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Exhibit 10.13    
  

 
 

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT    
  

        This MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of September 15, 2002 by and among ANVIL
KNITWEAR, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Anvil"), ANVIL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Holdings"), COTTONTOPS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Cottontops" and, together with Anvil,
Holdings, and any subsidiary hereinafter formed of any of them, the "Companies"), and CVC MANAGEMENT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Consultant"). 

        WHEREAS,
the Consultant, by and through its officers, employees, agents, representatives and affiliates, has expertise in the areas of corporate management, finance, investment,
acquisitions and other matters relating to the business of the Companies; and 

        WHEREAS,
each of the Companies desires to avail themselves, for the term of this Agreement, of the expertise of the Consultant in the aforesaid areas (in which it acknowledges the
expertise of the Consultant) in the manner set forth herein. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the covenants and conditions herein set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

        1.    Appointment.    Each of the Companies hereby appoints the Consultant to render the advisory and consulting
services described in Paragraph 2 hereof for the Term (as defined in Paragraph 6 below). 

        2.    Services of the Consultant.    The Consultant hereby agrees that during the term of this Agreement, it shall
render to the Companies by and through its officers, employees, agents, representatives and affiliates as the Consultant, in its sole discretion, shall designate from time to time, advisory and
consulting services in relation to the affairs of the Companies in connection with strategic financial planning, and other services not referred to in the next sentence including, without limitation,
advisory and consulting services in relation to the selection, supervision and retention of independent auditors,
the selection, retention and supervision of outside legal counsel, and the selection, retention and supervision of investment bankers or other financial advisors or consultants. It is expressly agreed
that the services to be performed under this Paragraph 2 shall not include investment banking or other financial advisory services rendered by the Consultant to the Companies in connection with
acquisitions and divestitures by any of the Companies, refinancings, initial public offerings, sales of stock by the Company, or a transaction that constitutes a Sale of the Company under that certain
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of March 14, 1997, by and among Holdings, an affiliate of the Consultant, and certain other parties (the "Stockholders Agreement"); if any such services are
rendered, the Consultant shall be entitled to receive additional compensation for such services. 

        3.    Fees.    In consideration of the Services to be provided by the Consultant to the Company hereunder, the
Companies and their successors agree to pay to the Consultant, semi-annually in advance (on March 15 and September 15 of each year), an aggregate per
annum fee equal to $250,000 (the "Fee"), effective as of September 15, 2002. The Fee shall be paid in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
designated in writing by the Consultant. 

        4.    Reimbursements.    In addition to the Fee, the Companies shall, at the direction of the Consultant, pay directly
or reimburse the Consultant for its reasonable Out-of-Pocket Expenses incurred in connection with the services provided for in Paragraph 2 hereof. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the term "Out-of-Pocket Expenses" shall mean the amounts paid by the Consultant in connection with the services provided for in Paragraph 2, including
reasonable (i)fees and disbursements of any independent professionals and organizations, including independent auditors and outside legal counsel, investment bankers or other financial advisors or
consultants, (ii)costs of any outside services or independent contractors such as financial printers, couriers, 

 

business publication or similar services and (iii) transportation, per diem, telephone calls, word processing expenses or any similar expense not associated with its ordinary operations. All
reimbursements for Out-of-Pocket Expenses shall be made promptly upon or as soon as practicable after presentation by the Consultant to the Companies and any of the Companies
of the statement in connection therewith. 

        5.    Indemnification.    The Companies will indemnify and hold harmless the Consultant and its officers, employees,
agents, representatives and affiliates (each being an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may
become subject under any applicable federal or state law, or any claim made by any third party, or otherwise, to the extent they relate to or arise out of the advisory and consulting services
contemplated by this Agreement or the engagement of the Consultant pursuant to, and the performance by the Consultant of the services contemplated by this Agreement. The Companies will reimburse any
Indemnified Party for all reasonable costs and expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense of
any
pending or threatened claim for which the Indemnified Party would be entitled to indemnification under the terms of the previous sentence, or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not
such Indemnified Party is a party hereto. None of the Companies will be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense is
determined by a court in a final judgment from which no further appeal may be taken, to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Consultant. 

        6.    Term.    This Agreement shall be effective as of September 15, 2002 and shall continue until
March 15, 2007 (the "Term"). The provisions of Paragraph 5 and otherwise as the context so requires shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

        7.    Permitted Activities.    Subject to applicable provisions of Delaware law that impose fiduciary duties upon the
Consultant or its partners or affiliates, nothing herein shall in any way preclude the Consultant or its respective officers, employees or affiliates from engaging in any business activities or from
performing services for their own account or for the account of others, including for entities that may be in competition with the business conducted by the Companies. 

        8.    General.    

        (a)  No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, or consent to any departure by any party hereto from any such provision, shall in any event be effective
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties to this Agreement and then such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose
for which given. 

        (b)  Any
and all notices hereunder shall, in the absence of receipted hand delivery, be deemed duly given when mailed, if the same shall be sent by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, and the mailing date shall be deemed the date from which all time periods pertaining to a date of notice shall run. Notices shall be addressed to the parties at the
following addresses: 

        If to the Companies:

	Anvil Knitwear, Inc.

228 East 45th Street

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Chief Administrative Officer

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With copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
	

CVC Management LLC

399 Park Avenue, 14th Floor

New York, New York 10043
	Attention:	 	David F. Thomas

John D. Weber
	
and
	

c/o Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., Inc.

126 East 56th Street, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10022
	Attention:	 	Bruce C. Bruckmann

        If to the Consultant:

	CVC Management LLC

399 Park Avenue, 14th Floor

New York, New York 10043
	Attention:	 	David F. Thomas

John D. Weber
	
In any case, with copies (which shall not constitute notice to the Consultant) to:
	

Kirkland & Ellis

Citigroup Center

153 East 53rd Street

New York, New York 10022-4675
	Attention:	 	Kirk A. Radke, Esq.

        (c)  This
Agreement shall constitute the entire Agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all previous oral and written
(and all contemporaneous oral) negotiations, commitments, agreements and understandings relating hereto. 

        (d)  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY
AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT.

        (e)  This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Companies, the Consultant, and their respective successors and assigns. 

        (f)    This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each set of counterparts showing execution by all parties
shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. 

        (g)  Each
of the Companies shall cause their respective subsidiaries and hereinafter formed or acquired to execute a counterpart to this Agreement, thereby assuming the
rights and obligations of a Company under this Agreement; provided that the obligations of a subsidiary hereunder shall terminate at the time such
subsidiary is no longer a subsidiary of any of the Companies. 

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        (h)  The
waiver by any party of any breach of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver by such party of any subsequent breach. 

        (i)    This
Agreement may not be assigned by the Consultant except to an Affiliate thereof; provided, that under no
circumstances may an entity that is not an Affiliate of the Consultant have the right to the benefits, or the obligations, under this Agreement. 

*        *        *        *        *

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        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Management Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date hereof by their duty authorized officers or agents as set forth below. 

	 	 	ANVIL KNITWEAR, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  JACOB HOLLANDER EVP      
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

ANVIL HOLDINGS, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  JACOB HOLLANDER VP      
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

COTTONTOPS, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  JACOB HOLLANDER VP      
 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

CVC MANAGEMENT LLC
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  JOHN WEBER      
 Name:

Title:

5

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Exhibit 10.13

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Exhibit 4.1    
  

CERTIFICATE OF OWNERSHIP AND MERGER

MERGING

NL MERGER CORPORATION

WITH AND INTO

NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  

        NL Merger Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware ("Parent Corporation"), does hereby certify that: 

        FIRST:
Parent Corporation was incorporated on the 14th day of April 2003, pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law. 

        SECOND:
Next Level Communications, Inc. ("Next Level") was incorporated on the 24th day of August 1999, pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law. 

        THIRD:
Parent Corporation owns of record and beneficially (i) at least 90% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Next Level Common
Stock"), of Next Level, and (ii) all of the issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock of Next Level, consisting of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and
Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, each having a par value of $0.01 per share (collectively, the "Next Level Preferred Stock"). 

        FOURTH:
Next Level has no shares of capital stock issued or outstanding other than the Next Level Common Stock and Next Level Preferred Stock. 

        FIFTH:
That Parent Corporation, by the resolutions of its Board of Directors, as set forth in Exhibit A, duly adopted by the
unanimous written consent of the members thereof, filed with the minutes of the Board of Directors, pursuant to Section 141(t) of the Delaware General Corporation Law as of April 24, 2003,
determined to and, effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Ownership and Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware, does merge Parent Corporation with and into Next Level on the terms
and conditions set forth in Exhibit 1 (the "Merger") and are incorporated herein by this reference. 

        SIXTH:
That the sole holder of all of the outstanding capital stock of Parent Corporation has approved the Merger by written consent in lieu of a meeting pursuant to Section 228
of the Delaware General Corporation Law. 

        SEVENTH:
The Merger shall take effect upon the filing of this Certificate of Ownership and Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware. 

        EIGHTH:
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Next Level will be amended and restated in its entirety as set forth in Paragraph A.4 of  Exhibit 1. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, said Parent Corporation has caused this Certificate to be signed by its authorized officer, this 24th day of April 2003. 

	 	NL MERGER CORPORATION
	

 	

By:	
 	

/s/  DAVID W. DEVONSHIRE      

	 	Name:	 	David W. Devonshire
	 	Title:	 	President

Exhibit A  

 WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE DIRECTORS OF

NL MERGER CORPORATION

RELATING TO THE MERGER OF

PARENT CORPORATION

WITH AND INTO

NEXT LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  

          April 24, 2003  

        The undersigned, being all of the directors of NL Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent Corporation"), do hereby consent to the taking of the
following actions in lieu of a meeting of the Board of Directors of Parent Corporation ("Board") and do hereby adopt the following resolutions by unanimous written consent in lieu of meeting pursuant
to Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware: 

        WHEREAS, Parent Corporation is the legal and beneficial owner of at least 90% of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Next Level Common Stock"), of Next Level Communications, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware ("Next Level"), and all of the outstanding shares of
preferred stock of Next Level, consisting of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share, (collectively, the "Next Level Preferred Stock"); 

        WHEREAS, the Next Level Common Stock and Next Level Preferred Stock are the only issued and outstanding classes and series of capital
stock of Next Level; 

        WHEREAS, the Board of Parent Corporation has deemed that it is advisable and in the best interests of Parent Corporation to merge Parent
Corporation with and into Next Level (the "Merger"), with Next Level as the surviving corporation in the Merger; and 

        WHEREAS, the Merger will occur and have the effects as set forth on Exhibit 1; 

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective upon the filing of an appropriate Certificate of Ownership and Merger embodying these
resolutions with the Secretary of State of Delaware (but subject to the approval of the sole stockholder of Parent Corporation), Parent Corporation shall merge, and it hereby does merge itself with
and into Next Level, with Next Level as the surviving corporation that will assume all of Parent Corporation's obligations; and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that the terms and conditions of the Merger shall be as set forth on  Exhibit 1; and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proposed Merger be submitted to the sole stockholder of Parent Corporation and that upon the written consent of
such stockholder, the proposed Merger shall be approved; and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that Next Level, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, shall notify each stockholder of record of Next Level
within ten (10) days after the effective date of the Merger of the Merger's becoming effective and of such stockholder's rights under Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law;
and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President or any Vice President of Parent Corporation be and are hereby authorized and directed to make and
execute a Certificate of Ownership and Merger, and to cause the same to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and to do all acts and things whatsoever, whether within or
without the State of Delaware, which may be in any way necessary or proper to effect said Merger; and be it 

 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that all actions heretofore taken by any officer of the Parent Corporation in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the foregoing resolutions be, and they hereby are, approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects; and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that the execution of this Written Consent may be executed by the Directors in any number of counterparts, all of which
when executed and delivered shall have the force and effect of an original; and be it 

        FURTHER RESOLVED, that the execution of this Written Consent and delivery thereof by facsimile signatures shall be sufficient for all
purposes and shall be binding upon any party who so executes. 

        [Remainder of page intentionally blank]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Written Consent as of the date first written above. 

	 	/s/  DAVID W. DEVONSHIRE      
 David W. Devonshire, Director
	

 	

/s/  GARTH MILNE      
 Garth Milne, Director
	

 	

/s/  ANTHONY KNAPP      
 Anthony Knapp, Director

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Exhibit 1  

 THE MERGER  

        A.    The Merger. 

        1.    At
the Effective Time (as defined below), Next Level and the Parent Corporation shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which (i) the Parent Corporation shall be
merged with and into Next Level and the separate corporate existence of the Parent Corporation shall thereupon cease, (ii) Next Level shall be the successor or surviving corporation in the
Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation"), and (iii) the separate corporate existence of Next Level with all its
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law
("DGCL"). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises of Next Level and the Parent Corporation shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of Next Level and the Parent Corporation shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation. 

        2.    The
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Surviving Corporation, as amended in Paragraph A.4 below and until thereafter amended as provided by law and such Restated Certificate of Incorporation. 

        3.    The
Bylaws of the Parent Corporation, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, except as to the name of the
Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided by law, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or such Bylaws. 

        4.    The
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: 

RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

of

NET LEVEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.  

        FIRST: The name of the corporation is "Next Level Communications, Inc." 

        SECOND:
The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware. 

        THIRD:
The name and address of the corporation's agent for service of process in the state of Delaware is: 

The
Corporation Trust Company

1209 Orange Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

County of New Castle 

        FOURTH:
The total number of shares which the corporation shall have authority to issue is One Thousand (1,000) with $.01 par value. 

        5.    Subject
to applicable law, the directors of the Parent Corporation immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of
the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of Next Level immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case
until their respective successors shall have been duly elected or appointed or qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. 

 

        B.    Effective Time.    The Merger shall become effective on the date and time on which the Certificate of Ownership
and Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Merger Certificate"), and such date and time is referred to
herein as the "Effective Time." 

        C.    Conversion Of Securities.    

        1.    Conversion of Capital Stock.    As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the
part of the holders of any shares of Next Level Common Stock, Next Level Preferred Stock or shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Parent Corporation (the
"Parent Corporation Common Stock"): 

        a.    Surviving Corporation Common Stock.    Each issued and outstanding share of the Parent Corporation Common Stock
shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation. 

        b.    Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent Corporation-Owned Stock.    All shares of Next Level Common Stock (the
"Shares" or each, a "Share") that are owned by Next Level as treasury stock, all Shares owned by Parent
Corporation and all Next Level Preferred Stock owned by Parent Corporation shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefore. 

        c.    Conversion of Next Level Common Stock.    Each issued and outstanding Share (other than Shares to be cancelled
in accordance with Section C(1)(b) hereof and other than Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section C(3) hereof) shall be converted into the right to receive $1.18 in cash, payable to the
holder thereof, without interest (the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such Share in the manner provided
in Section C(2) hereof. From and after the Effective Time, all such Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
holder of a certificate representing any such Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration therefore upon the surrender of such
certificate in accordance with Section C (2) hereof, without interest. 

        2.    Exchange of Certificates.    

        a.    Paying Agent.    Mellon Investor Services LLC or another person or entity selected by the Motorola, Inc.
or any wholly owned subsidiary thereof having any direct or indirect ownership of Parent Corporation (collectively, "Motorola"), will be designated to
act as agent for the holders of Shares in connection with the Merger (the "Paying Agent") to receive the funds to which holders of Shares shall become
entitled pursuant to Section C(1)(c). If any funds are deposited with the Paying Agent by or on behalf of Parent Corporation, such deposited funds shall be invested by the Paying Agent as
directed by Motorola, pending payment thereof by the Paying Agent to the holders of the Shares. Earnings from
such investments shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Surviving Corporation, and no part of such earnings shall accrue to the benefit of holders of the Shares. 

        b.    Exchange Procedures.    Upon surrender of a certificate evidencing one or more Shares (each a
"Certificate") for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal and other documents in form designated by the
Parent Corporation and the Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefore the Merger Consideration for each Share formerly represented by such
Certificate and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the surrendered
Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so 

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surrendered shall be properly endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other taxes required by reason of
the payment of the Merger Consideration to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such
tax either has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section C(2), each Certificate held by persons whose shares were converted pursuant to
Section C(1) hereof shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration in cash as contemplated by this Section C(2),
without interest thereon. Any uncertificated Shares in book-entry form shall be deemed surrendered to the Paying Agent at the Effective Time, and, subject to Section C(3), each
record holder thereof shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration for each such uncertificated Share, without any action on the part of such holder. 

        c.    Transfer Books; No Further Ownership Rights in Next Level Common Stock.    At the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of Next Level shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no further registration of transfers of Shares on the records of Next Level. From and after the Effective Time, the holders
of Certificates evidencing ownership of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any voting, dividend or other rights with respect to such Shares, except as
otherwise provided for herein or by applicable law. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as
provided in this Section C. No interest shall accrue or be paid on any cash payable upon the surrender of a Certificate or Certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding Shares. 

        d.    Termination of Fund; No Liability.    At any time, Motorola shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent to
deliver to the Surviving Corporation any funds (including any interest received with respect thereto) which had been made available to the Paying Agent and which have not then been disbursed to
holders of Certificates, and thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar laws) only as general creditors
thereof with respect to the Merger Consideration payable upon due surrender of their Certificates, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Motorola, the Surviving
Corporation nor the Paying Agent shall be liable to any holder of a Certificate for Merger Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
similar law. 

        e.    Cash Payment.    The Merger Consideration paid in the Merger shall be net to the holder of Shares in cash,
subject to reduction only for any amounts required to be deducted and withheld with respect to making such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (the "Code"), or any provision of state, local, provincial or foreign tax law or as set forth in Section C(2)(b), including stock
transfer taxes payable by such holder. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes as having been paid to the holder of Shares in respect of
which such deduction and withholding was made. 

        3.    Dissenting Shares.    Notwithstanding anything in these resolutions to the contrary, Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder who has not consented to the Merger in writing and who has complied with all of the relevant provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL
(the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration, unless such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or
otherwise loses his or her right to appraisal. A holder of Dissenting Shares shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such Shares held by him or her in accordance with the
provisions of Section 262 of the 

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DGCL, unless, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect or withdraws or loses his or her right to appraisal, in which case such Shares shall be converted into and represent only the
right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the Certificate or Certificates representing such Shares pursuant to Section C(2). A holder of any
Dissenting Shares shall not have any voting, dividend or other rights as a shareholder of the Surviving Corporation. 

        4.    Next Level Stock Plans.    

        a.    Pursuant
to Section 8(b)(iv) of the Next Level Communications, Inc. 1999 Stock Plan and Section 11.3(d) of the Next Level
Communications, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, (i) Next Level shall have taken all action necessary to make fully exercisable each unexpired and unexercised stock option subject to
either such Plan, and (ii) each unexpired and unexercised option subject to either such Plan shall expire at the Effective Time and the holders of such options shall have no further rights or
interest therein. 

        b.    Each
unexpired and unexercised stock option subject to the Next Level Communications, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended and restated)
shall continue as a stock option to acquire $1.18 in cash for each Share originally subject to such option. The other terms and conditions of each such option shall remain in full force and effect. 

        c.    Next
Level shall have taken, prior to the Effective Time, all action necessary (i) to cause the suspension of the withholding from compensation of participants in
the Next Level Communications, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Next Level ESPP"), (ii) to cause the termination of the Next Level ESPP, (iii) to issue any Shares issuable
to employees participating in the Next Level ESPP pursuant to its terms, and (iv) to refund, without interest, to each participant in the
Next Level ESPP any amount withheld from such participant's compensation to the extent such amount has not been used to purchase Shares. 

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QuickLinks

Exhibit 4.1

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