Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                    TAX SHARING AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

                                    PREAMBLE

         This Tax Sharing and Indemnification Agreement (this "Agreement"),
dated as of June 26, 2000, is made and entered into by and between Methode
Electronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Methode"), and Stratos Lightwave,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Stratos") (each, a "Party," and, collectively,
the "Parties").

                                    RECITALS

         WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into the Public Offering and
Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2000 (the "Distribution
Agreement"), pursuant to which Methode expects to distribute to its stockholders
all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Stratos owned by Methode (the
"Distribution");

         WHEREAS, the Distribution is intended to qualify as a tax-free
distribution (except with respect to cash in lieu of fractional shares) under
sections 355 and 361 of the Code (as defined below);

         WHEREAS, in connection with the Distribution, the Parties and certain
of their Affiliates (as defined below) have engaged and will engage in certain
internal restructuring transactions (the "Internal Restructuring") (the
Distribution and the Internal Restructuring, collectively, the
"Reorganization");

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         WHEREAS, Methode expects to receive an advance letter ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service setting forth certain United States federal income tax
consequences of the Reorganization;

         WHEREAS, the Parties wish to (a) provide for the payment of tax
liabilities and entitlement to refunds thereof, (b) allocate responsibility for
and provide for their cooperation in the filing of tax returns, (c) provide for
certain other matters relating to taxes, and (d) set forth certain covenants and
indemnities relating to the preservation of the tax treatment of the
Reorganization ultimately set forth in the Letter Ruling (as defined below);

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:

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                                    ARTICLE I

                     DEFINITIONS, CONSTRUCTION AND CONSENTS

         Section 1.01. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

               "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, any other
Person that (i) directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or (ii)
to the extent not already covered under clause (i), is a member of the same
consolidated, combined or unitary group as the specified Person for Tax
purposes.

               "Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.

               "Ancillary Agreements" has the meaning set forth in the Master
Separation Agreement.

               "Benefited Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05 of
this Agreement.

               "Class A Common Stock" means Methode Class A Common Stock.

               "Class B Common Stock" means Methode Class B Common Stock.

               "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
any successor thereto, as in effect for the taxable period in question.

               "Contribution" means the transfer of assets and liabilities from
Methode to Stratos pursuant to the Master Separation Agreement.

               "Contribution Date" means the date on which the Master Separation
Agreement was executed.

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               "Contribution Straddle Period" means a taxable period that begins
on or before and ends after the Contribution Date.

               "Detrimented Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05 of
this Agreement.

               "Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this
Agreement.

               "Distribution Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals of this Agreement.

               "Distribution Date" means the date as of which the Distribution
will be effected, as determined by the Board of Directors of Methode.

               "Distribution Straddle Period" means a taxable period that begins
on or before and ends after the Distribution Date.

               "Federal Consolidated Return" means any Tax Return with respect
to Federal Income Taxes filed on a consolidated basis wherein both one or more
members of the Stratos Group and one or more members of the Methode Group join
in the filing of such Tax Return (for any taxable period or portion thereof).

               "Federal Income Tax" means any tax imposed under Subtitle A of
the Code (including the taxes imposed by sections 11, 55, 59A, 1201(a) and 1502
of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), and any other
income-based United States federal tax that is hereinafter imposed, plus any
interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable or related thereto.

               "Final Determination" means the final resolution of liability of
a Party or any of its relevant Affiliates for any Tax for a taxable period (i)
by Internal Revenue Service Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms thereto),
on the date of acceptance by

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or on behalf of the IRS, or by a comparable form under the laws of other
jurisdictions, on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the Taxing Authority
of such jurisdiction, except that a Form 870 or 870-AD or comparable form that
reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right of the taxpayer
to file a claim for refund and/or the right of the IRS or other Taxing Authority
to assert a further deficiency shall not constitute a Final Determination; (ii)
by a decision, judgment, decree, or other order by a court of competent
jurisdiction, which has become final and unappealable; (iii) by a closing
agreement or accepted offer in compromise under section 7121 or 7122 of the
Code, or comparable agreements under the laws of other jurisdictions; (iv) by
any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but
only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund may be
recovered (including by way of offset) by the jurisdiction imposing the Tax; or
(v) by any other final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations.

               "Indemnified Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.02(a) of this Agreement.

               "Indemnifying Parties" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.02(a) of this Agreement.

               "Internal Restructuring" has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals of this Agreement.

               "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

               "Letter Ruling" means the advance letter ruling expected to be
issued by the IRS to Methode setting forth certain Federal Income Tax
consequences of the Reorganization, and any supplemental or additional letter
rulings that may be issued by the IRS to any of the Parties or their Affiliates
with respect to the Reorganization or any part thereof in response to a ruling

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request by Methode or Stratos that received Stratos Sole Discretion Consent or
Methode Sole Discretion Consent, respectively.

               "Liability Issue" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b) of
this Agreement.

               "Master Separation Agreement" means the Master Separation
Agreement entered into by and between Methode and Stratos, dated as of May 28,
2000.

               "Master Transitional Services Agreement" means the Master
Transitional Services Agreement entered into by and between Methode and Stratos,
dated as of May 28, 2000.

               "Methode" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this
Agreement.

               "Methode Deduction Restricted Stock" means Restricted Stock that
(i) vests after the Contribution Date and on or before the Distribution Date or
(ii) vests after the Distribution Date while held by an employee of a member of
the Methode Group.

               "Methode Group" means, (i) with respect to any taxable period or
portion thereof ending on or prior to the Contribution Date, Methode and its
Affiliates and (ii) with respect to any taxable period or portion thereof
beginning after the Contribution Date, Methode and its Affiliates other than any
member of the Stratos Group.

               "Methode Reasonable Discretion Consent" means the advance,
written consent of Methode, which consent may be granted or withheld in
Methode's reasonable discretion.

               "Methode Returns" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a) of
this Agreement.

               "Methode Sole Discretion Consent" means the advance, written
consent of Methode, which consent may be granted or withheld in Methode's sole
and absolute discretion.

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               "Non-Federal Combined Tax" means any tax, other than a Federal
Income Tax, with respect to which a combined, consolidated or unitary return is
filed or required to be filed wherein both one or more members of the Stratos
Group and one or more members of the Method Group join in or are required to
join in the filing of such Tax Return (for any taxable period or portion
thereof).

               "Non-Federal Combined Tax Return" means any Tax Return relating
to any Non-Federal Combined Tax.

               "Non-Qualified Methode Options" means all options to acquire
stock of Methode.

               "Notifying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b) of
this Agreement.

               "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion of independent tax counsel
of recognized national standing and experienced in the issues to be addressed,
which independent tax counsel is acceptable to both Stratos and Methode.

               "Original Ruling Request" means the ruling request submission
(together with all exhibits and appendices thereto) that was submitted to the
IRS on behalf of Methode on June 23, 2000.

               "Party" and "Parties" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble
of this Agreement.

               "Paying Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09 of this
Agreement.

               "Person" means any natural person, corporation, business trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company or
other entity (regardless of whether such entity is disregarded as an entity
separate from its owner for Federal Income Tax purposes).

               "Post-Contribution Period" means a taxable period that begins
after the Contribution Date.

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               "Post-Distribution Period" means a taxable period that begins
after the Distribution Date.

               "Pre-Contribution Period" means a taxable period that ends on or
before the Contribution Date.

               "Pre-Distribution Period" means a taxable period that ends on or
before the Distribution Date.

               "Public Offering" means the initial public offering by Stratos of
shares of Stratos common stock pursuant to the S-1.

               "Pro Forma Stratos Group Combined Return" means a pro forma
Non-Federal Combined Tax Return or other schedule prepared with respect to the
Stratos Group pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

               "Pro Forma Stratos Group Consolidated Return" means a pro forma
consolidated Federal Income Tax Return or other schedule prepared with respect
to the Stratos Group pursuant to Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

               "Receiving Party" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(c) of
this Agreement.

               "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement entered into by and between Methode and Stratos, dated as of June 26,
2000.

               "Reorganization" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of
this Agreement.

               "Representative" means with respect to any Person, any of such
Person's directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors,
accountants, attorneys, and representatives.

               "Restricted Period" means the period beginning on the
Distribution Date and ending two years and one day thereafter.

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               "Restricted Stock" means stock issued under the Methode
Electronics, Inc. Incentive Stock Award Plan, including any shares of Stratos
stock distributed to holders of shares of restricted Methode stock in connection
with the Distribution.

               "Ruling Request" means the Original Ruling Request and any
supplemental letter ruling requests submitted to the IRS by Methode or Stratos
(after obtaining Stratos Sole Discretion Consent or Methode Sole Discretion
Consent, as applicable), pursuant to which the Letter Ruling is issued.

               "Stratos" has the meaning set forth in the Preamble of this
Agreement.

               "Stratos Deduction Restricted Stock" means Restricted Stock that
vests after the Distribution Date while held by an employee of a member of the
Stratos Group.

               "Stratos Group" means, with respect to any taxable period or
portion thereof, Stratos and any Person that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, is controlled by Stratos.

               "Stratos Group Combined Tax Liability" has the meaning set forth
in Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

               "Stratos Group Federal Income Tax Liability" has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.04 of this Agreement.

               "Stratos LLC" means Stratos Lightwave, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company.

               "Stratos Reasonable Discretion Consent" means the advance,
written consent of Stratos, which consent may be granted or withheld in Stratos'
reasonable discretion.

               "Stratos Returns" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b) of
this Agreement.

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               "Stratos Sole Discretion Consent" means the advance, written
consent of Stratos, which consent may be granted or withheld in Stratos' sole
and absolute discretion.

               "Subsequent Benefit Decrease Event" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.08 of this Agreement.

               "Subsequent Benefit Increase Event" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.08 of this Agreement.

               "Subsequent Restricted Stock Benefit Decrease Event" has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.09 of this Agreement.

               "Subsequent Restricted Stock Benefit Increase Event" has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.09 of this Agreement.

               "S-1" means the registration statement on Form S-1, Registration
No. 333-34864, originally filed by Stratos with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 14, 2000 in connection with the initial public offering of
Stratos common stock, as it has been or may be amended.

               "Tainting Act" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(a) of
this Agreement.

               "Tax" means any form of taxation imposed by a national,
municipal, governmental, administrative, judicial, state, federal, foreign, or
other body (a "Taxing Authority"), regardless of when such form of taxation was
or is created or imposed, including any net income, alternative or add-on
minimum, gross income, sales, use, ad valorem, escheat, gross receipts, value
added, franchise, profits, license, transfer, recording, withholding, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall
profit, custom duty, or other tax, government fee or other like assessment or
charge of any kind whatsoever,

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together with any related interest, penalties, or other additions to tax, or
additional amount imposed by any such Taxing Authority.

               "Tax Asset" means any Tax Item that has accrued for Tax purposes,
but has not been used during a taxable period, and that could reduce a Tax in
another taxable period, including a net operating loss, net capital loss,
investment tax credit, foreign tax credit, charitable deduction or credit
related to alternative minimum tax.

               "Tax Benefit" means an amount by which the Tax liability of an
Indemnified Party is reduced (including by (i) deduction, (ii) reduction of
income by virtue of increased tax basis or otherwise, or (iii) entitlement to a
Tax refund, credit or otherwise).

               "Tax Controversy" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02(a) of
this Agreement.

               "Tax Detriment" means an amount by which the Tax liability of an
Indemnified Party is increased (including by decreases in Tax refunds and
credits).

               "Tax Item" means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction,
credit, recapture of credit, or any other item that may have the effect of
increasing or decreasing Taxes paid or payable.

               "Tax Practices" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 of this
Agreement.

               "Tax Return" means any return, filing, questionnaire or other
document required to be filed or that may be filed (including requests for
extensions of time, filings made with estimated Tax payments, claims for refund,
elections or amended returns) for any taxable period with any Taxing Authority
in connection with any Tax (whether or not a payment is required to be made with
respect to such return, filing, questionnaire or other document).

               "Taxing Authority" has the meaning set forth in the definition of
the term "Tax" in this Section 1.01.

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               "Treasury Regulations" means the regulations promulgated under
the Code, and any successor provisions thereof, as in effect for the relevant
taxable period.

         Section 1.02. INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT. The
definitions in Section 1.01, above, shall apply equally to both the singular and
plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun
shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter form. The words
"include," "includes" and "including" when used in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The headings contained
in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not constitute a
part hereof. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with its fair
meaning and shall not be construed strictly against the drafter.

         Section 1.03. CONSENTS. Methode and Stratos each agree to use their
best efforts to respond to any request for Methode Sole Discretion Consent or
Methode Reasonable Discretion Consent, or Stratos Sole Discretion Consent or
Stratos Reasonable Discretion Consent, respectively, within 30 days of the
receipt of a written request from the other Party for such consent.

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                                   ARTICLE II

                      PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS

         Section 2.01. MANNER OF FILING. All Tax Returns filed by any Party
(including any Affiliate of any Party) after the date of this Agreement shall be
prepared on a basis that is consistent with the Letter Ruling and shall be filed
on a timely basis (including extensions) by the Party responsible for such
filing under this Agreement. All Tax Returns filed after the date of this
Agreement by Stratos or any other member of the Stratos Group with respect to
taxable periods beginning prior to the end of the Restricted Period shall
(except to the extent of Stratos' receipt of Methode Reasonable Discretion
Consent) be prepared in a manner that is consistent with past practices,
elections, accounting methods, conventions, and principles of taxation
(collectively, "Tax Practices") used by Methode and its Affiliates for the most
recent taxable period ending on or before May 1, 1999 for which Tax Returns
involving similar items have been or are filed by the applicable member of the
Methode Group; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Stratos and other members of the Stratos
Group may make such new Tax elections or adopt such new methods of accounting
for Post-Distribution Periods as are permitted under applicable Tax laws, and
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that Stratos and other members of the Stratos Group shall not
be required to follow a Tax Practice that is determined by a Final Determination
to be unlawful.

         Section 2.02. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FILING.(a) Methode shall have the sole
and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of (i) all Tax
Returns for Pre-Distribution Periods and, except as provided to the contrary in
Section 2.02(b) below, any Distribution Straddle Period, and (ii) all Tax
Returns for (or that relate to the businesses, assets or activities of) the
Methode Group for Post-Distribution Periods (the Tax Returns described in (i)
and (ii), collectively, the "Methode Returns").

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               (b) Stratos shall have the sole and exclusive responsibility for
the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns for (or that relate to the
businesses, assets or activities of) the Stratos Group (i) for Post-Distribution
Periods and (ii) for any Distribution Straddle Period, PROVIDED that such
Distribution Straddle Period Tax Return does not relate to or include any Tax
Item attributable to any business, asset or activity of any member of the
Methode Group, and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, to the extent Methode is responsible
pursuant to Article III hereof for any Taxes shown on the Distribution Straddle
Period Tax Return, Stratos shall provide to Methode for its review a copy of any
such Distribution Straddle Period Tax Return at least 45 days prior to the due
date thereof (including extensions), and Methode shall provide comments to
Stratos within 30 days after its receipt thereof (the Tax Returns described in
(i) and (ii), collectively, the "Stratos Returns").

               (c) The preparation and/or filing by Methode or one of its
Affiliates of any Stratos Return under the Master Transitional Services
Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement shall not cause such Tax Return to be
characterized as a Methode Return for purposes of this Agreement, and shall not
otherwise affect the rights, responsibilities, obligations or liabilities of the
Parties under this Agreement.

         Section 2.03. AMENDED RETURNS AND OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING TO TAXES FOR
PRE-DISTRIBUTION PERIODS AND DISTRIBUTION STRADDLE PERIODS. (a) Unless requested
by Methode (in which event Stratos shall comply with such request, and Methode
shall reimburse Stratos for reasonable third-party costs and expenses directly
related thereto), neither Stratos nor any of its Affiliates shall file or permit
to be filed any amended Tax Return with respect to any Pre-Distribution Period
or any Distribution Straddle Period without obtaining Methode Reasonable
Discretion Consent.

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         (b) Unless required by applicable law, neither Methode nor any of its
Affiliates on the one hand, nor Stratos nor any of its Affiliates on the other
hand, shall, with respect to any Tax relating to (i) any Pre-Distribution Period
or any Distribution Straddle Period or (ii) any matter that is the subject of
this Agreement, the Distribution Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements,
take any position, initiate (or permit to be initiated) any claim or otherwise
take (or fail to take) any action that might adversely affect Stratos or any of
its Affiliates or Methode or any of its Affiliates, respectively, with respect
to Taxes without obtaining Stratos Reasonable Discretion Consent or Methode
Reasonable Discretion Consent, respectively.

         Section 2.04. TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS. The Parties agree that any
indemnity payments made among the Parties pursuant to this Agreement, Article 5
of the Distribution Agreement, Article 5 of the Master Separation Agreement,
Section 2.9 of the Registration Rights Agreement, Section 8.2 of the Master
Transitional Services Agreement, or any other similar provision of any Ancillary
Agreement, the Distribution Agreement or the Master Separation Agreement shall
be treated for all Tax purposes as nontaxable payments (dividends or capital
contributions, as the case may be) made immediately prior to the Distribution,
unless, and then only to the extent, (i) otherwise required by a Final
Determination or the Letter Ruling or (ii) in the judgment of Methode and
Stratos the payment may not reasonably be so treated.

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                                   ARTICLE III

                         ALLOCATION AND PAYMENT OF TAXES

         Section 3.01. IN GENERAL. The Parties agree to (i) allocate their
respective shares of Taxes, and (ii) make payments to Taxing Authorities and
each other with respect to Taxes, in each case, as provided in this Agreement.

         Section 3.02. ALLOCATION AND PAYMENT OF TAXES, GENERALLY. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement:

               (a)  Methode shall (i) pay or cause to be paid to the relevant
Taxing Authority, or to Stratos, if Stratos has responsibility for filing the
relevant Tax Return, (ii) indemnify and hold the Stratos Group harmless against,
and (iii) be entitled to all refunds of (x) all Taxes for Pre-Contribution
Periods (including the portion of Taxes that is allocated to Pre-Contribution
Periods pursuant to Section 3.03, below) and (y) all Taxes for Post-Contribution
Periods (including the portion of Taxes that is allocated to Post-Contribution
Periods pursuant to Sections 3.03 and 3.04, below) that are allocable to the
Methode Group; and

               (b)  Stratos shall (i) pay or cause to be paid to the relevant
Taxing Authority, or to Methode, if Methode has responsibility for filing the
relevant Tax Return, (ii) indemnify and hold the Methode Group harmless against,
and (iii) be entitled to all refunds of all Taxes for Post-Contribution Periods
(including the portion of Taxes that is allocated to Post-Contribution Periods
pursuant to Sections 3.03 and 3.04, below) that are allocable to the Stratos
Group.

         Section 3.03. ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN STAND ALONE TAXES. For purposes of
this Agreement, in the case of Taxes (i) with respect to which Tax Returns are
not filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis that include both one or
more members of the Methode

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Group and one or more members of the Stratos Group and (ii) that are
attributable to a Contribution Straddle Period, the following allocations shall
apply:

               (a)  In the case of periodic Taxes that are not based on income
or receipts (E.G., property taxes), the Contribution Straddle Period shall be
treated as if it were divided into a Pre-Contribution Period and a
Post-Contribution Period and such periodic Taxes shall be allocated between such
Pre-Contribution Period and such Post-Contribution Period based upon the ratio
of (i) the number of days in the taxable period (x) before and including the
Contribution Date (with respect to the Pre-Contribution Period) or (y) following
the Contribution Date (with respect to the Post-Contribution Period) and (ii)
the number of days in the entire taxable period. Methode shall pay or cause to
be paid (to Stratos, with respect to Stratos Returns, and to the relevant Taxing
Authority with respect to Methode Returns) and shall indemnify and hold the
Stratos Group harmless against those Taxes that are allocated in accordance with
this Section 3.03(a) to (1) a Pre-Contribution Period or (2) the Methode Group
with respect to a Post-Contribution Period. Stratos shall pay or cause to be
paid (to Methode, with respect to any Methode Returns, and to the relevant
Taxing Authority, with respect to any Stratos Returns), and shall indemnify and
hold the Methode Group harmless against those Taxes that are allocated in
accordance with this Section 3.03(a) to the Stratos Group with respect to a
Post-Contribution Period.

               (b)  In the case of Taxes that are not described in Section
3.03(a), above, the Contribution Straddle Period shall be treated as if it were
divided into a Pre-Contribution Period comprised of the portion of the
Contribution Straddle Period ending on the Contribution Date and a
Post-Contribution Period comprised of the portion of the Contribution Straddle
Period following the Contribution Date and such Taxes shall be allocated between
such Pre-Contribution Period and such Post-Contribution Period by allocating Tax
Items between such

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Pre-Contribution Period and Post-Contribution Period based upon an actual
closing of the books as of the close of business on the Contribution Date,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) any Tax Items attributable to transactions or events
not in the ordinary course of business occurring on the Contribution Date prior
to or at the time of the Contribution will be allocated to the Pre-Contribution
Period, and any Tax Items attributable to transactions or events not in the
ordinary course of business occurring on the Contribution Date after the
Contribution shall be allocated to the Post-Contribution Period, in each case in
accordance with the principles of Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-76(b)(1)
and (ii) any Tax Items attributable to Non-Qualified Methode Options and Methode
Deduction Restricted Stock will be allocated to the Pre-Contribution Period.
Methode shall pay or cause to be paid (to Stratos, with respect to any Stratos
Returns, and to the relevant Taxing Authority, with respect to any Methode
Returns), and shall indemnify and hold the Stratos Group harmless against, the
amount of Taxes attributable to those Tax Items allocated in accordance with
this Section 3.03(b) to (i) a Pre-Contribution Period or (ii) to the Methode
Group with respect to a Post-Contribution Period. Stratos shall pay or cause to
be paid (to Methode, with respect to any Methode Returns, and to the relevant
Taxing Authority, with respect to any Stratos Returns), and shall indemnify and
hold the Methode Group harmless against, the amount of Taxes attributable to
those Tax Items allocated in accordance with this Section 3.03(b) to the Stratos
Group with respect to a Post-Contribution Period.

         Section 3.04. ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN CONSOLIDATED TAXES. (a) For any
Post-Contribution Period and any Contribution Straddle Period with respect to
which Tax Returns are filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis, which
Tax Returns include both one or more members of the Methode Group and one or
more members of the Stratos Group, for purposes of determining the amount of
Stratos' payment to Methode under Section 3.02(b) hereof, Stratos

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shall owe an amount equal to the sum of the Stratos Group Federal Income Tax
Liability and the Stratos Group Combined Tax Liability for such taxable period.

               (b)  No later than 30 days after the filing of any Federal
Consolidated Return for any Post-Contribution Period, or Contribution Straddle
Period, as the case may be, Methode and Stratos shall prepare a Pro Forma
Stratos Group Consolidated Return. The Stratos Group Federal Income Tax
Liability shall be the Stratos Group's liability for Federal Income Taxes for
such taxable period, as determined on such Pro Forma Stratos Group Consolidated
Return prepared: (i) on the basis of the Federal Consolidated Return for such
period, determined by (x) including only Tax Items of members of the Stratos
Group which are included in the Federal Consolidated Return other than any Tax
Items relating to Non-Qualified Methode Options and Methode Deduction Restricted
Stock, (y) allocating Tax Assets to the Stratos Group to the extent that the Tax
Asset was created by a member of the Stratos Group after the Contribution Date
and such Tax Asset was actually utilized on the relevant Federal Consolidated
Return, and (z) in the case of any Contribution Straddle Period, taking into
account only the Tax Items of the Stratos Group relating to the portion of such
taxable period following the Contribution Date, calculated employing the closing
of the books methodology described in Section 3.03(b) above and (ii) applying
the actual federal corporate Tax rate of the combined Methode Group and Stratos
Group for such taxable period (or portion thereof).

               (c)  No later than 30 days after the filing of each Non-Federal
Combined Tax Return for any Post-Contribution Period or Contribution Straddle
Period, as the case may be, Methode and Stratos shall prepare a Pro Forma
Stratos Group Combined Return. The Stratos Group Combined Tax Liability shall be
the sum for such taxable period of the Stratos Group's liability for each
Non-Federal Combined Tax, as determined on such Pro Forma Stratos Group Combined
Return, which Pro Forma Stratos Group

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Combined Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the principles and
procedures set forth in Section 3.04(b) above, for preparing the Pro Forma
Stratos Group Consolidated Return.

               (d)  In accordance with Section 3.02(b) hereof, Stratos shall
promptly pay to Methode its Stratos Group Federal Income Tax Liability and
Stratos Group Combined Tax Liability as reflected on the Pro Forma Stratos Group
Consolidated Return or Pro Forma Stratos Group Combined Return. If the Pro Forma
Stratos Group Consolidated Return or the Pro Forma Stratos Group Combined Return
reflects a loss for the Post-Contribution Period, or Contribution Straddle
Period, as the case may be, Methode shall promptly pay to Stratos the actual Tax
benefit, if any, obtained by reason of such loss by members of the Methode
Group.

         Section 3.05. ADJUSTMENTS. If any adjustment is made to any Tax Return
relating to a Party or any of its Affiliates (whether such adjustment is the
result of or in settlement of any audit, other administrative proceeding or
judicial proceeding or the filing of an amended return to reflect the
consequences of any determination made in connection with any such audit or
proceeding or otherwise) and there is a correlative adjustment applicable to
another Party or any of its Affiliates for any taxable period (or portion
thereof) ending after the Contribution Date, the Party whose adjustment is
favorable (I.E., the Party to which there inures, directly or indirectly, a net
Tax Benefit as a result of any adjustment) (the "Benefited Party") shall pay to
the Party whose adjustment is unfavorable (I.E., the Party which suffers,
directly or indirectly, a net Tax Detriment as a result of any adjustment) (the
"Detrimented Party"), the amount of such net Tax Benefit, at such time or times
as and to the extent that such benefit is realized through a refund of Tax or
actual reduction in the amount of Tax that the Benefited Party otherwise would
have paid if such adjustment had not been made; provided, that the Benefited
Party shall not be obligated

                                       20

<PAGE>

to make any payment pursuant to this Section 3.05 in respect of a net Tax
Benefit to the extent that the amount of such payment would exceed (a) the
aggregate amount of all prior net Tax Detriments suffered by the Detrimented
Party with respect to adjustments that are the subject of this Section 3.05 less
(b) the aggregate amount of all prior payments made by the Benefited Party under
this Section 3.05.

         Upon notice from any Party hereto regarding any event (including the
filing of an amended Tax Return or the occurrence of an audit or other
proceeding) that could give rise to a Tax Detriment to such Party, a Party
having a potential Tax Benefit with respect to the same underlying adjustment
shall take all actions as may be necessary to maximize any correlative
adjustment that might ultimately result in payments by the Benefited Party to
the Detrimented Party hereunder, and shall coordinate with the Party with the
potential Tax Detriment with respect to the taking of such actions.

         Section 3.06. MANNER OF PAYMENT. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, any payment required to be made among the Parties pursuant to this
Article III with respect to any Tax Return shall be made by the Party obligated
to make such payment (i) in the case of a refund of Tax (whether by way of
payment, credit, or offset against any payments due or otherwise), within 30
business days after receipt of such refund, (ii) in the case of the payment of
Tax with respect to any Tax Return other than a Contribution Straddle Period Tax
Return, within 30 days after the later of such payment of Tax to the relevant
Taxing Authority (including a deemed payment through the use of a Tax loss,
credit, deduction or other allowance) and the delivery of written demand for the
payment hereunder to the Party obligated to make such payment and (iii) in the
case of the payment of Tax with respect to any Contribution Straddle Period Tax
Return, on or before the later of the date such Contribution Straddle Period Tax
Return is filed or 15 days

                                       21

<PAGE>

following the delivery of written demand for the payment hereunder to the Party
obligated to make such payment. Any payment described in clause (i), above, and
any demand for payment described in clause (ii) or (iii), above, shall be
accompanied by a calculation setting forth the basis for the amount paid or
demanded. Any payment that is required under this Agreement that is not made
within the prescribed time period shall thereafter bear interest at a
fluctuating rate per annum equal to the prime commercial lending rate publicly
announced by Bank of America or any successor thereto at its principal office
(or any alternative rate substituted therefor by such bank).

         Section 3.07. CARRYBACKS. Stratos shall be entitled to any refund for
any Tax obtained by the Methode Group as a result of the carryback of losses or
credits of any member of the Stratos Group from any taxable period (or portion
thereof) beginning after the Contribution Date to any taxable period (or portion
thereof) ending on or before the Contribution Date (without duplication of any
amounts pursuant to this Agreement including Section 3.04 hereof), provided that
Stratos has received Methode Reasonable Discretion Consent with respect to such
carryback. Such refund shall be limited to the net amount received by the
Methode Group (by refund, offset against other Taxes or otherwise), net of any
net Tax cost and other expenses incurred by the Methode Group with respect to
such refund, and shall be paid within 30 days after payment is received (or
deemed received by reason of the reduction of Taxes otherwise payable) by
Methode from a Taxing Authority. The application of any such carrybacks by
Stratos and/or any Affiliate of Stratos shall be in accordance with the Code and
the consolidated return regulations promulgated thereunder or other applicable
Tax laws. Stratos shall reimburse and indemnify Methode for any costs (including
any interest, fines and penalties) resulting from the carryback of any item
under this paragraph. Notwithstanding this Section 3.07, Stratos and

                                       22

<PAGE>

any member of the Stratos Group shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to
make any election regarding any such carrybacks, including the election under
section 172(b)(3) of the Code, that would eliminate or limit the carryback from
a Post-Distribution Period of any loss or credit to any taxable period ending on
or before the Distribution Date.

         Section 3.08. DEDUCTIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NON-QUALIFIED METHODE OPTIONS.
Stratos agrees to pay to Methode any benefit received by the Stratos Group that
is attributable to any transactions or items relating to the Non-Qualified
Methode Options to the extent that such transactions or items relating to
Non-Qualified Methode Options have not already been taken into account under
Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 in determining the allocation of Taxes among the
Parties. The benefit payable by Stratos to Methode under this Section 3.08 with
respect to any taxable period shall equal the excess of (i) the amount of Taxes
that the Stratos Group would have paid in the absence of any transactions or
items with respect to the Non-Qualified Methode Options over (ii) the amount of
Taxes actually payable by the Stratos Group. Payment of such benefit shall be
made within 30 days after the filing of the Tax Return for any taxable period in
which a benefit is realized by the Stratos Group with respect to the
Non-Qualified Methode Options (including through the use of a net operating loss
that is created or increased by any transaction or item relating to the
Non-Qualified Methode Options). If subsequent to Stratos' payment of any such
amount, there is (A) a Final Determination under applicable law to the effect
that all or part of the deduction giving rise to such payment was not allowable
or available, or (B) a reduction in the amount of the benefit the Stratos Group
realizes as a result of a Final Determination increasing the amount of income or
gain associated with those transactions, Methode shall repay to Stratos within
30 days of any event described in (A) or (B) (a "Subsequent Benefit Decrease
Event") any amount that would have not been payable to Methode

                                       23

<PAGE>

pursuant to this Section 3.08 had the amount of the benefit been initially
determined in light of the Subsequent Benefit Decrease Events, together with the
amount of any interest and penalties payable to any Taxing Authority with
respect to those amounts. If subsequent to Stratos' payment of any amount under
this Section 3.08, there is (A) a Final Determination under applicable law to
the effect that a deduction giving rise to such payment exceeded the amount
claimed or (B) an increase in the amount of the benefit Stratos realizes as a
result of a Final Determination decreasing the amount of income or gain
associated with those transactions, Stratos shall pay to Methode within 30 days
of any event described in (A) or (B) (a "Subsequent Benefit Increase Event") any
additional amount that would have been payable to Methode pursuant to this
Section 3.08 had the amount of the benefit been initially determined in light of
the Subsequent Benefit Increase Events. Stratos shall take all actions as shall
be necessary to maximize the amounts payable by Stratos to Methode under this
Section 3.08 and shall coordinate with, and follow the instruction of, Methode
with respect to the taking of such actions.

         Section 3.09. DEDUCTIONS ATTRIBUTABLE TO RESTRICTED STOCK. (a) Stratos
agrees to pay to Methode any benefit received by the Stratos Group that is
attributable to any transactions or items relating to Methode Deduction
Restricted Stock to the extent that such transactions or items have not already
been taken into account under Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 in determining the
allocation of Taxes among the Parties.

               (b)  Methode agrees to pay to Stratos any benefit received by the
Methode Group that is attributable to any transactions or items relating to
Stratos Deduction Restricted Stock.

                                       24

<PAGE>

               (c)  The benefit payable under this Section 3.09 by one Party
(the "Paying Party") to another Party (the "Receiving Party") with respect to
any taxable period shall equal the excess of (i) the amount of Taxes that the
Paying Party would have paid in the absence of any transactions or items
relating to the Restricted Stock in question over (ii) the amount of Taxes
actually payable by the Paying Party. Payment of such benefit shall be made
within 30 days after the filing of the Tax Return for any taxable period in
which a benefit is realized by the Paying Party with respect to the Restricted
Stock in question (including through the use of a net operating loss that is
created or increased by any transaction or item relating to the Restricted
Stock). If subsequent to the Paying Party's payment of any such amount, there is
(A) a Final Determination under applicable law to the effect that all or part of
the deduction giving rise to such payment was not allowable or available, or (B)
a reduction in the amount of the benefit the Paying Party realizes as a result
of a Final Determination increasing the amount of income or gain associated with
those transactions, the Receiving Party shall repay to the Paying Party within
30 days of any event described in (A) or (B) (a "Subsequent Restricted Stock
Benefit Decrease Event") any amount that would have not been payable to the
Receiving Party pursuant to this Section 3.09 had the amount of the benefit been
initially determined in light of the Subsequent Restricted Stock Benefit
Decrease Events, together with the amount of any interest and penalties payable
to any Taxing Authority with respect to those amounts. If subsequent to the
Paying Party's payment of any amount under this Section 3.09, there is (A) a
Final Determination under applicable law to the effect that a deduction giving
rise to such payment exceeded the amount claimed or (B) an increase in the
amount of the benefit the Paying Party realizes as a result of a Final
Determination decreasing the amount of income or gain associated with those
transactions, the Paying Party shall pay to the Receiving Party within 30 days
of any

                                       25

<PAGE>

event described in (A) or (B) (a "Subsequent Restricted Stock Benefit Increase
Event") any additional amount that would have been payable to the Receiving
Party pursuant to this Section 3.09 had the amount of the benefit been initially
determined in light of the Subsequent Restricted Stock Benefit Increase Events.
The Paying Party shall take all actions as shall be necessary to maximize the
amounts payable by the Paying Party to the Receiving Party under this Section
3.09 and shall coordinate with, and follow the instruction of, the Receiving
Party with respect to the taking of such actions.

         Section 3.10. CERTAIN DISPUTES REGARDING TAX LIABILITIES. In the event
of a dispute regarding (i) the acceptance or rejection of comments provided by
Methode to Stratos pursuant to the second proviso of Section 2.02(b), (ii) the
treatment of indemnity payments pursuant to Section 2.04, (iii) the allocation
of liability pursuant to the provisions of this Article III, (iv) a payment for
the use of losses or credits attributable to the Stratos Group pursuant to
Section 3.04 or 3.07, above, or (v) a payment pursuant to Section 3.08 or 3.09,
above, the Parties to the dispute shall employ (and equally share the expense
of) a mutually acceptable and jointly engaged nationally recognized public
accounting firm to determine the proper allocation of such liability or amount
of such payment. In the event the Parties are unable to agree to a mutually
acceptable nationally recognized accounting firm within 10 days, the Parties
shall each select a nationally recognized accounting firm, which accounting
firms shall select a third nationally recognized accounting firm, which third
nationally recognized accounting firm shall be jointly engaged by the Parties to
determine the proper allocation of such liability or amount of such payment.

                                       26

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                          REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS

         Section 4.01. STRATOS REPRESENTATIONS. (a) Stratos has reviewed the
Original Ruling Request and, to the best of Stratos' knowledge, these materials,
including any representations and statements concerning Stratos, its business
operations, capital structure and/or organization, are true, complete and
accurate in all material respects. Stratos shall, and shall cause each member of
the Stratos Group to, comply in all material respects with each representation
and statement concerning Stratos and/or the Stratos Group made in the Ruling
Request and in the Letter Ruling, including statements relating to actions
intended to facilitate (i) Stratos' use of the proceeds of the initial public
offering of its stock, (ii) Stratos' improvement of operations and management
focus with respect to its business and (iii) line-of-sight compensation. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any representation or
statement made by, on behalf of, or with respect to Stratos or the Stratos Group
in connection with the Ruling Request or the Letter Ruling, and to the extent
such representation or statement relates to future actions or events under their
control, neither Stratos nor any member of the Stratos Group will take (or fail
to take) any action during the Restricted Period that would have caused such
representation or statement to be untrue if Stratos or any member of the Stratos
Group had planned or intended to take (or fail to take) such action at the time
such representation or statement was made by or on behalf of Stratos or the
Stratos Group.

               (b)  Stratos hereby represents and warrants that it has no
intention to undertake any of the transactions set forth in Section 4.02(a)(ii),
below, nor does Stratos or any member of the Stratos Group have any intention to
cease to engage directly in the active conduct of its trade

                                       27

<PAGE>

or business (within the meaning of section 355(b)(2) of the Code), including the
ownership and operation of the plant and facilities currently located on Wilson
Avenue.

         Section 4.02. STRATOS COVENANTS. (a) Stratos covenants and agrees on
behalf of itself and each other member of the Stratos Group that during the
Restricted Period:

               (i)  Stratos and the members of the Stratos Group will continue
         to engage in the optical products business (including the design and
         manufacture of fiberoptic products and optical subsystems) and will
         continue to maintain a substantial portion of their respective assets
         and business operations as they existed immediately prior to the
         Distribution.

               (ii) Except as provided in Section 4.02(d), below, neither
         Stratos nor any of its Affiliates nor any of its or their respective
         Representatives will undertake, authorize, approve, recommend, permit,
         facilitate, enter into negotiations or any contract, or consummate,
         any transaction or series of related or unrelated transactions with
         respect to:

                    (1) the issuance of stock, or any instrument that could
               constitute equity for Federal Income Tax purposes, of Stratos or
               any Affiliate thereof (or any instrument or contract with respect
               to either, including options, warrants, rights or securities
               exercisable for, or convertible into, stock, or any instrument
               that could constitute equity for Federal Income Tax purposes, of
               Stratos or an Affiliate of Stratos) other than (i) in the Public
               Offering and (ii) options and restricted and unrestricted stock
               (A) issued pursuant to the Stratos Lightwave, Inc. 2000 Stock
               Plan, in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, 3,750,000
               shares or options to acquire shares of Stratos common stock or
               (B) the issuance (or in the case of an

                                       28

<PAGE>

               option, issuance and exercise) of which is not treated, pursuant
               to the Letter Ruling, as an "acquisition" of stock for purposes
               of section 355(e) of the Code;

                    (2) the capital stock of, or other equity interest in,
               Stratos or any of its Affiliates, including any redemptions,
               repurchases, stock acquisitions or stock dispositions or the
               dissolution, merger, consolidation or complete or partial
               liquidation of Stratos or any of its Affiliates (or any
               announcement of any such action), other than (A) stock
               acquisitions permitted under Section 4.02(a)(ii)(1), above, and
               (B) normal market trading;

                    (3) the transfer of assets to any Person in which Stratos or
               any of its Affiliates holds, directly or indirectly, any stock,
               option, debt or other interest;

                    (4) any disposition of assets that is outside the ordinary
               course of business;

                    (5) the effectuation of any recapitalization of Stratos or
               any of its Affiliates, including any stock split, reverse stock
               split, stock dividend or other change in capital structure (other
               than the repayment of any indebtedness outstanding immediately
               after the Distribution); and

                    (6) the making of any election under Treasury Regulations
               promulgated under Code Section 7701, or any successor regulation
               or provision, or the taking of any action or the failure to take
               any action that could cause an entity disregarded as an entity
               separate from its owner for Federal Income Tax purposes not to be
               disregarded (including the transfer of any interest in Stratos
               LLC by Stratos).

               (b)  Stratos covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and each
other member of the Stratos Group, that neither Stratos nor any other member of
the Stratos Group will take any

                                       29

<PAGE>

position (on a Tax Return, in a Tax proceeding or audit, or otherwise) that is
inconsistent with the Ruling Request or the Letter Ruling.

               (c)  Stratos covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and each
other member of the Stratos Group, that, in addition to the other
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement, Stratos and each member of the Stratos Group will take, or refrain
from taking, as the case may be, such actions as Methode may require as
necessary to ensure that the Reorganization qualifies for the intended Tax
treatment, including such actions as Methode determines may be necessary to
preserve the Tax treatment set forth in the Letter Ruling. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, Stratos covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself
and each other member of the Stratos Group, that Stratos and each member of the
Stratos Group shall cooperate with Methode if Methode determines to obtain
additional IRS rulings with respect to the Reorganization or any portion
thereof, including rulings pertaining to whether any actual or proposed change
in facts and circumstances affects the Tax treatment of the Reorganization or
any portion thereof, and Methode shall reimburse Stratos for reasonable
third-party costs and expenses directly related to requests for additional IRS
rulings that are initiated by Methode.

               (d)  Following the Distribution Date, Stratos and its Affiliates
may take any action or engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by this Section
4.02 so long as prior to such action or conduct, as the case may be, Stratos
obtains Methode Sole Discretion Consent and, if Methode so requires, Methode or
Stratos receives (A) a ruling from the IRS in form and substance satisfactory to
Methode, in its sole and absolute discretion, and upon which Methode can rely,
to the effect that the proposed action or conduct, as the case may be, will not
cause the Reorganization or any portion thereof to fail to qualify for the Tax
treatment stated in the Letter

                                       30

<PAGE>

Ruling, or (B) an Opinion of Counsel that is in form and substance satisfactory
to Methode, in its sole and absolute discretion, and upon which Methode can rely
(which ruling or Opinion of Counsel, as the case may be, shall be obtained at
the sole cost and expense of Stratos), to the effect that the proposed action or
conduct, as the case may be, will not cause the Reorganization or any portion
thereof to fail to qualify for the Tax treatment stated in the Letter Ruling.

               (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
Stratos covenants, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Stratos
Group, that neither Stratos nor any member of the Stratos Group will apply for
any additional IRS ruling pertaining to the Reorganization or any portion
thereof unless, prior to so applying, Stratos obtains Methode Sole Discretion
Consent. Methode shall be entitled to review and approve any request for, or
document relating to, any such ruling prior to its submission to the IRS.

               (f)  Stratos recognizes that any failure by it or any of its
Affiliates to comply with their obligations under this Section 4.02 may result
in additional Taxes which could cause irreparable harm to Methode, the Methode
Affiliates and their stockholders, and that such Persons may be inadequately
compensated by monetary damages for such failure. Accordingly, if Stratos or any
Stratos Affiliate shall fail to comply with any obligation under this Section
4.02, then the Parties agree that Methode and each Methode Affiliate shall be
entitled to specific performance by Stratos or any Stratos Affiliate, as the
case may be, of their obligations set forth in this Section 4.02 and/or
injunctive relief in addition to any other remedies.

         Section 4.03. METHODE REPRESENTATIONS. (a) Methode has reviewed the
Original Ruling Request and, to the best of Methode's knowledge, these
materials, including any representations and statements concerning Methode, its
business operations, capital structure and/or organization, are complete and
accurate in all material respects. Methode shall, and shall

                                       31

<PAGE>

cause each member of the Methode Group to, comply in all material respects with
each such representation and statement concerning Methode and/or the Methode
Group made in the Ruling Request and in the Letter Ruling. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, with respect to any representation or statement
made by, or on behalf of, Methode or the Methode Group in connection with the
Ruling Request or the Letter Ruling, and to the extent such representation or
statement relates to future actions or events under their control, neither
Methode nor any member of the Methode Group will take (or fail to take) any
action during the Restricted Period that would have caused such representation
or statement to be untrue if Methode or any member of the Methode Group had
planned or intended to take (or fail to take) such action at the time such
representation or statement was made by or on behalf of Methode or the Methode
Group.

               (b)  Methode hereby represents and warrants that it has no
intention to undertake any of the transactions set forth in Section 4.04(a)(ii),
below, nor does Methode or any member of the Methode Group have any intention to
cease to engage directly in the active conduct of its trade or business (within
the meaning of section 355(b)(2) of the Code), including the ownership and
operation of the plant and facilities currently located in Carthage, Illinois.

         Section 4.04. METHODE COVENANTS. (a) Methode covenants and agrees on
behalf of itself and each other member of the Methode Group that during the
Restricted Period:

               (i)  Methode and the members of the Methode Group will continue
         to engage in the automotive products business and will continue to
         maintain a substantial portion of their respective assets and business
         operations as they existed immediately prior to the Distribution;

               (ii) Except as provided in Section 4.04(d), below, neither
         Methode nor any of its Affiliates nor any of its or their respective
         Representatives will undertake, authorize,

                                       32

<PAGE>

         approve, recommend, permit, facilitate, or enter into negotiations or
         any contract, or consummate, any transaction or series of related or
         unrelated transactions with respect to:

                    (1) the issuance of stock, or any instrument that could
               constitute equity for Federal Income Tax purposes, of Methode or
               any Affiliate thereof (or any instrument or contract with respect
               thereto, including options, warrants, rights or securities
               exercisable for, or convertible into, stock, or any instrument
               that could constitute equity for Federal Income Tax purposes, of
               Methode or an Affiliate of Methode) in a single transaction or in
               a series of related or unrelated transactions other than (x)
               options and stock (A) issued pursuant to the Methode Electronics,
               Inc. 1997 Stock Plan, as approved by the Board of Directors of
               Methode on June 27, 1997 (without regard to subsequent amendments
               thereto), in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, 2,000,000
               shares or options to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock (such
               number to be adjusted immediately after the Distribution in a
               manner consistent with the spread and ratio tests set forth in
               Treasury Regulation section 1.425-1(a)(4)(i) in order to preserve
               the value of options issued under the Plan in light of Methode's
               diluted value after the Distribution) or (B) the issuance (or in
               the case of an option, issuance and exercise) of which is not
               treated, pursuant to the Letter Ruling, as an "acquisition" of
               stock for purposes of section 355(e) of the Code and (y) Class A
               Common Stock issued to a holder of Class B Common Stock upon the
               holder's conversion of such Class B Common Stock into Class A
               Common Stock pursuant to the terms of such Class B Common Stock;

                                       33

<PAGE>

                    (2) the capital stock of, or other equity interest in,
               Methode or any of its Affiliates, including any redemptions,
               repurchases, stock acquisitions or stock dispositions or the
               dissolution, merger, consolidation or complete or partial
               liquidation of Methode or any of its Affiliates (or any
               announcement of any such action), other than (A) stock
               acquisitions permitted under Section 4.04(a)(ii)(1), above, (B)
               normal market trading and (C) the acquisition of Class B Common
               Stock upon a holder's conversion into Class A Common Stock
               pursuant to the terms of such Class B Common Stock;

                    (3) the transfer of assets to any Person in which Methode or
               any of its Affiliates holds, directly or indirectly, any stock,
               option, debt or other interest;

                    (4) any disposition of assets that is outside the ordinary
               course of business;

                    (5) the effectuation of any recapitalization of Methode or
               any of its Affiliates, including any stock split, reverse stock
               split, stock dividend or other change in capital structure (other
               than the repayment of any indebtedness outstanding immediately
               after the Distribution) other than upon a holder's conversion of
               Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the
               terms of such Class B Common Stock; and

                    (6) the making of any election under Treasury Regulations
               promulgated under Code Section 7701, or any successor regulation
               or provision, or the taking of any action or the failure to take
               any action that could cause an entity disregarded as an entity
               separate from its owner for Federal Income Tax purposes not to be
               disregarded.

                                       34

<PAGE>

               (b)  Methode covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and each
other member of the Methode Group, that neither Methode nor any other member of
the Methode Group will take any position (on a Tax Return, in a Tax proceeding
or audit, or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the Ruling Request or the
Letter Ruling.

               (c)  Methode covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and each
other member of the Methode Group, in addition to the other representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, Methode and
each member of the Methode Group will take, or refrain from taking, as the case
may be, such actions as Methode may require as necessary to ensure that the
Reorganization qualifies for the intended Tax treatment, including such actions
as Methode determines may be necessary to preserve the Tax treatment set forth
in the Letter Ruling. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Methode
covenants and agrees, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Methode
Group, that Methode and each member of the Methode Group shall cooperate with
Stratos if Stratos determines to obtain additional IRS rulings with respect to
the Reorganization or any portion thereof, including rulings pertaining to
whether any actual or proposed change in facts and circumstances affects the Tax
treatment of the Reorganization or any portion thereof, and Stratos shall
reimburse Methode for reasonable third-party costs and expenses directly related
to requests for additional IRS rulings that are initiated by Stratos.

               (d)  Following the Distribution Date, Methode and its Affiliates
may take any action or engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by this Section
4.04 so long as (i) prior to such action or conduct, as the case may be, Methode
obtains Stratos Sole Discretion Consent and, if Stratos so requires, Methode or
Stratos receives (A) a ruling from the IRS in form and substance satisfactory to
Stratos, in its sole and absolute discretion, and upon which Stratos can rely,
to the

                                       35

<PAGE>

effect that the proposed action or conduct, as the case may be, will not cause
the Reorganization or any portion thereof to fail to qualify for the Tax
treatment stated in the Letter Ruling, or (B) an Opinion of Counsel that is in
form and substance satisfactory to Stratos, in its sole and absolute discretion,
and upon which Stratos can rely (which ruling or Opinion of Counsel, as the case
may be, shall be obtained at the sole cost and expense of Methode), to the
effect that the proposed action or conduct, as the case may be, will not cause
the Reorganization or any portion thereof to fail to qualify for the Tax
treatment stated in the Letter Ruling or (ii) such action or conduct consists of
the disposition of certain non-active trade or business assets that Methode has
indicated to the IRS in connection with the Original Ruling Request may be
disposed of following the Distribution.

               (e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,
Methode covenants, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Methode
Group, that neither Methode nor any member of the Methode Group will apply for
any additional IRS ruling pertaining to the Reorganization or any portion
thereof unless, prior to applying, Methode obtains Stratos Sole Discretion
Consent. Stratos shall be entitled to review and approve any request for, or
document relating to, any such ruling prior to its submission to the IRS.

               (f)  Methode recognizes that any failure by it or any of its
Affiliates to comply with their obligations under this Section 4.04 may result
in additional Taxes which could cause irreparable harm to Stratos, the Stratos
Affiliates and their stockholders, and that such Persons may be inadequately
compensated by monetary damages for such failure. Accordingly, if Methode or any
Methode Affiliate shall fail to comply with any obligation under this Section
4.04, then the Parties agree that Stratos and each Stratos Affiliate shall be
entitled to specific

                                       36

<PAGE>

performance by Methode or any Methode Affiliate, as the case may be, of their
obligations set forth in this Section 4.04 and/or injunctive relief in addition
to any other remedies.

         Section 4.05. REDETERMINATION. If, after the date hereof, the IRS
issues Treasury Regulations under, or other guidance regarding, Section 355(e)
of the Code, the Parties hereby agree to meet to review the conditions,
requirements and covenants set forth in this Article IV, and to consider making
appropriate revisions to this Article IV as well as seeking any additional
rulings as may be appropriate in light of such regulations or other guidance.

                                       37

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE V

                              INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS

         Section 5.01. BREACH. Methode and Stratos shall each indemnify and hold
harmless the other Party and its Affiliates from and against the breach by any
member of the Methode Group or the Stratos Group, as the case may be, of any
representation, covenant, statement, promise or obligation under this Agreement.

         Section 5.02. TAX INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement to the contrary:

               (a)  If any Party or any of its Affiliates (collectively, jointly
and severally, the "Indemnifying Parties") takes any action prohibited by
Article IV, above, or violates a representation or covenant contained in Article
IV, above, or takes or fails to take any other action (any such action, failure
to act or violation, a "Tainting Act") and the Reorganization or any portion
thereof fails to qualify for the Tax treatment stated in the Letter Ruling in
whole or in part as a result of such Tainting Act, then the Indemnifying Parties
shall (jointly and severally) indemnify and hold harmless the other Party and
its Affiliates (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against any and all
Taxes and any other costs and liabilities imposed upon or incurred by the
Indemnified Parties as a result of the Tainting Act, including any liability of
the Indemnified Parties arising from Taxes imposed on shareholders of a Party to
the extent (i) any shareholder or the IRS or other Taxing Authority successfully
seeks recourse against the Indemnified Parties on account of any such Tainting
Act, or (ii) the Indemnified Parties assume or otherwise incur any liability for
such Taxes or other costs or liabilities of such shareholders;

               (b)  Stratos and its Affiliates shall (jointly and severally)
indemnify and hold harmless Methode and its Affiliates for any Tax imposed
upon or incurred by Methode and its

                                       38

<PAGE>

Affiliates as a direct or indirect result of any action taken after the
Distribution by Stratos or any of its Affiliates. In addition, if (i) the
Distribution is ultimately determined to be taxable to Methode and/or
Methode's shareholders other than (x) in connection with cash in lieu of
fractional shares or (y) as a result of an action with respect to which
Methode or its Affiliates would be required to indemnify Stratos and its
Affiliates pursuant to Section 5.02(a) or 5.04 of this Agreement, and (ii)
Stratos or its Affiliates are not otherwise required to indemnify and hold
Methode and its Affiliates harmless with respect to that determination under
the other provisions of this Agreement, then Stratos and its Affiliates will
indemnify and hold Methode and its Affiliates harmless for 50% (fifty
percent) of any such Tax or other liability payable by Methode and its
Affiliates as a result of that determination.

         Section 5.03. GROSS-UP. Any payment under this Agreement shall be (i)
increased to take account of any Tax Detriment incurred from the receipt or
accrual of payments hereunder (I.E., grossed-up for any Tax incurred on such
payment, accrual and/or increase) and (ii) reduced to take account of any Tax
Benefit attributable to the items to which such payments relate.

         Section 5.04. TENDER OFFER OR PURCHASE OFFER. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if, during the Restricted Period,
any Person or group of Persons acquires beneficial ownership of Stratos or
Methode common stock (or any other class of outstanding Stratos or Methode
stock) or commences a tender or other purchase offer for the capital stock of
Stratos or Methode or initiates any other form of transaction to acquire
directly or indirectly Stratos or Methode stock, upon consummation of which such
Person or group of Persons would acquire beneficial ownership of Stratos or
Methode common stock (or any other class of outstanding Stratos or Methode
stock) such that the Reorganization or any portion thereof shall fail to qualify
for the Tax treatment stated in the Letter Ruling as a result of such

                                       39

<PAGE>

acquisition, tender or other purchase offer, or other form of transaction, then
the Party whose stock is the subject of the acquisition, tender or other
purchase offer, or other form of transaction shall indemnify and hold harmless
the other Party and its Affiliates against any and all Taxes and any other costs
and liabilities imposed upon or incurred by the other Party, its Affiliates and
their shareholders as a result of the failure of the Reorganization or any
portion thereof to so qualify.

         Section 5.05. TAX INDEMNITY PAYMENTS. An Indemnifying Party shall make
any payment or indemnity required by this Article V no later than 30 days after
receipt of written notice from the Indemnified Parties of such payment or
indemnity obligation, which notice shall be accompanied by a computation of the
amounts due.

         Section 5.06. EFFECT OF SECTIONS 4.02(d) AND 4.04(d) OF THIS AGREEMENT.
The Indemnified Parties shall be indemnified and held harmless under this
Article V without regard to the fact that any Indemnifying Party or Indemnified
Party may have received Methode Sole Discretion Consent or Stratos Sole
Discretion Consent, as the case may be, a ruling from the IRS or an Opinion of
Counsel, as contemplated by Sections 4.02(d) and 4.04(d), above, or otherwise.
The Indemnified Parties shall be indemnified and held harmless under Section
5.04, above, without regard to whether an acquisition of beneficial ownership
results from a transaction that is not prohibited under Article IV, above.

                                       40

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI

                     COOPERATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

         Section 6.01. COOPERATION. (a) Each Party shall cooperate (and shall
cause its Affiliates to cooperate) fully at such time and to the extent
reasonably requested by the other Party in connection with the preparation and
filing of any Tax Return or the conduct of any audit, dispute, proceeding, suit
or action concerning any issues or any other matter contemplated hereunder. Such
cooperation shall include (i) the retention and provision on demand of books,
records, documentation, other information, or copies thereof relating to any Tax
Return until the later of (x) a Final Determination regarding liability for
Taxes to which such Tax Return relates and (y) in the event any claim has been
made under this Agreement for which such information is relevant, a final
resolution with respect to such claim, (ii) the provision of additional
information with respect to an explanation of Tax Practices and material
provided under clause (1) of this Section 6.01(a), (iii) the execution of any
document (including powers of attorney) that may be necessary or reasonably
helpful in connection with the filing of any Tax Return by any member of the
Methode Group or the Stratos Group, or in connection with any audit, dispute,
proceeding, suit or action addressed in the preceding sentence, (iv) the use of
the Party's reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation from a
governmental authority or a third party that may be necessary or helpful in
connection with the foregoing, (v) the completion of such tax packages and other
work papers as requested, and within the reasonable time specified, by the
requesting party (including the provision of such information in electronic
format, if so specified by the requesting party), and (vi) the satisfaction of
applicable withholding requirements. Each Party shall make its employees and
facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to facilitate such
cooperation.

                                       41

<PAGE>

               (b)  Each Party (a "Notifying Party") shall use reasonable
efforts to keep the other Party advised as to the status of Tax audits and
litigation involving any issue (a "Liability Issue") that (i) relates to a Tax
of the other Party (or its Affiliates), or (ii) could give rise to liability of
the other Party (or its Affiliates) under this Agreement. The Notifying Party
shall promptly furnish such other Party copies of any inquiries or requests for
information from any Taxing Authority concerning any Liability Issue. If
applicable under Section 6.02, below, the other Party shall have the right to
consult with the Notifying Party regarding any responses to such requests and
the Notifying Party shall provide such other Party with copies of any such
written responses before such responses are given to any Taxing Authority.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Party shall promptly
furnish to the other Party, upon receipt, a copy of any revenue agent's report
or similar report, notice of proposed adjustment or notice of deficiency
received by such Party or any of its Affiliates, as the case may be, relating to
any Liability Issue or any adjustment referred to in Section 6.01(c), below.

               (c)  Methode shall advise and consult with Stratos with respect
to any proposed Tax adjustments relating to the Methode Group that are the
subject of an audit or investigation of a Taxing Authority or are the subject of
litigation and that may affect any Tax Item of any member of the Stratos Group
after the Distribution Date.

         Section 6.02. CONTEST PROVISIONS. (a) Subject to the cooperation
provisions in Section 6.01, above, Methode shall have the full responsibility
and control over the handling of any Tax controversy, including an audit, a
protest to the Appeals Division of the IRS, litigation in the Tax Court or any
other court of competent jurisdiction, and any other federal, state, local or
foreign hearing or administrative proceeding, (a "Tax Controversy"), involving
any Methode Return, except to the extent the Tax Controversy relates to the
Reorganization or any portion

                                       42
<PAGE>

thereof, with respect to which Methode and the Stratos shall have joint control.
Upon request by Stratos, however, and subject to Methode Reasonable Discretion
Consent and the cooperation provisions in Section 6.01, above, Stratos shall, at
Stratos' expense and in its sole discretion, be allowed to participate in and
share control over the handling of any Tax Controversy with respect to any item
that would give rise to a payment of Tax for which Stratos would be liable, or a
refund of Tax for which Stratos would be entitled to receive payment, under this
Agreement.

               (b)  Subject to the cooperation provisions in Section 6.01,
above, Stratos shall have the full responsibility and control over the handling
of any Tax Controversy involving any Stratos Return; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
Methode shall, at Methode's expense and in its sole discretion, be allowed to
participate in and share control over the handling of any Tax Controversy with
respect to any item that would give rise to a payment of Tax for which Methode
would be liable, or a refund of Tax for which Methode would be entitled to
receive payment, under this Agreement.

               (c)  Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any
inquiries by any Taxing Authority that relate to any Tax that may be imposed on
the other Party or any of its Affiliates or that might give rise to any
liability on any of the part of the other Party or any of its Affiliates under
this Agreement.

         Section 6.03. NOTICES. Any notice, demand, claim or other communication
under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon delivery
if delivered personally, upon mailing if sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or upon completion of transmission if sent by
telecopy or facsimile, to the Parties at the following address (or such other
address as may be provided in writing from time to time by one Party to the
other Party after the date hereof):

                                       43

<PAGE>

         To Methode or any member of the Methode Group:

               Methode Electronics, Inc.
               7401 West Wilson Avenue
               Chicago, IL 60706
               Attention:  Kevin Hayes, Chief Financial Officer

         To Stratos or any member of the Stratos Group:
               Stratos Lightwave, Inc.
               7444 West Wilson Avenue
               Chicago, IL 60706
               Attention:  David Slack, Chief Financial Officer

         In each case, with copies to:
               Dewey Ballantine LLP
               1775 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
               Washington, D.C. 20006-4605
               Attention:  Joseph M. Pari

         Section 6.04. COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the
Distribution Agreement, the Master Separation Agreement, and all Ancillary
Agreements, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties concerning the
subject matter hereof, and supersedes all other agreements, whether or not
written, in respect of any Tax between or among any member or members of the
Methode Group or the Stratos Group. In the event and to the extent there is a
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the Distribution
Agreement, the Master Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the
provisions of this Agreement shall control. This Agreement may not be amended
except by an agreement in writing, signed by the Parties.

         Section 6.05. DISPUTES. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.10,
above, resolution of any and all disputes arising from or in connection with
this Agreement shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.1 of the
Distribution Agreement.

                                       44

<PAGE>

         Section 6.06. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Illinois.

         Section 6.07. PARTIES IN INTEREST, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This
Agreement is being entered into by Methode and Stratos on behalf of themselves
and their respective Affiliates following the Contribution. This Agreement shall
constitute a direct obligation of each such Person and shall be deemed to have
been readopted and affirmed on behalf of any Person that becomes an Affiliate of
Methode or Stratos in the future. All of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their Affiliates and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. A Party's rights and
obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned without the prior written
consent of the other Party.

         Section 6.08. NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement is solely
for the benefit of the Parties and their respective Affiliates and shall not be
deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement,
claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without this
Agreement.

         Section 6.09. LEGAL ENFORCEABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement
that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of the prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions. Any prohibition
or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall
not invalidate or render unenforceable the provision in any other jurisdiction.

         Section 6.10. EXPENSES. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement or in the Distribution Agreement, each Party shall bear any and all
expenses that arise from its respective obligations under this Agreement.

                                       45

<PAGE>

         Section 6.11. CONFIDENTIALITY. Except as required by law or with the
prior written consent of the other Party, all Tax Returns, documents, schedules,
work papers and similar items and all information contained therein, which Tax
Returns and other materials are within the scope of this Agreement, and any
other information that is obtained by a Party or any of its Affiliates pursuant
to this Agreement, shall be kept confidential by such Party and its Affiliates
and Representatives, shall not be disclosed to any other Person and shall be
used only for the purposes provided herein. If a Party or any of its Affiliates
is required by law to disclose any such information, such Party shall give
written notice to the other Party prior to making such disclosure.

         Section 6.12. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if
the signature thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

                                      * * *

                                       46

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                   METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Lee L. Spinner
                                      -------------------------------
                                   Name:  Lee L. Spinner
                                   Title: Director of Taxes

                                   STRATOS LIGHTWAVE, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Michael T. Perkins
                                      --------------------------------
                                   Name:  Michael T. Perkins
                                   Title: Vice President, Administration

                                       47<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made as of
June 26, 2000, by and between Stratos Lightwave, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Stratos") and Methode Electronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Methode").
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Article 1
of this Agreement.

                                    RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, Stratos and Methode have entered into that certain Master
Separation Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2000 (the "Master Separation
Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, Methode has contributed and
transferred to Stratos, all of the capital stock and equity interests held by
Methode in subsidiaries and other entities that conduct the Opto Business, and
all other assets and liabilities associated with such business, in exchange for
shares of Stratos common stock;

         WHEREAS, Stratos and Methode are entering into an Initial Public
Offering and Distribution Agreement contemporaneously herewith (the "IPO and
Distribution Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, upon the
occurrence of certain events, Stratos will effect an initial public offering of
its Common Stock;

         WHEREAS, Methode currently contemplates that, following such initial
public offering, Methode will distribute to the holders of Methode's common
stock by means of a pro rata distribution all of the shares of Stratos Common
Stock owned by Methode (the "Distribution"); and

         WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing transactions, Stratos has
agreed to provide Methode and its transferees with certain registration rights
if the Distribution does not occur, on the terms set forth in this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the covenants
and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                   DEFINITIONS

         For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them below:

         "AFFILIATE" of a Person means any Person controlling, controlled by or
  under common control with that Person. "Control" for this purpose means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or interests, by contract or otherwise.

<PAGE>

         "CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION" means the restated certificate of
incorporation of Stratos, as amended from time to time.

         "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of
Stratos and any equity securities issued or issuable with respect to the Common
Stock in connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation or other reorganization.

         "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" means any securities convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock.

         "DEMAND REGISTRATIONS", "DEMAND REGISTRATION REQUESTS" and "DEMAND
EXERCISE NOTICE" have the meanings set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "EXPENSES" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

         "HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means any party who is a signatory to this
Agreement and, subject to Section 4.6(a), any party who shall hereafter acquire
and hold Registrable Securities.

         "INITIATING HOLDER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).

         "IPO" means the initial public offering by Stratos of shares of Stratos
Common Stock pursuant to the IPO Registration Statement.

         "IPO REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement on Form
S-1, registration number 333-34864, filed by Stratos under the Securities Act,
pursuant to which the Stratos Common Stock to be issued in the IPO will be
registered, together with all amendments thereto.

         "MAJOR HOLDER" means with respect to any registration the Holder that,
together with its Affiliates, includes the largest number of Registrable
Securities in such registration.

         "NASD" means the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

         "OPTO BUSINESS" has the meaning set forth in the Master Separation
Agreement.

         "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
limited or general partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, any other entity, or any government or any
department or agency or other unit thereof.

         "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means any (i) shares of Common Stock held by
Methode, and (ii) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable, directly or
indirectly, with respect to the Common Stock referenced in clause (i) above by
way of stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares. As to any
particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when: (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such
Registrable

                                      - 2 -

<PAGE>

Securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such
registration statement; (B) such Registrable Securities shall have been sold to
the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor
provision); (C) such Registrable Securities shall have been otherwise
transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further
transfer shall have been delivered by Stratos and subsequent public distribution
of them shall not require registration or qualification of them under the
Securities Act or any similar state law then in force; or (D) such Registrable
Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

         "REGISTRATION RIGHTS TRIGGER DATE" means the date Methode provides to
Stratos written notice, pursuant to Section 2.6 of the IPO and Distribution
Agreement, that Methode no longer intends to proceed with or complete the
Distribution.

         "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS

         2.1.  DEMAND REGISTRATIONS.

         (a)   (i)  Subject to Sections 2.1(b) and 2.3 below, at any time and
from time to time after the Registration Rights Trigger Date, Methode shall have
the right to require Stratos to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act covering all or any part of its Registrable Securities, by
delivering a written request therefor to Stratos specifying the number of
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration by Methode and the
intended method of distribution thereof. All such requests by Methode pursuant
to this Section 2.1(a)(i) are referred to herein as "Demand Registration
Requests," and the registrations so requested are referred to herein as "Demand
Registrations" (with respect to any Demand Registration, the Holder making such
demand for registration being referred to as the "Initiating Holder"). As
promptly as practicable, but no later than ten (10) days after receipt of a
Demand Registration Request, Stratos shall give written notice (the "Demand
Exercise Notice") of such Demand Registration Request to all Holders of record
of Registrable Securities.

               (ii) Stratos, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, shall include
in a Demand Registration (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holder
and (y) the Registrable Securities of any other Holder which shall have made a
written request to Stratos for inclusion in such registration (which request
shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be
disposed of by such Holder) within thirty (30) days after the receipt of the
Demand Exercise Notice or, fifteen (15) days if, at the request of the
Initiating Holder or the Major Holder participating in such registration,
Stratos states in such written notice or gives telephonic notice to all Holders,
with written confirmation to follow promptly thereafter, that such registration
will be on a Form S-3).

                                      - 3 -

<PAGE>

              (iii) Stratos shall, as expeditiously as possible, use its best
efforts to (x) effect such registration under the Securities Act (including,
without limitation, by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act if so requested and if Stratos is then eligible to use such a
registration) of the Registrable Securities which Stratos has been so requested
to register, for distribution in accordance with such intended method of
distribution, and (y) if requested by the Initiating Holder or the Major Holder
participating in such registration, obtain acceleration of the effective date of
the registration statement relating to such registration.

         (b)   The Demand Registration rights granted in Section 2.1(a) to the
Holders are subject to the following limitations: (i) such registration
statement must include shares of Common Stock representing, in the aggregate
(based on the Common Stock included in such registration by Methode and its
transferees), in excess of ten percent (10%) of the sum of (x) the amount of
shares of Registrable Securities held, in the aggregate, by Methode and its
transferees immediately prior to such registration PLUS (y) the amount of shares
of Common Stock obtainable upon the conversion of Common Stock Equivalents held,
in the aggregate, by Methode and its transferees immediately prior to such
registration; (ii) Stratos shall not be required to cause a registration
pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i) to be declared effective within a period of one
hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of any registration statement
of Stratos effected in connection with a Demand Registration Request; and (iii)
if the Board of Directors of Stratos, in its good faith judgment, determines
that any registration of Registrable Securities should not be made or continued
because it would materially interfere with any material financing, acquisition,
corporate reorganization or merger or other transaction involving Stratos or any
of its subsidiaries (a "Valid Business Reason"), (x) Stratos may postpone filing
a registration statement relating to a Demand Registration Request until such
Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than three (3)
months, and (y) in case a registration statement has been filed relating to a
Demand Registration Request, if the Valid Business Reason has not resulted from
actions taken by Stratos, Stratos may cause such registration statement to be
withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated or may postpone amending or
supplementing such registration statement until such Valid Business Reason no
longer exists, but in no event for more than three (3) months (such period of
postponement or withdrawal under subclauses (x) or (y) of this clause (iii), the
"Postponement Period"), and Stratos shall give written notice of its
determination to postpone or withdraw a registration statement and of the fact
that the Valid Business Reason for such postponement or withdrawal no longer
exists, in each case, promptly after the occurrence thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
Stratos shall not be permitted to postpone or withdraw a registration statement
after the expiration of any Postponement Period until twelve (12) months after
the expiration of such Postponement Period without Methode's prior written
approval.

         If Stratos shall give any notice of postponement or withdrawal of any
registration statement, Stratos shall not, during the period of postponement or
withdrawal, register any Common Stock, other than pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or an equivalent registration form then in
effect). Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any
notice from Stratos that it has determined to withdraw any registration
statement pursuant to clause (iii) above, such Holder will discontinue its
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement
and, if so directed by Stratos, will

                                      - 4 -

<PAGE>

deliver to Stratos (at Stratos' expense) all copies, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.
If Stratos shall have withdrawn or prematurely terminated a registration
statement filed under Section 2.1(a)(i) (whether pursuant to clause (iii) above
or as a result of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court), Stratos shall not be
considered to have effected an effective registration for the purposes of this
Agreement until Stratos shall have filed a new registration statement covering
the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn registration statement and
such registration statement shall have been declared effective and shall not
have been withdrawn. If Stratos shall give any notice of withdrawal or
postponement of a registration statement, Stratos shall, at such time as the
Valid Business Reason that caused such withdrawal or postponement no longer
exists (but in no event later than three (3) months after the date of the
postponement or withdrawal), use its best efforts to effect the registration
under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn
or postponed registration statement in accordance with this Section 2.1 (unless
the Initiating Holder shall have withdrawn such request, in which case Stratos
shall not be considered to have effected an effective registration for the
purposes of this Agreement).

         (c)   Stratos, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, may elect to include
in any registration statement and offering made pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i),
(i) authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock
held by Stratos as treasury shares and (ii) any other shares of Common Stock
that are requested to be included in such registration pursuant to the exercise
of piggyback rights granted by Stratos after the date hereof which are not
inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms
of, this Agreement ("Additional Piggyback Rights"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
inclusion shall be permitted only to the extent that it is pursuant to and
subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement or arrangements, if any,
entered into by the Initiating Holder.

         (d)   In connection with any Demand Registration, the Major Holder
participating in such registration shall have the right to designate the lead
managing underwriter, and subject to the next sentence, each other managing
underwriter for such registration; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each such other
managing underwriter is reasonably satisfactory to Stratos, it being understood
and agreed that any managing underwriter that participates in Stratos' IPO shall
be satisfactory to Stratos. Stratos shall have the right to designate one
managing underwriter other than the lead managing underwriter in any such
registration; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such other managing underwriter is
reasonably satisfactory to the Major Holder, it being understood and agreed that
any managing underwriter that participates in Stratos' IPO shall be satisfactory
to the Major Holder.

         2.2.  PIGGYBACK REGISTRATIONS.

         (a)   If, at any time after the Registration Rights Trigger Date,
Stratos proposes or is required to register any of its equity securities under
the Securities Act (other than pursuant to (i) registrations on such form or
similar form(s) solely for registration of securities in connection with an
employee benefit plan or dividend reinvestment plan or a merger or consolidation
or (ii)

                                      - 5 -

<PAGE>

a Demand Registration under Section 2.1) on a registration statement on Form
S-1, Form S-2 or Form S-3 (or an equivalent general registration form then in
effect), whether or not for its own account, Stratos shall give prompt written
notice of its intention to do so to each of the Holders of record of Registrable
Securities. Upon the written request of any such Holder, made within twenty (20)
days following the receipt of any such written notice (which request shall
specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of
by such Holder and the intended method of distribution thereof), Stratos shall,
subject to Sections 2.2(b), 2.3 and 2.6 hereof, use its best efforts to cause
all such Registrable Securities, the Holders of which have so requested the
registration thereof, to be registered under the Securities Act (with the
securities that Stratos at the time proposes to register) to permit the sale or
other disposition by the Holders (in accordance with the intended method of
distribution thereof) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered. There
is no limitation on the number of such piggyback registrations pursuant to the
preceding sentence that Stratos is obligated to effect. No registration effected
under this Section 2.2(a) shall relieve Stratos of its obligations to effect
Demand Registrations.

         (b)   If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention
to register any equity securities and prior to the effective date of the
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, Stratos
determines for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
equity securities, Stratos may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to all Holders of record of Registrable Securities and (i) in the
case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Registrable Securities in connection with such abandoned
registration, without prejudice, however, to the rights of Holders under Section
2.1, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such registration of its
equity securities, shall be permitted to delay the registration of such
Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering its
equity securities.

         (c)   Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for
inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant
to this Section 2.2 by giving written notice to Stratos of its request to
withdraw; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) such request must be made in writing prior
to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution
of the custody agreement with respect to such registration and (ii) such
withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, a Holder
shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the
registration as to which such withdrawal was made.

         2.3.  ALLOCATION OF SECURITIES INCLUDED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

         (a)   If any requested registration pursuant to Section 2.1 involves
an underwritten offering and the lead managing underwriter of such offering (the
"Manager") advises Stratos that, in its view, the number of securities requested
to be included in such registration by the Holders or any other persons
(including those shares of Common Stock requested by Stratos to be included in
such registration) exceeds the largest number (the "Section 2.1 Sale Number")
that can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range
acceptable to the Initiating Holder, Stratos shall include in such registration:

                                      - 6 -

<PAGE>

         (i)   all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such
               registration by Holders of Registrable Securities; PROVIDED,
               HOWEVER, that, if the number of such Registrable Securities
               exceeds the Section 2.1 Sale Number, the number of such
               Registrable Securities (not to exceed the Section 2.1 Sale
               Number) to be included in such registration shall be allocated on
               a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable
               Securities be included in such registration, based on the number
               of Registrable Securities then owned by each Holder requesting
               inclusion in relation to the number of Registrable Securities
               owned by all Holders requesting inclusion;

         (ii)  to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be
               included by all Holders pursuant to clause (i) of this Section
               2.3(a) is less than the Section 2.1 Sale Number, securities that
               Stratos proposes to register subject to pro rata allocation as
               described in Section 2.3(a)(i); and

         (iii) to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be
               included by all Holders and the number of securities to be
               included by Stratos is less than the Section 2.1 Sale Number, any
               other securities that the holders thereof propose to register
               pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights subject
               to pro rata allocation as described in Section 2.3(a)(i).

         If, as a result of the proration provisions of this Section 2.3(a), any
Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in a
registration that such Holder has requested be included, such Holder may elect
to withdraw his request to include Registrable Securities in such registration
or may reduce the number requested to be included; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (x)
such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of
the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with
respect to such registration and (y) such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and,
after making such withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include
Registrable Securities in the registration as to which such withdrawal was made.

         (b)   If any registration pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an
underwritten offering and the Manager shall advise Stratos that, in its view,
the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds
the number (the "Section 2.2 Sale Number") that can be sold in an orderly manner
in such registration within a price range acceptable to Stratos, Stratos shall
include in such registration:

         (i)   all Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable
               or exercisable for, Common Stock that Stratos proposes to
               register for its own account (the "Company Securities");

         (ii)  to the extent that the number of Company Securities is less than
               the Section 2.2 Sale Number, the remaining shares to be included
               in such registration shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among
               all Holders of Registrable Securities requesting that Registrable
               Securities be included in such registration, based on

                                      - 7 -

<PAGE>

               the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each Holder
               requesting inclusion in relation to the number of Registrable
               Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion; and

         (iii) to the extent the number of Company Securities plus the number of
               Registrable Securities requested to be included by all Holders is
               less than the Section 2.2 Sale Number, any other securities that
               the holders thereof propose to register pursuant to the exercise
               of Additional Piggyback Rights subject to pro rata allocation as
               described in Section 2.3(a)(i).

         2.4.  REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. If and whenever Stratos is required
by the provisions of this Agreement to use its best efforts to effect or cause
the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as
provided in this Agreement, Stratos shall, as expeditiously as possible:

         (a)   prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an
appropriate registration form of the SEC for the disposition of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, which
form (i) shall be selected by Stratos and (ii) shall, in the case of a shelf
registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the
selling Holders thereof and such registration statement shall comply as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and
include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and
Stratos shall use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to
become and remain effective (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that before filing a
registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto,
or comparable statements under securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction,
Stratos will furnish to one counsel for the Holders participating in the planned
offering (selected by the Initiating Holder, in the case of a registration
pursuant to Section 2.1, and selected by the Major Holder, in the case of a
registration pursuant to Section 2.2) and the underwriters, if any, copies of
all such documents proposed to be filed (including all exhibits thereto), which
documents will be subject to the reasonable review and reasonable comment of
such counsel, and Stratos shall not file any registration statement or amendment
thereto or any prospectus or supplement thereto to which the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or
the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object in writing);

         (b)   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 such
period (which shall not be required to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days in
the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or one hundred twenty (120)
days in the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2) as any seller of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement shall request and
to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale or
other disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller
or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

                                      - 8 -

<PAGE>

         (c)   furnish, without charge, to each seller of such Registrable
Securities and each underwriter, if any, of the securities covered by such
registration statement such number of copies of such registration statement,
each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), and
the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each
preliminary prospectus) in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and other documents, as such seller and underwriter may reasonably request
in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable
Securities owned by such seller (Stratos hereby consenting to the use in
accordance with all applicable law of each such registration statement (or
amendment or post-effective amendment thereto) and each such prospectus (or
preliminary prospectus or supplement thereto) by each such seller of Registrable
Securities and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or
prospectus);

         (d)   use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
"blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as any sellers of Registrable Securities
or any managing underwriter, if any, shall reasonably request, and do any and
all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to
enable such sellers or underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions, except that in no event shall
Stratos be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction where it would not, but for the requirements of this paragraph (d),
be required to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction;

         (e)   promptly notify each Holder selling Registrable Securities
covered by such registration statement and each managing underwriter, if any:
(i) when the registration statement, any pre-effective amendment, the prospectus
or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the
registration statement has been filed and, with respect to the registration
statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the SEC or state securities authority for amendments or
supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus related thereto or
for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by Stratos of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the
existence of any fact of which Stratos becomes aware which results in the
registration statement, the prospectus related thereto or any document
incorporated therein by reference containing an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make any statement therein not misleading; and (vi) if at any time
the representations and warranties contemplated by any underwriting agreement,
securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering
shall cease to be true and correct in all material respects; AND, if the
notification relates to an event described in clause (v), Stratos shall promptly
prepare and furnish to each such seller and each underwriter, if any, a
reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such
prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated

                                      - 9 -

<PAGE>

therein or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading;

         (f)   comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC,
and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the effective date of the registration statement (and in any
event within seventeen (17) months thereafter), an earnings statement (which
need not be audited) covering the period of at least twelve (12) consecutive
months beginning with the first day of Stratos' first calendar quarter after the
effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158
thereunder;

         (g)   (i)  cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement to be listed on the principal trading market or
securities exchange on which similar securities issued by Stratos are then
listed (if any), if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted
under the rules of such trading market or exchange, or

               (ii) if no similar securities are then so listed, to either
cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on a national securities
exchange or to secure designation of all such Registrable Securities as a Nasdaq
National Market "national market system security" within the meaning of Rule
11Aa2-1 of the Exchange Act or, failing that, secure Nasdaq National Market
authorization for such shares and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, take all actions that may be required by Stratos as the issuer of
such Registrable Securities in order to facilitate the managing underwriter's
arranging for the registration of at least two market makers as such with
respect to such shares with the NASD;

         (h)   provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar
for all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not
later than the effective date of such registration statement;

         (i)   enter into such customary agreements (including, if applicable,
an underwriting agreement) and take such other actions as the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities or the Major Holder participating in such
offering shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities. The Holders of the Registrable
Securities that are to be distributed by such underwriters shall be parties to
such underwriting agreement and may, at their option, require that Stratos make
to and for the benefit of such Holders the representations, warranties and
covenants of Stratos that are being made to and for the benefit of such
underwriters and that are of the type customarily provided to institutional
investors in secondary offerings;

         (j)   use its best efforts to obtain an opinion from Stratos' counsel
and a "cold comfort" letter from Stratos' independent public accountants in
customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by such
opinions and "cold comfort" letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten
public offerings, which opinion and letter shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the underwriter, if any, and to the Major Holder participating in such offering,
and furnish to each

                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>

Holder participating in the offering and to each underwriter, if any, a copy of
such opinion and letter addressed to such Holder or underwriter;

         (k)   deliver promptly to each Holder participating in the offering and
each underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the SEC and
Stratos, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with
the SEC or its staff with respect to the registration statement, other than
those portions of any such memoranda which contain information subject to
attorney-client privilege with respect to Stratos, and, upon receipt of such
confidentiality agreements as Stratos may reasonably request, make reasonably
available for inspection by any seller of such Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement, by any underwriter, if any, participating in any
disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or any such
underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of Stratos, and cause all of Stratos' officers,
directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any
such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
registration statement;

         (l)   use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement;

         (m)   provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later
than the effective date of the registration statement;

         (n)   make reasonably available its employees and personnel and
otherwise provide reasonable assistance to the underwriters (taking into account
the needs of Stratos' businesses and the requirements of the marketing process)
in the marketing of Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering;

         (o)   promptly prior to the filing of any document that is to be
incorporated by reference into the registration statement or the prospectus
(after the initial filing of such registration statement), provide copies of
such document to counsel for the selling holders of Registrable Securities and
to each managing underwriter, if any, and make Stratos' representatives
reasonably available for discussion of such document and make such changes in
such document concerning the selling holders prior to the filing thereof as
counsel for such selling holders or underwriters may reasonably request;

         (p)   furnish to the Major Holder participating in the offering and
the managing underwriter, without charge, at least one (1) signed copy, and to
each other Holder participating in the offering, without charge, at least one
(1) photocopy of a signed copy, of the registration statement and any
post-effective amendments thereto, including financial statements and schedules,
all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including
those incorporated by reference);

         (q)   cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities
and the managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates not bearing any

                                     - 11 -

<PAGE>

restrictive legends representing the Registrable Securities to be sold, and
cause such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and
registered in such names in accordance with the underwriting agreement prior to
any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters or, if not an
underwritten offering, in accordance with the instructions of the selling
Holders of Registrable Securities at least three (3) business days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities and instruct any transfer agent and registrar of
Registrable Securities to release any stop transfer orders in respect thereof;

         (r)   take all such other commercially reasonable actions as are
necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of
such Registrable Securities; and

         (s)   take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M
under the Exchange Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that to the extent that any
prohibition is applicable to Stratos, Stratos will take such action as is
necessary to make any such prohibition inapplicable.

         Stratos may require as a condition precedent to Stratos' obligations
under this Section 2.4 that each seller of Registrable Securities as to which
any registration is being effected furnish Stratos such information regarding
such seller and the distribution of such securities as Stratos may from time to
time reasonably request; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such information is necessary
for Stratos to consummate such registration and shall be used only in connection
with such registration.

         Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that upon receipt of any
notice from Stratos of the happening of any event of the kind described in
clause (v) of paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4, such Holder will discontinue
such Holder's disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration
statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder's receipt of
the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph
(e) of this Section 2.4 and, if so directed by Stratos, will deliver to Stratos
(at Stratos' expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such
Holder's possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that
was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event Stratos shall
give any such notice, the applicable period mentioned in paragraph (b) of this
Section 2.4 shall be extended by the number of days during such period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when
each seller of any Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4.

         If any such registration statement or comparable statement under "blue
sky" laws refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the Holder of any
securities of Stratos, then such Holder shall have the right to require (i) the
insertion therein of language, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
such Holder and Stratos, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such
securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the
investment quality of Stratos' securities covered thereby and that such holding
does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial
requirements of Stratos, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder
by name or otherwise is not in the judgment of Stratos, as advised

                                     - 12 -

<PAGE>

by counsel, required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute or any
state "blue sky" or securities law then in force, the deletion of the reference
to such Holder.

         2.5.  REGISTRATION EXPENSES.

         (a)   "Expenses" shall mean any and all fees and expenses incident to
Stratos' performance of or compliance with this Article 2, including, without
limitation: (i) SEC, stock exchange or NASD registration and filing fees and all
listing fees and fees with respect to the inclusion of securities in Nasdaq
National Market; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or
"blue sky" laws and in connection with the preparation of a "blue sky" survey,
including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of blue sky counsel;
(iii) printing and copying expenses; (iv) messenger and delivery expenses; (v)
expenses incurred in connection with any road show; (vi) fees and disbursements
of counsel for Stratos; (vii) with respect to each registration, the reasonable
fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holder(s) (selected by the
Initiating Holder, in the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.1, and
selected by the Major Holder, in the case of a registration pursuant to Section
2.2); (viii) fees and disbursements of all independent public accountants
(including the expenses of any audit and/or "cold comfort" letter) and fees and
expenses of other persons, including special experts, retained by Stratos; (ix)
fees and expenses payable to a Qualified Independent Underwriter (as such term
is defined in Schedule E to the By-Laws of the NASD), if any; and (x) any other
fees and disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or
sellers of securities.

         (b)   Stratos shall pay all Expenses with respect to any Demand
Registration pursuant to Section 2.1 and any piggyback registrations pursuant to
Section 2.2.

         (c)   Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) the provisions of this
Section 2.5 shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to cause these
expense provisions to comply with "blue sky" laws of each state in which the
offering is made; (ii) in connection with any registration hereunder, each
Holder of Registrable Securities being registered shall pay all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the
sale of such Registrable Securities, pro rata with respect to payments of
discounts and commissions in accordance with the number of shares sold in the
offering by such Holder; (iii) Stratos shall, in the case of all registrations
under this Article 2, be responsible for all its internal expenses (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties).

         2.6.  CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON REGISTRATION RIGHTS. In the case of any
registration under Section 2.1 pursuant to an underwritten offering, or in the
case of a registration under Section 2.2 if Stratos has determined to enter into
an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all securities to be included
in such registration shall be subject to an underwriting agreement and no person
may participate in such registration unless such person agrees to sell such
person's securities on the basis provided therein and completes and executes all
reasonable questionnaires, and other documents (including custody agreements and
powers of attorney) that must be executed in connection therewith, and provides
such other information to Stratos or the underwriter as may be necessary to
register such Person's securities.

                                     - 13 -

<PAGE>

         2.7.  LIMITATIONS ON SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF OTHER SECURITIES.

         (a)   Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees, (i) to the extent
requested in writing by a managing underwriter, if any, of any registration
effected pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2, not to sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
any Common Stock, or any other equity security of Stratos or any security
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of
Stratos (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the
time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, not to exceed one
hundred eighty (180) days (and Stratos hereby also so agrees (except that
Stratos may effect any sale or distribution of any such securities pursuant to a
registration on Form S-4 (if reasonably acceptable to such managing underwriter)
or Form S-8, or any successor or similar form which is then in effect or upon
the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock
Equivalent or otherwise pursuant to any employee benefit arrangements) to use
its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any
security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security
of Stratos purchased from Stratos at any time other than in a public offering so
to agree), and (ii) to the extent requested in writing by a managing underwriter
of any underwritten public offering effected by Stratos for its own account, it
will not sell any Common Stock (other than as part of such underwritten public
offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter, which period shall not exceed ninety (90) days.

         (b)   Stratos hereby agrees that, if it shall previously have received
a request for registration (other than a shelf registration) pursuant to Section
2.1 or 2.2, and if such previous registration shall not have been withdrawn or
abandoned, Stratos shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any Common
Stock, or any other equity security of Stratos or any security convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of Stratos (other than as
part of such underwritten public offering, a registration on Form S-4 or Form
S-8 or any successor or similar form which is then in effect or upon the
conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent
or otherwise pursuant to any employee benefit arrangements), until a period of
ninety (90) days shall have elapsed from the effective date of such previous
registration; and Stratos shall so provide in any registration rights agreements
hereafter entered into with respect to any of its securities.

         2.8.  NO REQUIRED SALE. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
create an independent obligation on the part of any Holder to sell any
Registrable Securities pursuant to any effective registration statement.

         2.9.  INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a)   In the event of any registration of any securities of Stratos
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Article 2, Stratos will, and hereby
does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each
Holder of Registrable Securities, its directors, officers, fiduciaries,
employees and stockholders or general and limited partners (and the directors,
officers, employees and stockholders thereof), each other Person who
participates as an underwriter or a Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any,
in the offering or sale of such

                                     - 14 -

<PAGE>

securities, each officer, director, employee, stockholder, fiduciary, managing
director, agent, affiliates, consultants, representatives, successors, assigns
or partner of such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, and each
other Person, if any, who controls such seller or any such underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or
threatened) and expenses (including reasonable fees of counsel and any amounts
paid in any settlement effected with Stratos' consent, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which each such indemnified party may
become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise in respect thereof
(collectively, "Claims"), and Stratos will reimburse any such indemnified party
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are
incurred, insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
registration statement under which such securities were registered under the
Securities Act or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, together with the documents incorporated by
reference therein, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation by Stratos of any federal, state or
common law rule or regulation applicable to Stratos and relating to action
required of or inaction by Stratos in connection with any such registration;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Stratos shall not be liable to any such indemnified
party in any such case to the extent such Claim arises out of or is based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact made in such registration statement or
amendment thereof or supplement thereto or in any such prospectus or any
preliminary, final or summary prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to Stratos by or on behalf of such indemnified
party specifically for use therein. Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by us
on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such
securities by such seller.

         (b)   Each Holder of Registrable Securities that are included in the
securities as to which any registration under Section 2.1 or 2.2 is being
effected (and, if Stratos requires as a condition to including any Registrable
Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with Section 2.1 or
2.2, any underwriter and Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any) shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and
to the same extent as set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 2.9) to the
extent permitted by law Stratos, its officers and directors, each Person
controlling Stratos within the meaning of the Securities Act and all other
prospective sellers and their respective directors, officers, fiduciaries,
managing directors, employees, agents, affiliates, consultants, representatives,
successors, assigns, general and limited partners, stockholders and respective
controlling Persons with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact in, or omission or alleged omission of any
material fact from, such registration statement, any preliminary, final or
summary prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, if
such statement or alleged

                                     - 15 -

<PAGE>

statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to Stratos or its representatives
by or on behalf of such Holder or underwriter or Qualified Independent
Underwriter, if any, specifically for use therein and reimburse such indemnified
party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred;
provided, however, that the aggregate amount which any such Holder shall be
required to pay pursuant to this Section 2.9(b) and Sections 2.9(c) and (e)
shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such
person upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration
statement giving rise to such claim. Such indemnity and reimbursement of
expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of
such securities by such Holder.

         (c)   Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.9 (with appropriate modifications)
shall be given by Stratos and each seller of Registrable Securities with respect
to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any
state securities and "blue sky" laws.

         (d)   Any person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement
shall notify promptly the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of
any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may
be made pursuant to this Section 2.9, but the failure of any indemnified party
to provide such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its
obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.9, except to the
extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced thereby and shall not
relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under this Article 2. In case any action or
proceeding is brought against an indemnified party and it shall notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate therein and, unless a conflict of interest between such
indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such claim, to
assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly
notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party shall not be liable
to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that: (i) if the
indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently
the action or proceeding within twenty (20) days after receiving notice from
such indemnified party that the indemnified party believes it has failed to do
so; (ii) if such indemnified party who is a defendant in any action or
proceeding that is also brought against the indemnifying party reasonably shall
have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available to such
indemnified party which are not available to the indemnifying party; or (iii) if
representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate
under applicable standards of professional conduct; then, in any such case, the
indemnified party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as
set forth above (but with no more than one (1) firm of counsel for all
indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any indemnified
party or parties reasonably shall have concluded that there may be legal
defenses

                                     - 16 -

<PAGE>

available to such party or parties which are not available to the other
indemnified parties or to the extent representation of all indemnified parties
by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of
professional conduct) and the indemnifying party shall be liable for any
expenses therefor. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of
the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of
such action or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to or an admission
of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.

         (e)   If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable or is
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 2.9(a), (b) or
(c), then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party as a result of any Claim in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one
hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, with respect to such
offering of securities. The relative fault 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 the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. If, however, the
allocation provided in the second preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only such relative faults but also the relative benefits of the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) were to be determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the preceding sentences
of this Section 2.9(e). The amount paid or payable in respect of any Claim shall
be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
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. Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 2.9(e) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other
than Stratos) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) to contribute
any amount in excess of the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party
from the sale of Registrable Securities in the offering to which the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities of the indemnified parties relate, less the
amount of any indemnification payment made by such indemnifying party pursuant
to Sections 2.9(b) and (c).

         (f)   The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition
to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which any indemnified
party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation

                                     - 17 -

<PAGE>

made or omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the
transfer of the Registrable Securities by any such party.

         (g)   The indemnification and contribution required by this Section 2.9
shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of
the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss,
damage or liability is incurred.

         2.10  BLACKOUT PERIODS FOR SHELF REGISTRATIONS.

         (a)   At any time when a shelf registration effected pursuant to
Article 2 relating to the Registrable Securities is effective, upon written
notice from Stratos to the Holders participating in the registration that
Stratos determines in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of
Stratos that such Holders' sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
shelf registration would require disclosure of material information which
Stratos has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential and the
disclosure of which would have a material adverse effect on Stratos or Stratos
is unable to comply with SEC requirements (an "Information Blackout"), such
Holders shall suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such shelf
registration until the earlier of: (i) the date upon which such material
information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material; (ii) ninety
(90) days after the Board of Directors of Stratos makes such good faith
determination; or (iii) such time as Stratos notifies Holders that sales
pursuant to such shelf registration may be resumed (the number of days from such
suspension of sales of the Holders until the day when such sales may be resumed
hereunder is hereinafter called a "Sales Blackout Period").

         (b)   If there is an Information Blackout and the Holders do not notify
Stratos in writing of their desire to cancel such shelf registration, the period
set forth in Section 2.4(b) shall be extended for a number of days equal to the
number of days in the Sales Blackout Period.

                                    ARTICLE 3
                             UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS

         3.1.  REQUESTED UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS. If requested by the
underwriters for any underwritten offering by the Holders pursuant to a
registration requested under Section 2.1, Stratos shall enter into a customary
underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Such underwriting agreement shall
be satisfactory in form and substance to the Initiating Holder and shall contain
such representations and warranties by, and such other agreements on the part
of, Stratos and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of
that type, including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution
agreements on substantially the same terms as those contained herein or as
otherwise reasonably requested by the underwriters. Any Holder participating in
the offering shall be a party to such underwriting agreement and may, at its
option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and
the other agreements on the part of, Stratos to and for the benefit of such
underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holder and that
any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters
under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of
such Holder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Stratos shall not be required to make any
representations or

                                     - 18 -

<PAGE>

warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a
selling Holder for inclusion in the registration statement. Such underwriting
agreement shall also contain such representations and warranties by the
participating Holders with respect to title and ownership of shares as are
customary in agreements of that type.

         3.2.  PIGGYBACK UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS. In the case of a registration
pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, if Stratos shall have determined to enter into
an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all of the Holders'
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall be subject to
such underwriting agreement. Any Holder participating in such registration may,
at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by,
and the other agreements on the part of, Stratos to and for the benefit of such
underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holder and that
any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters
under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of
such Holder. Such underwriting agreement shall also contain such representations
and warranties by the participating Holders as are customary in agreements of
that type, on substantially the same terms as those contained herein and such
other terms as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                                     GENERAL

         4.1.  ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. Stratos agrees that
it shall not effect or permit to occur any combination or subdivision of shares
which would adversely affect the ability of the Holder of any Registrable
Securities to include such Registrable Securities in any registration
contemplated by this Agreement or the marketability of such Registrable
Securities in any such registration. Stratos agrees that it will take all
reasonable steps necessary to effect a subdivision of shares if in the
reasonable judgment of (i) the Initiating Holder of a Demand Registration
Request or (ii) the managing underwriter for the offering in respect of such
Demand Registration Request, such subdivision would enhance the marketability of
the Registrable Securities.

         4.2.  RULE 144. Stratos covenants that (i) so long as it remains
subject to the reporting provisions of the Exchange Act, it will timely file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(including, but not limited to, the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act), and (ii) will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable
Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time
to enable such Holder 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, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or
(B) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the
request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, Stratos will deliver to such
Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

         4.3.  NOMINEES FOR BENEFICIAL OWNERS.  If Registrable Securities are
held by a nominee for the beneficial owner thereof, the beneficial owner thereof
may, at its option, be treated as the

                                     - 19 -

<PAGE>

Holder of such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other
action by any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Agreement (or any determination of any number or percentage of shares
constituting Registrable Securities held by any Holder or Holders of Registrable
Securities contemplated by this Agreement); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Stratos
shall have received assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such beneficial
ownership.

         4.4   AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended, or any of the provisions hereof waived (temporarily or permanently),
except by a written agreement or consent signed by both of the parties hereto.

         4.5.  NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party
shall be delivered in person, by telecopy (with a confirmatory copy sent by a
different means within three (3) business days of such notice), by express or
overnight mail delivered by a nationally recognized air courier, or by
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested, postage prepaid)
addressed to such party at the address set forth below or such other address as
may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other parties:

         If to Stratos:         Stratos Lightwave, Inc.
                                7444 West Wilson Avenue
                                Chicago, Illinois 60706
                                Attention: Chief Executive Officer
                                Telecopy No.: (708) 867-3288

         If to Methode:         Methode Electronics, Inc.
                                7401 West Wilson Avenue
                                Chicago, Illinois 60706
                                Attention: Chief Executive Officer

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to
have been given when received.

         4.6.  MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a)   This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties hereto and the respective successors, personal
representatives and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not.
If any Person shall acquire Registrable Securities from any Holder, in any
manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such transferee shall promptly
notify Stratos and such Registrable Securities acquired from such Holder shall
be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such Person shall be entitled to receive the
benefits of and be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to
perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement. If Stratos shall so
request, any such successor or assign shall agree in writing to acquire and hold
the Registrable Securities acquired from such Holder subject to all of the terms

                                     - 20 -

<PAGE>

hereof. If any Holder shall acquire additional Registrable Securities, such
Registrable Securities shall be subject to all of the terms, and entitled to all
the benefits, of this Agreement.

         (b)   This Agreement (with the documents referred to herein or
delivered pursuant hereto) embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

         (c)   This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with
and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflicts
of laws principles.

         (d)   The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. All article and
section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise expressly provided.

         (e)   This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one instrument.

         (f)   Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid
or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or
affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of
this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

         (g)   The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate
remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder,
and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which
it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to injunctive relief,
including specific performance, to enforce such obligations without the posting
of any bond, and, if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of
the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the
defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.

         (h)   Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and
performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other
party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         4.7.  PRIOR AGREEMENTS. Each of the Holders and Stratos hereby agrees
that any agreement previously entered into by it pursuant to which Stratos
granted to it any registration rights shall be superseded by this Agreement and
each such agreement (and any rights such Holder has pursuant to such agreement)
shall be terminated, null and void and no longer in effect.

         4.8.  NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The rights granted to the holders of
Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not
inconsistent with any other

                                     - 21 -

<PAGE>

agreements to which Stratos is a party or by which it is bound. Without
Methode's prior written consent, neither Stratos nor any Holder will, on or
after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities which is inconsistent with the rights granted in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof, other than any lock-up agreement
with the underwriters in connection with any registered offering effected
hereunder, pursuant to which Stratos shall agree not to register for sale, and
Stratos shall agree not to sell or otherwise dispose of, Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, for
a specified period following the registered offering. Stratos further agrees
that if any other registration rights agreement entered into after the date of
this Agreement with respect to any of its securities contains terms which are
more favorable to, or less restrictive on, the other party thereto than the
terms and conditions contained in this Agreement are (insofar as they are
applicable) to Methode, then the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall
immediately be deemed to have been amended without further action by Stratos or
any of the holders of Registrable Securities so that Methode shall be entitled
to the benefit of any such more favorable or less restrictive terms or
conditions.

         4.9   TERMINATION. This Agreement shall terminate and have no further
force or effect as of the date of the completion of the Distribution.

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

                                  STRATOS LIGHTWAVE, INC.

                                  By: /s/ James W. McGinley
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                          James W. McGinley
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.

                                  By: /s/ William J. McGinley
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                          William J. McGinley
                                          Chairman

                                     - 22 -

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