Committee
              may grant Awards prior to shareowner approval,  provided, however,
              that  Awards  granted  prior  to  such  shareowner   approval  are
              automatically  canceled if shareowner  approval is not obtained at
              or prior to the period  ending  twelve  months  after the date the
              Plan is  effective  and  provided  further  that no  Award  may be
              exercisable prior to the date shareowner approval is obtained. The
              Plan shall  remain in effect  until all Awards under the Plan have
              been  exercised  or  terminated  under  the  terms of the Plan and
              applicable Award  Agreements,  provided that Awards under the Plan
              may only be granted  within ten (10) years from the effective date
              of the Plan.











                                       16

                                                                      Exhibit 5
                                                                      ---------


                     Letterhead of Jasmina A. Theodore, Esq.
                             Conexant Systems, Inc.
                               4311 Jamboree Road
                      Newport Beach, California 92660-3095




                                                      May 26, 2000

Conexant Systems, Inc.
4311 Jamboree Road
Newport Beach, California  92660-3095

Re:      Opinion Letter LTIP 1999

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am  Associate  General  Counsel and  Assistant  Secretary of Conexant
Systems,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  ("Conexant"),  and am  delivering  this
opinion in connection with the filing by Conexant of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement") registering under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $1 per
share, of Conexant  (including the associated  Preferred Share Purchase  Rights,
the "Common  Stock"),  which may be delivered  from time to time pursuant to the
Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives Plan (the "Plan").

         I have  examined such  documents,  records and matters of law as I have
deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed.  On the basis
of the  foregoing,  and  having  regard  for  legal  considerations  that I deem
relevant,  I am of the  opinion  that when the  Registration  Statement  becomes
effective  under the Act, any newly issued  shares of Common Stock  delivered in
accordance with the Plan will, when so delivered,  be legally issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.

         I hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

         I express no  opinion  herein as to any laws other than the laws of the
State of  California,  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  (including  the
applicable  provisions of the Delaware  Constitution and the applicable reported
judicial decisions related thereto) and the Federal laws of the United States.

                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   /s/ Jasmina A. Theodore
                                                   Jasmina A. Theodore


                                                                   Exhibit 23.1
                                                                   ------------




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Conexant  Systems,  Inc.  on Form S-8 of our  report  dated  October  29,  1999,
appearing in the Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Conexant  Systems,  Inc. for the
year ended  September  30,  1999,  and to the  reference to us under the heading
"Experts" in the prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.




DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP


Costa Mesa, California
May 24, 2000

                                                                   Exhibit 23.2
                                                                   ------------




                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As   independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  the
incorporation  by  reference  in this  registration  statement  on  Form  S-8 of
Conexant Systems,  Inc. of our report dated January 18, 2000 on the consolidated
financial statements of Maker Communications, Inc. included in Conexant Systems,
Inc.'s  Form 8-K dated  April 3, 2000 and to all  references  to our Firm in the
prospectus which is a part of this Registration Statement.




ARTHUR ANDERSEN  LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
May 24, 2000

                                                                   Exhibit 23.4
                                                                   ------------




                               CONSENT OF COUNSEL

         We hereby consent to the reference to this firm and to the inclusion of
the  summary  of  our  opinion  under  the  caption  "Tax  Consequences"  in the
Prospectus related to this Registration  Statement on Form S-8 filed by Conexant
Systems, Inc. in respect of the Conexant Systems, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentives
Plan.

                                              CHADBOURNE & PARKE  LLP



30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York  10112
May 26, 2000

                                                                     Exhibit 24
                                                                     ----------


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         I, the undersigned Director and/or Officer of Conexant Systems, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Conexant"), hereby constitute DWIGHT W. DECKER, DENNIS E.
O'REILLY and JASMINA A.  THEODORE,  and each of them singly,  my true and lawful
attorneys  with  full  power to them and each of them to sign for me,  and in my
name and in the  capacity or  capacities  indicated  below,  (i) a  Registration
Statement  on Form  S-8 and any  and all  amendments  (including  post-effective
amendments)  and  supplements  thereto for the purpose of registering  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 7,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock,
par value $1 per share,  of Conexant  (including the associated  preferred share
purchase  rights) to be offered and sold pursuant to Conexant's  1999  Long-Term
Incentives  Plan, as amended and (ii) a  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and
any and all amendments  (including  post-effective  amendments)  and supplements
thereto for the purpose of  registering  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended,  securities to be sold pursuant to Conexant's Hourly Employees' Savings
Plan, as amended.

    Signature                          Title                         Date
    ---------                          -----                         ----

  /s/ Dwight W. Decker           Chairman of the Board and
- --------------------------    Chief Executive Officer (principal
  Dwight W. Decker             executive officer) and Director      May 9, 2000



  /s/ Donald R. Beall                  Director                     May 8, 2000
- --------------------------
  Donald R. Beall


  /s/ Richard M. Bressler              Director                     May 8, 2000
- --------------------------
  Richard M. Bressler


  /s/ F. Craig Farrill                 Director                     May 9, 2000
- --------------------------
  F. Craig Farrill


  /s/ Jerre L. Stead                   Director                     May 9, 2000
- --------------------------
  Jerre L. Stead


                                Senior Vice President and
  /s/ Balakrishnan S. Iyer       Chief Financial Officer
- ---------------------------    (principal financial officer)        May 9, 2000
  Balakrishnan S. Iyer


                                Vice President and Controller
  /s/ Steven M. Thomson         (principal accounting officer)      May 9, 2000
- ---------------------------
  Steven M. Thomson


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