Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.44

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
March 6, 2000, is by and between SOMANETICS CORPORATION (the "Company") and
KINGSBRIDGE CAPITAL LIMITED (the "Investor").

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor have entered into that certain
Private Equity Line Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Equity Line
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company may issue, from time to time, to the
Investor up to $15,000,000 worth (as determined in accordance with the Equity
Line Agreement) of common shares, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock");

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in partial consideration for,
the Investor entering into the Equity Line Agreement, the Company has issued to
the Investor a warrant dated as of the date hereof, exercisable from time to
time within five (5) years following the six-month anniversary of the date of
issuance (the "Warrant") for the purchase of an aggregate of up to 200,000
shares of Common Stock at a price specified in such Warrant;

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in partial consideration for,
the Investor's agreement to enter into the Equity Line Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide the Investor with certain registration rights with respect
to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Equity Line Agreement) as set
forth herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, in the Warrant, and in
the Equity Line Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows (capitalized terms used herein
and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in
the Equity Line Agreement):

                                    ARTICLE I
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 1.1.      REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

                  (a)    Filing of the Registration Statement. Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall
file with the SEC within forty (40) days following the Subscription Date a
registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act or such other form
as deemed appropriate for the registration for the resale by the Investor of the
Registrable Securities (the "Registration Statement").

                  (b)    Effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in any event
no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after Subscription Date and to
insure that the Registration Statement remains in effect throughout the term of
this Agreement as set forth in Section 4.2, subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.

                  (c)    Failure to Obtain Effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. In the event the Company fails for any reason to obtain the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement within the time period set forth in
Section 1.1(b), the Company shall pay to the Investor, within three (3) Trading
Days of the date by which such Registration Statement was required to have been
declared effective, seventy-five thousand dollars $75,000 by wire transfer of
immediately available funds into an account designated by the Investor.

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                  (d)    Failure to Maintain Effectiveness of Registration
Statement. In the event the Company fails to maintain the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement (or the underlying prospectus) throughout the period set
forth in Section 4.2, other than temporary suspensions as set forth in Section
1.1(e) or 2.1(h), and the Investor holds any Registrable Securities at any time
during the period of such ineffectiveness (an "Ineffective Period"), the Company
shall pay to the Investor in immediately available funds into an account
designated by the Investor an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the aggregate
Purchase Price of all of the Registrable Securities then held by the Investor
for the each of the first four seven-calendar-day periods (or portion thereof)
of an Ineffective Period. Such payments shall be made on the first (1st) Trading
Day after the earliest to occur of (i) the expiration of the Commitment Period,
(ii) the expiration of an Ineffective Period, (iii) the expiration of the first
twenty-eight (28) calendar days of an Ineffective Period and (iv) the expiration
of each additional twenty-eight (28) calendar-day period during an Ineffective
Period.

                  (e)    Deferral or Suspension During a Blackout Period.
Sections 1.1 (c) and (d) notwithstanding, if the Company shall furnish to the
Investor notice signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating
that the Board of Directors of the Company has, by duly authorized resolution,
determined in good faith that it would be seriously detrimental to the Company
and its shareholders for the Registration Statement to be filed (or remain in
effect) and it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such Registration
Statement (or temporarily suspend the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement or use of the related prospectus) (a "Blackout Notice"), the Company
shall have the right (i) immediately to defer such filing for a period of not
more than thirty (30) days beyond the date by which such Registration Statement
was otherwise required hereunder to be filed or (ii) suspend such effectiveness
for a period of not more than thirty (30) (any such deferral or suspension
period of up to thirty days, a "Blackout Period"). The Investor acknowledges
that it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for
such Registration Statement to be filed (or remain in effect) during a Blackout
Period and therefore essential to defer such filing (or suspend such
effectiveness) during such Blackout Period and agrees to cease any disposition
of the Registrable Securities during such Blackout Period. The Company may not
utilize any of its rights under this Section 1.1(e) to defer the filing of a
Registration Statement (or suspend its effectiveness) more than twice in any
twelve (12) month period. Following such deferral or suspension, the Investor
shall be entitled to such additional number of shares of Common Stock as set
forth in Section 2.6 of the Equity Line Agreement.

                  (f)    Liquidated Damages. The Company and the Investor hereto
acknowledge and agree that the sums payable under subsections 1(c) or 1(d) above
shall constitute liquidated damages and not penalties. The parties further
acknowledge that (i) the amount of loss or damages likely to be incurred by the
Investor is incapable or is difficult to precisely estimate, (ii) the amounts
specified in such subsections bear a reasonable proportion and are not plainly
or grossly disproportionate to the probable loss likely to be incurred in
connection with any failure by the Company to obtain or maintain the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, (iii) one of the reasons for the
Company and the Investor reaching an agreement as to such amounts was the
uncertainty and cost of litigation regarding the question of actual damages, and
(iv) the Company and the Investor are sophisticated business parties and have
been represented by sophisticated and able legal and financial counsel and
negotiated this Agreement at arm's length.

                 (g)    SEC Disapproval. Sections 1.1 (b) and (c)
notwithstanding, the date by which a Registration Statement is required to
become effective shall be extended for up to sixty (60) days without default or
penalty in the event that the Company's failure to obtain effectiveness of a
Registration Statement by no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after
Subscription Date results solely from the SEC's disapproval of the structure of
the transactions contemplated by the Equity Line Agreement. In such event, the
parties agree to cooperate with one another in good faith to arrive at a
resolution acceptable to the SEC and the Company shall not be in default
hereunder or under the Equity Line
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Agreement and no liquidated damages or penalties shall accrue against or be
owing by the Company if the parties are unable to arrive at such a resolution.

                  (h)    Additional Registration Statements. In the event and to
the extent that the Registration Statement fails to register a sufficient amount
of Common Stock necessary for the Company to issue and sell to the Investor and
the Investor to purchase from the Company all of the Registrable Securities to
be issued, sold and purchased under the Equity Line Agreement and the Warrant,
the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC an additional registration
statement or statements in order to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement,
the Equity Line Agreement, and the Warrant.

                                   ARTICLE II
                             REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Section 2.1.      FILINGS; INFORMATION. The Company shall effect the
registration and facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities by the
Investor in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Company in each such case will do the following as
expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than the deadline, if any,
prescribed therefor in this Agreement:

                  (a) The Company shall (i) prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-1 or on such other form promulgated by the SEC
for which the Company then qualifies, that counsel for the Company shall deem
appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of the Registrable
Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement and in accordance with the intended method of distribution of the
Registrable Securities; (ii) use comercially reasonable efforts to cause such
filed Registration Statement to become and to remain effective (pursuant to Rule
415 under the Securities Act or otherwise); (iii) prepare and file with the SEC
such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the
prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement effective for the time period prescribed by Section
1.1(b) and in order to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement, the Equity Line
Agreement, and the Warrant; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the Investor set forth in such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Investor shall be responsible for the delivery of a
prospectus to the Persons to whom the Investor sells the Put Shares, the
Blackout Shares and the Warrant Shares.

                  (b)    If so requested by a managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act for the offering on a continuous or delayed basis in the future
of all of the Registrable Securities (a "Shelf Registration"), the Company shall
(i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and such holders agree
should be included therein, and (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after
the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section
2.1(b)(ii) that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate
applicable law.

                  (c)    In connection with the filing of a Shelf Registration,
the Company shall enter into such reasonable agreements and take all such other
reasonable actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably requested
by the managing underwriters, if any, or the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in such connection, whether or
not an underwriting agreement is entered into and whether or not the
registration is an underwritten registration, the Company shall (i) make such
representations

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and warranties to the holders of such Registrable Securities and the
underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company (including
with respect to businesses or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Company),
and the Registration Statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form,
substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
underwritten offerings, and confirm such representations and warranties if and
when requested; (ii) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, it shall
contain indemnification provision and procedures no less favorable to the
selling holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any,
than those set forth herein (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable
to the holders of a majority of Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and the managing underwriters, if any); and (iii) deliver
such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the
managing underwriters, if any, to evidence the continued validity of their
representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence
compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement
or other agreement entered into by the Company.

                  (d)    Five (5) Trading Days prior to filing the Registration
Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (excluding
amendments deemed to result from the filing of documents incorporated by
reference therein), the Company shall deliver to the Investor and to counsel
representing the Investor, in accordance with the notice provisions of Section
4.8, copies of the Registration Statement, prospectus and/or any amendments or
supplements thereto as proposed to be filed, together with exhibits thereto,
which documents will be subject to review by the Investor and such counsel, and
thereafter deliver to the Investor and such counsel, in accordance with the
notice provisions of Section 4.8, such number of copies of the Registration
Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all
exhibits thereto), the prospectus included in the Registration Statement
(including each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents or information
as the Investor or counsel may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities.

                  (e)    The Company shall deliver, in accordance with the
notice provisions of Section 4.8, to each seller of Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement such number of conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each
case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference), such
number of copies of the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement
(including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other
prospectus filed under Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act relating to
such seller's Registrable Securities, and such other documents, as such seller
may reasonably request to facilitate the disposition of its Registrable
Securities.

                  (f)    After the filing of the Registration Statement, the
Company shall promptly notify the Investor of any stop order issued or
threatened by the SEC in connection therewith and take all reasonable actions
required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.

                  (g)    The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under such other
securities or blue sky laws of each jurisdiction in the United States as the
Investor may reasonably (in light of its intended plan of distribution) request,
and (ii) cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by
such other governmental agencies or authorities in the United States as may be
necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and
all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable the Investor to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to
do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to
qualify but for this paragraph (g), subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction, consent or subject itself to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction or change any existing business practices, benefit plans or
outstanding securities.

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                  (h)    The Company shall immediately notify the Investor upon
the occurrence of any of the following events in respect of the Registration
Statement or related prospectus in respect of an offering of Registrable
Securities: (v) receipt of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state
governmental authority for additional information, amendments or supplements to
the Registration Statement or related prospectus; (w) the issuance by the SEC or
any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any
proceedings for that purpose; (x) receipt of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (y) the happening of any event
that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or related
prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any
changes in the Registration Statement, related prospectus or documents so that,
in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
that in the case of the related prospectus, it will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (z) the Company's
reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement would be appropriate, and the Company will promptly make available to
the Investor any such supplement or amendment to the related prospectus.

                  (i)    The Company shall enter into customary agreements and
take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (whereupon the
Investor may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations,
warranties and covenants of the Company also be made to and for the benefit of
the Investor).

                  (j) The Company shall make available to the Investor (and will
deliver to Investor's counsel), subject to restrictions imposed by the United
States federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, copies of
all correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel or its auditors
concerning the Registration Statement and will also make available for
inspection by the Investor and any attorney, accountant or other professional
retained by the Investor (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all financial and
other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers
and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors
in connection with the Registration Statement. Records that the Company
determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies the
Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i)
the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement
or omission in the Registration Statement or (ii) the disclosure or release of
such Records is requested or required pursuant to oral questions,
interrogatories, requests for information or documents or a subpoena or other
order from a court of competent jurisdiction or other process; provided,
however, that prior to any disclosure or release pursuant to clause (ii), the
Inspectors shall provide the Company with prompt notice of any such request or
requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or
waive such Inspectors' obligation not to disclose such Records; and, provided,
further, that if failing the entry of a protective order or the waiver by the
Company permitting the disclosure or release of such Records, the Inspectors,
upon advice of counsel, are compelled to disclose such Records, the Inspectors
may disclose that portion of the Records that counsel has advised the Inspectors
that the Inspectors are compelled to disclose. The Investor agrees that
information obtained by it solely as a result of such inspections (not including
any information obtained from a third party who, insofar as is known to the
Investor after reasonable inquiry, is not prohibited from providing such
information by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to the Company)
shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the basis for any
market transactions in the securities of the

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Company or its affiliates unless and until such information is made generally
available to the public. The Investor further agrees that it will, upon learning
that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction,
give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

                  (k)    To the extent required by law or reasonably necessary
to effect a sale of Registrable Securities in accordance with prevailing
business practices at the time of any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
a Registration Statement, the Company shall deliver to the Investor a signed
counterpart, addressed to the Investor, of (1) an opinion or opinions of counsel
to the Company, and (2) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Company's
independent public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters
of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may
be, as the Investor therefor reasonably requests.

                  (l)    The Company shall otherwise comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC, including, without limitation, compliance with
applicable reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.

                  (m)    The Company shall appoint a transfer agent and
registrar for all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

                  (n)    The Company may require the Investor to promptly
furnish in writing to the Company such information as may be legally required in
connection with such registration including, without limitation, all such
information as may be requested by the SEC or the National Association of
Securities Dealers. The Investor agrees to provide such information requested in
connection with such registration within ten (10) business days after receiving
such written request and the Company shall not be responsible for any delays in
obtaining or maintaining the effectiveness of the Registration Statement caused
by the Investor's failure to timely provide such information.

Section 2.2.      REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall pay all registration
expenses incurred in connection with the Registration Statement (the
"Registration Expenses"), including, without limitation: (i) all registration,
filing, securities exchange listing and fees required by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, (ii) all registration, filing, qualification
and other fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue
sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) all word processing,
duplicating, printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) the Company's
internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of
its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (v) the fees
and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities, (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public
accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses of any special
audits or comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent
certified public accountants of such special audit(s) or comfort letter(s)
requested pursuant to Section 2.1(k) hereof), (vii) the fees and expenses of any
special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration,
(viii) all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Investor incurred in
connection with the review, and assistance in preparation, of the Registration
Statement up to $7,500, unless a greater amount is required due the nature of
the review performed by Investor's counsel or the extent of assistance provided
by Investor's counsel (an estimate of such greater fees and expenses of such
firm of counsel to be provided to the Company prior to the undertaking of such
counsel's review or assistance), (ix) premiums and other costs of the Company
for policies of insurance against liabilities arising out of any public offering
of the Registrable Securities being registered, and (x) any fees and
disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of
securities, but excluding underwriting fees, discounts, transfer taxes or
commissions, if any, attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, which
shall be payable by each holder of Registrable Securities pro rata on the basis
of the

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number of Registrable Securities of each such holder that are included in a
registration under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

Section 3.1.      INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Investor, its partners, Affiliates, officers, directors, employees
and duly authorized agents, and each Person or entity, if any, who controls the
Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, together with the partners, Affiliates, officers, directors,
employees and duly authorized agents of such controlling Person or entity
(collectively, the "Controlling Persons"), from and against any loss, claim,
damage, liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements and costs and expenses of investigating and
defending any such claim) (collectively, "Damages"), joint or several, and any
action or proceeding in respect thereof to which the Investor, its partners,
affiliates, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents, and any
Controlling Person, may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, as
incurred, insofar as such Damages (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof)
arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, or in any
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or
supplement relating to the Registrable Securities or arises out of, or are based
upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and shall reimburse the Investor, its partners, affiliates, officers, directors,
employees and duly authorized agents, and each such Controlling Person, for any
legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by the Investor, its partners,
affiliates, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents, or any
such Controlling Person, as incurred, in investigating or defending or preparing
to defend against any such Damages or actions or proceedings; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable to the extent that any such Damages arise
out of the Investor's failure to send or give a copy of the final prospectus or
supplement (as then amended or supplemented) to the persons asserting an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or
prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such
person if such statement or omission was corrected in such final prospectus or
supplement; provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable to the
extent that any such Damages arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
Registration Statement, or any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus,
summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Investor or any other person who participates as an underwriter in the offering
or sale of such securities, in either case, specifically stating that it is for
use in the preparation thereof.

Section 3.2.      CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION  PROCEEDINGS.  All claims for
indemnification under Section 3.1 shall be asserted and resolved in accordance
with the provisions of Section 9.2 of the Equity Line Agreement.

Section 3.3.      ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION. Indemnification similar to that
specified in the preceding paragraphs of this Article 3 (with appropriate
modifications) shall be given by the Company with respect to any required
registration or other qualification of securities under any federal or state law
or regulation of any governmental authority other than the Securities Act. The
provisions of this Article III shall be in addition to any other rights to
indemnification, contribution or other remedies which an Indemnified Party may
have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

Section 3.4.      CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in this
Article III is unavailable to the Indemnified Parties in respect of any Damages
referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu

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of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Damages as between the
Company on the one hand and the Investor on the other, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and of the Investor in
connection with such statements or omissions, as well as other equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Investor on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by such party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and the Investor agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount
paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Damages referred to
in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to
the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.4, the
Investor shall in no event be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities of the
Investor were sold to the public (less underwriting discounts and commissions)
exceeds the amount of any damages which the Investor has otherwise been required
to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 4.1.      NO OUTSTANDING REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Company represents and
warrants to the Investor that, except as set forth on Schedule 4.1 hereof, there
is not in effect on the date hereof any agreement by the Company pursuant to
which any holders of securities of the Company have a right to cause the Company
to register or qualify such securities under the Securities Act or any
securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.

Section 4.2.      TERM. The registration rights provided to the holders of
Registrable Securities hereunder shall terminate at the earlier of (i) such time
that is two years following the termination of the Equity Line Agreement or (ii)
such time as all Registrable Securities have been issued and have ceased to be
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, paragraphs (c) and (d) of
Section 1.1, Article III, Section 4.8, and Section 4.9 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.

Section 4.3.      RULE 144. The Company will file in a timely manner,
information, documents and reports in compliance with the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act and will, at its expense, promptly take such further action as
holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request to enable such holders
of Registrable Securities to sell Registrable Securities without registration
under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a)
Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"), as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
SEC. If at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will,
at its expense, forthwith upon the written request of any holder of Registrable
Securities, make available adequate current public information with respect to
the Company within the meaning of paragraph (c)(2) of Rule 144 or such other
information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request
of the

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Investor, the Company will deliver to the Investor a written statement, signed
by the Company's principal financial officer, as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.

Section 4.4.      CERTIFICATE. The Company will, at its expense, forthwith upon
the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, deliver to such holder a
certificate, signed by the Company's principal financial officer, stating (a)
the Company's name, address and telephone number (including area code), (b) the
Company's Internal Revenue Service identification number, (c) the Company's
Commission file number, (d) the number of shares of each class of Stock
outstanding as shown by the most recent report or statement published by the
Company, and (e) whether the Company has filed the reports required to be filed
under the Exchange Act for a period of at least ninety (90) days prior to the
date of such certificate and in addition has filed the most recent annual report
required to be filed thereunder.

Section 4.5.      AMENDMENT AND MODIFICATION. Any provision of this Agreement
may be waived, provided that such waiver is set forth in a writing executed by
both parties to this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given,
unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the holders of a majority
of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the waiver of any provision hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities
are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be
given by holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold
by such holders; provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence. No course of dealing between or among any
Person having any interest in this Agreement will be deemed effective to modify,
amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of
any person under or by reason of this Agreement.

Section 4.6.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS; ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and
all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. The Investor may
assign its rights under this Agreement to any subsequent holder the Registrable
Securities, provided that the Company shall have the right to require any holder
of Registrable Securities to execute a counterpart of this Agreement as a
condition to such holder's claim to any rights hereunder. This Agreement,
together with the Equity Line Agreement and the Warrant(s) sets forth the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof
and merges and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings
of any and every nature among them.

Section 4.7.      SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect without said provision; provided that such severability shall be
ineffective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to
any party.

Section 4.8.      NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals,
and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be (i) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, (ii) delivered by reputable air courier service with
charges prepaid, or (iii) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram or facsimile,
addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have
specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon
hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by
the transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below
(if delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice
is to be received), or the first business day following such

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal business hours
where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second business day following
the date of mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such
address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur.
The addresses for such communications shall be:

         If to the Company:

                                   Somanetics Corporation
                                   1653 East Maple Road
                                   Troy, Michigan 48083-4208
                                   (248) 689-3050
                                   Telephone: (248) 689-3050
                                   Facsimile: (248) 689-4272
                                   Attention: Bruce J. Barrett

         with a copy (which communication shall not constitute notice) to:

                                   Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn
                                   2290 First National Building
                                   600 Woodward Avenue
                                   Detroit, Michigan 48226-3583
                                   Telephone: (313) 465-7452
                                   Facsimile: (313) 465-7453

                                   Attention: Robert J. Krueger, Esq.

         if to the Investor:

                                   Adam Gurney
                                   Kingsbridge Capital Limited
                                   Main Street
                                   Kilcullen, County Kildare
                                   Republic of Ireland
                                   Telephone: 011-353-45-481-811
                                   Facsimile: 011-353-45-482-003

         with a copy (which communication shall not constitute notice) to:

                                   Clifford Chance Rogers & Wells LLP
                                   200 Park Avenue, 52nd Floor
                                   New York, NY  10166
                                   Attention: Keith M. Andruschak, Esq.
                                   Telephone: (212) 878-8000
                                   Facsimile: (212) 878-8375

Either party hereto may from time to time change its address or facsimile number
for notices under this Section 4.8 by giving at least ten (10) days' prior
written notice of such changed address or facsimile number to the other party
hereto.

Section 4.9.      GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be construed under the
laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to provisions regarding
conflicts of law or choice of law.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

Section 4.10.     HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall
they affect their meaning, construction or effect.

Section 4.11.     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original instrument and all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 4.12.     FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party shall cooperate and take such
action as may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.

Section 4.13.     ABSENCE OF PRESUMPTION. This Agreement shall be construed
without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or
interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be
drafted.

Section 4.14.     EQUITABLE REMEDIES. In the event of a breach or a threatened
breach by any party to this Agreement of its obligations under this Agreement,
any party injured or to be injured by such breach will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Agreement or to injunctive relief, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided in this Agreement and
granted by law. The parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be
specifically enforceable, it being agreed by the parties that the remedy at law,
including monetary damages, for breach of any such provision will be inadequate
compensation for any loss and that any defense or objection in any action for
specific performance or injunctive relief that a remedy at law would be adequate
is waived.

                                       11
<PAGE>   12
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
as of the date first set forth above.

                           SOMANETICS CORPORATION

                           By:___________________________
                              Bruce J. Barrett
                              Chief Executive Officer

                           KINGSBRIDGE CAPITAL LIMITED

                           By:      __________________________
                                    Valentine O'Donoghue
                                    Director<PAGE>   1
EXHIBIT 4.5
FIRST AMENDMENT TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT,
DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1999

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                   BELDEN INC.

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO
                             NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  $200,000,000
                         Senior Notes Issuable in Series

                          $75,000,000 Principal Amount
                        6.92% Senior Notes, Series 1997-A
                               Due August 11, 2009

                                                   Dated as of September 1, 1999

To the Holders of the Senior Notes,
    Series 1997-A, of Belden Inc. Named in the
    Attached Schedule I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 1,
1997 among Belden Inc. (the "Company") and each of the Purchasers named in
Schedule A thereto (the "1997 Note Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company
issued $75,000,000 principal amount of its 6.92% Senior Notes, Series 1997-A,
due August 11, 2009 (the "1997 Notes"). Reference is also made to the Series
1997-A Guaranty dated August 11, 1997 (as it may be amended, modified or
restated, the "Series 1997-A Guaranty") made by Belden Wire & Cable Company, a
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company ("Belden Wire"), in favor of the holders
of the 1997 Notes. You are referred to herein individually as a "Holder" and
collectively as the "Holders." Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the 1997 Note Agreement.

         The Company has authorized the issuance and sale of $64,000,000
aggregate principal amount of 7.60% Senior Notes, Series A, due September 1,
2004, $44,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.74% Senior Notes, Series B,
due September 1, 2006, and $17,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.95%
Senior Notes, Series C, due September 1, 2009 (collectively, the "1999 Notes"),
pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 1, 1999 (the "1999
Note Agreement"). The 1999 Notes will be guaranteed by certain Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of the Company, including Belden Wire, Cable Systems Holding
Company ("CSH") and Cable Systems International Inc. ("CSI"). In order to
maintain parity between the 1999 Notes and the 1997 Notes, CSH and CSI will
guaranty the 1997 Notes.

<PAGE>   2

         The Holders are willing to grant an amendment on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth. In consideration of the premises and for good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
acknowledged, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:

     AMENDMENTS

              Amendment of Section 1.1. Section 1.1 of the 1997 Note Agreement
is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                      "The Company is contemplating the issue and sale of up to
         $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes issuable in
         series (the "Notes", such term to include any such Notes issued in
         substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement). The
         Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1.1-A, with
         such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the purchasers of
         such Notes, or series thereof, and the Company. Certain capitalized
         terms used in this Agreement are defined in Schedule B; references to a
         "Schedule" or an "Exhibit" are, unless otherwise specified, to a
         Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement. The Notes may be
         issued in one or more series. Each series of Notes will be guaranteed
         by Belden Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation ("Belden Wire"),
         Cable Systems Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("CSH"), and
         Cable Systems International Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CSI" and,
         together with Belden Wire, CSH and any future party to the Belden Wire
         Guaranty, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), each a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
         of the Company, pursuant to a guaranty in substantially the form of
         Exhibit 1.1-B (such guaranty with respect to the Series 1997-A Notes is
         herein referred to as the "Belden Wire Guaranty"). Each series of
         Notes, other than the initial series, shall be issued pursuant to a
         supplement to this Agreement (a "Supplement") in substantially the form
         of Exhibit 1.1-C, and shall be subject to the following terms and
         conditions:

                  (a) the designation of each series of Notes shall distinguish
         the Notes of one series from the Notes of all other series;

                  (b) the Notes of each series shall be senior in the sense that
         they rank pari passu with the Notes of all other series and the
         Company's other outstanding unsecured Indebtedness that has not been
         expressly subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the Company;

                  (c) each series of Notes shall be dated the date of issue,
         bear interest at such rate or rates, mature on such date or dates, be
         subject to such mandatory prepayments on the dates and with the
         Make-Whole Amounts, if any, as are provided in the Supplement under
         which such Notes are issued, and shall have such additional or
         different conditions precedent to closing and such additional or
         different representations and warranties or other terms and provisions
         as shall be specified in such Supplement; and

<PAGE>   3

                  (d)  except to the extent provided in foregoing clauses (a)
         through (c), all of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the
         Notes of each series.

         The Purchasers of the Series 1997-A Notes need not purchase subsequent
         series of Notes."

                  Amendment of Section 10.4. Clause (b) of Section 10.4 of the
1997 Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "(b) Any Restricted Subsidiary may (x) merge into the Company
         (provided that the Company is the surviving corporation) or another
         Restricted Subsidiary or (y) sell, transfer or lease all or any part of
         its assets to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, or (z)
         merge or consolidate with, or sell, transfer or lease all or
         substantially all of its assets to, any Person in a transaction that is
         permitted by Section 10.3 or, as a result of which, such Person becomes
         a Restricted Subsidiary; provided in each instance set forth in clauses
         (x) through (z) that, immediately before and after giving effect
         thereto, there shall exist no Default or Event of Default and provided
         further, that, in the case of a transaction contemplated by clause (z),
         if the Restricted Subsidiary is a Subsidiary Guarantor and it is not
         the surviving corporation, the survivor of such merger shall be a
         solvent corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
         States, any State thereof (including the District of Columbia), Canada
         or any province thereof, or a country within Western Europe, and such
         corporation (A) shall have executed and delivered to each holder of any
         Notes its assumption of the due and punctual performance and observance
         of each covenant and condition of the Belden Wire Guaranty applicable
         to the Subsidiary Guarantor that does not survive, and (B) shall have
         caused to be delivered to each holder of any Notes an opinion of
         independent counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders, to
         the effect that all agreements or instruments effecting such assumption
         are enforceable in accordance with their terms and comply with the
         terms hereof;"

                  Amendment of Section 10.6. Section 10.6 of the 1997 Note
         Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

         "10.6    DESIGNATION OF UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES.

                       The Company will not designate a Subsidiary Guarantor
         as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Company may designate any other
         Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such
         Subsidiary has been designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary more than
         once previously and unless immediately before or after such designation
         there exists a Default or Event of Default."

                  Addition of Section 10.9. A new Section 10.9 is added to the
         1997 Note Agreement to read as follows:

<PAGE>   4

         "10.9    GUARANTIES BY SUBSIDIARIES.

                           The Company will not permit any Subsidiary to
         directly or indirectly guarantee any of the Company's Indebtedness or
         other obligations under the Credit Agreement unless such Subsidiary is,
         or concurrently therewith becomes, a party to the Belden Wire
         Guaranty."

                  Amendment of Section 11.

                           Clause (c) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(c) the Company defaults in the performance of or
                  compliance with any term contained in Section 7.1(e) or
                  Sections 10.1 through 10.9; or"

                           Clause (e) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(e) any representation or warranty made in writing
                  by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or
                  by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in
                  this Agreement or the Belden Wire Guaranty or in any writing
                  furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated
                  hereby proves to have been false or incorrect in any material
                  respect on the date as of which made; or"

                           Clause (k) of Section 11 of the 1997 Note Agreement
         is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                           "(k) the Belden Wire Guaranty ceases to be in full
                  force and effect as a result of acts taken by the Company or
                  any Subsidiary Guarantor or is declared to be null and void in
                  whole or in material part by a court or other governmental or
                  regulatory authority having jurisdiction or the validity or
                  enforceability thereof shall be contested by any of the
                  Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of them renounces
                  any of the same or denies that it has any or further liability
                  thereunder."

                  Amendment of Section 12.1. Clause (a) of Section 12.1 of the
1997 Note Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "(a) If an Event of Default with respect to the Company or a
         Subsidiary Guarantor described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Section 11
         (other than an Event of Default described in clause (i) or paragraph
         (g) or described in clause (vi) of paragraph (g) by virtue of the fact
         that such clause encompasses clause (i) of paragraph (g)) has occurred,
         all the Notes then outstanding shall automatically become immediately
         due and payable."

                  Addition of Section 23. A new Section 23 is added to the 1997
Note Agreement to read in its entirety as follows:

<PAGE>   5

                           "You and each other holder of the Notes agree to
         fully release any Subsidiary Guarantor other than Belden Wire, CSH and
         CSI from the Belden Wire Guaranty at such time as such Subsidiary
         Guarantor no longer guarantees, directly or indirectly, the Company's
         Indebtedness or other obligations under the Credit Agreement; provided,
         however, that you and each other holder will not be required to release
         such Subsidiary Guarantor from the Belden Wire Guaranty if (i) such
         Subsidiary Guarantor is contemplated to become a borrower under the
         Credit Agreement or (ii) there is a plan of financing that contemplates
         such Subsidiary Guarantor guaranteeing any other Indebtedness of the
         Company, and such requirement to release such Subsidiary Guarantor is
         conditioned upon the prior receipt by each holder of the Notes of a
         certificate from a Senior Financial Officer of the Company stating that
         neither of the circumstances described in clauses (i) and (ii) above
         are true."

                  Amendment of Schedule B.

                           The following terms included in Schedule B of the
         1997 Note Agreement are amended to read in their entirety as follows:

                           "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse
         effect on (a) the business, operations, affairs, financial condition,
         assets or properties of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
         taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its
         obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the ability of
         any Subsidiary Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Belden
         Wire Guaranty, or (d) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement,
         the Notes or the Belden Wire Guaranty.

                           "MATERIAL RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means, as of the
         date of determination, each Subsidiary Guarantor and any other
         Restricted Subsidiary the assets or revenues of which account for more
         than 5% of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Company and its
         Restricted Subsidiaries at the end of the most recently ended fiscal
         period or more than 5% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and
         its Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently completed four fiscal
         quarters.

                           "RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means each Subsidiary
         Guarantor and any other Subsidiary (a) of which at least a majority of
         the voting securities are owned by the Company and/or one or more
         Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries and of which the Company has
         management control and (b) which the Company has designated a
         Restricted Subsidiary by notice in writing (including designation in
         Section 5.4) given to the holders of the Notes and (c) which has not
         been designated as a Restricted Subsidiary more than once previously."

                           Schedule B of the 1997 Note Agreement is amended to
add the following terms:

<PAGE>   6

                  "CREDIT AGREEMENT" means the Credit Agreement dated as of
         November 18, 1996 among the Company and the banks from time to time
         party thereto, as such agreement may be hereafter amended, restated,
         supplemented, refinanced, increased or reduced from time to time, and
         any successor credit agreement or similar facility."

                  "CSH" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  "CSI" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  "SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR" is defined in Section 1.1.

                  Replacement of Exhibit 1.1-B. Exhibit 1.1-B to the 1997 Note
Agreement is replaced with the form attached to this Amendment as Annex I.

     REAFFIRMATION; ETC.

                  Reaffirmation of 1997 Note Agreement. The Company reaffirms
its agreement to comply with each of the covenants, agreements and other
provisions of the 1997 Note Agreement and the 1997 Notes, as amended by this
Amendment.

                  No Default or Event of Default. The Company represents and
warrants that, to the actual knowledge of its Responsible Officers after due
inquiry, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will
occur as a result of the execution of this Amendment.

                  Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and, except as provided herein, do not require any registration with,
consent or approval of, notice to or action by, any Person (including any
Governmental Authority) in order to be effective and enforceable. Each of the
1997 Note Agreement and this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its
respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law).

     EFFECTIVE DATE

         This Amendment shall become effective as of the date set forth above
upon satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

                  Consent of Requisite Holders. The Holders of at least a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the 1997 Notes outstanding shall
have executed counterparts of this Amendment.

                  Amendment and Restatement of Series 1997-A Guaranty. The
Holders of the 1997 Notes shall have received a counterpart signature page to an
amended and restated Guaranty in the form attached hereto as Annex II signed by
each Subsidiary Guarantor.

<PAGE>   7

                  Acknowledgement of Belden Wire. Belden Wire shall have
acknowledged this Amendment by executing the signature page hereto.

                  Expenses. The Company shall have paid all fees and expenses of
special counsel to the Holders in connection with this Amendment.

     MISCELLANEOUS

                  Ratification. Except as expressly amended, modified, deleted
or added to hereby, all of the terms and conditions of the 1997 Note Agreement,
the 1997 Notes and all other documents relating to the 1997 Note Agreement
remain in full force and effect, and the parties hereto expressly reaffirm and
ratify their respective obligations thereunder.

                  Reference to and Effect on the 1997 Note Agreement. Upon the
effectiveness of this Amendment, (i) each reference in the 1997 Note Agreement
and in other documents describing or referencing the 1997 Note Agreement to the
"Agreement," "Note Agreement," "hereunder," "hereof," "herein," or words of like
import referring to the 1997 Note Agreement, shall mean and be a reference to
the 1997 Note Agreement, as amended hereby, and (ii) each reference in the
Series 1997-A Guaranty and in other documents describing or referencing the
Series 1997-A Guaranty to the "Guaranty," "Series 1997-A Guaranty," "hereunder,"
"hereof," "herein," or words of like import referring to the Series 1997-A
Guaranty, shall mean and be a reference to the Series 1997-A Guaranty as amended
and restated pursuant to this Amendment.

                  Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company hereby notifies the
Holders that each Subsidiary listed in Annex III hereto (which are all of the
Subsidiaries of the Company) is a Restricted Subsidiary under the 1997 Note
Agreement, as amended, whether or not such Subsidiaries were Restricted
Subsidiaries prior to the effective date hereof.

                  Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

                  Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with Illinois law.

                  Counterparts. This Amendment be executed in any number of
counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but altogether
only one instrument.

<PAGE>   8

         If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the
accompanying counterpart of this Amendment and return it to the Company,
whereupon the foregoing shall become a binding agreement between you and the
Company upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3 of this
Amendment.

                                            BELDEN INC.

                                            By:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                            Name:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                            Title:
                                                  ------------------------------

The foregoing is hereby agreed
to as of the date thereof.

AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

UNITED OF OMAHA LIFE INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE
  COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   9

STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:  Principal Capital Management, LLC
     a Delaware limited liability company,
     its authorized signatory

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------
        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------

NIPPON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
   AMERICA, an Iowa corporation

By:  Principal Life Company, an Iowa corporation,
     its attorney in fact

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------

        By:
           ----------------------------------------
        Its:
            ---------------------------------------

BERKSHIRE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   10

         The undersigned Subsidiary Guarantor acknowledges the foregoing
Amendment.

BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

By:
   ------------------------------------------------
Name:
     ----------------------------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   11

                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Original Principal
Name of Holder                                         Amount of 1997 Notes
--------------                                         --------------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Aid Association for Lutherans                             $24,000,000
Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company                          11,000,000
United of Omaha Life Insurance Company                      4,000,000
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company                        15,000,000
State Farm Life Insurance Company                          10,000,000
Principal Life Insurance Company                            7,000,000
Nippon Life Insurance Company of America                    1,000,000
Berkshire Life Insurance Company                            3,000,000
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   12

                                     ANNEX I
                                                                   EXHIBIT 1.1-B

                          [FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY]

                              SERIES [    ] GUARANTY

         THIS GUARANTY (this "GUARANTY") dated [    ] is made by the undersigned
(each, a "GUARANTOR"), in favor of the holders from time to time of the Series
[    ] Notes hereinafter referred to, including each purchaser named in the Note
Purchase Agreement [or supplement thereto] hereinafter referred to, and their
respective successors and assigns (collectively, the "HOLDERS" and each
individually, a "HOLDER").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Belden Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the
initial Holders have entered into a [Supplement dated       , to] [Note Purchase
Agreement dated as of August 1, 1997] (the Note Purchase Agreement [as so
supplemented and] as [further] amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect, the "NOTE
PURCHASE AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the
Company of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined in the
Note Purchase Agreement) in series [of which $      have heretofore been issued]
and the Company has authorized the issuance and sale of $[     ] aggregate
principal amount of Series [     ] Notes to the Purchasers;

         WHEREAS, the Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and
otherwise, each Guarantor will derive substantial benefits from the purchase by
the initial Holders of the Company's Series [      ] Notes;

         WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the initial
Holders to purchase the Series [     ] Notes that each Guarantor shall have
executed and delivered this Guaranty to the Holders and it will be a condition
to the sale of subsequent series of Notes that a substantially identical
Guaranty run in favor of the holders of such subsequent series of Notes; and

         WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to
satisfy the conditions described in the preceding paragraph;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to
each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Company's Series [     ] Notes by the
initial Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty as
follows:

<PAGE>   13

         SECTION 1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein
defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         SECTION 2. Guaranty. The Guarantors, jointly and severally,
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee to the Holders the due, prompt and
complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any,
and interest on, and each other amount due under, the Series [   ] Notes or the
Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable
(whether at stated maturity or by prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in
accordance with the terms of the Series [   ] Notes and the Note Purchase
Agreement (the Series [  ] Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being sometimes
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "NOTE DOCUMENTS" and the amounts
payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary
obligations of the Company thereunder, being sometimes collectively hereinafter
referred to as the "OBLIGATIONS"). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and
not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any
attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or
circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or
be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same
shall become due and payable and any Holder shall notify each Guarantor that all
Series [   ] Notes held by such Holder or all outstanding Series [   ] Notes are
subject to acceleration under Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement, the
Guarantors (jointly and severally), without demand, presentment, protest or
notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the
Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United
States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or
comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with,
together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on
any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantors (jointly and
severally), promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs
and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. The
right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is, however,
limited to the Fair Net Worth of such Guarantor, as of the date of any
determination thereof, less $20,000. For purposes of this Guaranty, the "Fair
Net Worth" of a Guarantor shall mean an amount equal to the fair saleable value
of such Guarantor's assets and all rights of contribution, indemnification and
exoneration, net of all obligations of such Guarantor owed to third parties
(other than such Guarantor's liabilities under this Guaranty), including all
liabilities, whether fixed or contingent, direct or indirect, disputed or
undisputed, secured or unsecured, and whether or not required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

         SECTION 3. Guarantor's Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of
each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional
obligations of such Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim,
set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment,
reduction or defense based upon any claim such Guarantor or any other person may
have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted
by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and
shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or
condition whatsoever (whether or not such Guarantor or the Company shall have
any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

<PAGE>   14

                  (a) any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion
         from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note
         Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the
         parties to any of the Note Documents;

                  (b) any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any
         release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any
         security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any
         collateral;

                  (c) any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company
         to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any
         other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above,
         including, without limitation, failure to give notice to such Guarantor
         of the occurrence of a "Default" or an "Event of Default" under any
         Note Document;

                  (d) any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of
         any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained
         in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension,
         indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction
         under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other
         instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any
         obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise
         of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any
         such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

                  (e) any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the
         Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy
         conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure,
         omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any
         Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

                  (f) any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit
         of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship,
         custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or
         similar proceedings with respect to the Company, a Guarantor or to any
         other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any
         action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such
         proceeding;

                  (g) any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration,
         irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of
         any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred
         to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

                  (h) any merger or consolidation of the Company or a Guarantor
         into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of
         any of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor to any other person;

                  (i) any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock
         of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the
         Company and a Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

<PAGE>   15

                  (j) any release or discharge, by operation of law, of a
         Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation,
         covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

                  (k) any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event
         whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether
         foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance that might otherwise
         constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities
         of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise limit recourse against
         a Guarantor.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Guaranty, the Guarantors'
joint and several liability with respect to the principal amount of the Series
[   ] Notes shall be no greater than the liability of the Company with respect
thereto.

         SECTION 4.   Full Recourse Obligations. The obligations of each
Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such
Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and
properties.

         SECTION 5.   Waiver. Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to
in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the
Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by
the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may
be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the
Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the
Company or such Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document
or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement,
assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or
remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or
otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders,
(f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting
from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer
or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in
the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other
circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise
limit recourse against such Guarantor.

         SECTION 6.   Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity.
Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights that
may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the
rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as
amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of
the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty
or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until
one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full,
each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common
law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or
indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company that

<PAGE>   16

may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations
remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to a
Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to
be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order
as the Holders may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
term of this Guaranty and the payment in full of the Obligations.

         SECTION 7.   Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall
continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note
Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of
the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect
to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting
the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Series [    ]
Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing, and such acceleration
shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or
any other person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law,
each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations
hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Series [  ] Notes and all
other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same effect
as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of the
Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the Guarantors
(jointly and severally) shall forthwith pay such principal amount, Make-Whole
Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed hereunder
without further notice or demand.

         SECTION 8.   Term of Agreement. This Guaranty and all guaranties,
covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in
full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the
Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of
each Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

         SECTION 9.   Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents
and warrants to each Holder that:

                  (a) such Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
         and has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its
         property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct
         the business in which it is currently engaged;

                  (b) such Guarantor has the corporate power and authority and
         the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
         under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
         authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;

<PAGE>   17

                  (c) this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
         obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms,
         except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any requirement of law or material
         contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in or
         require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the
         properties, revenues or assets of such Guarantor pursuant to the
         provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or
         any requirement of law;

                  (e) no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act
         by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is
         required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,
         validity or enforceability of this Guaranty;

                  (f) no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before
         any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the
         knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or
         any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Guaranty or
         any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) that could
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the
         business, operations or financial condition of such Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or
         decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or
         foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any
         securities issued by such Guarantor; and

                  (h) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
         herein, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such
         Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its
         probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute
         and matured, (ii) such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent
         value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property
         remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small
         capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they
         mature.

         SECTION 10. Notices. All notices under the terms and provisions hereof
shall be in writing, and shall be delivered or sent by telex or telecopy or
mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (a) if to the Company or
any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to
a Guarantor, at:

<PAGE>   18

                              [Name of Guarantor]
                              c/o Belden Inc.
                              7701 Forsyth Boulevard
                              Suite 800
                              St. Louis, MO  63105

or at such other address as a Guarantor shall from time to time designate in
writing to the Holders or on a counterpart signature page hereto. Any notice so
addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

         SECTION 11. Survival. All warranties, representations and covenants
made by each Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument
delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been
relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All
statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute
warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

         SECTION 12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois and of the
courts of the United States of America having jurisdiction in the State of
Illinois for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding in any such court
with respect to, or arising out of, this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement
or the Notes. Each Guarantor consents to process being served in any such suit,
action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address of such Guarantor
specified herein or designated pursuant hereto or on a counterpart signature
page hereto. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon receipt (i) shall be
deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit,
action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be
taken and held to be valid personal service upon and personal delivery to such
Guarantor.

         SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Guaranty that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that
renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The
terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each
Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term
or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the
Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty and the table of
contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define,
expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein
to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this
Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance.

<PAGE>   19

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                              BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------

                                              CABLE SYSTEMS HOLDING COMPANY

                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------

                                              CABLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.

                                              By:
                                                 -------------------------------
                                              Name:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title:
                                                     ---------------------------

<PAGE>   20

                                    ANNEX II

                          [FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             SERIES 1997-A GUARANTY]

         THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SERIES 1997-A GUARANTY (this "GUARANTY")
dated as of September 1, 1999 is made by the undersigned (each, a "GUARANTOR"),
in favor of the holders from time to time of the Series 1997-A Notes hereinafter
referred to, including each purchaser named in the Note Purchase Agreement
hereinafter referred to, and their respective successors and assigns
(collectively, the "HOLDERS" and each individually, a "HOLDER").

W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Belden Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the
initial Holders have entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August
1, 1997 (the Note Purchase Agreement as amended, supplemented, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms and in effect,
the "NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT");

         WHEREAS, the Note Purchase Agreement contemplates the issuance by the
Company of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (as defined in the
Note Purchase Agreement) in series and the Company has authorized the issuance
and sale of $75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series 1997-A Notes to the
Purchasers;

         WHEREAS, the Company has authorized the issuance and sale of senior
notes pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 1, 1999, which
senior notes will be guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of the Company that do
not currently guaranty the Series 1997-A Notes, and, in order to maintain parity
between the Series 1997-A Notes and such senior notes by providing a guaranty of
the Series 1997-A Notes by such subsidiaries, this Guaranty amends and restates
in its entirety the Series 1997-A Guaranty originally entered into on August 11,
1997 by Belden Wire (the "Original Guaranty");

         WHEREAS, the Company directly or indirectly owns all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of each Guarantor and, by virtue of such ownership and
otherwise, each Guarantor has derived or will derive substantial benefits from
the purchase by the initial Holders of the Company's Series 1997-A Notes; and

         WHEREAS, each Guarantor desires to execute and deliver this Guaranty to
satisfy the provisions of the preceding paragraphs;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other benefits to
each Guarantor, and of the purchase of the Company's Series 1997-A Notes by the
initial Holders, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are acknowledged, each Guarantor makes this Guaranty, which
amends and restates in its entirety the Original Guaranty, as follows:

<PAGE>   21

         SECTION 1. Definitions. Any capitalized terms not otherwise herein
defined shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         SECTION 2. Guaranty. The Guarantors, jointly and severally,
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee to the Holders the due, prompt and
complete payment by the Company of the principal of, Make-Whole Amount, if any,
and interest on, and each other amount due under, the Series 1997-A Notes or the
Note Purchase Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable
(whether at stated maturity or by prepayment or by declaration or otherwise) in
accordance with the terms of the Series 1997-A Notes and the Note Purchase
Agreement (the Series 1997-A Notes and the Note Purchase Agreement being
sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the "NOTE DOCUMENTS" and the
amounts payable by the Company under the Note Documents, and all other monetary
obligations of the Company thereunder, being sometimes collectively hereinafter
referred to as the "OBLIGATIONS"). This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and
not just of collectibility and is in no way conditioned or contingent upon any
attempt to collect from the Company or upon any other event, contingency or
circumstance whatsoever. If for any reason whatsoever the Company shall fail or
be unable duly, punctually and fully to pay such amounts as and when the same
shall become due and payable and any Holder shall notify each Guarantor that all
Series 1997-A Notes held by such Holder or all outstanding Series 1997-A Notes
are subject to acceleration under Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreement,
the Guarantors (jointly and severally), without demand, presentment, protest or
notice of any kind, will forthwith pay or cause to be paid such amounts to the
Holders under the terms of such Note Documents, in lawful money of the United
States, at the place specified in the Note Purchase Agreement, or perform or
comply with the same or cause the same to be performed or complied with,
together with interest (to the extent provided for under such Note Documents) on
any amount due and owing from the Company. The Guarantors (jointly and
severally), promptly after demand, will pay to the Holders the reasonable costs
and expenses of collecting such amounts or otherwise enforcing this Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. The
right of recovery against each Guarantor under this Guaranty is, however,
limited to the Fair Net Worth of such Guarantor, as of the date of any
determination thereof, less $20,000. For purposes of this Guaranty, the "Fair
Net Worth" of a Guarantor shall mean an amount equal to the fair saleable value
of such Guarantor's assets and all rights of contribution, indemnification and
exoneration, net of all obligations of such Guarantor owed to third parties
(other than such Guarantor's liabilities under this Guaranty), including all
liabilities, whether fixed or contingent, direct or indirect, disputed or
undisputed, secured or unsecured, and whether or not required to be reflected on
a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles.

         SECTION 3. Guarantor's Obligations Unconditional. The obligations of
each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional
obligations of such Guarantor, shall not be subject to any counterclaim,
set-off, deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension, deferment,
reduction or defense based upon any claim such Guarantor or any other person may
have against the Company or any other person, and to the full extent permitted
by applicable law shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and
shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected by, any circumstance or
condition whatsoever (whether or not such Guarantor or the Company shall have
any knowledge or notice thereof), including:

<PAGE>   22

                  (a) any termination, amendment or modification of or deletion
         from or addition or supplement to or other change in any of the Note
         Documents or any other instrument or agreement applicable to any of the
         parties to any of the Note Documents;

                  (b) any furnishing or acceptance of any security, or any
         release of any security, for the Obligations, or the failure of any
         security or the failure of any person to perfect any interest in any
         collateral;

                  (c) any failure, omission or delay on the part of the Company
         to conform or comply with any term of any of the Note Documents or any
         other instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above,
         including, without limitation, failure to give notice to such Guarantor
         of the occurrence of a "Default" or an "Event of Default" under any
         Note Document;

                  (d) any waiver of the payment, performance or observance of
         any of the obligations, conditions, covenants or agreements contained
         in any Note Document, or any other waiver, consent, extension,
         indulgence, compromise, settlement, release or other action or inaction
         under or in respect of any of the Note Documents or any other
         instrument or agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above or any
         obligation or liability of the Company, or any exercise or non-exercise
         of any right, remedy, power or privilege under or in respect of any
         such instrument or agreement or any such obligation or liability;

                  (e) any failure, omission or delay on the part of any of the
         Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy
         conferred on such Holder in this Guaranty, or any such failure,
         omission or delay on the part of such Holder in connection with any
         Note Document, or any other action on the part of such Holder;

                  (f) any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, assignment for the benefit
         of creditors, composition, receivership, conservatorship,
         custodianship, liquidation, marshaling of assets and liabilities or
         similar proceedings with respect to the Company, a Guarantor or to any
         other person or any of their respective properties or creditors, or any
         action taken by any trustee or receiver or by any court in any such
         proceeding;

                  (g) any discharge, termination, cancellation, frustration,
         irregularity, invalidity or unenforceability, in whole or in part, of
         any of the Note Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred
         to in paragraph (a) above or any term hereof;

                  (h) any merger or consolidation of the Company or a Guarantor
         into or with any other corporation, or any sale, lease or transfer of
         any of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor to any other person;

                  (i) any change in the ownership of any shares of capital stock
         of the Company or any change in the corporate relationship between the
         Company and a Guarantor, or any termination of such relationship;

<PAGE>   23
                  (j) any release or discharge, by operation of law, of a
         Guarantor from the performance or observance of any obligation,
         covenant or agreement contained in this Guaranty; or

                  (k) any other occurrence, circumstance, happening or event
         whatsoever, whether similar or dissimilar to the foregoing, whether
         foreseen or unforeseen, and any other circumstance that might otherwise
         constitute a legal or equitable defense or discharge of the liabilities
         of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise limit recourse against
         a Guarantor.

Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Guaranty, the Guarantors'
joint and several liability with respect to the principal amount of the Series
1997-A Notes shall be no greater than the liability of the Company with respect
thereto.

         SECTION 4.   Full Recourse Obligations. The obligations of each
Guarantor set forth herein constitute the full recourse obligations of such
Guarantor enforceable against it to the full extent of all its assets and
properties.

         SECTION 5.   Waiver. Each Guarantor unconditionally waives, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, (a) notice of any of the matters referred to
in Section 3, (b) notice to such Guarantor of the incurrence of any of the
Obligations, notice to such Guarantor or the Company of any breach or default by
the Company with respect to any of the Obligations or any other notice that may
be required, by statute, rule of law or otherwise, to preserve any rights of the
Holders against such Guarantor, (c) presentment to or demand of payment from the
Company or such Guarantor with respect to any amount due under any Note Document
or protest for nonpayment or dishonor, (d) any right to the enforcement,
assertion or exercise by any of the Holders of any right, power, privilege or
remedy conferred in the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document or
otherwise, (e) any requirement of diligence on the part of any of the Holders,
(f) any requirement to exhaust any remedies or to mitigate the damages resulting
from any default under any Note Document, (g) any notice of any sale, transfer
or other disposition by any of the Holders of any right, title to or interest in
the Note Purchase Agreement or in any other Note Document and (h) any other
circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge, release or defense of a guarantor or surety or that might otherwise
limit recourse against such Guarantor.

         SECTION 6.   Subrogation, Contribution, Reimbursement or Indemnity.
Until one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any rights that
may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty to be subrogated to any of the
rights (whether contractual, under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as
amended, including Section 509 thereof, under common law or otherwise) of any of
the Holders against the Company or against any collateral security or guaranty
or right of offset held by the Holders for the payment of the Obligations. Until
one year and one day after all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full,
each Guarantor agrees not to take any action pursuant to any contractual, common
law, statutory or other rights of reimbursement, contribution, exoneration or
indemnity (or any similar right) from or against the Company that

<PAGE>   24

may have arisen in connection with this Guaranty. So long as the Obligations
remain, if any amount shall be paid by or on behalf of the Company to a
Guarantor on account of any of the rights waived in this paragraph, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust, segregated from other funds of such
Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over
to the Holders (duly endorsed by such Guarantor to the Holders, if required), to
be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order
as the Holders may determine. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the
term of this Guaranty and the payment in full of the Obligations.

         SECTION 7. Effect of Bankruptcy Proceedings, etc. This Guaranty shall
continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the sums due to any of the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note
Document is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by such Holder
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of
the Company or any other person, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a
custodian, receiver, trustee or other officer with similar powers with respect
to the Company or other person or any substantial part of its property, or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. If an event permitting
the acceleration of the maturity of the principal amount of the Series 1997-A
Notes shall at any time have occurred and be continuing, and such acceleration
shall at such time be prevented by reason of the pendency against the Company or
any other person of a case or proceeding under a bankruptcy or insolvency law,
each Guarantor agrees that, for purposes of this Guaranty and its obligations
hereunder, the maturity of the principal amount of the Series 1997-A Notes and
all other Obligations shall be deemed to have been accelerated with the same
effect as if any Holder had accelerated the same in accordance with the terms of
the Note Purchase Agreement or other applicable Note Document, and the
Guarantors (jointly and severally) shall forthwith pay such principal amount,
Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest thereon and any other amounts guaranteed
hereunder without further notice or demand.

         SECTION 8.   Term of Agreement. This Guaranty and all guaranties,
covenants and agreements of each Guarantor contained herein shall continue in
full force and effect and shall not be discharged until such time as all of the
Obligations shall be paid and performed in full and all of the agreements of
each Guarantor hereunder shall be duly paid and performed in full.

         SECTION 9.   Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor represents
and warrants to each Holder that:

                  (a) such Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
         and has the corporate power and authority to own and operate its
         property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct
         the business in which it is currently engaged;

                  (b) such Guarantor has the corporate power and authority and
         the legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
         under, this Guaranty, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
         authorize its execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty;

<PAGE>   25

                  (c) this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
         obligation of such Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms,
         except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally and by general equitable principles
         (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
         proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (d) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any requirement of law or material
         contractual obligation of such Guarantor and will not result in or
         require the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the
         properties, revenues or assets of such Guarantor pursuant to the
         provisions of any material contractual obligation of such Guarantor or
         any requirement of law;

                  (e) no consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act
         by or in respect of, any arbitrator or governmental authority is
         required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance,
         validity or enforceability of this Guaranty;

                  (f) no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before
         any arbitrator or governmental authority is pending or, to the
         knowledge of such Guarantor, threatened by or against such Guarantor or
         any of its properties or revenues (i) with respect to this Guaranty or
         any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) that could
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the
         business, operations or financial condition of such Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty
         will not violate any provision of any order, judgment, writ, award or
         decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, domestic or
         foreign, or of the charter or by-laws of such Guarantor or of any
         securities issued by such Guarantor; and

                  (h) after giving effect to the transactions contemplated
         herein, (i) the present fair salable value of the assets of such
         Guarantor is in excess of the amount that will be required to pay its
         probable liability on its existing debts as said debts become absolute
         and matured, (ii) such Guarantor has received reasonably equivalent
         value for executing and delivering this Guaranty, (iii) the property
         remaining in the hands of such Guarantor is not an unreasonably small
         capital, and (iv) such Guarantor is able to pay its debts as they
         mature.

         SECTION 10. Notices. All notices under the terms and provisions hereof
shall be in writing, and shall be delivered or sent by telex or telecopy or
mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (a) if to the Company or
any Holder at the address set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement or (b) if to
a Guarantor, at:

<PAGE>   26

                            [Name of Guarantor]
                            c/o Belden Inc.
                            7701 Forsyth Boulevard
                            Suite 800
                            St. Louis, MO  63105

or at such other address as a Guarantor shall from time to time designate in
writing to the Holders or on a counterpart signature page hereto. Any notice so
addressed shall be deemed to be given when actually received.

         SECTION 11. Survival. All warranties, representations and covenants
made by each Guarantor herein or in any certificate or other instrument
delivered by it or on its behalf hereunder shall be considered to have been
relied upon by the Holders and shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Guaranty, regardless of any investigation made by any of the Holders. All
statements in any such certificate or other instrument shall constitute
warranties and representations by such Guarantor hereunder.

         SECTION 12. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Guarantor irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Illinois and of the
courts of the United States of America having jurisdiction in the State of
Illinois for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding in any such court
with respect to, or arising out of, this Guaranty, the Note Purchase Agreement
or the Series 1997-A Notes. Each Guarantor consents to process being served in
any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the address of
such Guarantor specified herein or designated pursuant hereto or on a
counterpart signature page hereto. Each Guarantor agrees that such service upon
receipt (i) shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon
it in any such suit, action or proceeding and (ii) shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid personal service upon and
personal delivery to such Guarantor.

         SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. Any provision of this Guaranty that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted
by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law that
renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect. The
terms of this Guaranty shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each
Guarantor and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns. No term
or provision of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by each Guarantor and the
Holders. The section and paragraph headings in this Guaranty and the table of
contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not modify, define,
expand or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof, and all references herein
to numbered sections, unless otherwise indicated, are to sections in this
Guaranty. This Guaranty shall in all respects be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance.

<PAGE>   27

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to
be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                        BELDEN WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------

                                        CABLE SYSTEMS HOLDING COMPANY

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------

                                        CABLE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.

                                        By:
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ----------------------------------

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