FORM OF 2.50% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE 2012

EXHIBIT 10.3

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

THIS SECURITY AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH NEWPORT CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”) OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF

TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (AS SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF) AND, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY AND TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT.

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NEWPORT CORPORATION

2.50% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2012

Newport Corporation, a Nevada corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal amount of one hundred seventy-five million dollars ($175,000,000) on February 15, 2012.

This Security shall bear interest as specified on the other side of this Security. This Security is convertible as specified on the other side of this Security.

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated: February 7, 2007

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

[REVERSE SIDE OF SECURITY]

NEWPORT CORPORATION

CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2012

Newport Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”, which term shall include any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate of 2.50% per annum. The Company shall pay interest semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing August 15, 2007. Each payment of interest will include interest accrued through the day before the relevant Interest Payment Date (or purchase date). Cash interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Any payment required to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any reference herein to interest accrued or payable as of any date shall include any Additional Interest accrued or payable on such date as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

No sinking fund is provided for the Securities.

The Company shall pay interest on this Security (except defaulted interest) to the person who is the Holder of this Security at the close of business on February 1 or August 1, as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), next preceding the related Interest Payment Date. The Holder must surrender this Security to a Paying Agent to collect payment of principal. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Company may pay principal and interest in respect of any Certificated Security by check or wire payable in such money; provided, however, that a Holder with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 will be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the election of such Holder if such Holder has provided wire transfer instructions to the Trustee at least 10 Business Days prior to the Payment Date. The Company may mail an interest check to the Holder’s registered address. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as this Security is registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, all payments hereon shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

Any wire transfer instructions received by the Trustee will remain in effect until revoked by the Holder.

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”, which term shall include any successor trustee under the Indenture hereinafter referred to) will act as Paying Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Conversion Agent without notice to the Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may, subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company designated as its 2.50% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the “Securities”), issued under an Indenture dated as of

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February 7, 2007 (together with any supplemental indentures thereto, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of this Security include those stated in the Indenture and those required by or made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in effect on the date of the Indenture. This Security is subject to all such terms, and the Holder of this security is referred to the Indenture and said Act for a statement of them. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

The Securities are unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company limited to $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount. The Indenture does not limit other debt of the Company, secured or unsecured.

If a Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Final Maturity Date, at the option of the Holder and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to purchase for cash, all or any part specified by the Holder (so long as the principal amount of such part is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of the Securities held by such Holder on a date specified by the Company that is not less than 30 nor more than 45 days after the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Purchase Date. The Holder shall have the right to withdraw any Fundamental Change Purchase Notice (in whole or in a portion thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the Fundamental Change Purchase Date by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Indenture and upon the occurrence of the events specified in the Indenture, a Holder may surrender for conversion any Security that is $1,000 principal amount or integral multiples thereof. In lieu of receiving shares of Common Stock, a Holder will receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities surrendered for conversion:

provided that in no event shall the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the foregoing clause, per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, exceed the Aggregate Share Cap, as defined in the Indenture, without taking into account any election by the Company to deliver cash in lieu of all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable as set forth in the Indenture.

The Conversion Rate on any Securities surrendered in connection with a Fundamental Change may be increased by an amount, if any, determined in accordance with Section 4.01(j) of the Indenture.

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To the extent provided in the Indenture, the Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness, as defined in the Indenture, of the Company. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Indebtedness must be paid in full before the Securities may be paid. The Company agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, to the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose.