TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR INC
S-8, 1998-09-09
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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<PAGE>
 
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 9, 1998
                                                   Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              ____________________

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

                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                                 94-3186995
       ----------------------                    ---------------------
      (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                            1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                     Mountain View, California  94039-7267
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
                    ________________________________________

                             1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           (Full title of the plans)
                   _________________________________________

                               Phillip M. Drayer
                     President and Chief Executive Officer
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
                            1300 Terra Bella Avenue
                     Mountain View, California  94039-7267
                                 (650) 968-9252
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                              ____________________
                                    Copy to:
                              J. Robert Suffoletta
                     WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, P.C.
                               650 Page Mill Road
                        Palo Alto, California 94304-1050
                              ____________________


================================================================================

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                                             Proposed            Proposed                      
                                                             Maximum             Maximum           Amount of   
                                          Amount to be    Offering Price        Aggregate        Registration  
Title of Securities to be Registered       Registered      Per Share(1)      Offering Price(1)        Fee      
- ---------------------------------------   ------------   -----------------   -----------------   ------------- 
<S>                                       <C>            <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Common Stock, $.001 par value, to be        1,000,000        $2.75             $2,750,000          $  811.25
issued under the 1994 Stock Option
Plan

Common Stock, $.001 par value, to be          500,000       2.3375             $1,168,750          $  344.78
issued under the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Total                        1,500,000                          $3,918,750          $1,156.03
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) The Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant to
    Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). The per
    share price for the 1994 Stock Option Plan was determined by reference to
    the average between the high and low price reported in the Nasdaq National
    Market on September 3, 1998 (the "FMV"). The per share price for the
    Employee Stock Purchase Plan was determined by reference to 85% of the
    FMV.
<PAGE>
 
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                    PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM  3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
          --------------------------------------- 

  The following documents and information previously filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by TelCom Semiconductor, Inc. (the
"Company") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

  (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

  (b) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
March 31, 1998 and June 30, 1998 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.

  (c) The description of the Company's common stock which is contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission pursuant
to Section 12 of the Exchange on July 22, 1995, and any description of any
securities of the Registrant which is contained in any registration statement
filed after the date hereof under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating any such description.

  All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities registered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
          ------------------------- 

  Not applicable.

ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
          -------------------------------------- 

  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
         ----------------------------------------- 

  The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors
to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.  Delaware law provides that
directors of a company will not be personally liable for monetary damages for
breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability (i) for any
breach of their duty of loyalty to the company or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or
knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments or dividends or unlawful
stock repurchases or redemptions as provided Section 174 of Delaware General
Corporation Law or (iv) for transactions from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit.

  The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its officers and
directors and may indemnify its employees and other agents to the fullest extent
provided by Delaware law, including those circumstances where indemnification
would otherwise be discretionary under Delaware law.  The Company 

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
 
believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least negligence on the
part of indemnified parties. The Bylaws authorize the use of indemnification
agreements and the Company has entered into such agreements with each of its
directors and officers.

  The Company carries officer and director liability insurance with respect to
certain matters, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

  Delaware Law does not permit a corporation to eliminate a director's duty of
care, and the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation have no
effect on the availability of equitable remedies such as injunction or
rescission, based upon a director's breach of the duty of care.  Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Exchange Act may be permitted
to foregoing provisions and agreements, the Company has been informed that in
the opinion of the staff of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Exchange Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
          ----------------------------------- 

  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
         -------- 

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Exhibit
Number                         Description
- -------   ----------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C> 
 4.1      1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended.

 4.2      Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

 5.1      Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

 23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 23.2     Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

 24.1     Power of Attorney (see page II-4).
</TABLE> 

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.
         ------------ 

  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement.

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
  (4) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

  (5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
such indem  nification is against public policy as expressed in the Exchange Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Exchange Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on this 4th day
of September, 1998.

                                     TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Phillip M. Drayer
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Phillip M. Drayer
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

  KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Phillip M. Drayer and Robert G. Gargus,
and each of them acting individually, as his or her attorney-in-fact, each with
full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign
any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file
the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or any substitute, may do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on September 4, 1998 by the following
persons in the capacities indicated:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
        Signature                                     Title
<S>                          <C> 
/s/ Phillip M. Drayer        Director, Chief Executive Officer and President
- --------------------------   (Principal Executive Officer)
Phillip M. Drayer

/s/ Robert G. Gargus         Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
- --------------------------
Robert G. Gargus

/s/ Kenneth Rose
- --------------------------   Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
Kenneth Rose                 

/s/ R. Michael O'Malley
- --------------------------   Director
R. Michael O'Malley          

/s/ T. Peter Thomas
- --------------------------   Director
T. Peter Thomas

/s/ Donald Fowler
- --------------------------   Director
Donald Fowler
 
/s/ Frank Gill
- --------------------------   Director
Frank Gill
</TABLE> 

                                    II-4
<PAGE>
 
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
                       ----------------------------------

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS



<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Exhibit
Number                      Description                      
- -------   ---------------------------------------------------
<S>       <C> 
    4.1   1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended.

    4.2   Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.

    5.1   Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

   23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

   23.2   Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

   24.1   Power of Attorney (see page II-4).
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                             1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                        (as amended on January 23, 1998)

     1.   Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this Stock Option Plan are to
          --------------------                                                
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's
business.  Options granted under this Plan may be incentive stock options (as
defined under Section 422 of the Code) or nonstatutory stock options, as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to
the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     2.   Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
          -----------                                                         

          (a) "Administrator" means the Board or any of its Committees appointed
               -------------                                                    
pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

          (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
               -----                                              

          (c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
               ----                                                      

          (d) "Committee"  means the Committee appointed by the Board of
               ---------                                                
Directors in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan.

          (e) "Company" means TelCom Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware corporation
               -------                                                          
(formerly named TelCom Universal, Inc.).

          (f) "Consultant" means any person who is engaged by the Company or any
               ----------                                                       
Parent or Subsidiary to render consulting or advisory services and is
compensated for such services, and any director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not.  If and in the event the Company registers
any class of any equity security pursuant to the Exchange Act, the term
Consultant shall thereafter not include directors who are not compensated for
their services or are paid only a director's fee by the Company.

          (g) "Continuous Status as an Employee" means the absence of any
               --------------------------------                          
interruption or termination of the employment relationship by the Company or
any Subsidiary.  Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered
interrupted in the case of:  (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board,
including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; provided,
however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, such leave is for a
period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon the
expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless
provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (ii)
in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Subsidiaries or its successor.
<PAGE>
 
          (h) "Employee" means any person, including officers and directors,
               --------                                                     
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  The payment
of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company.

          (i) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               ------------                                               
amended.

          (j) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of the Stock
               -----------------                                               
determined as follows:

              (i) If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a
national market system including, without limitation, the National Market of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ")
System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock
(or the closing bid, if no sales were reported, as quoted on such system or
exchange or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading in Stock for the
last market trading day prior to the time of determination) as reported in the
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

              (ii) If the Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not on the
National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer
but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean
between the high and low asked prices for the Stock or;

              (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Stock, the
Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Administrator.

          (k) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
               ----------------------                                           
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

          (l) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to
               -------------------------                                 
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

          (m) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
               ------                                                    

          (n) "Optioned Stock" means the Stock subject to an Option.
               --------------                                       

          (o) "Optionee" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option.
               --------                                                         

          (p) "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or hereafter
               ------                                                        
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

          (q) "Plan" means this 1994 Stock Option Plan.
               ----                                    

          (r) "Share" means a share of the Stock, as adjusted in accordance with
               -----                                                            
Section 12 of the Plan.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          (s) "Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company;
               -----                                        

          (t) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation", whether now or
               ----------                                                  
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

     3.   Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of
          -------------------------                                             
the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 4,300,000 shares.  The shares may be authorized, but unissued,
or reacquired Stock.

          If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason
without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject
thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for
future grant under the Plan.

     4.   Administration of the Plan.
          -------------------------- 

          (a)  Procedure.
               --------- 

               (i)  Administration With Respect to Directors and Officers.  With
                    -----------------------------------------------------       
respect to grants of Options to Employees who are also officers or directors of
the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board if the Board may
administer the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act or any successor thereto ("Rule 16b-3") with respect to a plan intended to
qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan, or (B) a Committee designated by the
Board to administer the Plan, which Committee shall be constituted in such a
manner as to permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 with respect to a plan
intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan.  Once appointed, such
Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise
directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may increase the size of the
Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or
without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies,
however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Rule 16b-3 with respect to a
plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan.

               (ii) Multiple Administrative Bodies. If permitted by Rule 16b-3, 
                    ------------------------------ 
the Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to directors,
nondirector officers and Employees who are neither directors nor officers.

               (iii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other
                     ----------------------------------------------------
Employees.  With respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who
- ---------                                                                    
are neither directors nor officers of the Company, the Plan shall be
administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which
Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the legal
requirements relating to the administration of incentive stock option plans, if
any, of the corporate and securities laws of California and of the Code (the
"Applicable Laws").  Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in
its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to
time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional
members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members
in substitution therefor, 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members of the Committee and
thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the
Applicable Laws.

          (b) Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the
              ---------------------------                                   
Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board
to such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its
discretion:

                  (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Stock, in
accordance with Section 2(j) of the Plan;

                  (ii) to select the officers, Consultants and Employees to whom
Options may from time to time be granted hereunder;

                  (iii)  to determine whether and to what extent Options are
granted hereunder;

                  (iv) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered
by each such award granted hereunder;

                  (v)  to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

                  (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not
limited to, the share price and any restriction or limitation, or waiver of
forfeiture restrictions regarding any Option or other award and/or the shares of
Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator
shall determine, in its sole discretion);

                  (vii)  to determine whether and under what circumstances an
Option may be bought-out for cash under subsection 9(f);

                  (viii) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award under
this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
participant (including providing for and determining the amount, if any, of any
deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period); and

                  (ix)   to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then
current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Stock covered by such
Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted.

          (c) Effect of Committee's Decision.  All decisions, determinations and
              ------------------------------                                    
interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Optionees
and any other holders of any Options.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     5.   Eligibility.
          ----------- 

          (a) Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Employees and
Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  An
Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise
eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.

          (b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as
either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.  However,
notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar
year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds
$100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

          (c) For purposes of Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be
taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market
Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect
to such Shares is granted.

          (d) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect
to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor
shall it interfere in any way with his right or the Company's right to terminate
his employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

          (e) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Options to
Employees:

               (i) No Employee shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the
Company, Options to purchase more than 250,000 Shares.

          (ii)   The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in
connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described in
Section 12 hereof.

          (iii)  If an Option is canceled in the same fiscal year of the Company
in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described
in Section 12 hereof, the canceled Option will be counted against the limit set
forth in Section 5(e) hereof. For this purpose, if the exercise price of an
Option is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a cancellation of the
Option and the grant of a new Option.

     6.   Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
          ------------                                                      
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
stockholders of the Company as described in Section 18 of the Plan.  It shall
continue in effect until February 9, 2004, unless sooner terminated under
Section 14 of the Plan.

     7.   Term of Option.  The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
          --------------                                                      
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that such term shall be no more than
ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be
provided in the Option Agreement.  However, in the 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
case of an Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted,
owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter
term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

     8.   Option Exercise Price and Consideration.
          --------------------------------------- 

          (a) The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board, but
shall be subject to the following:

               (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                       (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant
of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent
(10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

                       (B) granted to any Employee, the per Share exercise price
shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

               (ii)  In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

                       (A) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of
such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the
per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per
Share on the date of the grant.

                       (B) granted to any person, the per Share exercise price
shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

          (b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by
the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be
determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2)
check, (3) promissory note, (4) other shares of the Company's capital stock
which (x) in the case of shares of the Company's capital stock acquired upon
exercise of an Option either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or indirectly,
from the Company, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender
equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option
shall be exercised, (5) authorization from the Company to retain from the total
number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised that number of Shares
having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price
for the total number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised, (6) delivery
of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to
a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds
required to pay the exercise price, (7) by delivering an irrevocable
subscription agreement for the Shares which irrevocably obligates the 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
option holder to take and pay for the Shares not more than twelve months after
the date of delivery of the subscription agreement, (8) any combination of the
foregoing methods of payment, (9) or such other consideration and method of
payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Applicable
Laws.

     9.   Exercise of Option.
          ------------------ 

          (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option
              -----------------------------------------------            
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Board, including performance criteria with respect to the
Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the
Plan.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

              An Option shall be deemed to be exercised, and the Optionee deemed
to be a shareholder of the shares being purchased upon exercise, when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been
received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist
of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the
Plan.

              Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in
the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the
Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

          (b) Termination of Employment. In the event of termination of an
              -------------------------                                   
Optionee's consulting relationship or Continuous Status as an Employee with the
Company (as the case may be), such Optionee may, within thirty (30) days (or
such longer period of time as is determined by the Board, with such
determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of
grant of the Option and not exceeding ninety (90) days) after the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his Option to the extent
that Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To
the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
such termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

          (c) Disability of Optionee.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
              ----------------------                                            
9(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee's Consulting relationship
or Continuous Status as an Employee as a result of his disability, Optionee may,
but only within six (6) months from the date of such termination (and in no
event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in
the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to
exercise it at the date of such termination; provided, however, that if such
disability is not a "disability" as such term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such Incentive Stock Option
shall automatically convert to a Nonstatutory Stock Option on the day three
months and one day following such termination.  To the extent that Optionee is
not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee
does not exercise such Option to the 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate,
and the Shares covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

          (d) Death of Optionee.  In the event of the death of an Optionee, the
              -----------------                                                
Option may be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the
date of death (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or
by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or
inheritance, but only to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the
Option at the date of death.  To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to
exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise
such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate.

          (e) Rule 16b-3.  Options granted to persons subject to Section 16(b)
              ----------                                                      
of the Exchange Act must comply with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such
additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify
for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
Plan transactions.

          (f) Buyout Provisions.  The Administrator may at any time offer to buy
              -----------------                                                 
out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on such
terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the
Optionee at the time that such offer is made.

     10.  Nontransferability of Options.  The Option may not be sold, pledged,
          -----------------------------                                       
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

     11.  Stock Withholding to Satisfy Withholding Tax Obligations.  At the
          --------------------------------------------------------         
discretion of the Administrator, Optionees may satisfy withholding obligations
as provided in this paragraph.  When an Optionee incurs tax liability in
connection with an Option, which tax liability is subject to tax withholding
under applicable tax laws, and the Optionee is obligated to pay the Company an
amount required to be withheld under applicable tax laws, the Optionee may
satisfy the withholding tax obligation by electing to have the Company withhold
from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option, that number of Shares
having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld.  The
Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date
that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined (the "Tax Date").

          All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld for this purpose
shall be made in writing in a form acceptable to the Administrator and shall be
subject to the following restrictions:

          (a) the election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date;

          (b) once made, the election shall be irrevocable as to the particular
Shares of the Option as to which the election is made;

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
          (c) all elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of
the Administrator;

          (d) if the Optionee is subject to Rule 16b-3, the election must comply
with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and shall be subject to such
additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify
for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
Plan transactions.

          In the event the election to have Shares withheld is made by an
Optionee and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no
election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Optionee shall receive
the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised but such
Optionee shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the
proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

     12.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger. Subject to any
          ----------------------------------------------------                
required action by the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered
by each outstanding Option, and the number of Shares which have been authorized
for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or
which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an
Option, as well as the price per share of Stock covered by each such outstanding
Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Stock, or any
other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Stock effected
without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to
have been "effected without receipt of consideration."  Such adjustment shall be
made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding
and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company
of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock
of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made
with respect to, the number or price of shares of Stock subject to an Option.

          In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, the Board shall notify the Optionee at least fifteen (15) days prior to
such proposed action.  To the extent it has not been previously exercised, the
Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed
action.

          In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, the Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be
substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
successor corporation.  In the event that such successor corporation does not
agree to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, the Option
shall terminate.

     13.  Time of Granting Options.  The date of grant of an Option shall, for
          ------------------------                                            
all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination
granting such Option, or such other date as is determined by the Board.  Notice
of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
     14.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
          ------------------------------------- 

          (a) Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time amend,
              -------------------------                                   
alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension
or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of any Optionee
under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent.  In addition, to
the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act or with Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation,
including the requirements of the NASD or an established stock exchange), the
Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner
and to such a degree as required.

          (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination.  Any such amendment or
              ----------------------------------                        
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and
the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the
Company.

     15.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued
          ----------------------------------                             
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may
then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company with respect to such compliance.

          As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require
the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

     16.  Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan,
          ---------------------                                             
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

          The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

     17.  Agreements.  Options shall be evidenced by written agreements in such
          ----------                                                           
form as the Board shall approve from time to time.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     18.  Shareholder Approval.  Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
          --------------------                                              
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted.  Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under applicable state and federal law.

     19.  Information to Optionees.  The Company shall provide to each Optionee,
          ------------------------                                              
not less frequently than annually, copies of annual financial statements.  The
Company shall also provide such statements to each individual who acquires
Shares pursuant to the Plan while such individual owns such Shares.  The Company
shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees whose duties
in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                        (AS AMENDED ON JANUARY 23, 1998)


     The following constitute the provisions of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
of Telcom Semiconductor, Inc.

     1.   Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the
          -------                                                         
Company and its Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common
Stock of the Company through accumulated payroll deductions.  It is the
intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase
Plan" under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The
provisions of the Plan, accordingly, shall be construed so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section
of the Code.

     2.   Definitions.
          ----------- 

          (a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
               -----                                                   

          (b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
               ----                                                           

          (c) "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.
               ------------                                             

          (d) "Company" shall mean Telcom Semiconductor, Inc., a Delaware
               -------                                                   
corporation, and any Designated Subsidiary of the Company.

          (e) "Compensation" shall mean all base straight time gross earnings,
               ------------                                                   
and shall exclude payments for commissions, overtime, shift premium, incentive
compensation, incentive payments, bonuses, and other compensation.

          (f) "Designated Subsidiaries" shall mean the Subsidiaries which have
               -----------------------                                        
been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as
eligible to participate in the Plan.

          (g) "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an Employee of the
               --------                                                     
Company for tax purposes whose customary employment with the Company is at least
twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months in any calendar year.
For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as
continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of
absence approved by the Company.  Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and
the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by
contract, the employment relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the
91st day of such leave.

          (h) "Enrollment Date" shall mean the first day of each Offering
               ---------------                                           
Period.
<PAGE>
 
     (i)  "Exercise Date" shall mean the last day of each Purchase Period.
           -------------                                                  

     (j)  "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date, the value of
           -----------------                                          
Common Stock determined as follows:

          (1) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("NASDAQ") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sale
price for the Common Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices, if
no sales were reported), as quoted on such exchange (or the exchange with the
greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) or system on the date of such
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable, or;

          (2) If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not on the
Nasdaq National Market thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value
shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Stock on
the date of such determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such
other source as the Board deems reliable, or;

          (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), in the case of an Offering
Period commencing substantially concurrent with the Company's initial public
offering, the Fair Market Value may be determined by the Board to be equal to
the initial price to the public of shares of Common Stock in such offering; or

          (4) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the
Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

     (k) "Offering Period" shall mean the period of approximately twenty-
          ---------------                                               
four (24) months during which an option granted pursuant to the Plan may be
exercised, commencing on the first Trading Day on or after July 1 and January 1
of each year and terminating on the last Trading Day in the periods ending
twenty-four months later.  The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be
changed pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event the Company shall effect an initial public offering of its Common
Stock, the Board may determine to commence an Offering Period substantially
concurrent with the public offering, such Offering Period to continue until the
next succeeding June 30 or December 31 as the Board may determine.

     (l) "Plan" shall mean this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
          ----                                               

     (m)  "Purchase Price" shall mean an amount equal to 85% of the Fair
           --------------                                               
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Enrollment Date or on the
Exercise Date, whichever is lower.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          (n)   "Purchase Period" shall mean the approximately six month period
                 ---------------                                               
commencing after one Exercise Date and ending with the next Exercise Date,
except that the first Purchase Period of any Offering Period shall commence on
the Enrollment Date and end with the next Exercise Date.

          (o) "Reserves" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock covered
               --------                                                         
by each option under the Plan which have not yet been exercised and the number
of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan
but not yet placed under option.

          (p) "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation, domestic or foreign, of
               ----------                                                   
which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a
Subsidiary, whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized
or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

          (q)   "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which national stock exchanges
                 -----------                                                    
and The Nasdaq Stock Market are open for trading.

     3.   Eligibility.
          ----------- 

          (a) Any Employee (as defined in Section 2(g)), who shall be employed
by the Company on a given Enrollment Date shall be eligible to participate in
the Plan.

          (b) Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the
grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to
such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of
the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase such stock possessing
five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of the capital stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or (ii) which
permits his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase
plans of the Company and its subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) worth of stock (determined at the fair
market value of the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar
year in which such option is outstanding at any time.

     4.   Offering Periods.  The Plan shall be implemented by consecutive,
          ----------------                                                
overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing on the first
Trading Day on or after July 1 and January 1 each year, or on such other date as
the Board shall determine, and continuing thereafter until termi  nated in
accordance with Section 19 hereof.  The Board shall have the power to change the
duration of Offering Periods (including the commencement dates thereof) with
respect to future offerings without stockholder approval if such change is
announced at least five (5) days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first
Offering Period to be affected thereafter.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     5.   Participation.
          ------------- 

          (a) An eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by
completing a subscription agreement authorizing payroll deductions in the form
of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's payroll office prior
   ---------                                                                   
to the applicable Enrollment Date.

          (b) Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the first
payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in the
Offering Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.

     6.   Payroll Deductions.
          ------------------ 

          (a)   At the time a participant files his or her subscription
agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day
during the Offering Period in an amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the
Compensation which he or she receives on each pay day during the Offering
Period, and the aggregate of such payroll deductions during the Offering Period
shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the participant's Compensation during said
Offering Period.

          (b) All payroll deductions made for a participant shall be credited to
his or her account under the Plan and will be withheld in whole percentages
only.  A participant may not make any additional payments into such account.

          (c) A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan
as provided in Section 10 hereof, or may increase or decrease the rate of his or
her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing or filing with
the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in payroll
deduction rate.  The Board may, in its discretion, limit the number of
participation rate changes during any Offering Period.  The change in rate shall
be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) business days
after the Company's receipt of the new subscription agreement unless the Company
elects to process a given change in participation more quickly.  A participant's
subscription agreement shall remain in effect for successive Offering Periods
unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

          (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply
with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a participant's
payroll deductions may be decreased to 0% at such time during any Purchase
Period which is scheduled to end during the current calendar year (the "Current
Purchase Period") that the aggregate of all payroll deductions which were
previously used to purchase stock under the Plan in a prior Purchase Period
which ended during that calendar year plus all payroll deductions accumulated
with respect to the Current Purchase Period equal $21,250.  Payroll deductions
shall recommence at the rate provided in such participant's subscription
agreement at the beginning of the first Purchase Period which is scheduled to
end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the participant as
provided in Section 10 hereof.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          (e) At the time the option is exercised, in whole or in part, or at
the time some or all of the Company's Common Stock issued under the Plan is
disposed of, the participant must make adequate provision for the Company's
federal, state, or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon
the exercise of the option or the disposition of the Common Stock.  At any time,
the Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from the participant's
compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding
obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company
any tax deductions or benefits attributable to sale or early disposition of
Common Stock by the Employee.

     7.   Grant of Option.  On the Enrollment Date of each Offering Period, each
          ---------------                                                       
eligible Employee participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an
option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period (at the
applicable Purchase Price) up to a number of shares of the Company's Common
Stock determined by dividing such Employee's payroll deductions accumulated
prior to such Exercise Date and retained in the Participant's account as of the
Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price; provided that in no event shall
an Employee be permitted to purchase during each Purchase Period more than a
number of Shares determined by dividing $12,500 by the Fair Market Value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock on the Enrollment Date, and provided further
that such purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections
3(b) and 12 hereof. Exercise of the option shall occur as provided in Section 8
hereof, unless the participant has withdrawn pursuant to Sec  tion 10 hereof,
and shall expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

     8.   Exercise of Option.  Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as
          ------------------                                                  
provided in Section 10 hereof, his or her option for the purchase of shares will
be exercised automatically on the Exercise Date, and the maximum number of full
shares subject to option shall be purchased for such participant at the
applicable Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
account.  No fractional shares will be purchased; any payroll deductions
accumulated in a participant's account which are not sufficient to purchase a
full share shall be retained in the participant's account for the subsequent
Purchase Period or Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the
participant as provided in Section 10 hereof.  Any other monies left over in a
participant's account after the Exercise Date shall be returned to the
participant.  During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to
purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

     9.   Delivery.  As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date on
          --------                                                         
which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to
each participant, as appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares
purchased upon exercise of his or her option.

     10.  Withdrawal; Termination of Employment.
          ------------------------------------- 

          (a) A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the payroll
deductions credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise his or
her option under the Plan at any time 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
by giving written notice to the Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan.
                                                       ---------
All of the participant's payroll deductions credited to his or her account will
be paid to such participant promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and
such participant's option for the Offering Period will be automatically
terminated, and no further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will be
made for such Offering Period. If a participant withdraws from an Offering
Period, payroll deductions will not resume at the beginning of the succeeding
Offering Period unless the participant delivers to the Company a new
subscription agreement.

          (b) Upon a participant's ceasing to be an Employee (as defined in
Section 2(g) hereof), for any reason, he or she will be deemed to have elected
to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll deductions credited to such
participant's account during the Offering Period but not yet used to exercise
the option will be returned to such participant or, in the case of his or her
death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 14 hereof, and
such participant's option will be automatically terminated. The preceding
sentence notwithstanding, a participant who receives payment in lieu of notice
of termination of employment shall be treated as continuing to be an Employee
for the participant's customary number of hours per week of employment during
the period in which the participant is subject to such payment in lieu of
notice.

     11.  Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a
          --------                                                          
participant in the Plan.

     12.  Stock.
          ----- 

          (a) The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock which
shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be Nine Hundred Thousand
(900,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the
Company as provided in Section 18 hereof.  If, on a given Exercise Date, the
number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds the
number of shares then available under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro
rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a
manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable.

          (b) The participant will have no interest or voting right in shares
covered by his option until such option has been exercised.

          (c) Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will be
registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant and
his or her spouse.

     13.  Administration.
          -------------- 

          (a)  Administrative Body.  The Plan shall be administered by the Board
               -------------------                                              
or a committee of members of the Board appointed by the Board.  The Board or its
committee shall have full and exclu  sive discretionary authority to construe,
interpret and apply the terms of the Plan, to 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
determine eligibility and to adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the
Plan. Every finding, decision and determination made by the Board or its
committee shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be final and binding upon
all parties.

          (b) Rule 16b-3 Limitations.  Notwithstanding the provisions of
              ----------------------                                    
Subsection (a) of this Section 13, in the event that Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
any successor provision ("Rule 16b-3") provides specific requirements for the
administrators of plans of this type, the Plan shall be only administered by
such a body and in such a manner as shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Rule 16b-3.  Unless permitted by Rule 16b-3, no discretion
concerning decisions regarding the Plan shall be afforded to any committee or
person that is not "disinterested" as that term is used in Rule 16b-3.

     14.  Designation of Beneficiary.
          -------------------------- 

          (a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who
is to receive any shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to an Exercise Date
on which the option is exercised but prior to delivery to such participant of
such shares and cash.  In addition, a participant may file a written designation
of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death prior to exercise of the
option.  If a participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the
spouse, spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.

          (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant
at any time by written notice.  In the event of the death of a participant and
in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living
at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares
and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the participant,
or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of
the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or
cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the
participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company,
then to such other person as the Company may designate.

     15.  Transferability.  Neither payroll deductions credited to a
          ---------------                                           
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or
otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution or as provided in Section 14 hereof) by the participant.  Any such
attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without
effect, except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

     16.  Use of Funds.  All payroll deductions received or held by the Company
          ------------                                                         
under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     17.  Reports.  Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant
          -------                                                              
in the Plan. Statements of account will be given to participating Employees at
least annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll
deductions, the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining
cash balance, if any.

     18.  Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation,
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Merger or Asset Sale.
- -------------------- 

          (a) Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the
              -------------------------                                        
stockholders of the Company, the Reserves as well as the price per share of
Common Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been
exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common
Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however,
that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed
to have been "effected without receipt of consideration".  Such adjustment shall
be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final,
binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the
Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares
of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject
to an option.

          (b) Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed
              --------------------------                               
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Periods will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise
provided by the Board.

          (c) Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a proposed sale of all or
              --------------------                                            
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company
with or into another corporation, each option under the Plan shall be assumed or
an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a
parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the Board determines,
in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or
substitution, to shorten the Offering Periods then in progress by setting a new
Exercise Date (the "New Exercise Date").  If the Board shortens the Offering
Periods then in progress in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a
merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify each participant in writing, at
least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise
Date for his option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that his
option will be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to
such date he has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10
hereof.  For purposes of this paragraph, an option granted under the Plan shall
be deemed to be assumed if, following the sale of assets or merger, the option
confers the right to purchase, for each share of option stock subject to the
option immediately prior to the sale of assets or merger, the consideration
(whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the sale of
assets or merger by holders of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock held
on the effective date of 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
the transaction (and if such holders were offered a choice of consideration, the
type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock); provided, however, that if such consideration received
in the sale of assets or merger was not solely common stock of the successor
corporation or its parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Board
may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the
consideration to be received upon exercise of the option to be solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to
the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock and the sale of
assets or merger.

     19.  Amendment or Termination.
          ------------------------ 

          (a) The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time and for any
reason terminate or amend the Plan.  Except as provided in Section 18 hereof, no
such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that an
Offering Period may be terminated by the Board of Directors on any Exercise Date
if the Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.  Except as provided in Section 18
hereof, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted which
adversely affects the rights of any participant.  To the extent necessary to
comply with Rule 16b-3 or under Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule
or provision or any other applicable law or regulation), the Company shall
obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

          (b) Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any
participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely affected," the
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit
the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering
Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a
currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in excess of the
amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in
the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections, establish
reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting and crediting
procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common Stock
for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from the
participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or procedures
as the Board (or its committee) determines in its sole discretion advisable
which are consistent with the Plan.

     20.  Notices.  All notices or other communications by a participant to the
          -------                                                              
Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly
given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by
the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

     21.  Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued with
          ----------------------------------                                  
respect to an option unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and
delivery of such shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable
provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements
of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.

          As a condition to the exercise of an option, the Company may require
the person exercising such option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

     22.  Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
          ------------                                                      
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
stockholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 19 hereof.

     23.  Automatic Transfer to Low Price Offering Period.  To the extent
          -----------------------------------------------                
permitted by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, if the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offer  ing Period is lower than the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on the Enrollment Date of such Offering Period,
then all participants in such Offering Period shall be automatically withdrawn
from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise of their option on such
Exercise Date and automatically re-enrolled in the immediately following
Offering Period as of the first day thereof.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------


                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT



_____ Original Application                          Enrollment Date: ___________
_____ Change in Payroll Deduction Rate
_____ Change of Beneficiary(ies)


1.   ________________________________________ hereby elects to participate in
     the Telcom Semiconductor, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan") and subscribes to purchase shares of the Company's
     Common Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2.   I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each paycheck in the amount of
     ____% of my Compensation on each payday (1-10%) during the Offering Period
     in accordance with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  (Please note that no
     fractional percentages are permitted.)

3.   I understand that said payroll deductions shall be accumulated for the
     purchase of shares of Common Stock at the applicable Purchase Price
     determined in accordance with the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  I
     understand that if I do not withdraw from an Offering Period, any
     accumulated payroll deductions will be used to automatically exercise my
     option.

4.   I have received a copy of the complete "Telcom Semiconductor, Inc. Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan."  I understand that my participation in the Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan is in all respects subject to the terms of the Plan.  I
     understand that my ability to exercise the option under this Subscription
     Agreement is subject to obtaining stockholder approval of the Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan.

5.   Shares purchased for me under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan should be
     issued in the name(s) of (Employee or Employee and spouse only):
     ___________________________________________________________________________
     ___________.

6.   I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to the
     Plan within 2 years after the Enrollment Date (the first day of the
     Offering Period during which I purchased such shares) or one year after the
     Exercise Date, I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having
     received ordinary income at the time of such disposition in an amount equal
     to the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time such
     shares were purchased over the 
<PAGE>
 
     price which I paid for the shares.  I HEREBY AGREE TO NOTIFY THE COMPANY IN
                                         ---------------------------------------
     WRITING WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ANY DISPOSITION OF MY SHARES AND
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     I WILL MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION FOR FEDERAL, STATE OR OTHER TAX WITHHOLDING 
     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
     OBLIGATIONS, IF ANY, WHICH ARISE UPON THE DISPOSITION OF THE COMMON STOCK.
     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
     The Company may, but will not be obligated to, withhold from my compen
     sation the amount necessary to meet any applicable withholding obligation
     including any withholding necessary to make available to the Company any
     tax deductions or benefits attribu table to sale or early disposition of
     Common Stock by me. If I dispose of such shares at any time after the
     expiration of the 2-year and 1-year holding periods, I understand that I
     will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received income
     only at the time of such disposition, and that such income will be taxed as
     ordinary income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of (1)
     the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of such
     disposition over the purchase price which I paid for the shares, or (2) 15%
     of the fair market value of the shares on the first day of the Offering
     Period. The remainder of the gain, if any, recognized on such disposition
     will be taxed as capital gain.

7.   I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Employee Stock Purchase
     Plan.  The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is dependent upon
     my eligibility to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

8.   In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following as my
     beneficiary(ies) to receive all payments and shares due me under the
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan:


NAME:  (Please print)______________________________________________
                      (First)         (Middle)               (Last)


________________________      _____________________________________________
Relationship

                              _____________________________________________
                              (Address)

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Employee's Social
Security Number:              ____________________________________



Employee's Address:           ____________________________________

                              ____________________________________

                              ____________________________________


I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT
SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME.



Dated:________________        _______________________________________
                              Signature of Employee


                              _______________________________________
                              Spouse's Signature (If beneficiary other 
                              than spouse)



                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B
                                   ---------


                           TELCOM SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.

                          EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL



     The undersigned participant in the Offering Period of the Telcom
Semiconductor, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan which began on ____________,
19____ (the "Enrollment Date") hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby
withdraws from the Offering Period.  He or she hereby directs the Company to pay
to the undersigned as promptly as practicable all the payroll deductions
credited to his or her account with respect to such Offering Period. The
undersigned understands and agrees that his or her option for such Offering
Period will be automatically terminated.  The undersigned understands further
that no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in
the current Offering Period and the undersigned shall be eligible to participate
in succeeding Offering Periods only by delivering to the Company a new
Subscription Agreement.

                                    Name and Address of Participant:

                                    ________________________________
                                    ________________________________
                                    ________________________________


                                    Signature:


                                    ________________________________


                                    Date:__________________________

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
                                                                     -----------

                              September 4, 1998



TelCom Semiconductor, Inc.
1300 Terra Bella Avenue
Mountain View, California  94039-7267

   RE:    REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8
          ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by you
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about September 8, 1998, in
connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
of (i) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock  (the "Option Shares") to be issued
under the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") and (ii) 500,000
shares of Common Stock (the "ESPP Shares") to be issued under the Company's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP").

   As your legal counsel, we have examined the proceedings taken and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the
sale and issuance of the Option Shares and ESPP Shares (collectively, the
"Shares").  It is our opinion that the Shares, when issued and sold in the
manner referred to in the Option Plan and ESPP (collectively, the "Plans"), and
pursuant to the agreements which accompany the Plans, as applicable, will be
legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

   We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to said Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever appearing in said
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.

                              Sincerely,


                              WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                              Professional Corporation

                              /s/ WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
                                                                    ------------


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 21, 1998 appearing on page
20 of TelCom Semiconductor Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1997.


/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP


PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
San Jose, California
September 3, 1998


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