Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                      EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                         FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

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                      EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                         FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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                                                                            PAGE
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     ARTICLE

1.   Definitions.........................................................     1

2.   Membership..........................................................     4

3.   Deferral Election...................................................     6

4.   Company Contributions...............................................    10

5.   Maintenance of Accounts.............................................    11

6.   Payment of Benefits.................................................    14

7.   Amendment or Termination............................................    19

8.   General Provisions..................................................    21

9.   Signature and Verification..........................................    26
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                                  INTRODUCTION

This Executive Deferred Compensation Plan of Allegro Microsystems, Inc. (the
"Plan") has been authorized by Allegro Microsystems, Inc. and Allegro
Microsystems, W.G., Inc. (the "Company") to be applicable effective on and after
April 1, 1995. This Plan is intended to promote extraordinary contributions by
eligible executives towards the success of the Company by providing such
executives with an opportunity to defer a portion of any compensation they may
receive as base salary or as a bonus under any bonus program maintained by the
Company and to restore Company Basic and Supplemental Retirement Contributions
lost under the Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Employee's Retirement and Savings Plan
because of the application of the limitation on compensation imposed by Section
401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code or by reason of the deferral of his base
salary or bonus under the Plan. The Plan is unfunded and is maintained by the
Company for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of
management or highly-compensated employees. The Plan reads as hereinafter set
forth.

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                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                          FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC

                             ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

1.01 "Administrative Committee" shall mean the committee which administers the
     Plan. The members of the Plan's Administrative Committee shall be those
     persons appointed by the President, Allegro Microsystems, Inc. to
     administer the Plan.

1.02 "Affiliated Company" shall mean any company, corporation or business
     directly or indirectly controlled by Allegro Microsystems, Inc., whether or
     not such company, corporation or business participates in the Plan.

1.03 "Base Salary" shall mean the Member's annual fixed compensation that is
     paid periodically during the year, determined prior to any pre-tax
     contributions under a "qualified cash or deferred arrangement" (as defined
     under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and its applicable
     regulations) or under a "cafeteria plan" (as defined under Section 125 of
     said Code and its applicable regulations) and any deferrals under Article
     3.

1.04 "Beneficiary" shall mean the beneficiary designated by a Member pursuant to
     Section 6.04.

1.05 "Bonus" shall mean any payment made pursuant to a plan identified as a
     bonus plan.

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1.06 "Company" shall mean Allegro Microsystems, Inc. and any successor thereto,
     with respect to its employees, Allegro Microsystems W.G., Inc. with respect
     to its employees and any other Affiliated Company authorized by the Board
     of Directors to participate in the Plan, with respect to its employees.

1.07 "Company Account" shall mean the bookkeeping account maintained for each
     Member to record the amount of Company Contributions credited to a Member
     in accordance with Article 4, as adjusted pursuant to Article 5.

1.08 "Deferral Account" shall mean the bookkeeping account (or accounts)
     maintained for each Member to record the amount of his Base Salary and/or
     Bonus he has elected to defer in accordance with Article 3, as adjusted
     pursuant to Article 5. The Administrative Committee may establish such
     sub-accounts within a Member's Deferral Account as it deems necessary to
     implement the provisions of the Plan.

1.09 "Deferral Agreement" shall mean the completed agreement, including any
     amendments, attachments and appendices thereto, in such form determined by
     the Administrative Committee, between an Eligible Executive and the
     Company, under which the Eligible Executive agrees to defer Base Salary or
     a Bonus under the Plan.

1.10 "Effective Date" shall mean April 1, 1995.

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1.11 "Eligible Executive" shall mean an employee of the Company who is (i) a
     senior staff member on the payroll of the Company, (ii) the president of
     Allegro Microsystems, Inc. or (iii) the president of Allegro Microsystems,
     W.G., Inc., and who is designated by the Administrative Committee as
     eligible to participate in this Plan.

1.12 "Member" shall mean, except as otherwise provided in Article 2, each
     Eligible Executive who has executed a Deferral Agreement as described in
     Section 2.01.

1.13 "Plan" shall mean the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan of Allegro
     Microsystems, Inc. as set forth in this document, as it may be amended from
     time to time.

1.14 "Plan Year" shall mean the calendar year.

1.15 "Savings Plan" shall mean Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Employees' Retirement
     and Savings Plan.

1.16 "Valuation Date" shall mean the last business day of each calendar quarter
     following the Effective Date, or such other day as the Administrative
     Committee may determine.

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                              ARTICLE 2. MEMBERSHIP

2.01 In General

(a)  An Eligible Executive shall become a Member (i) as of the date he first
     files a Deferral Agreement with the Administrative Committee or (ii) as of
     the beginning of the first calendar year (but never earlier than the
     Effective Date) during which the amount of Company Basic or Supplemental
     Retirement Contributions made on behalf of an Eligible Executive Employee
     under the Savings Plan are curtailed due to the limitation on compensation
     imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code, if earlier.
     However, an Eligible Executive's Deferral Agreement shall be effective for
     purposes of deferring a Base Salary or Bonus only as provided in Article 3.

(b)  A Member's Deferral Agreement shall be in writing and be properly completed
     upon a form approved by the Administrative Committee, which shall be the
     sole judge of the proper completion thereof. Such Deferral Agreement shall
     provide for the deferral of a Base Salary or Bonus. The Deferral Agreement
     may include such other provisions as the Administrative Committee deems
     appropriate. A Deferral Agreement shall not be revoked or modified except
     as otherwise provided in Article 3 or in Section 4.01.

(c)  The Administrative Committee may require such other information as it deems
     appropriate as a condition for membership in the Plan.

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2.02 Termination of Membership; Re-Employment

(a)  Membership shall cease upon a Member's termination of employment with the
     Company unless the Member is entitled to benefits under the Plan, in which
     event his membership shall terminate when those benefits are distributed to
     him. Membership shall also cease as provided in the preceding sentence upon
     a Member's taking a leave of absence from the Company unless such leave of
     absence is approved by the Company.

(b)  If a former Member whose membership in the Plan ceased under Section
     2.02(a) is re-employed as an Eligible Executive, the former Member may
     become a Member again in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01.

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                          ARTICLE 3. DEFERRAL ELECTION

3.01 Filing Requirements

(a)  Prior to the close of business on December 31 in any Plan Year, an Eligible
     Executive may elect, subject to the limits of Section 3.02, to defer all or
     a portion of his Base Salary that is otherwise earned and payable in the
     next calendar year or his Bonus for services in the current fiscal year
     that is payable in the next fiscal and calendar year by filing a Deferral
     Agreement with the Administrative Committee. In the event that December 31
     does not fall on a business day, such filing must be made by the close of
     business on the last prior business day. If an employee becomes an Eligible
     Executive after January 1 in any Plan Year, he may elect to defer his Base
     Salary or Bonus for that year by filing a Deferral Agreement with the
     Administrative Committee prior to the close of business on the tenth
     business day following the date he becomes an Eligible Executive; provided,
     however that Bonus may be deferred only if the amount earned for that year
     has not already been determined by appropriate action of the Company.
     Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, an election to defer
     any part of Base Salary or Bonus payable in the 1995 Plan Year filed with
     the Administrative Committee on or before the Effective Date shall be
     effective only with respect to Base Salary earned and payable on or after
     the Effective Date and Bonus paid after the Effective Date; provided,
     however, that Bonus may be deferred only if the amount of Bonus for the
     Plan Year has not already been determined by appropriate action of the
     Chairman of the Board of the Company.

(b)  An Eligible Executive's election to defer all or a portion of his Base
     Salary or Bonus for any Plan Year shall be effective on the last day the
     deferral of such Base Salary or Bonus may be elected under Section 3.01(a).
     An Eligible Executive may revoke or change his

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     election to defer all or a portion of his Base Salary or Bonus at any time
     prior to the date the election becomes effective. Any such revocation or
     change shall be made in a form and manner determined by the Administrative
     Committee.

(c)  Except as to a Member who becomes an Eligible Executive after January 1 of
     the then current Plan Year, a Member's Deferral Agreement shall apply only
     with respect to Base Salary earned in the Plan Year following the Plan Year
     in which the Deferral Agreement is filed with the Administrative Committee
     under Section 3.01(a). A Member's Deferral Agreement shall only apply to a
     Bonus determined after the Deferral Agreement is filed with the
     Administrative Committee under Section 3.01(a). An Eligible Executive must
     file, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01(a), a new Deferral
     Agreement for each Plan Year the Eligible Executive desires to defer a
     portion of Base Salary or Bonus.

(d)  If a Member ceases to be an Eligible Executive but continue to be employed
     by the Company, he shall continue to be a Member and his Deferral Agreement
     currently in effect for the Plan Year shall remain in force for the
     remainder of such Plan Year, but such Member shall not be eligible to defer
     any portion of his Base Salary or Bonus earned in a subsequent Plan Year
     until such time as he shall once again become a Eligible Executive. An
     Eligible Executive must file a new Deferral Agreement each Plan Year in
     accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01(a) in order to defer all or
     a portion of his Base Salary or Bonus for the following Plan Year.

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(e)  Notwithstanding anything in this plan to the contrary, if an Eligible
     Executive

     (i)  receives a withdrawal of any pre-tax contributions on account of
          hardship from any plan which is maintained by the Company and which
          meets the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code
          (or any successor thereto) and

     (ii) is precluded from making contributions to such 401(k) plan for at
          least 12 months after receipt of the hardship withdrawal,

     no amounts shall be deferred under this Plan under the Eligible Executive's
     Deferral Agreements with respect to Base Salary or Bonus until such time as
     the Eligible Executive is again permitted to contribute to such 401(k)
     plan. Any Base Salary or Bonus payment which would have been deferred
     pursuant to a Deferral Agreement but for the application of this Section
     3.01(e) shall be paid to the Eligible Executive as if he had not entered
     into the Deferral Agreement.

3.02 AMOUNT OF DEFERRAL

(a)  An Eligible Executive may defer up to 100% of his Base Salary or Bonus. Any
     deferral shall be in 1% increments.

(b)  In its sole discretion, the Administrative Committee may establish such
     other maximum or minimum limits on the amount of Base Salary or Bonus an
     Eligible Executive may defer as it deems appropriate. Eligible Executives
     shall be given written notice of any such limits at least ten business days
     prior to the date they take effect.

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3.03 Crediting to Account

     The amount of Base Salary or Bonus which an Eligible Executive has elected
     to defer shall be credited to his Deferral Account no later than the first
     business day of the first calendar month following the date the Base Salary
     or Bonus would have been paid to the Eligible Executive in the absence of a
     Deferral Agreement with respect to such amount.

3.04 Vesting

     A Member shall at all times be 100% vested in his Deferral Account.

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                         ARTICLE 4. COMPANY CONTRIBUTION

4.01 Amount of Company Contribution

     To the extent the Company is prevented from making Company Basic Retirement
     Contributions or Company Supplemental Retirement Contributions under the
     Savings Plan on behalf of a Member in any calendar year in which he is a
     Member hereunder by reason of the deferral of his Base Salary or Bonus
     pursuant to an election under Article 3 or by reason of the limitation
     imposed on compensation by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code;
     such Company Basic Retirement Contributions and Company Supplement
     Retirement Contributions will be deemed to be made under this Plan and
     credited to his Company Account pursuant to Section 4.02.

4.02 Crediting to Account

     The Company Contributions determined pursuant to Section 4.01 on behalf of
     a Member shall be credited to such Member's Company Account as soon as
     administratively practicable following the close of each calendar year.

4.03 Vesting

     A Member shall vest in the Company Contributions made on his behalf under
     Section 4.01, adjusted pursuant to Article 5, at the same rate at which
     such contributions would have vested under the Savings Plan had they been
     contributed thereunder. In the event a Member terminates employment prior
     to vesting in all or any part of the Company Contributions made on his
     behalf, such Company Account shall be forfeited and shall not be restored
     if the Member is subsequently re-employed by the Company.

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                       ARTICLE 5. MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNTS

5.01 Adjustment of Account

(a)  As of each Valuation Date, each Deferral Account (and any sub-account
     thereof) and each Company Account shall be credited or debited with the
     amount of earnings or losses with which such accounts would have been
     credited or debited, assuming it had been invested in one or more
     investment funds, or earned the rate of return of one or more indices of
     investment performance, designated by the Administrative Committee and
     elected by the Member pursuant to Section 5.02 for purposes of measuring
     the investment performance of his accounts.

(b)  The Administrative Committee shall designate at least one investment fund
     or index of investment performance and may designate other investment funds
     or investment indices to be used to measure the investment performance of a
     Member's accounts. The designation of any such investment funds or indices
     shall not require the Company to invest or earmark their general assets in
     any specific manner. The Administrative Committee may change the
     designation of investment funds or indices from time to time, in its sole
     discretion, and any such change shall not be deemed to be an amendment
     affecting Members' rights under Section 7.02.

5.02 Investment Performance Elections

     In the event the Administrative Committee designates more than one
     investment fund or index of investment performance under Section 5.01, each
     Member shall file an investment election with the Administrative Committee
     with respect to the investment of his Deferrals and Company Contributions
     within such time period and on such form as

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     the Administrative Committee may prescribe. The election shall designate
     the investment fund or funds or index or indices of investment performance
     which shall be used to measure the investment performance of the Member's
     Deferrals. The election shall be in increments of 10%.

5.03 Changing Investment Elections

(a)  A Member may change his election in Section 5.02 used to measure the
     investment performance of his future Deferrals and Company Contributions,
     no more than four times in any calendar year, by filing an appropriate
     written notice with the Administrative Committee at least 15 days in
     advance of the date such election is effective. The notice shall be
     effective as of the beginning of the first payroll period of the first
     calendar quarter following the date the notice is filed with the
     Administrative Committee.

(b)  A Member may change his election of the investment fund or funds or index
     or indices of investment performance used to measure the future investment
     performance of his existing account balance, by filing an appropriate
     written notice with the Administrative Committee at least 15 days in
     advance of the date such election is effective. The election shall be
     effective as of the first business day of the calendar quarter following
     the month in which the notice is filed.

5.04 Individual Accounts

     The Administrative Committee shall maintain, or cause to be maintained,
     records showing the balances of each Member's Deferral Account (and any
     sub-account thereof) and Company Account. At least once a year, each Member
     shall be furnished with a statement setting forth the value of his Deferral
     Account and Company Account.

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5.05 Valuation of Accounts

(a)  The Administrative Committee shall value or cause to be valued each
     Member's accounts at least quarterly. On each Valuation Date there shall be
     allocated to the accounts of each Member the appropriate amount determined
     in accordance with Section 5.01.

(b)  Whenever an event requires a determination of the value of a Member's
     Deferral Account (or any sub-account thereof) or his Company Account, the
     value shall be computed as of the Valuation Date coincident with, or
     immediately following, the date of the event.

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                         ARTICLE 6. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

6.01 Payment on Termination of Employment

(a)  The distribution of the Member's Deferral Account (or any subaccount
     thereof) shall commence, pursuant to Section 6.03, on or after the
     occurrence of the earlier of (i) or (ii) as designated by the Participant
     on his Deferral Agreement:

     (i)  the Participant's termination of employment with the Company and all
          Affiliated Companies or

     (ii) a designated date not later than his attainment of age 70-1/2.

     In the event a Participant elects (ii) above, he may not elect a date less
     than three (3) years subsequent to the date he executed the Deferral
     Agreement, and in the event such Participant terminates employment prior to
     such designated date, the distribution of his Deferral Account shall
     commence, pursuant to Section 6.03, as soon as practicable after his
     termination of employment. A Participant shall not change his designation
     of the event which entitles him to distribution of his Deferral Account or
     subaccount thereof.

(b)  The distribution of the Member's Company Account shall commence pursuant to
     Section 6.04, as soon as practicable following the Member's termination of
     employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies.

6.02 Hardship

(a)  While employed by the Company, a Member may, in the event of a severe
     unforeseeable financial hardship, request a withdrawal from his Deferral
     Account. The request shall be made in a time and manner determined by the
     Administrative Committee, shall not be for a greater amount than the lesser
     of (i) the amount required to meet the financial hardship,

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     including amounts necessary to pay any federal, state or local income
     taxes, or (ii) the amount of his Deferral Account, and shall be subject to
     approval by the Administrative Committee.

(b)  For purposes of this Section 6.02 financial hardship shall include:

     (i)  sudden and unexpected illness of the Member, his spouse or his
          dependents, resulting in severe financial hardship to the Member;

     (ii) loss of the Member's property due to a casualty, or other similar
          extraordinary circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the
          control of the Member;

     (iii) any other extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances of the Member
          approved by the Administrative Committee if such circumstances would
          result in a present or impending critical financial need which the
          Member is unable to satisfy with funds reasonably available from other
          sources.

(c)  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.02, no portion of a Member's
     Deferral Account may be withdrawn prior to the date the Member elected in
     the Deferral Agreement and no portion of a Member's Company Account may be
     withdrawn prior to the date the Member terminates employment.

6.03 Method of Payment - Deferral Account

(a)  Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) below, payment of a
     Member's Deferral Account (or any applicable sub-account thereof) shall be
     made as designated by the Member on his Deferral Agreement under one of the
     following methods of payment:

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     (i)  approximately equal annual cash installments for a period of years,
          not to exceed 10 years, designated by the Member on his Deferral
          Agreement; or

     (ii) in single lump sum cash payment.

     During an installment payment period, the Member's Deferral Account shall
     continue to be credited with earnings or losses as described in Section
     5.01. The first installment or lump sum payment shall be made as soon as
     administratively practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with
     or next following the date the Member terminates employment with the
     Company and all Affiliated Companies and subsequent installments, if any,
     shall be determined as of the last business day of each calendar year and
     shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable thereafter. The
     amount of each installment shall equal the balance in the Member's Deferral
     Account as of each Valuation Date of determination divided by the number of
     remaining installments (including the installment being determined).

(b)  If a distribution of the Member's Deferral Account (or any sub-account
     thereof) is to commence pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 6.01, such
     distribution shall be made in a single cash lump sum payment as soon as
     practicable following the Valuation Date coincident with or next following
     the designated date.

(c)  If a Member dies before payment of the entire balance of his Deferral
     Account, an amount equal to the unpaid portion thereof as of the date of
     his death shall be payable in one lump sum to his Beneficiary as soon as
     practicable after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following the
     Member's date of death.

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6.04 Method of Payment - Company Account

(a)  Upon termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliated
     Companies, the amount credited to a Member's Company Account, to the extent
     vested under the terms of the Savings Plan, shall be distributed to the
     Member in a single cash lump sum payment as soon as practicable after the
     Valuation Date coincident with or next following the date the Member incurs
     such termination of employment.

(b)  In the event the Member terminates employment for reasons other than death
     prior to vesting in all or any part of the amount to the credit of his
     Company Account, such nonvested amount shall be forfeited.

(c)  A Member's Company Account shall be payable to his Beneficiary as soon as
     practicable after the Valuation Date coincident with or next following his
     date of death. The Company Account shall be paid to his Beneficiary in a
     single cash lump sum payment.

6.05 Designation of Beneficiary

     A Member may, in a time and manner determined by the Administrative
     Committee, designate a beneficiary and one or more contingent beneficiaries
     (which may include the Member's estate) as his Beneficiary under this Plan
     to receive any benefits which may be payable under this Plan upon his
     death. If the Member fails to designate a Beneficiary or contingent
     Beneficiary, or if the Beneficiary and the contingent Beneficiaries fail to
     survive the Member, such benefits shall be paid to the Member's estate. A
     Member may revoke or change any designation made under this Section 6.05 in
     a time and manner determined by the Administrative Committee.

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6.06 Tax Increases

     Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, in the event a
     Member's Deferral Account is being paid in installment payments under
     Section 6.03, and during said payout period Federal personal income tax
     rates for the highest marginal tax rate are scheduled to increase by 3 or
     more percentage points, at the direction of the Administrative Committee,
     any remaining installment payments to be paid after the effective date of
     such increase shall be paid in a single lump sum prior to said effective
     date.

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                      ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

7.01 Right to Terminate

     Allegro Microsystems, Inc. may, by action of its Board of Directors, in its
     sole discretion, terminate this Plan and the related Deferral Agreements at
     any time. In the event the Plan and related Deferral Agreements are
     terminated, each Member and Beneficiary shall receive a single sum payment
     in cash equal to the balance of his Deferral Account and Company Account.
     The single sum payment shall be made as soon as practicable following the
     date the Plan is terminated and shall be in lieu of any other benefit which
     may be payable to the Member or Beneficiary under this Plan. Any action to
     terminate the Plan by the Board of Directors shall be taken in such manner
     as may be permitted under the by-laws of the Company.

7.02 Right to Amend

     The Allegro Microsystems, Inc. may, by action of its Board of Directors, in
     its sole discretion, amend this Plan and the related Deferral Agreements in
     any way on 30 days prior notice to the Members. If any amendment to this
     Plan or to the Deferral Agreements shall adversely affect the rights of a
     Member, such individual must consent in writing to such amendment prior to
     its effective date. If such individual does not consent to the amendment,
     the Plan and related Deferral Agreements shall be deemed to be terminated
     with respect to such individual and he shall receive a single sum payment
     of his Deferral Account and Company Account in cash as soon thereafter as
     is practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative
     Committee's change in any investment funds or investment index under
     Section 5.01, or the restriction of future Bonuses (and the opportunity to
     defer Bonuses) shall not be deemed to adversely affect

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     any Member's rights. Any action to amend the Plan by the Board of Directors
     shall be taken in such manner as may be permitted under the by-laws of the
     Company.

7.03 Uniform Action

     Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any action to amend
     or terminate the Plan or the Deferral Agreements must be taken in a uniform
     and nondiscriminatory manner.

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                          ARTICLE 8. GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.01 Funding

(a)  All amounts payable in accordance with this Plan shall constitute a general
     unsecured obligation of the Company. Such amounts, as well as any
     administrative costs relating to the Plan, shall be paid out of the general
     assets of the Company, to the extent not paid by a grantor trust
     established pursuant to paragraph (b) below.

(b)  The Company may, for administrative reasons, establish a grantor trust for
     the benefit of Members participating in the Plan. The assets of said trust
     will be held separate and apart from other Company funds, and shall be used
     exclusively for the purposes set forth in the Plan and the applicable trust
     agreement, subject to the following conditions:

     (i)  the creation of said trust shall not cause the Plan to be other than
          "unfunded" for purposes of Title I of ERISA;

     (ii) the Company shall be treated as "grantor" of said trust for purposes
          of Section 677 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
          "Code"); and

     (iii) said trust agreement shall provide that its assets may be used to
          satisfy claims of the Company's general creditors, and the rights of
          such general creditors are enforceable by them under federal and state
          law.

8.02 No Contract of Employment

     The existence of this Plan or of a Deferral Agreement does not constitute a
     contract for continued employment between an Eligible Executive or a Member
     and the Company. Except as otherwise limited by the terms of any valid
     employment contract or agreement entered into between the Company and an
     Eligible Executive or Member, the Company

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     reserve the right to modify an Eligible Executive's or Member's
     remuneration and to terminate an Eligible Executive or a Member for any
     reason and at any time, notwithstanding the existence of this Plan or of a
     Deferral Agreement.

8.03 Withholding Taxes

     All payments under this Plan shall be net of an amount sufficient to
     satisfy any federal, state or local withholding tax requirements.

8.04 Nonalienation

     Subject to applicable law, the right to receive any benefit under this Plan
     may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or encumbered by a Member,
     Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary in any manner and any attempt to do
     so shall be void. No such benefit shall be subject to garnishment,
     attachment or other legal or equitable process without the prior written
     consent of the Company.

8.05 Administration

(a)  This Plan shall be administered by the Administrative Committee. The
     Administrative Committee shall establish rules for the administration of
     the Plan, shall have discretionary authority to interpret and construe the
     Plan and shall take any other action necessary to the proper operation of
     the Plan. The members of the Administrative Committee may allocate among
     themselves or delegate to other persons all or such portion of their duties
     under the Plan as they, in their sole discretion, shall determine.

(b)  Prior to paying any benefit under this Plan, the Administrative Committee
     may require the Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary to provide
     such information or material as the Administrative Committee, in its sole
     discretion, shall deem necessary for

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                                                                         Page 23

     it to make any determination it may be required to make under this Plan.
     The Administrative Committee may withhold payment of any benefit under this
     Plan until it receives all such information and material and is reasonably
     satisfied of its correctness and genuineness.

(c)  All acts and decisions of the Administrative Committee shall be final and
     binding upon all Members, former Members, Beneficiaries, contingent
     Beneficiaries and employees of the Company.

8.06 Claims Procedure

     The Administrative Committee shall provide adequate notice in writing to
     any Member, former Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary whose
     claim for benefits under this Plan has been denied, setting forth the
     specific reasons for such denial. A reasonable opportunity shall be
     afforded to any such Member, former Member, Beneficiary or contingent
     Beneficiary for a full and fair review by the Administrative Committee of
     its decision denying the claim. The Administrative Committee's decision on
     any such review shall be final and binding on the Member, former Member,
     Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary and all other interested persons.

8.07 Facility of Payment

     In the event the Administrative Committee shall find that a Member or his
     Beneficiary is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or
     accident, the Administrative Committee may direct that any benefit payment
     due him, unless claim shall have been made therefor by a duly appointed
     legal representative, be paid to his spouse, a child, a parent or other

<PAGE>

                                                                         Page 24

     blood relative, or to a person with whom he resides, and any such payment
     so made shall be a complete discharge of the liabilities of the Plan
     therefor.

8.08 Limitation of Liability

     The Company, the members of the Administrative Committee, and any officer,
     employee or agent of the Company shall not incur any liability individually
     or on behalf of any other individuals or on behalf of the Company for any
     act or failure to act, made in good faith in relation to the Plan.

8.09 Indemnification

     The Company, the members of the Administrative Committee and the officers,
     employees and agents of the Company shall, unless prohibited by any
     applicable law, be indemnified against any and all liabilities arising by
     reason of any act, or failure to act, in relation to the Plan including,
     without limitation, expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any
     claim relating to the Plan, amounts paid in any compromise or settlement
     relating to the Plan and any civil penalty or excise tax imposed by any
     applicable statute, if:

     (a)  the act or failure to act shall have occurred

          (i)  in the course of the person's service as an officer of the
               Company or member of the Administrative Committee, or

          (ii) in connection with a service provided without compensation to the
               Plan or to the Members or Beneficiaries of the Plan, if such
               service was requested by the Administrative Committee, and

     (b)  the act or failure to act is in good faith and in, or not opposed to,
          the best interests of the Company.

<PAGE>

                                                                         Page 25

     This determination shall be made by the Company and, if such determination
     is made in good faith and not arbitrarily or capriciously, shall be
     conclusive. The foregoing indemnification shall be from the assets of the
     Company. However, the Company's obligation hereunder shall be offset to the
     extent of any otherwise applicable insurance coverage under a policy
     maintained by the Company or any other person, or other source of
     indemnification.

8.10 Payment of Expenses

     All administrative expenses of the Plan and all benefits under the Plan
     shall be paid from the general assets of the Company.

8.11 Construction

(a)  The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded deferred compensation
     arrangement for a select group of management or highly compensated
     personnel. All rights hereunder shall be governed by and construed in
     accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended, and laws of the state of Massachusetts.

(b)  The masculine pronoun shall mean the feminine wherever appropriate.

(c)  The captions inserted in the Plan are inserted as a matter of convenience
     and shall not affect the construction of the Plan.

<PAGE>

                                                                         Page 26

                      ARTICLE 8. SIGNATURE AND VERIFICATION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Allegro Microsystems, Inc. has caused this Plan to be
executed this 1st day of JUNE, 1995.

                                        /s/ Fred A. Windover
                                        ________________________________________

Attest: ____________________________<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                                    AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is entered into as of March 30, 2001 between
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation having its principal place of
business at 115 Northeast Cutoff, Worcester, Massachusetts 01615 ("Allegro"),
and Dennis H. Fitzgerald, an individual residing at 330 Sterling Street, Unit
B-8, West Boylston, Massachusetts 01583 ("DHF").

WHEREAS, Sanken Electric Co., Ltd. ("Sanken"), the parent company of Allegro,
requested that DHF serve as the President and Chief Operating Officer
("President") of Allegro; and

WHEREAS, DHF expressed certain reservations to Sanken, and thereafter the
parties exchanged communications regarding conditions that might apply in the
event that DHF agrees to accept such position; and

WHEREAS, on May 30 2000, DHF agreed to accept his election as President by the
board of directors of Allegro, based on an understanding that the conditions
discussed between Sanken and DHF would be subsequently clarified and
memorialized in an agreement between Allegro and DHF; and

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Allegro has authorized Yuji Morita, President
of Sanken and Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Allegro, to negotiate and
execute appropriate agreements between DHF and Allegro.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.    Severance Benefit.

In the event that Allegro terminates DHF's employment at any time in the future
without "good cause" (as defined in Section 3.2 of this Agreement), Allegro will
pay DHF a "Severance Benefit" based on DHF's base salary on the date that notice
of termination is given to DHF (the "Notice Date"). The Severance Benefit will
have the following elements:

1.1   Subject to Section 5 of this Agreement, a lump sum payment equal to DHF's
      annual base salary on the Notice Date will be paid to DHF within fifteen
      days following the date that DHF ceases to be an employee of Allegro.

1.2   For twelve months following the Notice Date, Allegro will make monthly
      payments to DHF in an amount equal to his monthly base salary on the
      Notice Date. Unless Allegro otherwise agrees in writing, any payment of
      regular salary for service as an Allegro employee, which is undertaken by
      mutual agreement between Allegro and DHF, after the Notice Date shall be
      deemed part of the Severance Benefit (for example, if by mutual agreement
      DHF retains the status of an employee for two months following the Notice
      Date, DHF will receive two months of regular salary and ten months of
      severance payments after the employment termination date).

1.3   For twelve months following the Notice Date, DHF will make himself
      available for consultation with management of Allegro at mutually agreed
      times. Such consultation

<PAGE>

      will be arranged so as not to unduly interfere with DHF's duties to a
      successor employer. DHF will not be obligated to render more than ten
      hours of consulting services in any month.

1.4   All payments of the Severance Benefit will be net of withholding taxes and
      other applicable deductions.

2.    DHF Option to Elect Severance Benefit.

DHF expressed concern that support from Sanken is essential for the improvement
and future success of Allegro's business operations. Specifically, DHF expressed
the belief that three of the following four elements of support are necessary:
(1) substantial elimination of Allegro's long-term debt, which may include
conversion of debt into equity; (2) willingness to consider strategic
transactions, such as acquisitions or divestiture of facilities or businesses;
(3) implementation of appropriate long-term incentive plans to attract and
retain employees; and (4) granting of stock options or other equity-based
compensation, and development of a plan for possible public distribution of
Allegro common stock, that will enable Allegro to compete against public company
competitors for the services of talented employees. For purposes of this
Agreement, the support of Sanken is referred to as "Sanken Support."

The understanding between Sanken is that DHF will have a right, if sufficient
Sanken Support does not materialize, to make a unilateral decision to resign as
an employee and as President of Allegro and obtain the financial benefits of the
Severance Benefit described in Section 1. Accordingly, DHF is hereby granted an
"Option" having the following elements:

2.1   During the period commencing June 1, 2002 and ending May 31, 2003, DHF may
      exercise the Option if he determines, in good faith, that Sanken Support
      has not been sufficient. Written notices of exercise shall be given to the
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allegro (with a copy to the
      President of Sanken if the two offices are held by a different person),
      which notice shall set forth the following: (a) a statement that DHF has
      made a good faith determination that Sanken Support is insufficient; (b) a
      brief recitation of facts in support of such determination; and (c) DHF's
      proposal for effecting a reasonable transition of his duties.

2.2   Upon proper exercise of the Option, DHF will become entitled to the
      Severance Benefit described in Section 1 of this Agreement. The date of
      notice of exercise of the Option shall be the "Notice Date" within the
      meaning of Section 1.

2.3   The Option will become effective unless challenged by Allegro pursuant to
      written notice to DHF within fifteen days after the Notice Date, which
      notice shall describe the reasons that Allegro disputes DHF's good faith
      determination. Thereafter, the parties will make reasonable efforts to
      resolve their differences in an amicable manner, and in the event they
      cannot, the parties will resolve the matter through arbitration.

2.4   In recognition that a purpose of the Option is to enable DHF to devote his
      full energy to Allegro for two years without worrying about his personal
      future, DHF agrees that he will not actively seek other employment, or
      solicit the services of executive recruiters or

                                       2
<PAGE>

      other intermediaries, prior to June 1, 2002. However, nothing shall
      prevent DHF from considering opportunities that may be otherwise presented
      to him.

2.5   DHF further agrees that for a period of a twelve months following exercise
      of the Option, he will not directly or indirectly solicit any Allegro
      employee to join a corporation or business enterprise of which DHF is an
      officer, owner or employee.

3.    Certain Definitions.

For purposes of determining eligibility for the Severance Benefit, the following
terms shall apply:

3.1   Cessation of DHF's employment due to any of the following reasons shall
      not be deemed termination by Allegro within the meaning of Section 1 of
      this Agreement: death; permanent disability (as defined by Allegro's
      long-term disability plan); judicially-declared incompetency; voluntary
      termination of employment (other than pursuant to Section 2); or
      retirement. This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon any of the
      foregoing events.

3.2   The term "good cause" means: (1) continued or repeated failure, refusal or
      inability (after prior written notice from Allegro) to substantially
      perform the duties required by DHF's position or to comply with reasonable
      directives of DHF's superior officer or Allegro's board of directors; (2)
      a willful or intentional act or omission in breach of DHF's fiduciary duty
      to Allegro which results in a substantial disadvantage to Allegro; (3)
      aiding a competitor of Allegro to the detriment of Allegro; (4)
      unauthorized disclosure to third parties of important confidential or
      proprietary information of Allegro; (5) inability to perform the duties of
      President for more than three months in the aggregate during any twelve
      month period due to illness, chemical dependency or other incapacity; or
      (6) perpetration of a felony as determined by a guilty plea by DHF or
      conviction by a court after trial, whether relating to the DHF's
      employment or otherwise.

3.3   The following events may, at DHF's option elected by notice within 15 days
      after the occurrence thereof, be deemed a termination of employment within
      the meaning of Section 1 of this Agreement:

      (a)   Change of position or job responsibilities below the level of
            President and Chief Operating Officer as the same exist on the date
            of this Agreement.

      (b)   Reduction in base salary of more than 10%.

      (c)   Relocation to another office of Allegro that is more than 35 miles
            distant from Worcester with DHF's consent, unless such relocation is
            part of a general relocation of Allegro's headquarters.

4.    Ancillary Benefits.

DHF shall be entitled to any non-salary termination benefits that may apply
under policies maintained by Allegro from time to time, including without
limitation continuation of medical

                                       3
<PAGE>
coverage or life insurance or job search assistance (hereinafter referred to as
"Ancillary Benefits"). In the event of termination by Allegro within the meaning
of Section 1, DHF shall be entitled to continuation of any automobile allowance
that is then part of his compensation package as if such automobile allowance
were "base salary" for purposes of determining the Severance Benefit, provided
that DHF shall not seek reimbursement for personal automobile mileage relating
to any post-termination consulting services provided to Allegro.

5.    Exclusive Remedy.

The Severance Benefit and the Ancillary Benefits constitute DHF's exclusive
remedy with respect to any and all claims or causes of action arising out of
DHF's employment or termination of employment by Allegro. The Severance Benefit
is in lieu of payments under any severance pay policy or program that may be
maintained by Allegro (other than non-salary Ancillary Benefits). Allegro may
require, as a pre-condition to paying the Severance Benefit, that DHF sign a
written release of any and all claims against Allegro and its affiliated
companies, including Sanken, and their officers, directors and agents, arising
out of DHF's employment or the termination thereof (provided, however, that no
such release will deprive DHF of his right to reimbursement for business
expenses or his vested rights under the Allegro benefit plan or compensation
program).

6.    Special Bonus.

DHF shall be entitled to a "Special Bonus" of $750,000 in the event that Allegro
meets certain net income objectives during the three year period ending March
31, 2003. The conditions of the Special Bonus are as follows:

6.1   The Special Bonus is separate and distinct from any Allegro bonus or
      incentive compensation for which DHF is currently eligible or becomes
      eligible in the future.

6.2   The Special Bonus is based on Allegro's present business plan objective to
      achieve net income of $4 million, $10 million and $15 million,
      respectively, in fiscal years 2001, 2002 and 2003. The Special Bonus will
      be payable to DHF in the event that one of the following two conditions is
      satisfied:

      (a)   Allegro has net income in each of fiscal years 2001, 2002 and 2003,
            and the cumulative net income for such three-year period equals or
            exceeds $29 million.

      (b)   The net income targets of $4 million and $10 million are attained or
            exceeded in fiscal years 2001 and 2002, and Allegro attains or
            exceeds net income of $10 million in fiscal year 2003.

6.3   The Special Bonus will be paid to DHF (subject to applicable withholding
      taxes and other deductions) promptly following acceptance by Allegro board
      of directors of Allegro's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal
      year ended March 31, 2003.

6.4   The board of directors of Allegro shall have the power to adjust Allegro's
      net income for purposes of this Agreement in order to address unforeseen
      circumstances and maintain consistency with the reasonable expectations of
      the parties at the time this Agreement is

                                       4
<PAGE>

      executed. Circumstances that may justify adjustment include changes in
      generally accepted accounting principles or internal Allegro accounting
      practices; one-time gains or losses not primarily related to Allegro's
      principal business operations; acquisitions or divestitures; and reduction
      of Allegro's long-term debt through conversion to equity or similar
      methods. No adjustment or net income shall be made in an arbitrary manner.

6.5   The President of Sanken may, in his sole discretion, determine that a
      prorated Special Bonus will be payable to DHF in the event that Allegro
      substantially achieves, but does not fully achieve, Allegro's net income
      objectives for the three-year period in question. The President of Sanken
      may, in his sole discretion, increase the amount of the Special Bonus if
      the net income objectives for such three-year period are substantially
      exceeded.

7.    Employment Status.

Notwithstanding periodic payments of the Severance Benefit by Allegro, DHF will
not have the status of an officer or employee of Allegro except as specifically
agreed between Allegro and DHF. For example, it might be mutually agreed that
DHF will remain an employee of Allegro for one month following the Notice Date.
In such case, DHF will cease to have the status of an Allegro employee after one
month, even though periodic payments of the Severance Benefit are thereafter
paid to DHF.

This Agreement sets forth certain rights that may accrue under specified
circumstances. However, this Agreement is not intended as an employment
agreement. DHF's status as an employee, officer and director of Allegro will be
determined in the ordinary course of business pursuant to Allegro's internal
operating procedures and the governance of Allegro's board of directors.

8.    Miscellaneous.

8.1   Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
      understanding between DHF, Allegro and Sanken concerning the subject
      matter hereof, and supersedes all prior negotiations or understandings
      between the parties, whether written or oral, concerning such matter.

8.2   Waiver; Amendment. No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be
      construed to be a waiver of any other breach of this Agreement. No waiver
      or amendment of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a
      written document signed by DHF and the Chairman and Chief Executive
      Officer of Allegro.

8.3   Notices. Any notices required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in
      writing, and may be transmitted by personal delivery, by courier service
      or by e-mail if receipt thereof is expressly acknowledged by the receiving
      party. Notices shall be given to Allegro's principal business office (for
      example, notice to Y. Morita as Chairman of Allegro should be sent to his
      office in Japan). A copy of all notices shall be sent to James M. Coonan
      of Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. in Chicago, Illinois (or Mr.
      Coonan's successor as Secretary of Allegro if he no longer holds such
      position).

                                       5
<PAGE>

8.4   Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
      governed by the laws of the State of Massachusetts.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date and year first above written.

                                           ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

  /s/ Dennis H. Fitzgerald                   /s/ Yuji Morita
---------------------------------          -----------------------------------
Dennis H. Fitzgerald                       Yuji Morita
                                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                                       6
<PAGE>

[ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC. LOGO]

  Yuji Morita
  Chairman
    and
Chief Executive Officer

June 24, 2003

Mr. Dennis H. Fitzgerald
President and Chief Operating Officer
Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
115 Northeast Cutoff
Worcester, Massachusetts 01605-0036

Dear Dennis

This letter relates to the Agreement dated March 30, 2001 between you and
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (the "Agreement") that addresses certain matters
concerning your employment and compensation. We are prepared to negotiate with
you within the next 6 to 12 months a successor agreement that will address
issues such as corporate objectives and bonus for achievement of such
objectives. In the meantime, we would like to resolve the status of the current
Agreement.

Although it has been our view that the basic severance compensation provisions
of the Agreement continue in effect, we recognize that clarification of this
point is appropriate. Furthermore, we concur with a certain expansion of the
conditions for payment.

This letter is issued in my capacity as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of
Allegro. On May 30, 2000, the board of directors of Allegro adopted a resolution
authorizing the CEO to negotiate the terms of your employment, and "in
connection therewith, to execute on behalf of the Corporation such contracts,
agreement or other documents" that the CEO may determine to be appropriate.

Allegro hereby offers the following clarification and amendment of the Agreement
referenced above:

<PAGE>

      1.    Section 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the Agreement shall remain intact
            until such time as the Agreement may be replaced by a successor
            agreement. The expiration of Sections 2 and 6 of the Agreement shall
            not impact the continuation of these sections.

      2.    Section 3.1 of the Agreement shall be amended by deleting the words
            "death; permanent disability (as defined by Allegro's long-term
            disability plan); judicially-declared incompetency." For purposes of
            Section 1 of the Agreement, the occurrence of any of these events
            shall be deemed a termination of your employment by Allegro without
            good cause (due to inability to perform duties) that triggers
            payment of the "Severance Benefit" as defined therein, with the date
            of occurrence being the "Notice Date" for purposes of Section 1.

Section 8.2 of the Agreement requires that any waiver or amendment be set forth
in a written document signed by you and the CEO of Allegro. I have signed two
copies of this letter on behalf of Allegro. If you concur, please indicate by
executing one copy of this letter and returning it to my attention. Please
retain the other signed copy for yourself.

Very truly yours,

ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

/s/ Yuji Morita
--------------------------------
Yuju Morita
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Agreed and accepted this 27th day of
June, 2003

/s/ Dennis H. Fitzgerald
--------------------------------
Dennis H. Fitzgerald

                                       2

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