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Exhibit 4.4    
  


 
 

EXECUTION COPY
  
    DATED NOVEMBER 8, 2002
  
    BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY PLC
  
    —and—
  
    NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION
  
    —and—
  
    OTHERS    






RELATIONSHIP DEED




Brobeck
Hale and Dorr

Alder Castle

10 Noble Street

London EC2V 7QJ

Tel: +44 (0)20 7645 2400

Fax: +44 (0)20 7645 2424 


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   THIS DEED is made the 8th day of November 2002

BETWEEN:  


	(1)
	Bookham Technology plc, a company registered in England and Wales under number 2298887 whose registered office is at 90 Milton
Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RY (the "Company");



	(2)
	Nortel Networks Corporation, a company incorporated in Canada whose registered office is at 8200 Dixie Road, Suite 100,
Brampton, Ontario L6T 5P6 Canada (the "Nortel");



	(3)
	Nortel Networks Limited, a company incorporated in Canada whose registered office is at 2351 Boulevard Alfred-Nobel, St.
Laurent, Quebec, Canada, H4S 2A9;



	(4)
	Nortel Networks Technology Corporation, a company incorporated in Canada whose registered office is at c/o Stewart McKelvey Sterling
Scales, Suite 800, 1959 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3J 2X2;



	(5)
	Nortel Networks Optical Components Limited a company registered in the England and Wales under number 2515751 whose registered
office is at Maidenhead Office Park, Westacott Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 3QH; and



	(6)
	Nortel Networks Optical Components (Switzerland) GmbH company registered in Switzerland whose registered office is at
Binzstrasse 17, CH 8045, Zurich, Switzerland (and together with Nortel Networks Optical Components Limited, Nortel Networks Technology Corporation and Nortel Networks Limited, the
"Shareholders" and each a "Shareholder"). 



RECITALS:  


	(A)
	Immediately
following Completion, the Shareholders will together hold approximately 30 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company and warrants to subscribe
for Ordinary Shares representing approximately a further 3 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company and accordingly Nortel will be a controlling shareholder within the
meaning of paragraph 3.13 of the Listing Rules.



	(B)
	This
Deed is being executed and delivered as a condition to the Completion.



	(C)
	Paragraph 3.12
of the Listing Rules makes it a condition for admission of the Ordinary Shares to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority that:



	(i)
	the
Company must be capable at all times of carrying on its business independently of any controlling shareholder (and any associate thereof); and



	(ii)
	all
transactions and relationships between the Company and any controlling shareholder (or associate thereof) must be at arm's length and on a normal
commercial basis. 









	(D)
	This
Deed is being entered into to regulate certain aspects of the on-going relationship between the Company, Nortel and the Shareholders. 


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1.    Interpretation


	1.1
	In
this Deed and its Recitals, unless the context otherwise requires, each of the following terms shall have the meaning given below: 






	 	 	"Acquisition Agreement"	 	means the agreement dated as of October 7, 2002 between the Company and Nortel relating to, inter alia, the sale of the Business by Nortel and certain of its subsidiary
undertakings to the Company and certain of its subsidiary undertakings;
	

 	
 	

"Act"	
 	

means the Companies Act 1985 (as amended);
	

 	
 	

"Articles"	
 	

means the articles of association of the Company in force from time to time;
	

 	
 	

"associate"	
 	

means an associate of Nortel (other than a Bookham Group Member), where associate has the meaning given in paragraph 3.13 of the Listing Rules;
	

 	
 	

"Bookham Group"	
 	

means the Company and any subsidiary undertaking of the Company and any parent undertaking of the Company and any subsidiary undertaking of any such parent undertaking from time to time and "Bookham Group
Member" shall be construed accordingly;
	

 	
 	

"Business"	
 	

has the meaning set forth in the Acquisition Agreement;
	

 	
 	

"Bookham Shareholder"	
 	

a holder of Ordinary Shares;
	

 	
 	

"Completion"	
 	

means the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement, including the sale of the Business, in accordance with its terms;
	

 	
 	

"Completion Date"	
 	

means the date of Completion;
	

 	
 	

"Disposal"	
 	

means any disposal or transfer of any Ordinary Shares by the Shareholders (but does not include the placing on any Ordinary Shares of any Encumbrance);
	

 	
 	

"Encumbrance"	
 	

means any charge, pledge, lien, assignment, hypothecation, security interest, title retention, preferential right or trust arrangement or other security arrangement;
	

 	
 	

"General Meeting"	
 	

means an extraordinary general meeting or an annual general meeting of the Company or any other meeting at which Bookham Shareholders are entitled to vote;
	

 	
 	

"Listing Rules"	
 	

means the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority;
	

 	
 	

"Ordinary Shares"	
 	

means the issued ordinary shares of 1/3p each in the capital of the Company;
	

 	
 	

"Panel"	
 	

means the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers;
	

 	
 	

"Shareholder Group"	
 	

means Nortel and any parent undertaking of Nortel and any subsidiary undertaking of Nortel and any subsidiary undertaking of any such parent undertaking from time to time, and "Shareholder Group Member"
shall be construed accordingly;



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"subsidiary undertaking" and "parent undertaking"	
 	

  

are as respectively defined in the Act; and
	

 	
 	

"UK Listing Authority"	
 	

the Financial Services Authority as the competent authority for listing in the UK.




	1.2
	In
this Deed:



	(a)
	the
headings are for convenience only and shall not affect its interpretation;



	(b)
	a
reference to a provision of law includes a reference to any provision which from time to time amends, extends, consolidates or replaces that provision and any subordinate
legislation made under any such provision;



	(c)
	references
to persons shall include individuals, corporations (wherever incorporated), unincorporated associations (including partnerships), trusts, any form of governmental body,
agency or authority, and any other organisation of any nature (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality); and



	(d)
	references
to clauses and schedules and the parties are references to clauses of, and the schedules and the parties to, this Deed (whether by virtue of having executed this Deed or
having entered into a Deed of Adherence in accordance with clause 8). 






2.    General Assurance



Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Deed, the Shareholder Group Members party hereto shall, and shall procure that their associates shall, ensure that: 


	(a)
	at
all times the Company and the other Bookham Group Members are capable of carrying on, and do carry on, their business independently of Nortel and any of its associates;



	(b)
	all
transactions and future relationships (including trading arrangements) between any Bookham Group Member and Nortel (or any of its associates) are at arm's length and on a normal
commercial basis; and



	(c)
	Nortel
and its associates shall not undertake any activity in conflict with those of the Company or any other Bookham Group Member which may render the Company unsuitable for listing
under the Listing Rules unless a further relationship deed, complying with the Listing Rules has been entered into with the Company. 




3.    Exercise of shareholder rights


	3.1
	Subject
to Clause 3.3, Nortel undertakes that it shall:



	(a)
	not
vote; from time to time it is a Bookham Shareholder;



	(b)
	procure
that the other Shareholder Group Members, that are registered as Bookham Shareholders from time to time, shall not vote; and



	(c)
	take
all reasonable steps to procure that its associates (other than Shareholder Group Members), that are registered as Bookham Shareholders from time to time, shall not vote, 






(whether
in person or by proxy) on any resolution which is proposed to Bookham Shareholders at a General Meeting of the Company or otherwise. 



	3.2
	Nortel
and each Shareholder further undertakes that it shall:



	(a)
	not
exercise any of its voting rights or any other rights as a Bookham Shareholder, if from time to time it is a Bookham Shareholder; 





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	(b)
	procure
that the other Shareholder Group Members, that are registered as Bookham Shareholders from time to time, shall not exercise any of their voting rights or any other rights as a
Bookham Shareholder; and



	(c)
	take
all reasonable steps to procure that its associates (other than Shareholder Group Members), that are registered as Bookham Shareholders from time to time, shall not exercise any
of their voting rights or any other rights as a Bookham Shareholder 




to
appoint any director to the Board of Directors of the Company or requisition a General Meeting or propose a resolution at a General Meeting or procure any amendment to the Articles which would be
inconsistent with or undermine any of the provisions of this Deed. 



	3.3
	Notwithstanding
Clause 3.1, Nortel, if registered as a Bookham Shareholder from time to time, and the other Shareholder Group Members that are registered as Bookham
Shareholders from time to time, shall be entitled to vote (whether by a show of hands or on a poll, whether in person or by proxy and whether at a class meeting or General Meeting) in respect of each
of their Ordinary Shares on any proposed resolution the effect of which would, if passed, be to vary or suspend any of the rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares held by Nortel or any Shareholder
Group Member or as a result of which the rights of Nortel or any Shareholder Group Member (in their capacity as a Bookham Shareholder) would become different in any respect from the rights of any
other Bookham Shareholder. 



4.    Share Capital



The
Company will not, without the prior written consent of Nortel, reduce its ordinary share capital in any way or redeem or purchase any of its Ordinary Shares if, as a result of such reduction,
redemption or purchase, Nortel or the Shareholders would be obliged under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers to make an offer to acquire any shares it does not already own in the Company and, if
there is any ambiguity as to whether any such reduction, redemption or purchase would trigger such an obligation, the Company shall (prior to effecting such reduction, redemption or purchase) consult
with Nortel and the Panel and both parties shall abide by any determination made by the Panel. 




5.    Assignment



No
party shall assign or in any other way dispose of any of its rights or obligations under this Deed without the prior written consent of the other party. 




6.    Change of law



If
there is any change in law or applicable regulations which would materially affect the operation of this Deed, the parties hereto agree to enter into bona fide negotiations with a view to agreeing
such amendments to this Deed as the parties shall in good faith determine to be necessary to ensure that notwithstanding such changes the intentions of each as reflected by the provisions of this Deed
are given effect. 



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7.    Duration



This
Deed shall continue in full force and effect for so long as Nortel or any Shareholder Group Member or any associate of Nortel, individually or collectively, remain a Bookham Shareholder holding
5% or more of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time. If as a result of any future issue, sale or disposal of Ordinary Shares, Nortel and Shareholder Group Members
collectively cease to hold 5% or more of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time, then this Deed shall terminate and cease to be of any effect other than clauses, 5
(Assignment), 7 (Duration), 9 (Severance), 10 (Entire Agreement), 11 (General), 12 (Notices), 13 (Governing Law) save that this shall not relieve any party from any liability or obligation in respect
of any matters, undertakings or conditions which shall not have been done, observed or performed by that party whilst this Deed is in effect. 




8.    Deed of Adherence


	8.1
	Except
with the written consent of the Company, if any of the Shareholder Group Members party hereto make a Disposal to or in favour of any other Shareholder Group Member that is not
a party hereto over any of the Ordinary Shares (in each case, a "New Shareholder"), prior to such Disposal such disposing party shall procure that such
New Shareholder enter into a Deed of Adherence in the form set out in the Schedule.



	8.2
	If
any Shareholder Group Member makes a Disposal to any person that is not a Shareholder Group Member, the restrictions set forth in this Deed shall not apply to such transferee. 



9.    Severance


	9.1
	If
any provision of this Deed is held to be invalid or unenforceable, then such provision shall (so far as it is invalid or unenforceable) be given no effect and shall be deemed not
to be included in this Deed but without invalidating any of the remaining provisions of this Deed. In such event, the parties shall co-operate and negotiate in good faith to agree
provisions (to replace those which are invalid or unenforceable) which are not invalid or unenforceable, or which can otherwise be put into effect and which, as far as possible, are legally and
commercially the same as those they replace.



	9.2
	In
the event that provisions of this Deed need to be interpreted or supplemented then the interpretation or supplement shall be completed in good faith in such a way that the spirit,
contents and purpose of this Deed are adhered to as far as possible. 





10.  Entire Agreement


	10.1
	It
is hereby acknowledged that this Deed constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings or arrangements (both oral and
written) relating to the subject matter of this Deed.



	10.2
	No
amendment, change or addition to this Deed shall be effective or binding on any party unless reduced to writing and executed as a deed by both parties. 




11.  General


	11.1
	Each
of the parties shall, and shall use all reasonable efforts to procure that any other person shall, do and execute and perform all such further deeds, documents, assurances, acts
and things as may reasonably be required to give effect to this Deed. 


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	11.2
	This
Deed shall not be construed as creating any partnership or agency (except to the extent expressly described) relationship between any of the parties.



	11.3
	No
relaxation, forbearance, indulgence or delay (together "indulgence") of any party in exercising any right shall be construed as a
waiver of the right and shall not affect the ability of that party subsequently to exercise that right or to pursue any remedy, nor shall any indulgence constitute a waiver of any other right.



	11.4
	A
person who is not a party to this Deed may not enforce any of its terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999, provided that no consent of a person who is not a
party to this Deed is required for any variation (including any release or compromise in whole or in part of any liability) or termination of this Deed. 





12.  Notices


	12.1
	Any
notice or other communication to be given under this Deed shall be given in the same manner as is provided for in Section 11.03 of the Acquisition Agreement. 



13.  Governing law and jurisdiction


	13.1
	This
Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.



	13.2
	The
courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any claim, dispute or matter of difference which may arise out of or in connection with this Deed (including without
limitation claims for set-off or counterclaim) or the legal relationships established by this Deed. 



14.  Counterparts



This
Deed may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single instrument. 




15.  Appointment of Agent for Service


	15.1
	Nortel
and the Shareholders irrevocably appoint Gordon Davies, General Counsel, EMEA, Nortel Networks UK Limited, Maidenhead Office Park, Westacott Way, Maidenhead, Berkshire
SL6 3QM as their process agent to receive on their behalf service of any process in any proceedings in England. Such service shall be deemed complete on delivery to the process agent, marked
for the attention of such process agent (whether or not such process is forwarded to and received by Nortel and/or the Shareholders).



	15.2
	The
parties irrevocably consent to any process in a legal action or proceedings in connection with this Deed being served on it in accordance with the provisions of this Deed
relating to the service of notices. 


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SCHEDULE
  
    Deed of Adherence    
  



         THIS DEED OF ADHERENCE is made
on                        200• 


BY:- 


[insert name of New Shareholder] of [insert address of New
Shareholder] (the "New Shareholder") in favour of Bookham Technology plc, a company registered in England and Wales
under number 2298887 whose registered office is at 90 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RY (the "Company") and is supplemental to the Relationship Deed dated 8 November 2002 between the
Company, Nortel Networks Corporation, Nortel Networks Limited, Nortel Networks Technology Corporation, Nortel Networks Optical Components Limited and Nortel Networks Optical Components (Switzerland)
GmbH (the "Relationship Deed"). 


THE NEW SHAREHOLDER UNDERTAKES AS FOLLOWS:-  


	1.
	The
New Shareholder confirms that it has read a copy of the Relationship Deed and covenants with the Company to perform and be bound by all the terms of the Relationship Deed as if the
New Shareholder were named in the Relationship Deed as the Shareholder.



	2.
	This
Deed (and any dispute, controversy, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to this Deed or its formation) shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with English law. 



        IN WITNESS whereof this Deed has been executed by the New Shareholder and is intended to be and is hereby delivered as a Deed on the date
first above written. 



	EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY PLC

acting by	
 Director

    
 Director
	

/s/  PHILIP DAVIS      
 By: Philip Davis	

 
	Title: Company Secretary	 



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EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION

acting by	

/s/  KHUSH DADYBURJOR      
Khush Dadyburjor, as Attorney-in-Fact
	
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED

acting by	

/s/  KHUSH DADYBURJOR      
Khush Dadyburjor, as Attorney-in-Fact
	
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 NORTEL NETWORKS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

acting by	

/s/  KHUSH DADYBURJOR      
Khush Dadyburjor, as Attorney-in-Fact
	
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 NORTEL NETWORKS OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
 acting
by	

/s/  KHUSH DADYBURJOR      
Khush Dadyburjor, as Attorney-in-Fact
	
EXECUTED AND DELIVERED as a DEED by
 NORTEL NETWORKS OPTICAL COMPONENTS (SWITZERLAND) GmbH

acting by	

/s/  KHUSH DADYBURJOR      
Khush Dadyburjor, as Attorney-in-Fact




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QuickLinks



Exhibit 4.4


EXECUTION COPY DATED NOVEMBER 8, 2002 BOOKHAM TECHNOLOGY PLC —and— NORTEL NETWORKS CORPORATION —and— OTHERS



SCHEDULE Deed of Adherence