RESOUND CORP
10-Q, 1996-11-14
ORTHOPEDIC, PROSTHETIC & SURGICAL APPLIANCES & SUPPLIES
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

    (Mark One)

     X   Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
    ---  Exchange Act of 1934

    For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996 or

         Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
    ---
         Exchange Act of 1934

    For the transition period from         to

    Commission file number 0-20046

                               RESOUND CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

       California                                                77-0019588
(State of Incorporation)                                      (I.R.S. Employer
                                                             Identification No.)

        220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre, Redwood City, California 94063
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (415) 780-7800
                         (Registrant's telephone number)

         Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                  Yes X No
                                     ---  ---

         The number of shares of Registrant's common stock issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 1996 was 19,360,472 shares.

This document consists of 14 pages of which this is page 1

                                       1
<PAGE>   2
PART I.       FINANCIAL INFORMATION

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                           <C>
         Item 1.      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.............................           3  
                                                                                                
                      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.......................           4  
                                                                                                
                      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows...................           5  
                                                                                                       
                      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements..............       6 - 8  
                                                                                                       
         Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and                  
                             Results of Operations                                                     
                                                                                                       
                      Results of Operations.............................................      8 - 11  
                                                                                                       
                      Liquidity and Capital Resources...................................     11 - 12  
                                                                                                       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION                                                                             
                                                                                                       
         Item 1.      Legal Proceedings.................................................          12  
                                                                                                 
         Item 2.      Changes in the Rights of Company Security Holders.................          12  
                                                                                                 
         Item 3.      Defaults upon Senior Securities...................................          12  
                                                                                                 
         Item 4.      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders...............          12  
                                                                                                 
         Item 5.      Other Items.......................................................          12  
                                                                                                 
         Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K..................................          13  
                                                                                                 
SIGNATURES..............................................................................          14  
</TABLE>


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.           Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:

                               RESOUND CORPORATION
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (in thousands)

                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            September 30,  December 31,
                                                 1996         1995
                                               ---------    --------
                                              (Unaudited)    (Note)
<S>                                            <C>          <C>     
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents .............   $   8,909    $  5,091
     Accounts receivable, net ..............      23,959      17,746
       Inventories .........................      22,524      18,466
     Prepaid expenses and other ............       3,681       2,441
                                               ---------    --------
              Total current assets .........      59,073      43,744

Property and equipment, net ................      12,192       9,300
Goodwill ...................................      40,305      27,692
Other assets ...............................       5,803       2,634
                                               ---------    --------
                                               $ 117,373    $ 83,370
                                               =========    ========

     LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
     Bank loans and short-term notes payable   $   1,975    $  7,475
     Accounts payable ......................       8,970      10,189
     Accrued liabilities ...................      16,667      13,135
     Long-term debt, current portion .......       2,255       2,962
                                               ---------    --------
              Total current liabilities ....      29,867      33,761
Long-term liabilities:
     Long-term debt, non-current portion ...      20,878      23,647
     Accrued pension .......................       5,675       6,216
     Minority interest .....................       1,403       1,525
                                               ---------    --------
              Total long-term liabilities ..      27,956      31,388

Commitments and contingencies ..............        --          --

Shareholders' equity:
     Preferred stock .......................       5,000        --
     Common stock ..........................      90,503      54,292
     Accumulated deficit ...................     (35,676)    (38,010)
     Cumulative translation adjustment .....        (277)      1,939
                                               ---------    --------
              Total shareholders' equity ...      59,550      18,221
                                               ---------    --------
                                               $ 117,373    $ 83,370
                                               =========    ========
</TABLE>


Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 1995 has been derived from audited
financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information
and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                               RESOUND CORPORATION
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      (in thousands except per share data)

                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Three months ended       Nine months ended
                                            ------------------       -----------------
                                         September 30, October 1, September 30, October 1,
                                             1996        1995        1996        1995
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------
<S>                                        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>     
Net sales ..............................   $ 33,821    $ 23,951    $ 90,805    $ 78,384
Cost of sales ..........................     15,364      14,372      40,408      40,820
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------
         Gross profit ..................     18,457       9,579      50,397      37,564

Operating expenses
     Research and development ..........      3,904       2,891      10,463       7,821
     Selling, general and administrative     12,472      11,889      34,888      33,369
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------
              Total operating expenses .     16,376      14,780      45,351      41,190
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------

Income (loss) from operations ..........      2,081      (5,201)      5,046      (3,626)
     Interest expense -- net ...........       (397)       (418)     (1,519)     (1,345)
     Other expense / minority interest .        (71)       (300)       (189)       (266)
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------

Income (loss) before income taxes ......      1,613      (5,919)      3,338      (5,237)
Provision for income taxes (1) .........        472         264       1,005         434
                                           --------    --------    --------    --------

Net income (loss) ......................   $  1,141    $ (6,183)   $  2,333    $ (5,671)
                                           ========    ========    ========    ========

Net income (loss) per share ............   $   0.06    $  (0.40)   $   0.13    $  (0.37)
                                           ========    ========    ========    ========

Shares used in per share calculation ...     19,481      15,484      17,466      15,406
                                           ========    ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>

     (1)   Consists principally of foreign income taxes.

      See Exhibit 11.1 "Statement of Computation of Net Income (Loss) per Share"

      See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                               RESOUND CORPORATION

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
                                 (in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Nine months ended
                                                                                       -----------------
                                                                                   September 30,   October 1,
                                                                                        1996        1995
                                                                                      --------    -------- 
<S>                                                                                   <C>         <C>      
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
     Net income/(loss) ............................................................   $  2,333    $ (5,671)

     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in)
        operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization ............................................      4,316       5,441
     Changes in assets and liabilities:
         Accounts receivable ......................................................     (4,444)     (2,122)
         Inventories ..............................................................       (403)     (2,671)
         Deposits and other current assets ........................................     (3,802)      1,283
         Accounts payable .........................................................     (1,218)      6,326
         Other accrued liabilities ................................................        424      (5,734)
                                                                                      --------    -------- 
              Net cash used in operating activities ...............................     (2,794)     (3,148)

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:
        Sale of short-term investments, net .......................................       --         8,099
        Investment in Sonar Hearing Health ........................................    (25,443)       --
        Purchase of a minority shareholder's interest in a subsidiary of Viennatone     (1,857)       --
        Proceeds from patent contributions to partnership (net) ...................      7,300        --
        Change in translation adjustment ..........................................       (897)     (1,602)
        Additions of property and equipment .......................................     (4,724)     (3,714)
                                                                                      --------    -------- 
              Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities .................    (25,621)      2,783

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
     Repayments of bank borrowing (net) ...........................................     (8,978)    (11,494)
     Issuance of long-term debt, net ..............................................       --         8,541
     Issuance of preferred stock ..................................................      5,000        --
     Issuance of common stock .....................................................     36,211         873
                                                                                      --------    -------- 
              Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities .................     32,233      (2,080)
                                                                                      --------    -------- 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents ..............................      3,818      (2,445)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period ..........................      5,091      15,824
                                                                                      --------    -------- 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period ................................   $  8,909    $ 13,379
                                                                                      ========    ========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 Cash paid during the period for:
         Interest .................................................................   $  1,863    $    662
                                                                                      ========    ========
         Income taxes .............................................................   $    702    $    302
                                                                                      ========    ========
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
     Issuance of convertible debt .................................................   $   --      $ 10,000
                                                                                      ========    ========
     Conversion of convertible promissory notes to common stock ...................   $  2,000    $   --
                                                                                      ========    ========
</TABLE>

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                       5
<PAGE>   6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited September 30, 1996

NOTES A - BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and with
the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly,
they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally
accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion
of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals)
considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating
results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 1996 are not necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31,
1996. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1995 and footnotes thereto included
in the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. In addition, refer
to the Company's Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 15, 1996 (as amended and
filed on September 12, 1996) (see Part II, Item 6).

NOTE B - USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences
may be material to the financial statements.

NOTE C - INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. The
components of inventory consist of the following (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   September 30,        December 31,
                                                       1996                1995
                                                      -------            -------
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>    
Raw materials                                         $13,502            $ 8,879
Work in process                                         3,367              4,431
Finished products                                       5,655              5,156
                                                      -------            -------
                                                      $22,524            $18,466
                                                      =======            =======
</TABLE>


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
NOTE D - ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES

Income taxes have been provided for on a year-to-date basis and primarily
represent estimated taxes on profits earned at the Company's European
subsidiaries in Ireland, Austria and Holland.

NOTE E - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

In March 1996, the Company issued 54,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for
an aggregate purchase price of $5.0 million in a private placement to an
existing shareholder. These securities have a cumulative stock dividend rate of
6 percent and are convertible into 540,550 shares of common stock at an
effective conversion price of $9.25 per share.

In June 1996, the Company raised approximately $32.9 million (net proceeds)
through the private sale of 3,212,176 shares of common stock. The proceeds from
this sale were used in connection with the purchase of certain assets of the
hearing health business activity of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
(3M) (see Note F below) and to provide working capital. These proceeds reflect
most of the proceeds shown as issuance of common stock on the Company's
unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996.

In June 1996, convertible promissory notes previously issued by the Company in
the aggregate principal amount of $2.0 million, plus unpaid interest through
June 21, 1996, were converted into 265,506 shares of common stock at $7.7125 per
share of common stock.

NOTE F - PURCHASE OF 3M HEARING HEALTH

On June 28, 1996, the Company completed the purchase of certain assets of the
hearing health business activity of 3M. The purchase price was $24.9 million and
included certain patents, patent applications and new product developments. The
Company has established a subsidiary, Sonar Hearing Health Corporation, to
manage this activity on an ongoing basis. The patent infringement lawsuit filed
by 3M against ReSound in September 1993 in the U.S. District Court, District of
Minnesota was dismissed on July 2, 1996. To finance this purchase and provide
working capital, the Company raised approximately $32.9 million (net proceeds)
through the private sale of 3,212,176 shares of common stock.

The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>        
         Net tangible assets acquired,                   $ 4,132
              principally receivables
              and inventories
         Patents                                           7,500
         Goodwill                                         13,302
                                                         -------
                  Total purchase price                   $24,934
                                                         =======
</TABLE>


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
Hearing health constituted a small business activity in 3M's worldwide
operations which was neither a division nor subject to the maintenance of
discrete accounting records such that financial statements could be or are
determinable. However, the Company believes that this business activity
generated revenues for 3M of approximately $16.6 million and $9.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the six months ended June 30, 1996,
respectively. The Company believes that profits, if any, generated from the
hearing health activity of 3M for the above-mentioned periods were minimal, and
it may not have been profitable as a historical activity. The worldwide revenues
from hearing health products acquired from 3M for the three months ended
September 30, 1996 were $3.7 million.

Together with patents acquired from 3M of $7.5 million, as described above,
patents valued at $2.5 million were acquired in July 1996 in connection with the
above acquisition. These patents were contributed to a recently formed
partnership comprised of six hearing aid manufacturers, including ReSound. In
consideration, ReSound received cash payments from the initial partnership
members of $7.3 million (net), and has rights to an additional $3.6 million as
future partnership interests are sold. Thereafter, any amounts paid to the
partnership will be divided equally among the partners.

The annual amortization resulting from the recognition of the intangible assets
acquired from 3M on the Company's balance sheet (net of patents contributed to a
partnership, as described above) will be approximately $188,500 and $665,000 for
the patents and goodwill, respectively.

ITEM 2.           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                  AND RESULTS OF  OPERATIONS:

OVERVIEW

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
consolidated condensed financial statements and notes thereto included in Part I
- -- Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and the audited consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto and Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended December 31,
1995 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. In
addition, refer to the Company's Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 15, 1996 (as
amended and filed on September 12, 1996) (see Part II, Item 6).

ReSound Corporation (the "Company" or "ReSound") is a hearing health care
company that designs, develops, manufactures and sells technologically advanced
hearing devices for the hearing impaired. ReSound distributes its products
through authorized dispensers in North America, Europe and Asia. The Company
sells Personal Hearing Systems which are available in In-the-Ear ("ITE"),
Behind-the-Ear ("BTE") and In-the-Canal ("ITC") versions. In addition, the
Company sells a proprietary prescriptive programming system designed to enable a
hearing care professional to assess a patient's hearing impairment through
computerized measurement, to select an appropriate, individualized prescription
and to program the Personal Hearing System. In May 1996, the Company introduced
ReSource, a software module which allows hearing care professionals to program
the Personal


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
Hearing System through the use of a personal computer equipped with the
industry-standard platform called NOAH.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three months ended September 30, 1996 and October 1, 1995

Net sales increased by 41 percent to $33.8 million in the three months ended
September 30, 1996, from $24.0 million in the three months ended October 1,
1995. Sales in the United States increased by 111 percent to $17.1 million in
the three months ended September 30, 1996, from $8.1 million in the three months
ended October 1, 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to increased
sales of the ITC hearing device, increased sales of the Encore product line and
the inclusion of sales relating to products acquired from 3M Hearing Health
effective June 30, 1996. International sales accounted for 50 percent of
ReSound's net sales during the three months ended September 30, 1996, compared
to 66 percent during the same period in 1995. Third quarter 1996 international
sales rose 5 percent to $16.8 million from the 1995 period. Sales growth in
Europe has been hampered by unfavorable changes in governmental reimbursement
policies, an increasingly competitive marketplace, and weaker European
currencies compared to the U.S. dollar.

Comparatively, it should be noted that during the third quarter of 1995 the
Company experienced delayed shipments of orders to customers of approximately
$4.5 million due to product redesign necessitated by the A&L Technology patent
litigation, which was settled in October 1995.

Gross profit was 55 percent of net sales in the third quarter of 1996, compared
to 40 percent of net sales for the same quarter of 1995. The quarter-to-quarter
increase in gross profit was largely attributable to the lack of a one-time
charge of approximately $2.4 million for the incremental costs associated with
temporary product redesign and $0.5 million in royalty expenses that were
incurred in the third quarter of 1995. Both factors were due to the A&L
Technology patent litigation.

Research and Development ("R&D") spending during the third quarter of 1996 was
$3.9 million (11.5 percent of net sales) compared to $2.9 million (12.1 percent
of net sales) in the same quarter of 1995. The Company increased spending during
the third quarter of 1996 relative to the year-earlier quarter for the continued
development of new products being introduced throughout 1996 and in future
years. In May 1996, the Company introduced its Advanced ReSound Processing chip
incorporating ReSound's Cochlea Dynamic technology into an In-the-Canal hearing
device, a ReSound software fitting system, ReSource, based on the industry
standard NOAH PC system platform and an improved Behind-the-Ear Power hearing
device. In the same time-frame ReSound also upgraded its installed base of
Portable Prescriptive Programming fitting systems. Expenses were also incurred
for the development of a standard hardware platform for Digital Signal
Processing technology as part of an alliance with AudioLogic and GN Danavox
which was announced in April 1996 and finalized on September 30, 1996.

Selling General and Administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $12.5 million, or 36.9
percent of net sales for the third quarter of 1996, compared to $11.9 million,
or 49.6 percent of net sales in the third quarter of 1995. This
quarter-to-quarter increase is primarily due to expenditures incurred as a
result of the acquisition of the 3M Hearing Health business activity and
increased expenses related to


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
increased sales volume. These increases were offset by a labor agreement reached
in Austria which reduced SG&A expenses on a one-time basis by approximately $1.3
million in the third quarter of 1996.

Net interest expense was $397,000 for the third quarter of 1996 compared to
$418,000 for the third quarter of 1995. This quarter-to-quarter decrease is
attributable to reduction of debt.

Income taxes have been provided for on a year-to-date basis and primarily
represent estimated taxes on profits earned at the Company's European
subsidiaries in Ireland, Austria and Holland.

Net income was $1.1 million in the quarter ended September 30, 1996, compared to
a net loss of $6.2 million in the quarter ended October 1, 1995. The increase
was primarily the result of increased sales volume and the elimination of
manufacturing and royalty expenses incurred in 1995 related to the A&L
Technology patent litigation.

Nine months ended September 30, 1996 and October 1, 1995

Net sales increased by 16 percent to $90.8 million in the nine months ended
September 30, 1996, from $78.4 million in the nine months ended October 1, 1995.
Sales in the United States increased by 47 percent to $39.2 million in the nine
months ended September 30, 1996, from $26.7 million in the nine months ended
October 1, 1995. The increase was primarily attributable to the introduction of
the ITC hearing device, continued strong sales of the Encore product line and
the inclusion of sales relating to products acquired from 3M Hearing Health
starting July 1, 1996. International sales accounted for 57 percent of ReSound's
net sales during the first nine months of 1996, compared to 66 percent during
the same period in 1995. International sales for the first nine months of 1996
were level with the comparable period last year due to unfavorable changes in
governmental reimbursement policies in Europe, an increasingly competitive
marketplace, and weaker European currencies compared to the U.S. dollar.

Comparatively, it should be noted that during the third quarter of 1995 the
Company experienced delayed shipments of orders to customers of approximately
$4.5 million due to product redesign necessitated by the A&L Technology patent
litigation.

Gross profit increased to $50.4 million for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 from $37.6 million for the nine months ended October 1, 1995, and increased
as a percentage of net sales to 55.5 percent for the nine months ended September
30, 1996 from 47.9 percent during the same period in 1995. The year-to-year
increase in gross profit was largely attributable to the lack of a one-time
charge of approximately $2.4 million for the incremental costs associated with
temporary product redesign and $0.5 million in royalty expenses that were
incurred in the third quarter of 1995. Both factors were due to the A&L
Technology patent litigation. In addition, the Company has benefited from
improved efficiencies at its Ireland manufacturing facility which supplies all
ReSound BTE hearing devices and faceplate components worldwide.

R&D expenses increased by 35 percent to $10.5 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 from $7.8 million for the nine months ended October 1, 1995.
The Company increased spending during the first nine months of 1996 relative to
the year-earlier period for the continued development of new products being
introduced throughout 1996 and in future years. In May 1996,


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
the Company introduced its Advanced ReSound Processing chip incorporating
ReSound's Cochlea Dynamic technology into an In-the-Canal hearing device, a
ReSound software fitting system, ReSource, based on the industry standard NOAH
PC system platform and an improved Behind-the-Ear Power hearing device. In the
same time-frame ReSound also upgraded its installed base of Portable
Prescriptive Programming fitting systems. Expenses were also incurred for the
development of a standard hardware platform for Digital Signal Processing
technology as part of an alliance with AudioLogic and GN Danavox which was
announced in April 1996 and finalized on September 30, 1996.

SG&A expenses increased by 4.5 percent to $34.9 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996 from $33.4 million for the nine months ended October 1,
1995. These expenses were 38.4 percent of net sales for the first nine months of
1996 compared to 42.6 percent for the same period of 1995. This year-to-year
increase in expenditures was a result of the acquisition of the 3M Hearing
Health business activity and increased expenses related to increased sales
volume. These increases were offset by a labor agreement reached in Austria
which reduced SG&A expenses on a one-time basis by approximately $1.3 million in
the third quarter of 1996.

Net interest expense was $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 compared to $1.3 million for the nine months ended October 1, 1995. This
year-to-year decrease is primarily due to a reduction in interest income as a
result of cash payments for the settlement of litigation in the last six months
of 1995.

Income taxes have been provided for on a year-to-date basis and primarily
represent estimated taxes on profits earned at ReSound's European subsidiaries
in Ireland, Austria and Holland.

Net income was $2.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 1996,
compared to a net loss of $5.7 million in the nine months ended October 1, 1995.
The increase in net income was primarily the result of increased sales volume
and the elimination of manufacturing and royalty expenses incurred in 1995
related to the A&L Technology patent litigation, which was settled in October
1995.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

For the nine months ended September 30, 1996 the Company used $2.8 million in
cash from operations. This amount resulted primarily from net income of $2.3
million and depreciation and amortization of $4.3 million, offset primarily by
increases in deposits and other current assets of $3.8 million, $4.4 million in
accounts receivable and $0.8 million combined in accounts payable and other
accrued liabilities.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 of $25.6 million resulted primarily from the acquisition of the 3M hearing
health business activity, the purchase of a minority shareholder's interest in a
subsidiary of Viennatone for $1.9 million and from additions to property and
equipment of $4.7 million. These amounts were offset by net proceeds of $7.3
million for patents contributed by ReSound to a partnership of hearing aid
manufacturers, including ReSound.


                                       11
<PAGE>   12
In March 1996, the Company issued 54,055 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for
an aggregate purchase price of $5.0 million in a private placement to an
existing shareholder. Additional financing activity in the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 involved the issuance of common stock for $32.9 million (net
proceeds) in June 1996, to raise capital to fund the acquisition of the 3M
hearing health business activity (see Note E - Shareholders' Equity, in Notes to
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, above). These amounts were offset
by $9.0 million of repayments related to bank borrowings.

At September 30, 1996, the Company had available cash and cash equivalents of
$8.9 million. The Company believes the available cash and cash equivalents will
be sufficient to meet the Company's operating expenses and capital requirements
for at least the next twelve months. From time to time the Company may also
consider the acquisition of, or evaluate investments in, certain products and
businesses complementary to the Company's business. Any such acquisition or
investment may require additional capital resources.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         Not applicable.

ITEM 2.  CHANGES IN THE RIGHTS OF COMPANY SECURITY HOLDERS

         Not applicable.

ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

         Not applicable.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         Not applicable

ITEM 5. OTHER ITEMS

         Not applicable


                                       12
<PAGE>   13
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)      Exhibits

                  Exhibit  10.26 AudioLogic Hearing Systems L.P. Amended and
                           Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of
                           September 30, 1996.

                  Exhibit  10.27 Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and Common
                           Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 30, 1996.

                  Exhibit  10.28 Development, Licensing and Distribution
                           Agreement by and among AudioLogic, Inc., GN Danavox
                           AS, ReSound Corporation and AudioLogic Hearing
                           Systems, L.P. dated September 30, 1996.

                  Exhibit  10.29 The Assignment Agreement between ReSound
                           Corporation and K/S HIMPP,25.

                  Exhibit  11.1 Statement of computation of net income (loss)
                           per share

                  Exhibit  27 Financial data schedule

(b)      Report on Form 8-K

         The Company filed a Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 15, 1996 (as amended and filed on September 12, 1996) with
respect to the acquisition of certain assets of the hearing health business
activity of 3M.


                                       13

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.26


THE LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS EVIDENCED BY THIS AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED WITHOUT
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE OR FOREIGN SECURITIES LAWS. IN
ADDITION, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE INTERESTS IS RESTRICTED AS
PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.



                        AUDIOLOGIC HEARING SYSTEMS, L.P.

                         AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT
                             OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                   dated as of


                               September 30, 1996


                                      among

                        AUDIOLOGIC HEARING SYSTEMS, INC.

                                  GN DANAVOX AS

                                AUDIOLOGIC, INC.

                               RESOUND CORPORATION

                                       and

                               CERTAIN MANAGERS OF
                                 THE PARTNERSHIP
<PAGE>   2
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    PAGE
                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>

                                      ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS


SECTION 1.01.  Definitions .....................................................      1

                                    ARTICLE 2 THE PARTNERSHIP


SECTION 2.01.  Formation .......................................................     10
SECTION 2.02.  Name 10
SECTION 2.03.  Purpose .........................................................     11
SECTION 2.04.  Limitations on Business .........................................     11
SECTION 2.05.  Danavox Exclusivity .............................................     11
SECTION 2.06.  Principal Place of Business .....................................     11
SECTION 2.07.  Term 12
SECTION 2.08.  Filings; Agent for Service of Process ...........................     12
SECTION 2.09.  Independent Activities; Transactions with Affiliates ............     13
SECTION 2.10.  Fiscal Year .....................................................     13

                           ARTICLE 3 CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS


SECTION 3.01.  Capital Accounts ................................................     14
SECTION 3.02.  AL1 Asset Contribution ..........................................     14
SECTION 3.03.  Danavox Contribution ............................................     15
SECTION 3.04.  ReSound Contribution ............................................     16
SECTION 3.05.  General Partner Contribution ....................................     16
SECTION 3.06.  Additional Contributions ........................................     16
SECTION 3.07.  General Partner .................................................     16
SECTION 3.08.  Limited Partners ................................................     17
SECTION 3.09.  Representations of AL1 ..........................................     18
SECTION 3.10.  Representations of Danavox and ReSound ..........................     18

                                      ARTICLE 4 ALLOCATIONS


SECTION 4.01.  Net Profits .....................................................     18
SECTION 4.02.  Net Losses ......................................................     19
SECTION 4.03.  Special Allocations .............................................     20
</TABLE>


                                       i
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                    ----
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SECTION 4.04.  Tax Allocations .................................................     20
SECTION 4.05.  Revaluation of Partnership Assets ...............................     20

                                     ARTICLE 5 DISTRIBUTIONS


SECTION 5.01.  Distributions ...................................................     21
SECTION 5.02.  Amounts Withheld ................................................     21
SECTION 5.03.  Restricted Distributions ........................................     22

                              ARTICLE 6 MANAGEMENT'S PUTS AND CALLS


SECTION 6.01.  Vesting .........................................................     22
SECTION 6.02.  Repurchase Obligations upon Termination of Employment ...........     22
SECTION 6.03.  Put Options .....................................................     23
SECTION 6.04.  Reallocation of Manager Interests ...............................     23

                                       ARTICLE 7 MANAGEMENT


SECTION 7.01.  Authority of the General Partner ................................     24
SECTION 7.02.  Right to Rely on General Partner ................................     26
SECTION 7.03.  Restrictions on Authority of General Partner ....................     26
SECTION 7.04.  Duties and Obligations of General Partner .......................     29
SECTION 7.05.  Indemnification of General Partner ..............................     29
SECTION 7.06.  Compensation, Reimbursement and Loans ...........................     30
SECTION 7.07.  Operating Restrictions ..........................................     30
SECTION 7.08.  Rights or Powers ................................................     31
SECTION 7.09.  Voting Rights ...................................................     31

                                   ARTICLE 8 BOOKS AND RECORDS


SECTION 8.01.  Books and Records ...............................................     31
SECTION 8.02.  Periodic Reports; Financial Statements ..........................     31
SECTION 8.03.  Tax Information .................................................     32
SECTION 8.04.  Consent to Capital Account Statements ...........................     32
</TABLE>


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>
                                   ARTICLE 9 CERTAIN COVENANTS


SECTION 9.01.  Confidentiality .................................................     33
SECTION 9.02.  Press Announcements .............................................     34
SECTION 9.03.  No Solicitation of Employees ....................................     34

                                 ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENTS; MEETINGS


SECTION 10.01.  Amendments .....................................................     34
SECTION 10.02.  Meetings of the Partners .......................................     35

                              ARTICLE 11 TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS, ETC


SECTION 11.01.  Restriction of Transfers of Interests ..........................     36
SECTION 11.02.  Permitted Transfers of Interests ...............................     36
SECTION 11.03.  Conditions to Permitted Transfers ..............................     37
SECTION 11.04.  Prohibited Transfers ...........................................     38
SECTION 11.05.  Rights of Unadmitted Assignees .................................     39
SECTION 11.06.  Admission of Transferees as Partners ...........................     39
SECTION 11.07.  Distributions and Applications in Respect to
                    Transferred Interests.......................................     40

                                    ARTICLE 12 GENERAL PARTNER


SECTION 12.01.  Additional General Partners ....................................     40
SECTION 12.02.  Covenant Not to Withdraw, Transfer, or Dissolve ................     40
SECTION 12.03.  Permitted Transfer .............................................     41
SECTION 12.04.  Prohibited Transfer ............................................     42

                              ARTICLE 13 DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP


SECTION 13.01.  Liquidating Events .............................................     42
SECTION 13.02.  Winding up .....................................................     44
SECTION 13.03.  Obligation to Restore Deficit Capital Accounts; Compliance
                    With Timing Requirements of Regulations ...................      45
SECTION 13.04.  Allocations During Period of Liquidation .......................     45
SECTION 13.05.  Character of Liquidating Distributions .........................     45
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    PAGE
                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 13.06.  Indemnification of the Liquidator ..............................     45

                                   ARTICLE 14 POWER OF ATTORNEY


SECTION 14.01.  General Partner as Attorney-in-fact ............................     46
SECTION 14.02.  Special Power ..................................................     46

                                        ARTICLE 15 DEFAULT


SECTION 15.01.  Default ........................................................     47

                               ARTICLE 16 GENERAL INDEMNIFICATIONS


SECTION 16.01.  Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants ..........     48
SECTION 16.02.  Obligation of the Partners .....................................     48
SECTION 16.03.  Obligations of the Partnership to Indemnify ....................     48
SECTION 16.04.  Notice of Opportunity to Defend ................................     48

                                     ARTICLE 17 MISCELLANEOUS


SECTION 17.01.  Notices ........................................................     49
SECTION 17.02.  Binding Effect .................................................     50
SECTION 17.03.  Construction ...................................................     50
SECTION 17.04.  Arbitration ....................................................     50
SECTION 17.05.  Assignability ..................................................     51
SECTION 17.06.  Headings .......................................................     51
SECTION 17.07.  Severability; Integration ......................................     51
SECTION 17.08.  Further Action .................................................     52
SECTION 17.09.  Variation of Pronouns ..........................................     52
SECTION 17.10.  Governing Law ..................................................     52
SECTION 17.11.  Waiver of Action for Partition; No Bill for
                     Partnership Accounting.....................................     52
SECTION 17.12.  Counterpart Execution ..........................................     52
</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    PAGE
                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>
SECTION 17.13.  Sole and Absolute Discretion ...................................     52
SECTION 17.14.  Limitation on Limited Partner Obligations ......................     52
SECTION 17.15.  Expenses .......................................................     52
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    PAGE
                                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                                 <C>
SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1.01(a)(v) ............................................................     55
SCHEDULE 1.01(a)(xxviii) .......................................................     57
SCHEDULE 3.09 ..................................................................     59
SCHEDULE 3.10 ..................................................................     61
</TABLE>
                                    EXHIBITS

         EXHIBIT A   Balance Sheet of AudioLogic, Inc. dated as of
                     September 30, 1986

         EXHIBIT B   Budget of AudioLogic Hearing Systems, L.P.

         EXHIBIT C   Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities
<PAGE>   8
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                        AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                       OF

                        AudioLogic Hearing Systems, L.P.

         This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP is entered
into and shall be effective as of the 30th day of September, 1996 (the
"EFFECTIVE DATE"), by and among AudioLogic Hearing Systems, Inc. ("AL2"), as the
General Partner, ReSound Corporation ("ReSound"), AudioLogic, Inc. ("AL1") and
GN Danavox AS ("DANAVOX") and the Managers as the Limited Partners pursuant to
the provisions of the Act, on the following terms and conditions:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1. Definitions. (a) Capitalized words and phrases used in
this Agreement (and the schedules hereto) have the following meanings:

                  (i) "ACT" means the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited
         Partnership Act, as set forth in Del. Code Ann. Tit. 6, Sections 
         17-101 to 17-1109, as amended from tIme to time (or any corresponding
         provisions of succeeding law).

                  (ii) "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
         Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under
         common control with such Person, (ii) any Person owning or controlling
         10% or more of the outstanding voting interests of such Person, (iii)
         any officer, director or general partner of such Person, or (iv) any
         Person who is an executive officer, director, general partner, trustee,
         or holder of 10% or more of the voting interests of any Person
         described in clauses (i) through (iii) of this sentence.

                  (iii) "AGREEMENT" or "PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT" means this
         Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, as amended
<PAGE>   9
         from time to time. Words such as "herein," "hereinafter," "hereof,"
         "hereto" and "hereunder," refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless
         the context otherwise requires.

                  (iv) "AL1 INITIAL CONTRIBUTIONS" means the contributions made
         by AL1 pursuant to Section 3.02.

                  (v) "ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS" means the documents listed on
         Schedule 1.1(a)(v).

                  (vi) "BALANCE SHEET" means the balance sheet of AL1 dated as
         of September 30, 1996 (the "BALANCE SHEET DATE") attached hereto as
         Exhibit A.

                  (vii) "BASE DSP TECHNOLOGY" has the meaning ascribed thereto
         in the Development Contract.

                  (viii) "BUSINESS" means the business of developing,
         manufacturing and marketing Base DSP Technology and Full DSP
         Technology, but excluding technology relating solely to surgically
         implanted hearing aid devices.

                 (ix) "BUSINESS DAY" means a day of the year on which banks are
         not required or authorized to close in New York City.

                  (x) "CAPITAL ACCOUNT" means, with respect to each Partner, the
         Capital Account maintained for such Person in accordance with the
         following provisions:

                           (A) To each Person's Capital Account there shall be
                  credited such Person's Capital Contributions, such Person's
                  share of Net Profit allocated pursuant to Section 4.01 hereof
                  and any items of Partnership income or gain which are
                  specially allocated pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, and the
                  amount of any Partnership liabilities assumed by such Person
                  or which are secured by any Property distributed to such
                  Person.

                           (B) To each Person's Capital Account there shall be
                  debited the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any
                  Property distributed to such Person pursuant to any provision
                  of this Agreement, such Person's share of Net Loss allocated
                  pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof and any items of Partnership
                  deduction or loss which are specifically allocated pursuant to
                  Section 4.03 hereof, and the amount of the liabilities of such
                  Person assumed by the Partnership or which are secured by any
                  property contributed by such Person to the Partnership
                  pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof.

                           (C) In the event all or a portion of an interest in
                  the Partnership is transferred in accordance with the terms of
                  this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital
                  Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the
                  transferred interest.


                                       2
<PAGE>   10
                           (D) In determining the amount of any liability for
                  purposes of Sections 1.01(a)(x)(A) and 1.01(a)(x)(B) hereof,
                  there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any
                  other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.

                           (E) Credits and debits to each Person's Capital
                  Account shall be allocated among the various sub-accounts
                  created with respect to such Capital Account in accordance
                  with the provisions of Articles 3, 4 and 5.

The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to
the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent
with such Regulation.

                  (xi) "CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION" means, with respect to each
         Partner, the capital contribution made by, or on behalf of, such
         Partner pursuant to Article 3 hereof.

                  (xii) "CAUSE" means:

                           (A) the willful failure by the Manager to perform
                  substantially the Manager's duties as an employee of AL1
                  performing services for the Partnership (other than due to
                  physical or mental illness);

                           (B) the Manager's engaging in misconduct that is
                  materially injurious to the Partnership or any Affiliate of
                  the Partnership;

                           (C) the material breach by the Manager of any written
                  covenant or agreement not to compete with the Partnership or
                  any Affiliate of the Partnership;

                           (D) the breach by the Manager of his or her duty of
                  loyalty to AL1 and any contractual obligations to perform
                  services for the Partnership which shall include, without
                  limitation (1) the disclosure by the member of any
                  confidential information pertaining to the Partnership or any
                  Affiliate of the Partnership, other than (x) in the ordinary
                  course of the performance of his or her duties on behalf of
                  the Partnership or (y) pursuant to a judicial or
                  administrative subpoena from a court or governmental authority
                  with jurisdiction over the matter in question, (2) the harmful
                  interference by the Manager in the business or operations of
                  the Partnership or of an Affiliate of the Partnership, (3) any
                  attempt by the Manager to induce any employee of AL1
                  performing services for the Partnership or any Affiliate of
                  the Partnership to be employed or


                                       3
<PAGE>   11
                  perform services elsewhere, other than actions taken by the
                  Manager that are intended to benefit the Partnership and do
                  not benefit the Manager financially other than as an employee
                  of or holder of a Percentage Interest in the Partnership, or
                  (4) any attempt by the Manager to solicit the trade of any
                  customer or supplier, or prospective customer or supplier, of
                  the Partnership on behalf of any Person other than the
                  Partnership or an Affiliate of the Partnership, other than
                  actions taken by the Manager that are intended to benefit the
                  Partnership and do not benefit the Manager financially other
                  than as an employee of AL1 performing services for, or holder
                  of a Percentage Interest in, the Partnership, provided,
                  however, that this provision shall only apply to any product
                  or service which is in competition with a product or service
                  of the Partnership or any Affiliate of the Partnership.

                  (xiii) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
         amended and as in effect from time to time.

                  (xiv) "DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT" means the agreement listed under
         (1) on Schedule 1.01(a)(v).

                  (xv) "DEPRECIATION" means, for each fiscal year or other
         period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other
         cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with
         respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that if the
         Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for
         federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other
         period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to
         such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax
         depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such
         year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis;
         provided, however, that if the federal income tax depreciation,
         amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for such year is zero,
         Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross
         Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the General
         Partner.

                  (xvi) "FULL DSP TECHNOLOGY" has the meaning ascribed thereto
         in the Development Contract.

                  (xvii) "GENERAL PARTNER" means any Person who (A) is referred
         to as such in the first paragraph of this Agreement or has become a
         General Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (B) has
         not ceased to be a General Partner pursuant to the terms of this
         Agreement.

                  (xviii) "GROSS ASSET VALUE" means, with respect to any asset,
         the asset's adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except (A)
         the initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to
         the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as
         specified in this


                                       4
<PAGE>   12
         Agreement or determined by the General Partner, and (B) the Gross Asset
         Value of the Partnership's assets shall be adjusted in accordance with
         the provisions of Section 4.05 hereof and to reflect adjustments to the
         adjusted tax basis of the Partnership's assets pursuant to Section 732,
         734 or 743 of the Code, but only to the extent that such adjustments
         are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to
         Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m). If the Gross Asset Value of
         an Asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to clause (A) or (B)
         hereof, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the
         Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes
         of determining Net Profit and Net Loss.

                  (xix) "INITIAL PERCENTAGE INTEREST" shall mean, with respect
         to each Partner, the percentage set forth below:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>

[*]


</TABLE>


                  (xx) "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT" means any trademark,
         service mark, trade name, invention, patent, trade secret, know-how,
         copyright, (including any registration or applications for registration
         of any of the foregoing) or any other similar type of proprietary
         intellectual property right, in each case which is owned or licensed by
         AL1 or any Affiliate of AL1 and used or held for use in the Business.

                  (xxi) "INTEREST" means the entire ownership interest of a
         Partner in the Partnership at any time, including the rights of such
         Partner to capital,



* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.



                                       5
<PAGE>   13
         Net Profit, Net Loss, distributions and other benefits to which such
         Partner may become entitled hereunder, and the obligations of such
         Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

                  (xxii) "LIEN" means, with respect to any property or asset,
         any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or
         other adverse claim of any kind in respect of such property or asset.
         For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own
         subject to a Lien any property or asset which it has acquired or holds
         subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional
         sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement
         relating to such property or asset.

                  (xxiii) "LIMITED PARTNERS" means any Person who (A) is
         referred to as such in the first paragraph of this Agreement or (B) who
         has become a Limited Partner pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
         "LIMITED PARTNERS" means all such Persons.

                  (xxiv) "MANAGER" means John Melanson, Jason Carlson, Eric
         Lindemann, Tom Worrall, Caleb Roberts, Kitty Adams, Joel Cooper, Randy
         Davis, Sudha Jeerage, Christine Kennedy, Christopher Schweitzer and
         such other managers of the Partnership who are designated as such by
         AL1.

                  (xxv) "MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE" means a material adverse
         change in the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
         results of operations or prospects of the Business taken as a whole.

                  (xxvi) "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse
         effect on the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise),
         results of operations or prospects of the Business taken as a whole.

                  (xxvii) "NET PROFIT" and "NET LOSS" means, for each fiscal
         year or other period, an amount equal to the Partnership's taxable
         income or loss for such year or period, determined in accordance with
         Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss,
         or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 
         703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the
         following adjustments:

                           (A) Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from
                  federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in
                  computing Net Profit or Net Loss pursuant to this Section 
                  1.01(a)(xxvii) shall be added to such taxable income or loss;

                           (B) Any expenditures of the Partnership described in
                  Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 
                  705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulations Section 
                  1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i) shall be subtracted from such taxable
                  income or loss;

                           (C) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any
                  Partnership


                                       6
<PAGE>   14
                  asset is adjusted pursuant to Section 1.01(a)(xviii) hereof,
                  the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as
                  gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes
                  of computing Net Profit or Net Loss;

                           (D) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of
                  Property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for
                  federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to
                  the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of,
                  notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property
                  differs from its Gross Asset Value;

                           (E) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and
                  other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing
                  such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account
                  Depreciation for such fiscal year or other period, computed in
                  accordance with Section 1.01(a)(xv) hereof; and

                           (F) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
                  Section 1.01(a)(xxvii), any items which are specially
                  allocated pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof shall not be taken
                  into account in computing Net Profit or Net Loss.

                  (xxviii) "NONRECOURSE LIABILITY" has the meaning set forth in
         Section 1.704-2(b)(3) of the Regulations.

                  (xxix) "PARTNERS" means the General Partner and all Limited
         Partners, where no distinction is required by the context in which the
         term is used herein. "PARTNER" means any one of the Partners. All
         references in this Agreement to a majority in interest or a specified
         percentage of the Partners shall mean Partners whose Initial Capital
         Contributions pursuant to Article 3 hereof, together with any other of
         their Capital Contributions, constitute more than 50% or such specified
         percentage, respectively, of the aggregate Initial Capital
         Contributions of all Partners pursuant to Article 3 hereof and any
         other Capital Contributions of all Partners.

                  (xxx) "PARTNERSHIP" means the partnership continued pursuant
         to this Agreement and the partnership continuing the business of this
         Partnership in the event of dissolution as herein provided.

                  (xxxi) "PERCENTAGE INTEREST" shall mean, with respect to each
         Partner, a percentage initially equal to such Partner's Initial
         Percentage Interest and thereafter the Percentage Interest as
         determined by Schedule 1.01(a)(xxviii).

                  (xxxii) "PERMITTED LIEN" means all Liens (A) disclosed on the
         Balance Sheet, (B) for taxes not yet due or being contested in good
         faith (and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been
         established on the


                                       7
<PAGE>   15
         Balance Sheet), or (C) which do not materially detract from the value
         of any of the Contributed Assets as now used or materially interfere
         with any present use of any of the Contributed Assets.

                  (xxxiii) "PERSON" means any individual, partnership,
         corporation, trust, or other entity.

                  (xxxiv) "PROPERTY" means all real and personal property
         acquired by the Partnership, and shall include both tangible and
         intangible property.

                  (xxxv) "REGULATIONS" means the Income Tax Regulations
         promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time.

                  (xxxvi) "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, any
         corporation or other entity of which a majority of the capital stock,
         securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
         elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing
         similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such
         Person.

                  (xxxvii) "TRANSFERS" means, as a noun, any voluntary or
         involuntary transfer, sale, pledge, hypothecation, or other disposition
         and, as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily to transfer, sell, pledge,
         hypothecate or otherwise dispose of.

                  (xxxviii) "WHOLLY OWNED AFFILIATE" of any Person shall mean an
         Affiliate of such Person 100% of the voting stock or beneficial
         ownership of which is owned by such Person, directly, or indirectly
         through one or more Wholly Owned Affiliates, or by any Person who,
         directly or indirectly, owns 100% of the voting stock or beneficial
         ownership of such Person, and an Affiliate of such Person who, directly
         or indirectly, owns 100% of the voting stock or beneficial ownership of
         such Person, provided that, directors' qualifying shares shall not be
         taken into account in determining whether any Person is a Wholly Owned
         Affiliate of any other Person.

         (b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth
opposite such term:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Term                                                Section 
              ----                                                -------

<S>                                                               <C>
              AL1                                                 Preamble
              AL1 Intellectual Property Rights                    Schedule 3.09
              AL2                                                 Preamble
              Asserted Liability                                  16.04
              Assumed Liabilities                                 3.02
              AudioLogic Designees                                7.03
              Balance Sheet Date                                  1.01
</TABLE>


                                       8
<PAGE>   16
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Term                                                Section 
              ----                                                -------

<S>                                                               <C>
              Budget                                              2.03
              Certificate                                         2.08
              Chipsets                                            2.04
              Claims Notice                                       16.04
              Common Sub-Account                                  3.01
              Contributed Assets                                  3.02
              Danavox                                             Preamble
              Danavox Designees                                   3.06
              Dispute Resolutions Committee                       7.03
              Effective Date                                      Preamble
              Excluded Assets                                     3.02
              Excluded Liabilities                                3.02
              Financial Statements                                Schedule 3.09
              ICC                                                 17.04
              Indemnifying Party                                  16.04
              Indemnitee                                          16.04
              Independent Accountants                             8.04
              Information                                         9.01
              Intellectual Property Rights                        Schedule 3.09
              Interest Offer                                      11.02
              Liquidating Events                                  13.01
              Liquidator                                          13.02
              Losses                                              16.02
              Offer                                               11.02
              Offer Notice                                        11.02
              Offer Price                                         11.02
              Other Consent                                       Schedule 3.09
              Permitted Transfers                                 11.02
              Preferred Percentage Interest                       4.01
              Preferred Sub-Account                               3.01
              Profits Sub-Account                                 3.01
              Put Option                                          6.03
              Regulatory Allocations                              4.03
              Required Consent                                    Schedule 3.09
              ReSound                                             Preamble
              ReSound Designees                                   3.06
              Section II.G.3. Payments                            6.02
              Selling Party                                       11.02
              Technologies                                        Schedule 3.09
              Third Party Action                                  16.04
</TABLE>


                                       9
<PAGE>   17
                                    ARTICLE 2

                                 THE PARTNERSHIP

         SECTION 2.1. Formation. The Partnership was formed on September 27,
1996. The Partners hereby agree to continue the Partnership as a limited
partnership pursuant to the provisions of the Act and upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         SECTION 2.2. Name. The name of the Partnership shall continue to be
AudioLogic Hearing Systems, L.P. and all business of the Partnership shall be
conducted in such name. The General Partner may change the name of the
Partnership upon ten days notice to the Limited Partners. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, the Partnership shall hold all of its property in
the name of the Partnership and not in the name of any Partner.

         SECTION 2.3. Purpose. The Partnership was formed to facilitate the
development, manufacture and marketing of Base DSP Technology and Full DSP
Technology (but not technology relating solely to surgically implanted hearing
aid devices), and to engage in any and all activities directly related thereto.
All of the activities of the Partnership shall be in conformity with a four-year
budget (the "BUDGET") attached as Exhibit B hereto or such other budget as may
be adopted by the Partnership in accordance with Section 7.03(b). On or before
September 30, 1997, the Partners shall negotiate in good faith to extend the
Budget for continued development of Full DSP Technology after June 30, 1998.
Danavox and ReSound shall also negotiate in good faith if either party wants to
continue to develop with the other Partners Base DSP Technology or Full DSP
Technology after June 30, 2000, through the Partnership or otherwise. The
Partners have made contributions to and entered into certain contractual
arrangements with the Partnership and each other with the intent of
accomplishing the above-mentioned objectives.

         SECTION 2.4. Limitations on Business. The Partnership may manufacture
and subcontract the production of chipsets ("CHIPSETS") using Full DSP
Technology. The Partnership shall sell Chipsets only to Danavox and ReSound,
except that the Partnership shall be obligated to sell Chipsets to third parties
as directed by the General Partner. Danavox and ReSound each agree not to resell
Chipsets purchased from the Partnership to primary hearing aid manufacturers,


                                       10
<PAGE>   18
except if such manufacturers (i) are purchasing such Chipsets for sale through
their retail organizations in products that identify that AudioLogic Hearing
Systems technology is used in the product and (ii) do not derive more than 25%
of their total revenue from sales through their retail organizations.

         Each Partner agrees (and agrees to require all purchasers of Chipsets
to agree) that all references to Base DSP Technology and Full DSP Technology
developed by the Partnership shall use the AudioLogic Hearing Systems name.

         SECTION 2.5. Danavox Exclusivity. If Danavox and ReSound are unable to
agree to continue the joint development of Full DSP Technology after June 30,
1998, Danavox shall have the exclusive right to continue to develop DSP
Integrated Circuit chipsets and DSP based hearing aid circuits with AL1. If
Danavox and AL1 are to work exclusively together, the Partnership shall work
with ReSound's engineers for up to one year to effect an appropriate transfer of
technology know-how and expertise to ReSound. ReSound shall reimburse the
Partnership for the services involved in such transfer at a rate equal to 1.5
times the actual salaries of AL1 employees allocable to such services plus all
applicable travel expenses of such employees.

         SECTION 2.6. Principal Place of Business. The principal place of
business of the Partnership shall continue to be 6655 Lookout Road, Boulder,
Colorado 80301. The General Partner may change the principal place of business
of the Partnership to any other place upon ten days notice to the Limited
Partners. The registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is
located at The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange
Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801.

         SECTION 2.7. Term. The term of the Partnership shall commence on the
date the Partnership was formed, as set forth in Section 2.01 hereof, and shall
continue until the winding up and liquidation of the Partnership and its
business is completed following a Liquidating Event, as provided in Section 
13.01 hereof.

         SECTION 2.8. Filings; Agent for Service of Process.

          (a) A Certificate of Limited Partnership (the "CERTIFICATE") has been
filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in
accordance with the provisions of the Act. The General Partner shall take any
and all other actions reasonably necessary to perfect and maintain the status of
the Partnership as a limited partnership under the laws of Delaware. The General
Partner shall cause amendments to the Certificate to be filed whenever required
by the Act. Such amendments may be executed by the General Partner.


                                       11
<PAGE>   19
          (b) The General Partner shall execute and cause to be filed an
original or amended Certificate and shall take any and all other actions as may
be reasonably necessary to perfect and maintain the status of the Partnership as
a limited partnership or similar type of entity under the laws of any other
state or jurisdictions in which the Partnership engages in business.

          (c) The registered agent for service of process on the Partnership in
the State of Delaware shall be The Corporation Trust Company, Corporation Trust
Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801 or any
successor as appointed by the General Partner in accordance with the Act.

          (d) Upon the dissolution of the Partnership, the General Partner (or,
in the event the General Partner does not wind up the Partnership's affairs, any
Person elected pursuant to Section 13.02 hereof) shall promptly execute and
cause to be filed certificates of cancellation in accordance with the Act and
the laws of any other states or jurisdictions in which the Partnership has filed
Certificates.

         SECTION 2.9.  Independent Activities; Transactions with Affiliates.

          (a) The Partners recognize and acknowledge that certain of the Limited
Partners and certain Affiliates of the Limited Partners are currently and shall
continue to be separately engaged in the hearing aid business, and that such
business may be competitive with the Partnership's business. Except as expressly
provided herein or in the Development Contract, each Limited Partner and each of
their Affiliates may, notwithstanding this Agreement, engage in whatever
activities they choose, whether the same are competitive with the Partnership or
otherwise, without having or incurring any obligation to offer any interest in
such activities to the Partnership or any Partner and, except as expressly
provided for, neither this Agreement nor any activity undertaken pursuant hereto
shall prevent any Partner or its Affiliates from engaging in such activities, or
require any Partner or its Affiliates to permit the Partnership or any other
Partner or its Affiliates to participate in any such activities, and each
Partner hereby waives, relinquishes, and renounces any such right or claim of
participation.

          (b) Without limiting the generality of the forgoing, with respect to
the development of DSP hearing aid fitting systems, scientific research programs
(including algorithm development), clinical field testing and collateral
marketing arrangements, Danavox and ReSound may conduct such activities
independently or, if both Danavox and ReSound agree, jointly through the
Development Contract with the Partnership. Any developments resulting from the
independent activities of Danavox or ReSound need not be shared with any other
Partner or the Partnership. If any product is sold to address a hearing loss
need as well as other needs unrelated to hearing loss, none of the Partnership,
Danavox or ReSound shall have any obligation to license the related technology
to the Partnership or AL1.


                                       12
<PAGE>   20
          (c) To the extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement or the Development Contract, the General Partner,
when acting on behalf of the Partnership, is hereby authorized to purchase
property from, sell property to, or otherwise deal with the General Partner,
acting on its own behalf, any Affiliate of the General Partner, any Limited
Partner, or any Affiliate of a Limited Partner, provided that any such purchase,
sale or other transaction shall be made on terms and conditions which are no
less favorable to the Partnership than if the sale, purchase or other
transaction had been made with an independent third party.

         SECTION 2.10. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Partnership for
financial statement and Federal income tax purposes shall end on December 31st.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                       CAPITAL ACCOUNTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

         SECTION 3.1. Capital Accounts. The Capital Account established for the
General Partner, AL1, Danavox and ReSound will consist of one or more of the
following sub-accounts: a Common Sub-Account (the "COMMON SUB-ACCOUNT"), a
Preferred Sub-Account (the "PREFERRED SUB-ACCOUNT") and a Profits Sub-Account
(the "PROFITS SUB-ACCOUNT"). A Profits Sub-Account shall also be established for
each Manager.

         SECTION 3.2. AL1 Asset Contribution. (a) AL1 agrees to contribute,
convey, transfer, assign and deliver, or cause to be contributed, conveyed,
transferred, assigned and delivered, to the Partnership on the Effective Date,
free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, all of AL1's right,
title and interest in, to and under the assets, properties and business, of
every kind and description, wherever located, real, personal or mixed, tangible
or intangible, owned, held or used in the conduct of its business as the same
shall exist on the Effective Date, including without limitation all assets shown
on the Balance Sheet (the "CONTRIBUTED ASSETS").

         (b) The Partnership and each of the Partners expressly understands and
agrees that the following assets and properties of AL1 (the "EXCLUDED ASSETS")
shall be excluded from the Contributed Assets:

                  (i) all of AL1's cash and cash equivalents on hand and in
         banks except for petty cash; and

                  (ii) all other assets indicated on Exhibit C.


                                       13
<PAGE>   21
         (c) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the
Partnership agrees, on the Effective Date, to assume (the "ASSUMED LIABILITIES")
all liabilities set forth on the Balance Sheet other than Excluded Liabilities.

         (d) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement or any other
writing to the contrary, the Partnership is assuming only the Assumed
Liabilities and is not assuming any other liability or obligation of AL1 (or any
predecessor owner of all or part of its businesses and assets) of whatever
nature, whether presently in existence or arising hereafter. All such other
liabilities and obligations shall be retained by and remain obligations and
liabilities of AL1 (all such liabilities and obligations not being assumed being
herein referred to as the "EXCLUDED LIABILITIES"), and, notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Section 3.02, none of the following shall be Assumed
Liabilities for the purposes of this Agreement:

                  (i) any obligation or liability of ALI for any taxes, duties
         or similar charges or related penalties or interest arising from or
         with respect to the Contributed Assets or the operations of the
         Business which is incurred in or attributable to any tax period or
         portion thereof prior to and through the Effective Date, including,
         without limitation, any sales, use, transfer or other similar taxes,
         duties, similar charges or related penalties or interest attributable
         to the Transfer of the Contributed Assets to the Partnership;

                  (ii) any liabilities or obligations relating to employee
         benefits or compensation arrangements existing on or prior to the
         Effective Date; and

                  (iii) all liabilities set forth on Exhibit C.

         (e) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, this
Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any Contributed Asset or
any claim or right or any benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom if
an attempted assignment thereof, without the consent of a third party thereto,
would constitute a breach or other contravention thereof or in any way adversely
affect the rights of the Partnership or AL1 thereunder. AL1 and the Partnership
will use their best efforts (but without any payment of money by AL1 or the
Partnership) to obtain the consent of the other parties to the assignment to the
Partnership of any such Contributed Asset or any claim or right or any benefit
arising thereunder for the assignment thereof to the Partnership as the
Partnership may request. If such consent is not obtained, or if an attempted
assignment thereof would be ineffective or would adversely affect the rights of
AL1 thereunder so that the Partnership would not in fact receive all such
rights, AL1 and the Partnership will cooperate in a mutually agreeable
arrangement under which the Partnership would obtain the benefits and assume the
obligations thereunder in accordance with this Agreement,


                                       14
<PAGE>   22
including sub-contracting, sub-licensing, or sub-leasing to the Partnership, or
under which AL1 would enforce for the benefit of the Partnership, with the
Partnership assuming AL1's obligations, any and all rights of AL1 against a
third party thereto. AL1 will promptly pay to the Partnership when received all
monies received by AL1 from any Contributed Asset or any claim or right or any
benefit arising thereunder, except to the extent the same represents an Excluded
Asset.

         (f) All contributions by AL1 pursuant to this Section 3.02 shall result
in a credit to AL1's Common Sub-Account of $219,166.28.

         SECTION 3.3. Danavox Contribution. On or immediately after the
Effective Date, Danavox shall contribute $219,166.28 in cash to the Partnership.
Such contribution shall result in a credit to Danavox's Common Sub-Account of
$219,166.28.

         SECTION 3.4. ReSound Contribution. On or immediately after October 1,
1996, ReSound shall contribute $219,166.28 in cash to the Partnership. Such
contribution shall result in a credit to ReSound's Common Sub-Account of
$219,166.28.

         SECTION 3.5. General Partner Contribution. On or immediately after the
Effective Date, the General Partner shall contribute $6,641.40 in cash to the
Partnership. Such contribution shall result in a credit to the General Partner's
Common Sub-Account of $6,641.40.

         SECTION 3.6. Additional Contributions. If the General Partner at the
sole direction of those members of the Board of Directors of the General Partner
designated by Danavox (the "DANAVOX DESIGNEES") and ReSound (the "RESOUND
DESIGNEES") decides that the Partnership should continue to develop Full DSP
Technology after June 30, 1998 or to develop Base DSP Technology after June 30,
2000, the term of the Partnership shall be extended to accomplish such
development and a new budget shall be adopted by the Partnership as agreed by
Danavox and ReSound. In connection with the adoption of such new budget, the
General Partner at the sole direction of the Danavox Designees and the ReSound
Designees shall establish the amounts of necessary funding and whether such
amounts shall be funded through capital contributions to the Partnership or
development contracts. In the case of any capital contributions to the
Partnership as a result of such determination, each Partner shall have the right
to make capital contributions so as to retain its Percentage Interest in the
Partnership, and Danavox and ReSound shall share equally in making any capital
contributions to the Partnership not made by any other Partner pursuant to this
right. Any such capital contributions shall be in cash and a credit equal to the
cash contributed by any Partner shall be made to such Partner's Common Capital
Sub-Account.


                                       15
<PAGE>   23

         SECTION 3.7. General Partner. The name, address, value of the initial
Capital Contribution and Initial Percentage Interest of the General Partner are
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address                                               Initial                  Percentage
                                                               Capital                   Interest
                                                             Contribution                --------
                                                             ------------
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>
AudioLogic Hearing Systems, Inc.                             $6,641.40                    [*]
6655 Lookout Road
Boulder, Colorado 80301
</TABLE>

         SECTION 3.8. Limited Partners. The names, addresses, value of the
initial Capital Contributions and Initial Percentage Interests of, or made on
behalf of, the Limited Partners are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address                                                Initial                 Percentage
                                                                Capital                   Interest
                                                              Contribution                --------
                                                              ------------
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>
ReSound Corporation                                          $219,166.28                  [*]   
220 Saginaw Drive
Seaport Centre
Redwood City, CA 94063

GN Danavox AS                                                $219,166.28                  [*]
Markjaervej 2A
2630 Taastrup
Denmark

AudioLogic, Inc.                                             $219,166.28                  [*]
6655 Lookout Road
Boulder, CO 80301

[*]                                                                 [*]                  [*]



</TABLE>



                   * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                     PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.




                                       16
<PAGE>   24
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address                                                Initial                 Percentage
                                                                Capital                   Interest
                                                              Contribution                --------
                                                              ------------
<S>                                                          <C>                         <C>
AudioLogic, Inc.                                                     [*]                 [*]     
6655 Lookout Road
Boulder, CO 80301

[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]


[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]


[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]



[*]                                                                  [*]                 [*]
</TABLE>




* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


                                       17
<PAGE>   25
         SECTION 3.9. Representations of AL1. AL1 hereby represents and warrants
to the Partnership as to matters set forth on Schedule 3.09, which shall form
part of this Agreement.

         SECTION 3.10. Representations of Danavox and ReSound. Each of Danavox
and ReSound hereby represent and warrant to the Partnership with respect to
itself as to matters set forth on Schedule 3.10, which shall form part of this
Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 4

                                   ALLOCATIONS

         SECTION 4.1. Net Profits. After giving effect to the special
allocations set forth in Section 4.03 hereof, Net Profit for any fiscal year, or
other period, shall be allocated in the following order and priority:

                  (i) first, to the General Partner in an amount equal to the
         negative balance, if any, in the General Partner's Capital Account;

                  (ii) second, to the Common Sub-Account of the General Partner,
         Danavox and ReSound in proportion to and to the extent of the excess,
         if any, of (x) the aggregate amount of Net Losses allocated to such
         Common Sub-Accounts under clause (iii) of Section 4.02 with respect to
         all prior fiscal years or other periods over (y) the aggregate amount
         of Net Profits allocated to such Common Sub-Accounts under this clause
         with respect to all prior fiscal years or other periods;

                  (iii) third, to the Preferred Sub-Account of the General
         Partner, Danavox and ReSound in accordance with the following
         percentages: General Partner 1%, Danavox 49.5%, ReSound 49.5% (such
         percentage for each Partner is hereafter referred to as such Partner's
         "PREFERRED PERCENTAGE INTEREST") until the aggregate amount of Net
         Profits allocated pursuant to this clause with respect to the current
         and all prior fiscal years or other periods (less the aggregate amount
         of Net Losses allocated to such Preferred Sub-Accounts under clause
         (ii) of Section 4.02 with respect to all prior fiscal years or other
         periods) equals $13.4 million; and

                  (iv) fourth, to the Profits Sub-Account of each Partner in
         accordance with their respective Percentage Interests.

         SECTION 4.2. Net Losses. After giving effect to the special allocations
set forth in Section 4.03 hereof, Net Loss for any fiscal year, or other period,
shall be


                                       18
<PAGE>   26
allocated in the following order and priority:

                  (i) first, to the Partners in accordance with their Percentage
         Interests to the extent of the positive balances, if any, in their
         Profits Sub-Accounts;

                  (ii) second, to the General Partner, Danavox and ReSound in
         accordance with their Preferred Percentage Interests to the extent of
         the positive balances, if any, in their Preferred Sub-Accounts;

                  (iii) third, to the General Partner, Danavox, ReSound, and AL1
         in accordance with and to the extent of the positive balances, if any,
         in their Common Sub-Accounts; and

                  (iv) fourth, to the General Partner.

         SECTION 4.3. Special Allocations.

         (a) Minimum Gain Chargeback. Items of the Partnership's income and gain
shall be specially allocated among the Partners at such times and in such
amounts as necessary to satisfy the minimum gain chargeback requirements of
Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f) and (i).

         (b) Qualified Income Offset. Items of the Partnership's income and gain
shall be specially allocated among the Partners at such times and in such
amounts required to satisfy the qualified income offset requirement of
Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).

         (c) Curative Allocations. The allocations set forth in Sections 4.03(a)
and 4.03(b) (the "REGULATORY ALLOCATIONS") shall be taken into account in
allocating items of income, gain, loss and deduction among the Partners so that,
to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocations of other items and
the Regulatory Allocations shall be equal to the net amount that would have been
allocated to each such Partner if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.

         SECTION 4.4. Tax Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 4.04, for United States federal, state and local income tax purposes,
each item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership shall
be allocated among the Partners as nearly as possible in the same manner as the
corresponding item of income, gain, loss or expense is allocated pursuant to the
other provisions of this Article 4. All items of income, gain, loss and
deduction with respect to any Partnership asset having a Gross Asset Value that
differs from the adjusted basis of such asset for United States federal income
tax purposes shall be allocated so as to take into account the difference
between the Gross Asset Value and the adjusted tax basis of such asset in
accordance with the principles of Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations
thereunder.


                                       19
<PAGE>   27
         SECTION 4.5. Revaluation of Partnership Assets. Upon the occurrence of
any event specified in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2)(iv)(f), the General
Partner may cause the Capital Accounts of the Partners to be adjusted to reflect
the Gross Asset Value of the Partnership's assets at such time, as determined by
the General Partner, in accordance with such Regulation.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

         SECTION 5.1. Distributions.

         (a) General. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.01(b) and 13.02
hereof, distributions of Partnership cash or other property shall be made to the
Partners at such times as the General Partner may determine. Any distributions
so made by the Partnership shall be made in the following order and priority:

                  (i) first, to the Partners in proportion to and to the extent
         of the positive balances, if any, in their Profits Sub-Accounts;

                  (ii) second, to Danavox, ReSound and the General Partner in
         proportion to and to the extent of the positive balances, if any, in
         their Preferred Sub-Accounts; and

                  (iii) third, to the General Partner, Danavox, ReSound and AL1
         in proportion to and to the extent of the positive balances, if any, in
         their Common Sub-Accounts.

         (b) Tax Distributions. In the event that the Partnership has taxable
income for any fiscal year, the Partnership shall endeavor to make, consistent
with business needs, distributions of available cash to the Partners, in the
same order and priority as set forth in Section 5.01(a), in amounts sufficient
to provide each of them with cash equal to the amount obtained by multiplying
(i) such Partner's distributive share of taxable income of the Partnership for
such fiscal year by (ii) the highest effective marginal combined federal, state
and local income tax rate (giving effect to the deduction of state and local
income taxes, as applicable for federal and state income tax purposes) that
would be applicable to the Partnership if it were a corporation.

         SECTION 5.2. Amounts Withheld. All amounts withheld pursuant to the
Code or any provision of any state or local tax law with respect to any payment,
distribution or allocation to the Partnership, the General Partner or the
Limited Partners shall be treated as amounts distributed to the General Partner
and the Limited Partners pursuant to this Article 5 for all purposes under this
Agreement. The General Partner is authorized to withhold from distributions, or
with respect to allocations, to the General Partner or Limited Partners and to
pay over to any


                                       20
<PAGE>   28
federal, state or local government any amounts required pursuant to the Code or
any provisions of any other federal, state or local law, and may allocate any
such amounts among the General Partner and Limited Partners in any manner that
is in accordance with applicable law.

         SECTION 5.3. Restricted Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision in
this Agreement to the contrary, the Partnership shall not make a distribution to
any Partner if such distribution would violate applicable law, including,
without limitation, the Act.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                           MANAGEMENT'S PUTS AND CALLS

         SECTION 6.1. Vesting. Solely for purposes of this Article 6, the
Interest of each Manager shall vest over the four-year period commencing on the
Effective Date based upon continued employment of such Manager with AL1 and
performing services exclusively for the Partnership, with 25% vesting at the end
of each year, except that in the case of Mr. Melanson whose Interest shall vest
at the rate of 10% at the end of each of the first three years after the
Effective Date and 70% at the end of the fourth year after the Effective Date
and AL1's 2% Interest which 2% Interest shall vest 100% at the end of the fourth
year, unless otherwise allocated to other Managers pursuant to Section 6.04
hereof.

         SECTION 6.2. Repurchase Obligations upon Termination of Employment . In
the case of termination of employment with AL1 for any reason (other than Cause)
of any Manager, (a) 50% of the vested portion of the Interest of such Manager
must be repurchased by the Partnership for an amount in cash equal to such
vested portion of the Percentage Interest of such Manager, determined as if such
Interest were being repurchased as of the Effective Date (as reallocated from
time to time pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof), times $10,000,000 on the date
which is the latest of (i) the date of termination of employment of such
Manager, (ii) the date on which the first and second product Chipsets have been
released by the Partnership and approved by each of Danavox and ReSound, or
(iii) the receipt by the Partnership of royalties and any amounts paid by
Danavox and ReSound to the Partnership (the "SECTION II.G.3. PAYMENTS") pursuant
to Section II.G.3. of the Development Contract sufficient to make such payment,
it being understood that if royalties and Section II.G.3. Payments have been
received by the Partnership but such royalties and Section II.G.3. Payments are
insufficient to


                                       21
<PAGE>   29
repurchase all Interests subject to repurchase at such time, the Partnership
shall make any required partial payments to each Manager in proportion to the
percentage that the Percentage Interest of such Manager subject to repurchase at
such time is of the total Percentage Interests subject to a repurchase
obligation by the Partnership at such time; (b) 25% of the vested portion of the
Interest of such Manager shall be purchased equally by each of ReSound and
Danavox in cash for an amount equal to such vested portion of the Percentage
Interest of such Manager, determined as if such Interest were being repurchased
as of the Effective Date, times $5,000,000, 12.5% after the first product
Chipset is released by the Partnership and approved by Danavox and ReSound and
12.5% after the second product Chipset is released and approved by Danavox and
ReSound; and (c) the unvested portion of the Interest of such Manager shall be
purchased by the Partnership for $1.00. Upon termination of employment for Cause
of any Manager, the Partnership shall have the right to purchase the vested and
unvested portion of such Manager's Interest for $1.00.

         SECTION 6.3. Put Options. A Manager shall have the put option (the "PUT
OPTION") described in this Section 6.03 so long as he or she is employed by AL1
and performs services exclusively for the Partnership. A Manager shall have a
Put Option (i) first, to require Danavox and ReSound to purchase 25% of his or
her vested portion of his or her Interest after the first product Chipset is
released by the Partnership and approved by both Danavox and ReSound, (ii)
second, to require the Partnership to purchase 25% of his or her vested portion
of his or her Interest if, but only to the extent that, royalties and Section 
II.G.3. Payments have been received by the Partnership from the sale of the
first product Chipset in excess of royalties and Section II.G.3. Payments needed
to fulfill the Partnership's repurchase obligations under Section 6.02 at such
time, (iii) third, to require Danavox and ReSound to purchase 25% of his or her
vested portion of his or her Interest after the second product Chipset is
released by the Partnership and approved by both Danavox and ReSound and (iv)
fourth, to require the Partnership to purchase 25% of his or her vested portion
of his or her Interest if, but only to the extent that, royalties and Section 
II.G.3. Payments have been received by the Partnership from the sale of the
second product Chipset in excess of royalties and Section II.G.3. Payments
needed to fulfill the Partnership's repurchase obligations under Section 6.02 at
such time. In each such case where a Manager exercises a Put Option pursuant to
this Section 6.03, Danavox and ReSound or the Partnership, as the case may be,
shall be required to pay to such Manager in return for the portion of the
Interest being sold an amount in each case equal to the Percentage Interest
being sold, determined as if such Interest were being sold as of the Effective
Date (as reallocated from time to time pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof), times
$20,000,000.


                                       22
<PAGE>   30
         SECTION 6.4. Reallocation of Manager Interests. After the Effective
Date, the AudioLogic Designees shall have the right to reallocate the Percentage
Interests of the Managers, including any Percentage Interests forfeited in
accordance with the provisions of this Article 6, among the present and any
future Managers admitted as Limited Partners pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement in such designees' sole discretion; provided that, after such
reallocation, the sum of the Managers' Percentage Interests at that time and any
Percentage Interest repurchased or sold pursuant to Sections 6.02 and 6.03
hereof shall not be greater than 10%, determined as if such calculation occurred
on and as of the Effective Date.

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                   MANAGEMENT

         SECTION 7.1. Authority of the General Partner. Except to the extent
otherwise provided herein, the General Partner shall have the sole and exclusive
right to manage the business of the Partnership and shall have all of the rights
and powers which may be possessed by general partners under the Act including,
without limitation, the right and power to:

         (a) acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise any real or personal
property which may be necessary, convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment
of the purposes of the Partnership;

         (b) operate, maintain, finance, improve, construct, own, grant options
with respect to, sell, convey, assign, mortgage, and lease any real estate and
any personal property necessary, convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment
of the purposes of the Partnership;

         (c) execute any and all agreements, contracts, documents,
certifications, and instruments necessary or convenient in connection with the
management, maintenance, and operation of property of the Partnership, or in
connection with managing the affairs of the Partnership, including amendments to
this Agreement and the Certificate in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, pursuant to any power of attorney granted by the Limited Partners to
the General Partner;

          (d) borrow money and issue evidences of indebtedness necessary,
convenient, or incidental to the accomplishment of the purposes of the
Partnership, and secure the same by mortgage, pledge, or other lien on any
property of the Partnership;

         (e) execute, in furtherance of any or all of the purposes of the
Partnership, any deed, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, mortgage note, promissory
note, bill of sale, contract, or other instrument purporting to convey or
encumber


                                       23
<PAGE>   31
any or all of the property of the Partnership;

         (f) prepay in whole or in part, refinance, recast, increase, modify, or
extend any liabilities affecting the property of the Partnership and in
connection therewith execute any extensions or renewals of encumbrances on any
or all of the property of the Partnership;

         (g) care for and distribute funds to the Partners by way of cash,
income, return of capital, or otherwise, all in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement, and perform all matters in furtherance of the objectives of
the Partnership or this Agreement;

         (h) contract on behalf of the Partnership for the employment and
services of employees and/or independent contractors, such as lawyers and
accountants, and delegate to such Persons the duty to manage or supervise any of
the assets or operations of the Partnership;

         (i) engage in any kind of activity and perform and carry out contracts
of any kind (including contracts of insurance covering risks to property of the
Partnership and General Partner liability) necessary or incidental to, or in
connection with, the accomplishment of the purposes of the Partnership, as may
be lawfully carried on or performed by a partnership under the laws of each
state in which the Partnership is then formed or qualified;

         (j) make any and all elections for federal, state, and local tax
purposes including, without limitation, any election, if permitted by applicable
law: (i) to adjust the basis of property of the Partnership pursuant to Code
Sections 754, 734(b) and 743(b), or comparable provisions of state or local law,
in connection with transfers of Partnership interests and Partnership
distributions; (ii) with the consent of a majority of the Limited Partners, to
extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against the
Partners with respect to adjustments to the Partnership's federal, state, or
local tax returns; and (iii) to represent the Partnership and the Partners
before taxing authorities or courts of competent jurisdiction in tax matters
affecting the Partnership, and the Partners in their capacities as Partners, and
to file any tax returns and to execute any agreement or other document relating
to or affecting such tax matters, including, to the extent provided in Sections 
6221 through 6231 of the Code, agreements or other documents that bind the
Partners with respect to such tax matters or otherwise affect the rights of the
Partnership, the General Partner, and the Limited Partners. The General Partner
is specifically authorized to act as the "Tax Matters Partner" under the Code
and in any similar capacity under state or local law;

         (k) take, or refrain from taking, all actions, not expressly proscribed
or limited by this Agreement, as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish
the purposes of the Partnership; and

         (l) institute, prosecute, defend, settle, compromise, and dismiss
lawsuits


                                       24
<PAGE>   32
or other judicial or administrative proceedings brought on or in behalf of, or
against, the Partnership or the Partners in connection with activities arising
out of, connected with, or incidental to this Agreement, and to engage counsel
or others in connection therewith.

         SECTION 7.2. Right to Rely on General Partner. Any Person dealing with
the Partnership may rely (without duty of further inquiry) upon a certificate
signed by any General Partner as to:

         (a) the identity of any General Partner or Limited Partner;

         (b) the existence or nonexistence of any fact or facts which constitute
a condition precedent to act by a General Partner or which are in any other
manner germane to the affairs of the Partnership;

         (c) the Persons who are authorized to execute and deliver any
instrument or document of the Partnership; or

         (d) any act or failure to act by the Partnership or any other matter
whatsoever involving the Partnership or any Partner.

         SECTION 7.3. Restrictions on Authority of General Partner.

         (a) Without the prior approval of each of the Danavox Designees, the
ReSound Designees and those members of the Board of Directors of the General
Partner designated by AL1 (the "AUDIOLOGIC DESIGNEES"), the General Partner
shall not have the authority to, and the General Partner covenants and agrees
that it shall not cause the Partnership to, take any of the following actions:

                  (i) any acquisition or sale of assets (not in the ordinary
         course) or other entities, mergers, consolidations, or other business
         combinations of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries;

                  (ii) liquidation or dissolution of the Partnership or the
         filing of a voluntary bankruptcy petition or similar event;

                  (iii) changes of scope in the business of the partnership
         (including geographic scope, lines of business or channels of trade);

                  (iv) establishment and capitalization of material
         subsidiaries, partnerships or other entities;

                  (v) acceptance or rejection of a business opportunity not in
         the ordinary course of business;

                  (vi) all material research and development decisions including
         technical specifications and milestones;

                  (vii) except as otherwise provided in Article 3 hereof, any
         capital calls; provided that all Partners shall negotiate in good faith
         if such capital calls are required to purchase the rights to any
         technologies that may be


                                       25
<PAGE>   33
         beneficial to the Partnership in achieving its goals in the Budget;

                  (viii) Partnership distributions (other than distributions to
         the extent required under Section 5.01(b));

                  (ix) any incurrence of debt in excess of any approved budget
         or business plan;

                  (x) guarantees, pledges or mortgages of assets;

                  (xi) entering into or modifying material agreements not within
         approved budgets or business plans (including purchase/sale contracts,
         capital/operating leases or any contract which cannot be terminated on
         less than 90 days' notice);

                  (xii) any decisions by the Partnership relating to the
         Employment Services Agreement by and among AL1 and the Partnership as
         of the Effective Date;

                  (xiii) changes of independent accountants and counsel; and

                  (xiv) changes in accounting and tax policies.

         (b) Without the prior consent of the Danavox Designees and the ReSound
Designees, the General Partner shall not have the authority to, and the General
Partner covenants and agrees that it shall not cause the Partnership to, take
any of the following actions:

                  (i) admission of partners to the partnership;

                  (ii) all marketing activities, branding of the Partnership
         technology, materials/positioning to be used by the Partnership and to
         be used by Danavox and ReSound when they use Partnership technology;

                  (iii) the approval of business plans or budgets;

                  (iv) except as expressly permitted by the Ancillary
         Agreements, all transactions between the Partnership and any Partners
         or their Affiliates; and

                  (v) initiation or settlement of litigation or imposition of
         injunctive or other equitable relief on the Partnership.

          (c) Day-to-day management of the Partnership will be carried out by
such officers of the Partnership as the General Partner shall determine. Such
officers will have the powers that are usually exercised by comparably
designated officers of a Delaware corporation, and their responsibilities will
include, but will not be limited to, development (but not approval) of business
plans, development of annual budgets, hiring and other employee decisions,
establishment and


                                       26
<PAGE>   34
execution of research, marketing, sales, customer contracts,
customer service and pricing (other than to the extent such decisions relate to
actions listed in Sections 7.03(a) or 7.03(b) or are inconsistent with this
Agreement or the Budget).

         (d) If the Board of Directors of the General Partner is not able to
reach a decision on a matter described in Section 7.03(a) or the Danavox
Designees and the ReSound Designees are not able to reach a decision on a matter
described in Section 7.03(b), the dispute will be referred to a subcommittee of
the Board of Directors of the General Partner established specifically for the
purpose of resolving the dispute ("DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE") which Dispute
Resolutions Committee will consist of an equal number of the AudioLogic
Designees, the Danavox Designees and the ReSound Designees. In the event the
Dispute Resolution Committee is unable to resolve the dispute within 30 days,
the Dispute Resolution Committee shall refer the dispute to the chief executive
officers of AL1, Danavox and ReSound.

         (e) In the event and during such period that any dispute has been
referred to a Dispute Resolutions Committee in accordance with subsection (d) of
this Section 7.03, the Partnership will continue to run and operate in
accordance with the budget of the Partnership which had been most recently
approved by the General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

         SECTION 7.4. Duties and Obligations of General Partner.

         (a) The General Partner shall cause to be provided, or cause the
Partnership to carry, such insurance as is customary in the businesses in which
the Partnership is engaged and in the place in which it is so engaged.

         (b) The General Partner shall take all actions which may be necessary
or appropriate (i) for the continuation of the Partnership's valid existence as
a limited partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware (and of each other
jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited
liability of the Limited Partners or to enable the Partnership to conduct the
business in which it is engaged) and (ii) for the accomplishment of the
Partnership's purposes, including the acquisition and preservation of the
Partnership's property in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and
applicable laws and regulations.

          (c) Except as otherwise provided in the Act, the General Partner shall
have the liabilities of a partner in a partnership without limited partners to
persons other than the Partnership and the Limited Partners. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement or the Act, the General Partner shall have the
liabilities of a partner in a partnership without limited partners to the
Partnership and the Limited Partners.

         SECTION 7.5. Indemnification of General Partner.

         (a) The Partnership, its receiver, or its trustee shall indemnify, save


                                       27
<PAGE>   35
harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against any General Partner relating
to any liability or damage incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to
be performed by such General Partner in connection with the business of the
Partnership, including attorneys' fees incurred by such General Partner in
connection with the defense of any action based on any such act or omission,
which attorneys' fees may be paid as incurred, including all such liabilities
under federal and state securities laws (including the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended) as permitted by law.

         (b) In the event of any action by any Limited Partner against any
General Partner, including a Partnership derivative suit, the Partnership shall
indemnify, save harmless, and pay all expenses of such General Partner,
including attorneys' fees, incurred in the defense of such action.

         (c) The Partnership shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all
expenses, costs, or liabilities of any General Partner who for the benefit of
the Partnership makes any deposit, acquires any option, or makes any other
similar payment or assumes any obligation in connection with any property
proposed to be acquired by the Partnership and who suffers any financial loss as
the result of such action.

         (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 7.05(a), 7.05(b) and
7.05(c) above, such Sections shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted
by law and no General Partner shall be indemnified from any liability for fraud,
bad faith, or willful misconduct.

         SECTION 7.6. Compensation, Reimbursement and Loans.

         (a) Compensation and Reimbursement. Except as otherwise provided in
this Section 7.06 or in the Service Agreements substantially in the form of
Exhibits 7.06(a) and 7.06(b), no Partner shall receive any salary, fee, or draw
for services rendered to or on behalf of the Partnership, nor shall any Partner
be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by such Partner on behalf of the
Partnership, provided that the Managers may receive salaries and expense
reimbursements in connection with their employment by AL1 pursuant to which they
will provide services to the Partnership.

         (b) Expenses. The General Partner may charge the Partnership for any
direct expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the Partnership's
business.

         SECTION 7.7. Operating Restrictions.

          (a) All property of the Partnership in the form of cash not otherwise
invested shall be deposited for the benefit of the Partnership in one or more
accounts of the Partnership or any of its Affiliates, maintained in such
financial institutions as the General Partner shall determine or shall be
invested in short-term liquid securities or other cash equivalent assets or
shall be left in escrow, and withdrawals shall be made only in the regular
course of Partnership business and


                                       28
<PAGE>   36
on such signature or signatures as the General Partner may determine from time
to time.

          (b) The signature of the General Partner shall be necessary and,
subject to Section 7.03, sufficient to convey title to any property owned by the
Partnership or to execute any promissory notes, trust deeds, mortgages, or other
instrument of hypothecation, and all of the Partners agree that a copy of this
Agreement may be shown to the appropriate parties in order to confirm the same,
and all of the Partners further agree that the signature of the General Partner
shall be sufficient to execute any "statement of partnership" or other documents
necessary to effectuate this or any other provision of this Agreement. All of
the Partners do hereby appoint the General Partner as their attorney-in-fact for
the execution of any or all of the documents described herein.

         SECTION 7.8. Rights or Powers. No Limited Partner shall have any right
or power to take part in the management or control of the Partnership or its
business and affairs or to act for or bind the Partnership in any way.

         SECTION 7.9. Voting Rights. Except as expressly provided herein or
required by law, the Limited Partners shall have no right to vote on any
matters.

                                    ARTICLE 8

                                BOOKS AND RECORDS

         SECTION 8.1. Books and Records. The Partnership shall keep adequate
books and records at its principal place of business, setting forth a true and
accurate account of all business transactions arising out of and in connection
with the conduct of the Partnership. Any Partner or its designated
representative shall have the right, at any reasonable time, to have access to
and inspect and copy the contents of such books or records, provided that any
such inspection shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere
unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Partnership. Any Limited
Partner, or its designee, shall also have access to such additional financial
information, documents, books and records, as are reasonably necessary to allow
such Limited Partner or its designee to comply with reporting requirements
pursuant to applicable law or regulations or the requirements of any applicable
stock exchange.

         SECTION 8.2. Periodic Reports; Financial Statements.


                                       29
<PAGE>   37
         (a) Within 30 days after the end of each Partnership fiscal year, the
General Partner shall cause to be prepared, and each Partner shall be furnished
with, the following audited financial statements, accompanied by the report
thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP, or another nationally recognized accounting firm
selected by the General Partner:

                  (i) a balance sheet of the Partnership as of the end of such
         fiscal year; (ii) a statement of profit and loss for the Partnership
         for such fiscal year;

                  (iii) a statement of each Partner's Capital Account (including
         the sub-accounts thereof) and changes therein for such fiscal year; and

                  (iv) a statement of Partnership cash flow for such fiscal
         year.

         (b) Within 30 days after the close of each fiscal quarter, the General
Partner shall cause to be prepared, and each Partner shall be furnished with:

                  (i) a balance sheet of the Partnership as of the end of such
         fiscal quarter;

                  (ii) a statement of profit and loss for the Partnership for
         such fiscal quarter;

                  (iii) a statement of each Partner's Capital Account (including
         the sub-accounts thereof) and change therein for such fiscal quarter;

                  (iv) a statement of Partnership cash flow for such fiscal
         quarter; and

                  (v) a certification by an officer of the General Partner that
         the statements listed in (i) through (iv) have been prepared in
         accordance with this Agreement, and that such statements have been
         prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         (c) The Partnership shall furnish to each Partner at such Partner's
cost, such other information regarding its finances at such times and prepared
in such form as shall reasonably be requested by such Partner, provided that,
the Partnership shall not furnish information which the General Partner or any
of its Affiliates considers proprietary or the disclosure of which might subject
such Persons to competitive disadvantage.

         SECTION 8.3. Tax Information. Necessary tax information shall be
delivered to each Partner after the end of each fiscal year of the Partnership.
Such information shall be furnished within two months after the end of each
fiscal year. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the
General Partner shall file tax returns prepared in accordance with the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder as in effect at the time of such filing.


                                       30
<PAGE>   38
         SECTION 8.4. Consent to Capital Account Statements. The statements of
the Partners' Capital Accounts described in Sections 8.02(a) and (b) hereof and
the calculations and determinations underlying them, will not be final without
the consent of each of the Danavox Designees and the ReSound Designees. Consent
to such statements shall be presumed from the absence of the receipt of any
written statement to the contrary from such designees within a period of 60 days
after delivery of the statements of the Partners' Capital Accounts. In the event
that any such designee objects to or otherwise indicates that it does not
consent to the statements of the Partners' Capital Accounts or the underlying
calculations and determinations and indicates that its determination of Capital
Accounts results in a discrepancy of more than $50,000 from the determination of
Capital Accounts made by the General Partner, the Partners' Capital Accounts
shall be determined by a nationally recognized accounting firm mutually
acceptable to all of the Partners, which accounting firm (the "INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS") shall make its determination on the basis of this Agreement and
the economic relationship among the Partners created hereby, and without giving
special weight to any determinations underlying the calculations of the
Partners' Capital Accounts previously made by the General Partner. If any such
objecting designee is successful in its challenge to the Partners' Capital
Accounts, the General Partner shall pay the cost of the Independent Accountants.
If any objecting designee is unsuccessful in its challenge to the Partner's
Capital Accounts, the entity that designated such designee shall pay the costs
of the Independent Accountants, and if more than one designee objected, the
costs shall be shared equally among the entities which nominated such designees.

                                    ARTICLE 9

                                CERTAIN COVENANTS

         SECTION 9.1. Confidentiality. Each Partner and each of its Affiliates
shall keep confidential and not reveal, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of it and its
Subsidiaries, to keep confidential and not to reveal, to any other Person (other
than to another Partner or its officers and employees, to any Affiliate or any
officer, director, employee, agent or representative of such Partner or its
Affiliates (each of whom shall be subject to the confidentiality obligations set
forth herein)), from the date hereof through the third anniversary of the first
date on which such Partner is no longer a Partner of the Partnership, any
confidential documents, trade secrets, secret processes or methods and other
confidential information concerning, relating to or


                                       31
<PAGE>   39
in connection with the Partnership, the business of the Partnership, the
manufacture or sale of products by the Partnership, or the processes and designs
owned by the Partnership, that come to the knowledge of such Partner or its
Affiliates or their respective representatives or agents by reason of the
relationship of such Partner or Affiliate with the Partnership ("INFORMATION"),
except for such Information that (a) is generally available to the public (other
than as a result of a disclosure by such Partner or its Affiliates), (b) is
available to such Person on a non-confidential basis from a source that is not
prohibited from disclosing such Information to such Person or (c) after notice
and an opportunity to contest, such Person is required to disclose under any
applicable law or under subpoena or other legal process; provided that nothing
in this Section 9.01 shall preclude any Partner or its Affiliates from using any
Information in any manner reasonably connected to its investment in the
Partnership or as contemplated by this Agreement, the Development Contract or
any other agreements entered into in connection therewith.

         SECTION 9.2. Press Announcements. Except as required by law or if
consented to by each of the General Partner, ReSound and Danavox, no Partner
will make any public announcement regarding the Partnership. The Partners shall
generally coordinate with each other in any public distribution of information
regarding the Partnership.

         SECTION 9.3. No Solicitation of Employees. During the existence of the
Partnership and for the two-year period thereafter, no Partner or Affiliate of
any Partner shall (i) hire any employee of AL1 performing services for the
Partnership, (ii) offer employment to any employee of AL1 performing services
for the Partnership or (iii) induce any employee of AL1 performing services for
the Partnership to terminate his or her employment with AL1 or to stop
performing services for the Partnership; provided that Danavox may hire
employees of AL1 if it purchases ReSound's interest in the Partnership.

                                   ARTICLE 10

                              AMENDMENTS; MEETINGS

         SECTION 10.1. Amendments. (a) Amendments to this Agreement, the limited
partnership certificate and the Ancillary Agreements may be proposed by any
General Partner or by any Limited Partner. Following such proposal, the General
Partner shall submit to the Limited Partners a verbatim statement of any



                                       32
<PAGE>   40
proposed amendment, providing that counsel for the Partnership shall have
approved of the same in writing as to form, and the General Partner shall
include in any such submission a recommendation as to the proposed amendment.
The General Partner shall seek the written vote of the Partners on the proposed
amendment or shall call a meeting to vote thereon and to transact any other
business that it may deem appropriate. For purposes of obtaining a written vote,
the General Partner may require response within a reasonable specified time, but
not less than 15 days, and failure to respond in such time period shall
constitute a vote against the General Partner's recommendation with respect to
the proposal. A proposed amendment shall be adopted and be effective as an
amendment hereto if it receives the affirmative vote of the General Partner and
the Limited Partners holding at least -3/4 of the Percentage Interests of all of
the Partners.

         (b) Notwithstanding Section 10.01(a) hereof, this Agreement shall not
be amended without the consent of each Person adversely affected if such
amendment would (i) convert a Limited Partner's interest in the Partnership into
a General Partner's interest, (ii) modify the limited liability of a Limited
Partner, (iii) alter the interest of a Partner in Net Profits, Net Losses, other
items, or any Partnership distributions or (iv) alter the rights under Article
6.

         SECTION 10.2. Meetings of the Partners. (a) Meetings of the Partners
may be called by the General Partner and shall be called upon the written
request of any Limited Partner. The notice of any such meeting shall state the
nature of the business to be transacted and shall be given to all Partners not
less than fifteen (15) days nor more than thirty (30) days prior to the date of
such meeting. Partners may vote in person or by proxy at such meeting. Whenever
the vote or consent of Partners is permitted or required under this Agreement,
such vote or consent may be given at a meeting of Partners or may be given in
accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 10.02(c) hereof. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the vote of the General Partner
and the Limited Partners shall control.

         (b) For the purpose of determining the Partners entitled to vote on, or
to vote at, any meeting of the Partners or any adjournment thereof, the General
Partner or the Limited Partners requesting such meeting may fix, in advance, a
date as the record date for any such determination. Such date shall not be more
than 30 days nor less than 10 days before any such meeting.

         (c) Each Limited Partner may authorize any Person or Persons to act for
him by proxy on all matters in which a Limited Partner is entitled to
participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating
at a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the Limited Partner or his
attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 12 months from
the date thereof unless


                                       33
<PAGE>   41
otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure
of the Limited Partner or his attorney-in-fact executing it.

         (d) Each meeting of Partners shall be conducted by the General Partner
or such other Person as the General Partner may appoint pursuant to such rules
for the conduct of the meeting as the General Partner or such other Person deems
appropriate.

                                   ARTICLE 11

                           TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS, ETC

         SECTION 11.1. Restriction of Transfers of Interests. Except as
otherwise permitted by this Agreement, no Partner shall transfer all or any
portion of his or her Interest.

         SECTION 11.2. Permitted Transfers of Interests. (a) During the first
four years after the Effective Date, a Limited Partner may not Transfer any
Interest to a third party, except for Transfers ("PERMITTED TRANSFERS") (i) to a
directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of such Partner, (ii) to a
directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of an entity which directly or
indirectly holds all of the Interests of such Partner, or (iii) in compliance
with Article 15. No shareholder in the General Partner may Transfer its equity
interest in the General Partner to any Person except in connection with a
Transfer of such shareholder's Interest in the Partnership to such Person.

         (b)(i) After the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, if any of
the Partners receives from or otherwise negotiates with a third party in a
private transaction an offer to purchase for cash any or all of the Interests
owned or held by such Partner (an "OFFER") and such Partner (a "SELLING PARTY")
intends to pursue such sale of such Interests to such third party, such Selling
Party shall provide the Partnership and each other Partner written notice of
such Offer (the "OFFER NOTICE"). The Offer Notice shall identify the percentage
amount of Interests subject to the Offer, the cash price for such Interests at
which a sale is proposed to be made (the "OFFER PRICE") and all other material
terms and conditions of the Offer.

                  (ii) The receipt of an Offer Notice by the Partnership and
         each Partner from any Selling Party shall constitute an offer (the
         "INTEREST OFFER") by such Selling Party to sell, to the Partnership and
         the Partners, for cash in whole and not in part, with the Partnership
         having priority with respect to the acceptance of the Interest Offer.
         If the Partnership does not


                                       34
<PAGE>   42
         accept the Interest Offer, in whole and not in part, in accordance
         herewith, then such Interest Offer may be accepted at the Offer Price
         by the Partners on a pro rata basis based on each Partner's Percentage
         Interest unless the Partners shall agree to another allocation
         resulting in acceptance of the Interest Offer with respect to all
         Interests subject thereto. Such Interest Offer shall be irrevocable for
         30 days after receipt of such Offer Notice by the Partnership and each
         Partner. Subject to the Partnership's priority right of exercise as set
         forth above, each Partner shall have the right to accept such Interest
         Offer (as provided above) within such 30-day period. The Interest Offer
         may be accepted by giving a written irrevocable notice of acceptance to
         such Selling Party prior to the expiration of such 30-day period.

                  (iii) The Partnership or the Partners, as the case may be,
         shall purchase for cash at the Offer Price and pay for all Interests
         set forth in the Offer Notice within a 20-day period following
         acceptance of the Interest Offer; provided that if the purchase and
         sale of such Interest is subject to any regulatory approval, the time
         period during which such purchase and sale may be consummated shall be
         extended until the expiration of five Business Days after all such
         regulatory approvals shall have been obtained; provided further that
         such time period shall not exceed 60 days without the written consent
         of the Selling Party.

                  (iv) Upon the rejection or deemed rejection of the Interest
         Offer by the Partnership and the Partners or the failure to obtain any
         required consent for the purchase of the Interests subject thereto
         within 60 days, there shall commence a 90-day period during which the
         Selling Party shall have the right to consummate the sale to the third
         party making the Offer of any or all of the Interests subject to the
         Offer at a price not less than the Offer Price; provided that (i) such
         third party shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of
         this Agreement and (ii) the Transfer to such third party is not in
         violation of applicable federal or state or foreign securities laws.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the purchase and sale of such
         Interests is subject to any prior regulatory approval, the time period
         during which such purchase and sale may be consummated shall be
         extended until the expiration of five Business Days after all such
         approvals shall have been received but in no event shall such time
         period exceed 120 days without the consent of the Partnership. If such
         Selling Party does not consummate the sale of any Interests subject to
         the Offer in accordance with the foregoing time limitations, such
         Selling Party may not sell any Interests without repeating the
         foregoing procedures.

                  (v) For purposes of this Section 11.02, any sale of an
         Interest pursuant to an Interest Offer or an Offer shall also be deemed
         a sale of


                                       35
<PAGE>   43
         a proportionate number of shares of the General Partner held by the
         Selling Party.

         SECTION 11.3. Conditions to Permitted Transfers. A Transfer of
Interests shall not be treated as a Permitted Transfer under Section 11.02
hereof unless and until the following conditions are satisfied:

         (a) Except in the case of a Transfer of Interests involuntarily by
operation of law, the transferor and transferee shall execute and deliver to the
Partnership such documents and instruments of conveyance as may be necessary or
appropriate in the opinion of counsel to the Partnership to effect such Transfer
and to confirm the agreement of the transferee to be bound by the provisions of
this Section 11.03. In the case of a Transfer of Interests involuntarily by
operation of law, the Transfer shall be confirmed by presentation to the
Partnership of legal evidence of such Transfer, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel to the Partnership. In all cases, the Partnership shall
be reimbursed by the transferor and/or transferee for all costs and expenses
that it reasonably incurs in connection with such Transfer.

         (b) Unless the General Partner has waived the requirements of this
Section 11.03(b) with respect to a Transfer by a Limited Partner, except in the
case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, the transferor shall
furnish to the Partnership an opinion of counsel, which counsel and opinion
shall be satisfactory to the General Partner that the Transfer will not cause
the Partnership to terminate for federal income tax purposes.

         (c) The transferor and transferee shall furnish the Partnership with
the transferee's taxpayer identification number, sufficient information to
determine the transferee's initial tax basis in the Interests transferred, and
any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Partnership to file all
required federal and state tax returns and other legally required information
statements or returns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Partnership shall not be required to make any distribution otherwise provided
for in this Agreement with respect to any transferred Interest until it has
received such information.

         (d) Except in the case of a Transfer of Interests involuntarily by
operation of law, or in the case of a Transfer of Interests to a Wholly Owned
Affiliate of the transferor or of any other Partner, the transferor shall
provide an opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel shall be satisfactory
to the Partnership, to the effect that such Transfer is exempt from all
applicable registration requirements and that such Transfer will not violate any
applicable laws regulating the Transfer of securities.

         SECTION 11.4. Prohibited Transfers. Any purported Transfer of Interests
that is not a Permitted Transfer shall be null and void and of no effect
whatever;


                                       36
<PAGE>   44
provided that, if the Partnership is required to recognize a Transfer that is
not a Permitted Transfer (or if the Partnership, in its sole discretion, elects
to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer), the Interest
Transferred shall be strictly limited to the transferor's rights to allocations
and distributions as provided by this Agreement with respect to the Transferred
Interests, which allocations and distributions may be applied (without limiting
any other legal or equitable rights of the Partnership) to satisfy any debts,
obligations, liabilities or damages that the transferor or transferee of such
Interests may have to the Partnership.

         In the case of a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Interests that is
not a Permitted Transfer, the parties engaging or attempting to engage in such
Transfer shall be liable to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership and the
other Partners from all cost, liability, and damage that any of such indemnified
Persons may incur (including, without limitation, incremental tax liability and
lawyers fees and expenses) as a result of such Transfer or attempted Transfer
and efforts to enforce the indemnity granted hereby.

         SECTION 11.5. Rights of Unadmitted Assignees. A transferee of one or
more Interests who is not admitted as a substituted Limited Partner pursuant to
Section 11.06 hereof shall be entitled only to allocations and distributions
with respect to such Interests in accordance with this Agreement, but, except as
otherwise consented to by the transferor and the General Partner in the case of
a pledge or grant of a security interest in an Interest, shall have no right to
any information or accounting of the affairs of the Partnership, shall not be
entitled to inspect the books or records of the Partnership, and shall not have
any of the rights of a General Partner or a Limited Partner under the Act or
this Agreement.

         SECTION 11.6. Admission of Transferees as Partners. Subject to the
other provisions of this Article 11, a transferee of Interests may be admitted
to the Partnership as a substituted Limited Partner only upon satisfaction of
the conditions set forth below in this Section 11.06:

         (a) The General Partner consents to such admission, which consent may
be withheld in its sole discretion;

         (b) The Interests with respect to which the transferee is being
admitted were acquired by means of a Permitted Transfer;

         (c) The transferee becomes a party to this Agreement as a Limited
Partner and executes such documents and instruments as the General Partner may
reasonably request (including, without limitation, counterparts or amendments to
this Agreement and amendments to the Certificate) and as may be necessary or
appropriate to confirm such transferee as a Limited Partner in the Partnership
and


                                       37
<PAGE>   45
such transferee's agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof;

         (d) If the transferee is a corporation, the transferee provides the
Partnership with evidence satisfactory to counsel for the Partnership that such
transferee has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to perform its obligations hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary action; and

         (e) The transferee executes and consents to any and all assignments or
Transfers previously executed by the transferor.

         SECTION 11.7. Distributions and Applications in Respect to Transferred
Interests. If any Interests are Transferred during any accounting period in
compliance with the provisions of this Article 11, Net Profit, Net Loss, each
item thereof, and all other items attributable to the Transferred Interest for
such period shall be divided and allocated between the transferor and the
transferee by taking into account their varying interests during the period in
accordance with Code Section 706(d), using any conventions permitted by law and
elected by the General Partner and agreed to by the transferor and transferee.
All distributions on or before the date of such Transfer shall be made to the
transferor, and all distributions thereafter shall be made to the transferee.
Solely for purposes of making such allocations and distributions, the
Partnership shall recognize such Transfer not later than the end of the calendar
month during which it is given notice of such Transfer, provided that if the
Partnership does not receive a notice stating the date such Interest was
Transferred and such other information as the General Partner may reasonably
require within 30 days after the end of the accounting period during which the
Transfer occurs, then all of such items shall be allocated, and all
distributions shall be made, to the Person who, according to the books and
records of the Partnership, on the last day of the accounting period during
which the Transfer occurs, was the owner of the interest. Neither the
Partnership nor any General Partner shall incur any liability for making
allocations and distributions in accordance with the provisions of this Section 
11.07, whether or not any General Partner or the Partnership has knowledge of
any Transfer of ownership of any interest.

                                   ARTICLE 12

                                 GENERAL PARTNER

         SECTION 12.1. Additional General Partners. Except as provided in this
Section 12.01 and Section 12.02, no Person shall be admitted to the Partnership
as a General Partner without the unanimous consent of the Partners.


                                       38
<PAGE>   46
         SECTION 12.2. Covenant Not to Withdraw, Transfer, or Dissolve . Except
as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, the General Partner hereby covenants
and agrees not to (a) take any action to file a certificate of dissolution or
its equivalent with respect to itself, (b) take any action that would cause a
voluntary bankruptcy of the General Partner, (c) withdraw or attempt to withdraw
from the Partnership, (d) petition for judicial dissolution of the Partnership
under 17-802 of the Act, (e) Transfer all or any portion of its Interest in the
Partnership as a General Partner, except in accordance with the terms of Section
12.03 hereof, or (f) exercise any power under the Act to dissolve the
Partnership. Further, the General Partner hereby covenants and agrees to
continue to carry out the duties of a General Partner hereunder until the
Partnership is dissolved and liquidated pursuant to Article 13 hereof.

         SECTION 12.3. Permitted Transfer.

         (a) A General Partner may Transfer all, but not less than all, of its
interest in the Partnership as a General Partner (i) at any time to any Person
who is such General Partner's Wholly Owned Affiliate, or (ii) at any time
involuntarily by operation of law; provided that no such Transfer shall be
permitted unless and until (A) all of the conditions set forth in Section 11.03
hereof are satisfied as if the Partnership interest being Transferred was an
Interest, and (B) the transferor and transferee provide the Partnership with an
opinion of counsel, to the effect that such Transfer will not cause the
Partnership to become taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes,
or to fail to meet any condition precedent then in effect pursuant to an
official pronouncement of the Internal Revenue Service to the issuance of a
private letter ruling by the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the
Partnership will be treated as a Partnership for federal tax purposes, whether
or not such a ruling is being or has been requested.

         (b) A transferee of a Partnership interest from a General Partner
hereunder shall be admitted as a General Partner with respect to such interest
if, but only if, (i) at the time of such Transfer, such transferee is otherwise
a General Partner, or the transferee is a Wholly Owned Affiliate of the
transferring General Partner and all of the other Partners consent to such
admission and (ii) such transferee executes and consents to any and all
assignments or consents to Transfer previously executed by the transferor. In
the event that the transferee of a Partnership interest from a General Partner
is admitted hereunder, such transferee shall be deemed admitted to the
Partnership as a General Partner immediately prior to the Transfer, and such
transferee shall continue the business of the Partnership without dissolution.

         (c) A transferee who acquires an Interest from a General Partner
hereunder by means of a Transfer that is permitted under this Section 12.03, but


                                       39
<PAGE>   47
who is not admitted as a General Partner, shall have no authority to act for or
bind the Partnership, to inspect the Partnership's books, or otherwise to be
treated as a General Partner, but such transferee shall be treated as a Limited
Partner who acquired an interest in the Partnership in a Permitted Transfer
under Article 11 hereof. Following such a Transfer, the transferor shall not
cease to be a general partner of the Partnership and shall continue to be a
General Partner.

         SECTION 12.4. Prohibited Transfer. Any purported Transfer of any
Interest held by a General Partner that is not permitted by Section 12.03 above
shall be null and void and of no effect whatever; provided that, if the
Partnership is required to recognize a Transfer that is not so permitted (or if
the Partnership elects to recognize a Transfer that is not so permitted), the
interest Transferred shall be strictly limited to the transferor's rights to
allocations and distributions as provided by this Agreement with respect to the
Transferred interest, which allocations and distributions may be applied
(without limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Partnership) to
satisfy any debts, obligations, liabilities or damages that the transferor or
transferee of such interest may have to the Partnership.

         In the case of a Transfer or attempted Transfer of a Partnership
interest that is not permitted by Section 12.03 above, the parties engaging or
attempting to engage in such Transfer shall be liable to indemnify and hold
harmless the Partnership and the other Partners from all cost, liability and
damage that any of such indemnified Persons may incur (including, without
limitation, incremental tax liability and lawyers fees and expenses) as a result
of such Transfer or attempted Transfer and efforts to enforce the indemnity
granted hereby.

                                   ARTICLE 13

                           DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP

         SECTION 13.1. Liquidating Events. The Partnership shall dissolve and
commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of any of the
following ("LIQUIDATING Events"):

         (a) At any time after June 30, 2000, if the Partnership has not
generated any operating income for the six-month period preceding such date and
the Development Contract has been terminated;

         (b) The voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy of the General Partner;


                                       40
<PAGE>   48
         (c) The happening of any other event that makes it unlawful or
impossible to carry on the business of the Partnership; or

         (d) The withdrawal or removal of the General Partner, the assignment by
the General Partner of its entire Interest in the Partnership or any other event
that causes the General Partner to cease to be a general partner under the Act,
provided that any such event shall not constitute a Liquidating Event if the
Partnership is continued pursuant to this Section 13.01. The Partners hereby
agree that, notwithstanding any provision of the Act or the Delaware Uniform
Partnership Act, the Partnership shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a
Liquidating Event. Upon the occurrence of any event set forth in Section 
13.01(d), the Partnership shall not be dissolved or required to be wound up if
within 90 days after such event all remaining Partners agree in writing to
continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of
the date of such event, of a new General Partner. If it is determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction that the Partnership has dissolved prior to the
occurrence of a Liquidating Event, or if upon the occurrence of an event
specified in Section 13.01(d) hereof, the Partners fail to agree to continue the
business of the Partnership as provided in this Section 13.01, then within an
additional 90 days, the holders of at least 3/4 of the Percentage Interests of
all the Partners may elect to reconstitute the Partnership and continue its
business on the same terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement by forming
a new limited partnership on terms identical to those set forth in this
Agreement and having as a general partner a Person elected by the Limited
Partners holding at least 3/4 of the Percentage Interests of all the Limited
Partners. Upon any such election by such holders, all Partners shall be bound
thereby and shall be deemed to have consented thereto. Unless such an election
is made within 180 days after the event causing dissolution, the Partnership
shall wind up its affairs in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof. If such an
election is made within 180 days after the event causing dissolution, then:

                  (i) the reconstituted limited partnership shall continue until
         the occurrence of a Liquidating Event as provided in this Section 
         13.01;

                  (ii) if the successor general partner is not the former
         General Partner, then the interest of the former General Partner shall
         be treated thenceforth as the interest of a Limited Partner; and

                  (iii) all necessary steps shall be taken to cancel this
         Agreement and the Certificate and to enter into a new partnership
         agreement and certificate of limited partnership, and the successor
         general partner may for this purpose exercise the powers of attorney
         granted the General Partner pursuant to Article 14;


                                       41
<PAGE>   49
provided that the right of the Limited Partners holding at least -3/4 of the
Percentage Interests of all the Limited Partners to select a successor general
partner and to reconstitute and continue the business of the Partnership shall
not exist and may not be exercised unless the Partnership has received an
opinion of counsel that the exercise of the right would not result in the loss
of limited liability of any Limited Partner and neither the Partnership nor the
reconstituted partnership would cease to be treated as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes upon the exercise of such right to continue.

         SECTION 13.2. Winding up. Upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event,
the Partnership shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs
in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its
creditors and Partners and no Partner shall take any action that is inconsistent
with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the
Partnership's business and affairs, provided that, all covenants contained in
this Agreement and all obligations provided for in this Agreement shall continue
to be fully binding upon the Partners until such time as the property of the
Partnership has been distributed pursuant to this Section 13.02 and the
Partnership has been terminated. The General Partner, or, upon the occurrence of
a Liquidating Event specified in Section 13.01(b) or 13.01(d), a Person elected
by the Limited Partners holding at least -3/4 of the Percentage Interests of all
Limited Partners, or, upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event specified in
Section 13.01(d) after or as a result of which Liquidating Event there is no
remaining General Partner, a Person elected by all of the Partners, shall be
responsible for overseeing the winding up and dissolution of the Partnership
(the General Partner or any other Person elected pursuant to this Section 13.02
to wind up the affairs of the Partnership being referred to as the
"LIQUIDATOR"). Not later than 90 days after the date on which the Liquidating
Event occurred, (i) the Liquidator shall cause the Partnership to assign all of
its right, title and interest, free and clear of any Liens, to all of the
technologies owned by the Partnership to an entity which shall be jointly owned
by Danavox and ReSound, which entity shall be obligated to grant to each of
Danavox and ReSound royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide licenses
to all such technology and (ii) the Liquidator shall take full account of the
Partnership's liabilities and assets (other than the assets referred to in (i)
immediately above) and shall cause such assets to be sold to AL1 (at a price
that shall not be less than the fair market value that could be obtained by
selling such assets to a third party) and the General Partner shall cause the
proceeds therefrom, to the extent sufficient therefor, to be applied and
distributed, to the maximum extent permitted by law, in the following order:

         (a) first, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership's
debts


                                       42
<PAGE>   50
and liabilities to creditors other than General Partners which are known or
ascertainable within 90 days after the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, other
than liabilities for distributions to Partners;

         (b) second, to the payment and discharge of all of the Partnership's
debts and liabilities to General Partners which are known or ascertainable
within 90 days after the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, other than
liabilities for distributions to Partners; and

         (c) the balance, if any, to the Partners in accordance with their
Capital Accounts, after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and
allocations for all periods.

         SECTION 13.3. Obligation to Restore Deficit. Capital Accounts;
Compliance With Timing Requirements of Regulations. In the event the Partnership
is "liquidated" within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g),
(a) distributions shall be made pursuant to this Section 13.03 to the Partners
who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 
1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2), and (b) notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, if the General Partner's Capital Account has a deficit balance
(after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for
all taxable years, including the year during which such liquidation occurs), the
General Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership cash in the
amount necessary to restore such deficit balance to zero within 90 days after
the date on which the Liquidating Event occurred.

         SECTION 13.4. Allocations During Period of Liquidation. During the
period commencing on the date on which a Liquidating Event occurs and ending on
the date on which the assets of the Partnership are distributed to the Partners
pursuant to Section 13.02 hereof, the Partners shall continue to share Net
Profit, Net Loss and other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction
in the manner provided in Article 4 hereof.

         SECTION 13.5. Character of Liquidating Distributions. All payments made
in liquidation of the Interest of a retiring Partner shall be made in exchange
for the interest of such Partner in Partnership property pursuant to Section 
736(b)(1) of the Code, including the interest of such Partner in Partnership
goodwill.

         SECTION 13.6. Indemnification of the Liquidator. In the event that the
Liquidator is a Person other than the General Partner, the General Partner shall
indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against such
Liquidator relating to any liability or damage incurred by reason of its making
distributions to the Partners and in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof,
except to the extent


                                       43
<PAGE>   51
such liability or damage is caused by the gross negligence, fraud, or willful
misconduct of the Liquidator.

                                   ARTICLE 14

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         SECTION 14.1. General Partner as Attorney-in-fact. Each Limited Partner
hereby makes, constitutes, and appoints the General Partner and each successor
General Partner, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, its true
and lawful attorney-in-fact for it and in its name, place, and stead and for its
use and benefit, to sign, execute, certify, acknowledge, swear to, file, and
record (a) all certificates of limited partnership, assumed name or similar
certificates, and other certificates and instruments (including counterparts of
this Agreement) which the General Partner deems necessary or appropriate to be
filed by the Partnership under the laws of the State of Delaware or any other
state or jurisdiction in which the Partnership is doing or intends to do
business; (b) any and all amendments or changes to this Agreement and the
instruments described in (a), as now or hereafter amended, which the General
Partner may deem necessary, desirable, or appropriate to effect a change or
modification of the Partnership in accordance with Section 10.01 of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, amendments or changes to reflect (i)
the exercise by the General Partner of any power granted to it under this
Agreement; (ii) any amendments adopted by the Partners in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement; (iii) the admission of any substituted Partner; and
(iv) the disposition by any Partner of its Interest in the Partnership; (c) all
certificates of cancellation and other instruments which the General Partner
deems necessary or appropriate to effect the dissolution and termination of the
Partnership pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and (d) any other
instrument which is now or may hereafter be required by law to be filed on
behalf of the Partnership or is deemed necessary or desirable by the General
Partner to carry out fully the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with
its terms. Each Limited Partner authorizes each such attorney-in-fact to take
any further action which such attorney-in-fact shall consider necessary or
advisable in connection with any of the foregoing, hereby giving each such
attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
or thing whatsoever requisite or advisable to be done in connection with the
foregoing as fully as such Limited Partner might or could do personally, and
hereby ratifying and confirming all that any such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof or hereof.


                                       44
<PAGE>   52
         SECTION 14.2. Special Power. The power of attorney granted pursuant to
this Article 14:

         (a) is a special power of attorney coupled with an Interest and is
irrevocable;

         (b) may be exercised by any such attorney-in-fact by listing the
Limited Partners executing any agreement, certificate, instrument, or other
document with the single signature of any such attorney-in-fact acting as
attorney-in-fact for such Limited Partners; and

         (c) shall survive the bankruptcy, insolvency, dissolution, or cessation
of existence of a Limited Partner and shall survive the delivery of an
assignment by a Limited Partner of the whole or a portion of its interest in the
Partnership, except that where the assignment is of such Limited Partner's
entire interest in the Partnership and the assignee, with the consent of the
General Partner, is admitted as a substituted Limited Partner, the power of
attorney shall survive the delivery of such assignment for the sole purpose of
enabling any such attorney-in-fact to effect such substitution.

                                   ARTICLE 15

                                     DEFAULT

         SECTION 15.1. Default. If (i) any Partner fails to make its Capital
Contribution or any required payments under the Development Contract within
fifteen Business Days after such contributions or payments are required to be
made, (ii) ReSound fails to exercise its option in full to purchase 220,264
shares of Series C Preferred Stock of AL1 on or promptly after January 1, 1997,
(iii) any Partner breaches Section 9.03 hereof or (iv) the Development Contract
has been terminated as to any Partner pursuant to the terms of Section VIII.A.
thereof, the Partnership shall have the right to purchase all of such Partner's
Interest at an amount equal to the lower of the Capital Contributions made by
such Partner during the time it was a Partner and the fair market value of such
Interest as determined by the General Partner. Such right to purchase shall be
assignable by the Partnership to any other Partner, or if no Partner is
interested, to any third-party. Any such failure under (i) or (ii) above, any
such breach of Section 9.03 hereof or any occurrence of the contingency under
(iv) above will also result in the loss of all rights under this Agreement and
any other agreements with the Partnership. Notwithstanding any such failure,
breach or occurrence and the consequences of this Section 15.01, such Partner
will continue to be required to license any newly developed or acquired
technologies relating to, and any


                                       45
<PAGE>   53
enhancements in, Base DSP Technology (during the initial four years of the Term)
and Full DSP Technology (during the initial two years of the Term) to the
Partnership as required under the Development Contract.

                                   ARTICLE 16

                            GENERAL INDEMNIFICATIONS

         SECTION 16.1. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants .
All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of any Partner
contained in this Agreement or any Schedule hereto shall survive the execution
and delivery of this Agreement; provided that all such representations and
warranties shall thereafter terminate and expire on the third anniversary of the
Effective Date. All covenants and agreements of any party to this Agreement
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

         SECTION 16.2. Obligation of the Partners. Each Partner agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership, any Affiliate of the
Partnership, and each other Partner and their Affiliates, and their successors
in interest and permitted transferees and assigns against all losses (including,
without limitation, any decrease in the value of an Interest), liabilities,
damages, deficiencies, demands, claims, actions, judgments, assessments, costs
or expenses (including, without limitation, interest, penalties and reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements) ("LOSSES") based upon, arising out of or
otherwise in respect of any inaccuracy in or any breach of any representation or
warranty or any covenant or agreement of such Partner or its Affiliates
contained in this Agreement.

         SECTION 16.3. Obligations of the Partnership to Indemnify. The
Partnership agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Limited Partner,
each Affiliate thereof and their successors and permitted transferees and
assigns from and against all Losses based upon, arising out of or otherwise in
respect of any claims, actions, demands or investigations brought or threatened
to be brought by or against the Partnership; provided that no indemnity shall be
provided to any Limited Partner who has acted with intentional misconduct or
gross negligence.

         SECTION 16.4. Notice of Opportunity to Defend. (a) If any party to this
Agreement (or a successor or permitted transferee or assign) becomes aware of or
otherwise receives notice of any demand or claim or commencement of any action,
proceeding or investigation (an "ASSERTED LIABILITY") that may result in an


                                       46
<PAGE>   54
indemnifiable Loss to such party, such party (the "INDEMNITEE") shall give
notice thereof (the "CLAIMS NOTICE") to any party (or parties) obligated to
provide indemnification in respect of such Asserted Liability pursuant to
Article 15 (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure so to give prompt notice to the Indemnifying Party will not relieve the
Indemnifying Party from Liability under this Article 16, except to the extent
such failure or delay results in the forfeiture by the Indemnifying Party of
substantial rights and defenses. The Claims Notice shall describe the Asserted
Liability in reasonable detail, and shall indicate the amount (estimated, if
necessary and to the extent feasible) of the Loss that has been or may be
suffered by the Indemnitee.

         (b) With respect to any Asserted Liability that arises out of any
action or proceeding brought by a third party (a "THIRD PARTY ACTION"), the
Indemnifying Party may elect to compromise or defend (subject to paragraph (c)
below), at its own expense and by counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnitee, such Third Party Action, provided that the Indemnifying Party has
agreed in writing to indemnify the Indemnitee for the full amount of such
liability. If the Indemnifying Party elects to settle, compromise or defend such
Third Party Action, it shall within 30 days (or sooner, if the nature of the
Third Party Action so requires) notify the Indemnitee of its intent to do so,
and the Indemnitee shall cooperate, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, in
the settlement or compromise of, or defense against, such Third Party Action.

         (c) An Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent
of the Indemnitee, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
Indemnitee is an actual or potential party to such claim or action) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the
Indemnitee from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding. If the Indemnifying Party chooses to defend any claims, the
Indemnitee shall make available to the Indemnifying Party any books, records or
other documents within its control that are reasonably necessary or appropriate
for such defense.

                                   ARTICLE 17

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 17.1. Notices. Any notice, payment, demand, or communication
required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be delivered personally or by hand to the Person or to an
officer


                                       47
<PAGE>   55
of the Person to whom the same is directed, or sent by facsimile or other
similar and immediate method of delivery, addressed as follows, or to such other
address as such Person may from time to time specify by notice to the Partners:

         (a) If to the Partnership, to the address for its principal place of
business set forth in Section 2.06 hereof;

         (b) If to a General Partner, to the address set forth in Section 3.07
hereof; and

         (c) If to a Limited Partner, to the address set forth in Section 3.08
hereof. Any such notice shall be delivered by hand, facsimile or other similar
and immediate method of delivery and shall be deemed to be delivered, given, and
received for all purposes as of the date so delivered. Any Person may from time
to time specify a different address by notice to the Partnership and the
Partners.

         SECTION 17.2. Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partners and their respective
successors and permitted transferees and assigns.

         SECTION 17.3. Construction. Every covenant, term, and provision of this
Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not
strictly for or against any Partner. The terms of this Agreement are intended to
embody the economic relationship among the Partners and shall not be subject to
modification by or conform with any actions by the Internal Revenue Service
except as this Agreement shall be explicitly so amended. The previous sentence
shall not apply to the filing of tax returns.

         SECTION 17.4. Arbitration. All disputes arising out of this Agreement
shall be settled as far as possible by negotiations between the Partners. If the
Partners cannot agree on an amicable settlement within thirty days from written
submission of the matter by one or more of the Partners to the other Partner or
Partners, the matter shall be submitted for decision and final resolution to
arbitration to the exclusion of any courts of law, under the rules of
Conciliation and Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris,
France (the "ICC").

         The arbitration tribunal shall be composed of one disinterested
arbitrator, appointed pursuant to the following procedure: the Partner or
Partners invoking arbitration shall notify the other Partner or Partners by
registered air mail stating the substance of its or their claim. The Partners
shall agree on the arbitrator, who


                                       48
<PAGE>   56
may be a citizen of any country. Within thirty days of receipt of such
notification, the other Partner or Partners shall notify the initiating Partner
or Partners in the manner provided in Section 17.01 hereof its or their answer
to the claim made, and any counterclaim which it wishes or they wish to assert
in the arbitration. If the Partners are unable to agree to an arbitrator within
thirty days, appointment of the arbitrator shall be made by the Court of
Arbitration of the ICC upon request by any Partner.

         The arbitrator will decide the dispute in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of Delaware. The decision shall be rendered in writing, shall
state the reasons on which it is based, and shall bear the signature of the
arbitrator. It also shall identify the time and place of the award granted.
Finally, it shall determine the expenses of the arbitration and the Partner or
Partners who shall be charged therewith or the allocation of the expenses
between the Partners in the discretion of the tribunal.

         The arbitration decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, not
later, however, than six months after the constitution of the arbitration
tribunal. The arbitration decision shall be final and binding upon all of the
Partners and the Partners agree that any award granted pursuant to such decision
may be entered forthwith in any court of competent jurisdiction. This
arbitration clause and any award rendered pursuant to it shall be governed by
the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign
Arbitration Awards signed in New York on June 10, 1958.

         The seat of arbitration will be New York City, unless the Partners
otherwise agree in writing. The official arbitration language shall be English.

         SECTION 17.5. Assignability. No Partner may assign its rights or
obligations under this Agreement to a third party except in connection with a
Permitted Transfer as described above.

         SECTION 17.6. Headings. Article and other headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe,
interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Agreement or
any provision hereof.

         SECTION 17.7. Severability; Integration. Every provision of this
Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term or provision hereof is
illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity
shall not affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement.
This Agreement, the Development Agreement, the Employment Services Agreement and
the


                                       49
<PAGE>   57
Shareholders Agreement and certain employment agreements by and among AL1 and
its employees, each dated as of the Effective Date, constitute the entire
agreement among the parties with regard to this subject matter, and no other
agreement, statement, promise, or practice among the parties relating to this
subject matter shall be binding on the parties.

         SECTION 17.8. Further Action. Each Partner, upon the request of any
General Partner, agrees to perform all further acts and execute, acknowledge,
and deliver any documents which may be reasonably necessary, appropriate, or
desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 17.9. Variation of Pronouns. All pronouns and any variation
thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or
plural, as the identity of the Person or Persons may require.

         SECTION 17.10. Governing Law. The law of the State of Delaware shall
govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the
interpretation of the rights and duties of the Partners.

         SECTION 17.11. Waiver of Action for Partition; No Bill for Partnership
Accounting. Each of the Partners irrevocably waives any right that such Partner
may have to maintain any action for partition with respect to any of the
property of the Partnership. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
each of the Partners covenants that it will not (except with the consent of the
General Partner) file a bill for Partnership accounting.

         SECTION 17.12. Counterpart Execution. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all of the Partners had
signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall
constitute one agreement.

         SECTION 17.13. Sole and Absolute Discretion. Except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, all actions which the General Partner may take and
all determinations which the General Partner may make pursuant to this Agreement
may be taken and made at the sole and absolute discretion of the General
Partner.

         SECTION 17.14. Limitation on Limited Partner Obligations. Except as
otherwise required by law, no Limited Partner shall (i) have any liability for
the obligations or liabilities of the Partnership or (ii) owe any duty
(including, without limitation, fiduciary duties) to the Partnership or any
other Partner.

         SECTION 17.15. Expenses. The expenses incurred by the outside advisors

                                       50
<PAGE>   58
of the Partners and the Partnership in connection with (i) the negotiation of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and (ii) the formation of the
Partnership shall be borne by and allocated among the Partners and the
Partnership as agreed by the AudioLogic Designees, the Danavox Designees and the
ReSound Designees after the Effective Date.


                                       51
<PAGE>   59
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this Agreement of
Limited Partnership as of the day first above set forth.

                                       AUDIOLOGIC, INC.


                                       By:__________________________________

                                       GN DANAVOX, AS


                                       By:__________________________________


                                       By:__________________________________


                                       RESOUND CORPORATION


                                       By:__________________________________


                                       JOHN MELANSON


                                       _____________________________________



                                       JASON CARLSON


                                       _____________________________________



                                       52
<PAGE>   60
                                       ERIC LINDEMANN

                                       _____________________________________


                                       TOM WORRALL

                                       _____________________________________


                                       CALEB ROBERTS

                                       _____________________________________


                                       KITTY ADAMS

                                       _____________________________________


                                       JOEL COOPER

                                       _____________________________________


                                       RANDY DAVIS

                                       _____________________________________



                                       53
<PAGE>   61
                                       SUDHA JEERAGE

                                       _____________________________________


                                       CHRISTINE KENNEDY

                                       _____________________________________


                                       CHRISTOPHER SCHWEITZER


                                       _____________________________________


                                       54
<PAGE>   62
                               SCHEDULE 1.01(a)(v)
                              ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS

(1)      Development, Licensing and Distribution Agreement by and among Danavox,
         ReSound and AL1 dated September 30, 1996.

(2)      Shareholders Agreement by and among Danavox, ReSound and AL1 dated
         September 30, 1996.

(3)      Employment Services Agreement by and among AL1 and the Partnership
         dated September 30, 1996.

(4)      Cross License Agreement by and among Danavox and ReSound dated
         September 30, 1996.
<PAGE>   63
                            SCHEDULE 1.01(a)(xxviii)
                              PERCENTAGE INTERESTS

         After the Effective Date, the Percentage Interest of any Partner shall
be adjusted as follows:

         (A) following the repurchase by the Partnership of all or a portion of
a Manager's Interest, the Percentage Interest of each remaining Partner shall be
equal to a fraction of which:

                  (i) the numerator is such Partner's Percentage Interest
         immediately prior to the redemption, other than the redeeming partner
         whose Percentage Interest is the Percentage Interest before the
         redemption less the percentage redeemed, and

                  (ii) the denominator is the sum of the remaining Partner
         Percentage Interests immediately prior to the redemption, other than
         the redeeming partner whose Percentage Interest is the Percentage
         Interest before the redemption less the percentage redeemed.

         (B) at the time of any Capital Contribution pursuant to Section 3.06,
the Percentage Interest of each Limited Partner shall be adjusted to be equal to
the fraction of which:

                  (i) the numerator is the sum of (a) the Percentage Interest of
         such Limited Partner prior to such Capital Contribution multiplied by
         the sum of all Initial Capital Contributions and the sum of all prior
         Capital Contributions made pursuant to Section 3.06, plus, (b) the
         Capital Contribution being made by such Limited Partner at such time,
         and

                  (ii) the denominator is the sum of (a) all Initial Capital
         Contributions, (b) the sum of all prior Capital Contributions made
         pursuant to Section 3.06, (c) and the sum of all Capital Contributions
         being made at such time.

         (C) If a Limited Partner purchases an Interest from any other Limited
Partner, the purchasing Limited Partner's Percentage Interest shall be increased
by the amount of the Percentage Interest purchased. If there is a simultaneous
purchase by a Limited Partner of another Limited Partner's Interest and a
<PAGE>   64
redemption by the Partnership, the purchase by the Limited Partner will be
deemed to occur first.

         (D) After the Effective Date, the General Partner will contribute at
the time of any Capital Contribution an amount sufficient to maintain a 1%
Percentage Interest and a capital account equal to 1% of the total positive
capital account balance of the Partnership.
<PAGE>   65
                                  SCHEDULE 3.09
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF AL1

         AL1 represents and warrants to the Partnership and each other Partner
as of the Effective Date that:

         1. Corporate Existence and Power. AL1 is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required
to carry on its business as now conducted. AL1 has heretofore delivered to the
Partnership and each of the Partners true and complete copies of its certificate
of incorporation and bylaws as currently in effect.

         2. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by
AL1 of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party are
within AL1's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of AL1. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement
to which it is a party constitutes a valid and binding agreement of AL1
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
by AL1 of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party
require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body,
agency or official.

         4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by AL1 of
this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party do not and
will not (a) violate the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of AL1, (b)
violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or
decree; (c) constitute a default under or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of AL1 or to a loss of
any benefit relating to the Business to which AL1 is entitled under any
provision of any agreement, contract or other instrument binding upon AL1 or by
which any of the Contributed Assets is or may be bound or any Permit or (d)
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any Contributed Asset, other
than Permitted Liens.

         5. Required and Other Consents. (a) There is no agreement, contract,
Permit or other instrument binding upon AL1 which requires a consent as a result
of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, except such
consents as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect if not received by the Closing Date (each such consent, a "REQUIRED
<PAGE>   66
CONSENT" and together the "REQUIRED CONSENTS").


         6. Financial Statements. The Balance Sheet attached hereto as Exhibit A
and the related income statement dated as of September 30, 1996 taken as a whole
(collectively, the "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") fairly present, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except
as may be indicated in the notes thereto), the financial position of the
Business taken as a whole as of the dates thereof and its results of operations
and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject to normal year-end
adjustments in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements).

         7. Absence of Certain Changes. Since the Balance Sheet Date, the
Business has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past
practices, and there has not been:

                  (a) any event, occurrence, development or state of
         circumstances or facts which has had or could reasonably be expected to
         have a Material Adverse Change;

                  (b) any incurrence, assumption or guarantee by AL1 of any
         indebtedness for borrowed money with respect to the Business other than
         in the ordinary course of business and in amounts and on terms
         consistent with past practices, but in any event not exceeding $50,000;

                  (c) any creation or other incurrence of any Lien on any
         material Contributed Asset other than in the ordinary course of
         business consistent with past practices;

                  (d) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or
         not covered by insurance) affecting the Business or any Contributed
         Asset which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (e) any transaction or commitment made, or any contract or
         agreement entered into, by AL1 relating to the Business or any
         Contributed Asset (including the acquisition or disposition of any
         assets) or any relinquishment by AL1 of any contract or other right, in
         either case, material to the Business taken as a whole, other than
         transactions and commitments in the ordinary course of business
         consistent with past practices and those contemplated by this
         Agreement;

                  (f) any (i) employment, deferred compensation, severance,
         retirement or other similar agreement entered into with any employee of
         the Business (or any amendment to any such existing agreement), (ii)
         grant
<PAGE>   67
         of any severance or termination pay to any such employee or (iii)
         change in compensation or other benefits payable to any such employee
         pursuant to any severance or retirement plans or policies.

         8. Technologies. Annex 8(a) hereto correctly describes technologies
used in the Business included in the Contributed Assets (the "TECHNOLOGIES"),
which AL1 owns or has licenses to.

         9. Sufficiency of and Title to the Contributed Assets. (a) Except for
the Excluded Assets, the Contributed Assets constitute all of the assets or
property used or held for use in the Business.

         (b) Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
Partnership will have acquired good and marketable title in and to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, each of the Contributed Assets, free and clear of all
Liens, except for Permitted Liens.

         10. No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. There are no liabilities of
the Business of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute,
determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition,
situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result
in such a liability, other than:

                  (a) liabilities provided for in the Balance Sheet or disclosed
         in the notes thereto; and

                  (b) other undisclosed liabilities which, individually or in
         the aggregate are not material to the Business, taken as a whole.

         11. Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding
pending against, or to the knowledge of AL1, threatened against or affecting,
the Business or any Contributed Asset before any court or arbitrator or any
governmental body, agency or official which, if determined or resolved adversely
in accordance with the plaintiff's demands, would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent,
enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated hereby.

         12. Compliance with Laws and Court Orders. AL1 is not in violation of
and to AL1's knowledge is not under investigation with respect to or has not
been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any law,
rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the
Contributed Assets or the conduct of the Business, except for violations that
have not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.


                                       56
<PAGE>   68
         13. Intellectual Property. (a) Annex 13 hereto contains a list of all
trademarks, service marks, trade names, inventions, patents, trade secrets,
copyrights, software rights, know-how (including, without limitation, any
registrations or applications for registration of any of the foregoing) or any
other similar type of proprietary intellectual property right (the "INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS") owned or licensed and used or held for use by AL1 (the "AL1
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"), specifying as to each, as applicable: (i) the
nature of such Intellectual Property Right; (ii) the owner of such Intellectual
Property Right; (iii) the jurisdictions by or in which such Intellectual
Property Right is recognized without regard to registration or has been issued
or registered or in which an application for such issuance or registration has
been filed, including the respective registration or application numbers; and
(iv) licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which AL1 is a party and
pursuant to which any Person is authorized to use such Intellectual Property
Right, including the identity of all parties thereto, a description of the
nature and subject matter thereof, the applicable royalty and the term thereof.

         (b) (i) AL1 has not been a defendant in any action, suit, investigation
or proceeding relating to, or otherwise been notified of, any claim of alleged
infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights, and, to the knowledge of AL1,
there is no other such infringement by AL1 and (ii) to the knowledge of AL1,
there is no continuing infringement by any other Person of any AL1 Intellectual
Property Rights. No AL1 Intellectual Property Right is subject to any
outstanding judgment, injunction, order, decree or agreement restricting the use
thereof by AL1 or restricting the licensing thereof by AL1 to any Person. AL1
has not entered into any agreement to indemnify any other Person against any
charge of infringement of any Intellectual Property Right.

         (c) None of the processes and formulae, research and development
results and other know-how of AL1 (including, without limitation, AL1
Intellectual Property Rights), the value of which to AL1 is contingent upon
maintenance of the confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed by AL1 to any
Person other than employees, representatives and agents of, or potential
investors in, AL1, all of whom are bound by written confidentiality agreements
substantially in the form previously disclosed to ReSound and Danavox.

         (d) AL1 has taken reasonable steps to establish and preserve its
ownership of all of the AL1 Intellectual Property Rights.

         (e) All of the officers, directors, employees, agents and consultants
of AL1 have executed assignment of invention/confidentiality agreements and none
of such
<PAGE>   69
Persons is in violation thereof.
<PAGE>   70
                                                                      ANNEX 8(A)

                                AUDIOLOGIC, INC.
                             TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION

AUDIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY:

[*]

1.[*]




[*]


2.[*]




[*]

[*]



3.[*]



[*]

[*]


4.[*]


[*]

* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   71
[*]


5.[*]




[*]

[*]



6.[*]




[*]

[*]



7.[*]




8.[*]





[*]

1.[*]




2.[*]


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   72
[*]

[*]




1.[*]
2.[*]
3.[*]
4.[*]

5.[*]

6.[*]
7.[*]
8.[*]

9.[*]

10.[*]
11.[*]
12.[*]

13.[*]
14.[*]
15.[*]

16.[*]
17.[*]
18.[*]


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   73
19.[*]







* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   74
                                                                        ANNEX 13


All of the Intellectual Property listed on Annex 8(a) to Schedule 3.09, in
addition to the following trademarks:

Federally Registered Marks

AUDALLION                                      Registration Number 1,964,581

Applications for Federal Registration Based on Intent-to-Use

AL AUDIOLOGIC (stylized letters)               Serial Number 74/361089 
SOUNDBEAM                                      Serial Number 74/433222 
PSP PERSONALIZED SPEECH PROCESSOR              Serial Number 74/427173



<PAGE>   75
                                  SCHEDULE 3.10

              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DANAVOX AND RESOUND

         Danavox and ReSound each severally represent and warrant to each of the
other Partners and to each other as of the Effective Date that:

         1. Organization and Existence. It is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation and has all corporate powers and all material governmental
licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on
its business as now conducted.

         2. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by
it of this Agreement are within its corporate powers and have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on its part. This Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding agreement of such entity.

         3. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance
by it of this Agreement require no action by or in respect of, or filing with,
any governmental body, agency or official.

         4. Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by it of
this Agreement do not and will not (a) violate its certificate of incorporation
or bylaws or (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3
above, violate any applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, injunction, order
or decree.

         5. Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding
pending against it, or to its knowledge threatened against or affecting it
before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official
which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially
delay the transactions contemplated hereby.




<PAGE>   76
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

AL1 ASSET TRANSFER TO AL2

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             ADJUSTED
                                        9/30/96 AL1                         9/30/96 AL1                ALLOCATIONS
                                       BALANCE SHEET     ADJUSTMENTS       BALANCE SHEET          AL1*               AL2**
ASSETS

<S>                                         <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
CASH                                        [*]                                 [*]               [*]               [*]
OTHER CURRENT ASSETS                        [*]                                 [*]               [*]               [*]
FIXED ASSETS                                [*]                                 [*]               [*]               [*]
OTHER ASSETS                                [*]                                 [*]               [*]               [*]
INVESTMENT IN AL2                                             [*]               [*]               [*]
AL2 RECEIVABLE


TOTAL ASSETS                                [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]


LIABILITIES                                 [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]


TOTAL LIABILITIES                           [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]



CAPITAL                                                                                                             [*]
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
NET WORTH                                   [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]



TOTAL LIABILITIES AND                       [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]               [*]
CAPITAL
</TABLE>


* - Excluded Assets and Excluded Liabilities per Section 3.02 

** - Contributed Assets and Assumed Liabilities per section 3.02

*** - Estimate - Subject to revision including any revisions per Section 17.15


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   77
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                 
                                    Budget

[*] Budget                        AUDIOLOGIC/DANAVOX/RESOUND
(US$1000, except Units)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   1998       1998
       WORK PACKAGE    RESP      TOTAL       1996        1997    (Q1 & Q2)  (Q3 & Q4)     1999      2000
<S>                    <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>

[*]



































</TABLE>

Dx Payments 6,700 (of which $219,000 is a capital contribution under the
Partnership Agreement)

RS Payments 6,700 (of which $219,000 is a capital contribution under the
Partnership Agreement)


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
<PAGE>   78
                                                                       EXHIBIT C



AL1
EXCLUDED ASSETS AT 9/30/96


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
AL1 RAW MATERIALS AT 9/30/96 - [*]                                           [*]
TRADE RECEIVABLES AT 9/30/96 - [*]                                           [*]
[*]          COMPUTER                                                        [*]
OSCILLOSCOPE - 1/26/95 LAB EQUIP                                             [*]
NET ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS                                                     [*]


TOTAL EXCLUDED ASSETS                                                        [*]



AL1
EXCLUDED LIABILITIES AT 9/30/96


PAYROLL TAX LIABILITY                                                        [*]
ACCRUED VACATION                                                             [*]
SALES TAX PAYABLE                                                            [*]



TOTAL EXCLUDED LIABILITIES                                                   [*]
</TABLE>


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.27

                                AUDIOLOGIC, INC.

                         SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
                                    --------
                    STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                         Dated as of September 30, 1996
<PAGE>   2
                                  EXHIBITS LIST

Exhibit                                      Title
- -------                                      -----

         A                          Articles of Amendment

         B                          Registration Rights Agreement

         C                          Schedule of Exceptions

         D                          Stock Option Plan and Agreement

         E                          Non-Disclosure Agreement

         F                          Non-Competition Agreement

         G                          Founder Stock Restriction Agreement

         H                          Shareholders Agreement
<PAGE>   3
                         SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
                    STOCK AND COMMON STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 30th day of September, 1996,
by and among AUDIOLOGIC, INC. a Colorado corporation (the "Company"), GN DANAVOX
AS, a Danish corporation ("Danavox"), and ReSound Corporation, a California
corporation ("ReSound"), and for purposes of Article 7 and Article 8, each of
James E. Forrest, Robert K. Anderson, The Hill Partnership III, Morgan, Holland
Fund II, L.P., and Gilde Investment Fund B.V. (the "Series A Holders"). Danavox
and ReSound are sometimes referred to herein as "Purchaser" or "Purchasers."

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Company, Danavox, ReSound, certain management members, and
a newly-formed Delaware corporation are on this date entering into a joint
venture structured as a Delaware limited partnership, AudioLogic Hearing
Systems, L.P. ("AHS"), pursuant to which the partners will each undertake
certain development tasks, and license among themselves certain DSP
technologies, all as described in the AudioLogic Hearing Systems, L.P. Amended
and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of September 30, 1996
(the "Partnership Agreement");

         WHEREAS, while AHS pursues such DSP technologies, the Company will
continue to develop and pursue its technologies for non-hearing aid markets;

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to sell to Purchasers, and subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, the Purchasers wish to subscribe to
purchase up to 440,528 shares of the Company's Series C Convertible Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value (the "Series C Preferred") and 441,610 shares of the
Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), the Series C Preferred
being purchased by ReSound and the 441,610 shares of Common Stock being
purchased by Danavox.

                                    AGREEMENT

         In consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and conditions set
forth below, the parties mutually agree as follows:
<PAGE>   4
1.       PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES.

S1 The Company has authorized the issuance and sale (i) to ReSound of up to
440,528 shares of its Series C Preferred at a price of $2.27 per share (the
"Original Purchase Price"), and (ii) to Danavox of up to 441,610 shares of its
Common Stock at a price of $.085 per share. The Series C Preferred shall have
the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the Articles of Amendment to
the Articles of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Articles of
Amendment"). The Series C Preferred and the Common Stock actually purchased by
the Purchasers hereunder shall be referred to as the "Purchased Securities."


2.       CLOSINGS OF PURCHASES AND SALES.

S1 Initial Closing. Subject to the conditions to closing set forth below, the
Company will sell (i) to ReSound, and ReSound will purchase from the Company,
220,264 shares of Series C Preferred at a price per share equal to the Original
Purchase Price, and (ii) to Danavox and Danavox will purchase from the Company
441,610 shares of Common Stock at $.085 per share. Closing of the sale and
purchase of such 220,264 shares of the Series C Preferred and 441,610 shares of
Common Stock shall take place (the "Initial Closing") at the offices of Ireland,
Stapleton, Pryor & Pascoe, P.C., at 10:00 a.m. on September 30, 1996, or such
other place, date and time as may be mutually agreed to by the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Initial Closing Date"). At the Initial Closing, the Company
will deliver to ReSound, in cancellation of indebtedness, stock certificates
representing the 220,264 shares of Series C Preferred so purchased, it being
acknowledged that the $500,000 purchase price was advanced to the Company prior
to May 1, 1996. The purchase price of the Common Stock will be paid by check or
wire transfer by Danavox at the Initial Closing.


S2 Subsequent Closing. ReSound is hereby granted the option to purchase an
additional 220,264 shares of Series C Preferred at the Original Purchase Price
on January 1, 1997 (the "Subsequent Closing Date"). If such additional shares of
Series C Preferred are not purchased by ReSound, Danavox shall purchase such
shares from the Company at the Subsequent Closing. The "Initial Closing" and the
"Subsequent Closing" shall be collectively referred to as the "Closings," and
the "Initial Closing Date" and the "Subsequent Closing Dates" shall be
collectively referred to herein as the "Closing Date."


S3 Danavox Option on ReSound Series C Preferred if Termination. If the joint
venture for AHS is terminated pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the Agreement in
Principle between ReSound, the Company, and Danavox, dated April 19, 1996,
Danavox shall have the right to purchase from ReSound at the Original Purchase
Price the 220,264 shares of Series C Preferred purchased by ReSound at the
Initial Closing, as well as the additional 220,264 shares of Series C Preferred
if purchased by ReSound at the Subsequent Closing, such purchases by Danavox
from ReSound to take place promptly after the date of such termination. The
Company and Danavox


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   5
agree that, in the event of such termination of the AHS joint venture, such
purchases by Danavox from ReSound, as well as any purchase by Danavox of Series
C Preferred at the Subsequent Closing, shall be deemed purchases of Series B
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated October 17, 1995 (the "Series B
Purchase Agreement") between the Company and Danavox. To the extent such
purchases of Series C Preferred by Danavox from ReSound and from the Company at
the Subsequent Closing (as converted to Series B Preferred purchases by Danavox
at the Series B Original Purchase Price, as defined in the Series B Purchase
Agreement) results in Danavox purchasing more than 1,000,000 shares of Series B
Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Series B Purchase Agreement, such
excess number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall immediately be
converted into an equal number of warrants in the form of Exhibit A to the
Series B Purchase Agreement, and the purchase of such excess number of shares of
Series B Preferred Stock shall be deemed a purchase of such warrants pursuant to
Section 2.2 of the Series B Purchase Agreement. Appropriate adjustment will also
be made with respect to the Common Stock purchase by Danavox at the Initial
Closing, if any, so that such investment is also converted to be as if made
pursuant to the Series B Purchase Agreement.

3.       DEFINITIONS.

         For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

                  "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                  "Blue Sky Laws" shall have the same definition as provided in
the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  "Company" shall mean AudioLogic, Inc.

                  "Conversion Stock" shall mean only the common stock of the
Company, $.01 par value, into which the Series C Preferred is convertible, and
any stock into which such common stock may thereafter have been changed or which
may have been received as a stock dividend on such common stock.

                  "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                  "Good Accounting Practice" shall mean, as to a particular
corporation, such accounting practice as, in the opinion of the independent
certified public accountants regularly retained by such corporation, conforms at
the time to generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent
basis (except for changes in application in which such accountants concur). Any
accounting terms not defined in this Agreement shall have the respective
meanings given to them under Good Accounting Practice consistent with those
applied in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements as
(or as if) audited.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   6
                  "Key Employee" shall mean John L. Melanson and Jason Carlson
and any employee hereafter designated as a "Key Employee" by the Company's Board
of Directors.

                  "Material Adverse Event" shall mean an occurrence having a
consequence which in fact is or may be materially adverse, either individually
or when viewed in the aggregate with all occurrences, as to the business,
operations, assets, or financial condition of the Company.

                  "On a Fully Diluted Basis" shall refer to the number of shares
of common stock of the Company which would be outstanding and issued assuming
that all the shares of common stock issuable (1) upon the conversion or
exchange of the Company's convertible or exchangeable securities, including
debentures, and (2) upon the exercise of the Company's outstanding options for
the purchase of common stock and rights to subscribe for or purchase common
stock, were in fact issued.

                  "Person" shall mean an individual, a partnership, a
corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a limited liability
company, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental
entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

                  "Preferred Stock" shall refer to the Company's Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share, the Company's Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share (including warrant shares
issuable pursuant to the Series B Purchase Agreement), and the Company's Series
C Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value per share.

                  "Proprietary Rights" shall mean all computer software,
software programs, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark
applications, trade secrets, service marks, trade names, copyrights, inventions,
drawings, designs, customer lists, proprietary know-how or information, other
rights with respect thereto, or any other intangible property rights.

                  "Registration Rights Agreement" shall mean that certain
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated September 30, 1996, in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, as it may be amended from time to time in
the future, among the Company, the Purchasers and certain other parties.

                  "Shareholders Agreement" shall mean that certain Amended and
Restated Shareholders Agreement dated September 30, 1996, in the form attached
as Exhibit H hereto, as it may be amended from time to time in the future, among
the holders of Preferred Stock.

                  "Stock Purchase Agreement" or "Agreement" shall mean this
Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof, and as it may be amended
from time to time, and entered into among the Company and the Purchasers.

                  "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or partnership in
which the Company


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   7
owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock having voting power to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors of that corporation or partnership.
"Subsidiary" also includes any partnership in which the Company or one of its
subsidiaries owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the units of general
partnership.

1.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASERS.

         Each Purchaser represents and warrants as follows:

S1 Requisite Power and Authority. Purchaser has all necessary power and
authority under all applicable provisions of law to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and to carry out the provisions
hereof and thereof. All action on Purchaser's part required for the lawful
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement
has been or will be effectively taken prior to the Closing Date. Upon their
execution and delivery, each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights
Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights, (ii) as limited by the application
of general principles of equity, and (iii) to the extent that the enforceability
of the indemnification provisions of Section 1.7 of the Registration Rights
Agreement may be limited by applicable laws.


S2 Consents. All consents, approvals, orders, authorizations or registration,
qualification, designation, declaration or filing with any governmental or
banking authority on the part of Purchaser required in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement have been or
shall have been obtained prior to and be effective as of the Closing.

S3 Investment Representations. Purchaser understands that neither the Purchased
Securities nor any Conversion Stock issuable upon conversion, if any, of the
Purchased Securities, have been registered under the Act. Purchaser also
understands that the Purchased Securities are being offered and sold pursuant to
an exemption from registration contained in the Act based in part upon
Purchaser's representations contained in this Agreement. Each Purchaser hereby
represents and warrants as follows:

                  (A) Restricted Stock. Purchaser understands that neither the
Purchased Securities nor the Conversion Stock has been registered under the Act,
and the Company has no present intention of registering the Purchased Securities
or the Conversion Stock. Purchaser understands that it has no registration
rights with respect to the Purchased Securities or the Conversion Stock except
as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

                  (B) Purchaser Bears Economic Risk. Purchaser is in a position
to bear the economic risk of this investment indefinitely unless the Purchased
Securities or the Conversion


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   8
Stock is registered pursuant to the Act, or an exemption from registration is
available. Purchaser also understands that, even if available, such exemption
may not allow Purchaser to transfer all or any portion of the Purchased
Securities or the Conversion Stock, if any, under the circumstances, in the
amount or at the times Purchaser might propose.

                  (C) Acquisition for Own Account. Purchaser is acquiring the
Purchased Securities for its own account for investment and not with a view
toward their distribution.

                  (D) Purchaser Can Protect Its Own Interests. Purchaser
represents that by reason of its, or of its management's, business or financial
experience, Purchaser has the capacity to protect its own interests in
connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement. Purchaser is
not a corporation or partnership specifically formed for the purpose
of consummating such transactions.

                  (E) Accredited Investor. Purchaser qualifies as an "Accredited
Investor," as such term is defined in Regulation D under the Act.

                  (F) Access to Information. Purchaser has been given access to
all Company documents, records, and other information, has received physical
delivery of all those which it has requested, and has had adequate opportunity
to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Company's officers,
employees, agents, accountants and representatives concerning the Company's
business, operations, financial condition, assets, liabilities and all other
matters relevant to its investment in the Purchased Securities. Such access to
information and any investigation undertaken by Purchaser shall not constitute a
waiver of any representations and warranties of the Company hereunder.

S4                Restrictive Legends.

                  (A) Each certificate representing Purchased Securities and
Conversion Stock shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of this
Agreement) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with legends substantially in the
forms of the legends set forth in Section 1.2(D) of the Registration Rights
Agreement and Section 4 of the Shareholders Agreement (in addition to any legend
required under applicable state and corporate securities laws).

                  (B) Each Purchaser hereby consents to the restrictions
contained above and to the notation of "stop-transfer" restrictions in the
Company's stock transfer books relative to its holdings and to assist in the
enforcement of the limitations set forth herein.

                  (C) The Company shall be obligated to reissue promptly
unlegended certificates for Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in
Section 1.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement) in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.2(D) of the Registration Rights Agreement.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   9
1.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

         Except as provided in the Schedule of Exceptions attached hereto as
Exhibit C or as otherwise disclosed in this Agreement or any of the Exhibits
attached hereto, the Company represents and warrants to the Purchasers as
follows:

S1 Corporate Organization. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado, with
perpetual corporate existence; and has full power and authority and legal right
to conduct its business as presently conducted. The Company is not required to
be licensed or qualified to transact business in any jurisdiction other than the
State of Colorado.

S2 Authorization; No Breach. The Company has full power, authority, and legal
right to execute and deliver, and to perform and observe the provisions of, this
Agreement and all other documents provided for in this Agreement to which the
Company is a party (the "Documents"), including the Registration Rights
Agreement. The Documents have each been duly authorized, executed, and delivered
by the Company and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except (i) as limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of
general application affecting enforcement of creditors' rights, (ii) as limited
by the application of general principles of equity, and (iii) to the extent that
the enforceability of the indemnification provisions of Section 1.7 of the
Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable laws.

S3 Consents. All consents, approvals, orders, authorizations or registration,
qualification, designation, declaration or filing with any governmental or
banking authority on the part of the Company required in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement have been or
shall have been obtained prior to and be effective as of the Closing.


S4 Capitalization.

                  (A) Authorized and Issued. As of the Initial Closing Date, the
authorized and issued capitalization of the Company will consist of:

                           (1) Preferred Stock. 5,034,559 shares of Preferred
Stock with par value of $0.01 per share; of these, 2,829,326 are designated
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, all of which is outstanding, 1,764,705 are
designated Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, 880,000 of which are
outstanding, and 440,528 are designated Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock, none of which is outstanding prior to the Initial Closing.


                           (2) Common Stock. 15,000,000 shares of common stock,
$.01 par

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   10
value, of which 370,875 shares are outstanding, duly and validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable.

                  (B) No Other Rights Outstanding. Except as disclosed in or
contemplated by this Agreement or Exhibit C attached hereto, there are no other
outstanding warrants, options, conversion privileges, rights of first refusal,
or other rights or agreements (whether or not presently exercisable by their
respective terms) to purchase or otherwise to acquire or issue any shares of
capital stock of the Company or any preemptive or contractual rights with
respect to issuance of such capital stock except for 856,230 shares of Common
Stock which are reserved for issuance pursuant to options already granted under
the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") attached as Exhibit D
hereto, 5,250 shares of Common Stock which have been issued upon exercise of
previously granted options, and 55,246 shares of Common Stock which are reserved
for future grant under the Option Plan. The Company has reserved a sufficient
number of shares of Conversion Stock for issuance upon conversion or exercise,
as applicable, of the Purchased Securities. Exhibit C includes a complete list
of the Company's shareholders, warrant holders and option holders immediately
prior to the Closing.

S5 Outstanding Indebtedness. The Company does not have any material liabilities
or obligations, absolute or contingent. The Company has performed in all
material respects all obligations heretofore required to be performed by it and
is not in default under, or in breach of, or in receipt of any claim of default
under or breach of, any material agreement. The Company has no present
expectation or intention of not performing in all material respects all such
obligations and it has no knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by other
parties. The Company is not a party to any contract or commitment which, if
properly performed by all parties thereto in accordance with the terms thereof,
could constitute a Material Adverse Event affecting the Company.

S6 Compliance. The Company is not in violation of any term of its Articles of
Incorporation, as amended to date, any directors or shareholders resolutions, or
Bylaws, or in violation in any material respect, either in any case or in the
aggregate, of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument,
judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company.
The execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement
and the Registration Rights Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Purchased
Securities pursuant to this Agreement, will not result in any such violation,
nor will they conflict with, or constitute a default under, any such term, or
result in the creation of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, or charge
upon any of the properties or assets of the Company pursuant to any such terms.

S7 Title to Property. The Company has good and marketable title to the real
properties, tangible personal properties, Proprietary Rights, and other assets
necessary to the operation of its business, other than certain required capital
equipment (which required capital equipment will be purchased through use of the
proceeds of this offering). Such properties and


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   11
assets are not subject to any material liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances
or charges of any kind except liens for current taxes and assessments not
delinquent. All leases by which the Company leases real or personal property are
in good standing, are valid and effective in accordance with their respective
terms, and the Company enjoys quiet enjoyment under all such leases. All
property owned or used by the Company is in good condition and repair. The
Company has complied with all material environmental laws and regulations.


S8 Material Contracts and Commitments. The Company has no material contracts
(including without limitation, any employee benefit plans), mortgages,
agreements, and instruments, other than this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Option Plan, the Founders' Stock Restriction Agreements, dated as
of August 10, 1992, and those agreements reflected in Exhibit C attached hereto.

S9 No Pending Material Litigation or Proceedings. There are no actions, suits,
investigations or proceedings (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the
Company) pending, affecting or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
threatened against the Company, before or by any governmental instrumentality,
domestic or foreign, or any court, arbitrator or grand jury, that constitutes or
might constitute a Material Adverse Event. The Company is not in default with
respect to any judgment, order, demand, or regulation of any court, arbitrator,
grand jury or of any governmental agency, default under which might have
consequences which would or may constitute a Material Adverse Event. No event
has occurred nor does any condition exist on the basis of which any litigation,
proceeding or investigation might properly be instituted. Neither the Company
nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any officer or Key Employee of the
Company, is in default with respect to any order, writ, injunction, decree,
ruling or decision of any court, commission, board or other government agency
which default or defaults might constitute, either in any case or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Event as to the business, operations, affairs, or
conditions of the Company or any of its properties or assets. The foregoing
sentences include, without limiting their generality, actions pending or
threatened (or any basis therefor known to the Company) involving the prior
employment of any of the Company's officers or employees or their use in
connection with the Company's business of any information or techniques
allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers.


S10 No Brokers and Finders. The Company has not retained and is under no
obligation to pay any investment banker, broker, or finder in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


S11 No Registration Rights Outstanding. Except as provided in the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Company is not under any obligation to register any of its
presently outstanding securities or any of its securities which may be issued in
the future.

S12 Representations True and Correct. This Agreement and the Exhibits attached
hereto do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit any
material fact necessary


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   12
in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
There exists no fact which will likely have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition, its operations, or its prospects which has not
been disclosed to the Purchasers in this Agreement or the Exhibits. Except for
general economic or industry conditions, there is no information known to the
Company which has not been disclosed herein, in writing or orally, by the
Company to the Purchasers which materially and adversely affects, or in the
future in its opinion may materially and adversely affect, the business,
properties, assets or condition, financial or other, of the Company.

S13 Related Parties. Except with respect to AHS, to the knowledge of the
Company, no officer, director or Key Employee of the Company, or of any related
party of any such person, has, either directly or indirectly, (i) an interest in
any corporation, partnership, firm, or other person or entity which furnishes or
sells services or products which are similar to or compete with those furnished
or sold by the Company, or (ii) a beneficial interest in any contract or
agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound. For
purposes of this Section there shall be disregarded any interest which arises
solely from the ownership of less than a two percent (2%) equity interest in a
corporation whose stock is regularly traded on any national securities exchange
or in the over-the-counter market.

S14 Employees. No employee of the Company is in violation of any term of any
employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, or any other contract or
agreement due to the relationship of any such employee with the Company and the
nature of the business now conducted or to be conducted by the Company. Each
employee of the Company has executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement acceptable to
the Company in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto. Each Key
Employee has executed a Non-Competition Agreement in substantially the form of
Exhibit F attached hereto. No officer or Key Employee of the Company is a party
to or bound by any agreement, contract or commitment, or subject to any
restrictions, particularly but without limitation in connection with any
previous employment of any such person, which either in any case or in the
aggregate materially and adversely affects, or in the future may (so far as the
Company can reasonably foresee) materially and adversely affect, the business or
operations of the Company or the right of any such person to participate in the
affairs of the Company. To the best knowledge of the Company, no officer or Key
Employee has any present intention of terminating his or her employment with the
Company, and the Company has no present intention of terminating any such
employment.

S15 Proprietary Rights.

                  (A) The Company owns or possesses or will obtain prior to the
Initial Closing for no material additional consideration adequate licenses for
all Proprietary Rights used in its business, and the same are or will be
sufficient to conduct said business as it has been and is contemplated as being
conducted.


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   13
                  (B) The current and proposed operations of the Company do not
conflict with nor infringe upon, and no one has asserted to the Company that
such operations conflict with or infringe upon, any intangible property rights
owned, possessed, or used by any third party which are of the same kind as the
Proprietary Rights and, to the knowledge of the Company, none has been
threatened.
                  (C) There are no facts which would result in any claim which
would have a material adverse effect on the respective condition (financial or
otherwise) of the business, net worth, assets, properties, or operations of the
Company based on an assertion that it does not have the unrestricted rights to
use, free of any rights or claims of others, all Proprietary Rights in the
development, manufacture, use, sale, or other disposition of any or all products
or services presently being or contemplated to be used, furnished, or sold in
the conduct of the Company's business.

                  (D) There are no outstanding licenses or agreements of any
kind relating to Proprietary Rights, nor is the Company bound by or a party to
any licenses or agreements of any kind relating to Proprietary Rights, nor is
the Company bound by or a party to any licenses or agreements of any kind with
respect to the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights,
trade secrets, licenses, information and proprietary rights of any person or
entity.
                  (E) Except with respect to commitments to AHS, the Company is
not aware that any of its employees is obligated under any contract (including
licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject
to any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that
would interfere with the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests
of the Company or that would conflict with the Company's business as proposed to
be conducted. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement or the
Registration Rights Agreement, nor the carrying on of the Company's business by
the employees of the Company, or the conduct of the Company's business as
presently proposed to be conducted, will conflict with or result in a breach of
the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
contract, covenant or instrument under which any of such employees is now
obligated. The Company does not believe it is or will be necessary to utilize
any inventions of any of its employees (or people it currently intends to hire)
made while such employee was an employee of another company or entity.

S16 Transactions with Affiliates. There are no loans, leases or other continuing
transactions between the Company and any officer or director of the Company or
any person owning 5% or more of the common stock of the Company or any member of
such officer's, director's or stockholder's immediate family or any corporation
or other entity controlled by such officer, director or stockholder or by a
member of such stockholder's immediate family.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   14
S17 Subsidiaries. The Company does not own any shares of stock or any other
security or interest in any other Person, except for AHS.

S18 Financial Statements. The Company has delivered to the Purchasers its
balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow at and for the year
ended December 31, 1995, each of which has been reviewed by Arthur Andersen, and
its unaudited balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow at and
for the eight-month period ended August 31, 1996 (the "Financial Statements").
The Financial Statements, including (with respect to Subsequent Closings) all
financial statements to be provided pursuant to Section 7.9(A) hereof, are and
will be, as the case may be, complete and correct in all material respects and
have been and will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with Good
Accounting Practice applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
indicated, except that the unaudited Financial Statements may not contain all
notes and year-end adjustments required by Good Accounting Practice. The
Financial Statements fairly present, and will fairly present, as the case may
be, the financial condition and operating results of the Company as of the
dates, and during the periods, indicated.

S19 No Material Adverse Change. Since August 31, 1996, there has been no
material adverse change in the Company's financial condition, operating results,
business prospects, employee relations, customer relations or otherwise.

S20 Agreements Between Stockholders. There exist no agreements between any
stockholder and the Company, or to the best knowledge of the Company, between
any of the stockholders of the Company, relating to the Company or its capital
stock, except for the Founders' Stock Restriction Agreements, the Stock Option
Plan and related Stock Option Agreements, this Agreement, the Series A Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 10, 1992 and amended as of July 27, 1993,
the Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements dated August 16, 1993 and
October 17, 1995, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Shareholders
Agreement.

S21 Governmental Consent. No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or
declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement or the other agreements contemplated hereby, or the consummation by
the Company of any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for
the filing of a Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission and which
filing, if necessary, shall be made promptly following the Closing.

1.       CONDITIONS TO PARTIES' OBLIGATIONS.

S1 Conditions to Purchasers' Obligations. The Purchasers' obligation to purchase
the Purchased Securities and to otherwise consummate the transactions
contemplated in this Agree-


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   15
ment is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions at each Closing
hereunder (except as otherwise provided below).

                  (A) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The Company's
representations and warranties in this Agreement and in any certificate or
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects on and as of each Closing Date.

                  (B) Officer's Certificate. Purchasers shall have received a
certificate in form acceptable to the Purchasers dated as of each Closing Date
and signed by the President or any Vice-President and by the Secretary or the
Treasurer of the Company to the effect that the conditions of Subsections
6.1(A), (C), (F), (G) and (I) have been satisfied, and a certificate in form
acceptable to the Purchasers dated as of the Initial Closing Date and signed by
the President or any Vice-President and by the Secretary or the Treasurer of the
Company to the effect that the conditions of Subsections 6.1(A), (C), (F), (G),
(I), (H), (J) (K), (L) and (M) have been satisfied.

                  (C) Good Standing Certificates. The Company shall have
delivered to counsel for the Purchasers a good standing certificate for the
Company for the State of Colorado.

                  (D) Opinion of Company Counsel. At each Closing, the
Purchasers shall have received an opinion dated as of the Closing Date of
Ireland, Stapleton, Pryor & Pascoe, P.C., counsel for the Company, satisfactory
to the Purchasers and their counsel, to the effect that (as modified in the case
of any Subsequent Closing to reflect the occurrence of the Initial Closing):

                           (1) The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Colorado,
with perpetual corporate existence; and has full power and authority and legal
right to conduct its business as presently conducted.

                           (2) The Company has full power, authority, and legal
right to execute and deliver, and to perform and observe the provisions of, this
Agreement and all other documents provided for in this Agreement to which the
Company is a party (the "Documents"), including the Registration Rights
Agreement.

                           (3) The Documents have each been duly authorized,
executed, and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of
creditors' rights, (ii) as limited by the application of general principles of
equity, (iii) to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnification
provisions of Section 1.7 of the Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by
applicable laws, and (iv) as the enforceability of any Non-Competition Agreement
may be limited by applicable laws.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   16
                           (4) The execution, delivery, and performance of the
Documents by the Company, the offering, sale and issuance of the Purchased
Securities and the issuance of Conversion Stock upon the conversion of the
Series C Preferred do not and will not violate the terms of its Articles of
Incorporation, as amended by the Articles of Amendment, directors' or
shareholders' resolutions, or Bylaws. The execution, delivery, performance of,
and compliance with, the Documents by the Company, the offering, sale and
issuance of the Purchased Securities and the issuance of Conversion Stock upon
the conversion of the Series C Preferred will not violate or result in the
breach of any of the terms, conditions, or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, or result in the creation of any lien, charge, or encumbrance on
any property or assets of the Company, contrary or pursuant to the terms of any
of the agreements listed on Exhibit C of this Agreement.

                           (5) Immediately following consummation of all
transactions contemplated in the Agreement to be consummated at the Closing, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 5,034,559 shares of
Preferred Stock with par value of one cent ($0.01) per share, of which Preferred
Stock, 2,829,326 are designated as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, all of
which is outstanding, duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
1,764,705 are designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, 880,000 of
which are outstanding, duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
and 440,528 are designated Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which
is outstanding; and 15,000,000 shares of one class of common stock of $.01 par
value per share, of which 370,875 shares are outstanding, duly and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The shares of Series C Preferred of the
Company issued to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement have been duly
authorized for issuance and are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable
shares of the Preferred Stock of the Company, will be duly registered in the
name of the Purchasers on the books of the Company, and have the rights,
restrictions, privileges, and preferences as set forth in the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended to date, and such rights, restrictions, privileges,
and preferences are binding, valid and enforceable against the Company according
to the terms of the Articles of Incorporation. The shares of Conversion Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Series C Preferred have been duly and validly
reserved and are not subject to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal
and, upon proper conversion according to the terms of the Articles of
Incorporation, will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. The form
of stock certificate for the Series C Preferred has been duly adopted by the
Company and conforms to all applicable legal requirements. To Counsel's
knowledge, except as disclosed in the Agreement and Exhibit C attached thereto,
there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights of first refusal, or other
rights to purchase or acquire any capital stock of the Company.

                           (6) The offer, sale, and issuance of the Purchased
Securities in conformity with the terms of the Agreement and the issuance of
Common Stock upon conversion of the Series C Preferred constitute transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of the Act.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   17
                           (7) Except as set forth in this Agreement and the
Exhibits attached to this Agreement, there are no actions, proceedings, or
investigations pending or, to the best of counsel's knowledge, threatened
against the Company or its properties which, either in any case or in the
aggregate, might result in any material adverse change in the business or
financial condition of the Company or any of its properties or assets or in any
material impairment of the right or ability of the Company to carry on its
business as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted, or in any material
liability on the part of the Company, and none which questions the validity of
the Documents or any action taken or to be taken in connection therewith.

                           (8) Without investigation for this purpose other than
reasonable inquiry of the Company's officers and directors, Counsel has become
aware of no facts which would lead it to believe that any employee of the
Company is in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent
disclosure agreement, or any other contract or agreement due to the relationship
of any such employee with the Company and the nature of the business now
conducted or to be conducted by the Company.

                           Such Counsel may base that portion of its opinion
pertaining to factual matters upon certificates or letters signed by the Company
or corporate officers of the Company, and may base that portion of its opinion
pertaining to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and the
State of Colorado upon the opinion of counsel in such other jurisdiction,
provided copies of such certificates, letters, and opinions are furnished to the
Purchasers with said opinion, and that the Purchasers may rely on such
certificates, letters, and opinions.

                  (A) Terms of Series C Preferred. At the Initial Closing, the
Company shall have filed with the Secretary of State of Colorado the proposed
Articles of Amendment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, setting forth the
terms, rights, and preferences of the Series C Preferred, and such Articles of
Amendment shall be effective.

                  (B) Proceedings and Documents Satisfactory. At each Closing,
all documents and proceedings incident to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchasers and
their counsel. The Purchasers shall have received all documents or other
evidence which the Purchasers and their counsel may have requested in connection
with such transactions, including copies of records of all corporate proceedings
in connection with such transaction and in compliance with the conditions set
forth in this Section 6.1 in form and substance satisfactory to the
Purchasers.
                  (C) Execution of Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition
Agreements. Each employee of the Company other than Christopher Schweitzer shall
have executed a Non-Disclosure Agreement, in the form of Exhibit E attached to
this Agreement. Each Key Employee shall have executed a NonCompetition Agreement
in the form of Exhibit F attached to this Agreement.


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   18
                  (D) Execution of Founders' Stock Restriction Agreement. The
Company and John L. Melanson, Leonard J. Koch and Jeff M. Dinapoli shall have
executed the Founders' Stock Restriction Agreements in the form of Exhibit G
hereto.

                  (E) Certified Articles and Bylaws. The Company shall have
delivered to counsel for the Purchasers a copy of the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, which copy shall be certified by the Secretary of the
Company to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.

                  (F) Registration Rights Agreement. At the Initial Closing, the
Company, the Purchasers and certain other parties shall have executed the
Registration Rights Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached
hereto.

                  (G) Election of Directors. As of the Initial Closing Date, the
Board of Directors of the Company shall consist of John L. Melanson, Carl D.
Carman, Robert B. Louthan, Edwin M. Kania, Jr., Ole Lund and Nikolai Bisgaard.

                  (H) Partnership Agreement. The Company and the Purchasers and
certain other parties shall have executed the Partnership Agreement for the AHS
joint venture, as well as the agreements contemplated thereby.

                  (I) Shareholders Agreement. As of the Initial Closing, the
Purchasers and the other holders of Preferred Stock of the Company shall have
executed the Shareholders Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H
hereto.

S1 Conditions to the Company's Obligations. The Company's obligation to
consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement is subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions at each Closing hereunder:

                  (A) Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The
Purchasers' representations and warranties herein or in any document delivered
pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of each Closing
Date.
                  (B) Proceedings Satisfactory. All corporate and other
proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and all documents incident to it shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
the Company and its counsel, and the Company and its counsel shall have received
all such originals or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably
request.

S2 Failure of Conditions. In the event any of the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.1 or 6.2 are not satisfied and are not waived by the appropriate
party, this Agreement shall terminate and the parties shall be free of any
rights or obligations hereunder.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   19

1.       COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         The Company and each holder of Series A and Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock (the "Series A and B Holders") hereby agree that Article 7 of
the Series A Preferred Stock Agreement dated August 12, 1992, as amended as of
July 26, 1993, and Article 7 of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
Agreements dated August 16, 1993 and October 17, 1995, are superseded and
replaced in their entirety by this Article 7. The Company's covenants and
obligations as set forth in this Article 7 shall continue in full force and
effect so long as any Preferred Stock and Conversion Stock is outstanding until
the first to occur of: (i) the date on which the Company is required to file a
report with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or
(15) of the Exchange Act, by reason of the Company's having registered any of
its common stock pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act; (ii) the date on
which the Company consummates the sale of all, or substantially all, of its
assets; or (iii) the effective date of a merger, reorganization or consolidation
of the Company (a "Merger") in which the holders of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company immediately prior to such Merger do not hold a
majority of the voting securities of the entity surviving immediately after such
Merger:

S1 Office or Agency Maintained. The Company will maintain an office in Colorado
where Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase Preferred Stock may be presented
for exchange, registration, or transfer.

S2 Corporate Existence and Reserved Shares. The Company will at all times
maintain, preserve, and renew its corporate existence and its rights, and comply
with all related laws applicable to the Company, but nothing contained in this
Section shall require the Company to maintain, preserve, or renew any right
which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, is not necessary or desirable
in the conduct of the business of the Company. The Company will at all times
reserve sufficient shares of Series B Preferred Stock to permit exercise of any
warrants and sufficient shares of common stock to permit the conversion of the
Preferred Stock.

S3 Properties Maintained. The Company will, insofar as it is not prevented by
causes beyond its control, at all times maintain, preserve, protect, and keep
its property in good repair, working order, and condition. From time to time,
the Company will make all repairs, renewals, replacements, extensions,
additions, betterments, and improvements to its property as are necessary and
proper, so that the Company's business may be conducted properly and efficiently
at all times, but nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from
selling, abandoning, or otherwise disposing of any material asset or property,
if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, such property is no longer of use
in the business of the Company, and such disposition is in the interest of the
Company and not disadvantageous to the holders of the Preferred Stock.


S4 Insurance. The Company will provide for itself insurance against loss or
damage of the kinds customarily insured against by corporations similarly
situated, with reputable insurers


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   20
or with the United States Government, in such amounts, with such deductibles as
shall be necessary for the Company not to become a coinsurer, and by such
methods as shall be adequate for companies of a similar size and character. The
Company will at all times similarly maintain, in full force and effect,
comprehensive general liability insurance against loss or damage to it for
bodily injury or death in or about any premises occupied by it, and liability
insurance against loss or damage to it, for bodily injury or death or injury to
property occurring by reason of its operation of any motor vehicle.

S5 Taxes, Assessments and Other Charges Paid. The Company will duly pay and
discharge, as they become due and payable, all taxes, assessments and
governmental and other charges, levies, or claims levied or imposed, which if
unpaid might become a lien or charge upon the franchises, properties, assets,
earnings, or business of the Company, but nothing contained in this Section
shall require the Company to pay and discharge any such tax, assessment, charge,
levy, or claim so long as the Company in good faith shall contest its validity
and shall set aside on its books adequate reserves for it.

S6 Indebtedness Paid. The Company will pay punctually when due and payable any
indebtedness incurred or assumed by it. The Company will also perform and
observe the associated covenants, provisions, and conditions to be performed and
observed by the Company, in connection with any mortgage, pledge, security
interest, or other lien existing at any time upon any of the assets of the
Company, but nothing contained in this Section shall require the Company to pay
any such indebtedness or to perform or observe any such covenants, provisions,
and conditions so long as the Company in good faith shall contest any claim
which may be asserted against it in respect of any such indebtedness or of any
such covenants, provisions, and conditions and shall set aside on its books
adequate reserves for it.

S7 Good Accounting and Corporate Practice. The Company will at all times
maintain appropriate corporate records, including records of all directors or
shareholders meetings, minutes and all share transactions, and keep proper books
of record and account (including ledgers and order books) in which full, true,
and correct entries will be made of its transactions in accordance with Good
Accounting Practice.

S8 Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply with all applicable statutes,
rules, regulations, orders, and restrictions of the United States of America,
foreign countries, states, and municipalities, and of any governmental agency
and instrumentality of the foregoing, and of any court, arbitrator, or grand
jury, applicable to the Company's business and assets.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   21
S9                Information Rights.

                  (A) Financial Statements. The Company will furnish to a
Purchaser certain financial statements (as set forth below) for so long as a
Purchaser owns at least 100,000 shares of the Preferred Stock (or shares of
Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof):

                           (1) As soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal year, and in any event within 90 days thereafter;

                           (2) As soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, and in any event within 45 days thereafter;
and
                           (3) As soon as practicable after the end of each of
the first eleven (11) months of each fiscal year, and in any event within 30
days thereafter.

The financial statements so provided shall include consolidated balance sheets
of the Company as at the end of such period, consolidated statements of income
and surplus for that period, and consolidated statements of cash flow for the
Company for that period. The statements shall be prepared in accordance with
Good Accounting Practice and, in case of the fiscal year end statements, shall
be approved by the Company's Board of Directors and audited by the Company's
independent certified public accountants.

                  (A) Additional Documents Furnished by Company. The Company
shall also furnish to a Purchaser for so long as it owns at least 100,000 shares
of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof), an Annual
Plan and Compliance Certificate, as the case may be, provided that the plan or
certificate is described by any of the following:

                           (1) Annual Plan. On or before December 15 of each
year, a preliminary Proposed Annual Plan and Operations Budget as approved by
the Board of Directors, which shall then be finalized within sixty (60) days
after the end of the fiscal year utilizing the final audited results from the
previous year. The Annual Plan and Operations Budget shall be a working
document, and shall be in any form chosen by the management of the Company and
acceptable to its Board of Directors.

                           (2) Compliance Certificate. Not later than the time
of delivery of the financial statements required by Section 7.9(A)(1) above, a
certificate signed by the President or one of the Vice Presidents and the
Treasurer of the Company, stating that a review of the activities of the Company
during that fiscal year has been made under their supervision with a view to
determining whether the Company had performed and observed all its respective
obligations under this Agreement. This certificate shall either (i) state that
to the best of its knowledge the Company had, during that fiscal year, performed
and observed each covenant and


                                      -19-
<PAGE>   22
condition of this Agreement or (ii) if the Company had not performed and
observed those covenants and conditions, specify all such defaults, their nature
and status, and what action the Company proposes to take with respect to each of
them.

                  (B) Visitation Rights. Subject to nondisclosure obligations
with respect to the Company's confidential information, a Purchaser, the Series
A and B Holders, or any of their employees, agents, or representatives, may from
time to time reasonably request the right to visit and inspect any of the
properties of the Company, to examine and make extracts from the books and
records of the Company, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with
its officers, directors, and independent accountants, all at reasonable times
and as often as may be reasonably requested, and the Company shall comply with
such requests. Subject to the same obligations, the Purchasers and the Series A
and B Holders shall receive timely notice of, shall receive all material
distributed in connection with, and shall have the right to attend as an
observer, all meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company except that
ReSound shall have such visitation rights only if it exercises its option to
purchase Series C Preferred at the Subsequent Closing. This right shall apply to
the Purchasers or Series A and B Holders only so long as he, she or it owns at
least 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock issued upon conversion
thereof) except that if Resound has such visitation rights as set forth above,
it shall maintain them until it sells any of its equity interest in the
Company.

S1 Expenses, Taxes and Interest Paid by the Company.


                  (A) Expenses. Each party will pay its own legal fees and other
expenses.

                  (B) Taxes. The Company shall also pay, and save the Purchasers
and Series A and B Holders harmless against, all liability with respect to
amounts payable as a result of any documentary, stamp, use, or similar taxes
which may be determined to be payable in connection with the issuance and
delivery of any of the Preferred Stock or the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock, or the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, or any modification, amendment, or alteration of the terms of
any of the Preferred Stock, Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock, or this Agreement.

                  (C) Interest. Provided that the Purchasers or a Series A or B
Holder promptly notifies the Company of all claims made against it, the Company
will pay any interest or penalties resulting from nonpayment or delay in payment
of any expense or tax to be paid under section 7.10(B) hereof, and any income
taxes in respect of any reimbursement by the Company for any of such expenses,
taxes, interest or penalties. The obligations of the Company under this Section
7.10 shall survive the conversion of all or a portion of the Preferred Stock
into Common Stock, if any.

S2 Approval of Company Transactions with Officers and Directors Required. Except
as disclosed on Exhibit C or with the written consent of the holders of
Preferred Stock (or


                                      -20-
<PAGE>   23
Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof) constituting 66% of the total
number of shares of Preferred Stock on an as-if-converted to Common Stock basis:

                  (A) The Company will not become indebted, either directly or
indirectly, to any of its officers or directors, or to any member of their
immediate families in any amount whatsoever, other than for payment of salary
for services rendered and reasonable expenses.

                  (B) None of its officers, directors, or members of their
immediate families will become indebted to the Company, except to the extent
approved by the Board of Directors in connection with the sale or transfer of
shares of the capital stock of the Company to such officers and directors.

                  (C) None of its officers, directors, or members of their
immediate families will become holders of any direct or indirect ownership
interest in any firm or corporation with which the Company is affiliated, which
competes with the Company, or with which the Company has a material business
relationship, except with respect to any aggregate interest in less than two
percent (2%) of the stock of any corporation whose stock is publicly traded.

                  (D) None of its officers, directors or members of their
immediate families will become directly or indirectly interested in any material
contract with the Company.

                  (E) The Company will not act as a guarantor or indemnitor of
any indebtedness of any other person, firm or corporation.

S3 Amendment of Articles and Bylaws. The Company shall take no action to amend,
repeal, or add any provision to the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of
the Company if such amendment would adversely affect the rights, preferences or
privileges of the Preferred Stock, without first obtaining approval of the
record holders of Preferred Stock in the manner provided by the Articles of
Incorporation.

S4 Material Contracts. The Company will perform and observe all material
covenants and provisions of all material contracts to which it is party. Nothing
in this Section shall require the Company to perform or observe any such
covenant or provision so long as the Company shall in good faith contest the
validity, enforceability, or application to it of any such covenant or
provision.

S5 Employee Sales and Securities Laws. From and after the Closing Date, the
Company will effect all offers or sales of, and grants of options to purchase,
shares of capital stock of the Company to its employees in transactions
registered or exempt from registration under the Act and in full compliance with
all applicable Blue Sky Laws.

S6 Compensation. The Company shall provide to the Board of Directors information


                                      -21-
<PAGE>   24
regarding proposed compensation and fringe benefits, both direct and indirect,
including salary, bonus and all other forms of compensation, of all officers and
key employees of the Company for advance approval by the Board of Directors
prior to so informing those officers and key employees of such proposed
compensation and fringe benefits.

S7 New Developments. The Company shall cause all technological developments,
inventions, discoveries or improvements by the Company's employees to be fully
documented in accordance with the best prevailing appropriate industrial
professional standards, cause all key employees and consultants of the Company
to execute appropriate patent assignment agreements to the Company and, where
possible and appropriate, to file and prosecute United States and foreign patent
applications relating to and protecting such developments on behalf of the
Company.

S8 Non-Disclosure Agreements. The Company shall cause each employee or
consultant now or hereafter employed or retained by the Company to promptly
execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form of Exhibit E hereto or in a form
approved by the Board of Directors.

S9 Non-Competition Agreements. The Company shall cause each Key Employee now or
hereafter employed by the Company to promptly execute a Non-Competition
Agreement in the form of Exhibit F hereto or in a form approved by the Board of
Directors.

S10 Financings. The Company shall promptly, fully and in detail, inform the
Board of Directors of any discussions, offers or contracts relating to possible
financings of any nature for the Company of which the Company has knowledge,
whether initiated by the Company or by any other person, except for financings
accomplished in the ordinary course of business and approved by a majority of
the Board of Directors which do not include as a feature thereof any right to
acquire any of the equity securities of the Company or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of the Company.

S11 Material Adverse Events. The Company shall promptly (but in any event within
fifteen (15) days) after the Company's discovery of any Material Adverse Event
affecting the Company, deliver a detailed statement to the Purchasers and Series
A and B Holders specifying the nature and period of existence of such Material
Adverse Event and what actions (if any) the Company has taken and/or proposes to
take with respect thereto. For purposes of this Section 7.20, a Material Adverse
Event shall include, without limitation: (i) the filing of any litigation which,
if determined adversely, would have a material effect on the business, financial
condition or prospects of the Company; (ii) the discovery that the Company is
not in compliance with any material provision of this Agreement or its Articles
of Incorporation, (iii) any notices of material default received by the Company
arising out of any of the Company's banking relationships or arrangements; (iv)
the existence of any dispute between the Company and its accountants concerning
any material item relating to the Company's financial statements; and (v) the
cancel-


                                      -22-
<PAGE>   25
lation of a material order or the loss of a material customer.


S12 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds received from the issuance of Purchased
Securities will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

1.       PURCHASE RIGHTS.

         Subject to the terms of this Article 8 and the Articles of
Incorporation, the Company may from time to time after the Closing offer to
grant, issue, or sell any securities, warrants, options, or rights to purchase
securities of the Company ("Securities"). With respect to any Company offer to
grant, issue, or sell any such Securities prior to the closing of a firmly
underwritten public offering of the Company's common stock at a price of at
least $11.04 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and
the like) and with aggregate offering proceeds to the Company of at least
$7,500,000, (i) the Purchasers and the Series A, B and C Holders, and (ii) each
subsequent holder of at least 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock (or Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof) (the "Preferred Holders") shall be entitled to
acquire (on a pro rata basis determined by their relative ownership of Preferred
Stock (and Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof on an as-if-converted to
Common Stock basis) all, or any portion of, such Securities so offered on terms
no more favorable to the Company than those offered to third parties.

                  (A) Within five (5) days after approval of the offer by the
Company's Board of Directors, the Company shall give to Preferred Holders
written notice of (i) those terms which are of the type typically detailed in
term sheets drafted with respect to proposed investments by institutional
venture capital firms and (ii) the proposed recipients of the offer.

                  (B) Within twenty (20) days of receipt of the Company's
notice, Preferred Holders must give the Company written notice of their intent
to exercise their right under this Article 8 (subject to review and approval of
final documentation), specifying the number of Securities to be acquired.
Failure to give such timely notice waives those rights.

                  (C) To the extent that any Preferred Holder fails to exercise
all of its purchase rights under this Section, or notifies the Company that it
intends not to exercise all of such rights, the Company will so notify the other
Preferred Holders within five (5) business days, whereupon the purchase rights
of said other Preferred Holders shall apply to the shares which could otherwise
have been purchased by the non-participating (or less than fully-participating)
Preferred Holders, again in proportion to the participating Preferred Holders'
relative ownership of Preferred Stock; such purchase rights shall be exercised
within the period specified in paragraph (B) above, provided that each
participating Preferred Holder shall have five (5) business days to exercise
such rights after notice from the Company.

                  (D) Any subsequent material change in the terms of the offer
(as provided in


                                      -23-
<PAGE>   26
the notice pursuant to Subparagraph (A), above) as approved by the Board of
Directors shall constitute a new offer subject to the provisions of this Article
8. The failure of the Company to consummate the transaction contemplated by the
offer within sixty (60) days after the date by which Preferred Holders must give
written notice to the Company under Paragraph (B) above, will constitute a
material change in the offer.

                  (E) The following shall not constitute an offer under this
Article 8: (i) any registered public offering of the Company's Securities; (ii)
any grant of options or warrants to purchase, or any sale or issuance of,
Securities to the Company's Founders, as defined in the Series A Purchase
Agreement, officers, directors, employees, and consultants under any equity
incentive plan or agreement approved by the Board of Directors, so long as the
total number of such shares granted or issued (whether before or after Closing)
does not exceed 1,284,351 shares of common stock (determined On a Fully Diluted
Basis) or such greater number of shares as may be approved by the holders of at
least 66% of the Preferred Stock (and Common Stock issued upon conversion
thereof), voting on an as-if-converted to Common Stock basis; (iii) the
issuances of any Securities in connection with a merger or consolidation of the
Company with another company or an acquisition of substantially all of the
assets of another company; (iv) the conversion of any shares of the Company's
Preferred Stock; or (v) the exercise of any warrants to purchase Series B
Preferred Stock.

                  (F) Each Series A and B Holder, by executing this Agreement,
hereby agrees that the provisions of Article 8 of the Series B Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement dated October 17, 1995, are terminated and superseded by the
provisions of this Article 8.

1.       MISCELLANEOUS.

S1 Survival of Covenants; Successors and Assigns. All covenants, agreements,
representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and in
certificates or other documents delivered pursuant to it shall survive the
making of the investments and the carrying out of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the sale, issuance, and delivery of the Purchased
Securities to the Purchasers. All such covenants, agreements, representations
and warranties shall be binding upon any successors and assigns of the
Company.

S2 Assignability of Rights. The Company may not assign any of its rights under
this Agreement without the Purchasers' written consent. Subject to compliance
with Section 4.4 hereof, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the
Purchasers' benefit as a Purchasers or holder of Series C Preferred or
Conversion Stock shall also for be the benefit of, and enforceable by, any
subsequent holder of such Series C Preferred or Conversion Stock who is not a
competitor of the Company.

S3 Communications and Notices. Except as otherwise provided for in this
Agreement, all communications and notices provided for in this Agreement shall
be in writing.


                                      -24-
<PAGE>   27
They shall become effective when mailed (postage paid, certified mail, return
receipt requested), sent by overnight courier, hand delivered (including
telecopy or courier service) receipted by the addressee, to the address as
indicated on the signature pages hereto, or to such other address and for such
attention, as any party may from time to time designate by notice duly given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.3.

S4 Law Governing. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Colorado.

S5 Subsequent Instruments and Acts. The parties agree that they will execute any
further instruments and perform any acts that may become necessary to carry out
this Agreement.

S6 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant, or condition of this
Agreement, or its application to any person or circumstance, shall be held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unenforceable, or void, the
remainder of this Agreement and such term, provision, covenant, or condition as
applied to other persons or circumstances shall remain in full force and
effect.

S7 Entire Agreement; Amendments.

                  (A) This Agreement and the other documents and agreements
delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and
agreement among the parties with respect to the subjects hereof and thereof.

                  (B) This Agreement may not be amended orally. An amendment to
this Agreement, or of any supplement hereto, (but not the exhibits hereto), and
of the rights and obligations of the holders of the Purchased Securities, may be
made with the written consent of the Company and of the Purchasers, except that
amendments to, or waivers of, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 8 of this
Agreement shall be made only with the written consent of the Company and the
holders of not less than 66% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (and
Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof), voting together on an
as-if-converted to Common Stock basis; provided, further, that the provisions of
Article 8 may not be waived as to a Purchaser without such Purchaser's consent
and provided further that no amendment or waiver of the provisions of Article 7
shall be made that adversely affects any Purchaser in a manner different from
the other holders of outstanding Preferred Stock.

S8 Authorization. Each of the undersigned representatives of the parties
warrants and represents that he is duly authorized to execute this Agreement on
behalf of the respective party for which he or she signs.

S9 Gender, Number, and Tense. Throughout this Agreement, as the context may
require, the masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter, and the neuter
gender includes the 


                                      -25-
<PAGE>   28
masculine and feminine.

S10 Headings. The headings of the Articles, Sections and Subsections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to
constitute a part of this Agreement.

S11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

S12 Consents to Adequate Reservation of Shares. The Purchasers hereby agree to
execute all shareholder consents as may be necessary from time to time to effect
the purposes of the Articles of Incorporation relating to the reservation of
adequate shares of common stock of the Company.


                                      -26-
<PAGE>   29
S13 Delays, Omission, and Waivers. No delay or omission to exercise any right,
power or remedy accruing to the Company or to a Purchaser upon any breach or
default of any party hereto under this Agreement, will impair any such right,
power or remedy of the Company or a Purchaser nor will it be construed to be a
waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, nor will any
similar breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default
theretofore or thereafter occurring; nor will any waiver of any single breach or
default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or
thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or
character on the part of the Company or a Purchaser of any breach or default
under this Agreement or any waiver on the part of the Company or a Purchaser of
any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and will be
effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. Except as
otherwise specified in Section 8(E) and Section 9.7(B), no waiver by the
Purchasers (or transferees thereof) of any provision of this Agreement will be
effective without a written consent signed by Purchasers (or transferees
thereof) holding at least 66% of the Series C Preferred or Conversion Stock,
voting together on an as-if-converted to Common Stock basis.

S14 Purchasers' Remedies. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall
constitute or be construed as a waiver by the Purchasers of any subsequent
breach by the Company. No remedy herein conferred upon the Purchasers is
intended to be exclusive of any other remedy herein or as provided by law, but
each shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy set
forth in this Agreement, the Exhibits, or existing at law, in equity, or by
statute. The parties specifically acknowledge that under certain circumstances
the parties may be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive relief
where without such remedies the damage to the injured parties may be irreparable
and money damages inadequate. Moreover, in any suit between or among the parties
hereto for such breach of any of the provisions hereof, the prevailing party in
such suit shall be entitled to receive from the breaching party, reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements incurred in the prosecution of such suit.

S15 Stock Splits, Recapitalization, etc. Any right, obligation, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement which is subject to or conditioned upon a
specific number of Preferred Stock, Purchased Securities, Series C Preferred
and/or Conversion Stock (or any of the above) shall be appropriately adjusted
for any stock splits, stock dividends, or recapitalizations of the capital stock
of the Company occurring after the date hereof.


                                      -27-
<PAGE>   30
         Purchase Agreement
                                                                 signature pages

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first written above.

THE COMPANY:

AUDIOLOGIC, INC., a Colorado Corporation

By:
Its:

Address:

6655 Lookout Road, Suite 200
Boulder, CO  80301

PURCHASERS:

GN DANAVOX AS

By:
Its:

Address:

Markaervej 2A
P.O. Box 224, DK-2630
Taastrup, DENMARK


                                      -28-
<PAGE>   31
         Purchase Agreement
                                                                 signature pages

RESOUND CORPORATION

By:
Its:

Address:

220 Saginaw Drive
Seaport Centre
Redwood City, CA  94063

SERIES A HOLDERS:

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP III

By:      HILL, CARMAN VENTURES,
         A limited partnership,
         Its General Partner

By:

         Its General Partner

Address:

885 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO  80302


                                      -29-
<PAGE>   32
         Purchase Agreement
                                                                 signature pages

MORGAN, HOLLAND FUND II, L.P.

By:      Morgan, Holland Partners
         II, L.P.

By:

         Edwin M. Kania, Jr.
         General Partner

Address:

One Liberty Square
Boston, Massachusetts  02109

GILDE INVESTMENT FUND B.V.

By:      Morgan, Holland Partners II, L.P.

By:

         Edwin M. Kania, Jr.,
         Its Attorney-in-Fact

Address:

c/o Morgan, Holland Partners II, L.P.
One Liberty Square
Boston, Massachusetts  02109


                                      -30-
<PAGE>   33
         Purchase Agreement
                                                                 signature pages

James E. Forrest

Address:

676 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois  60611

Robert K. Anderson

Address:

7262 Old Post Road
Boulder, Colorado  80301

SERIES B HOLDER:

GN DANAVOX AS

By:
Its:

Address:

Markaervej 2A
P.O. Box 224, DK-2630
Taastrup, DENMARK

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   34
                                    EXHIBIT C

                            SCHEDULE OF EXCEPTIONS TO
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Schedule 5.3 (B)

         1. List of Shareholders, Warrantholders and Optionholders
pre-Closing:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name                           Status                  Number of Shares    Percent(1)
- ----                           ------                  ----------------    ----------
<S>                            <C>                      <C>                <C>
The Hill Partnership III       Series A Shareholder           1,426,339
Morgan, Holland Fund II, L.P.  Series A Shareholder           1,344,152
Gilde Investment Fund B.V.     Series A Shareholder               4,062
James E. Forrest               Series A Shareholder              23,523
Robert K. Anderson             Series A Shareholder              31,250
GN Danavox AS                  Series B Shareholder             880,000
John L. Melanson               Common Shareholder               189,583
Leonard J. Koch                Common Shareholder               121,875
Jeff M. Dinapoli               Common Shareholder                19,803
Junsheng "Charles" Wang        Common Shareholder                 2,000
Jason Carlson                  Common Shareholder                15,459
Tim B. Trueblood               Common Shareholder                 2,250
Richard Kim                    Common Shareholder                 1,000
Christopher Schweitzer         Optionholder                      27,083
Eric Lindemann                 Optionholder                      67,083
Jodette Reynolds               Optionholder                      26,251
Linda Hood                     Optionholder                       4,188
Louis Braida                   Optionholder                       4,188
Lloyd Griffiths                Optionholder                       4,188
Irving Hafter                  Optionholder                       4,188
Robert B. Louthan              Optionholder                      10,263
John Melanson                  Optionholder                     456,250
Birger Kollmeier               Optionholder                       4,188
Kitty Adams                    Optionholder                       2,313
James E. Forrest               Optionholder                       1,359
Jason Carlson                  Optionholder                     142,188
Joel Cooper                    Optionholder                      18,125
</TABLE>

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

(1) On a Fully Diluted Basis prior to Closing.
<PAGE>   35
<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>               <C>          <C>
Vena Margo                     Optionholder      18,125
Caled Roberts                  Optionholder      28,125
Mark Terry                     Optionholder       3,000
Tom Worrall                    Optionholder      23,125
                                              ---------       
                               TOTALS                         100.0%
</TABLE>

         1. The Company has adopted a 1992 Stock Option Plan and Stock Option
         Agreement pursuant to which a total of 916,726 shares of common stock
         are reserved for issuance.

         2. The Company has entered into Founder Stock Restriction Agreements
         with each of John L. Melanson, Leonard J. Koch, Ted A. Smith and Jeff
         M. Dinapoli in connection with the shares of the Company's common stock
         owned by them. The Founder Stock Restriction Agreements provide for a
         right of first refusal and a repurchase option on such shares. The
         Company has previously exercised its repurchase option to purchase all
         shares from Mr. Smith and 7,280 shares from Mr. Dinapoli.

Schedule 5.7

         1. The Company has entered into an 18-month building sublease
         (effective January 1, 1996) for its office space with BioStar, Inc.
         for $3,400 a month.

         2. Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 10, 1992
         and amended as of July 23, 1993 and August 16, 1993.

         3. Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated August 16, 1993.

         4. Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated
         October 7, 1995.

         5. Technology License and Development Agreement dated August 1994, by
         and between the Company and Cochlear Corporation.

         6. Development, Licensing and Distribution Agreement dated October 17,
         1995, by and between the Company and Danavox.

         7. The Company has entered into the following lease agreements for test
         equipment:


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   36

         1    Hewlett-Packard for an HP8594E Spectrum Analyzer; lease term 36
              months; last payment 9/96; monthly payment $634.24.

         2    AT&T Capital for a Marconi Signal Generator; lease term 36 months;
              last payment 9/96; monthly payments $650.20.

         8. Purchase Order for development of analog digital converter chip with
         Centre Suisse Electronique et de Microtechnique ("CSEM"). CSEM and the
         Company entered a Development Agreement relating to this Purchase Order
         dated November 17, 1995.

Schedule 5.13

         Christopher Schweitzer has not executed the standard forms of the
Company's Non-Disclosure Agreement and Non-Compete Agreement (Exhibits B and C
hereto), but has instead executed modified versions of such agreements, copies
of which have been provided to the Purchasers.

Schedule 5.15

         1. Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated August
         10, 1992 and amended as of July 27, 1993 and August 16, 1993.

         2. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements dated
         August 16, 1993 and October 17, 1995.

         3. Conversion, Exchange and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated August 18,
         1995.

         4. Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock Purchase
         Agreement of even date herewith (this Agreement).

         5. Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated of even
         date herewith.

         6. Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement dated of even date
         herewith.

                                      -3-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.28


DEVELOPMENT, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG AUDIOLOGIC, INC.,
GN DANAVOX AS, RESOUND CORPORATION AND AUDIOLOGIC HEARING SYSTEMS, L.P.


         THIS DEVELOPMENT, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is
made as of this 30th day of September, 1996 (the "Effective Date") by and
between GN Danavox AS, a corporation organized under the laws of Denmark, with a
principal business office located at Markaervej 2 A, P.O. Box 224, DK-2630,
Taastrup, DENMARK ("Danavox"), AUDIOLOGIC HEARING SYSTEMS, L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership, with a principal business office located at 6655 Lookout
Road, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301, U.S.A. ("AL2"), AudioLogic, Inc., a
Colorado corporation, with a principal business office located at 6655 Lookout
Road, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301, U.S.A. ("AL1") and ReSound
Corporation, a California corporation, with a principal business office located
at 220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre, Redwood City, California 94063, U.S.A.
("ReSound").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Danavox is engaged in the business of designing, developing,
manufacturing and selling advanced hearing aid products; and

         B. ReSound is engaged in the business of designing, developing,
manufacturing and selling advanced hearing aid products; and

         C. AL1 has, until the date of this Agreement, been engaged in the
business of designing, developing, manufacturing and selling advanced hearing
aid products; and

         D. AL2 has been formed by Danavox, ReSound, AL1 and certain other
parties for the purpose of developing, manufacturing and marketing Base DSP
Technology and Full DSP Technology (both as defined below), but excluding
Technology (as defined below) relating solely to surgically implanted hearing
aid devices (the "Business"); and

         E. AL1 has assigned to AL2, for the purpose of fulfilling AL2's
obligations under this Agreement, or contributed pursuant to the Partnership
Agreement (as defined below), all of its right, title and interest in and to (i)
the Contributed Assets and Assumed Liabilities, but not including the Excluded
Assets and Excluded Liabilities (as each of such terms is defined in the
Partnership Agreement, as defined below), (ii) the Audallion (as defined below),
and (iii) the AL1 Technology set forth on EXHIBIT A hereto (as defined below);
and

         F. Danavox and ReSound, in connection with this and the Related
Agreements (as defined below), is making a commitment for substantial payments
to AL2 over approximately the next two years, and Danavox and ReSound will
receive, to the extent described in this Agreement, rights to the AL2 Technology
(as defined below) in consideration for such pay-
<PAGE>   2
ments.

         THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained in this
Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         I. Definitions

         As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

                  A. "Affiliates" means corporations or other business
organizations that, either directly or through one or more intermediaries,
control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, a party. "Control"
means ownership or the ability to direct the voting or disposition of a 50% or
more interest in an entity.

                  B. "A/D Converter" means a mechanism for the conversion of an
analog, audio bandwidth (>1kHz) to a digital signal for processing by a digital
signal processing ("DSP") processor, with a resolution of 8 bits or more, as
described in EXHIBIT E, Specifications. A/D Converter also includes decimation
filters, if required.

                  C. "Audallion" means a wired DSP system for use in academic
research and clinical trials, and which may potentially result in some sales.
The current Audallion is based on industry standard components, although future
versions may use some proprietary chips.

                  D. "AL2 Software" means all software (computer programming,
including object code, source code and programming source materials) and
firmware developed by, owned by or licensed to AL1 prior to the Effective Date
and transferred to AL2 hereunder.

                  E. "AL2 Technology" means the proprietary technology and
Inventions of AL1 existing prior to the Effective Date and transferred to AL2
hereunder, or, upon mutual written agreement of the parties, arising other than
in connection with this Agreement, other than the Development Technology,
necessary to produce properly functioning Products (under license or otherwise),
including, without limitation, the AL2 Software (both source and object code),
the Base DSP Technology and the Full DSP Technology, and the technology set
forth on the attached EXHIBIT A, together with all associated Intellectual
Property.

                  F. "Base DSP Technology" means the Audallion, the A/D
Converter, the D/A Converter, the HADSP Architecture, the HADSP Operating
System, the HADSP Tools and the DSP Hearing Aid Basic Algorithms.

                  G. "Clinical/Field Testing" consists of any clinical/field
tests internal or external to member companies that use products containing an
HADSP.

                  H. "Core Software" means all software (computer programming,
including


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
object code, source code and programming source materials) and
firmware which is part of the AL2 Software, Danavox Software, ReSound Software
or Development Technology, or any combination of the foregoing, and that is
directed to controlling the standard minimum functions of the particular hearing
aid instrument and is, or is ready to be, actually loaded into such instrument.

                  I. "Danavox Software" means all software (computer
programming, including object code, source code and programming source
materials) and firmware developed by, owned by or licensed to Danavox prior to
the Effective Date or otherwise developed, owned or licensed after the Effective
Date but not in connection with this Agreement but which, upon mutual written
agreement of the parties, is or might be included in the licenses granted
hereunder.

                  J. "Danavox Technology" means the proprietary technology and
Inventions of Danavox existing prior to the Effective Date or, upon mutual
written agreement of the parties, arising other than in connection with this
Agreement, other than the Development Technology, necessary to produce properly
functioning Products (under license or otherwise), including, without
limitation, the Danavox Software (both source and object code), the Base DSP
Technology and the Full DSP Technology, and the technology set forth on the
attached EXHIBIT B, together with all associated Intellectual Property.

                  K. "D/A Converter" means a mechanism for the conversion of a
digital sampled signal at audio bandwidth to a signal that can eventually be
delivered to an electro-acoustic output transducer. The transducer may be either
connected directly to a digital signal, or there may be an amplifier between the
two. D/A Converter also includes interpolation filters, if required.

                  L. "Derivative Products" means modified Products or the
modifications themselves that in each case results from incremental or
revision-level improvements, enhancements, engineering changes or corrections to
the Products.

                  M. "Development Program" means the collaborative technology
and product development program undertaken jointly by the parties pursuant to
this Agreement and the Related Agreements which is intended to develop the Base
DSP Technology and/or the Full DSP Technology, but not technology relating
solely to surgically implanted hearing aid devices.

                  N. "Development Technology" means the technology, together
with all related Intellectual Property and those Inventions incorporated in the
design or function of the Products, or which are created or discovered as part
of the development services pursuant to the Development Program, all as are
developed jointly pursuant to this Agreement (including the development schedule
and milestones attached to this Agreement as EXHIBIT C) in order to enable the
AL2 Technology, the Danavox Technology and the ReSound Technology to work


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
together to create the Base DSP Technology and/or the Full DSP Technology.

                  O. "DSP Hearing Aid Basic Algorithms" means building block
components from which full hearing software is constructed as described in
EXHIBIT E, Specifications. DSP Hearing Aid Basic Algorithms also includes
algorithms for filter banks, power estimators, transforms, basic compressors,
feedback cancellation and noise management.

                  P. "DSP Technology" means the technology and associated
Intellectual Property directed to digital signal processing.

                  Q. "Enhancement" means (i) any improvement in Base DSP
Technology or Full DSP Technology and (ii) any other technology usable in
conjunction with the DSP Technology that enables additional, improved
functionality to be implemented, in either case developed, owned or acquired by
either ReSound, Danavox or AL1 other than pursuant to this Agreement.

                  R. "Full DSP Technology" means the Base DSP Technology plus
the HADSP, the HADSP ICs, the HADSP Fitting System, the Marketing Collateral,
the Scientific Research Programs and the Clinical/Field Testing.

                  S. "Hearing Aid Development Committee" means a committee of
six members, with two representatives designated by each of AL1, Danavox and
ReSound, which will regularly meet to set direction, priorities, and schedules,
and to review progress of the Development Program. The two representatives
initially designated by AL1 are: John Melanson and Jason Carlson (the "AL1
Designees"). The two representatives initially designated by Danavox are:
Nikolai Bisgaard and Henrik Bagger Olsen (the "Danavox Designees"). The two
representatives initially designated by ReSound are: Caslav Pavlovic and Chris
Lillios (the "ReSound Designees"). The parties may designate different or
substitute representatives at any time for any reason.

                  T. "Hearing Aid DSP" or "HADSP" means a system for the
processing of audio data in the digital domain. The DSP operates at 10kHz or
greater, or contains a hardware multiplier. HADSP does not include a digital
processor that only controls an analog audio processor.

                  U. "Hearing Aid DSP Architecture" means the description of a
HADSP from which a Hearing Aid DSP IC may be designed. May include processor
descriptions, user manuals, instruction set definitions, schematics, C emulation
programs, VHDL or Verilog files. Hearing Aid DSP Architecture also may include
the prototypes of the processor built in a hardware prototyping methodology,
such as FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays).

                  V. "Hearing Aid DSP ICs" means an integrated circuit ("IC")
which contains a copy of the HADSP, hearing aid A/D Converter, or hearing aid
D/A Converter as


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
described in EXHIBIT E, Specifications. These chips would become a component of
a hearing aid. Hearing Aid DSP ICs also includes mask sets, test fixtures,
contracts with foundries and IC layouts.

                  W. "Hearing Aid DSP Operating System" means a program that
runs on an HADSP and provides basic interactive and real time services, such as
program loading, resource allocation and interrupt handling.

                  X. "Hearing Aid DSP Tools" means assemblers, linkers, loaders,
compilers, debuggers, emulators, interpreters, and library systems to produce
and manage code for an HADSP.

                  Y. "Hearing Aid DSP Fitting System " means a system which
allows the parameters of a DSP hearing system to be modified to suit an
individual user. An HADSP Fitting System may be either a PC-based system, or a
stand-alone programming system.

                  Z. "Hearing Aid Market" means all (a) individuals requiring
therapeutic devices or other therapy to address any hearing impairment or
deficiency, and the associated diagnosis, correction, therapy and the like of
such impairment or deficiency, and (b) companies, clinics, hospitals,
associations, institutions and other entities providing or offering to provide
diagnosis, consultation, services, products and the like with respect to any
such hearing impairment or deficiency and the associated diagnosis, correction,
therapy and the like of such impairment or deficiency; provided, however, that
such market does not include the portion of such market for surgically implanted
hearing aid devices.

                  AA. "Intellectual Property" means U.S. and foreign copyrights,
patents, trademarks, trade secrets and mask works, whether or not registered,
filed, applied for or the like, all related rights, goodwill and the like, and
all tangible and intangible works, manifestations and aspects of same. As used
herein, "patents" includes all U.S. Inventions, Invention disclosures (which
cover patentable ideas for which application has been or will be made),
provisional applications, applications, letters patent and all foreign
counterparts and foreign equivalents of same, and any and all divisions,
continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, renewals, reissues, extensions
and the like of the foregoing.

                  BB. "Inventions" means all ideas, creations, works, processes,
designs and methods (whether or not patentable, copyrightable, registerable as a
mask work or otherwise protectable), and all documentation, information and
items associated therewith.

                  CC. "Marketing Collateral" consists of all marketing materials
related to DSP Technology and/or studies with HADSP. This will include use of
trademarks, brochures, white papers, newsletters, etc. Marketing Collateral does
not include any product-specific literature.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
                  DD. "Milestones" means the development and delivery
milestones, set forth on the development schedule attached hereto as EXHIBIT C,
as the same are determined, supplemented, revised and updated from time to time
by the Hearing Aid Development Committee.

                  EE. "Products" means the products developed by Danavox or
ReSound, each of which contains Base DSP Technology and/or Full DSP Technology.

                  FF. "Related Agreements" means the following agreements
between, or to be entered into between the parties with respect to giving effect
to the Development Program and to ReSound's and Danavox's investments in AL2,
including the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock Purchase
Agreement by and among Danavox, ReSound and AL1, and the Amended and Restated
Registration Rights Agreement by and among Danavox, ReSound, AL1 and certain
other parties, each of the same date as this Agreement, as well as the following
agreements of the same date as this Agreement: the Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership by and among Danavox, ReSound, AL2 and certain
other parties (the "Partnership Agreement"), the Shareholders Agreement by and
among AL1, Danavox and ReSound, the Employment Services Agreement between AL1
and AL2, the Cross License Agreement between ReSound and Danavox, and the
Employment Agreements between AL1 and certain employees, as well as other
agreements, instruments, acknowledgements, understandings, consents and the like
that document the transaction covered by this Agreement or as are otherwise
required by any of the foregoing agreements and documents.

                  GG. "ReSound Software" means all software (computer
programming, including object code, source code and programming source
materials) and firmware developed by, owned by or licensed to ReSound prior to
the Effective Date or otherwise developed, owned or licensed after the Effective
Date but not in connection with this Agreement but which, upon mutual written
agreement of the parties, is or might be included in the licenses granted
hereunder.

                  HH. "ReSound Technology" means the proprietary technology and
Inventions of ReSound existing prior to the Effective Date or, upon mutual
written agreement of the parties, arising other than in connection with this
Agreement, other than the Development Technology, necessary to produce properly
functioning Products (under license or otherwise), including, without
limitation, the ReSound Software (both source and object code), the Base DSP
Technology and the Full DSP Technology, and the technology set forth on the
attached EXHIBIT D, together with all associated Intellectual Property.

                  II. "Scientific Research Program" consists of any scientific
studies internal or external to ReSound, Danavox or AL1 using HADSP including
algorithm developments from scientific research programs.


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
                  JJ. "Software" means any or all of the Danavox Software, the
AL2 Software, the ReSound Software, the software portion of the Development
Technology, the Software Modules, or any combination of the foregoing.

                  KK. "Software Modules" means those modules of software
(computer programming, including object code, source code and programming source
materials) and firmware, which may be part of the AL2 Software, the Danavox
Software, the ReSound Software, or the Development Technology, or any
combination of the foregoing, that are directed to functionality of the
particular hearing aid instrument that is additional to that provided by the
Core Software when the module is, or the modules are, actually loaded into such
instrument.

                  LL. "Specifications" means the specifications for the design,
performance and manufacturability characteristics of the DSP Hearing Aid Basic
Algorithms, the Hearing Aid DSP ICs and the A/D Converter, which are to be
jointly developed by ReSound, Danavox and AL2 pursuant to this Agreement and to
which the DSP Hearing Aid Basic Algorithms, the Hearing Aid DSP ICs and the A/D
Converter will conform, and which shall include the specifications listed on
EXHIBIT E hereto.

                  MM. "Technology" means any or all of the Danavox Technology,
the ReSound Technology, the AL2 Technology, the Development Technology, or any
combination of the foregoing.

                  NN. Reference to Facilities. For the purposes of this
Agreement, a reference to any party's facilities shall mean the facilities of
such party or any of its Affiliates.

         II. Development of Product

                  A. AL1 Expenditures.

                           1. In April and July 1996, Danavox paid an aggregate
of $500,000 to AL1 (the "Danavox Payment") which payment was made in connection
with the Agreement in Principle by and among ReSound, Danavox and AL1 dated
April 19, 1996 and Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement in Principle dated July 11,
1996. ReSound, Danavox and AL1 hereby agree that (i) Danavox made the Danavox
Payment to AL1 for the purpose of the Business, during the period prior to the
Effective Date of this Agreement, (ii) in consideration of such payment, AL1
became obligated to provide, and has provided, certain services relating to the
Business, and (iii) the parties agree that ownership of, and the parties' rights
to, the technology developed by AL1 pursuant to the Danavox Payment shall be the
same as if such services had been performed by AL2 pursuant to this Agreement.

                           2. As of the Effective Date, AL1 has incurred
expenses (the "AL1 Expenses") in performing services in respect of the Danavox
Payment in excess of the


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
Danavox Payment. The parties hereto agree that AL2 shall, promptly after the
Effective Date and out of the funds provided by Danavox and ReSound pursuant to
Section II(F), reimburse AL1 for the excess of the AL1 Expenses, as reasonably
agreed by the parties hereto, over the amount of the Danavox Payment.

                  B. Development Collaboration. Danavox, ReSound and AL2 hereby
agree to jointly undertake the Development Program. The parties contemplate that
the Development Program will be carried out pursuant to this Agreement over a
four-year period (the "Term"), unless the Term is extended by agreement of each
of Danavox and ReSound.

                  C. Cooperative Efforts - Time of Essence. Each of AL2, ReSound
and Danavox agrees, in cooperation with the other, to use its best efforts to
realize the objectives of the Development Program and to achieve the Milestones
on a timely basis. The parties agree that, in performing under this Agreement,
time is of the essence in all respects.

                  D. Technology Sharing. Each of AL2, ReSound and Danavox will
make available to the other parties the use of its respective Technology to
perform its portions of the Development Program, will provide to the other
parties, as soon as reasonably available, copies of the tangible aspects of such
Technology including, without limitation, layout design vellums, specifications
and other engineering documents, and, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, will supply the personnel, facilities, and materials necessary
to carry out its respective portion of the Development Program and to allow the
manufacture, use and selling of the Products pursuant to the licenses granted
under this Agreement. In particular, AL2 shall be responsible for providing the
AL2 Technology, Danavox shall be responsible for providing the Danavox
Technology and ReSound shall be responsible for providing the ReSound
Technology.

                  E. Development Expenses. All activities under the Development
Program shall be conducted by the parties in accordance with a four-year budget
(the "Budget") attached hereto as EXHIBIT F. Although portions of the
Development Program will be done by each party in its own facilities, the
parties anticipate that during the de-bug and production release phase of the
Development Program, and during such other phases of the Development Program as
the parties may determine, the parties will work together at the particular
facilities determined by the Hearing Aid Development Committee.

                  F. Hearing Aid Development Committee Meetings. The parties
agree that the Hearing Aid Development Committee shall meet as frequently as
needed to set direction for the Development Program and development priorities,
determine scheduling and pertinent technical issues, and review overall and
specific development progress, all with a view to meeting the Milestones as are
determined by the Hearing Aid Development Committee. Such meetings shall be held
by video or telephone conference, or at each of the parties' principal places of
business alternately, or at such other locations as the parties shall jointly
determine. The parties anticipate that meetings of the Hearing Aid Development
Committee will be held


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
twice each month, with in-person meetings held at least once each quarter. Each
party shall appoint, no later than September 30, 1996, a qualified person to act
as project manager. Such project managers shall jointly arrange the bi-monthly
meetings and shall determine the appropriate time and personnel (in addition to
the Hearing Aid Development Committee members) for each meeting. The project
managers will act as each party's representative and principal contact person
regarding all matters related to this Agreement. The actions of such person
designated by a party may be relied upon by the other parties to this Agreement.

                  G. Development Payments.

                           1. On the later of October 1, 1996 or the Effective
Date, ReSound shall pay $500,000 to AL2. From January 1, 1997 (for ReSound) and
from or immediately after the Effective Date (for Danavox), in each case through
the date which is two (2) years from the Effective Date, each of Danavox and
ReSound shall pay a total of $5,981,000 to AL2 under this Agreement, to be paid
at such times and in such amounts and for the purposes as set forth in the
Budget attached hereto as EXHIBIT F, or as otherwise determined by the General
Partner of AL2 (the "Initial Payments"). All such amounts paid by ReSound and
Danavox shall be paid on a proportional basis as between the two entities.

                           2. Each of Danavox and ReSound shall provide an
additional $1,000,000 of funding during the third and fourth years of the Term
in order to develop Base DSP Technology, such amounts to be paid at such times,
in such amounts and for the purposes set forth in the Budget.

                           3. [*] ReSound and Danavox may credit against the
payments made pursuant to this subparagraph (F)(3) any amounts paid to AL2 by
third parties under Article V(C)(2), below. Unless otherwise agreed by Danavox
and ReSound, at such time as the aggregate royalty payments to AL1 payable
under Section V(C)(1), below, total U.S. $5,000,000 (not including any amounts
paid under Section V(C)(3), below), no additional payments shall be made to AL2
under this subparagraph (F)(3). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership or any
other Related Agreement, the amounts paid to AL2 under this subparagraph
(F)(3): (a) shall not be considered as capital contributions to AL2 (and
therefore will not affect the proportional partnership interests of AL2's
limited partners), and (b) shall not be considered to be payments under the
Budget (and therefore will not decrease the amounts otherwise payable by
ReSound and Danavox pursuant to this subparagraph (F)).

                           4. If for any reason this Agreement is terminated
prior to the end of the second year of the Term (September 30, 1998), ReSound
agrees to pay to Danavox in cash an amount such that the total payments made by
ReSound and Danavox under this Agreement (excluding $3,400,000 paid by Danavox
hereunder) shall be in the following proportion: one-



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                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
third (1/3) by Danavox and two-thirds (2/3) by ReSound).

                           5. Danavox and ReSound shall make the payments
discussed in subparagraphs (F)(1) and (2) so long as (a) the Hearing Aid
Development Committee agrees that AL2 is continuing to make substantial progress
on the Development Program, (b) there shall have been no material adverse change
in the assets, business, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of AL2
which render the development of the Technology by AL2 Impracticable (as defined
below), and (c) no provision of any applicable law or regulation and no
judgment, injunction, order or decree shall prohibit payment or development
activities within AL2. If, at any time during the first two (2) years of the
Term, the Hearing Aid Development Committee determines, by majority vote, that a
power budget, size budget or cost budget cannot be estimated to fulfill the
development specifications set forth in EXHIBIT E hereto, and no practical and
reasonable solution is found by the Hearing Aid Development Committee, the
Development Program shall be considered "Impracticable."

                  H. Additional Contributions. Notwithstanding any provision or
term in this Agreement or any of the Related Agreements, Danavox and ReSound
shall in no event be obligated to provide funding to or for the benefit of AL2,
whether by way of equity purchases, development funding, consulting fees or
expenses, or otherwise: (i) for the development of Full DSP Technology after the
first two (2) years of the Term, or (ii) for the development of Base DSP
Technology after the first four (4) years of the Term (as to each such
technology, "Continued Development"). If Danavox and ReSound determine to fund
Continued Development, they shall establish whether to do so through capital
contributions by AL2's limited partners or through a development agreement
(which may be an amendment to this Agreement).

                  I. Services, Reviews and Changes.

                           1. SERVICES, RIGHTS AND MATERIALS. On the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, each party agrees to perform its
development services in accordance with the milestone and development schedule
attached hereto as EXHIBIT C. Each party will obtain all the intellectual
property, technology, labor, material, tooling and facilities necessary for the
completion of such services for which it is responsible so the other parties may
exercise their rights granted pursuant to Article IV hereof.

                           2. DESIGN REVIEW. Each of AL2, ReSound and Danavox is
entitled to conduct periodic reviews to ensure its satisfaction with the other
parties' development services. Upon reasonable notice, each party shall allow
the other parties during ordinary business hours, to visit its place of business
for development and manufacturing to discuss and inspect the status of such
services.

                           3. CHANGES TO SPECIFICATIONS. Each party is entitled
to request of the other parties modifications in the form of changes or
additions to the Specifications at any


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
time during the term of this Agreement. Such requests shall be submitted to the
other parties in writing. If any such modification of the Specifications
materially increases or decreases the time of performance (i.e., in achieving
the Milestones), the parties will negotiate an equitable adjustment accordingly.
Upon receipt of the parties' written agreements, the party making the
modification will proceed with the implementation of the prescribed changes, and
the Specifications and relevant Exhibits to this Agreement shall be modified
accordingly to reflect such agreed upon changes.

                  J. Independent Development. With respect to the development of
Hearing Aid DSP Fitting Systems, Scientific Research Programs (including DSP
Hearing Aid Basic Algorithms), Clinical Field Testing and Marketing Collateral,
Danavox and ReSound may conduct such activities independently or, if Danavox and
ReSound agree, jointly through AL2. Moreover, to the extent Danavox and ReSound
do not continue the development of Full DSP Technology after the second year of
the Term, each of ReSound and Danavox are hereby granted, effective as of such
time, a royalty-free license under the Danavox Technology, the ReSound
Technology and the AL2 Technology to develop Full DSP Technology independently.
To the extent either party undertakes individual activities, any developments
resulting therefrom need not be shared with any other parties hereto.

                  K. [*]. Upon a Liquidating Event (as that term is defined in
the Partnership Agreement) of AL2, and as specifically provided for in Section
13.02 of the Partnership Agreement, the Liquidator (as that term is defined in
the Partnership Agreement) shall [*].

                  L. Services to AL2.

                           1. DANAVOX SERVICES. Pursuant to the terms of the
Budget, Danavox hereby agrees to provide to AL2 from and after April 18, 1996,
and AL2 hereby agrees to accept, the following services at a cost to AL2 of
[*]:

                                    a. [*]

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                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
                                    b. [*]

                                    c. [*]

                                    d. [*]

                           2. RESOUND SERVICES. Pursuant to the terms of the
Budget, ReSound hereby agrees to provide to AL2 from and after April 18, 1996,
and AL2 hereby agrees to accept, clinical scientific research support services
during 1996 at a cost equal to [*].


                           3. CHANGES TO SERVICES PROVIDED. AL2 and each of
ReSound and Danavox, as the case may be, may amend the services to be provided
by such party to AL2, the charges for such services (as provided above) and/or
the amounts of such charges (as provided for in the Budget); provided that such
party shall have received the written agreement of Danavox, in the case of
changes to ReSound's services, charges or amounts, and ReSound, in the case of
Danavox's services, charges or amounts.

                           4. FEES. All service fees shall be billed quarterly
in arrears to AL2 pursuant to written invoices providing reasonable detail as to
direct and allocated costs. AL2 shall pay such invoices within 30 days of
receipt.

         III. Ownership of Technology

                  A. Ownership of Hearing Aid Market Technology. The parties
hereto agree that (i) the transfer or vesting of legal ownership to any
Technology related to the Hearing Aid Market in AL2 pursuant to this Agreement
is intended solely to enable Danavox and ReSound to jointly share beneficial
ownership of (or to jointly share the right to use, in the case of the AL1
Technology) such Technology; (ii) Danavox and ReSound are the joint beneficial
owners, or the joint beneficial licensees, as the case may be, for federal
income tax purposes of such technology; (iii) AL2 is being granted rights to
such technology solely for the purposes of (a) holding legal title to such
technology, (b) performing services pursuant to this Agreement, and (c)
otherwise as specifically provided in this Agreement; and (iv) each party will
report, for accounting, tax and all other purposes, all transactions pursuant to
this Agreement and the Related Agreements in a manner consistent with the
foregoing.

                  B. Ownership of Each Party's Technology. Each of Danavox,
ReSound and AL1 own all right, title and interest in and to the Danavox
Technology, the ReSound Technology and the AL1 Technology, except to the extent
specifically granted otherwise herein.



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                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
                  C. Transfer of AL1 Technology. AL1 hereby assigns, conveys and
transfers to AL2 all right, title and interest in and to the Audallion and to
all technology listed on EXHIBIT A hereto, and retains no right, title and
interest therein except as set forth in or permitted by this Agreement.

                  D. Intellectual Property Development. All Development
Technology and any improvements to such technology, including Enhancements,
which are created during the Term, and related Intellectual Property, shall be
owned by AL2 in perpetuity. In the event that any of the parties hereto (a
"Holding Party") is at the Effective Date in possession or otherwise has the
right to Intellectual Property or Enhancements that such party is contractually
prohibited from licensing to AL2, the other party shall have the right to
develop or otherwise acquire an alternative to such Intellectual Property or
Enhancements.  [*]  The Development Technology, Enhancements, improvements and
related Intellectual Property comprised of unpatented trade secrets shall be
Confidential Information (as defined in Article VII hereto) of ReSound and
Danavox.


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                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
         IV. License Grants and Rights to Products

                  A. Licenses.

                           1. TO AL2 FROM RESOUND, DANAVOX AND AL1. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of AL1, Danavox and ReSound,
respectively, hereby grants to AL2 a royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide,
perpetual license under the AL2 Technology, Danavox Technology, the ReSound
Technology, and the Development Technology (the "Licensed Technology") and any
and all Enhancements developed by AL1, Danavox or ReSound (whether or not
pursuant to this Agreement) during the initial four-year Term (with respect to
Base DSP Technology) and during the first two years of the Term (with respect to
Full DSP Technology), to develop the Base DSP Technology and the Full DSP
Technology and to manufacture or have manufactured, during the Term, any and all
of the Products, Derivative Products and Software Modules (collectively, the
"Licensed Products") in or directed to the Hearing Aid Market. [*]:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Year                         Fee
                       ----                         ---

<S>                                            <C>
                       [*]                     $      [*] 
                       [*]                            [*]
                       [*]                            [*]
                       [*]                            [*]
                       [*]                            [*]
                                               $      [*]
</TABLE>

                           2. TO AL1. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each of AL2, Danavox and ReSound hereby grants to AL1 a
royalty-free, exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to use itself, or
sublicense others to use, the Licensed Technology and to develop, manufacture
(or have manufactured), distribute and sell the Licensed Products (or components
thereof) or any other products developed from such Licensed Technology by AL1
("AL1 Products") for surgically implanted hearing aid devices and for products
outside of the Hearing Aid Market; provided that if any Licensed Product is a
personal device whose principal purpose is to compensate for hearing deficiency,
but also combines other needs unrelated to hearing loss, the above license from
AL2, Danavox and ReSound shall be of no force and effect; and further provided,
that if any of Danavox, ReSound or AL2 acquires license rights to any Technology
from a third party, AL2 shall have no obligation to license such rights to AL1.




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                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
                           3. TO DANAVOX AND/OR RESOUND. Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, AL2 hereby grants to Danavox and ReSound and
each of their Affiliates, a perpetual, royalty-free, non-transferable, exclusive
worldwide license to the Licensed Technology and all Enhancements, each to the
extent necessary to use, market, distribute and sell the Licensed Products in
the Hearing Aid Market. In the event ReSound and Danavox do not agree to
Continued Development of the Full DSP Technology by AL2 after the second year of
the Term, pursuant to the terms of the Related Agreements, AL2 shall grant each
of ReSound and Danavox a perpetual, royalty-free, non-transferable, exclusive
worldwide license to the Licensed Technology and Enhancements to the extent
necessary to develop the Full DSP Technology independently. Moreover, taking
into account that ReSound and Danavox are investors in AL1 and partners with AL1
in AL2, and that they are strategically dependent on each other as a result of
those relationships and this Agreement, upon occurrence of a circumstance where
ReSound and/or Danavox desire access to AL1's technology for uses outside the
Hearing Aid Market, AL1 will negotiate for the grant of such potential rights in
good faith.

                           4. RETAINED RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, each of Danavox, ReSound and AL1 retains all
rights to any technologies newly developed or acquired by such party (whether
during or after the Term) other than Technologies developed under or licensed
pursuant to this Agreement; provided that if AL2 reasonably believes that such
technologies do or may give rise to an infringement claim against AL2 or any
authorized user of the Technology, each party agrees that, to the extent that
its technology gives rise to such claim or potential claim, such technology
shall immediately, with no further action on the part of such party or AL2, be
licensed to AL2 in perpetuity on the following terms: (a) without royalties for
Base DSP Technology, if such license begins during the Term, (b) without
royalties for Full DSP Technology, if such license begins during the first two
years of the Term, and (c) with royalties in all other cases, with royalties to
be determined by good faith negotiations by such party and AL2, based upon fair
market value for such a license; and provided further that Danavox and ReSound
shall retain all Intellectual Property rights for the rest of their respective
product lines, except to the extent such Intellectual Property rights overlap
with the DSP Technology, in which case the other parties shall have rights in
such over-lapping technology only as to the Licensed Products.


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
                  B. Sublicenses and Further Licensing.

                           1. PERMITTED SUBLICENSING. AL2 shall have the right
to sublicense the Licensed Technology to third parties to the extent necessary
to allow subcontractors to manufacture the Licensed Products or components
thereof. Danavox and ReSound shall have the right to sublicense the Licensed
Technology and Enhancements to third parties (including AL1) to the extent
necessary to (i) allow distributors, VARs, OEMs and similar entities to use and
sell the Licensed Products, (ii) allow end-users to use the Licensed Products in
the Hearing Aid Market, and (iii) after the date ending two (2) years after the
end of the Term, to permit third parties to manufacture, use, market, distribute
and sell Licensed Products and further develop the Licensed Technology in the
Hearing Aid Market only. Any end-user sublicense shall be perpetual and shall
survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement and any other sublicense
shall survive to the same extent as the relevant licensee's/sublicensor's rights
survive.

                           2. PROHIBITED SUBLICENSING. Except as specifically
set forth in this Article IV, the Development Technology, the Danavox
Technology, the ReSound Technology and the AL2 Technology may not be sublicensed
or further licensed by any party.

                           3. USE OF AUDIOLOGIC NAME. All licenses and
sublicenses of Development Technology and/or AL2 Technology (including after the
Term) shall require that all Licensed Products and all references to Base DSP
Technology and Full DSP Technology developed by the parties hereunder shall
refer to the "AudioLogic" name.

         V. Sale of the Products to Third Parties and Royalties

                  A. Proper Distribution. Danavox and ReSound (but not AL1 or
AL2) will, pursuant to their rights under Article IV, sell the Licensed Products
(with it being understood that the Danavox Software, AL2 Software, ReSound
Software and other software portions of the Licensed Products will at all times
be licensed and not sold).

                  B. Indemnity. Each party shall be responsible and indemnify
and hold the other parties harmless for any and all losses, liability or damages
arising out of or incurred in connection with (i) their or their dealers' or
OEMs' marketing, distribution, use or sublicensing of the Licensed Products or
their end users' use of the Licensed Products (except for warranty claims
related to claims of infringement, which shall be governed by Article VI below)
or (ii) any unauthorized representation, warranty or agreement, express or
implied, made by the party or any of its dealers to or with any dealer, end-user
or any third party with respect to the Licensed Products.


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
                  C. Royalties.

                           1. ROYALTY PAYMENTS TO AL1. In connection with its
distribution of Licensed Products, each of ReSound and Danavox shall pay, for
each Hearing Aid DSP IC sold by such party (whether or not as part of a Licensed
Product), a royalty of [*].

                           2. ROYALTIES ON THIRD-PARTY LICENSES. In lieu of
paying a royalty to AL1 on each sale of a Hearing Aid DSP IC to third parties,
AL2 shall pay or cause to be paid to AL1 an aggregate one-time royalty fee of
[*].

                           3. PRICE OF HEARING AID DSP ICS. AL2 shall sell
Hearing Aid DSP ICs to Danavox and ReSound at a price equal to AL2's direct cost
(without any allocation of non-recurring engineering expenses) plus a reasonable
mark-up or contracting fee, as agreed between Danavox, ReSound and AL2, and to
third parties at prices, which shall in any case be no less than those amounts
paid to AL2 by Danavox and ReSound as set forth herein, and royalties
established by Danavox and ReSound.

                           4. PAYMENTS. Royalty payments shall be made within 45
days after the end of each calendar quarter in which such payments were earned.
Payments shall be accompanied by a statement indicating the basis (i.e., the
number of Hearing Aid DSP ICs sold) upon which the royalty payments were
calculated.

                           5. AUDITS. Each party shall permit a representative
of the other parties to inspect its books and records pertaining to royalty
payments upon reasonable notice, during ordinary business hours, no more
frequently than once in any 12-month period, subject to execution of the party's
customary confidentiality agreement, and at such other party's expense. However,
if the inspection reveals a valid shortfall of royalty payments of more than 10%
for the period audited, then the party requesting the audit shall be responsible
for such other party's reasonable expenses of the inspection.


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                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
         VI. Proprietary Rights, Warranties and Indemnifications

                  A. Inventions. Each party will promptly and fully disclose and
describe to the other parties in writing any material Invention that is or
should be a part of the Development Technology.

                  B. Proprietary Rights Notices. Each party will cause the outer
case of the Products, the Products' documentation, and other similar
Product-related areas to bear a proper proprietary rights notices to be agreed
upon by the parties.

                  C. Patent Protection. In the case of an Invention within the
Development Technology, Danavox and ReSound jointly shall own the patent rights
therein.

                  D. Patent Enforcement. If any party shall become aware of any
infringement or alleged infringement of any of the AL2 Technology or the
Development Technology or any improper use of such technology, it shall notify
the other parties promptly in writing giving the particulars thereof. AL2 shall
have no obligation to take any action to restrain such infringement. However, if
AL2 declines to take action against such infringement, then Danavox and/or
ReSound shall have the option to institute an action or proceeding in which AL2
agrees to cooperate as may be reasonably required, all at Danavox's and
ReSound's expense, as appropriate, and any damages or other sums recovered as a
result of such action or proceeding shall be solely for Danavox's and/or
ReSound's benefit, as appropriate.


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
                  E. Intellectual Property Warranty and Mutual Indemnity.

                           1. WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY. Each party (the
"Indemnifying Party") represents and warrants that the use of its Technology to
manufacture the Products does not, to its knowledge, infringe any patent,
copyright or other proprietary right of a third party. The Indemnifying Party
will defend at its own expense any action against any other party (the
"Indemnified Party") that is based on a claim that the use of the Indemnifying
Party's Technology by the Indemnified Party to manufacture the Products
infringes any patent, copyright or other proprietary right of a third party and
will pay those damages or costs finally awarded against, or final settlement
amounts due from, the Indemnified Party in such action, provided the Indemnified
Party notifies the Indemnifying Party promptly in writing of any such action,
gives the Indemnifying Party sole control of the defense and any negotiations
for settlement or compromise of such action, and cooperates with the
Indemnifying Party with the Indemnified Party's reasonable expenses to be
promptly reimbursed. Should the Indemnifying Party's Technology become, or in
the Indemnifying Party's opinion be likely to become, the subject of such an
action, the Indemnified Party shall permit the Indemnifying Party, at the
Indemnifying Party's option and sole expense, either (a) to procure for the
Indemnified Party the right to continue using the Indemnifying Party's
Technology or (b) replace or modify the same to become non-infringing if such
replacement or modification does not materially affect the performance of the
Product. The Indemnified Party agrees to provide reasonable assistance to the
Indemnifying Party to procure such rights or replace or modify the Indemnifying
Party's Technology at the Indemnifying Party's expense. Notwithstanding the
above, the Indemnifying Party shall have no liability to the Indemnified Party
under this Article VI(E) for any action based upon (a) any modification of the
Indemnifying Party's Technology, or (b) the combination of the Indemnifying
Party's Technology with other items by the Indemnified Party, if such action
would have been avoided by the absence of such combination or modification.

                  F. Exclusive Remedy. The indemnification set forth in Article
VI(E) above states each party's exclusive remedy and entire liability for
infringement of its Technology.

                  G. Development Warranty. Each party warrants that: (a) all
development work of such party delivered to the other parties hereunder will
materially conform to the Specifications; (b) in connection with such party's
performance of its development services, such party will not knowingly infringe
any patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, mask work right, or any other
proprietary right of any third party; and (c) such party has not previously
granted and will not grant any right in the AL2 Technology, the Danavox
Technology, the ReSound Technology or any Inventions to any third party which
grant is inconsistent with the rights granted to the other parties herein.

                  H. Disclaimer. THE WARRANTIES IN ARTICLES VI(E) AND VI(G),
ABOVE AND IN ARTICLE XII(M) BELOW ARE EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL


                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20
OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR
THAT THE PRODUCTS ARE FREE FROM THE RIGHTFUL CLAIM OF ANY THIRD PARTY, BY WAY OF
INFRINGEMENT OR THE LIKE.

                  I. No Warranty Pass-Through. No party shall pass through to
its customers or any other third party the warranties made by the other parties
under this Agreement or make other representations to its customers or any other
third party on behalf of the other parties, and each party shall expressly
indicate to its customers that they must look solely to such party in connection
with any problems, warranty claim or other matters concerning the Products sold
by such party. No warranty, representation or agreement herein shall be deemed
to be made for the benefit of any customer of the other parties or any other
third party.

                  J. General Indemnity. Each party shall, at such party's
expense, indemnify, hold harmless and, at another party's request, defend such
other party and its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees,
agents and independent contractors, from and against any and all losses, costs,
damages, liabilities, expenses and fees (including but not limited to costs and
fees of attorneys and other professionals) arising out of or in connection with
the indemnifying party's breach of or performance under this Agreement to the
extent caused by, in whole or in part, its negligent act or omission or willful
misconduct of itself or its employees, agents or independent contractors,
including but not limited to any act or omission that contributes to: (a) any
personal injury, sickness, disease or death; (b) any damage to or destruction of
property of the indemnified party or any third party or any loss of use
resulting therefrom; (c) any violation of any statute, ordinance or regulation;
or (d) any other injury, loss or harm.

                  K. Trademarks.

                           1. USE BY RESOUND AND DANAVOX. In connection with
sales or advertising of the Products, and in addition to the obligations of
Danavox and ReSound set forth in Article IV(B)(3), Danavox and/or ReSound may
use such trade names or trademarks of AL2 as are mutually agreed upon by AL2 and
Danavox and/or ReSound, as the case may be, with such agreement not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. All such marks and names and any additional
marks of which AL2 may in the future be the proprietor will bear the designation
TM or the designation (R), as specified by AL2.

                           2. USE BY AL2. AL2 shall have the perpetual right and
license to use "AudioLogic" and any related trade name, trademark or servicemark
without any payment by AL2 to AL1.

                           3. ENFORCEMENT. AL2 may elect to, and if and when AL2
elects not


                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21
to do so or fails to make an election within a period of ten (10) business days
after notice from Danavox and/or ReSound, then Danavox and/or ReSound may on
behalf of AL2, do such acts or things as are reasonably necessary for the
purpose of obtaining, maintaining, enforcing and preserving any of the
trademarks, or other proprietary rights of AL2 as are being or to be used by
Danavox and/or ReSound. In the event that any unlawful copying of the Products,
infringement of AL2's rights in the Products, or infringement or registration by
a third party of the trademarks, trade names or other property rights of AL2
comes to the attention of Danavox and/or ReSound, Danavox and/or ReSound shall
promptly inform AL2 in writing, stating the full facts of the infringement or
registration known to it, including the identity of the suspected infringer or
registrant, the place of the asserted infringement or registration and evidence
thereof. Danavox and ReSound agree to cooperate fully with AL2 at the expense of
AL2 if AL2 sues to enjoin such infringements or to oppose or invalidate any such
registration.

                           4. NO ADOPTION OF MARKS. Each party acknowledges the
validity of the other parties' trademarks, trade names and ownership thereof. No
party shall adopt, use, or register any acronym, trademark, trade name or any
other marketing name or mark of any other party or any confusingly similar mark
or symbol as part of its own name or the name of any of its Affiliates or the
names of the products it markets. No party shall challenge the other parties'
rights to use the trademarks or trade names which such party may apply to or use
in connection with the Products. If any party in the course of its business in
the sale of the Products or Product components as specifically permitted by this
Agreement, acquires any goodwill or reputation in any of the trademarks or trade
names of the other party applied thereto, then at the expiration or termination
of this Agreement all such goodwill or reputation automatically shall vest in
the party owning such trademarks or trade names without any separate payment or
other consideration of any kind, and each party agrees to take all such actions
necessary to effect such vesting in the owner thereof.

                  L. Product Liability. ReSound and Danavox acknowledge and
agree that (i) AL2 shall not be required to purchase or maintain product
liability insurance with respect to any of the Base DSP Technology or Full DSP
Technology, or any Products, (ii) each of Danavox and ReSound, respectively,
shall purchase and maintain product liability insurance with respect to the Base
DSP Technology and Full DSP Technology, and their respective Products, and (iii)
Danavox and ReSound agree that they shall require any third party licensees
(under Article IV(A)(3)) to purchase and maintain product liability insurance on
their products which incorporate any of the Licensed Technology, in the case of
subparagraphs (ii) and (iii), for the benefit of AL1 and AL2.




                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22
         VII. Confidentiality

                  A. Obligation. Each party shall keep confidential and not
disclose to any third party or use for its own benefit, except as expressly
permitted herein or consented to in writing, or for the benefit of any third
party, any of the following information disclosed by any other party to it
(collectively "Confidential Information"): (i) any information provided to it by
the other party marked with a proprietary, confidential or other similar notice
or orally disclosed to it by the other party and followed by a writing within
thirty (30) days of such oral disclosure indicating said information was
confidential, (ii) even if not so marked, information that is reasonably
understood by it to be confidential, including the Technology and (iii) the
terms, conditions and existence of this Agreement.

                  B. Exclusions. The term "Confidential Information" shall not
include information which (i) is or becomes generally known or available through
no act or failure to act by the receiving party, (ii) is already known by the
receiving party at the time of receipt as evidenced by its records, (iii) is
hereafter furnished to the receiving party by a third party, as a matter of
right and without restriction on disclosure, (iv) is disclosed by written
permission of the party disclosing the Confidential Information or (v) is
required to be disclosed by court order or law.

                  C. Access to Information. Each party shall limit access to
Confidential Information to those of its employees or agents (including
subcontractors) who have a need for such Confidential Information, or to its
sublicenses to the extent necessary to allow such sublicensees to fully use
their sublicenses, and all of whom are under a written obligation to keep such
information confidential.

                  D. Injunctive Relief. The parties acknowledge that a breach or
threatened breach of this Article VII by any of the parties may cause the
non-breaching party to suffer irreparable harm and injury such that no remedy at
law will adequately compensate the other party. Thus, the non-breaching party
shall have the right to obtain injunctive relief with respect to such breach or
threatened breach.


                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23
         VIII. Termination and Effect of Termination

                  A. Termination for Breach. AL2 may terminate this Agreement
(i) as to ReSound or Danavox if ReSound or Danavox, respectively, fails to make
the Initial Payment required by Article II(F) of this Agreement within fifteen
(15) business days of the required payment date, or (ii) as to ReSound, if
ReSound fails to exercise its option in full to purchase 220,264 shares of
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock of AL1 on January 1, 1997, as referenced by
that certain Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock Purchase
Agreement dated September 30, 1996 (the "Purchase Agreement"), (iii) as to
Danavox or ReSound, if such party materially breaches Article VII hereto and
such breach has a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Partnership
Agreement) on AL2 or the other parties hereto, or (iv) as to any Partner (as
that term is defined in the Partnership Agreement), if such Partner defaults
under Section 15.01 of the Partnership Agreement, which default results in the
right to purchase all of such Partner's Interest (as that term is defined in the
Partnership Agreement) under such Section 15.01. Notwithstanding the termination
of this Agreement by AL2 as to such other party, such terminated party shall
continue to be required to license the technologies described under Article IV,
Sections (A)(1) and (2), above, but shall have no rights under this Agreement.
Moreover, the other parties, upon unanimous consent, may terminate this
Agreement as to a party if a petition for relief under any bankruptcy law or
legislation is filed by or against such party, such party makes an assignment
for the benefit of creditors, or a receiver is appointed for all or a
substantial portion of any of such party's assets, and such petition, assignment
or appointment is not dismissed or vacated within thirty (30) days. Despite the
foregoing, all rights and licenses (other than with respect to trademarks)
granted under or pursuant to this Agreement by each party to the other parties,
are and shall be deemed to be, for purposes of Section 365(n) of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code (and any relevant foreign equivalent law), licenses of rights to
"intellectual property" as defined under Section 101 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code. The parties agree that each party, as a licensee of such rights under this
Agreement, shall retain and may fully exercise all of its rights and elections
under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (or foreign equivalent), but makes no particular
election at this time.

                  B. Termination for Impracticability. If the parties mutually
terminate this Agreement for Impracticability (as described in Article II(F)(5),
above), then

                                    a. Each party may hold and freely use the
Development Technology; however all other licenses granted by Danavox, ReSound
and AL2 under this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, provided that end-user
sublicenses shall survive as provided in Article IV(B)(1); and

                                    b. The parties agree to negotiate in good
faith with a view to providing, through licensing, cross-licensing or otherwise,
to each other all rights as are reasonably required by each party to fully
exploit and use the Development Technology as well as its particular efforts
under the Development Program.


                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24
                  C. Surviving Rights. Termination or expiration of this
Agreement shall not affect any other rights of the parties which may have
accrued up to the date of such termination or expiration and, in addition, (1)
no party shall be relieved of any obligation for any sums otherwise due to the
other parties notwithstanding the termination, (2) no party shall be relieved of
its obligations under (a) any provision which specifically provides for the
survival thereof under the particular circumstances described in such provision
and (b) Articles III (Ownership of Technology), VI (Proprietary Rights,
Warranties and Indemnifications), VII (Confidentiality), VIII (Termination and
Effect of Termination), IX (Limitation of Liability), X (Compliance with Laws)
and XI (Miscellaneous).

                  D. Duties of the Parties Upon Termination. Except as
specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement, upon any termination or
expiration of this Agreement, the parties agree to do the following:

                                    a. refrain thereafter from representing
themselves as distributors or manufacturers of the Products; and

                                    b. return to the other parties all tangible
items in their possession or under their control comprising or evidencing such
other parties' technology and Confidential Information.

         IX. Limitation of Liability

                  IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT,
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS,
INCURRED BY ANY OTHER PARTY OR A THIRD PARTY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT
OR TORT (INCLUDING STRICT LIABILITY) OR BASED ON A WARRANTY, INCLUDING DAMAGES
OR LOSSES DUE TO PERSONAL INJURY, ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH, OR RESULTING
FROM THE SALE, DELIVERY, REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE
PRODUCTS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT EVEN IF THE PARTY
HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.




                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25
         X. Compliance With Laws

                  A. Export Law Compliance. The parties understand and recognize
that the Licensed Products and other materials made available to them hereunder
may be subject to the export administration regulations of the United States
Department of Commerce and other United States government regulations related to
the export of technical data and equipment and products produced therefrom. The
parties are familiar with and agree to comply with all such regulations,
including any future modifications thereof, in connection with the marketing and
distribution of the Licensed Products. The parties agree to obtain the same
agreement from each of their distributors, dealers and other resellers. In the
event a party breaches this Article X(A), such party hereby agrees to indemnify
and hold the other parties harmless from such breach.

                  B. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Each party agrees that it
shall comply with the requirements of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
(the "Act") and shall refrain from any payments to third parties which would
cause any of the parties to violate the Act. In the event a party breaches this
Article X(B) such party hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the other parties
harmless from such breach.

                  C. Licenses and Permits. In connection with and in furtherance
of its marketing and manufacturing activities hereunder, each party shall be
responsible for obtaining, and shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to
obtain, any and all required non-U.S. governmental authorizations, including
without limitation any import licenses and foreign exchange permits, and, if
applicable, shall be responsible for filing or registering this Agreement with
the appropriate authorities.

         XI. Miscellaneous

                  A. Relationship of Parties. The parties are not employees,
agents or legal representatives of the other parties for any purpose. No party
shall have the authority to enter into any contracts in the name of or on behalf
of the other parties.

                  B. Further Assurances. Each party shall, at the request and
expense of another party, do such acts or things as the other party may
reasonably require for the purpose of obtaining, registering, maintaining,
enforcing and preserving any of the Intellectual Property of the other party
related to the Licensed Products or such party's Technology, provided, however,
that the parties agree that each party has the exclusive right to enjoin any
infringement by a third party of any Intellectual Property of the party related
to such party's Technology. In the event that any unlawful copying of the
Product, infringement of a party's rights in the Product, or infringement or
registration by a third party of the rights of ReSound, Danavox or AL2 comes to
the attention of a party, such party shall immediately inform the others in
writing, stating the full facts of the infringement or registration known to


                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26
it, including the identity of the suspected infringer or registrant, the place
of the asserted infringement or registration and evidence thereof. Each of the
parties agrees to cooperate fully with the other party at the expense of such
other party if such other party sues to enjoin such infringements or to oppose
or invalidate any such registration.

                  C. Non-assignability; Binding on Successors. Any party may
assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement in connection with a sale of all or
substantially all of its respective assets, or of its business, whether via
merger or otherwise, provided, however, AL2 may not make any such assignment or
transfer to any party who is a competitor of Danavox or ReSound. Additionally,
Danavox and ReSound may assign this Agreement to any of its respective
Affiliates. Except as permitted in the preceding sentences, no party shall
assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the express
written consent of the other parties. Any attempted assignment under this
Agreement without such consent shall be void. In the case of any permitted
assignment or transfer of or under this Agreement, this Agreement or the
relevant provisions shall be binding upon the executors, heirs, representatives,
administrators and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  D. Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement
is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the valid or enforceable portion thereof
and the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect.

                  E. Force Majeure. No party shall be liable to the others for
its failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement during any
period in which such performance is delayed because rendered impracticable or
impossible due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without
limitation earthquakes, governmental regulation, fire, flood, labor
difficulties, civil disorder, and acts of God, provided that the party
experiencing the delay promptly notifies the other party of the delay.

                  F. Waiver. Any waiver (express or implied) by any party of any
breach of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall not constitute a waiver
of any other or subsequent breach.

                  G. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, the Related
Agreements and any and all exhibits, schedules, annexes and appendices attached
hereto and thereto constitute the entire, final, complete and exclusive
agreement between the parties and supersede all previous agreements or
representations, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement and the Related Agreements. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except in a writing signed by Danavox, ReSound and AL2; provided that
AL2 must have the written consent of a majority in interest of its Limited
Partners (other than ReSound and Danavox) in order to amend this Agreement.

                  H. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts with the same force and effect as if each of the signatories had
executed the same instrument.


                                      -26-
<PAGE>   27
                  I. Notice. All notices, communications, requests, demands,
consents and the like ("Notices") required or permitted under this Agreement
will be in writing and will be deemed given and received (i) when delivered
personally, (ii) when sent by confirmed fax, (iii) ten (10) days after having
been duly mailed by first class, registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
or (iv) three (3) business days after deposit with a commercial overnight
carrier, with written verification of receipt. All Notices will be addressed as
follows:

                  If to Danavox:

                  Danavox
                  GN DANAVOX AS
                  Markaervej 2 A
                  P.O. Box 224
                  DK-2630 Taastrup, DENMARK
                  Attention: Ole Lund
                  Telephone: xx-453-312-0088
                  FAX:  xx-453-312-1506

                  With a copy to:

                  Davis, Polk & Wardwell
                  450 Lexington Avenue
                  New York, New York 10017 U.S.A.
                  Attention: John A. Bick, Esq.
                  Telephone: 212-450-4350
                  FAX: 212-450-4800

                  If to ReSound:

                  ReSound Corporation
                  220 Saginaw Drive
                  Seaport Centre
                  Redwood City, California 94063 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Paul A. Busse
                  Telephone:  415-780-7800
                  FAX:  415-367-0675




                                      -27-
<PAGE>   28
                  With a copy to:

                  Venture Law Group
                  2800 Sand Hill Road
                  Menlo Park, California 94025 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Elias J. Blawie, Esq.
                  Telephone:  415-854-4488
                  FAX:  415-854-1121

                  If to AL2:

                  AudioLogic Hearing Systems, L.P.
                  6655 Lookout Road, Suite 200
                  Boulder, CO 80301 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Jason Carlson
                  Telephone:  303-581-9556
                  FAX:   303-581-9250

                  With a copy to:

                  Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe
                  1675 Broadway, Suite 2600
                  Denver, CO 80202 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Susan L. Oakes, Esq.
                  Telephone:  303-628-3658
                  FAX:  303-623-2062

                  If to AL1:

                  AudioLogic, Inc.
                  6655 Lookout Road, Suite 200
                  Boulder, CO 80301 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Jason Carlson
                  Telephone:  303-581-9556
                  FAX:   303-581-9250




                                      -28-
<PAGE>   29
                  With a copy to:

                  Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe
                  1675 Broadway, Suite 2600
                  Denver, CO 80202 U.S.A.
                  Attention:  Susan L. Oakes, Esq.
                  Telephone:  303-628-3658
                  FAX:  303-623-2062

or to such other address as the person to whom Notice is to be given may have
furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith, except that Notices
of change of address will be effective only upon receipt. A Notice given by any
means other than as specified herein will be deemed duly given when actually
received by the addressee.

                  J. Choice of Governing Law, Arbitration.

                           1. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement is made in
accordance with and shall be governed and construed under the laws of the State
of Delaware, U.S.A., as applied to agreements executed and performed entirely in
Delaware by Colorado residents and in no event shall this Agreement be governed
by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of
Goods.

                           2. DISPUTE RESOLUTION; ARBITRATION.

                                    a. Except as described in subsection (b)
below, all disputes, controversies, differences, claims or the like between the
parties under, arising out of or related to this Agreement, or the performance,
enforcement, breach, termination or validity of this Agreement (collectively,
"Disputes"), shall first be discussed in good faith by a special committee of
the Board of Directors of the General Partner of AL2, which special committee
shall be established especially for the purpose of resolving such dispute (the
"Dispute Resolution Committee"). The Dispute Resolution Committee shall consist
of an equal number of AL1 Designees, Danavox Designees and ReSound Designees,
with a view to promptly and amicably resolving the Dispute. Such discussion
shall continue for not more than thirty (30) days after a party provides written
notice to the others of the Dispute. In the event the Dispute Resolution
Committee is unable to resolve the Dispute within thirty (30) days, the Dispute
shall be referred by the Dispute Resolution Committee to the Chief Executive
Officers of AL1, ReSound and Danavox for resolution. If the Chief Executive
Officers have not resolved the Dispute within fifteen (15) days after such
referral, the provisions of subsection (c) shall apply.

                                    b. Any Dispute based on an alleged breach of
confidentiality of proprietary information may be submitted immediately and
directly to arbitration pursuant to subsection (c) below without first being
discussed between the parties.


                                      -29-
<PAGE>   30
                                    c. If a Dispute cannot be resolved pursuant
to subsection (a) above, the Dispute shall be submitted to final and binding
arbitration in accordance with the then-current rules of Conciliation and
Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (the "ICC") in force on the
Effective Date of this Agreement. The arbitration shall be commenced when one
party serves the others with a written demand to arbitrate. Any arbitration
shall be conducted in New York City, New York (the "Arbitration Forum"), and the
parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of the courts there, for any cause
arising out of or otherwise related to this arbitration, its conduct and its
enforcement.

                                    d. The arbitration shall be conducted in the
English language and documents and submissions shall be in the English language.
Each party to the arbitration shall bear a proportional amount of any
translation expenses.

                                    e. Resolution of Disputes under this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the substantive laws as
specified in Article XI(J)(1) above, except that matters concerning Danish
patents will be governed by applicable Denmark patent law, and matters
concerning U.S. patents will be governed by applicable U.S. patent law.

                                    f. Each party agrees to abide by the award
rendered in any arbitration conducted pursuant to this Article XI(J), and agrees
that a judgment of the courts of the Arbitration Forum having jurisdiction may
be entered upon the final award and that no party to the arbitration will seek
to stop or otherwise interfere with other courts in any jurisdiction in the
world in granting, to the extent legally permissible, full faith and credit to
such judgment in order to enforce such award.

                                    g. The arbitration panel shall consist of
one (1) impartial ICC arbitrator with a minimum of ten years of experience in
the medical device industry who is knowledgeable as to hearing aid industry
standards and fluent in the English language. Each party shall have the right to
agree to such arbitrator. Failing their agreement within thirty (30) days of the
initiation of arbitration, the arbitrator shall be appointed by the Court of
Arbitration of the ICC upon request of any party hereto.

                                    h. Prompt disposal of any Dispute is of
utmost importance to the parties, and the resolution of any Dispute shall
therefore be conducted expeditiously such that the duration of the arbitration
(from the time from the service of written demand to arbitrate to the conclusion
of the arbitration hearing) shall be not more than sixty (60) days.

                                    i. The arbitrator shall give active,
attentive case management to the scope, form, cost-effectiveness and scheduling
of all discovery. The arbitrator shall allow the parties to conduct enough
discovery to ensure that the lack of discovery does not itself cause an
injustice. However, there shall be no discovery that the arbitrator does not
find to be cost-effective and needed. The arbitrator may issue orders to protect
the


                                      -30-
<PAGE>   31
confidentiality of proprietary information, trade secrets and other sensitive
information disclosed in discovery or the final hearing, and to protect against
unauthorized disclosure or misuse of such information and secrets, whether such
information is disclosed in discovery or is the subject of alleged breach as
contemplated by subsection (2) above. The parties agree to abide by such orders.

                                    j. Sworn declarations shall be admissible as
testimony in any arbitration hereunder.

                                    k. Except as set forth is subsection (l)
below, each party shall bear its own legal fees. The arbitrator shall assess its
costs, fees and expenses against the party losing the case unless the arbitrator
believes that no party is the clear loser, in which case the arbitrator shall
divide its fees, costs and expenses according to its sole discretion.

                                    l. If as to any issue the arbitrator should
determine under the applicable law that the position taken by a party is
frivolous or otherwise irresponsible or that any wrongdoing it finds is in
callous disregard of law and equity or the rights of any other party, the
arbitrator shall also award an appropriate allocation of the adversary's
reasonable attorney fees, costs and expenses to be paid by the offending party,
the precise sums to be determined after a bill of attorney fees, expenses and
costs consistent with such award has been presented following the award on the
merits.

                  K. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. The rights and remedies
provided in this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other
rights and remedies provided by law or otherwise.

                  L. Captions and Section References. The section headings
appearing in this Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in
no way define, limit, construe or describe the scope or extent of such section
or in any way affect such section.

                  M. Authority to Enter Into and Execute Agreement; Prior
Grants. Each party represents and warrants to the other that it has the right,
full power and lawful authority to enter into this Agreement for the purposes
herein (including the granting of licenses under this Agreement) and to carry
out its obligations hereunder. Each party further warrants to the other parties
that it has no other outstanding agreements or obligations inconsistent with the
terms and provisions hereof and that it has not made any prior grants of rights
in or to the Products, the Development Technology, the Danavox Technology or the
AL2 Technology to any third party which are inconsistent or would interfere in
the performance of this Agreement.

                  N. Publicity. All notices to third parties and all other
publicity concerning this Agreement or its subject matter shall be jointly
planned and coordinated between the parties. No party shall act unilaterally in
this regard without the prior written approval of the


                                      -31-
<PAGE>   32
other parties, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and
which shall be deemed to be given when disclosure is specifically required by
law. All related communications within each party's organization shall be of a
confidential nature.



             THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK









                                      -32-
<PAGE>   33
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this
Agreement by their duly authorized representatives as of the Effective Date.

                        GN DANAVOX AS


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------

                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------

                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------

                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------


                        RESOUND CORPORATION


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------

                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------


                        AUDIOLOGIC, INC.


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------

                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------


                                      -33-
<PAGE>   34
                        AUDIOLOGIC HEARING SYSTEMS, L.P.

                        By:  RESOUND CORPORATION, Its General
                             Partner



                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------

                        By:  GN DANAVOX AS, Its General Partner



                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                        Title:
                              --------------------------------------------------


                                      -34-
<PAGE>   35
EXHIBITS:

A -- AL1 Assets assigned to AL2 (including AL2 Technology)
B -- Danavox Technology
C -- Development Schedule and Milestones
D -- ReSound Technology
E -- Specifications
F -- Budget
<PAGE>   36
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                AUDIOLOGIC, INC.
                             Technology Description


AUDIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY:

[*]:

1.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]
    
[*]

2.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

         [*]

[*]

3.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]

         [*]

[*]

4.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

                   * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                     PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

<PAGE>   37
[*]

5.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

         [*]

[*]

6.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

         [*]

[*]

7.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

8.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]
         [*]

[*]

1.       [*]
         [*]
         [*]


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


                                      -2-

<PAGE>   38
2.       [ * ]

[ * ]

[ * ]

1.       [ * ]

2.       [ * ]

3.       [ * ]

4.       [ * ]

5.       [ * ]

6.       [ * ]

7.       [ * ]

8.       [ * ]

9.       [ * ]

10.      [ * ]

11.      [ * ]

12.      [ * ]

13.      [ * ]

14.      [ * ]

15.      [ * ]

16.      [ * ]

17.      [ * ]

18.      [ * ]

19.      [ * ]


                   * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                     PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>   39
                                    EXHIBIT B

                         Danavox Technology Description


DANAVOX TECHNOLOGY:


<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
[ * ]                                     [ * ]

[ * ]                                     [ * ]

[ * ]                                     [ * ]
</TABLE>



[ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]

[ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]

- -    [ * ]




                   * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                     PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

<PAGE>   40
                         [THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE UPDATED]
                                      [ * ]
                                    EXHIBIT C

                              Development Schedule
                                       and
                                   Milestones

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACTIVITY                                        DATE            RESPONSIBLE        DELIVERABLE
- --------                                        ----            -----------        -----------

<S>                                             <C>             <C>                <C>
[ * ]:

1.[ * ]                                                         [ * ]              [ * ]           

2. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

3. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

4. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

5. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

6. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

[ * ]

[ * ]

1. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

2. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

3. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

4. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

5. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

[ * ]

1. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

2. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

3. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

4. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]

5. [ * ]                                                        [ * ]              [ * ]
</TABLE>

   *)  To be agreed by the Hearing Aid Development Committee


                   * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                     PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                     WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.




                                      -2-
<PAGE>   41
                                    EXHIBIT D

                               ReSound Technology

[ * ] 






                  * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                   PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                   WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.


<PAGE>   42
                      [THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE UPDATED [ * ] 
                                     [ * ]  
                                   EXHIBIT E

                                 Specifications

                                     [ * ]

         1.                          [ * ] 

         2.                          [ * ] 

         3.                          [ * ] 




                  * CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS
                   PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY
                   WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

<PAGE>   43

                                    EXHIBIT F
                                   
                                     Budget

[*] Budget                        AUDIOLOGIC/DANAVOX/RESOUND
(US$1000, except Units)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   1998       1998
       WORK PACKAGE    RESP      TOTAL       1996        1997    (Q1 & Q2)  (Q3 & Q4)     1999      2000
<S>                    <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>

[*]



































</TABLE>

Dx Payments 6,700 (of which $219,000 is a capital contribution under the
Partnership Agreement)

RS Payments 6,700 (of which $219,000 is a capital contribution under the
Partnership Agreement)


* CERTAIN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE HAS BEEN OMITTED AND FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.29


                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

           Whereas ReSound Corporation, 220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre,
Redwood City, CA 94063 USA ("ASSIGNOR") has recently acquired, as agent for and
on behalf of the ASSIGNEE (as defined below), certain patents and patent
applications (hereafter "the acquired 3M and CID patents and applications") from
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M") pursuant to an agreement
executed June 28, 1996, and from Central Institute for the Deaf ("CID") pursuant
to an agreement executed June 28, 1996 (the "CID Agreement");

Whereas K/S HIMPP, 25 Ny Vestergaardsvej, DK-3500 Vaerlose, Denmark ("ASSIGNEE")
desires to acquire the entire right, title and interest in the aquired 3M and
CID patents and applications and the inventions disclosed therein, effective as
of the date of the agreements referenced above;

Now therefore, in consideration for payment in the amount of USD 14,500,000,
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, ASSIGNOR hereby sells, assigns and
transfers to ASSIGNEE, its successors, assigns and legal representatives, the
entire right, title and interest in the aquired 3M and CID patents and
applications and the inventions disclosed therein, world-wide, including rights
of priority under the International Convention of Paris (1883) as amended, which
it previously acquired as agent for and on behalf of the ASSIGNEE;

ASSIGNOR further conveys to ASSIGNEE all its rights and obligations under the
CID Agreement, and ASSIGNEE agrees to be bound by the terms of the CID
Agreement;

The patents and patent applications conveyed herein ("the conveyed patents and
applications") are all of the acquired 3M and CID patents and applications,
including patents and applications which may be transferred to ReSound
subsequent to the date of this Assignment, said conveyed patents and
applications including without limitation the patents and patent applications
listed in Exhibit A to this Assignment with


                                      -1-
<PAGE>   2
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

the sole exception of U.S. Patent 4,425,481 and any non-U.S. patents claiming
priority from said U.S. Patent 4,425,481;

ASSIGNOR hereby agrees that it will execute without further consideration all
papers deemed necessary by the ASSIGNEE in connection with recording the
ASSIGNEE's ownership interest in the conveyed patents and applications,
including specifically documents of the form attached hereto as Exhibit B;

ASSIGNOR further agrees that ASSIGNEE may apply for Letters Patent on said
inventions, and ASSIGNOR will execute without further consideration all papers
deemed necessary by the ASSIGNEE in connection with such applications when
called upon to do so by the ASSIGNEE;

ASSIGNOR covenants that it will promptly provide ASSIGNEE, upon ASSIGNEE's
request, with all pertinent facts and documents relating to the inventions
described in said patents as may be known and accessible to ASSIGNOR and will
testify as to the same in any interference, litigation or proceeding related
thereto, and will promptly execute and deliver to ASSIGNEE or its legal
representatives any and all papers, instruments or affidavits required to
maintain and enforce said patents.

ASSIGNOR agrees that, in the event that either ASSIGNOR or ASSIGNEE becomes
aware of any royalty payment obligations or other agreements which would
conflict with the assignment of title herein or with the right of ASSIGNEE to
practice the claimed subject matter of the conveyed patents and applications
without further payment, ASSIGNOR will cooperate fully with ASSIGNEE in pursuing
any remedy available to ASSIGNOR pursuant to said agreements of June 28, 1996.

This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Danish
law. ASSIGNOR and ASSIGNEE hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Maritime and Commercial Court in Copenhagen (So- og Handelsretten i Kobenhavn)
for the settlement of any dispute arising out of its interpretation.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

ReSound Corporation

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

 By:

     ------------------------------------
Title

K/S HIMPP

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

 By:

     ------------------------------------
Title


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                                    EXHIBIT A

                     PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. TAXPAYERS

           The provisions of this Exhibit A shall apply solely for purposes of
determining the amount and allocation of items of income, gain, loss, deduction
and other items of the Partnership for U.S. income tax purposes and shall to
that extent override any contrary provision in the Articles of Association. This
Exhibit A is incorporated in and treated as part of such Articles of Association
by this reference.

           1. Capital Accounts. In order to comply with the requirements of
Section 704(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code") and
Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(2)(iv), the Partnership shall maintain
for each Partner a capital account strictly in accordance with the rules set
forth therein. Subject to the preceding sentence, each Partner's capital account
shall be (a) increased by the amount of money contributed by it to the
Partnership, the fair market value of any property contributed by it to the
Partnership (net of any liabilities secured by such contributed property that
the Partnership is considered to assume or take subject to under Code Section
752), and allocations to it of income and gain (including tax-exempt income and
gain) of the Partnership, and shall be (b) decreased by the amount of money
distributed to it by the Partnership, the fair market value of property
distributed to it by the Partnership (net of any liabilities secured by such
distributed property that such Partner is considered to assume or take subject
to under Code Section 752), and allocations to it of Partnership losses and
deductions (including Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures). The capital accounts
of the Partners shall be adjusted to reflect the manner in which any unrealised
income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to the Partnership's assets would
have been allocated among the Partners if there had been a taxable disposition
of such assets for their fair market values upon (x) a distribution in kind of
any such assets, and (y) an adjustment of the book values of the Partnership's
assets pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b) in connection with
the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new or
existing Partner, the distribution of Partnership money or property to a Partner
in consideration for an interest in the Partnership, the liquidation of the
Partnership or any Partner's interest therein, or the other events specified in
such Treasury Regulations, unless Partners holding a majority of the percentage
interests of the Partnership elect not to make such adjustment.

           2. Allocation of Profits. For U.S. income tax purposes, Profits (as
defined below) of the Partnership shall be allocated for each fiscal year as
follows:

                    (a) First, to any Partners with deficit capital accounts in
proportion to such deficits until no Partner has a deficit capital account;

                    (b) Second, to resound until its capital account equals the
amount of the redemption price for the B shares (to the extent such B shares
have not previously been sold or redeemed) as determined in accordance with
Article 5.5 of the attached Articles of Association; and
<PAGE>   5
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

                    (c) Thereafter, to the Partners in the ratio of the number
of authorised and outstanding shares of the Partnership held by them to the
total number of authorised and outstanding shares of the Partnership
("percentage interests").

           3. Allocation of Losses. For U.S. income tax purposes, Losses (as
defined below) of the Partnership shall be allocated for each fiscal year as
follows:

                    (a) First, to the Partners in proportion to their percentage
interests until ReSound's capital account has been reduced to the amount of the
redemption price of the B shares (to the extent such B shares have not
previously been sold or redeemed) as determined in accordance with Article 5.5
of the attached Articles of Association and the other Partners' capital accounts
have been reduced to zero;

                    (b) Second, to ReSound until its capital account has been
reduced to zero; and

                    (c) Thereafter, to the Partners in proportion to their
percentage interests.

           4. Definition of Profits and Losses. For purposes of this Exhibit A,
"Profits" and "Losses" mean, for each fiscal year of the Partnership, the
Partnership's taxable income or loss for such year as determined under Section
703(a) of the Code, with the following adjustments: (a) any tax-exempt income or
Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures of the Partnership shall be taken into account
as if they were taxable or deductible items, respectively, (b) any items of
income or loss required to be allocated specially under the remaining provisions
of this Exhibit A shall not be taken into account, and (c) depreciation,
amortisation, gain and loss with respect to Partnership assets shall be computed
based on the book value of such assets in accordance with Treasury Regulations
Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g)(3) rather than their tax basis.

           5. Minimum Gain. In the event that the Partnership ever has any
minimum gain or minimum gain attributable to Partner nonrecourse debt (as those
terms are defined by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2), then the provisions
of such regulations regarding allocation and chargeback of such items shall
apply as though set forth herein. In addition, the attached Articles of
Association shall be deemed to include the "qualified income offset" provisions
of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).

           6. Allocations for U.S. Income Tax Purposes. If any Partnership
assets are reflected in the capital accounts of the Partners and on the books of
the Partnership at a book value that differs from the tax basis of such assets,
then items attributable to such property for U.S. federal income tax purposes
shall be shared among the Partners in a manner that take account of the
variation between such tax basis and book value in the same way as variations
between the tax basis and fair market value of property contributed to the
Partnership would be taken into account under Code Section 704(c).

           7. Minimum General Partner Allocation. For each Partnership fiscal
year, no less than 1% of all allocations of Profits, Losses and other items of
income, gain or loss shall be allocated to the General Partner of the
Partnership.
<PAGE>   6
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

           8. U.S. Tax Election. The Partnership shall make the election
provided for under Section 754 of the Code upon the request of ReSound, without
any requirement that approval be obtained from any other Partner for such
election. In addition, all other U.S. tax elections and decisions, including
decisions of the "tax matters partner" under Section 6221 et. seq. of the Code
and decisions regarding the proper method of reporting Partnership items for
U.S. income tax purposes, shall be subject to the approval of Partners holding a
majority of the percentage interests held by those Partners who are U.S.
taxpayers.
<PAGE>   7
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

           Whereas ReSound Corporation, 220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre,
Redwood City, CA 94063 USA ("ASSIGNOR") has recently acquired, as agent for and
on behalf of the ASSIGNEE (as defined below), certain patents and patent
applications (hereafter "the acquired 3M and CID patents and applications") from
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company ("3M") pursuant to an agreement
executed June 28, 1996, and from Central Institute for the Deaf ("CID") pursuant
to an agreement executed June 28, 1996 (the "CID Agreement");

           Whereas K/S HIMPP, 25 Ny Vestergaardsvej, DK-3500 Vaerlose, Denmark
("ASSIGNEE") desires to acquire the entire right, title and interest in the
aquired 3M and CID patents and applications and the inventions disclosed
therein, effective as of the date of the agreements referenced above;

           Now therefore, in consideration for payment in the amount of USD
14,500,000, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, ASSIGNOR hereby sells,
assigns and transfers to ASSIGNEE, its successors, assigns and legal
representatives, the entire right, title and interest in the aquired 3M and CID
patents and applications and the inventions disclosed therein, world-wide,
including rights of priority under the International Convention of Paris (1883)
as amended, which it previously acquired as agent for and on behalf of the
ASSIGNEE;

           ASSIGNOR further conveys to ASSIGNEE all its rights and obligations
under the CID Agreement, and ASSIGNEE agrees to be bound by the terms of the CID
Agreement;

           The patents and patent applications conveyed herein ("the conveyed
patents and applications") are all of the acquired 3M and CID patents and
applications, including patents and applications which may be transferred to
ReSound subsequent to the date of this Assignment, said conveyed patents and
applications including without limitation the patents and patent applications
listed in Exhibit A to this Assignment with the sole exception of U.S. Patent
4,425,481 and any non-U.S. patents claiming priority from said U.S. Patent
4,425,481;

           ASSIGNOR hereby agrees that it will execute without further
consideration all papers deemed necessary by the ASSIGNEE in connection with
recording the ASSIGNEE's ownership interest in the conveyed patents and
applications, including specifically documents of the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B;

           ASSIGNOR further agrees that ASSIGNEE may apply for Letters Patent on
said inventions, and ASSIGNOR will execute without further consideration all
papers deemed necessary by the ASSIGNEE in connection with such applications
when called upon to do so by the ASSIGNEE;


                                      -1-
<PAGE>   8
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

           ASSIGNOR covenants that it will promptly provide ASSIGNEE, upon
ASSIGNEE's request, with all pertinent facts and documents relating to the
inventions described in said patents as may be known and accessible to ASSIGNOR
and will testify as to the same in any interference, litigation or proceeding
related thereto, and will promptly execute and deliver to ASSIGNEE or its legal
representatives any and all papers, instruments or affidavits required to
maintain and enforce said patents.

           ASSIGNOR agrees that, in the event that either ASSIGNOR or ASSIGNEE
becomes aware of any royalty payment obligations or other agreements which would
conflict with the assignment of title herein or with the right of ASSIGNEE to
practice the claimed subject matter of the conveyed patents and applications
without further payment, ASSIGNOR will cooperate fully with ASSIGNEE in pursuing
any remedy available to ASSIGNOR pursuant to said agreements of June 28, 1996.

           This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
Danish law. ASSIGNOR and ASSIGNEE hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Maritime and Commercial Court in Copenhagen (So- og Handelsretten i
Kobenhavn) for the settlement of any dispute arising out of its interpretation.

                                       ReSound Corporation

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

                                       By:
                                       ------------------------------

                                       ------------------------------
                                       Title

                                       K/S HIMPP

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

                                       By:
                                       ------------------------------

                                       ------------------------------
                                       Title

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   9
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

                                   ASSIGNMENT

           Whereas ReSound Corporation, 220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre,
Redwood City, CA 94063 USA (hereinafter called ASSIGNOR) holds the entire right,
title and interest in the patents and patent applications set forth in Appendix
A to this Assignment and the inventions disclosed therein as agent for and on
behalf of the ASSIGNEE (as defined below);

           Whereas K/S HIMPP, 25 Ny Vestergaardsvej, DK-3500 Vaerlose, Denmark
(hereinafter called ASSIGNEE) desires to acquire the entire right, title and
interest in said patents and patent applications and the inventions disclosed
therein;

           Now therefore, for valuable consideration, receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, ASSIGNOR hereby sells, assigns and transfers to ASSIGNEE, its
successors, assigns and legal representatives, the entire right, title and
interest in said patents, patent applications and the inventions disclosed
therein, world-wide, including rights of priority under the International
Convention of Paris (1883) as amended which it previously acquired as agent for
and on behalf of the ASSIGNEE;

           ASSIGNOR hereby agrees that ASSIGNEE may apply for Letters Patent on
said inventions, and ASSIGNOR will execute without further consideration all
papers deemed necessary by the ASSIGNEE in connection with such applications
when called upon to do so by the ASSIGNEE.

                                       ReSound Corporation

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

                                       By:
                                       ------------------------------------

                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Title

                                    EXHIBIT B
<PAGE>   10
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                             SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

                                     between

                                 GN Danavox A/S,

                                   Phonak AG,

                               Oticon Holding A/S,

                               Widex Holding ApS,

                           Starkey Laboratories, Inc.

                                       and

                               ReSound Corporation

August 22, 1996
<PAGE>   11
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made by and between

                                       GN Danavox A/S
                                       21 Markaervej
                                       DK-2635  Tastrup
                                       Denmark

                                       and

                                       Phonak AG
                                       28 Laubistrutistrasse
                                       CH-8712  Stafa
                                       Switzerland

                                       and

                                       Oticon Holding A/S
                                       58 Strandvejen
                                       DK-2900  Hellerup
                                       Denmark

                                       and

                                       Widex  Holding ApS
                                       25 Ny Vestergaardsvej
                                       DK-3500  Vaerlose
                                       Denmark

                                       and

                                       Starkey Laboratories, Inc.
                                       Technical Center
                                       6600 Washington Avenue South
                                       Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
                                       USA

                                       and

                                       ReSound Corporation
                                       220 Saginaw Drive
                                       Seaport Centre
                                       Redwood City, CA 94063
                                       USA

                                       (hereinafter collectively referred to as
                                       "the Shareholders")

concerning their rights and obligations as shareholders in the joint venture
company, HIMPP A/S, (Reg no A/S 228.511), a corporation organised and existing
under the laws of Denmark, having its registered
<PAGE>   12
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

office at 25 Ny Vestergaardsvej, DK-3500 Vaerlose, Denmark (hereinafter referred
to as "the Company").

1.0        Definitions

           The following terms shall have the meaning set forth below

           Partnership               shall mean the HIMPP limited partnership
                                     established under Danish law simultaneously
                                     herewith having a partnership capital of
                                     USD 14,550,000 divided into 80 partnership
                                     shares of USD 180,000 and one share of USD
                                     150,000.

           Partners                  means the general partner (HIMPP A/S) and
                                     the limited partners of the Partnership.

           Limited                   Partners means the limited partners of the
                                     Partnership.

           B-shares                  means the 20 B-shares of partnership
                                     capital subscribed to by ReSound
                                     Corporation in the Partnership in the
                                     amount of USD 3,600,000 together with
                                     subsequent increases hereof in excess of
                                     the capital subscribed to by other Limited
                                     Partners.

2.0        Purpose

2.1        The Company's purpose is to act as the general partner of a limited
           partnership established under Danish law by the Shareholders
           simultaneously herewith, as reflected in the Articles of Association
           of the Company attached as Exhibit 1.

2.2        The Shareholders agree to let the Company act as a joint legal entity
           for conducting the activity of the Partnership, which is to own
           certain patents and patent applications acquired from ReSound
           Corporation, Inc. and from others, and to license such rights free of
           charge to the Limited Partners and to third parties on normal
           commercial terms.

2.3        The Shareholders agree that the Shareholders can be joined by any
           other hearing aids manufacturer that would like to join the
           Partnership as a limited partner and that such new shareholders
           should be admitted on terms equal to those offered to the Partners.

3.0        Scope

3.1        The Shareholders agree as sole shareholders of the Company and
           represented on the Board of Directors that they are under the
           obligation to exercise their rights in the Company only through their
           representatives on the Board of Directors, or at shareholders'
           meetings, in conformity with this Agreement.

3.2        In consequence hereof, this Agreement shall have priority between the
           parties over the Articles of Association of the Company, so that no
           party can evoke the Articles of Association in support of a result
           that the party concerned could not have obtained through this
           Agreement.
<PAGE>   13
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

3.3        All certificates of shares owned by each of the Shareholders shall
           bear a legend to the effect that the Shareholders have entered into a
           shareholders agreement, which affects their rights as shareholders.

4.0        The share capital

4.1        The share capital of the Company is DKK 1,200,000 - fully paid up and
           owned by the Shareholders as follows:

           GN Danavox A/S                                 DKK 200,000
           Phonak AG                                      DKK 200,000
           Oticon Holding A/S                             DKK 200,000
           Widex Holding ApS                              DKK 200,000
           Starkey Laboratories, Inc.                     DKK 200,000
           ReSound Corporation                            DKK 200,000

4.2        The Shareholders agree that the share capital should be increased by
           DKK 200,000 for any new shareholder that would like to join the
           Company.

5.0        Dividend policy

           The Shareholders agree that the Company, as far as justified by the
           results and the future cash flow position of the Company, shall
           distribute any free reserves as dividends to the Shareholders.

6.0        Board of Directors

6.1        The Board of Directors of the Company (and possibly substitutes for
           same) shall be elected at a general meeting of the Shareholders in
           accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company. The Board
           of Directors shall consist of a minimum of six (6) members elected by
           the Shareholders. One (1) prospective member shall be nominated by
           any shareholder holding at least DKK 200,000 shares of the Company.
           No shareholder can object to the nomination or appointment of
           directors or substitutes by the other Shareholders as long as the
           number of directors has not been exceeded.

6.2        The chairman of the Board shall be appointed by the directors in a
           directors meeting convened immediately after the shareholders
           meeting.

6.3        Upon election each director nominated by the Shareholders shall
           undertake to act in the best interest of the Company and to comply
           with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.

6.4        In case of death, resignation or other removal of a member of the
           Board of Directors, an extraordinary general meeting of the Company
           shall be convened, at which the Shareholders shall cast their votes
           so as to elect the replacement nominee of the shareholder whose
           representative on the Board had died, resigned or been otherwise
           removed.

6.5        The functions of the Board of directors shall include the powers
           provided in the Articles of Association. In all matters concerning
           the Company the Board of Directors and each member hereof shall refer
           to and act only through the general manager.
<PAGE>   14
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

6.6        Provided this Agreement does not prescribe any other special majority
           of votes, the business transacted by the Board of Directors shall be
           decided with simple majority of votes.

6.7        Any remuneration to directors shall be paid by the shareholder
           nominating such director. The Company shall, however, reimburse the
           directors for reasonable out of pocket and travelling expenses in
           dealing with the Company's business.

7.0        Quorum

           At Board meetings a quorum shall consist of a minimum of three
           directors.

8.0        Board decisions

8.1        Important decisions to be made by the Company shall always be
           referred to directors' meeting. Important decisions are any decisions
           whatsoever, other than strictly ministerial or administrative
           decisions, including without limitation the following:

           a.     Capital expenditure in excess of DKK 250,000, hereunder
                  acquisition of new patents.

           b.     Consideration and approval of operating and capital
                  expenditure, approval of budgets (which shall be produced by
                  the Company annually), financial accounts, resolutions
                  regarding dividends.

           c.     Unusual or major decisions, including creation of credit lines
                  outside the daily business.

           Any managing director, general manager or other administrative
           official that may be appointed shall not be authorized to act on
           behalf of and bind the Company with respect to any important
           decisions (as defined herein) unless the board of directors approves.

           All day-to-day management decisions which are not important decisions
           (as defined herein) shall be made by a management group consisting of
           six members of which each Shareholder shall appoint one. The
           management group shall make its decisions in accordance with the
           rules provided in Article 6.

8.2        In connection with the formation of the Company and the Partnership
           it is anticipated that the Company on behalf of the Partnership shall
           enter into a purchase agreement relative to the acquisition by the
           Partnership of certain patents against a consideration of
           approximately USD 14,500,000, and the Shareholders agree that the
           terms hereof are subject to the unanimous approval by all directors.

8.3        Until the B-shares have been sold by ReSound Corporation to a third
           party or have been redeemed by the Partnership in connection with a
           decrease of the partnership capital, any decision to discontinue the
           maintenance of any patent or patent application requires the
           unanimous approval of all directors.

8.4        Until all B-shares have been sold by ReSound Corporation to a third
           party or such B-shares have been redeemed by the Partnership in
           connection with a decrease of the partnership capital, the Board
           member nominated by ReSound Corporation shall, without the approval
           of other directors, be authorized to instruct the Company, and the
           Company shall act in accordance with such instruction, in matters
           related to whether or not any partnership patents or applications
           should be enforced or sought to be enforced before any court of
           competent
<PAGE>   15
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

           jurisdiction or other forum or tribunal, legal or
           equitable, on condition, however, that any net expenses connected
           herewith shall be borne by ReSound Corporation and transferred to new
           B-shares of the Partnership.

9.0        Auditing and financial reporting

9.1        The Company and its subsidiaries shall be audited by one chartered
           accountant of international standing approved by all Shareholders.

9.2        The Company's accounts will be maintained in accordance with the tax
           statutes and general accounting principles of Denmark, applied
           consistently from year to year, and the Company shall supply to the
           Board of Directors on a quarterly basis all information necessary to
           enable the Board of Directors to follow the business of the Company.
           The auditor shall also provide the annual accounts according to US
           generally accepted auditing standards (US GAAP), and upon request
           submit to the shareholders such financial information regarding the
           Company and the Partnership which is necessary for any local tax
           filing purpose.

10.0       Transfer of shares

10.1       Any Shareholder (hereinafter called the "Assigning Shareholder") may
           sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its shares
           only in accordance with the provisions of this clause. In respect of
           this Clause, a shareholder and a company controlled by or controlling
           such shareholder shall be considered one shareholder.

10.2       If the Assigning Shareholder wants to assign or transfer his shares
           this may only take place if approved by the Board of Directors and no
           such approval for the sale, transfer or disposition of any shares
           shall be given unless and until the rights of pre-emption contained
           herein shall have been exhausted.

10.3       Prior to making any sale, assignment, or other disposition of its
           shares, the Assigning Shareholder shall give written notice of such
           proposed transfer to the other Shareholders. Such notice shall
           specify the terms the Assigning Shareholder will accept for such
           shares. For a period of three (3) weeks after receipt of such notice
           the other Shareholders or any of them in proportion to their present
           holding of shares of the Company shall have the irrevocable right to
           acquire all of the Assigning Shareholder's shares being transferred
           on the terms specified by the Assigning Shareholder as aforesaid. If
           the other Shareholders do not want to acquire all of the shares on
           the terms offered to it/them, the Assigning Shareholder shall be free
           to complete the transfer during the subsequent sixty (60) day period
           of all of its shares to a third party, and the approval of the Board
           of Directors pursuant to Clause 10.2 shall not be withheld, but the
           transfer shall be for no less consideration or at no more favourable
           terms than those offered by the Assigning Shareholder and rejected by
           the other Shareholders.

10.4       In the event that a Shareholder (hereinafter called the "Transferor")
           receives a "bona fide" third party offer to purchase all or part of
           its shares which it is willing to accept, it shall promptly give
           written notice of such offer to the other Shareholders. The notice
           shall specify the terms of such offer and shall include copies of all
           proposed agreements with respect thereto. For a period of three (3)
           weeks after receiving such notices the other Shareholders shall have
           the irrevocable right to elect to acquire all of the Transferor's
           shares subject to such offer in proportion to their present holding
           of shares of the Company. If none of the other Shareholders want to
           acquire all of the shares on the terms offered to it/them, the
           Transferor shall be free to complete the transfer during the
           subsequent sixty (60) days period of all or
<PAGE>   16
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

           part of its shares to the third party, and the approval of the Board
           of Directors pursuant to Clause 10.2 shall not be withheld, but the
           transfer shall be for the same proportion of shares as covered by the
           offer from the third party and be for no less consideration or at no
           more favourable terms than those offered by the Transferor and
           rejected by the other Shareholders.

10.5       The rights of pre-emption contained in this Clause 10 do not apply to
           transfers from a shareholder to a company/entity controlled by or
           controlling such shareholder or a fellow subsidiary of the
           shareholder (An Affiliated Company). If the control should cease
           after such transfer of shares to An Affiliated Company has been
           effected, then the pre-emption procedure referred to above shall
           apply.

10.6       Any transfer, assignment or other agreement with respect to the
           shares of a Shareholder shall be conditioned on the recognition and
           assumption in writing of all rights and obligations under this
           Agreement by the transferee, assignee, or other successor in interest
           with respect to such shares. In any transfer described or permitted
           under Clause 10 the transferee shall give its written undertaking to
           be bound by all the terms, conditions, and covenants of this
           Agreement.

10.7       The Board of Directors may refuse approval under Clause 10.2 above of
           any transferee or assignee who is not the holder of at least ten (10)
           partnership shares of the Partnership.

10.8       A shareholder which under Article 16.3 of the Articles of Association
           of the Partnership has withdrawn from the future business of the
           Partnership shall be obliged to offer his shares in the Company to
           the other Shareholders in accordance with the procedure set forth in
           this Article 10.

           The purchase price for the shares so offered shall be calculated by
           the auditor of the Company and be equal to the proportional share of
           the net equity based on book value as of the date of transfer.

11.0       Share certificates

           The share certificates of the Company shall bear the following
           legend:

           "The assignment of this share certificate is restricted under the
           terms of a shareholders agreement."

12.0       The terms of the Agreement

           This Agreement is entered into for an unlimited period of time, and
           the contracting parties shall be bound by the Agreement as long as
           they are shareholders of the Company.

13.0       Law and jurisdiction

13.1       This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by substantive
           Danish law.

13.2       All disputes arising in connection with the present Agreement shall
           be finally settled by arbitration with three arbitrators.

14.3       Each party shall appoint one arbitrator.
<PAGE>   17
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

14.4       The President of the Arbitration Tribunal shall, in case the two
           arbitrators cannot agree upon his appointment, be appointed by the
           President of the Maritime and Commercial Court, Copenhagen.

14.5       The venue for the arbitration shall be Copenhagen, Denmark.

14.6       The rules and procedure of the arbitration shall be governed by the
           Law of Arbitration of Denmark. The language of the arbitration
           tribunal shall be English.

In witness whereof the Shareholders have duly executed this Agreement in
Copenhagen, Denmark as of the date and year stated below.

                            Copenhagen, 22 August 1996

- ----------------------------------            ----------------------------------
For and on behalf of                          For and on behalf of
GN DANAVOX A/S                                WIDEX HOLDING A/S

- ----------------------------------            ----------------------------------
For and on behalf of                          For and on behalf of
PHONAK AG                                     STARKEY LABORATORIES, INC.

- ----------------------------------            ----------------------------------
For and on behalf of                          For and on behalf of
OTICON HOLDING A/S                            RESOUND CORPORATION
<PAGE>   18
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

                        dated the 22nd day of August 1996

                                     between

                                    K/S HIMPP

                                       and

                               RESOUND CORPORATION

August 21, 1996
<PAGE>   19
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made on the 22nd day of August
1996 between

1.        K/S HIMPP, a limited partnership under Danish law resident at Ny
          Vestergaardsvej 25, 3500 Vaerlose, Denmark (the "Partnership"); and

2.        RESOUND CORPORATION, resident at 220 Saginaw Drive, Seaport Centre,
          Redwood City, CA 94063, USA (the "Limited Partner")

for the subscription for shares in the Partnership.

1.       DEFINITIONS

1.1.     In this Agreement the following words and expressions shall have the
         following meanings unless where the context explicitly requires
         otherwise:

         "Shares"                  means 10 A shares in the Partnership of a
                                   face value of US$180,000.00 each or in the
                                   aggregate of US$1,800,000.00 of the
                                   Partnership's total authorised and issued
                                   capital of US$14,550,000.00 of which
                                   US$10,950,000.00 represents A shares and
                                   US$3,600,000.00 represents B shares;

         "General Partner"         means the general partner of the
                                   Partnership; and

         "Articles"                means the Articles of Association of the
                                   Partnership as adopted by the Partnership in
                                   its constitutive general meeting on 22 August
                                   1996.

2.       SUBSCRIPTION FOR SHARES

2.1.     The Limited Partner hereby subcribes for the Shares and the Partnership
         hereby accepts to be bound by the Limited Partner's subscription for
         the Shares.

3.       THE LIMITED PARTNER'S RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

3.1.     The Limited Partner hereby accepts and assumes all rights and
         obligations connected with the subscription for and holding of the
         Shares pursuant to the Articles or Danish law in general.

3.2.     By his execution of this Agreement the Limited Partner covenants to
         have full knowledge of and to accept the terms and conditions of the
         Articles.

3.3.     The Limited Partner hereby in particular covenants to have full
         knowledge of and to accept the following provisions of the Articles:

         (i)      The Partnership's authorised and issued capital shall be fully
                  paid up at the establishment of the Partnership.
<PAGE>   20
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

         (ii)     The Partnership's general partner is HIMPP A/S whose liability
                  is joint, direct and unlimited for all the Partnership's
                  indebtedness and liabilities. The General Partner's issued and
                  outstanding share capital is Danish Kroner 1,200,000.00. Each
                  Limited Partner's liability for the Partnership's indebtedness
                  and liabilities is personal, direct and pro rata and limited
                  to the unpaid part (if any) of that Limited Partner's share in
                  the Partnership's authorised and issued capital together with
                  such further contributions in cash as the Partnership acting
                  in general meeting may resolve under Article 4.1., or as may
                  be required to be contributed under Article 4.1.;

         (iii)    No Limited Partner shall have any rights of recourse as
                  against the General Partner for that Limited Partner's
                  proportion of the Partnership's aggregate liabilities and
                  indebtedness (Article 6.2.);

         (iv)     Upon the complete performance of each limited partner's
                  obligations under his subscription agreement with the
                  Partnership that limited partner is entitled to receive a
                  certificate evidencing his shares (Article 7.1.);

         (v)      The Shares and the certificates are non-negotiable instruments
                  and shall be issued in the name of the owner (Article 7.2.);

         (vi)     Each Share may be held by only one natural or legal person. No
                  Share can be divided into sub-shares (Article 8.1.);

                  1)       The B shares may be redeemed by distributions. The A
                           shares are irredeemable (Article 5.5.).

                  2)       The A shares may only be transferred to a transferee
                           who is itself in control of or controlled by the
                           transferor limited partner (Article 8.2.).

                           The B shares may be transferred. On transfer the B
                           share certificates shall be annulled and new A share
                           certificates of the same face value issued to the
                           transferee.

         (vii)    If any Limited Partner shall become insolvent or be in breach
                  of his duties and obligations towards the Partnership under
                  the subscription agreement, these Articles of Association or
                  otherwise, the Partnership shall be entitled to request any
                  loss realised thereby reimbursed by the relevant limited
                  partner, and further to terminate without notice any patent
                  license agreement entered into between the Partnership and the
                  Limited Partner (Article 10); and

         (viii)   The General Partner shall be charged with the administration
                  of the Partnership and is entitled to remuneration for such
                  work to the extent that such remuneration is reasonable when
                  compared to the work and costs involved in the General
                  Partner's performance of his duties. The General Partner may
                  delegate administrative functions and tasks to third parties
                  (Article 11.1.).
<PAGE>   21
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

4.       LAW AND JURISDICTION

4.1.     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
         Danish law.

4.2.     Any dispute arising out of this Agreement or its interpretation shall
         be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of So- og Handelsretten i
         Kobenhavn. This Clause shall not affect the construction of Article 17
         of the Articles pursuant to which disputes concerning the
         interpretation of the Articles shall be settled finally by arbitration.

AS WITNESS the signatures of the parties hereto on the date first written above.

                                                            For the Partnership:

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

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

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

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

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

                                                  ------------------------------
                                                            For and on behalf of
                                                                       K/S HIMPP

                                                        for the Limited Partner:

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

                                                  ------------------------------
                                                            for and on behalf of
                                                             RESOUND CORPORATION
<PAGE>   22
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                                    HIMPP A/S

VEDTAEGTER                             ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION                 
                                                                     
1.0      NAVN                          1.0 NAME                                
                                                                               
Selskabets navn er HIMPP A/S.          The name of the Company is HIMPP A/S.   
Selskabets binavn er Hearing           The Company shall also trade under the  
Instruments Manufacturers Patent       name Hearing Instruments Manufacturers  
Partnership A/S (HIMPP A/S).           Patent Partnership A/S (HIMPP A/S).     
                                                                               
2.0      HJEMSTED                      2.0 REGISTERED OFFICE                   
                                                                               
Selskabets hjemsted er i Vaerlose      The registered office of the Company    
kommune.                               shall be in the municipality of         
                                       Vaerlose.                               

3.0      FORMAL                        3.0 OBJECTS   
                                                                                
Selskabets formal er at virke som      The Company's objectives shall be to act 
komplementar i K/S HIMPP, hvis         as a general partner of K/S HIMPP, whose 
formal er at erhverve og licensiere    objective is to acquire and license      
patenter til horeapparatindustrien     patents for the hearing aid industry and 
samt dermed beslaegtet virksomhed.     business related hereto.                 
                                       
4.0      SELSKABETS KAPITAL            4.0 THE COMPANY'S SHARE CAPITAL       
Selskabets aktiekapital udgor kr.      The share capital of the Company equals 
1.200.000 fordelt pa aktier a kr.      DKK 1,200,000 divided into shares of DKK
1.000 eller multipla heraf.            1,000 each or any multiple hereof.      
                                        
5.0      SELSKABETS AKTIER             5.0 THE COMPANY'S SHARES                 
                                                                               
5.1                                    5.1.                                    
Selskabets aktier skal lyde pa navn    The shares shall be issued to registered
og noteres i selskabets aktiebog.      holders and shall be recorded in the    
                                       Company's register of shareholders.     

5.2                                    5.2                                    
Selskabets aktier er ikke              The shares are non-negotiable           
omsaetningspapirer.                    instruments.                            
                                                                               
5.3                                    5.3                                     
Enhver aktieovergang kraever           Any transfer of shares requires the     
bestyrelsens forudgaende samtykke.     previous consent of the Board of        
                                       Directors.                              


                                      -1-
<PAGE>   23
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

5.4                                    5.4                                      
Aktier, som er bortkommet, skal        Share certificates which have been lost
kunne mortificeres af bestyrelsen      can without judgement be declared null   
uden dom i henhold til de regler,      and void by the Board of Directors      
der gaelder vedrorende                 according to the statutory rules which  
mortifikation af aktier, som ikke      are applicable to non-negotiable        
er omsaetningspapirer.                 instruments.                           
                                       
6.0 GENERALFORSAMLINGEN,               6.0 GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,     
    KOMPETENCE, STED OG                AUTHORITY, PLACE AND NOTICE           
    INDKALDELSE                          
                                         
                                                                    
6.1                                    6.1                                      
Generalforsamlingen har den hojeste    Within the limits set by law and by      
myndighed i alle selskabets            these Articles of Association the        
anliggender indenfor de i              General Meeting of Shareholders has the 
lovgivningen og naervaerende           supreme authority in all matters        
vedtaegter fastsatte graenser.         relating to the Company.                
                                                                               
6.2                                    6.2                                     
Selskabets generalforsamlinger skal    The General Meetings shall be held at   
afholdes pa selskabets hjemsted        the registered office of the Company or 
eller i Kobenhavn. Den ordinaere       in Copenhagen. The ordinary General     
generalforsamling skal afholdes        Meeting shall be held each year not     
hvert ar inden 5 maneder efter         later than 5 months after the end of the
regnskabsarets udlob.                  accounting year.                        
                                       
6.3                                    6.3                                      
Generalforsamlinger indkaldes af       General Meetings shall be convened by   
bestyrelsen med mindst 14 dages og     the Board of Directors with not less    
hojst 4 ugers varsel ved               than 14 days' notice and not more than 4
almindeligt brev eller telefax til     weeks' notice by letter or telefax to    
hver enkelt aktionaer.                 each individual shareholder.            
                                                                               
 7.0                                   7.0 GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,    
GENERALFORSAMLINGEN, DAGSORDEN         AGENDA   
                                                                           
Dagsordenen for den ordinaere          At the ordinary General Meeting the 
generalforsamling skal indeholde:      following business shall be
                                       transacted:

1.                                     1.                                       
Bestyrelsens beretning om              Report of the Board of Directors on the 
selskabets virksomhed i det            Company's activities during the past    
forlobne ar.                           year.                                   
                                                                               
2.                                     2.                                       
Fremlaeggelse af arsregnskab med       Presentation of the annual accounts      
revisionspategning til godkendelse     endorsed by auditor for adoption and    
samt arsberetning.                     annual report.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   24
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

3.                                     3.                                       
Beslutning om anvendelse af            Decision as to the appropriation of      
overskud eller daekning af tab i       profit or settlement of loss according   
henhold til det godkendte              to the adopted annual accounts.          
arsregnskab.                                                                    
                                       
4.                                     4.                                       
Valg af bestyrelsesmedlemmer og        Election of members to the Board of      
evt. suppleanter.                      Directors and substitutes for same.      
                                                                                
5.                                     5.                                       
Valg af revisor.                       Election of auditor.                     
                                                                                
6.                                     6.                                       
Eventuelle forslag fra bestyrelsen     Proposals, if any, from the Board of     
og/eller aktionaererne.                Directors and/or the shareholders.       
                                                                                
8.0 GENERALFORSAMLINGEN, STEMMERET     8.0 GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS,     
OG BESLUTNINGER                        VOTING RIGHT AND RESOLUTIONS             
                                                                                
8.1                                    8.1                                      
Hvert aktiebelob pa kr. 1.000 giver    Each share of DKK 1,000 entitles the     
en stemme.                             shareholder to one vote.                 
                                                                                
8.2                                    8.2                                      
Pa generalforsamlingen traeffes        All resolutions at the General Meeting   
alle beslutninger ved simpelt          shall be adopted by simple majority of   
flertal, bortset fra de tilfaelde,     votes unless special majority of votes   
hvor Aktieselskabsloven kraever        is required by the Companies Act.        
kvalificeret flertal.                                                           
                                        
9.0      BESTYRELSE OG DIREKTION       9.0 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT    
                                                                                
9.1                                    9.1                                      
Selskabet ledes af en bestyrelse pa    The Company shall be managed by a Board  
6 medlemmer valgt af                   of Directors of six (6) members elected  
generalforsamlingen for tiden          at the General Meeting, the term being   
indtil naeste ordinaere                the period until the next ordinary       
generalforsamling.                     General Meeting.                        
                                       
9.2 Bestyrelsen                        9.2                                      
skal ved en forretningsorden           The Board must draw up its own rules of  
traeffe naermere bestemmelser om       procedure.                               
udforelsen af sit hverv.     

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   25
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

9.3                                    9.3                                      
Bestyrelsen ansaetter en direktor      The Board of Directors shall appoint one 
til at varetage den daglige ledelse    registered manager in charge of the      
af selskabets virksomhed.              day-to-day operations of the Company.    
                                                                                
10.0     TEGNINGSREGEL                 10.0 AUTHORITY TO BIND THE COMPANY       
                                                                                
Selskabet tegnes af direktoren         The Company shall be bound by the        
eller tre medlemmer af bestyrelsen     registered manager or by the joint       
i forening.                            signatures of three members of the Board 
                                       of Directors.                            

11.0     REVISION                      11.0 AUDITING                          
                                                                                
Selskabets regnskaber revideres af     The auditing of the Company's accounts   
en statsautoriseret revisor, der       shall be carried out by one chartered    
vaelges af den ordinaere               accountant elected by the General        
generalforsamling for et ar ad         Meeting for one year at a time.          
gangen. Genvalg kan finde sted.        Re-election may be made.                 
                                                                                
12.0     REGNSKABSaR                   12.0 ACCOUNTING YEAR                     
                                                                                
Selskabets regnskabsar lober fra       The accounting year of the Company runs  
den 1. januar til den 31. december.    from January 1 to December 31. However,  
Forste regnskabsperiode dog fra        the first accounting period runs from    
stiftelsen til 31. december 1996.      the formation of the company to December 
                                       31, 1996.                                

**********                             **********                               
Ovenstaende vedtaegter er blevet       The above Articles of Association have   
vedtaget pa den ekstraordinaere        been adopted at the Extraordinary        
generalforsamling den 22. august       General Meeting held on August 22, 1996. 
1996.                                   


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   26
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]


                             ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

                                       of

                                    K/S HIMPP

August 21, 1996
<PAGE>   27
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

1.       THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP'S NAME AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS

1.1.     The name of the limited partnership is K/S HIMPP (the "Partnership").
         The Partnership shall also trade under the name of K/S Hearing
         Instruments Manufacturers Patent Partnership (K/S HIMPP).

1.2.     The Partnership's place of residence is in Vaerlose Kommune.

2.       OBJECTS

2.1.     The Partnership's objects are to carry on a business undertaking by
         acquiring patent rights with an application within the hearing aid
         industry and licencing such patent rights to third parties.

3.       THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL

3.1.     The Partnership's authorised and issued capital is US$14,550,000 which
         is divided into 60 A-shares and 20 B-shares of US$180,000 each and 1
         (one) A-share of USD 150,000 (each a "Share") which are subscribed for
         by the following companies (each a "Limited or General Partner") in the
         following proportions:

         GN Danavox A/S                 10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         Phonak AG                      10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         Oticon A/S                     10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         Widex  Holding ApS             10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         Starkey Laboratories, Inc.     10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         ReSound Corporation            10      A-Shares of USD 180,000
         ReSound Corporation            20      B-Shares of USD 180,000
         HIMPP A/S                      1       A-Share of USD 150,000

3.2.     The Partnership shall be deemed to be fully established on the
         subscription by the Partners of all Shares in the Partnership's
         authorised and issued capital.

4.       FINANCING

4.1.     The Partnership's activities shall be financed by the subscription
         proceeds derived from the Limited Partners. The Partnership acting in
         general meeting may by simple majority resolve to request the Limited
         Partners to make further contributions in cash to the Partnership in
         excess of the authorised and issued capital to cover running costs of
         the business. However, annually each Limited Partner shall be obliged
         to contribute his proportionate share of a yearly deficit not exceeding
         USD 150,000 - or a maximum of USD 25,000.

5.       OWNERSHIP AND APPLICATION OF ANNUAL PROFITS

5.1.     The Partnership shall be owned by the Limited Partners in the same
         proportion as each Limited Partner's share in the Partnership's
         authorised and issued capital shall bear to the Partnership's aggregate
         authorised and issued capital.
<PAGE>   28
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

5.2.     The Partnership's authorised and issued capital shall be fully paid up
         at the establishment of the Partnership.

5.3.     The Partnership's net annual profits and losses as evidenced by the
         Partnership's annual accounts shall be apportioned between the Limited
         Partners in the same proportion as each Limited Partner's share in the
         Partnership's authorised and issued capital shall bear to the
         Partnership's aggregate authorised and issued capital. The Partnership
         acting in general meeting may with the approval of all Limited Partners
         resolve to apportion a net annual loss differently.

5.4.     The Partnership's authorised and issued capital may be increased by the
         subscription of new A or B-Shares on the same terms and conditions
         applying to the initial subscription of the Shares. Costs disbursed by
         a holder of B-Shares on behalf of the Partnership shall be reimbursed
         by the issue of new B-Shares, such new B-shares, however, having no
         voting rights. New A-Shares cannot be issued until such time when all
         B-Shares have been annulled pursuant to Article 8.3.

5.5.     All or some of the B-Shares shall be redeemed by distributions in cash
         of a proportional share of the Partnership's net equity at such time
         and to the extent that the Partnership's liquidity allows such
         redemption. The redemption amount cannot exceed the aggregate of the
         face value of the B-Shares and a margin of .5 percent per month
         calculated as from 1 July 1997 plus an amount equal to the excess of
         (i) aggregate amounts previously contributed by ReSound under Article 4
         to satisfy any Partnership deficits, over (ii) one-sixth of the
         aggregate amounts contributed by all of the Partners to satisfy any
         such deficits. To the extent that such distributions in cash derive
         from Partnership profits already taxed in the hands of the Limited
         Partners, only 66 percent of such profits may be applied in
         distribution.

         To the extent that the preceding sentence prevents payment of the full
         redemption amount, or the Partnership's liquidity otherwise precludes
         payment of such amount, then a pro rata portion of the B shares shall
         be redeemed and the remainder shall be redeemed as soon thereafter as
         the Partnership's liquidity permits.

         The A-Shares are irredeemable.

6.       THE PARTNERS' LIABILITY

6.1.     The Partnership's general partner is A/S HIMPP (the "General Partner")
         whose liability is joint, direct and unlimited for all the
         Partnership's indebtedness and liabilities. The General Partner's
         issued and outstanding share capital is Danish Kroner 1,200,000. Each
         Limited Partner's liability for the Partnership's indebtedness and
         liabilities is personal, direct and pro rata and limited to the unpaid
         part (if any) of that Limited Partner's share in the Partnership's
         authorised and issued capital together with such further contributions
         in cash as the Partnership acting in general meeting may resolve under
         Article 4.1, or as may be required to be contributed under Article 4.1.

6.2.     No Limited Partner shall have any rights of recourse as against the
         General Partner for that Limited Partner's proportion of the
         Partnership's aggregate liabilities and indebtedness.

7.       SHARE CERTIFICATES
<PAGE>   29
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

7.1.     Each Limited Partner is on the complete performance of the Limited
         Partner's obligations under his subscription agreement with the
         Partnership entitled to receive a certificate evidencing his Share.

7.2.     The Shares and the certificates are non-negotiable instruments and
         shall be issued in the name of the owner.

7.3.     The General Partner shall create and maintain a list of the names and
         addresses of the Limited Partners. Each certificate evidencing Shares
         shall be endorsed with a notification of the certificate's entry in the
         list of Limited Partners.

7.4.     If it can be established that a Share certificate has been lost, the
         General Partner may on the request of the Limited Partner registered in
         the list of Limited Partners as the owner of the relevant Share
         certificate notify such person who holds the certificate by no less
         than three months' notice in the Official Gazette to appear at the
         Partnership's address and there present to the Partnership such
         evidence of his right and title to the relevant Share certificate as he
         is relying on. In the event that no one shall come forward as a result
         of the notice the General Partner shall be entitled to deem the lost
         Share certificate null and void whereupon the same shall so become null
         and void and issue a new Share certificate to such person who reported
         the Share certificate lost and missing.

7.5.     All costs involved in connection with the annulment and subsequent
         re-issue of a Share certificate shall be borne by the Limited Partner
         requesting the annulment.

8.       ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER

8.1.     Each Share may be held by only one natural or legal person. No Share
         can be divided into sub-shares.

8.2.     A-Shares are non-transferable except where the transfer occurs from a
         Limited Partner to a a transferee which is itself controlled by or in
         control of such Limited Partner.

8.3.     B-Shares are transferable. If the transfer occurs before 1 July 1997
         the transfer shall be at face value. If the transfer occurs on or after
         1 July 1997 the transfer shall be at the aggregate of the face value
         together with a margin of .5 percent. per month as from 1 July 1997
         plus an amount equal to the excess of (i) aggregate amounts previously
         contributed by ReSound under Article 4 to satisfy any Partnership
         deficits, over (ii) one-sixth of the aggregate amounts contributed by
         all of the Partners to satisfy any such deficits.

         On transfer the B Share certificates shall be annulled and new A Share
         certificates issued in the name of the transferee.

8.4.     No transfer and assignment of ownership to Shares shall be deemed valid
         and binding as against the Partnership unless and until such time that
         it has been entered on the list of the Partnership's Limited Partners.
         The condition for the entry shall be the transferee's execution of a
         certificate that the transferee acquires and assumes all the transferor
         Limited Partner's rights and obligations as against the Partnership in
         a form satisfactory to the General Partner.

9.       EXECUTION
<PAGE>   30
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

9.1.     The Partnership's assets cannot be made the subject of attachment or
         distress orders or any other form of execution for claims unrelated to
         the Partnership.

10.      DEFAULT

10.1.    If any Limited Partner shall become insolvent or be in breach of his
         duties and obligations towards the Partnership under the subscription
         agreement, these Articles of Association or otherwise, the Partnership
         shall be entitled to request any loss realised thereby reimbursed by
         the relevant Limited Partner and further to terminate without notice
         any patent license agreement entered into between the Partnership and
         the Limited Partner.

11.      ADMINISTRATION

11.1.    The General Partner shall be charged with the administration of the
         Partnership and is entitled to remuneration for such work to the extent
         that such remuneration is reasonable when compared to the work and
         costs involved in the General Partner's performance of his duties. The
         General Partner may delegate administrative functions and tasks to
         third parties.

11.2.    The General Partner shall maintain the Partnership's books and shall
         prepare the Partnership's budgets.

12.      GENERAL MEETINGS

12.1.    The Partnership's highest authority is the general meeting.

12.2.    The annual general meeting shall be held each year no later than four
         months after the expiry of the financial year.

12.3.    The general meeting shall be held in Vaerlose Kommune unless the
         General Partner shall direct otherwise.

12.4.    The General Partner shall call the general meeting with at least two
         and no more than four weeks notice by ordinary post to the Limited
         Partners at the addresses indicated in the list of Limited Partners.

12.5.    The General Partner may call extra-ordinary general meetings and shall
         so call an extra-ordinary general meeting if at least two Limited
         Partners shall reasonably request it. In the latter event the meeting
         shall be called no later than 14 days after the receipt of the Limited
         Partners' request.

12.6.    Any general meeting shall be chaired by a person appointed by the
         General Partner who shall have the final right to resolve all matters
         regarding the proper calling of the general meeting and the procedures
         applicable at the general meeting including the casting of votes.

12.7.    The agenda for the annual general meeting shall as a minimum contain
         the following items:

         1.       The General Partner's account of the Partnership's business in
                  the most recent financial year.

         2.       The presentation of the audited annual accounts for approval.
<PAGE>   31
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

         3.       The application of the profits and losses pursuant to the
                  annual accounts, including contributions from Limited
                  Partners.

         4.       The approval of the following year's budget.

         5.       The appointment of the Partnership's auditor.

         6.       Proposals from Limited Partners if any.

         7.       Miscellaneous.

12.8.    Proposals from Limited Partners which shall be on the agenda for the
         annual general meeting shall be presented to the General Partner no
         later than four weeks before the date of the relevant annual general
         meeting.

12.9.    No later than two weeks before the annual general meeting the audited
         annual accounts shall be circulated to all Limited Partners together
         with the proposed application of the profits and losses.

12.10.   Proposals from Limited Partners or the General Partner to amend these
         Articles of Association shall be circulated to all the Partnership's
         participants no later than two weeks before the date of the general
         meeting.

12.11.   At the general meeting each Limited Partner has one vote for each Share
         held by him or voted by him under proxy. The right to vote is
         conditional upon title to the relevant Shares having been registered in
         the list of Limited Partners no later than 14 days before the date of
         the general meeting. At the general meeting Limited Partners may be
         represented and vote by third parties acting under written proxy.

12.12.   All resolutions made at the general meeting shall be made by simple
         majority unless otherwise provided for in these Articles of
         Association. The general meeting shall not pass resolutions on matters
         which can be decided by the General Partner.

13.      SIGNATORY RULE

13.1.    The Partnership is bound in all respects by the General Partner who is
         authorised to sign formally on behalf of the Partnership.

14.      FINANCIAL YEAR

14.1.    The Partnership's financial year is the calendar year. The
         Partnership's first financial year commences on the date of
         incorporation of the Partnership and expires on 31 December 1996.

14.2.    The Partnership's annual accounts shall be audited by a chartered
         accountant appointed at the general meeting as the Partnership's
         auditor for a period of one year.

14.3.    The Partnership's profit and loss statement and balance sheet shall be
         available in audited form no later than two months after the expiry of
         the financial year to which they relate.

14.4.    The annual accounts shall be prepared in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting practices and the Annual Accounts Act with such
         modifications as may be result from the limited partnership form. The
         Partnership shall advise the Limited Partners not resident in the
         Kingdom of Denmark of such accounting details as may be necessary for
         the proper preparation by them of their annual accounts.
<PAGE>   32
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

15.      AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

15.1.    These Articles of Association can only be amended following a proposal
         to amend made by the General Partner or the Limited Partners and only
         if the amendment is passed by a general meeting by a majority of 4/5 of
         the authorized capital. If the proposal is not passed at a general
         meeting a new general meeting to be held no earlier than four weeks
         after the first general meeting may pass the resolution with a majority
         of 4/5 of the Shares represented at the general meeting.
         Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment which could materially and
         adversely affect any Limited Partner shall require the approval of such
         Limited Partner.

15.2.    Amendments to these Articles of Association which shall be necessary in
         order to bring them to conform with statutory rules and regulations
         applying to limited partnerships, the General Partner shall be
         authorised to complete such amendments without calling a general
         meeting.

15.3.    To the extent that changes in the law applying to limited partnerships
         shall affect the position of the General Partner or the Limited Partner
         as against public authorities, the General Partner or the Limited
         Partners shall be entitled to call an extra-ordinary general meeting to
         debate the necessary amendments.

15.4.    The General Partner or each Limited Partner may then propose a change
         in the Partnership's corporate identity and the general meeting can
         pass such resolution by a majority of 4/5 of the Shares represented at
         such general meeting. The articles of association applying to the
         different entity shall to the greatest extent possible be similar to
         these Articles of Association including the rights and obligations of
         the General Partner and the Limited Partners.

15.5.    In the event of the restructuring of the Partnership to another
         corporate form the Partnership's auditor shall immediately prepare an
         opening statement evidencing each Limited Partner's capital account. No
         Limited Partner shall be subject to personal liability as a result of
         the restructuring of the Partnership without in each case having
         consented to such change in liability.

15.6.    The Partnership shall cease on the alienation of its assets. The
         General Partner shall in that event be authorised to resolve to
         liquidate the Partnership.

16.      TERM AND TERMINATION

16.1.    On resolving to liquidate the Partnership the General Partner shall
         appoint a liquidator who shall be charged with the liquidation of the
         Partnership accounting at all times to the Partnership acting in
         general meeting, and who, on the discharge of the Partnership's
         liabilities shall distribute the net assets of the Partnership to the
         Limited Partners, first to the holders of B-Shares until the B-Shares
         have been fully redeemed and thereafter to the A-Shares in equal
         proportion to their share in the Partnership's authorised and issued
         share capital. The A-Shares shall not be redeemed until such time when
         the B-Shares have been fully redeemed.

16.2     The Partnership shall be liquidated at the latest 20 years after its
         incorporation or upon the dissolution, liquidation or other event of
         withdrawal of the General Partner.

16.3     At the earliest as from January 31, 1998 a Limited Partner may choose
         in the future not to participate in the losses or profits of the
         Partnership. Such decision shall be notified in writing
<PAGE>   33
                         [RONNE & LUNDGREN LETTERHEAD]

         to the General Partner and shall be effective as from a July 1 or
         January 1 (the Termination Date) if notified no later than three (3)
         months prior to the Termination Date.

         After the Termination Date, any royalty-free license to use Partnership
         patents shall still continue in full force and effect, but the Limited
         Partner not participating in losses or profits of the Partnership shall
         not be granted any right to use partnership patents acquired by the
         Partnership after the Termination Date.

17.      ARBITRATION

17.1.    Any dispute arising between the Limited Partners and the General
         Partner concerning the Partnership or the interpretation of these
         Articles of Association cannot be brought before the ordinary courts
         but shall be resolved in accordance with Danish substantive law by
         arbitration in Copenhagen.

17.2.    The party intending to convene the arbitration tribunal shall notify
         the other party by registered letter of such intent providing a short
         description of the issues which shall be before the arbitration
         tribunal. Each party shall then within four weeks appoint an
         arbitrator. These arbitrators shall within two weeks appoint a third
         arbitrator who shall be educated as a lawyer. If the arbitrators have
         not agreed the third arbitrators within two weeks or if a party fails
         within the time given to appoint an arbitrator, the relevant arbitrator
         shall be appointed if a party shall so direct by the President of the
         Maritime and Commercial Court in Copenhagen.

17.3.    The arbitration tribunal shall itself decide its rules of procedure and
         shall when handing down its ruling order the taxing of costs involved
         in the matter including costs to legal counsel and, if necessary,
         accountants.

17.4.    To the extent that they have not been varied by the contents of this
         Article 18 the provision of the Arbitration Act shall apply. The
         arbitration tribunal shall conduct its proceedings in the English
         language.

18.      COSTS

18.1.    All costs involved in the incorporation of the Partnership shall be
         borne by the Partnership.

AS PASSED at the Partnership's constitutive general meeting on 22 August 1996.

In the Chair:

- -----------------------------
Peter Sinding
                                       

<PAGE>   1

                                  Exhibit 11.1

                               RESOUND CORPORATION

             STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
                      (in thousands except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                                                        ------------------      -----------------
                                                                      September 30,October 1, September 30,October 1,
                                                                           1996      1995        1996        1995
                                                                         -------   --------    --------    -------- 
<S>                                                                      <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>      
Net income (loss) ....................................................   $ 1,141   $ (6,183)   $  2,333    $ (5,671)
                                                                         =======   ========    ========    ======== 
Average common shares outstanding (1) ................................    19,336     15,484      16,977      15,406
Net effect of dilutive stock options (based on treasury stock method),       145      --            489        --
                                                                         -------   --------    --------    -------- 
Total shares for primary and fully diluted net income per share ......    19,481     15,484      17,466      15,406
                                                                         =======   ========    ========    ======== 
Net income (loss) per share (2) ......................................   $  0.06   $  (0.40)   $   0.13    $  (0.37)
                                                                         =======   ========    ========    ======== 
</TABLE>

Notes:

(1)  Actual shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 1996 were
     19,360,472.

(2)  Fully diluted amounts do not differ materially.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) BALANCE
SHEET INCOME STATEMENT AS OF 9/30/96.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           8,909
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   29,106
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,147
<INVENTORY>                                     22,524
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                59,073
<PP&E>                                          36,338
<DEPRECIATION>                                  24,146
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 117,373
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           29,867
<BONDS>                                         27,956
                                0
                                      5,000
<COMMON>                                        90,503
<OTHER-SE>                                      35,953
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   117,373
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                33,821
<CGS>                                           15,364
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   15,364
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,305
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 397
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,613
<INCOME-TAX>                                       472
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,141
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,141
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .06
        

</TABLE>


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