AXIOM INC
S-1/A, 1997-05-27
RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>
   
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 27, 1997
    
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-25439
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
 
   
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-1
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                   AXIOM INC.
    
 
   
              (successor by merger to Securicor Telesciences Inc.)
    
 
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                            <C>
           DELAWARE                          3669
 (State or other jurisdiction    (Primary Standard Industrial      51-0356153
              of                 Classification Code Number)    (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                                   Identification
                                                                      No.)
</TABLE>
    
 
         351 NEW ALBANY ROAD, MOORESTOWN, NJ 08057-1177, (609) 866-1000
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
 
   
                               ANDREW P. MAUNDER
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                   AXIOM INC.
                              351 NEW ALBANY ROAD
                           MOORESTOWN, NJ 08057-1177
                                 (609) 866-1000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
    
                            ------------------------
 
                                    COPY TO:
 
      JASON M. SHARGEL, ESQUIRE                 BARBARA L. BECKER, ESQUIRE
 Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen              Chadbourne & Parke LLP
    Twelfth Floor Packard Building                 30 Rockefeller Plaza
 S.E. Corner 15th & Chestnut Streets                New York, NY 10112
        Philadelphia, PA 19102                        (212) 408-5100
            (215) 977-2000
 
                            ------------------------
 
    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO THE
PUBLIC: As promptly as practicable after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.
 
    If the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. / /
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
- ---------
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
- ---------
 
   
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
    
                            ------------------------
 
   
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
 
   
    This Registration Statement contains a prospectus relating to an offering in
the United States and Canada (the "U.S. Offering") of an aggregate of
      shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Axiom Inc. together
with separate prospectus pages relating to a concurrent offering outside the
United States and Canada of an aggregate of       shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share, of Axiom Inc. (the "International Offering"). The
complete prospectus for the U.S. Offering follows immediately after this
Explanatory Note. Following such prospectus are the alternate front cover and
back cover pages for the International Offering. All other pages of the
prospectus for the U.S. Offering are to be used for both the U.S. Offering and
the International Offering. The complete prospectus for each of the U.S.
Offering and the International Offering, in the forms in which they are to be
used after effectiveness, will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission via EDGAR pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933.
    
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 27, 1997
    
 
PROSPECTUS
 
   
                                2,600,000 SHARES
                                   AXIOM INC.
                   (SUCCESSOR TO SECURICOR TELESCIENCES INC.)
                                  COMMON STOCK
    
                                 --------------
 
   
    All of the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), offered hereby are being sold by Axiom Inc. (the "Company"), the
successor to Securicor Telesciences Inc. Of the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock
offered hereby,      are initially being offered in the United States and Canada
by the U.S. Underwriters (the "U.S. Offering") and     are initially being
offered outside the United States and Canada by the International Managers (the
"International Offering" and, together with the U.S. Offering, the "Offering").
See "Underwriting." The initial public offering price and underwriting discounts
and commissions are identical for both the U.S. Offering and the International
Offering. The closing of the U.S. Offering is a condition to the closing of the
International Offering and the closing of the International Offering is a
condition to the closing of the U.S. Offering. Of the net proceeds from the sale
by the Company of the Common Stock, approximately $20.4 million will be used to
repay certain indebtedness from the Company's sole stockholder. See "Use of
Proceeds" and "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price will be between
$11.00 and $13.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for a discussion of the factors
to be considered in determining the initial public offering price. The Common
Stock has been approved for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq")
under the symbol "AXIM."
    
                             ---------------------
 
   
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT
   SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED
                                    HEREBY.
    
                              -------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
             EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
        NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
              SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
             ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO
                      THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                PRICE TO            UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS          PROCEEDS TO
                                                 PUBLIC              AND COMMISSIONS (1)            COMPANY (2)
<S>                                     <C>                       <C>                         <C>
Per Share.............................  $                         $                           $
Total (3).............................  $                         $                           $
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) The Company and an affiliate of its sole stockholder have agreed to
    indemnify the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers against
    certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended. See "Underwriting."
    
 
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $775,000 payable by the Company.
 
(3) The Company has granted the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers
    30-day options to purchase up to an aggregate of 390,000 additional shares
    of Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as set forth above solely
    to cover over-allotments, if any. If such options are exercised in full, the
    total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds
    to Company will be $         , $         and $         , respectively. See
    "Underwriting."
                             ---------------------
 
   
    The shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are offered by the
U.S. Underwriters subject to prior sale, to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offer without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the
U.S. Underwriters and to certain further conditions. It is expected that
delivery of certificates for the shares of Common Stock will be made at the
offices of Lehman Brothers Inc., New York, New York, on or about        , 1997.
    
                             ---------------------
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS                                                J.P. MORGAN & CO.
 
   
               , 1997
    
<PAGE>
    [Description of graphics to be inserted:
 
    1. Outer flap of gatefold: Representation of a world map with stars marked
to show the locations of customers of the Company's products and services during
the preceding eighteen months. Large caption above the map setting forth the
Company's name and one phrase "World Class Information Management Solutions." A
box appears below the map containing the following text: "Leaders in Serving
Global Telecommunications with: Collection, Preprocessing and Delivery of
Billing and Transaction Data; Traffic Management Reporting."
 
   
    2. Innerflap of gatefold: graphical representation of the Company's
products, showing how they can be used together as a system in conjunction with
the customer's billing data, network data and management applications. In the
box identifying the Company's products, the Company's name and logo appear
together with the phrase: "World Class Information Management Solutions."]
    
 
    CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOLLOWING
THE PRICING OF THE OFFERING TO COVER A SYNDICATE SHORT POSITION IN THE COMMON
STOCK OR FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK AND THE
IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE TRANSACTIONS, SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
 
   
    IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS (AND SELLING GROUP
MEMBERS) MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON
THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
    
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
   
    THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE PREDECESSOR
BUSINESS (AS DEFINED BELOW UNDER "THE COMPANY") AND THE NOTES THERETO APPEARING
ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IN
THIS PROSPECTUS REFLECTS THE FOLLOWING: (I) A 34,769-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT (IN THE
FORM OF A STOCK DIVIDEND) OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER
SHARE (THE "COMMON STOCK") WHICH WILL BE EFFECTED PRIOR TO THE COMPLETION OF THE
OFFERING AND (II) NO EXERCISE OF THE OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTIONS GRANTED TO THE U.S.
UNDERWRITERS AND THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS (COLLECTIVELY, THE "UNDERWRITERS").
SEE "UNDERWRITING." AS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE TERM "FISCAL 1994" REFERS TO
THE PREDECESSOR BUSINESS' FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994, AND THE TERMS "FISCAL
1995," "FISCAL 1996" AND "FISCAL 1997" REFER TO THE COMPANY'S FISCAL YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1995, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, RESPECTIVELY.
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
   
    The Company is a leader in providing comprehensive billing data collection
solutions to providers of local, long-distance and other advanced
telecommunications services. The Company's largest customers include Regional
Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs"), such as Ameritech Corporation, Southwestern
Bell Telephone Company and U S West, Inc., and international providers of
telecommunications services, such as Telecom Argentina. The Company develops,
markets and supports integrated hardware and software systems that are able to
collect and process an increasing volume of transaction information from a wide
variety of wireline telecommunications switches and transmit this information to
the customer's information management networks. The Company also is developing
systems that process transaction information from wireless, asynchronous
transfer mode ("ATM") and other specialized telecommunications switches. The
Company's customers use this information to bill their subscribers, to implement
customized marketing programs and to perform other data management functions.
The Company also provides traffic management solutions to telecommunications
companies such as TELESP, a Brazilian telecommunications service provider. The
Company recently introduced its first applications software product, a fraud
detection and management system. The Company provides installation, ongoing
maintenance, support and training, as well as customized engineering services,
related to the Company's systems.
    
 
    The telecommunications industry is currently experiencing rapid growth and
change resulting from the combined effects of regulatory, competitive and
technological developments. Regulatory changes, including the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, have created competitive wholesale and retail telecommunications
markets and have required RBOCs and other wholesalers to provide to retail
resellers detailed call data that previously were not required to be captured.
To comply with regulatory requirements and to be successful in increasingly
competitive markets, telecommunications providers are being required to upgrade
their existing data collection systems to new systems that can process large
volumes of transaction information without compromising the integrity of the
billing stream and can efficiently transmit the information for use by
increasingly sophisticated and varied data management applications. The growing
number and categories of telecommunications providers is creating a need for
more sophisticated data management systems that utilize call data as part of
marketing and other information management programs. Escalating competition has
also created the need for systems that can provide real-time access to call
data.
 
    The Company believes that it provides to large wireline customers the most
advanced and reliable billing data collection systems and that it is the leader
in designing these systems to meet the Automatic Message Accounting Data
Networking System ("AMADNS") generic requirements established in 1994. A
critical feature of the Company's systems is redundancy, permitting them to
protect the integrity of call detail records ("CDRs") and provide "financial
grade" reliability (greater than 99.999% system availability). The Company's
products also are capable of delivering transaction information on a real-time
basis. Reflecting the engineering expertise acquired through the Company's
30-year history, the Company's products offer a high degree of connectivity,
permitting them to interface with switches from all major
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
domestic and most international wireline switch manufacturers, including
Northern Telecom Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc., Siemens AG, L.M. Ericsson
Telephone Co. and NEC Corp. The Company's systems utilize an open systems
architecture, permitting them to interface with other elements of the customer's
data collection network and with virtually any billing processing or other
information management application. The Company's systems also are scaleable,
thereby allowing them to handle a large range of call volumes. The systems can
be configured with proprietary software applications that provide a wide variety
of preprocessing functions such as filtering (extracting data that meet preset
criteria), distribution (directing predetermined data to certain specialized
applications) and reformatting (rearranging input data into a user-defined
output format).
 
    The Company is currently the leading supplier of billing data collection
products to the RBOCs. Six of the seven RBOCs are current customers for the
Company's products or services. The Company's aggregate revenues from sales to
its three main RBOC customers increased from $10.2 million in fiscal 1994 to
$13.1 million in fiscal 1995 and $20.9 million in fiscal 1996. During the 1980s,
the Company was a primary supplier to Ameritech Corporation, U S West, Inc. and
their predecessors, of SEBX Series products, the Company's prior generation of
billing data collections systems. The Company introduced its next generation
product, the Sterling Series, in late 1995 and has made initial sales of the
Sterling Series products to these customers and to Southwestern Bell Telephone
Company. The Company has sold over 200 units of Sterling Series products to
date. The Company believes that these three customers have replaced in the
aggregate less than 25% of their prior generation billing data collection units,
and that these customers will replace the balance of these units, and purchase
additional products and services from the Company, over the next three to five
years. The Company also believes that there is a significant opportunity to sell
Sterling Series products to other RBOCs and to other wireline customers
worldwide. The Company sells its products to wireless telecommunications
companies through a supply relationship with another company.
 
    The Company's objective is to leverage its position as the leading provider
of comprehensive billing data collection systems to RBOCs to become the leading
provider of those systems and related information management products and
services to telecommunications and other information providers domestically and
internationally. The Company's strategy to achieve this objective includes the
following key elements: (i) expand relationships with wireline customers; (ii)
continue to expand sales to new telecommunications markets; (iii) continue to
develop marketing channels; (iv) expand international business; (v) expand
product and service offerings; and (vi) retain technology leadership.
 
   
                                  THE OFFERING
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Common Stock offered.........................  2,600,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after
  the Offering...............................  6,076,900 shares
Use of Proceeds..............................  To repay indebtedness from the Company's sole
                                               stockholder; for product development; to
                                               enhance international sales, marketing and
                                               support efforts; and for working capital and
                                               other general corporate purposes.
Nasdaq National Market symbol................  AXIM
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
   
    The following summary financial information should be read in conjunction
with the Financial Statements of the Company and the Predecessor Business and
Notes thereto, "Selected Financial Data" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               PREDECESSOR                         AXIOM INC.
                                               BUSINESS(1)  ---------------------------------------------------------
                                               -----------   PERIOD FROM
                                                  YEAR      JULY 1, 1994        YEAR ENDED         SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                  ENDED          TO           SEPTEMBER 30,           MARCH 31,
                                                JUNE 30,    SEPTEMBER 30,  --------------------  --------------------
                                                  1994          1994         1995       1996       1996       1997
                                               -----------  -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
  Unrelated third parties....................   $  20,229     $   5,606    $  24,147  $  31,641  $   8,740  $  12,050
  Related parties............................      --            --            1,421      2,323      2,040     --
                                               -----------  -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                   20,229         5,606       25,568     33,964     10,780     12,050
                                               -----------  -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                               -----------  -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Charge for purchased research and
    development(2)...........................      --             6,700       --         --         --         --
  Operating income (loss)....................      (3,009)       (6,871)         551      2,085     (3,364)    (3,997)
  Net income (loss)..........................                    (4,098)         367      2,192     (1,963)    (2,462)
  Historical net income (loss) per common
    share....................................                 $   (1.18)   $    0.11  $    0.63  $   (0.56) $   (0.71)
                                                            -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                            -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Shares used in computing historical net
    income (loss) per common share...........                     3,477        3,477      3,477      3,477      3,477
                                                            -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                            -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Supplemental pro forma net income (loss)
    per common share(3)......................                                         $    0.49             $   (0.44)
                                                                                      ---------             ---------
                                                                                      ---------             ---------
  Shares used in computing supplemental pro
    forma net income (loss) per common share
    (3)......................................                                             5,180                 5,180
                                                                                      ---------             ---------
                                                                                      ---------             ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         AS OF          AS OF MARCH 31, 1997
                                                                                     SEPTEMBER 30,   ---------------------------
                                                                                          1996         ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED(5)
                                                                                     --------------  ----------  ---------------
<S>                                                                                  <C>             <C>         <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents........................................................    $    3,326    $    1,279    $     9,120
  Total assets.....................................................................        30,336        24,607         31,360
  Working capital, excluding obligations to parent and affiliates (4)..............        14,698        10,776         18,298
  Obligations to parent and affiliates(4)..........................................        23,291        21,480        --
  Long-term debt...................................................................           147        --            --
  Stockholder's equity (deficit)(4)................................................        (1,539)       (4,001)        24,240
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) The statement of operations data presented for the Predecessor Business
    represents the information for the Wireline Division of TeleSciences, Inc.
    See Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the Predecessor Business
    and Notes thereto.
    
 
   
(2) Represents a one-time charge for purchased research and development which
    was incurred as a result of the acquisition of the Predecessor Business (as
    defined below under "The Company") by the Company on July 1, 1994. The
    acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. See
    Notes 1 and 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
    
 
   
(3) See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation
    of the computation of supplemental pro forma net income (loss) per common
    share.
    
 
   
(4) The Company's acquisition of the Predecessor Business and other financing
    requirements have been primarily funded from borrowings from Securicor
    rather than equity investment. These borrowings are classified as
    obligations to parent and affiliates. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
   
(5) Adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of 2,600,000 shares of
    Common Stock offered hereby (at an assumed initial public offering price of
    $12.00 per share and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and
    offering expenses) and the application of the net proceeds therefrom. See
    "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization." Also includes the effect of the May
    1997 transfer of certain net assets at net book value to an affiliate of
    Securicor. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE FOLLOWING
MATTERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN EVALUATING AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S
ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE SET
FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
RELIANCE ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS; DEPENDENCE ON STERLING
  SERIES PRODUCTS
 
   
    A significant portion of the Company's revenues have been, and are expected
to continue to be, derived from substantial orders placed by large
organizations, and in particular three RBOCs. For fiscal 1996, U S West, Inc.
("U S West"), Southwestern Bell Telephone Company ("Southwestern Bell") and
Ameritech Corporation ("Ameritech"), the Company's largest customers for billing
data collection systems during the period, represented approximately 30.1%,
18.5% and 13.0%, respectively, of total revenues. During fiscal 1996, an
additional 9.4% of the Company's revenues was attributable to sales to Puerto
Rico Telephone Co. The Company has entered into contracts with its larger
domestic customers pursuant to which such customers place orders for the
Company's systems on an as-needed basis on the terms set forth in such
contracts. Under the terms of these contracts, the Company's customers are not
obligated to purchase a minimum number of systems nor are they required to
purchase systems exclusively from the Company. Consequently, the failure of any
of the Company's larger customers to continue to purchase systems from the
Company, or any significant delay in orders from such customers, could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial
condition. The Company expects that in the future it will continue to be
dependent upon a limited number of customers in any given period for a
significant portion of its revenues. Revenues from RBOCs and other wireline
customers during the next several years will be largely dependent upon the
success of the Company's Sterling Series billing data collection systems that
were introduced in late 1995 and, accordingly, any significant performance
problems with those systems could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations and financial condition. Demand for the
Company's products will also depend to a substantial extent on the future
capital spending plans of its customers. Furthermore, customer demand generally
can be affected by numerous variables, including changes in governmental
regulation, changes in the customers' competitive environment, mergers or other
strategic alignments involving customers, pricing policies by the Company or its
competitors, personnel changes, the number, timing and significance of new
product and product enhancement announcements by the Company and its
competitors, the ability of the Company to develop, introduce and market new and
enhanced versions of its products on a timely basis, the mix of direct and
indirect sales and general economic factors. There can be no assurance that
revenues from customers that have accounted for significant revenues in past
periods, individually or as a group, will continue, or if continued will reach
or exceed historical levels in any future period. See "Business-- Customers."
    
 
DIFFICULTY IN FORECASTING REVENUES; LONG SALES CYCLES; RELIANCE ON LARGE ORDERS;
  NON-RECURRING NATURE OF SALES; FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS
 
    The Company's revenues are difficult to forecast as a result of the fact
that the purchase of its systems generally involves a significant commitment of
capital and management time. Accordingly, the sales cycle associated with the
purchase of the Company's products --from initial contact to contract execution
and placement of the actual order by the customer--typically is lengthy, varies
from customer to customer and from project to project, and is subject to a
number of additional significant risks, including customers' budgetary
constraints and internal acceptance reviews and, to a lesser extent, the timing
of sales by the Company's customers to their own customers over which the
Company has little or no control. The Company's results also vary based on the
type and quantity of products shipped, the timing of product shipments, the
relative revenue mix in a given period and the resulting margins. Because of the
nature of the Company's products, a large part of the Company's sales is of a
non-recurring nature. RBOCs typically do not approve their annual budgets until
the Company's second fiscal quarter of each year causing their purchases of the
Company's products to occur later in the year. As a result of the timing of the
RBOC's budget cycle, the Company experienced a significant concentration of
revenues in the fourth fiscal quarter
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996. As a result, revenues have generally been lowest
in the first and second fiscal quarters of recent fiscal years. Such factors
could cause the Company's quarterly results of operations to fluctuate in future
periods. The variations may be material. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Quarterly Results of
Operations."
 
   
    As a result of these and other factors, the Company believes that revenues
and operating results, and particularly quarterly results, are likely to vary
significantly in the future and may be difficult to forecast. Accordingly,
period-to-period comparisons of the Company's results of operations are not
necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as indications of future
performance. In addition, the Company's expense levels are based, in part, on
its expectations as to future revenue levels. If revenue levels are below
expectations in any given period, operating results are likely to be materially
adversely affected. Further, it is possible that in some future period the
Company's revenues or operating results will be below the expectations of public
market analysts and investors. In such event, the price of the Common Stock may
be materially adversely affected. The Company's results of operations and
financial condition also could be materially adversely affected in any fiscal
period by the failure of anticipated orders to materialize and by deferrals or
cancellations of orders.
    
 
COMPETITION
 
    The market for billing data collection and traffic management systems is
highly competitive. Many providers offer products that are competitive with
those offered by the Company in both domestic and international markets. The
Company also experiences competition from in-house systems developed by existing
and potential customers. Several companies market products that are designed to
be an integrated solution to the customer's billing and information management
needs. If existing and potential customers of the Company conclude that an
integrated suite of products and services purchased from other providers
eliminates the need for products with the capabilities and features of the
Company's products, the Company's sales may be adversely affected. Many of the
Company's current and potential competitors have significantly greater
financial, marketing, technical, and other competitive resources than the
Company. Because the Company's focus to date has been primarily on products for
wireline customers, certain of its competitors have greater experience in
addressing the requirements of wireless telecommunications systems. Current and
potential competitors may establish cooperative relationships with one another
or with third parties or consolidate to compete more effectively against the
Company. It is also possible that new competitors may emerge, develop products
and services that compete successfully with the Company's products and services
and acquire significant market share. Any of these events could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
See "Business-- Competition."
 
RAPIDLY CHANGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS AND TECHNOLOGIES
 
    Over the last decade, the market for telecommunications products and
services has been characterized by rapid technological developments, evolving
industry standards, dramatic changes in the regulatory environment and frequent
new product introductions. The Company's success will depend, in large part,
upon its ability to enhance its existing products and services, and to introduce
new products and services that will respond to these market factors as they
evolve. In particular, the Company's success during the next several years will
be largely dependent upon sales of the Company's Sterling Series billing data
collection systems that were introduced in late 1995. The introduction by third
parties of new products or services could render the Company's existing products
and services obsolete or unmarketable. There can be no assurance that the
Company will complete on a timely or successful basis the development of new or
enhanced products or services or successfully manage transitions from one
product release to the next, that the Company will not encounter difficulties or
delays in the introduction of new or enhanced products, or that defects will not
be found in such new or enhanced products after installation, resulting in a
loss of, or delay in, market acceptance. To date, the majority of the Company's
revenues are attributable to its long-term relationships with traditional
wireline providers of telecommunications services. To continue its revenue
growth, the Company must not only continue to expand its relationships with its
current customer base, but must also expand its customer base to include new
wireline, wireless, ATM and other telecommunications service providers. While
the systems and services that the Company offers to address the needs of
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
the wireline market have permitted it to begin to attract customers in other
segments of the telecommunications industry, there can be no assurance that it
will be able to do so successfully over the long-term. Failure to do so could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and
financial condition. In addition, technologies, services or standards may be
developed that could require significant changes in the Company's business
model, development of new products, or provision of additional services, at
substantial cost to the Company and which may also result in the introduction of
additional competitors into the marketplace. Furthermore, if the overall market
for telecommunications products and services fails to evolve in the manner
contemplated by the Company or grows more slowly than anticipated as a result of
regulatory or other factors, or if the Company's products and services fail in
any respect to achieve market acceptance, there could be a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition. The
telecommunications industry is also characterized by significant and rapid
strategic alignments. A merger or consolidation of one or more
telecommunications service providers could result in the loss of customers or
sales opportunities to the Company, and there can be no assurance that new
entrants to the market will become customers of the Company.
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
 
    To date, the Company has generally relied on direct sales to customers with
which it has developed strategic relationships over the years, primarily RBOCs
and certain international telecommunications companies. The Company has begun
and intends to continue to diversify its sales efforts by selling directly to
new providers and by establishing marketing relationships with systems
integrators, manufacturers of telecommunications switches and other equipment
manufacturers and billing and rating systems providers. With respect to
international sales, the Company intends to rely primarily on establishing
relationships with systems integrators and distributors in targeted countries.
The Company's marketing relationships are generally nonexclusive and are usually
terminable by either party upon three to six months prior notice and certain of
the companies with which the Company has such relationships also have agreements
with, or are themselves, competitors or potential competitors of the Company. In
addition, the Company's marketing partners generally have no obligation to
purchase or obtain orders for the purchase of any of the Company's products.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in establishing
marketing relationships, that the Company's marketing partners will be effective
in marketing the Company's products or that one or more of its marketing
partners will not discontinue their relationships with the Company or form
additional competing arrangements with competitors of the Company or themselves
begin to compete with the Company. In any of those events, the Company's results
of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
See "Business--Marketing and Sales."
 
ABILITY TO MANAGE GROWTH
 
    The Company is expanding into new products, services and markets. This
growth has resulted in new and increased responsibilities for management
personnel and has placed and continues to place a significant strain upon the
Company's management, operating and financial systems and resources. In order to
compete effectively and manage anticipated future growth, the Company will be
required to continue to implement and improve management information systems,
procedures and controls on a timely basis and in such a manner as is necessary
to accommodate the increased number of transactions and customers and the
increased size of the Company's operations. Management of future growth, if any,
will also require that the Company continuously expand, train, motivate and
manage its work force. These demands will require the addition of new management
personnel. Competition for qualified personnel with knowledge of the
telecommunications industry and information technologies is intense, and there
can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting and
retaining such personnel. The Company's future success will depend to a
significant extent on the ability of its current and future executive officers
to operate effectively, both independently and as a group. There can be no
assurance that the Company's personnel, systems, procedures and controls will be
adequate to support the Company's existing and future operations. Any failure to
implement and improve the Company's operating, financial and management systems
or to expand, train, motivate or manage employees could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
    The Company's success depends to a significant degree upon the continuing
contributions of its key management personnel including Andrew P. Maunder, its
President and Chief Executive Officer. The Company currently has employment
agreements with Mr. Maunder and four other of its key personnel for indefinite
terms that can be terminated by either the Company or the employee upon prior
written notice of one year or less. The loss of key management or technical
personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations and financial condition.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SALES TO INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS
 
    Sales of products to international customers accounted for approximately
43.2%, 39.8% and 27.9% of the Company's total revenues for fiscal 1994, fiscal
1995 and fiscal 1996, respectively. International sales include sales to Puerto
Rico Telephone Co. and non-recurring sales in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996 to a
United Kingdom affiliate of the Company that were delivered to end users in the
United States. See "Certain Transactions." The Company expects that
international sales will continue to account for a significant portion of its
total revenues in future periods and expects that revenues from sales to
international customers will increase. Market acceptance of the Company's
products in international markets is important to the Company's future success,
but these markets are diverse and rapidly evolving, and it is difficult to
predict their potential size, future growth rate or the timing of their
development. In addition, access to international markets is often difficult due
to the established relationships between a government owned or controlled
communications company and its traditional indigenous suppliers of
communications products. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the
Company's products will be widely accepted by the service providers in these
emerging markets or that the Company, directly or through its marketing
partners, will be able to penetrate these markets effectively.
 
    The proposed further inroads into international markets will require
significant management attention and expenditure of significant financial
resources and could adversely affect the Company's operating margins. Sales to
international customers involve a number of inherent risks, sometimes including
extensive field testing and lengthier sales cycles than with domestic customers,
longer receivables collection periods and greater collection difficulty, less
flexibility as to hardware platforms, difficulty in staffing and managing
international operations, currency exchange rate fluctuations, the impact of
possible recessionary environments in economies outside the United States,
unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, including a slowdown in the rate
of privatization of carriers, reduced protection for intellectual property
rights in some countries and tariffs and other trade barriers. While some of
these factors may not affect the Company directly, to the extent that it sells
products through its marketing partners, these factors may affect the sales and
operations of its partners which in turn may adversely affect demand by the
partners for the Company's products. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to sustain or increase revenues derived from sales to international
customers or that the foregoing factors will not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
 
    Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in countries in which the
Company or its marketing partners sell the Company's products could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial
condition by resulting in pricing that is not competitive with products priced
in local currencies.
 
DEPENDENCE ON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY
 
    The Company's success is dependent in part upon its proprietary hardware and
software technology. The Company relies primarily on trademark, copyright and
trade secret laws, employee and third-party non-disclosure agreements and other
methods to protect its proprietary rights. There can be no assurance that its
agreements with employees, consultants and others who participate in the
development of its software will not be breached, that the Company will have
adequate remedies for any breach, or that the Company's trade secrets will not
otherwise become known to or independently developed by competitors.
Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the Company's efforts to protect its
rights through trademark and copyright laws will prevent the development and
design by others of products or technology similar to or competitive with those
developed by the Company. The computer technology industry is characterized by
frequent and substantial intellectual property litigation. The Company is not
aware of any patent
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
   
infringement or any violation of other proprietary rights claimed by any third
party relating to the Company or the Company's products. The Company's success
will depend in part on its continued ability to obtain and use licensed software
and technology that is important to certain functionalities of its products,
including the real-time operating system and other software utilized in the
Sterling Series products, software for its traffic management products and the
software for its recently introduced fraud detection and management product. The
inability to continue to procure or use such software or technology could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial
condition. See "Business--Products and Related Services--New Products and
Services" and "--Proprietary Rights and Licenses."
    
 
   
BENEFITS OF THE OFFERING TO SECURICOR
    
 
   
    Approximately $20.4 million (or 72%, based upon an assumed initial public
offering price of $12.00 per share) of the net proceeds of the Offering will be
used to repay certain indebtedness from Securicor (as defined below under "The
Company"), the Company's sole stockholder. Because the Company was capitalized
almost exclusively with debt, this payment will return substantially all of
Securicor's investment in the Company. However, Securicor will continue to own
approximately 3,476,900 shares, or 57%, of the outstanding Common Stock for
which it paid only a nominal amount. Securicor will benefit from the Offering in
that the public market that is expected to exist after the Offering will provide
increased liquidity for the Common Stock that Securicor owns.
    
 
CONTROL BY SECURICOR; ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
    Securicor currently owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company. After the Offering, Securicor is expected to own approximately 57%
of the outstanding Common Stock. Although the Company's Amended and Restated
By-Laws (the "By-laws") require a plurality of votes of all stockholders present
in person or by proxy at a stockholder meeting to elect directors and an
affirmative vote of two-thirds of all stockholders to take stockholder actions
other than the election of directors, Securicor would likely be able to control
most matters requiring approval by the Company's stockholders, including the
election of directors. See "Principal Stockholders" and "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale." In addition, the Company is subject to the anti-takeover
provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which
prohibit the Company from engaging in a "business combination" with an
"interested stockholder" for a period of three years following the time that
such person became an "interested stockholder" unless the business combination
is approved in a prescribed manner and in certain other specified circumstances.
These provisions, together with other provisions in the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") and
By-laws, may discourage acquisition bids for the Company by persons unrelated to
certain existing stockholders. The effect of Securicor's stock ownership and
these provisions may be to limit the price that investors might be willing to
pay in the future for shares of the Common Stock or prevent or delay a merger,
takeover, or other change in control of the Company and thus discourage attempts
to acquire the Company. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors has the
authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock and to determine
the designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional and other
special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions of those shares
without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights of the
holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by,
the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued in the
future. The issuance of Preferred Stock, while providing flexibility in
connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have
the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority
of the outstanding voting stock of the Company. The Company has no present plan
to issue any shares of Preferred Stock. The Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws contain other provisions, such as the supermajority voting requirements
described above, notice requirements for stockholders and limitations on the
stockholders' ability to present proposals to the stockholders for a vote, all
of which may have the further effect of making it more difficult for a third
party to gain control or to acquire the Company. See "Description of Capital
Stock."
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; POTENTIAL VOLATILITY
 
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock,
and there can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop or be
sustained after the Offering. The initial public offering price will be
determined through negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters and may
bear no relationship to the price at which the Common Stock will trade after the
Offering. See "Underwriting" for a discussion of the factors to be considered in
determining the initial public offering price. The market price of the Common
Stock may be volatile and may be significantly affected by factors such as
actual or anticipated fluctuations in the Company's operating results,
announcements of new products or services by the Company or its competitors,
developments with respect to conditions and trends in the information technology
or telecommunications industries, governmental regulation, changes in estimates
by securities analysts of the Company's or its competitors' or customers' future
financial performance, general market conditions and other factors, many of
which are beyond the Company's control. In addition, the stock market has from
time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have
adversely affected the market prices of securities of companies, irrespective of
such companies' operating performances.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Sales of substantial amounts of the Common Stock in the public market
following the Offering could adversely affect the market price of the Common
Stock. Upon the completion of the Offering, the Company will have 6,076,900
shares of Common Stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 2,600,000 shares of
Common Stock sold in the Offering will be freely tradeable without restriction
or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). The remaining 3,476,900 shares of Common Stock outstanding as
of the date of this Prospectus are "restricted securities" as defined by Rule
144 under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"). All of these shares have been held by
Securicor for more than one year and will be eligible for sale in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 144 beginning 180 days from the date of this
Prospectus or earlier to the extent Lehman Brothers Inc. consents to such sale
as described below. In addition, the Company has entered into a Registration
Rights Agreement with Securicor (the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant
to which Securicor has the right, subject to customary limitations, to: (i)
demand registration of the resale of its Common Stock once every twelve months
at Securicor's expense for so long as Securicor owns at least 10% of the
outstanding Common Stock; and (ii) include its Common Stock in registration
statements filed by the Company.
    
 
   
    Upon the completion of the Offering, there will be 325,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of options under the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
Approximately one-third of the options will be exercisable 90 days after
completion of the Offering, another one-third will be exercisable in one year
and the remaining one-third will be exercisable in two years. The Company
intends to file a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options within 90 days from the date of
this Prospectus. The shares registered under such registration statement will be
available for resale in the open market upon the exercise of options, subject to
Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to affiliates. See "Management--1997
Stock Incentive Plan."
    
 
   
    The Company and Securicor have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after
the date of this Prospectus, they will not, without the prior written consent of
Lehman Brothers Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for any shares of Common Stock except, in the case of the Company,
in certain limited circumstances. In determining whether to consent to any such
disposition during the 180-day period, Lehman Brothers Inc. is expected to
consider primarily the extent to which the disposition is likely to have an
adverse impact on the trading market for the Common Stock. The granting of such
consent is not expected to be disclosed publicly prior to any such disposition.
    
 
DILUTION
 
    The initial public offering price is substantially higher than the net
tangible book value per share of the Common Stock. Purchasers of shares of
Common Stock in the Offering will, therefore, suffer immediate and substantial
dilution of $8.60 (assuming an initial public offering price of $12.00 per
share) in the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Common Stock. See
"Dilution."
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
   
                                  THE COMPANY
    
 
   
    The Company is the successor to a corporation formed in 1967. The Company
was formed as a Delaware corporation in June 1994 in connection with the
acquisition of the wireline division of TeleSciences, Inc. (the "Predecessor
Business"). On May 22, 1997, the Company changed its name from Securicor
Communications Inc. to Axiom Inc. Through May 23, 1997, the Company's business
was conducted through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Securicor Telesciences Inc.
("STI"). On that date, STI merged into the Company. The Company is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor Communications Limited ("Securicor
Communications"), a company based in the United Kingdom, and an indirect wholly-
owned subsidiary of Securicor plc, a multinational company based in the United
Kingdom (collectively with Securicor Communications and other wholly-owned
subsidiaries, other than the Company and its subsidiary, "Securicor"). The
Company's principal executive office is located at 351 New Albany Road,
Moorestown, NJ 08057-1177, and its telephone number is (609) 866-1000.
    
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of shares of Common Stock
hereby are estimated to be $28.2 million ($32.6 million if the Underwriters'
over-allotment options are exercised in full), assuming an initial public
offering price of $12.00 per share and after deducting the estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the
Company.
 
   
    The Company anticipates applying approximately $20.4 million to repay the
principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness from its parent company,
Securicor. See "Certain Transactions." The annual interest rate on the
interest-bearing portion of the indebtedness to Securicor averaged 6.9% for the
12 month period ended March 31, 1997 and the principal amount is payable upon
demand. See "Certain Transactions." The Company intends to apply approximately
$1.6 million of the net proceeds to expand its Sterling Series billing data
collection system product line in order to address more effectively the
requirements of lower volume telecommunications switches. The Company also
intends to apply approximately $1.4 million to the development of interfaces
with switches utilized by wireless and international telecommunications systems.
The Company also intends to apply approximately $1.0 million to enhance its
international sales, marketing and support efforts. The remainder of the net
proceeds will be added to working capital to be used for general corporate
purposes.
    
 
    The Company may seek acquisitions of businesses, products and technologies
that are complementary to those of the Company, and a portion of the net
proceeds may be used for such acquisitions. While the Company engages from time
to time in discussions with respect to potential acquisitions, the Company has
no plans, commitments or agreements with respect to any such acquisitions as of
the date of this Prospectus, and there can be no assurance that any such
acquisitions will be made. Pending such uses, the Company intends to invest the
net proceeds from the Offering in short-term, investment grade, interest-bearing
instruments.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
   
    The Company has not paid cash dividends on its capital stock during the last
three fiscal years. The Company currently expects it will retain its future
earnings for use in the operation and expansion of its business and does not
anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
    
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The following table sets forth (i) the capitalization of the Company as of
March 31, 1997, and (ii) the as adjusted capitalization which gives effect to
the sale of 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby at an assumed
initial public offering price of $12.00 per share and the application of the
estimated net proceeds therefrom. This table should be read in conjunction with
the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the Predecessor
Business and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                MARCH 31, 1997
                                                                                            ----------------------
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>
                                                                                             ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>
Obligations to parent and affiliates......................................................  $  21,480   $      --(1)
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
Stockholder's (deficit) equity:
  Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding....         --          --
  Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 3,476,900 shares issued and
    outstanding, actual; 6,076,900 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted.............         --          61
  Additional paid-in capital..............................................................         --      28,180
  Accumulated deficit.....................................................................     (4,001)     (4,001)
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
      Total stockholder's (deficit) equity................................................     (4,001)     24,240
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
        Total capitalization..............................................................  $  17,479   $  24,240
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Represents payment of obligations to Securicor of $20.4 million and transfer
    of $1.1 million of these obligations to an affiliate in May 1997. See "Use
    of Proceeds" and "Certain Transactions."
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
   
    The net tangible deficit of the Company as of March 31, 1997 was
$(7,562,000) or $(2.17) per share. Net tangible deficit per share is determined
by dividing the net tangible deficit of the Company (total tangible assets less
total liabilities) by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. After
giving effect to the sale by the Company of 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock at
an assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per share (after deducting
the estimated underwriting discount and commission and estimated offering
expenses), and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, the as
adjusted net tangible book value of the Company as of March 31, 1997, would have
been $20,679,000 or $3.40 per share. This represents an immediate increase in
net tangible book value of $5.57 per share to the existing stockholder and an
immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of $8.60 per share to
new investors purchasing Common Stock in the Offering. The following table
illustrates this per share dilution:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share.............             $   12.00
  Net tangible deficit per share before the
    Offering................................................  $   (2.17)
  Net increase in net tangible book value per share
    attributable to the Offering............................       5.57
                                                              ---------
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after the
  Offering..................................................                  3.40
                                                                         ---------
Dilution per share to new investors in the Offering (1).....             $    8.60
                                                                         ---------
                                                                         ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Based on the assumptions set forth above, the dilution to new investors
    would be $8.16 per share if all outstanding options to purchase 325,000
    shares of Common Stock expected to be granted prior to the completion of the
    Offering were exercised in full at an exercise price of $12.00 per share of
    Common Stock. See "Management--1997 Stock Incentive Plan" and
    "Underwriting."
    
 
    The following table sets forth, on an as adjusted basis (as described above)
as of March 31, 1997, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased from the
Company, the total consideration paid to the Company and the average price per
share paid by the existing stockholder and by the new investors purchasing
shares of Common Stock in the Offering, at an assumed initial public offering
price of $12.00 per share and before deducting estimated underwriting discounts
and commissions and offering expenses:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        SHARES PURCHASED           TOTAL CONSIDERATION        AVERAGE
                                                    -------------------------  ---------------------------     PRICE
                                                       NUMBER       PERCENT        AMOUNT        PERCENT     PER SHARE
                                                    ------------  -----------  --------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
Existing stockholder..............................     3,476,900          57%  $         --(1)         --%   $  --
New investors.....................................     2,600,000          43       31,200,000         100        12.00
                                                    ------------         ---   --------------       -----
      Total.......................................     6,076,900         100%      31,200,000         100%
                                                    ------------         ---   --------------       -----
                                                    ------------         ---   --------------       -----
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Excludes the $20.4 million of obligations of the Company to Securicor which
    will be repaid from the proceeds of the Offering. See "Use of Proceeds" and
    "Certain Transactions."
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
   
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
    
 
   
    The following table contains certain financial data of the Company and the
Predecessor Business and is qualified by the more detailed Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
The statement of operations data for the period from July 1, 1994 to September
30, 1994, the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 and the balance
sheet data as of September 30, 1995 and 1996 have been derived from the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company which have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their
report included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The selected financial data for
the Predecessor Business for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1994 is derived
from, and is qualified by reference to, the Statement of Revenues and Certain
Expenses which is included elsewhere in this Prospectus. This statement has also
been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP. The statement of operations data for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 1992 and 1993 of the Predecessor Business and for
the six months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 of the Company and the balance
sheet data as of June 30, 1992, 1993 and 1994 for the Predecessor Business and
March 31, 1997 for the Company have been derived from the unaudited financial
statements. The unaudited financial statements, in the opinion of management,
include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments)
necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of
operations for such periods. The results of operations for the six months ended
March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be
expected for any other interim period or for the entire year. The selected
financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"
included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    AXIOM INC.
                                                                               ----------------------------------------------------
                                                    PREDECESSOR BUSINESS (1)     PERIOD FROM        YEAR ENDED     SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                       YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,     JULY 1, 1994 TO    SEPTEMBER 30,       MARCH 31,
                                                    -------------------------   SEPTEMBER 30,    ----------------  ----------------
                                                     1992     1993     1994         1994          1995     1996     1996     1997
                                                    -------  -------  -------  ---------------   -------  -------  -------  -------
<S>                                                 <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>               <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
REVENUES:
  Unrelated third parties.........................  $24,185  $21,698  $20,229      $ 5,606       $24,147  $31,641  $ 8,740  $12,050
  Related parties.................................       --       --       --           --         1,421    2,323    2,040    --
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                     24,185   21,698   20,229        5,606        25,568   33,964   10,780   12,050
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
COST OF REVENUES:
  Unrelated third parties.........................   10,981   10,901   12,803        3,357        12,365   16,433    6,264    7,834
  Related parties.................................    --       --       --         --              1,112    1,732    1,488    --
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                     10,981   10,901   12,803        3,357        13,477   18,165    7,752    7,834
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
Gross profit......................................   13,204   10,797    7,426        2,249        12,091   15,799    3,028    4,216
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Research, development and engineering...........    4,106    4,913    5,450        1,348         5,948    7,003    3,209    3,790
  Selling, general and administrative.............    6,313    4,986    4,985        1,072         5,206    6,308    2,970    4,230
  Parent charges..................................    --       --       --         --                386      403      213      193
  Charge for purchased research and development
    (2)...........................................    --       --       --           6,700         --       --       --       --
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
    Total operating expenses......................   10,419    9,899   10,435        9,120        11,540   13,714    6,392    8,213
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
    Operating income (loss).......................  $ 2,785  $   898  $(3,009)      (6,871)          551    2,085   (3,364)  (3,997)
                                                    -------  -------  -------      -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                    -------  -------  -------
INTEREST EXPENSE, net (including related party
  interest).......................................                                       9           112      514      227      279
OTHER INCOME......................................                                      66           148    1,979      413       54
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
    Income (loss) before
      income taxes................................                                  (6,814)          587    3,550   (3,178)  (4,222)
INCOME TAX (EXPENSE)
  BENEFIT.........................................                                   2,716          (220)  (1,358)   1,215    1,760
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
NET INCOME (LOSS).................................                                 $(4,098)      $   367  $ 2,192  $(1,963) $(2,462)
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
HISTORICAL NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE.....                                 $ (1.18)      $  0.11  $  0.63  ($ 0.56) $ (0.71)
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING HISTORICAL NET INCOME
  (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE.........................                                   3,477         3,477    3,477    3,477    3,477
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
                                                                                   -------       -------  -------  -------  -------
SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER
  COMMON SHARE (3)................................                                                        $  0.49           $ (0.44)
                                                                                                          -------           -------
                                                                                                          -------           -------
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA
  NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE(3)...........                                                          5,180             5,180
                                                                                                          -------           -------
                                                                                                          -------           -------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   AXIOM INC.
                                                                                   ------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    MARCH 31,
                                                      PREDECESSOR BUSINESS(1)                                         1997
                                                             JUNE 30,                       SEPTEMBER 30,           ---------
                                                  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
                                                    1992       1993       1994       1994       1995       1996      ACTUAL
                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents.....................  $     765  $      32  $  --      $     225  $   1,449  $   3,326  $   1,279
  Total assets..................................      9,956     13,435      9,027     15,302     22,145     30,336     24,607
  Working capital (deficit), excluding
    obligations to parent and affiliates (4)....      2,369     (1,389)       330      1,742      6,486     14,698     10,776
  Obligations to parent and affiliates(4).......     --         --         --         12,603     18,461     23,291     21,480
  Long-term debt................................     --         --         --         --         --            147     --
  Stockholder's equity (deficit) (4)............      5,007      1,363      2,330     (4,098)    (3,731)    (1,539)    (4,001)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                       AS
                                                   ADJUSTED(5)
                                                  -------------
<S>                                               <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents.....................    $   9,120
  Total assets..................................       31,360
  Working capital (deficit), excluding
    obligations to parent and affiliates (4)....       18,298
  Obligations to parent and affiliates(4).......       --
  Long-term debt................................       --
  Stockholder's equity (deficit) (4)............       24,240
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) The statement of operations and balance sheet data presented for the
    Predecessor Business represent the information for the Wireline Division of
    TeleSciences, Inc. See Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the
    Predecessor Business and Notes thereto. The Predecessor Business data
    exclude any intercompany information with its former owner.
    
 
   
(2) Represents a one-time charge for purchased research and development which
    was incurred as a result of the acquisition of the Predecessor Business by
    the Company on July 1, 1994. The acquisition was accounted for under the
    purchase method of accounting. See Notes 1 and 2 of Notes to Consolidated
    Financial Statements.
    
 
   
(3) See Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an
    explanation of the computation of supplemental pro forma net income (loss)
    per common share.
    
 
   
(4) The Company's acquisition of the Predecessor Business and other financing
    requirements have been primarily funded from borrowings from Securicor
    rather than equity investment. These borrowings are classified as
    obligations to parent and affiliates. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
   
(5) Adjusted to give effect to the sale by the Company of 2,600,000 shares of
    Common Stock offered hereby (at an assumed initial public offering price of
    $12.00 per share and after deducting the estimated underwriting, discount
    and offering expenses) and the application of the net proceeds therefrom.
    See "Use of Proceeds" and "Capitalization." Also includes the effect of the
    May 1997 transfer of certain net assets at net book value to an affiliate of
    Securicor. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
               MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                      CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW
 
   
    The Company develops, markets and supports integrated hardware and software
systems that are able to collect and process an increasing volume of transaction
information from a wide variety of wireline switches and transmit the
information to the customer's information management networks. The Company is
developing systems that process transaction information from wireless, ATM and
other specialized telecommunications switches. The Company's customers use this
information to bill their subscribers, to implement customized marketing
programs and to perform other data management functions. The Company also
provides traffic management solutions to telecommunications companies. The
Company recently introduced its first applications software product, a fraud
detection and management system. The Company provides installation, ongoing
maintenance, support and training, as well as customized engineering services,
related to the Company's systems.
    
 
   
    The Company is the successor to a corporation formed in 1967. The Company
was formed in July 1994 in connection with the acquisition of the assets of the
wireline division of TeleSciences, Inc. (the "Predecessor Business"). The
Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor Communications and an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor, a multinational public company based in
the United Kingdom. After the Offering, Securicor is expected to own
approximately 57% of the Company.
    
 
    A significant portion of the Company's revenues have been, and are expected
to continue to be, derived from substantial orders placed by large
organizations, and in particular three RBOCs. Aggregate revenues from U S West,
Southwestern Bell and Ameritech accounted for 50.3%, 51.2% and 61.6% of the
Company's total revenues in fiscal 1994, fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996,
respectively. During fiscal 1996, an additional 9.4% of the Company's revenues
was attributable to sales to Puerto Rico Telephone Co.
 
    Domestic revenues are typically generated under cancelable general purchase
agreements which provide for the continuing supply of products and services over
future years. Pricing is based upon the volume of products ordered.
Internationally, the Company typically enters into long-term contracts for the
delivery of turn-key systems which include products and services. The Company's
revenues are difficult to forecast because the purchase of its systems generally
involves a significant commitment of capital and management time, which
generally results in lengthy sales cycles.
 
    The Company generally recognizes revenues for products at the time of
shipment and for services when performed. Revenues from support and maintenance
contracts are recognized on a pro-rata basis over the term of the relevant
agreement.
 
    Quarterly revenues are subject to substantial fluctuations due primarily to
the Company's concentration of customers and the timing of orders received. The
timing of orders is dependent, to a large extent, on the timing of the Company's
customers' annual budget process. Historically, the Company's first and second
fiscal quarters have generated a lower level of revenues compared to the
Company's third and fourth fiscal quarters, by which time the Company's
customers have typically approved their budgets. Historically, product and
service backlog has been a relatively small amount and the majority is fulfilled
within three months. Because of its close links to, and ongoing communications
with, its customers, the Company generally is able to plan for product demand
and, when the order is received, ship its products within a relatively short
time period thereafter.
 
   
    Cost of revenues includes the direct cost of hardware and software modules,
other manufacturing costs related to the assembly and testing of products,
customer service costs, agent commissions where applicable, and other variable
costs such as freight, scrap and installation materials. The Company has a
relatively high fixed cost base which is included in cost of revenues. As a
result, any significant decline in revenues would likely have a significant
adverse effect on margins.
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    Research, development and engineering expenses consist of payroll and
related expenses and other costs associated with the design and development of
the Company's products. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of costs to support the
Company's sales, marketing and administrative functions. Included within these
costs are payroll and related expenses, supplies, travel, outside services, as
well as the cost of the Company's participation in trade shows, industry
conferences and related travel and promotional costs.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 COMPARED TO MARCH 31, 1996
 
    REVENUES
 
   
    Revenues attributable to unrelated third parties ("Third-party Revenues")
increased by 37.9% from $8.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 1996 to
$12.1 million for the same period in 1997. This increase resulted primarily from
larger shipments to existing RBOC customers and the addition of several new
customers. Additionally, the Company generated $0 and $1.1 million of
Third-party Revenues for the six months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997,
respectively, related to sales of an affiliate's products which are not expected
to recur in the future. See Note 5 to Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. In fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, the Company experienced a
significant concentration of revenues in the fourth fiscal quarter. As a result,
revenues were lower in the first two quarters of fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1997.
See "-- Quarterly Results of Operations." For the six months ended March 31,
1996, the Company recognized $2.0 million of one-time related-party revenues.
These revenues were attributable to sales to a Securicor affiliate, that
generated approximately $3.7 million in revenues from January 1995 to April
1996. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
    GROSS PROFIT
 
   
    The portion of gross profit attributable to Third-party Revenues increased
from 28.3% of such revenues for the six months ended March 31, 1996 to 35.0% of
such revenues for the same period in 1997. This increase resulted primarily from
the increase in Third-party Revenues. The Company has a relatively high fixed
cost base which is included in cost of revenues. As a result, fluctuations in
revenues have a significant effect on margins. Total gross profit as a
percentage of total revenues increased from 28.1% for the six months ended March
31, 1996 to 35.0% for the same period in 1997.
    
 
    RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
 
   
    Research, development and engineering expenses increased 18.1% from $3.2
million for the six months ended March 31, 1996 to $3.8 million for the same
period in 1997 and decreased as a percentage of Third-party Revenues from 36.7%
to 31.5%. The absolute increase resulted primarily from the addition of
engineering staff and subcontractors to support the increasing development
requirements and demanding timetables of the Company's customers.
    
 
    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
   
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 42.4% from $3.0
million for the six months ended March 31, 1996 to $4.2 million for the same
period in 1997. As a percentage of Third-party Revenues, selling, general and
administrative expenses increased from 34.0% for the six months ended March 31,
1996 to 35.1% for the same period in 1997. The absolute increase resulted
primarily from the addition of staff in the marketing and sales departments of
the Company. The increase in marketing and sales staff was a result of the
Company's increased focus on developing new markets and expanding existing
markets for the Company's products.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
    PARENT CHARGES
 
   
    After the acquisition of the Predecessor Business, Securicor began to charge
the Company an allocated portion of group and divisional overhead costs (the
"Parent Charges"). The Parent Charges for the six months ended March 31, 1996
and 1997 were $213,000 and $193,000, respectively. The Company will not incur
any Parent Charges after the Offering and is not expected to incur any
significant expenses in lieu of these Parent Charges. The Company and Securicor
have entered into an agreement effective upon the completion of the Offering
pursuant to which Securicor will provide international marketing services to the
Company for an annual charge of $160,000. In addition, the Company will pay each
of its directors who are employees of Securicor annual directors fees of
$20,000, which the directors will remit to Securicor. See "Management--Director
Compensation" and "Certain Transactions."
    
 
    INTEREST EXPENSE
 
    Interest expense was $227,000 for the six months ended March 31, 1996 and
$279,000 for the same period in 1997. This increase resulted from higher
borrowings from Securicor to meet working capital requirements. Upon the
consummation of the Offering, the borrowings from Securicor will be fully
repaid. As a result, the Company's interest expense is expected to decrease. See
"Use of Proceeds."
 
    OTHER INCOME
 
    Other income decreased from $413,000 for the six months ended March 31, 1996
to $54,000 for the same period in 1997. A litigation settlement gain of $350,000
was recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 1996.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
   
    The Company's effective tax rate was 38.3% for the six months ended March
31, 1996 and was 41.7% for the same period in 1997. Income tax benefits were
recorded in both periods due to the losses incurred based upon the expected
annual effective income tax rate.
    
 
FISCAL 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995
 
    REVENUES
 
   
    Third-party Revenues increased 31.0% from $24.1 million in fiscal 1995 to
$31.6 million in fiscal 1996, of which $15.7 million was recognized in the
fourth fiscal quarter. Upon the acquisition of the Predecessor Business on July
1, 1994, the Predecessor Business had three principal customers: U S West,
Ameritech and Telecom Argentina. Since the acquisition, the Company has
increased its customer base. The increase in revenues in fiscal 1996 resulted,
in large part, to increased revenues from U S West and Southwestern Bell.
Internationally, the Company generated revenues from the Puerto Rico Telephone
Co. which were offset by lower revenues from long-term contracts with Telecom
Argentina and two Brazilian telephone operators, which contracts were
substantially completed in early fiscal 1996. Third-party Revenues from
international customers were $8.8 million in fiscal 1995 and $7.2 million in
fiscal 1996. The Company expects international revenues to continue to be
significant in future periods as a result of the Company's planned expansion of
its international marketing efforts. The Company introduced a new product line,
the Sterling Series, in late 1995. See "Business--Products and Related
Services." Revenues from new products, principally the Sterling Series products,
accounted for approximately 6.2% and 40.6% of Third-party Revenues in fiscal
1995 and fiscal 1996, respectively. In fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, the Company
also generated related party revenues from sales to an affiliate of Securicor of
$1.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively, which will not recur in the future.
In fiscal 1996, the Company also generated $792,000 of Third-party Revenues
related to sales of an affiliate's products which are not expected to recur
subsequent to May 1997. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
    
 
    GROSS PROFIT
 
    The portion of gross profit attributable to Third-party Revenues was 48.8%
of such revenues in fiscal 1995 and 48.1% of such revenues in fiscal 1996. Total
gross profit as a percentage of total revenues
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
   
remained substantially constant in fiscal 1995 and 1996. The fiscal 1996 cost of
revenues includes increased program management costs of approximately $500,000
associated with supporting significant customer contracts.
    
 
    RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
 
    Research, development and engineering expenses increased 17.7% from $5.9
million in fiscal 1995 to $7.0 million in fiscal 1996. As a percentage of
Third-party Revenues, research, development and engineering expenses decreased
from 24.6% in fiscal 1995 to 22.1% in fiscal 1996. The absolute increase in such
expenses related primarily to the further development and enhancement of the
Company's Sterling Series billing data collection products. Included in
research, development and engineering expenses for fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996
were $720,000 of amortization related to developed technology acquired with the
purchase of the Predecessor Business in July 1994. Research, development and
engineering expenses are expected to increase in fiscal 1997.
 
    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 21.2% from $5.2
million in fiscal 1995 to $6.3 million in fiscal 1996. As a percentage of
Third-party Revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased
from 21.6% in fiscal 1995 to 19.9% in fiscal 1996. The absolute increase
resulted primarily from higher selling expenses related to higher sales volumes
and increased marketing expenses incurred in connection with trade shows,
advertising and other marketing activities.
 
    PARENT CHARGES
 
    Parent Charges were $386,000 in fiscal 1995 and $403,000 in fiscal 1996.
Prior to July 1, 1994 (date of acquisition of Predecessor Business) there were
no Parent Charges.
 
    INTEREST EXPENSE
 
    Interest expense was $112,000 in fiscal 1995 and $514,000 in fiscal 1996.
The increase in fiscal 1996 resulted from higher outstanding borrowings from
Securicor incurred in order to meet working capital requirements.
 
    OTHER INCOME
 
    Other income increased from $148,000 in fiscal 1995 to $2.0 million in
fiscal 1996. During fiscal 1996, the Company sold an investment and recognized a
gain of $1.5 million. In addition, a litigation settlement gain of $350,000 was
recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 1996.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company's effective tax rate was 37.5% and 38.3% for fiscal 1995 and
fiscal 1996, respectively. The increase in such rate in fiscal 1996 resulted
from the higher utilization of research and development credits in fiscal 1995.
 
FISCAL 1995 OF THE COMPANY COMPARED TO THE FISCAL 1994 OF THE PREDECESSOR
  BUSINESS (PREDECESSOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994)
 
    BACKGROUND
 
    The Company was formed in connection with the acquisition of the assets of
the Predecessor Business on July 1, 1994. The following analysis compares the
results of the Company's fiscal 1995 (year ended September 30, 1995) with the
results of the Predecessor Business' fiscal 1994 (year ended June 30, 1994).
 
    REVENUES
 
    Third-party Revenues increased 19.4% from $20.2 million in fiscal 1994 to
$24.1 million in fiscal 1995. Revenues increased in fiscal 1995 primarily as a
result of the addition of new customers, in particular two Brazilian telephone
operators and Southwestern Bell, and increased revenues from U S West. The
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
Company introduced the Sterling Series billing data collection products at the
end of fiscal 1995 as the successor to its SEBX Series billing data collection
products which the Company had introduced in the 1980s. A majority of the fiscal
1995 billing data collection product revenues were derived from sales of
Sterling Series products. In fiscal 1995, the Company generated related party
revenues from sales to an affiliate of Securicor of $1.4 million.
 
    GROSS PROFIT
 
    The portion of gross profit attributable to Third-party Revenues increased
from 36.7% of such revenues in 1994 to 48.8% of such revenues in fiscal 1995,
reflecting the benefits of spreading higher revenues over the Company's fixed
cost base. The gross profit percentage in fiscal 1994 was lower as the volume of
fiscal 1994 revenues were lower.
 
    RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
 
    Research, development and engineering expenses increased 9.1% from $5.5
million in fiscal 1994 to $5.9 million in fiscal 1995 and decreased as a
percentage of Third-party Revenues from 26.9% in fiscal 1994 to 24.6% in fiscal
1995. The absolute increase in such expenses was attributable primarily to the
further development and enhancement of the Company's billing data collection
products.
 
    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4.4% from $5.0
million in fiscal 1994 to $5.2 million in fiscal 1995. As a percentage of
Third-party Revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased
from 24.6% in fiscal 1994 to 21.6% in fiscal 1995. The absolute increase was
attributable to increased selling expenses which are related to sales volume
increases, increased marketing expenses in the areas of advertising and other
marketing activities.
 
PERIOD FROM JULY 1, 1994 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
 
    REVENUES
 
    This period represents the first three months of activity under Securicor
ownership. For the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, total
revenues were $5.6 million. A majority of these revenues was generated from
sales to three customers: Telecom Argentina, Ameritech and U S West.
International revenues represented $2.7 million or 48.0% of total revenues.
 
    GROSS PROFIT
 
    Gross profit as a percentage of total revenues was 40.1% for the period from
July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994. The gross profit percentage was lower than
in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996 as a result of the lower level of annualized
revenues for this period.
 
    RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING
 
    Research, development and engineering expenses were $1.3 million for the
period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 or 24.0% of total revenues. These
expenses as a percentage of total revenues were generally consistent with those
of fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996.
 
    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
 
    Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.1 million for the
period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 or 19.1% of total revenues. These
expenses as a percentage of total revenues were generally consistent with those
of fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996.
 
    CHARGE FOR PURCHASED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The charge for purchased research and development of $6.7 million in the
period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 represents a one-time charge
related to purchased research and development in connection with the acquisition
of the Predecessor Business. This charge relates to incomplete research
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
and development projects which had not yet reached technological feasibility as
of the acquisition date and had no alternate future uses.
 
   
    INCOME TAXES
    
 
   
    For the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, an income tax
benefit was recorded due to the one-time charge for purchased research and
development. See Note 14 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a
discussion of deferred tax assets.
    
 
    QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
    The following table presents certain unaudited quarterly financial
information for each quarter in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996 and the first and
second quarter of fiscal 1997. In the opinion of the Company's management, this
information has been prepared on the same basis as the Consolidated Financial
Statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus and includes all adjustments
(consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly
the financial results set forth herein. Results of operations for any previous
quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             FISCAL 1995                                         FISCAL 1996
                          --------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
                            DEC. 31     MARCH 31      JUNE 30     SEPT. 30      DEC. 31     MARCH 31      JUNE 30     SEPT. 30
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
Revenues................   $   6,746    $   4,237    $   6,299    $   8,286    $   4,912    $   5,868    $   7,466    $  15,718
Cost of revenues........       3,573        2,898        3,195        3,811        3,601        4,151        4,449        5,964
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Gross profit............       3,173        1,339        3,104        4,475        1,311        1,717        3,017        9,754
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Operating expenses:
Research, development
  and engineering.......       1,287        1,469        1,562        1,630        1,522        1,687        1,936        1,858
Selling, general and
  administrative........       1,148        1,309        1,357        1,392        1,549        1,421        1,559        1,779
Parent charges..........          93           93           93          107           97          116          120           70
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Total operating
  expenses..............       2,528        2,871        3,012        3,129        3,168        3,224        3,615        3,707
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Operating income
  (loss)................         645       (1,532)          92        1,346       (1,857)      (1,507)        (598)       6,047
Interest expense, net...          36           17           53            6          107          120          124          163
Other income
  (expense).............          --           --            7          141          397           16        1,571           (5)
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before
  income taxes..........         609       (1,549)          46        1,481       (1,567)      (1,611)         849        5,879
Income tax (expense)
  benefit...............        (228)         580          (17)        (555)         599          616         (324)      (2,249)
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income (loss).......   $     381    $    (969)   $      29    $     926    $    (968)   $    (995)   $     525    $   3,630
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                          -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                FISCAL 1997
                          ------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>
                            DEC. 31     MARCH 31
                          -----------  -----------
 
<S>                       <C>          <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
Revenues................   $   4,781    $   7,269
Cost of revenues........       3,792        4,042
                          -----------  -----------
Gross profit............         989        3,227
                          -----------  -----------
Operating expenses:
Research, development
  and engineering.......       1,943        1,847
Selling, general and
  administrative........       2,211        2,019
Parent charges..........          96           97
                          -----------  -----------
Total operating
  expenses..............       4,250        3,963
                          -----------  -----------
Operating income
  (loss)................      (3,261)        (736)
Interest expense, net...         150          129
Other income
  (expense).............          27           27
                          -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before
  income taxes..........      (3,384)        (838)
Income tax (expense)
  benefit...............       1,442          318
                          -----------  -----------
Net income (loss).......   $  (1,942)   $    (520)
                          -----------  -----------
                          -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
    Quarterly revenues are subject to substantial fluctuations primarily
resulting from the Company's concentration of customers and the timing of orders
received. The timing of orders is dependent, to a large extent on the timing of
the Company's customers' annual budget process. Historically, the Company's
first and second fiscal quarters have generated a lower level of revenues
compared to the Company's third and fourth fiscal quarters, by which time the
Company's customers have typically approved their budgets. The Company's
operating results may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter or on an
annual basis in the future as a result of a number of factors, including but not
limited to the size and timing of customer orders; the length of the Company's
sales cycle; timing of product announcements and introductions by the Company
and its competitors; the Company's ability to develop, introduce and market new
products and product enhancements; market acceptance of the Company's products;
deferrals of customer orders in anticipation of new products or product
enhancements; the Company's ability to control costs; the availability of
components; political instability in, or trade embargoes with respect to,
foreign markets; changes in the Company's management team; and fluctuating
economic conditions. The Company's future operating results may fluctuate as a
result of these and other factors, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. See "Risk
Factors-- Difficulty in Forecasting Revenues; Long Sales Cycles; Reliance on
Large Orders; Non-recurring Nature of Sales; Fluctuations in Quarterly Results."
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
    Since the acquisition of the Predecessor Business by Securicor in July 1994,
the Company has financed its operations to date primarily with cash generated
from operations and borrowings from Securicor. Prior to July 1994, the
Predecessor Business had a credit facility with a bank, and this facility, along
with loans from certain stockholders was used to fund working capital
requirements. As of March 31, 1997, the Company had $1.3 million of cash, $8.2
million in net trade accounts receivable, and $10.7 million of working capital
deficit.
    
 
   
    Net cash used in operating activities was $1.9 million and $2.5 million in
fiscal 1995 and 1996, respectively, and net cash provided by operating
activities was $680,000 for the six months ended March 31, 1997. In fiscal 1995,
an increase in accounts receivable of $2.1 million, an increase in inventories
of $2.4 million and a decrease in other accrued expenses of $1.3 million were
only partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in accounts payable. In fiscal
1996, increases in accounts receivable of $8.3 million were only partially
offset by the cash provided by the sum of net income, adjusted for $1.9 million
in non-cash charges, and a $1.1 million increase in accrued taxes payable. For
the six months ended March 31, 1997, decreases in accounts receivable of $7.6
million were only partially offset by the net loss of $2.5 million and a $3.9
million decrease in accrued taxes payable.
    
 
   
    Net cash used in investing activities was $2.7 million, $306,000 and
$769,000 in fiscal 1995, 1996 and for the six months ended March 31, 1997,
respectively. In fiscal 1995, fiscal 1996 and for the six months ended March 31,
1997, purchases of property and equipment were $877,000, $818,000 and $769,000,
respectively.
    
 
   
    Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.9 million and $4.7 million
in fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, respectively, and the net cash used in financing
activities was $2.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 1997. These
amounts resulted primarily from funding which the Company received from
Securicor. The Company made net repayments of $1.8 million to Securicor during
the six months ended March 31, 1997.
    
 
   
    The Company's funding requirements, outside of those generated from
operations have been satisfied from borrowings from Securicor. The Company's
obligation to Securicor was $23.3 million and $21.5 million at September 30,
1996 and March 31, 1997, respectively. As of March 31, 1997, $9.0 million of the
obligation bore interest at 1% over Securicor's borrowing rate. The remaining
portion of the obligation is interest free. The Company anticipates applying
approximately $20.4 million from the proceeds of the Offering to repay the
principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness from Securicor. The remaining
balance of approximately $1.1 million was transferred to an affiliate of
Securior in May 1997. The annual interest rate on the interest-bearing portion
of the indebtedness to Securicor averaged 6.9% for the 12 month period ended
March 31, 1997 and the principal amount is payable upon demand. See "Certain
Transactions." The Company does not expect to borrow from Securicor after the
completion of the Offering.
    
 
   
    The Company is in the process of establishing commercial banking
relationships. The Company has received a commitment for the establishment of a
$2.5 million credit facility from a bank which will be used to meet short-term
borrowing requirements.
    
 
   
    The Company believes that its existing cash balances, cash generated from
operations, borrowings under the credit facility and the net proceeds from the
Offering will be sufficient to meet the Company's cash requirements during the
next twelve months. However, depending upon its rate of growth and
profitability, the Company may require additional equity or debt financing to
meet its working capital requirements or capital expenditure needs. There can be
no assurance that additional financing, if needed, will be available when
required or, if available, on terms satisfactory to the Company.
    
 
INFLATION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE
 
    To date, inflation and foreign currency fluctuations have not had a material
impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. All sales
arrangements with third-party international customers are denominated in U.S.
dollars.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
   
    The Company is a leader in providing comprehensive billing data collection
solutions to providers of local, long-distance and other advanced
telecommunications services. The Company's largest customers include RBOCs, such
as Ameritech, Southwestern Bell and U S West, and international providers of
telecommunications services, such as Telecom Argentina. The Company develops,
markets and supports integrated hardware and software systems that are able to
collect and process an increasing volume of transaction information from a wide
variety of wireline telecommunications switches and transmit this information to
the customer's information management networks. The Company also is developing
systems that process transaction information from wireless, ATM and other
specialized telecommunications switches. The Company's customers use this
information to bill their subscribers, to implement customized marketing
programs and to perform other data management functions. The Company also
provides traffic management solutions to telecommunications companies such as
TELESP, a Brazilian telecommunications service provider. The Company recently
introduced its first applications software product, a fraud detection and
management system. The Company provides installation, ongoing maintenance,
support and training, as well as customized engineering services, related to the
Company's systems.
    
 
    The telecommunications industry is currently experiencing rapid growth and
change resulting from the combined effects of regulatory, competitive and
technological developments. To comply with regulatory requirements and to be
successful in increasingly competitive markets, telecommunications providers are
being required to upgrade their existing data collection systems to new systems
that can process large volumes of transaction information without compromising
the integrity of the billing stream and can efficiently transmit the information
for use by increasingly sophisticated and varied data management applications.
 
   
    The Company believes that it provides to large wireline customers the most
advanced and reliable billing data collection systems and that it is the leader
in designing these systems to meet the AMADNS generic requirements established
in 1994. A critical feature of the Company's systems is redundancy, permitting
them to protect the integrity of call detail records ("CDRs") and provide
"financial grade" reliability (greater than 99.999% system availability). The
Company's products also are capable of delivering transaction information on a
real-time basis. Reflecting the engineering expertise acquired through the
Company's 30 year history, the Company's products offer a high degree of
connectivity, permitting them to interface with switches from all major domestic
and most international wireline switch manufacturers, including Northern Telecom
Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. ("Lucent"), Siemens AG, L.M. Ericsson Telephone
Co. and NEC Corp. The Company's systems utilize an open systems architecture,
permitting them to interface with other elements of the customer's data
collection network and with virtually any billing processing or other
information management application. The Company's systems also are scaleable,
thereby allowing them to handle a large range of call volumes. The systems can
be configured with proprietary software applications that provide a wide variety
of preprocessing functions such as filtering (extracting data that meet preset
criteria), distribution (directing predetermined data to certain specialized
applications) and reformatting (rearranging input data into a user-defined
output format).
    
 
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
 
    GENERAL
 
    Historically, the telecommunications industry has been characterized by
significant governmental regulation or ownership and limited competition. In
this environment, telecommunications services consisted primarily of local and
long distance telephone service over traditional wirelines. More recently,
deregulation and privatization of telecommunications services have led to
increased intra-industry, cross-industry and geographic competition. In February
1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications Act") was
enacted into law in the United States. The stated purposes of the
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
Telecommunications Act were to reduce regulations, promote competition and
encourage the rapid employment of new telecommunications technologies. The
Telecommunications Act is expected to increase competition in the
telecommunications services market in the United States by allowing local, long
distance and cable television companies to offer competing services provided
they meet specified regulatory benchmarks.
 
    Internationally, privatization and deregulation are resulting in similar
increases in competition, the emergence of newly authorized telecommunications
service providers and the provision of additional features over a variety of
media. The European Union is scheduled to implement a new regulatory scheme in
1998 that will permit a variety of telecommunications providers to offer
traditional local and long-distance services within each geographic market. In
addition, in February 1997, an agreement was reached through the World Trade
Organization to significantly increase international access to the
telecommunications markets of its 69 member countries, subject to certain
official ratifications. Technological advances and global expansion by
multi-national service carriers are also opening markets in less developed
countries to enhanced telecommunications services and increased competition.
 
    In response to these regulatory changes, many telecommunications service
providers are expected to compete by offering multiple services, including
combinations of local exchange, long distance, wireless and data communications
services to customers in single or multiple geographic markets without the delay
or limitations historically imposed by regulatory approvals. In some local
markets, multiple vendors have already begun to offer competing local exchange
services and the local exchange markets are fragmenting into wholesale and
retail markets.
 
    COMPETITION IN LOCAL EXCHANGE MARKETS
 
    The entry of competitive local exchange companies ("CLECs") into markets
traditionally monopolized by existing or "incumbent" local exchange companies
("ILECs") (in the U.S., typically an RBOC) is expected to increase the need for
all participants in each local market to monitor closely and use effectively all
relevant data regarding each call transaction. Some CLECs are building their own
physical infrastructure of wireline, wireless and other transmission systems
while most other CLECs initially seek to provide dial-tone services to their
customers by purchasing wire access from the ILECs that own the physical
wireline infrastructure. CLECs that are commercial resellers of wire access
rights generally do not have any billing infrastructure of their own, but either
subcontract such services to a service bureau or piggyback on the ILEC's system.
In response to the entry of CLECs and other competitive factors, ILECs have
sought to reduce expenses, often by reducing staff. In addition, ILECs and other
telecommunications providers are seeking to differentiate themselves by
improving existing services and rapidly introducing new services, including
high-speed data services, video teleconferencing, video-on-demand, home shopping
and home banking. The availability of new and enhanced services has fueled a
dramatic increase in usage of telecommunications services by organizations and
individuals placing additional burdens on existing telecommunications
infrastructures. As a result of these factors, an ILEC's billing system must be
increasingly automated to reduce personnel expenses and must meet new demands
for real-time access to transactional and other data by third parties such as
CLECs and their customers and demands for more sophisticated uses of such data.
 
    GROWTH AND CONVERGENCE OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS
 
    All segments of the telecommunications services industry are experiencing
change and convergence. Providers of telecommunications services through
traditional wirelines, including providers of local, long-distance, network
access and related services, provide services to approximately 165 million
access lines in the U.S., generating more than $178 billion in revenue in 1995.
Deregulation has spurred the creation of new entrants in both the local and long
distance market and has increased competitive pricing pressures among all
providers. RBOCs and long-distance providers compete with providers of cellular
and other
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
wireless services through the purchase of cellular companies and licences to
offer personal communications services ("PCS"), while such wireline providers
are examining opportunities in the cable market. At the same time, utility
companies are leveraging their existing electrical and fiber optic
infrastructures to provide telecommunications services to their customers. In
addition, on-line service providers, such as Prodigy, America Online and
CompuServe, and the growing use of organization-specific intranets have
generated a large and rapidly growing market for a range of services including
electronic mail, home shopping, news and access to the Internet and other
information, at present largely through existing wireline networks. The
availability of new and enhanced services has fueled a growth in the usage of
telecommunications services by organizations and individuals, placing additional
burdens on existing telecommunications infrastructures and increasing the demand
by users and services providers alike for accurate transaction information and
effective tools with which to process that information.
 
    As companies enter other telecommunications market segments and the resale
of local exchange services becomes more widespread, there will be an increasing
need for systems that can: (i) handle the interchange of billing and other
information between wholesale and retail providers; (ii) capture additional
transactional and traffic data necessary to optimize the overall wholesale
network configuration; and (iii) enhance Decision Support Systems ("DSSs") that
enable providers to understand their customers better and to deliver new
products to precisely targeted customer segments.
 
    GROWING IMPORTANCE OF DATA MANAGEMENT IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY
 
    The growing complexity of the telecommunications industry increasingly
demands that telecommunications service providers develop more effective billing
processing and other data management systems. As a result of the changes
initiated by the Telecommunications Act, ILECs now must share their physical
infrastructure, including their switches and their related operations support
systems ("OSSs"), with CLECs. Similar changes are occurring in the European
Union and other parts of the world. All participants, whether they be customers
or providers, increasingly demand accurate, real-time information with respect
to each call transaction, whether such information is used for traditional
billing functions or for more advanced marketing and customer-care applications.
Transactional billing, therefore, is no longer a simple process of matching
specific calling events with a single provider's subscriber database. Call
transaction data must be collected, processed and distributed so that they can
be used for multiple purposes by multiple users. Calls reported at a single
switch may be initiated by customers of several different service providers
requiring that data be distributed via different media to several separate
billing and rating services. New features and pricing options adopted by
services providers require that billing data systems perform more processing
steps as sophisticated rating functions require more attention to specific CDR
attributes. Also, providers are increasingly aware of the significance of the
bill as a channel for communicating with the customer. Customer retention can be
enhanced through a clear and readable presentation of relevant billing data that
is useful both to verify charges and to serve other functions for the customer.
Effective billing data collections systems will be especially critical for
ILEC's wholesale operations that interconnect with, and face competition from, a
growing number of CLECs.
 
    Most telecommunications service providers do not currently have in place
billing data collection systems capable of handling the call volumes or the data
processing needs that exist in the current marketplace. Many of the larger
telecommunications service providers have traditionally used billing systems
that were typically mainframe-based, with proprietary software written in early
generation programming languages. As a result, these "legacy" systems were not
designed for rapid deployment or adaptation and are not easily customized to fit
specific business needs. Also, telecommunications service providers often
continue to use a wide variety of switch technologies and to connect these
switches with their billing data collection and data management systems by a
wide range of data transmission media. Legacy systems often cannot be integrated
with other information sources within a provider's organization, or databases
outside an organization. In order to keep pace with the enormous growth in the
number of subscribers, and the proliferation of services offered, the Company
expects telecommunications service providers, including the RBOCs, increasingly
to adopt more flexible OSSs and more sophisticated
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
information services applications and to attempt to integrate such upgraded
systems with their existing core billing systems. This approach to system
enhancement requires that each provider maintain or have access to a flexible
and reliable system for gathering billing information from all sources,
processing the information and delivering information to the wide variety of
systems environments in which its software applications are executed.
 
    In this rapidly-changing and competitive environment, telecommunications
service providers increasingly require solutions that:
 
    - offer a high degree of integrity and reliability in billing, customer
      communications and customer-care functions;
 
    - enable the delivery of data to a variety of billing and data management
      applications on a real-time basis;
 
    - interface with a wide variety of telecommunications switches and integrate
      seamlessly with providers' existing billing processing and other
      information management systems so that providers can use the data
      historically generated solely for billing purposes as an integral part of
      their marketing and customer-care efforts and for other strategic
      purposes;
 
    - provide scaleable solutions that allow providers cost-effectively to
      increase processing capacity and functionality to meet rising call volumes
      and more sophisticated data management needs;
 
    - enable providers to monitor, manage and optimize their network
      configurations and the flow of traffic over those networks; and
 
    - offer a variety of preprocessing functions that format data downloaded
      from switches and transmit the data to information management systems in a
      form that enhances the systems' efficiency and functionality.
 
THE COMPANY'S SOLUTIONS
 
    The Company develops, markets and supports integrated hardware and software
systems that provide comprehensive billing data collection solutions designed to
collect, process and transmit transaction information from a variety of
telecommunications switches to customers' billing processing and other
information management systems. The Company believes that its extensive
experience in supplying products to wireline customers provides it with a
competitive advantage in meeting those customers' current needs.
 
    The Company's billing data collection systems offer solutions that decrease
providers' costs and increase their productivity by incorporating the following
advantages:
 
    - FINANCIAL GRADE RELIABILITY--The Company's systems make available features
      that provide "financial grade" reliability (greater than 99.999% system
      availability) while also performing various preprocessing functions,
      thereby protecting customers against loss of revenues.
 
    - REAL-TIME PROCESSING--The Company's systems can provide real-time
      processing (I.E., the ability to process and deliver CDRs within five
      minutes of receipt) which is critical to certain advanced applications,
      including billing and rating functions, as well as fraud detection and
      management and customer care.
 
    - CONNECTIVITY--The Company's engineering expertise acquired through the
      Company's 30-year history enables its billing data collection systems to
      interface with switches from all major domestic and most major
      international wireline switch manufacturers. For telecommunications
      companies facing a lack of industry standards for switch interfaces and
      data formats, the Company's products provide the ability to standardize
      transactional data for use by their data management systems. The Company
      plans to develop interfaces to accommodate additional international and
      wireless switches, thereby enabling the Company's systems to service
      integrated domestic and international wireline and wireless operations.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    - OPEN SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE--The Company's products utilize an overall open
      systems architecture that results in several important benefits: (i)
      standard interfaces enable the Company's products to connect with other
      customer network elements; (ii) adherence to network management protocols
      enables the Company's products to be managed as a system; and (iii)
      applications programming interfaces developed by the Company enable its
      products to interface effectively with the customers' applications
      software. The Company believes that this open design adds greatly to the
      value of its products and increases its opportunities in the marketplace.
 
    - SCALEABILITY--The Company's systems can be configured to handle a wide
      range of transaction data volumes, thereby permitting customers to
      increase capacity over time on a cost-effective basis. Customers
      frequently can reduce their personnel costs and increase productivity
      because the Company's systems utilize fewer hardware units than systems
      using prior technology, thereby requiring fewer operators.
 
    - FLEXIBLE FUNCTIONALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS--The Company's systems can
      be configured with a variety of specialized processing modules to provide
      a variety of preprocessing functions, thereby allowing customers to avoid
      ongoing adjustments to their mainframe software and to free mainframe
      capacity to handle the increased demand that will be placed on billing and
      rating systems in the future.
 
   
    The Company's traffic management system, Manifest,-TM- provides
telecommunications companies with real-time traffic data to detect and locate,
quickly exchange and network problems, plan and route strategically call traffic
through the network, improve the overall quality of service and reduce
significantly customer complaints. The system supports open systems standards
and utilizes an object-oriented graphical-user interface ("GUI") development
tool. It provides flexible traffic measurement and analysis through standard
UNIX and Windows NT reporting tools.
    
 
   
    The Company recently introduced a fraud detection and management system
which is its first software applications product that can be utilized separately
from, as well as together with, the Company's systems products. The software
utilized in the product is licensed from a company in the United Kingdom where a
substantially similar product is currently in commercial use.
    
 
STRATEGY
 
    The Company's objective is to leverage its position as the leading provider
of comprehensive billing data collection systems to RBOCs to become the leading
provider of those systems and related products and services to
telecommunications and information providers domestically and internationally.
The Company's strategy to achieve this objective includes the following key
elements:
 
    - EXPAND RELATIONSHIPS WITH WIRELINE CUSTOMERS. The Company has addressed
      the demand from its domestic and international wireline customers for
      increasingly sophisticated billing and other information by introducing
      its Sterling Series line of billing data collection products at the end of
      1995. Sales to the Company's three main RBOC customers, Ameritech,
      Southwestern Bell and U S West, equaled $20.9 million in fiscal 1996. The
      Company believes that these customers have replaced less than 25% of their
      prior generation billing data collection units and that these customers
      will replace the balance of their prior generation units, and purchase
      additional products and services from the Company, over the next three to
      five years. The Company also believes that there is a significant
      opportunity to sell Sterling Series products to other RBOCs and other
      wireline customers worldwide.
 
    - CONTINUE TO EXPAND SALES TO NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS. The rapidly
      evolving telecommunications business environment is resulting in a large
      number of new telecommunications providers that will directly or
      indirectly provide opportunities for the Company, including CLECs, long
      distance companies, cellular service providers and PCS providers. The
      Company is currently installing an initial product delivery for a major
      CLEC and has begun selling to an RBOC-affiliated
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
      long distance company. In addition, cable television companies, Internet
      service providers and utility companies are beginning to provide
      telecommunications services. The Company intends to address the
      opportunities arising from the new providers by developing interfaces for
      wireless switches and by expanding its product line to make available
      lower-priced entry-level systems with functionalities geared to lower
      volume switches. See "Use of Proceeds." The Company also plans to address
      these opportunities through the new marketing strategies and new product
      and service offerings described below.
 
   
    - CONTINUE TO DEVELOP MARKETING CHANNELS. In addition to direct sales and
      marketing efforts, the Company has begun to market its systems through
      indirect channels. The Company has emphasized the establishment of
      relationships with switch vendors, systems integrators and billing system
      providers. In May 1997, the Company entered into a reseller agreement with
      AG Communication Systems Corporation, ("AGCS"), a joint venture between
      Lucent and GTE Corporation ("GTE"). The Company also recently entered into
      a preliminary memorandum of understanding with a major systems integrator
      for the sale of certain Sterling Series products and is negotiating
      arrangements with manufacturers of ATM switches that permit greatly
      enhanced call processing speeds and volumes. The Company sells to the
      wireless market through a supply relationship with another company.
    
 
   
    - EXPAND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. The Company's products have been sold
      internationally since 1972. In 1995, the Company completed a $13 million
      contract with Telecom Argentina. Contracts for the sale of an aggregate of
      $4.2 million of the Company's products and services to TELESP and another
      major Brazilian telecommunications company are currently nearing
      completion. The Company intends to develop products to interface with a
      broader range of international switches. See "Use of Proceeds." The
      Company is expanding its penetration of international markets by forming
      relationships with systems integrators and distributors in targeted
      countries. The Company is negotiating arrangements with prospective
      distribution partners in Indonesia, the Phillippines and France, has
      received initial orders from a software development company and a long
      distance operator in France, and has signed a distribution agreement with
      Mahindra-British Telecom, a company based in India. The Company also
      utilizes agents in certain countries including Argentina, Venezuela, the
      Phillippines and the Caribbean. In addition, the Company employs three
      senior international sales executives and, through its affiliation with
      Securicor, has access to business development managers based in Hungary,
      Malaysia and South America. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
    - EXPAND PRODUCT AND SERVICE OFFERINGS. The Company intends to continue to
      expand the functionality of its primary products. By the end of calendar
      1997, the Company plans to make available additional reformatting and
      distribution capabilities in its Sterling Series systems. The Company
      plans to develop additional interfaces for wireless and international
      switches and to make available lower-priced entry-level systems. See "Use
      of Proceeds." The Company recently introduced its fraud detection and
      management system which is its first software applications product that
      can be utilized separately from, as well as together with, its systems
      products. The Company has also recently upgraded its traffic management
      solution to provide features including a graphical user interface,
      enhanced application tools, a web browser and compatibility with Windows
      NT. The Company also plans to expand its technology service offerings to
      make available fast response software engineering services focused on
      customers' individualized needs. The Company may also consider developing
      interfaces that permit its systems to transmit data from sources other
      than telecommunications networks, including possibly other utilities and
      cable television systems. The Company intends to consider selective
      acquisitions of product and service providers to augment its internal
      development efforts.
    
 
    - RETAIN TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP. The Company has developed broad expertise in
      its core product areas in the course of serving some of the largest
      domestic and international telecommunications providers. The Company
      currently employs 72 engineers with over 1,000 years of aggregate
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
      engineering experience. The Company believes that this expertise provides
      the Company with a competitive advantage in configuring its systems to
      address most effectively its customers' requirements.
 
PRODUCTS AND RELATED SERVICES
 
   
    The Company's principal products are billing data collection systems and
traffic management systems utilized by operators of telecommunications networks.
Telecommunications networks consist primarily of lines (which connect a terminal
device, such as a telephone or modem, with a switch), trunks (which connect two
or more switches) and switches. A telecommunications switch is a computer-based
system that connects users of telecommunications networks. The switch provides a
dial tone to the calling party, routes the call based upon the telephone number
dialed by the calling party, connects the calling and called parties (or
provides a busy signal if the called number is busy), releases all equipment
upon the completion of the call and creates a call detail record ("CDR") of the
call. The Company's billing data collection systems collect, process and
transmit these CDRs from telecommunications switches to the customer's (which
may be an ILEC or CLEC) information management network.
    
 
   
    The number of trunks required by any telecommunications network depends
primarily on the number, timing and duration of calls. If a network has too many
available trunks, costs to the operator and users are increased. If a network
has too few available trunks, users are unable to have their calls connected,
resulting in complaints from users and lost revenues to the operator. The
Company's traffic management systems capture information on trunk usage that is
transmitted to the customer's network planners who use the information to try to
plan their networks so that the optimal number of trunks are available at the
appropriate times and at the appropriate places in the network.
    
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
                             [LOGO]
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    BILLING DATA COLLECTION PRODUCTS
 
   
    The Company offers an integrated suite of billing data collection products
marketed under the "Sterling Series" name. The individual products that comprise
the Sterling Series are designed to work as a system; however, the Company sells
each component separately so that the system can be configured to meet the exact
needs of the customer. The Sterling Series was introduced by the Company at the
end of 1995 as the successor to its PDU-20 (Pollable Data Unit) and SX5000 (Host
Collector) billing data collection system that the Company introduced in the
1980s as the "SEBX Series." Compared with the SEBX Series, the Sterling Series
provides substantially increased storage capacity and processing power, enhanced
interconnectivity with a wide range of data management systems and increased
speed of network data delivery. For example, the newest version of the Sterling
5000 can process up to 16 million CDRs per hour and the Sterling 500 can process
up to 750,000 CDRs per hour, as compared to four million CDRs per hour for the
SX5000 and 150,000 CDRs per hour for the PDU-20. The storage capacity (per disk)
of the newest version of the Sterling 5000 is up to four times that of the
SX5000 and the storage capacity of the Sterling 500 is up to ten times that of
the PDU-20. Sales to the Company's three main RBOC customers equaled $20.9
million in fiscal 1996, a large majority of which is attributable to sales of
Sterling Series products. The Company believes that its three largest customers,
Ameritech, Southwestern Bell and U S West, have replaced in the aggregate less
than 25% of their prior generation billing data collection units and that these
customers will replace the balance of their prior generation units, and purchase
additional products and services from the Company, over the next three to five
years. The Company also believes that there is a significant opportunity to sell
Sterling Series products to other RBOCs and other wireline customers worldwide.
    
 
    The Sterling Series is a highly flexible system that offers a number of
important features that are designed to assist the customer to make its billing
data collection system more reliable and less costly to operate:
 
    - REDUNDANCY AND RELIABILITY. The structure of the Sterling Series permits
      it to be "redundant," I.E., when one of its processing systems fails, the
      Sterling Series has the ability to redirect data gathering, processing and
      distribution functions to other parts of its system and take proper steps
      to recover data lost when the original failure occurred. The redundancy
      and audit features enable the Sterling Series to provide "financial grade"
      reliability (greater than 99.999% system availability).
 
    - AUDIT AND ALARM FEATURES. The Sterling Series has an "audit" feature that
      enables it to identify problems and inconsistencies in the CDRs and recall
      data that has been lost or misplaced in the CDR generating source or any
      other part of the billing data collection system. The Sterling Series is
      also equipped with alarms that can be programmed to notify systems
      operators of the existence of data problems as they occur.
 
    - REAL-TIME ACCESS. The Sterling Series permits transactional data to be
      copied and processed early in the processing cycle so that a wide variety
      of users can gain real-time access to data (I.E., the ability to process
      and deliver CDRs within five minutes of receipt) without disrupting the
      integrity of the stream of billing information.
 
    - CONNECTIVITY. The Sterling Series has the ability to gather and process
      information from a wide range of telecommunications switches, including
      switches utilizing older or "legacy" technologies. The Sterling Series can
      be adapted to interface with wireless switches and is capable of
      supporting both U.S. and international billing data specifications.
 
    - OPEN SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE. The Sterling Series utilizes standard
      interfaces to permit connection with other elements in the customer's data
      collection network. These products also use network management protocols
      that allow them to be managed as a system. Applications programming
      interfaces developed by the Company enable its products to interface
      effectively with customers' applications software.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    - SCALEABILITY. The Sterling Series has a multi-processor architecture which
      is "scaleable," meaning that users can add additional components to
      significantly upgrade its processing power and functions. These
      "scaleability" features therefore can reduce a customer's need to invest
      in new systems to handle increased CDR volumes and specialized processing
      requirements.
 
    - MODULARITY AND FLEXIBILITY. The system is modular in design, and can be
      configured to perform a number of user-specified applications by employing
      the Company's specialized processing modules. By using specialized
      processing modules to perform user-defined preprocessing functions at the
      billing collectors, users of the Sterling Series can reduce the work
      performed by their core billing systems, significantly increasing the
      overall processing speed and performance of the billing management system.
 
    - REMOTE ACCESS. The Sterling Series permits the customer to manage from a
      centralized location billing data collection activities at remote
      automated facilities. The ability to manage so-called "darkroom"
      facilities at remote sites allows customers to reduce labor costs.
 
    The core components of the Sterling Series are the Sterling 500 data server
and the Sterling 5000 billing data collector, each of which can be configured
with a variety of specialized processing modules. The Sterling Series is
controlled through the Company's Sterling Manager software that runs on the
Sterling 5001 workstation. The Sterling Series also includes the Sterling 5410
data distribution platform. These components of the Sterling Series are
described in further detail below.
 
    STERLING 500.  The Sterling 500 is a data server that consists of a
processor unit equipped with a UNIX-based operating system. The Sterling 500
typically interfaces with between one and four switches to obtain all
transactional data generated by the switches. The Sterling 500 can be configured
on a fully redundant basis and shares many capabilities with the Sterling 5000
described below, such as the ability to support multiple switches and switch
interfaces, scaleability and compatibility with a wide range of local-and
wide-area-network environments.
 
    STERLING 5000.  The Sterling 5000 is a centralized billing data collector
that collects transactional data (primarily CDRs) from data servers, such as the
Sterling 500, or directly from up to 200 telecommunications switches or other
CDR generating sources. The Sterling 5000 consists of a multi-processor Hewlett-
Packard Co. ("Hewlett-Packard") computer equipped with specialized software. The
Sterling 5000 is equipped with specialized input interfaces which permit the
unit to collect data from a wide variety of switch and server types. After the
data is collected, the Sterling 5000's resident preprocessing software reformats
the CDRs into a normalized format which facilitates further processing, storage
or delivery to other data management systems.
 
    The Sterling 5000 processes the normalized CDRs through a number of
applications, some of which are standard features of the Sterling 5000 and some
of which are provided by specialized processing modules that the Company sells
separately. The following processing modules are loaded on the Sterling 5000 as
standard features.
 
    - The Copy Module generates a duplicate output file in real time from any
      output file, thereby enabling customers to distribute duplicate data
      streams to other applications while leaving the primary data stream intact
      for transmission to, and use by, the rating and billing process.
 
    - The Terminator Module allows customers to create a user-defined output
      file that receives a copy of the CDRs generated by another processing
      module and provides for the distribution of such output files on a
      schedule or on a demand basis using standard file transfer protocols.
 
    - The Daily Volume Tracking Module enables customers to create reports on
      the daily volume of CDRs.
 
    Although the Company recommends that RBOCs and most other customers purchase
a system that utilizes Sterling 500s to transmit data from switches to one or
more centrally-located Sterling 5000s that
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
transmit data to the customer's host billing system, Sterling 500s and 5000s can
be installed in a number of configurations depending on the processing needs and
the budget constraints of the customer. Sterling 500s can be installed alone to
transmit normalized CDRs gathered from the switches directly to the billing
system. Similarly, Sterling 5000s can be installed alone to gather transaction
information directly from the switch without the need for intermediary
preprocessing steps.
 
    STERLING 5001; STERLING MANAGER.  The Sterling 5001 is a workstation
equipped with GUI-based software that provides communication, command and
control capabilities for a network of one or more Sterling 5000s and Sterling
500s. The Sterling 5001 is generally used in combination with the Company's
Sterling Manager software product, which can be easily adapted to interface with
additional Sterling and non-Sterling hardware and software products. With
easy-to-use "point and click operation," the Sterling 5001 optimizes systems
control and enables the customer's personnel to manage from remote locations
data collecting, processing and distributing functions performed by equipment
installed at fully automated facilities. By combining the ability to manage
remote operations with the advantages of a user-friendly interface, the
Company's products help its customers to control their personnel-related costs.
 
    STERLING 5410.  The Sterling 5410 is a UNIX-based data distribution platform
designed to receive CDR data from other Sterling Series products and perform
independent data processing. The Sterling 5410 offers end users full access to
that data while, at the same time, maintaining a security "firewall" between
these external users and the revenue-critical billing system directly supported
by other Sterling Series products. The platform has the further advantage of
being able to aggregate data from several Sterling 5000s and 500s by
communication through a provider's own network file servers. Currently, the
primary application of the Sterling 5410 permits ILECs to provide call detail
data to their Centrex customers.
 
    SPECIALIZED PROCESSING MODULES ("SPMS").  The Company offers purchasers of
the Sterling 500 and 5000 the power to build quickly and easily their own
applications by using Company-designed software modules called SPMs. SPMs are
user-defined transaction processing functions for exclusive use on the Sterling
Series billing data collection products that offer a rules-based approach to
building processing features. Each SPM performs a unique operation on the
transaction data, but SPMs can be implemented in groups with defined
interactions among the separate modules. Configurations of these groups of
modules can be designed, enabled and disabled by customer personnel using a
convenient graphical display, thereby reducing the need for costly and
time-consuming revisions to customers' application software systems.
 
    SPMs can be grouped to perform customer-defined applications. For example, a
customer could combine the Filter and Distribution Modules to select and deliver
to an outside fraud management system only those CDRs that are most likely to
involve fraud. This screening and real-time forwarding of the data may offer
customers the ability to reduce the processing requirements placed on a fraud
management system thereby improving its real-time performance.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
    The following is a summary of the Company's SPM offerings:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           STERLING
NAME OF MODULE                             MODEL NO.                 DESCRIPTION
<S>                                       <C>          <C>
Filter                                          5110   Selects and copies individual CDRs using
                                                       filtering criteria that are user-defined
                                                       and that can be derived from any logical
                                                       combination of fields within each CDR
                                                       identified by type, origination,
                                                       destination, length of call and other
                                                       criteria.
Call Screening Collector/Message Detail         5120   Provides flexible and cost-effective
  Recording                                            deployment of records of a
                                                       telecommunications station providing
                                                       Centrex service, includes applications
                                                       to report station-specific call details
                                                       for end-users of Centrex service and
                                                       provides the flexibility to add or
                                                       delete screening functions.
Distribution Module                             5130   Provides for the automatic disposition
                                                       of files resulting from specialized
                                                       processing of call records with output
                                                       capable of being generated in many
                                                       forms, including "mounting" data on a
                                                       network file server, E-mailing, faxing
                                                       and exporting to databases.
Reformatter                                     5140   Accepts a user-defined record input and
                                                       reformats the input to a user-defined
                                                       output format where input and output
                                                       rules can be updated or modified by the
                                                       user.
File Router                                     5180   Routes the transactional data stream
                                                       based on the data source location,
                                                       providing processing at the level of
                                                       entire files in contrast with the Filter
                                                       SPM which provides processing of each
                                                       individual CDR.
</TABLE>
 
    TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PRODUCTS
 
   
    The Company provides a comprehensive traffic management system under the
name Manifest-TM- (formerly Autrax 5000). This product provides
telecommunications companies with real-time (I.E., the ability to process and
deliver data within five minutes of receipt) traffic data to detect and locate
quickly exchange and network problems, plan and route strategically traffic
through the network, improve the over-all quality of service and reduce
significantly customer complaints. The Manifest-TM- traffic management system
features a GUI-based system with cross-platform (Windows NT and UNIX)
capabilities, compliance with the Open Database Connectivity standard, a
function to permit its reports to be accessed by a web browser and an adaptive
normalizer which permits greater customer flexibility in report creation.
    
 
   
    Many large telecommunications service providers in the United States, such
as the RBOCs, developed their own traffic management systems. These systems
typically have not been significantly upgraded or improved in nearly a decade.
With demand for wireline telecommunications services increasing rapidly, as
evidenced by the increasing demand by businesses and private households for
Internet access through
    
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
wirelines, ILECs and other owners of wireline systems increasingly will demand
more sophisticated traffic management tools. Also, increasing competition in
each market segment creates the need for products that can accurately measure
and report inter-company transactions and facilitate settlements between
telecommunications service providers. Similarly, privatization and other
competitive factors have increased the need of international telecommunications
service providers for more sophisticated traffic management systems.
 
   
    The Company's traffic management system consists of a Hewlett-Packard-based
hardware platform loaded with Company-developed software. The system collects
and processes traffic information from a wide array of switch technologies,
including digital, analog and cellular switches and traffic management system
points in the service provider's signal control system, such as the RBOCs'
Signaling System 7. The system interfaces directly with the switches to collect
traffic data and generate maintenance reports in a standard database format. The
Manifest-TM- traffic management system centralizes the raw data into database
tables so that standard and customized reports can be generated. As with the
Sterling Series billing data collection products, the Manifest-TM- traffic
management system is fully scaleable, permitting easy upgrades to meet rising
system demands.
    
 
    NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
 
    Under the name "alpha Technology Services," the Company recently commenced
offering professional engineering services to its customers to assist them to
make better use of the Company's products. The Company's engineers assist
telecommunications services customers to develop customized applications
programs and introduce them to product feature enhancements. Services include
developing: user interfaces, system interfaces and network and alarm system
management interfaces; custom filters to screen call data used in fraud
management and other processing applications; and software for custom data
handling, reformatting and report generation. The Company believes that its
technology services are important in demonstrating the Company's responsiveness
to the needs of its customers.
 
   
    The Company recently introduced its first software application for use
outside of, or together with, its billing data collections system: a fraud
management program. This product is designed to assist providers in detecting
and managing fraudulent use of telecommunications systems which is estimated to
have resulted in $3.3 billion of lost revenues among wireline and wireless
services providers in the United States in 1994. The software for this product
has been obtained by the Company from an outside software development firm
pursuant to a license that grants the Company exclusive rights for the software
in the United States and Canada and non-exclusive rights elsewhere worldwide
through October 1999 and thereafter until terminated by either party upon three
months notice. The licensor's products are currently in commercial use in the
United Kingdom.
    
 
    In the future the Company will consider introducing new software
applications that are compatible with its other billing data collection and
traffic management products. The Company may also consider developing interfaces
that permit its systems to transmit data from sources other than
telecommunications networks, including possibly other utilities and cable
television systems. There is no assurance, however, that any of these products
will be successfully developed or marketed.
 
CUSTOMERS
 
    GENERAL
 
    The Company's customers include large telecommunications companies based in
a number of countries around the world. In fiscal 1996, the Company sold
components of its Sterling Series to three of the RBOCs, U S West, Ameritech and
Southwestern Bell, and provided product support services to three other RBOCs.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    The following table sets forth information with respect to sales to certain
major customers during fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   FISCAL 1995                        FISCAL 1996
                                                       -----------------------------------  --------------------------------
                                                                            PERCENTAGE OF                     PERCENTAGE OF
CUSTOMER                                                    REVENUES       TOTAL REVENUES      REVENUES      TOTAL REVENUES
- -----------------------------------------------------  ------------------  ---------------  ---------------  ---------------
<S>                                                    <C>                 <C>              <C>              <C>
U S West.............................................        $7.3 million          28.7%      $10.2 million          30.1%
Southwestern Bell....................................        $1.5 million           5.8%       $6.3 million          18.5%
Ameritech............................................        $4.3 million          16.7%       $4.4 million          13.0%
Puerto Rico Telephone Co.............................        $0.1 million           0.4%       $3.2 million           9.4%
Telecom Argentina....................................        $4.4 million          17.0%       $1.2 million           3.4%
</TABLE>
 
    The Company generally enters into agreements with its major customers that
establish a framework for the ongoing relationship. Individual orders are placed
pursuant to purchase orders. Installation, maintenance and support services are
typically charged separately from product purchases. The Company has ongoing
informal communications with these customers based upon which the Company can
estimate the amount and timing of orders and can plan production accordingly.
International sales are generally obtained pursuant to contracts that cover all
applicable products and services for the entire project.
 
    RBOC CUSTOMERS
 
    The Company currently provides products or services to six RBOCs, three of
which are currently major customers: Ameritech, Southwestern Bell and U S West.
 
    AMERITECH.  The Company has sold billing data collection products to
Ameritech since its formation from local units of the old Bell System in 1984.
Predecessors of Ameritech had been customers of the Company since 1972.
Ameritech and its predecessors have purchased over 400 PDU-20 units. To date,
Ameritech has purchased eight Sterling 5000s and over 40 Sterling 500s.
 
    SOUTHWESTERN BELL.  The Company's relationship with Southwestern Bell began
in 1989 and has recently resulted in sales of five Sterling 5000s and over 50
Sterling 500s.
 
    U S WEST.  The Company initiated its sales to U S West when U S West was
formed in 1984. Predecessors of U S West had been customers of the Company since
1972. U S West and its predecessors have purchased over 400 PDU-20 units. U S
West has purchased 15 Sterling 5000s and over 90 Sterling 500s. One of the
Company's sales executives and one of the Company's technical staff is based in
Denver, Colorado, the location of U S West's corporate headquarters, where each
dedicates his working time exclusively to developing and maintaining the
Company's relationship with U S West.
 
    OTHER MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
    TELECOM ARGENTINA.  In 1995, the Company completed a $13 million contract
entered into in 1992 with Telecom Argentina pursuant to which the Company
installed 136 PDU-20 units and three SX 5000s. The Company continues to provide
ongoing support and engineering services to Telecom Argentina pursuant to
contracts totaling $1.4 million for fiscal 1997.
 
    PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE CO.  The Company has sold products to Puerto Rico
Telephone Co. since 1993. To date, the Company has sold over 30 Sterling 500s
and one Sterling 5000 to Puerto Rico Telephone Co.
 
    TELESP.  In January 1995, the Company began supplying its products to
TELESP, a major regional telecommunications service provider in Brazil. Through
an agency agreement with a Brazilian telecommunications solutions company, the
Company has supplied hardware and software components of a traffic management
system and related services to TELESP. To date, the Company has earned $3.2
million in revenues under this contract.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
    BACKLOG
 
    The Company's backlog (firm purchase orders for products and services that
have not yet been recognized as revenue) was approximately $7.1 million and $5.3
million on March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1996, respectively. The Company normally
has a relatively small amount of product and service backlog because ongoing
informal communication with its major customers generally enables the Company to
anticipate orders and ship products within a relatively short time after the
customer's order is received. The Company expects to be able to fill
substantially all backlog existing at March 31, 1997 prior to the end of fiscal
1997. Backlog with respect to RBOC sales typically is the greatest at the end of
the third quarter of each fiscal year, due to the RBOCs' budget cycles. RBOCs
generally do not order products such as those sold by the Company for delivery
beyond their current fiscal year.
 
SUPPLY RELATIONSHIPS
 
   
    The Company purchases and licenses products and technology from a variety of
providers. The Company purchases Hewlett-Packard hardware and software that is
used primarily for its Sterling 5000 and traffic management product through an
agreement with a major Hewlett-Packard distributor. The Company licenses the
real-time operating system used in the Sterling Series from Lynx Real-Tool
Systems, Inc., software for its traffic management product from Informix
Software, Inc. and the software for its recently introduced fraud detection and
management product from a private United Kingdom company. The Company also
purchases processing boards for its Sterling 500s and other products from
Motorola, Inc. through a distributor.
    
 
MARKETING AND SALES
 
   
    The Company's sales to date have primarily been generated through the
establishment and maintenance of long-term relationships with several key
customers. The Company's domestic sales staff consists of seven account managers
with an aggregate of over 150 years of telecommunications sales experience.
Sales have been generated primarily through direct contacts with major
customers, requests for proposals from telecommunications companies,
participation in trade shows and industry conferences and advertisements in
trade journals. The Company also maintains an Internet home page as an adjunct
to its marketing activities.
    
 
    DOMESTIC MARKETING CHANNELS
 
    In addition to direct sales to telecommunications service providers such as
the RBOCs, CLECs and major wireline and wireless telecommunications service
providers, the Company is seeking to broaden its access to its markets through
distributor relationships with systems integrators and marketing relationships
with switch vendors and billing and rating system providers.
 
   
    In May 1997, the Company entered into a reseller agreement with AGCS, a
joint venture between Lucent and GTE. AGCS is a developer and manufacturer of
telecommunications switches and OSS products. The agreement provides for AGCS to
resell the Company's Sterling Series products. The Company also recently entered
into a preliminary memorandum of understanding with a major systems integrator
for the sale of certain Sterling Series products. The Company is also
negotiating arrangements with manufacturers of ATM switches pursuant to which
the Company would provide software engineering services and license software to
the ATM companies that would also sell the Company's products, on a distributor
basis, as part of their ATM switch systems. The Company also sells to the
wireless market through its supply relationship with Metapath Corporation
("Metapath"), of which the Company was previously a stockholder. The Company
supplies a product equivalent to its Sterling 500 to Metapath which is
incorporated into that company's solutions for both cellular and PCS providers.
The Company is developing interfaces for wireless switches that would permit
direct sales to this market in the future.
    
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
    INTERNATIONAL MARKETING CHANNELS
 
   
    The Company's products have been sold internationally since 1972. In 1995,
the Company completed a $13 million contract entered into in 1992 with Telecom
Argentina and entered into contracts to sell an aggregate of $4.2 million of its
products and services to TELESP and another major Brazilian telecommunications
company that are nearing completion. The Company continues to provide ongoing
support and engineering services to Telecom Argentina pursuant to contracts
totaling $1.4 million for fiscal 1997. The Company intends to expand its
penetration of international markets by forming relationships with systems
integrators and distributors in targeted countries. The Company recently entered
into a distributorship agreement with Mahindra-British Telecom, a company based
in India. The Company is negotiating arrangements with prospective distribution
partners in Indonesia, the Phillippines and France pursuant to which the
distributor would provide sales, marketing, installation and first-line and
second-line support functions and the Company would provide product, training,
marketing documentation and third-line support functions. The Company recently
received initial orders from a software development company and a long distance
operator in France. The Company also utilizes agents in certain countries,
including Argentina, Venezuela, the Phillippines and the Caribbean, who are
compensated on a commission basis. In addition, the Company employs three
international sales managers and, through its affiliation with Securicor, has
access to business development managers based in Hungary, Malaysia and South
America. See "Certain Transactions."
    
 
CUSTOMER SERVICE
 
    The Company operates an integrated Customer Service Group that it believes
is a key to success with both current and potential new customers. The Customer
Service Group consists of Quality Assurance, Program Management, Support
Services, Customer Training, Documentation, Installation and Information
Technology subgroups. The Company's installation team, which includes both
full-time and sub-contract staff, is certified to work in the central office
switch environment and can install full turn-key systems. The Company achieved
ISO 9001 certification in August 1996 and has since passed an interim audit.
 
    A senior program manager is responsible for administering all aspects of
major contracts and other projects, including acting as contact person and
coordinator for the customer. The Company believes that this results in more
efficient project administration, greater customer satisfaction and often
additional sales opportunities during the course of contract implementation.
 
    Through its Technical Assistance Center, the Company offers 24-hour help
desk support to anywhere in the world, 365 days per year. The technical support
offered by the Company includes remote testing and management capabilities, as
well as on-site problem resolution when required. Training is offered both at
the Company's facilities and on the customers' premises. Internationally, the
Company contracts with local agents or distributors so that it can offer local
support on a basis consistent with its domestic standards. The Company has also
begun to provide on-line documentation and training for its products.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    The Company's research and development efforts are directed towards
developing new products to meet the growing needs of its telecommunications
customers and entering new markets and improving existing products by
incorporating new features and technologies. The Company believes that the
timely development of new products and enhancements is critical to its
maintaining its leadership position in its current marketplace and in gaining
penetration in new markets.
 
    The Company plans to use a portion of the proceeds of the Offering to expand
its Sterling Series product line in order to address more effectively the
requirements of lower volume telecommunications switches and to develop
interfaces with switches utilized by wireless and international
telecommunications systems. See "Use of Proceeds." These efforts will build upon
a large amount of development work already accomplished in connection with the
Company's existing products.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
    To leverage its development resources, the Company works closely with its
customers and leading technology vendors to identify specific needs and tailor
the Company's systems to meet these needs. The Company's research and
development organization consists of several major groups. The architectural
group is responsible for the creation and enhancement of the key technologies
underlying all applications. This group is also responsible for exploring new
directions and applications of the Company's core technologies, incorporating
standard technology into existing product lines and developing and improving the
application architecture to facilitate rapid development of applications. Each
of the product lines has a dedicated software engineering group directly
supporting its development efforts. These software development groups are
supported by a hardware engineering group that is responsible for the
development of cross product line hardware platforms. The special projects
engineering group is responsible for addressing individual customers'
specialized requirements. The Company has also formed a new technologies group
to evaluate emerging technologies and provide input on the upgrading of existing
products and the development of new products.
 
    The Company also has entered into a relationship with Mahindra-British
Telecom in India, pursuant to which that company performs software development
projects for the Company. The Company believes that this relationship provides
it with additional flexibility in developing its products on a timely and cost-
effective basis.
 
    A critical element of the Company's success has been the development of a
multi-layered software and hardware architecture that facilitates the
development of application software. This architecture supports the development
of the Company's core products and provides a discrete platform that enables the
rapid development of customer- and product-specific software. In addition, the
Company's core products fully support application programming interfaces which
open up the architecture so that third-party developers can integrate their
application software packages into the Company's system.
 
    At the most fundamental layer of its architecture, the Company has written a
common independent library of code that provides a foundation for reusability.
Together with the use of UNIX operating systems which comply with UNIX95
standards as well as the use of the C programming language in its applications
software development, the Company has positioned its products to be portable and
to be able to operate on the most suitable hardware platforms for its customers'
needs.
 
   
    During fiscal 1995, fiscal 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1997,
product research, development and engineering expenses were $5.9 million, $7.0
million and $3.8 million, respectively. Product research, development and
engineering expenses are expected to increase in fiscal 1997. None of the
research, development and engineering expenses has been capitalized. As of March
31, 1997, the Company employed 75 people in product and systems development. The
Company has added 23 engineering, programming and development personnel since
January 1, 1996.
    
 
COMPETITION
 
    The market for billing data collection and traffic management services for
the telecommunications service industry is highly competitive and the Company
expects that further growth within the telecommunications service industry will
encourage the entry of new participants into U.S. and international markets in
the future. Many of the Company's current and potential future competitors have
significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than the
Company.
 
    The Company believes that the principal basis of competition in the sales of
its products is functionality, including such factors as the ability of products
to provide a high degree of integrity of transaction information while
efficiently performing all preprocessing and delivery functions; the ability to
increase capacity and add functionality cost-effectively; the ability to provide
critical data on a real-time basis; compatibility with telecommunications
switches sold by a number of manufacturers; and the ability to interface
effectively with a variety of billing and other applications. Other significant
bases of competition include price and service.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
   
    In the market for its billing data collection solutions, the Company's
competitors include (i) large telecommunications service providers that
internally develop full system products for their own use; (ii) companies, such
as ACE*COMM Corporation, CGI, Inc., Lucent and Northern Telecom Inc., that can
supply billing data collection components and systems; and (iii) vendors that
supply product components or systems integration services, including Andersen
Consulting, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-Packard and International
Business Machines Corp.
    
 
    In the market for its traffic management solutions, the Company's
competitors include (i) large telecommunications service providers that
internally develop full system products for their own use; (ii) companies such
as Hewlett-Packard and Objective Systems Integrators, Inc. that provide
integrated network management systems and (iii) companies such as Applied
Digital Access that provide separate traffic management solutions.
 
   
    There are a large number of companies that have developed or could develop a
product competitive with the Company's fraud detection and management product.
The Company believes that most large telecommunications companies are currently
utilizing internally developed fraud management systems.
    
 
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND LICENSES
 
   
    The Company relies primarily on copyright and trade secret laws to protect
its proprietary rights. The Company distributes its products under service and
software license agreements which typically grant customers non-exclusive
licenses, subject to terms and conditions prohibiting unauthorized reproduction,
transfer or use. Although the Company holds patents with respect to certain
aspects of its products, it does not believe that these patents are material to
its business. The Company believes that, because of the rapid pace of
technological change in the telecommunications and computer software and
hardware industries, the technological expertise of its personnel, the
complexity of its system architecture and the frequency and timeliness of
product and service offerings are more significant than the legal protection of
its products and services. In addition, the Company enters into non-disclosure
agreements with each employee and consultant and each third-party to whom the
Company provides proprietary information. Access to the Company's core source
code is greatly restricted. The Company licenses from third parties software and
technology that is important to certain functionalities of its products,
including the software that is the basis for its recently introduced fraud
detection and management application. See "--Products and Related Services--New
Products and Services." The Company is not aware of any patent infringement or
any violation of other proprietary rights claimed by any third party relating to
the Company or the Company's products. See "Risk Factors--Dependence on
Proprietary Technology."
    
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of March 31, 1997, the Company had a total of 197 employees, of whom 75
were engaged in engineering, programming and development, nine in marketing, 40
in customer service, 21 in sales and sales support, 39 in manufacturing and
related operations and 13 in administration and finance. At that date, the
Company also engaged nine individuals on a consulting basis, six of which were
engaged in engineering, programming and development. None of the Company's
employees is represented by a labor union. The Company believes that its
relations with its employees is good.
 
PROPERTIES
 
   
    The Company's headquarters is located in a 40,000 square foot leased
facility in Moorestown, New Jersey and its manufacturing group is located in an
adjoining 34,000 square foot leased facility. The leases for the facilities
expire in April and August 1998, respectively, with the Company having options
to renew for an additional five years. The Company believes its existing
facilities are adequate for its current needs, but that additional space will be
required for its headquarters by late 1997. The Company is currently evaluating
proposals for relocating the Company's operations to another leased facility in
the Moorestown area.
    
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
   
    The individuals who serve or who have agreed to serve as executive officers
and directors of the Company upon completion of the Offering are as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                            AGE                                 POSITION
- ------------------------------------------      ---      ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>          <C>
 
Edmund A. Hough...........................          52   Chairman of the Board
 
Andrew P. Maunder.........................          40   President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Director
 
Donald Hoffman............................          62   Senior Vice President, Strategic Customer Development
 
William J. Rahe, Jr.......................          50   Vice President, Engineering
 
Mark J. Kadish............................          43   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
 
Michael S. Farina.........................          45   Vice President, Marketing and Sales
 
Joseph F. Gorecki.........................          56   Vice President, Program Management and Customer Service
 
Robert B. Kelly...........................          40   Director
 
Sammy W. Pearson..........................          51   Director
 
Trevor Sokell.............................          56   Director
 
Michael G. Wilkinson......................          46   Director
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    EDMUND A. HOUGH has been a member of the Company's Board of Directors since
July 1994 and was elected Chairman of the Board in March 1995. Dr. Hough has
served as Chief Executive Officer of the Communications Division of Securicor
since June 1992. Dr. Hough was the Managing Director of Johnson Matthey Europe
Limited, from 1989 to May 1992 and the Managing Director of Hoeschst Paint Group
Limited from 1985 to 1989. Dr. Hough is a director of Securicor, Chairman of the
Board of Intek Diversified Corporation ("Intek"), a U.S.-based wireless
communications company in which Securicor has a 63% interest, and a director of
Cellnet Group Limited, a U.K.-based mobile telephone operator in which Securicor
has a 40% interest.
    
 
   
    ANDREW P. MAUNDER has served as the Company's President and Chief Executive
Officer since October 1994 and as the Company's Treasurer since March 1995. Mr.
Maunder has been a director of the Company since October 1996. From March 1994
until he joined the Company, Mr. Maunder served as Chief Financial Officer of
Oxford Molecular Group plc, a biotechnology company based in the United Kingdom.
From April 1987 until February 1994, Mr. Maunder was Finance and Operations
Director of Securicor 3Net, Ltd., ("3Net"), a communications company based in
the United Kingdom that has been affiliated with Securicor since August 1993.
From October 1996 to May 1997, Mr. Maunder also served as a director of
Securicor 3Net, Inc. ("3Net Delaware"), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of
Securicor.
    
 
    DONALD HOFFMAN has served as the Company's Senior Vice President, Strategic
Customer Development since February 1997. From July 1996 to February 1997, Mr.
Hoffman served the Company as Senior Vice President. From July 1994 until June
1996, Mr. Hoffman served as Vice President, Sales of the Company and from the
time he joined the Predecessor Business in 1989 until its acquisition by the
Company in July 1994, he served as its Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
Prior to joining the Predecessor Business, Mr. Hoffman was Vice President and
General Manager of the Business System Sales Division of NEC America, Inc., a
leading electronics company.
 
    WILLIAM J. RAHE, JR. has been the Company's Vice President, Engineering
since joining the Company in April 1995. From August 1994 until April 1995, Mr.
Rahe served as Director, Business Development of
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
Cable & Wireless, Inc., a telecommunications services company. From June 1991
until August 1994, Mr. Rahe had served as Director, Product Development at Cable
& Wireless, Inc. Prior to joining Cable & Wireless, Inc., Mr. Rahe was Vice
President of Engineering of Lightnet, a partnership between CSX Corporation and
Southern New England Telephone Co.
 
    MARK J. KADISH has been with the Company and the Predecessor Business since
September 1987 and has been the Company's Chief Financial Officer since February
1997 and its Secretary since March 1995. From July 1994 to February 1997, Mr.
Kadish served as the Company's Financial Controller. From September 1987 until
June 1994, Mr. Kadish served as the Controller of the Predecessor Business.
Prior to joining the Predecessor Business, Mr. Kadish was Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer of Transducer Systems, Inc., a publicly-traded
manufacturer of computer systems components.
 
    MICHAEL S. FARINA has served as the Company's Vice President of Marketing
and Sales since February 1997. From January 1995 until February 1997, Mr. Farina
was the general manager of the New Media business unit established by
CSC--Communications Industry Services, a division of Computer Sciences
Corporation that is a supplier of information technology to the telephone
industry. From 1988 to December 1994, Mr. Farina held several positions, most
recently as Director of International Marketing and Strategic Alliances, with
GTE Corporation ("GTE"), a diversified telecommunications company.
 
    JOSEPH F. GORECKI has served as the Company's Vice President, Program
Management and Customer Service since April 1995. From February 1992 until April
1995, Mr. Gorecki served at GTE as a Senior Program Manager in GTE's Spacenet
satellite communications group. Prior to joining GTE, Mr. Gorecki served as
Director, Program Operations for BBN Communications Corporation, a
publicly-traded provider of networking solutions.
 
   
    ROBERT B. KELLY has consented to become a member of the Company's Board of
Directors upon completion of the Offering. Mr. Kelly has been a principal in the
Washington, D.C. law firm of Kelly & Povich, P.C. since its formation in October
1994 and currently serves as telecommunications counsel to Securicor. Mr. Kelly
was a partner in the Washington D.C. firm of Piper & Marbury from January 1989
to March 1992, was a sole practitioner from March 1992 to February 1993 and was
a principal in the firm of Kelly, Hunter, Mow & Povich, P.C. from February 1993
to October 1994. Mr. Kelly is a director of Intek.
    
 
    SAMMY W. PEARSON has been a director of the Company since October 1996.
Since February 1994, Mr. Pearson has been the Vice President, Enterprise
Solutions of Oracle Government Services, a business unit of Oracle Corporation,
a provider of advanced software products, services and management solutions.
From May 1992 until February 1994, Mr. Pearson was Vice President of Oracle
Federal Consulting, where he managed Oracle's Federal government consulting
business. From May 1991 to May 1992, Mr. Pearson was the principal of TechSales
Limited, a software marketing company.
 
   
    TREVOR SOKELL has served as a director of the Company and of Securicor
Communications since July 1994. Mr. Sokell served as the Company's President and
Chief Executive Officer from July 1994 until October 1994 and served as the
Company's Treasurer and Secretary from July 1994 until March 1995. Since
November 1996, Mr. Sokell has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
3Net. From January 1987 until October 1996, Mr. Sokell served as Managing
Director of 3Net. Since October 1994, Mr. Sokell has also served as the Chairman
of Securicor Telecoms Ltd., an affiliated company based in the United Kingdom.
Prior to 1987, Mr. Sokell was a director of Netlink, Ltd., managing director of
Network Technology Limited, and a director of Information Technology Ltd.
    
 
    MICHAEL G. WILKINSON has been a director of the Company since July 1994. Mr.
Wilkinson has been the Finance Director of the Communications Division of
Securicor since September 1992. From 1987 to September 1992, Mr. Wilkinson was
Finance Director of Securicor's Business Services Division. Prior to joining
Securicor in 1980, Mr. Wilkinson served as a Finance Director of RCA Limited, an
electronics company based in the United Kingdom.
 
COMMITTEES; ADDITION OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
 
    The Board of Directors intends to establish a Compensation Committee and an
Audit Committee. The Compensation Committee will determine salaries and bonuses
and other compensation matters for
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
officers of the Company, determine employee health and benefit plans, and
administer the Company's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan and any similar plans created
in the future. The Audit Committee will recommend the appointment of the
Company's independent public accountants and will review the scope and results
of audits, internal accounting controls and tax and other accounting related
matters.
 
    The Company intends that an additional independent director will be elected
to the Board of Directors within 90 days after the completion of the Offering.
This person and Mr. Pearson are expected to become the members of the Audit
Committee. Dr. Hough and Mr. Pearson are expected to become the members of the
Compensation Committee.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
   
    Each of the Company's directors, other than Mr. Maunder, will be entitled to
receive an annual fee of $20,000 for their service on the Board of Directors. In
addition, each director will be entitled to reimbursement of travel and other
expenses incurred in connection with their service as a director. Pursuant to
employment arrangements between Securicor and Dr. Hough and Mr. Wilkinson, their
directors' fees will be paid to Securicor.
    
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The following table sets forth certain information with respect to
compensation paid or accrued by the Company for fiscal 1996 to the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and to the four most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company whose salary and bonus for fiscal 1996 exceeded $100,000
for all services rendered in all capacities to the Company (the "Named Executive
Officers"):
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        LONG TERM COMPENSATION
                                                  ANNUAL COMPENSATION   -----------------------
              NAME AND PRINCIPAL                 ---------------------   SECURITIES UNDERLYING       ALL OTHER
                   POSITION                        SALARY      BONUS          OPTIONS(1)          COMPENSATION(2)
- -----------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------  -----------------------  -----------------
<S>                                              <C>         <C>        <C>                      <C>
 
Andrew P. Maunder..............................  $  158,924  $  23,380            48,970             $     296
  President; Chief Executive Officer
 
Donald Hoffman.................................  $  146,339  $  52,338               -0-             $   7,547
  Senior Vice President
 
William J. Rahe, Jr............................  $  131,800  $  24,804            18,360             $   5,880
  Vice President, Engineering
 
Jugtar Basi....................................  $  121,963  $  19,275            18,360             $   4,934
  Vice President, Marketing (3)
 
Joseph F. Gorecki..............................  $  106,454  $  18,365            18,360             $   4,346
  Vice President, Program Management and
  Customer Service
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) All options listed in this column are options to purchase the Common Stock
    of Securicor, a company traded on the London Stock Exchange. At the close of
    business on April 16, 1997, the price of Securicor Common Stock as reported
    on the London Stock Exchange was L2.85 per share. At the noon exchange rate
    of U.S. Dollars into British Pounds Sterling reported by the Federal Reserve
    Bank of New York on April 16, 1997, the price of such shares in U.S. Dollars
    was $4.62 per share. The exercise price of such options is L2.45 per share
    or $3.98 per share at the above described exchange rate.
 
(2) Includes amounts paid by the Company in fiscal 1996 with respect to life
    insurance premiums for the benefit of the Named Executives Officers and
    Company contributions to the 401(k) accounts of such officers as follows:
    (i) Mr. Maunder; $296 for life insurance premiums; (ii) Mr. Hoffman; $5,471
    in
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
    401(k) contributions and $2,076 for insurance premiums; (iii) Mr. Rahe;
    $5,333 in 401(k) contributions and $547 in insurance premiums; (iv) Mr.
    Basi; $4,934 in 401(k) contributions; and (v) Mr. Gorecki; $4,346 in 401(k)
    contributions. Excludes any amounts based upon Mr. Maunder's right to sell
    to Securicor (at a price based on operating results in fiscal 1996 of
    certain Securicor businesses including the Company) shares of 3Net
    previously held by him that he acquired prior to his service with the
    Company.
 
(3) Mr. Basi served as the Company's Vice President, Marketing until December
    1996. Mr. Basi is no longer employed by the Company. All options granted to
    Mr. Basi expired upon the termination of his employment.
 
                  SECURICOR OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
                       --------------------------------------------------------------------
                          NUMBER OF
                          SECURICOR                                                           POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
                           SHARES         PERCENT OF TOTAL                                     ASSUMED RATES OF STOCK PRICE
                         UNDERLYING      OPTIONS GRANTED TO                                  APPRECIATION FOR OPTION TERM(3)
                           OPTIONS      COMPANY EMPLOYEES IN   EXERCISE PRICE   EXPIRATION   --------------------------------
NAME                     GRANTED(1)          FISCAL YEAR        (L/SHARE)(2)       DATE         0%         5%         10%
- ---------------------  ---------------  ---------------------  ---------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
<S>                    <C>              <C>                    <C>              <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
 
Andrew P. Maunder....        36,730                  30%              L2.45        6/27/06      --      $  91,836  $  232,734
 
                             12,240                  10%              L2.45        6/28/06   $   3,376  $  36,104  $   86,314
 
Donald Hoffman.......           -0-              --                  --             --          --         --          --
 
William J. Rahe,
  Jr.................         6,120                   5%              L2.45        6/27/06      --      $  15,302  $   38,778
 
                             12,240                  10%              L2.45        6/28/06   $   3,376  $  36,104  $   86,314
 
Jugtar Basi..........         6,120                   5%              L2.45             (4)     --            -0-         -0-
 
                             12,240                  10%              L2.45             (4)        -0-        -0-         -0-
 
Joseph F. Gorecki....         6,120                   5%              L2.45        6/27/06      --      $  15,302  $   38,778
 
                             12,240                  10%              L2.45        6/28/06   $   3,376  $  36,104  $   86,314
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) All options granted to Named Executive Officers in fiscal 1996 were options
    to purchase the Common Stock of Securicor.
 
(2) At the noon exchange rate of U.S. Dollars to British Pounds Sterling
    reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on April 16, 1997, the
    exercise price of such options in U.S. Dollars was $3.98 per share.
 
(3) All amounts reflect the conversion of British Pounds Sterling to U.S.
    Dollars at the rate of 1.6225 British Pounds Sterling to one U.S. Dollar,
    the noon exchange rate reported by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on
    April 16, 1997.
 
(4) All options granted to Mr. Basi expired upon termination of his employment
    in December 1996.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
    In 1994, the Company and Mr. Maunder entered into an agreement regarding Mr.
Maunder's employment with the Company, the principal terms of which were set
forth in a definitive employment agreement executed on February 10, 1995.
Pursuant to this agreement, the Company agreed to employ Mr. Maunder as Chief
Executive Officer subject to the right of the Company to terminate the
employment relationship immediately for cause or at any time without cause upon
12 months prior written notice. Mr. Maunder has the right to terminate the
agreement upon six months prior notice to the Company. The
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
   
agreement provides that the Company pay Mr. Maunder an annual base salary
($167,000 for the 12 months ending June 30, 1997) which is subject to annual
review. Mr. Maunder is entitled to participate in an incentive bonus program
pursuant to which cash payments are calculated based upon performance of the
Company and upon individual performance targets and are subject to a maximum
payment of 40% of his annual salary. The agreement also entitles Mr. Maunder to
standard health and other insurance benefits and an allowance for automobile
expenses. The agreement also specifies that Mr. Maunder will be entitled to
participate in certain equity compensation programs established by 3Net. As part
of his employment agreement, Mr. Maunder is required not to disclose any
proprietary information at any time and agreed to non-competition and
non-interference covenants that expire 12 months after the termination of his
employment. Mr. Maunder's agreement also contains a covenant restricting him
from soliciting the Company's customers for a period of six months after
termination of his employment.
    
 
   
    The Company has also entered into employment agreements with Messrs.
Hoffman, Rahe, Gorecki and Farina pursuant to which the Company has agreed to
employ each of them, subject to the Company's right to terminate the employee's
employment immediately for cause or without cause upon specified prior written
notice (between three months and one year). The agreements also are terminable
by the employee upon specified prior notice (between three and six months). Each
of the agreements specifies that the employee shall be paid an annual base
salary that is subject to review by the Company on an annual basis. Annual base
salary for the 12 months ending June 30, 1997 is $150,800 for Mr. Hoffman,
$137,800 for Mr. Rahe, $135,000 for Mr. Farina and $111,300 for Mr. Gorecki. The
agreements also entitle the employees to incentive compensation, standard health
and other insurance benefits and an allowance for automobile expenses. As part
of the agreement, each of the officers agreed to non-disclosure,
non-interference and non-competition covenants, which in the case of Messrs.
Rahe, Farina and Gorecki expire 12 months after termination of employment and in
the case of Mr. Hoffman six months after termination. Each agreement also
contains a covenant restricting the employee from soliciting the Company's
customers for a period of six months after the termination of employment. In
February 1997, the Company and Mr. Hoffman agreed that beginning in July 1997,
either the Company or Mr. Hoffman may terminate Mr. Hoffman's employment upon
one month's prior notice to the other.
    
 
    1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 
   
    Under the Company's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), a variety of
awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted and
unrestricted stock grants may be made to the Company's employees, officers,
consultants and advisors who are expected to contribute to the Company's future
growth and success. The Company has reserved 450,000 shares of Common Stock for
issuance under the Plan. The Compensation Committee will administer the Plan and
determine the price and other terms upon which awards shall be made. Stock
options may be granted either in the form of incentive stock options or
non-qualified stock options. The option exercise price of incentive stock
options may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of the grant. While the Company currently anticipates that most grants
under this Plan will consist of stock options, the Company may grant stock
appreciation rights, which represent rights to receive any excess in value of
shares of Common Stock over the exercise price; restricted stock awards, which
entitle recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of
the Company to repurchase all or a part of such shares at their purchase price
in the event that the conditions specified in the award are not satisfied; or
unrestricted stock awards, which represent grants of shares to participants free
of any restrictions under the Plan. Options or other awards that are granted
under the Plan but expire unexercised are available for future grants. Under the
terms of the Plan, the Company may not grant options to purchase in excess of
150,000 shares of Common Stock to any one grantee during any fiscal year. It is
expected that prior to the completion of the Offering, options to purchase
325,000 shares of Common Stock will be granted under the Plan to the employees,
officers and directors of the Company at an exercise price equal to the initial
public offering price per share. One third of these options will become
exercisable 90 days after completion of the Offering and the remaining two-
thirds will become exercisable in equal installments on the first and second
anniversaries of the date of grant, respectively. No options to purchase Common
Stock have been granted to date.
    
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
    The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership
of the Common Stock as of April 15, 1997 as adjusted to reflect the sale of
shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus, (i) by each of the Company's Named
Executive Officers and directors; (ii) all of the Company's executive officers
and directors as a group; and (iii) each person known to the Company to own more
than five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                                                                               PRIOR TO
                                                                           THE OFFERING(2)          PERCENT BENEFICIALLY
                                                                    ------------------------------       OWNED AFTER
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                                            NUMBER OF SHARES     PERCENT       THE OFFERING(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------  -----------  ---------------------
<S>                                                                 <C>                <C>          <C>
Securicor Communications(1).......................................      3,476,900             100%             57.2%
Edmund A. Hough (1)...............................................         -0-             --                --
Trevor Sokell.....................................................         -0-             --                --
Michael G. Wilkinson (1)..........................................         -0-             --                --
Andrew P. Maunder.................................................         -0-             --                --
Donald Hoffman....................................................         -0-             --                --
William J. Rahe, Jr...............................................         -0-             --                --
Joseph F. Gorecki.................................................         -0-             --                --
Robert B. Kelly...................................................         -0-             --                --
Sammy W. Pearson..................................................         -0-             --                --
All Directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons)......         -0-                 --%               --%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) The address of Securicor Communications is Sutton Park House, 15 Carshalton
    Road, Sutton Surrey, England. Dr. Hough and Mr. Wilkinson may be deemed to
    own beneficially the shares owned by Securicor Communications by virtue of
    their role as directors of Securicor Communications. Each of Dr. Hough and
    Mr. Wilkinson disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares. Securicor
    Communications is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor.
    
 
   
(2) The Company expects to grant options to purchase an aggregate of 325,000
    shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the 1997 Stock Incentive
    Plan prior to the completion of the Offering. One third of these options
    will become exercisable 90 days after completion of the Offering and the
    remaining two-thirds will become exercisable in two equal installments on
    the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant, respectively. See
    "1997 Stock Incentive Plan."
    
 
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
   
    Prior to the completion of the Offering, the Company has operated as an
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor and has been a member of the
Telecoms Sector of the Communications Division of Securicor. Accordingly,
Securicor has assessed the Company intercompany charges related to group and
divisional costs and sales and marketing activities. These charges are based on
Securicor's estimate of its total relevant costs for the applicable fiscal year,
allocated pro rata based on estimated revenues of each applicable business unit.
The Company has paid to Securicor total charges of $386,000 and $403,000 in
fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, respectively. No charges were incurred during the
period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994. Until the Offering is completed,
the Company will pay to Securicor charges at an annualized rate of $540,000
pro-rated to the date of completion of the Offering. Securicor has agreed that
the Company will no longer be liable for any group or divisional charges after
the completion of the Offering. The Company and Securicor have entered into a
one-year agreement effective as of the completion of the Offering pursuant to
which Securicor will continue to provide certain international marketing
services to the Company in consideration of the payment of $160,000 per year.
This payment is
    
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
   
an estimate of the total cost to Securicor of the personnel whose services are
to be provided, pro rated based upon the estimated portion of such personnel's
total time to be utilized by the Company.
    
 
   
    From time to time, Securicor has advanced funds to the Company to meet the
Company's needs for working capital and for other corporate purposes. Such
advances are treated as indebtedness of the Company to Securicor, a portion of
which bears interest that has accrued at varying rates ranging from a low of
6.25% per annum to a high of 7.75% per annum. This interest rate was 7.0% per
annum at March 31, 1997. The amount of such indebtedness was $21.5 million at
March 31, 1997, $9.0 million of which is interest bearing. The highest principal
balance of such amount was $12.4 million during the period from July 1, 1994 to
September 30, 1994, $17.0 million during fiscal 1995 and $22.6 million during
fiscal 1996. With respect to such indebtedness, the Company incurred interest
expense in the amount of $9,000, $141,000 and $578,000 in the period from July
1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, respectively.
Principal repayments of $922,000, $4.6 million and $7.9 million were made in the
period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996,
respectively. At the completion of the Offering, all outstanding principal and
interest with respect to this indebtedness will be repaid to Securicor. See "Use
of Proceeds."
    
 
   
    During fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996, the Company was engaged by Securicor
Radiocoms, Ltd., a manufacturer of radio telecommunications devices affiliated
with Securicor ("Radiocoms"), to build base stations to be included in radio
communications equipment sold by Radiocoms to its customers. In January 1995,
Radiocoms purchased 125 base stations from the Company, for which the Company
billed Radiocoms for its costs and a specified profit percentage. In July 1995,
Radiocoms purchased an additional 230 base stations and paid the Company a fixed
price per unit and reimbursed it for certain of its costs. The Company earned
revenues of $1.4 million and $2.3 million from Radiocoms in fiscal 1995 and
fiscal 1996, respectively. The Company completed all work related to the
Radiocoms purchases by April 1996. The Company has not performed any similar
project for any other customer, but believes that the project was performed on
substantially arm's-length terms.
    
 
   
    The Company purchased $324,000 and $386,000 of products from 3Net, an
affiliate of Securicor, during fiscal 1996 and the six months ended March 31,
1997, respectively. In May 1997, the Company transferred all of the stock of
3Net Delaware to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor for its nominal book
value. Included in the net assets transferred was an obligation to Securicor in
the amount of approximately $1.1 million. 3Net Delaware utilizes certain office
space and systems of the Company for which it has been charged approximately
$7,000 per month since its formation. The Company has entered into an agreement
with 3Net Delaware pursuant to which the Company continues to make available
such space and systems in consideration of the payment of $4,500 per month for
administrative services and $650 per month for each 3Net Delaware employee
located on the Company's premises. These amounts are based upon an estimate of
the Company's cost of the space and personnel utilized by 3Net Delaware. This
agreement became effective as of May 23, 1997 and is terminable on September 30,
1997, subject to annual extensions if not terminated by either party.
    
 
   
    In March 1995, the Company acquired a minority interest in E.F. Johnson
Company, a manufacturer of radio base stations, for approximately $10.2 million.
In June 1996, the Company sold this investment at its cost to a company that was
then wholly owned by Securicor. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
    
 
   
    In addition, the Company has entered into the Registration Rights Agreement
pursuant to which Securicor has the right, subject to customary limitations, to:
(i) demand registration of the resale of its Common Stock once during each
twelve-month period at the expense of Securicor for so long as Securicor owns at
least 10% of the outstanding Common Stock; and (ii) include its Common Stock in
registration statements filed by the Company.
    
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    Upon the filing of the Certificate of Incorporation the authorized capital
stock of the Company will consist of 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value. No shares of
preferred stock are currently outstanding.
 
    The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor and
to receive pro rata the assets of the Company legally available for distribution
upon liquidation after payment to holders of preferred stock having a
liquidation preference over the Common Stock. In addition, holders of Common
Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters voted on by stockholders
generally, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative
voting rights. There are no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights
applicable to the shares of the Common Stock. The currently outstanding shares
of Common Stock are, and the shares of Common Stock offered by the Company
hereby, upon issuance by the Company against receipt of the purchase price
therefor, will be, fully paid and non-assessable. The By-laws provide that any
action requiring stockholder approval, other than the election of directors,
shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock.
 
    The Board of Directors is empowered by the Certificate of Incorporation to
designate and issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preferred
stock without any action of the stockholders. The Board of Directors may fix and
determine the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional
and other special rights, or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
each class or series so authorized. The issuance of, or the ability to issue,
the preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of
the holders of the Common Stock or could have the effect of decreasing the
market price of the Common Stock or of discouraging or making difficult any
attempt by a person or group to obtain control of the Company, including any
attempt involving a bid for the Common Stock at a premium over the then market
price. The Company does not presently contemplate the issuance of any preferred
stock.
 
    The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. In general, Section 203 prohibits a Delaware
corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years following the time that such person
became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in
a prescribed manner or unless upon consummation of the transaction which
resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested
stockholder owned at least 85% of the corporation's voting stock outstanding at
the time the transaction commenced (excluding shares held by certain designated
stockholders). A "business combination" includes mergers, asset sales and other
transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.
Subject to certain exceptions, an "interested stockholder" is a person who,
together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three
years did own, 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock.
 
    The Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws contain certain provisions
relating to the limitation of liability and indemnification of directors and
officers. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that directors of the
Company may not be held personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for
monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty, except for liability (i) for
any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders,
(ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, relating to prohibited dividends,
distributions and repurchases or redemptions of stock, or (iv) for any
transaction from which the director derives an improper benefit. However, such
limitation does not limit the availability of non-monetary relief in any action
or proceeding against a director. In addition, the By-laws provide that the
Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
authorized by Delaware law.
 
    The registrar and transfer agent for the Commmon Stock is StockTrans, Inc.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
Sales of substantial amounts of shares of the Common Stock in the public market
following the Offering could adversely affect the market price of the Common
Stock, making it more difficult for the Company to sell equity securities in the
future at a time and price which it deems appropriate.
 
   
    Upon the completion of the Offering, assuming no exercise of the
overallotment options, the Company will have outstanding 6,076,900 shares of
Common Stock. Of these shares, the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold
in the Offering will be freely tradeable without restriction or further
registration under the Securities Act. The remaining 3,476,900 shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of the date of this Prospectus, all of which are held by
Securicor, are "restricted securities" as defined by Rule 144 and will be
eligible for sale in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 beginning 180
days after the date of this Prospectus, or earlier to the extent that Lehman
Brothers Inc. consents to such sale as described below. In addition, the Company
has entered into the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which Securicor
has the right, subject to customary limitations, to: (i) demand registration of
the resale of its Common Stock once during each twelve month period at
Securicor's expense for so long as Securicor owns at least 10% of the
outstanding Common Stock; and (ii) include its Common Stock in registration
statements filed by the Company.
    
 
   
    In general, under Rule 144 as amended effective April 29, 1997, a person who
has beneficially owned shares for at least one year, including an "affiliate,"
as that term is defined in the Securities Act, is entitled to sell within any
three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of one
percent of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock (approximately 60,769
shares after the completion of the Offering) or the average weekly trading
volume during the four calendar weeks preceding filing of notice of such sale,
subject to certain requirements concerning availability of public information,
manner and notice of sale.
    
 
    In addition, affiliates must comply with the restrictions and requirements
of Rule 144, other than the one-year holding period requirements, in order to
sell shares of Common Stock which are not restricted securities. Under Rule
144(k), a person who is not an affiliate and has not been an affiliate for at
least three months prior to the sale and who has beneficially owned restricted
shares for at least a two year holding period may resell such shares without
compliance with the foregoing requirements.
 
   
    Upon the completion of the Offering, it is expected that there will be
325,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted under
the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, one-third of which will become exercisable 90
days after completion of the Offering and the remainder of which will become
exercisable in two equal annual installments on the first and second
anniversaries of the date of grant, respectively. The Company intends to file a
Form S-8 registration statement covering these shares within 90 days from the
date of this Prospectus. The shares registered under such registration statement
will be available for resale in the open market upon the exercise of vested
options, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to affiliates.
    
 
    The Company and Securicor have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after
the date of this Prospectus, they will not, without the prior written consent of
Lehman Brothers Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for any shares of Common Stock except, in the case of the Company,
in certain limited circumstances.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Under the terms of, and subject to the conditions contained in, the U.S.
Underwriting Agreement, the form of which is filed as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") of which this Prospectus
forms a part, the underwriters named below (the "U.S. Underwriters"), for whom
Lehman Brothers Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are acting as
representatives (the "Representatives"), have severally agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions of the U.S. Underwriting Agreement, to purchase from the
Company, and the Company has agreed to sell to each U.S. Underwriter, the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the name of each
such U.S. Underwriter below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  NUMBER OF
                                                                                  SHARES OF
U.S. UNDERWRITERS                                                                COMMON STOCK
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>
Lehman Brothers Inc. .........................................................
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ..................................................
                                                                                --------------
      Total...................................................................
</TABLE>
 
    Under the terms of, and subject to the conditions contained in, the
International Underwriting Agreement, the form of which is filed as an Exhibit
to the Registration Statement, the managers named below of the concurrent
offering of the shares of Common Stock outside the U.S. and Canada (the
"International Managers"), for whom Lehman Brothers International (Europe) and
J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. are acting as lead managers (the "Lead Managers"),
have severally agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the International
Underwriting Agreement, to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed
to sell to each International Manager, the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock set forth opposite the name of each International Manager below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  NUMBER OF
                                                                                  SHARES OF
INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS                                                           COMMON STOCK
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                             <C>
Lehman Brothers International (Europe)........................................
J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. ..................................................
                                                                                --------------
      Total...................................................................
</TABLE>
 
    The U.S. Underwriting Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement
(collectively, the "Underwriting Agreements") provide that the obligations of
the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers to purchase shares of
Common Stock are subject to certain conditions, and that if any of the foregoing
shares of Common Stock are purchased by the U.S. Underwriters pursuant to the
U.S. Underwriting Agreement or by the International Managers pursuant to the
International Underwriting Agreement, then all the shares of Common Stock agreed
to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers, as the
case may be, pursuant to their respective Underwriting Agreements, must be so
purchased. The offering price and underwriting discounts and commissions per
share for the U.S. Offering and the International Offering are identical. The
closing of the U.S. Offering is a condition to the closing of the International
Offering and the closing of the International Offering is a condition to the
closing of the U.S. Offering.
 
   
    The Company has been advised by the Representatives and the Lead Managers
that the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers propose to offer the
shares of Common Stock directly to the public at the public offering price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain selected dealers (who
may include the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers) at such public
offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $         per share.
The selected dealers may reallow a concession not in excess of $         per
share to certain brokers and dealers. After the Offering, the public offering
price, the concession to selected dealers and the reallowance may be changed by
the U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers.
    
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
   
    The Company and Security Services plc, a wholly-owned subsidary of
Securicor, have agreed to indemnify, under certain circumstances, the U.S.
Underwriters and the International Managers against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute, under certain
circumstances, to payments that the U.S. Underwriters and the International
Managers may be required to make in respect thereof.
    
 
    The Company has granted to the U.S. Underwriters and the International
Managers options to purchase up to an aggregate of       and       additional
shares of Common Stock, respectively, exercisable solely to cover
over-allotments, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts
and commissions shown on the cover page of this Prospectus. Such options may be
exercised at any time until 30 days after the date of the Underwriting
Agreements. To the extent that either option is exercised, each U.S. Underwriter
or International Manager, as the case may be, will be committed, subject to
certain conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares of Common Stock
proportionate to such U.S. Underwriter's or International Manager's initial
commitment as indicated in the preceding tables.
 
   
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the shares of
Common Stock. The initial public offering price will be negotiated between the
Company and the Representatives. Among the factors to be considered in
determining the initial public offering price of the shares of Common Stock, in
addition to prevailing market conditions, will be the Company's historical
performance and capital structure, estimates of business potential and earnings
prospects of the Company, an overall assessment of the Company, an assessment of
the Company's management and the consideration of the above factors in relation
to market valuation of companies in related businesses.
    
 
    The U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers have entered into an
Agreement Between U.S. Underwriters and International Managers pursuant to which
each U.S. Underwriter has agreed that, as part of the distribution of the shares
of Common Stock offered in the U.S. Offering, (i) it is not purchasing any such
shares for the account of anyone other than a U.S. Person (as defined below),
and (ii) it has not offered or sold, will not offer, sell, resell or deliver,
directly or indirectly, any such shares or distribute any prospectus relating to
the U.S. Offering to anyone other than a U.S. Person. In addition, pursuant to
such Agreement, each International Manager has agreed that, as part of the
distribution of the shares of Common Stock offered in the International
Offering, (a) it is not purchasing any such shares for the account of a U.S.
Person, and (b) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer, sell, resell or
deliver, directly or indirectly, any of such shares or distribute any prospectus
relating to the International Offering to any U.S. Person.
 
    The foregoing limitations do not apply to stabilization transactions or to
certain other transactions specified in the Underwriting Agreements and the
Agreement Between U.S. Underwriters and International Managers, including (i)
certain purchases and sales between U.S. Underwriters and the International
Managers, (ii) certain offers, sales, resales, deliveries or distributions to or
through investment advisors or other persons exercising investment discretion,
(iii) purchases, offers or sales by a U.S. Underwriter who is also acting as an
International Manager or by an International Manager who is also acting as a
U.S. Underwriter and (iv) other transactions specifically approved by the
Representatives and the Lead Managers. As used herein, the term "U.S. Person"
means any resident or national of the United States or Canada and its provinces,
any corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or Canada and its provinces, or any estate or
trust the income of which is subject to United States or Canadian federal income
taxation regardless of the source, and the term "United States" means the United
States of America (including the District of Columbia) and its territories, its
possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement Between the U.S. Underwriters and the
International Managers, sales may be made between the U.S. Underwriters and the
International Managers of such a number of shares of Common Stock as may be
mutually agreed. The price of any shares so sold shall be the public offering
price as then in effect for the shares of Common Stock being sold by the U.S.
Underwriters and the
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
International Managers, less an amount equal to the selling concession allocable
to such shares of Common Stock, unless otherwise determined by mutual agreement.
To the extent that there are sales between the U.S. Underwriters and the
International Managers pursuant to the Agreement Between the U.S. Underwriters
and the International Managers, the number of shares of Common Stock available
for sale by the U.S. Underwriters or by the International Managers may be more
or less than the amount specified on the cover page of the Prospectus.
 
    Until the distribution of the Common Stock is completed, rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission may limit the ability of the U.S.
Underwriters and certain selling group members to bid for and purchase shares of
Common Stock. As an exception to these rules, the Representatives are permitted
to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Common Stock.
Such transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging,
fixing or maintaining the price of the Common Stock.
 
    If the U.S. Underwriters create a short position in the Common Stock in
connection with the Offering (I.E., if they sell more shares of Common Stock
than are set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus), the Representatives
may reduce that short position by purchasing Common Stock in the open market.
The Representatives also may elect to reduce any short position by exercising
all or part of the over-allotment options described herein.
 
    The Representatives also may impose a penalty bid on certain U.S.
Underwriters and selling group members. This means that, if the Representatives
purchase shares of Common Stock in the open market to reduce the U.S.
Underwriters' short position or to stabilize the price of the Common Stock, they
may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the U.S. Underwriters and
selling group members who sold those shares as part of the Offering.
 
    In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to
reduce a syndicate short position could cause the price of the security to be
higher than it might otherwise be in the absence of such purchases. The
imposition of a penalty bid might have an effect on the price of a security to
the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security by purchasers in
the Offering.
 
    Neither the Company nor any of the U.S. Underwriters makes any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that
the transactions described above may have on the price of the Common Stock. In
addition, neither the Company nor any of the U.S. Underwriters makes any
representation that the Representatives will engage in such transactions or that
such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
 
    Each International Manager has represented and agreed that (i) it has not
offered or sold and, prior to the date six months after the date of issue of the
shares of Common Stock, will not offer or sell any shares of Common Stock to
persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary activities
involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as
principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise in
circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the
public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Public Offers of
Securities Regulations 1995, (ii) it has complied and will comply with all
applicable provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to
anything done by it in relation to the shares of Common Stock in, from or
otherwise involving the United Kingdom, and (iii) it has only issued or passed
on, and will only issue or pass on to any person in the United Kingdom any
document received by it in connection with the issue of the shares of Common
Stock if that person is of a kind described in Article 11(3) of the Financial
Services Act 1986 (Investment Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1995.
 
   
    The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on Nasdaq under the symbol
"AXIM," pending official notification of issuance.
    
 
    The Company and Securicor have agreed that they will not, subject to certain
limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days from the date of this Prospectus,
directly or indirectly, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any such shares of Common Stock, without the prior written
consent of Lehman Brothers Inc.
 
    At the request of the Company, the Underwriters have reserved approximately
5% of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby for sale at the initial public
offering price to employees of the Company and other persons associated with the
Company.
 
    Any offers in Canada will be made only pursuant to an exemption from the
requirements to file a prospectus in the relevant province of Canada in which
such offer is made.
 
    Purchasers of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby may be required to
pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws and practices of
the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price set forth on the
cover hereof.
 
    The U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers have informed the
Company that they do not intend to sell to, and therefore will not confirm the
sales of shares of Common Stock offered hereby to, any accounts over which they
exercise discretionary authority.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has
rendered an opinion that the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be
legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Certain legal matters relating to
the Offering will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Chadbourne & Parke LLP,
New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The financial statements included in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the
Registration Statement, to the extent and for the periods indicated on their
reports, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm
as experts in giving said reports.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   
    The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of
Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and the
shares of Common Stock, reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement
and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part thereof. Statements contained in
this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not
necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of
such contract or document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
each such statement being qualified by such reference. The Registration
Statement, including exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected and copied
at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's Regional Offices
located at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
Copies of such materials may also be obtained at prescribed rates from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition,
registration statements and certain other filings made with the Commission
through its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval ("EDGAR") systems
are publicly available through the Commission's site on the Internet's World
Wide Web, located at http:// www.sec.gov. The Registration Statement, including
all exhibits thereto and amendments thereof, has been filed with the Commission
through EDGAR.
    
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
   
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES:
 
  Report of Independent Public Accountants.................................................................        F-2
 
  Consolidated Balance Sheets..............................................................................        F-3
 
  Consolidated Statements of Operations....................................................................        F-4
 
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity..........................................................        F-5
 
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows....................................................................        F-6
 
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...............................................................        F-7
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PREDECESSOR BUSINESS:
 
  Report of Independent Public Accountants.................................................................       F-21
 
  Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses...............................................................       F-22
 
  Notes to Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses......................................................       F-23
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
   
    After the 34,769-for-one stock split of each outstanding share of Common
Stock and the authorization of 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock and
25,000,000 shares of Common Stock as discussed in Note 1 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements is effected, we expect to be in a position to
render the following report of independent public accountants.
    
 
   
                                          /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
    
 
   
Philadelphia, Pa.,
May 27, 1997
    
 
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
To Axiom Inc. (formerly Securicor Communications Inc.):
    
 
   
    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Axiom Inc.
and subsidiaries (formerly Securicor Communications Inc.) as of September 30,
1995 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholder's deficit and cash flows for the period from July 1, 1994 to
September 30, 1994 and for each of the two years in the period ended September
30, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
    
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Axiom Inc. and subsidiaries
(formerly Securicor Communications Inc.) as of September 30, 1995 and 1996, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for the period from July 1,
1994 to September 30, 1994 and for each of the two years in the period ended
September 30, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
    
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                                 --------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                                                   1995       1996        1997
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                                                                       (UNAUDITED)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
                                            ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents....................................................................  $   1,449  $   3,326   $   1,279
  Accounts receivable..........................................................................      7,394     15,740       8,158
  Inventories..................................................................................      4,244      3,167       4,672
  Deferred tax assets..........................................................................        345        458         495
  Income tax receivable........................................................................         --         --       2,592
  Other........................................................................................        442        354         578
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
      Total current assets.....................................................................     13,874     23,045      17,774
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
  Computer hardware and software...............................................................      1,581      2,417       2,872
  Production and test equipment................................................................        980      1,329       1,642
  Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements...............................................        501        531         532
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                                                     3,062      4,277       5,046
  Less-Accumulated depreciation and amortization...............................................       (670)    (1,541)     (2,105)
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
      Net property and equipment...............................................................      2,392      2,736       2,941
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS............................................................................      2,825      2,959       2,879
OTHER ASSETS...................................................................................      1,901      1,207         826
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net.........................................................................      1,153        389         187
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                                                 $  22,145  $  30,336   $  24,607
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                             LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S DEFICIT
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt............................................................  $      --  $     185   $     185
  Obligations to parent and affiliates.........................................................     18,461     23,291      21,480
  Accounts payable.............................................................................      2,332      2,293       2,231
  Accrued compensation and related benefits....................................................      1,179      1,206         975
  Accrued agent commissions....................................................................      1,116        806         427
  Other accrued expenses.......................................................................        769      1,268         712
  Accrued tax payable..........................................................................        284      1,348          --
  Deferred tax liabilities.....................................................................         24          9          54
  Deferred revenues............................................................................      1,684      1,232       2,414
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
      Total current liabilities................................................................     25,849     31,638      28,478
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
  Deferred tax liabilities.....................................................................         27         90         130
  Long-term debt...............................................................................         --        147          --
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
      Total long-term liabilities..............................................................         27        237         130
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 16)
STOCKHOLDER'S DEFICIT:
  Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized,...............................
    no shares issued and outstanding...........................................................         --         --          --
  Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized,
    3,476,900 shares issued and outstanding....................................................         --         --          --
  Accumulated deficit..........................................................................     (3,731)    (1,539)     (4,001)
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
      Total stockholder's deficit..............................................................     (3,731)    (1,539)     (4,001)
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                                                 $  22,145  $  30,336   $  24,607
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
                                                                                                 ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PERIOD FROM
                                                         JULY 1, 1994   YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER    SIX MONTHS ENDED
                                                              TO                30,                MARCH 31,
                                                         SEPTEMBER 30,  --------------------  --------------------
                                                             1994         1995       1996       1996       1997
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
REVENUES:
  Unrelated third parties..............................    $   5,606    $  24,147  $  31,641  $   8,740  $  12,050
  Related parties......................................           --        1,421      2,323      2,040         --
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               5,606       25,568     33,964     10,780     12,050
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
COST OF REVENUES:
  Unrelated third parties..............................        3,357       12,365     16,433      6,264      7,834
  Related parties......................................           --        1,112      1,732      1,488         --
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               3,357       13,477     18,165      7,752      7,834
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Gross profit.....................................        2,249       12,091     15,799      3,028      4,216
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Research, development and engineering................        1,348        5,948      7,003      3,209      3,790
  Selling, general and administrative..................        1,072        5,206      6,308      2,970      4,230
  Parent charges.......................................           --          386        403        213        193
  Charge for purchased research and development........        6,700           --         --         --         --
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating expenses.........................        9,120       11,540     13,714      6,392      8,213
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Operating income (loss)..........................       (6,871)         551      2,085     (3,364)    (3,997)
INTEREST EXPENSE, net (including related party
  interest)............................................            9          112        514        227        279
OTHER INCOME...........................................           66          148      1,979        413         54
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Income (loss) before income taxes................       (6,814)         587      3,550     (3,178)    (4,222)
INCOME TAX (EXPENSE) BENEFIT...........................        2,716         (220)    (1,358)     1,215      1,760
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
NET INCOME (LOSS)......................................    $  (4,098)   $     367  $   2,192  $  (1,963) $  (2,462)
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
HISTORICAL NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE..........    $   (1.18)   $    0.11  $    0.63  $   (0.56) $   (0.71)
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING HISTORICAL NET INCOME (LOSS)
  PER COMMON SHARE.....................................        3,477        3,477      3,477      3,477      3,477
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                         -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON
  SHARE (unaudited)....................................                            $    0.49             $   (0.44)
                                                                                   ---------             ---------
                                                                                   ---------             ---------
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA NET
  INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE (unaudited)...........                                5,180                 5,180
                                                                                   ---------             ---------
                                                                                   ---------             ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S DEFICIT
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                COMMON        ACCUMULATED
                                                                                 STOCK          DEFICIT       TOTAL
                                                                           -----------------  ------------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>                <C>           <C>
                                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
BALANCE, JULY 1, 1994....................................................      $      --       $       --   $      --
  Initial capitalization.................................................             --               --          --
  Net loss...............................................................             --           (4,098)     (4,098)
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994..............................................             --           (4,098)     (4,098)
  Net income.............................................................             --              367         367
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1995..............................................             --           (3,731)     (3,731)
  Net income.............................................................             --            2,192       2,192
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
BALANCE, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996..............................................             --           (1,539)     (1,539)
  Net loss (unaudited)...................................................             --           (2,462)     (2,462)
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 1997 (unaudited)......................................      $      --       $   (4,001)  $  (4,001)
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
                                                                                     ---      ------------  ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     SIX
                                                                              PERIOD FROM                          MONTHS
                                                                             JULY 1, 1994   YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER    ENDED
                                                                                  TO                30,           MARCH 31,
                                                                             SEPTEMBER 30,  --------------------  ---------
                                                                                 1994         1995       1996       1996
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>
                                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                          <C>            <C>        <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)........................................................    $  (4,098)   $     367  $   2,192  $  (1,963)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used
    in) operating activities-
  Depreciation and amortization............................................          307        1,318      1,885        759
  Charge for purchased research and development............................        6,700           --         --         --
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net-
    Decrease (increase) in-
      Accounts receivable..................................................       (1,131)      (2,131)    (8,346)     1,882
      Inventories..........................................................          583       (2,392)     1,077       (215)
      Other current assets.................................................         (428)         419        162       (445)
      Other assets.........................................................          (24)          (3)       (68)       (71)
      Deferred taxes.......................................................       (2,739)         (61)      (199)        --
    Increase (decrease) in-
      Accounts payable.....................................................          683        1,102        (39)    (1,092)
      Accrued compensation and related benefits............................          (28)         498         27        (44)
      Accrued agent commissions............................................           39          662       (310)      (244)
      Accrued tax payable..................................................           23          261      1,064     (1,721)
      Deferred revenues....................................................       (1,116)        (691)      (452)     1,282
      Other accrued expenses...............................................           77       (1,258)       499       (351)
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities................       (1,152)      (1,909)    (2,508)    (2,223)
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Acquisition of business..................................................      (10,850)          --         --         --
  Purchases of property and equipment......................................         (135)        (877)      (818)      (270)
  Sale (purchase) of investment............................................           --         (512)       512         62
  Purchase of product development costs....................................           --       (1,336)        --         --
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash used in investing activities..............................      (10,985)      (2,725)      (306)      (208)
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Payments on long-term debt...............................................           --           --       (139)       (98)
  Advances on obligations to parent and affiliates.........................       13,284       10,505     12,743      6,976
  Repayments on obligations to parent and affiliates.......................         (922)      (4,647)    (7,913)    (5,013)
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities................       12,362        5,858      4,691      1,865
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.......................          225        1,224      1,877       (566)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR...............................           --          225      1,449      1,449
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR.....................................    $     225    $   1,449  $   3,326  $     883
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                             -------------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                               1997
                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                          <C>
 
<S>                                                                          <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)........................................................  $  (2,462)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used
    in) operating activities-
  Depreciation and amortization............................................      1,107
  Charge for purchased research and development............................         --
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net-
    Decrease (increase) in-
      Accounts receivable..................................................      7,582
      Inventories..........................................................     (1,505)
      Other current assets.................................................       (224)
      Other assets.........................................................         40
      Deferred taxes.......................................................        128
    Increase (decrease) in-
      Accounts payable.....................................................        (62)
      Accrued compensation and related benefits............................       (231)
      Accrued agent commissions............................................       (379)
      Accrued tax payable..................................................     (3,940)
      Deferred revenues....................................................      1,182
      Other accrued expenses...............................................       (556)
                                                                             ---------
        Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities................        680
                                                                             ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Acquisition of business..................................................         --
  Purchases of property and equipment......................................       (769)
  Sale (purchase) of investment............................................         --
  Purchase of product development costs....................................         --
                                                                             ---------
        Net cash used in investing activities..............................       (769)
                                                                             ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Payments on long-term debt...............................................       (147)
  Advances on obligations to parent and affiliates.........................      2,056
  Repayments on obligations to parent and affiliates.......................     (3,867)
                                                                             ---------
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities................     (1,958)
                                                                             ---------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.......................     (2,047)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR...............................      3,326
                                                                             ---------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR.....................................  $   1,279
                                                                             ---------
                                                                             ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1. BACKGROUND:
 
THE COMPANY
 
   
    Axiom Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, changed its name from
Securicor Communications Inc. Through May 23, 1997, the Company's business was
conducted through its wholly-owned subsidary, Securicor Telesciences Inc.
("STI"). On that date, STI merged into the Company. The Company is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor Communications Limited ("SCL"), an entity
organized under the laws of the United Kingdom and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Securicor plc ("Securicor"), a company organized under the laws of the United
Kingdom.
    
 
   
    Effective July 1, 1994, the Company purchased the net assets of the wireline
division of TeleSciences, Inc. TeleSciences, Inc. was an unrelated third party.
The Company had no operating activities prior to this acquisition. The
acquisition was accounted for as a purchase transaction. The total purchase
price of $12,202,000, including $241,000 of transaction costs, was allocated to
the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their respective fair
values. As discussed further in Note 2, the Company recorded $6,700,000 of the
purchase price as a charge to the statement of operations on the acquisition
date as it was related to the fair value of incomplete research and development
projects. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets
acquired was $2,108,000. Of such amount, $1,800,000 was allocated to developed
technology and $308,000 was allocated to goodwill. Developed technology and
goodwill are being amortized over 2 1/2 and 7 years, respectively, on a
straight-line basis (see Note 6).
    
 
    The following table displays the noncash assets and liabilities that were
acquired as a result of the acquisition:
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
Noncash assets (liabilities):
  Accounts receivable...........................................  $4,132,000
  Inventories...................................................   2,435,000
  Other current assets..........................................     433,000
  Property and equipment........................................   2,050,000
  Other assets..................................................      26,000
  Intangible assets.............................................   2,108,000
  Deferred tax asset............................................     319,000
  Charge for purchased research and development.................   6,700,000
  Accounts payable..............................................    (547,000)
  Other accrued expenses and deferred revenues..................  (5,454,000)
                                                                  ----------
    Cash paid...................................................  $12,202,000
                                                                  ----------
                                                                  ----------
</TABLE>
    
 
INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING AND STOCK SPLIT
 
   
    On May 27, 1997, the Company filed a registration statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission to register 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock
being offered for sale in its initial public offering. There can be no assurance
that this initial public offering will be completed. The Company plans to use a
portion of the net proceeds of this initial public offering to repay certain of
its obligations to parent and affiliates (see Note 8).
    
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
1. BACKGROUND: (CONTINUED)
    On           , 1997, the Company effected a 34,769-for-one stock split of
each outstanding share of Common Stock and authorized 5,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock and 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock.
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
   
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
    
 
   
    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated.
    
 
INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The financial statements as of March 31, 1997 and for the six months ended
March 31, 1996 and 1997 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include
all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for
the fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results for the
six months ended March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results to
be expected for the entire year.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
   
    For the purposes of the Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers all
highly liquid investment instruments purchased with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are
comprised of investments in various money market funds. Included in cash and
cash equivalents on the accompanying balance sheets is $175,000, $271,000 and $0
of restricted cash as of September 30, 1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997,
respectively.
    
 
INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on the first-in,
first-out method or market.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
   
    Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Significant improvements are
capitalized and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense
as incurred. Upon the sale or retirement of these assets, the applicable cost
and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain
or loss is included in the statements of operations.
    
 
    Depreciation and amortization are provided on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                  <C>
Computer hardware and software.....................................    3 years
Production and test equipment......................................    5 years
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements.....................    5 years
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    Intangible assets consist of developed technology and goodwill which are
being amortized over 2 1/2 and 7 years, respectively, on a straight-line basis
(see Note 6). The Company evaluates the realizability of intangible assets based
on estimates of undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining useful life of
the asset. If the amount of such estimated undiscounted future cash flows is
less than the net book value of the asset, the asset is written down to its net
realizable value. As of March 31, 1997, no such write-down was required.
 
DEFERRED REVENUES
 
    Deferred revenues represent amounts collected from the Company's customers
in excess of revenues recognized. This is primarily due to annual customer
support contracts. Such amounts are recognized as revenues over the contract
term.
 
PRODUCT WARRANTY
 
    The Company provides for the estimated cost to repair or replace products
under warranty when the revenues from product sales are recorded.
 
AGENT COMMISSIONS
 
    In certain contracts, particularly large international contracts, the
Company may utilize an agent, who will work directly with the customer. The
Company is typically charged a commission based on the total revenues of the
contract. These charges are recorded when the revenues are recognized and
included in cost of revenues. Any earned but unpaid commissions are recorded in
accrued agent commissions.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
 
    Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration
of credit risk are accounts receivable. The Company's customer base principally
comprises the regional Bell operating companies, as well as international
telephone companies. The Company typically does not require collateral from its
customers (see Note 15).
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
   
    Revenues are generally recognized upon shipment of the equipment. When the
customer requests the Company not to ship the equipment, the Company recognizes
revenues upon obtaining customer acceptance where risks of ownership are
transferred to the customer. Revenues from installation and customer support
activities are recognized as services are provided. Software license revenues
are recognized upon installation or shipment depending upon the terms of the
agreement.
    
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING EXPENSES
 
    Research, development and engineering expenses are charged to expense as
incurred. Engineering expenses consist of costs related to the development of
new products, enhancements to existing products and the integration of existing
products into application specific systems.
 
PARENT CHARGES
 
   
    Parent charges are allocated to the Company from Securicor and consist of
charges for certain support and services. These charges are based on Securicor's
estimate of its total relevant costs for the applicable fiscal year, allocated
pro rata based on estimated revenues of each applicable business unit.
Management believes the method of allocation is reasonable.
    
 
INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company accounts for income taxes under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." SFAS No.
109 requires the liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference
between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities.
Deferred tax assets or liabilities at the end of each period are determined
using the enacted tax rates.
 
   
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
    
 
   
    Historical net income (loss) per common share was calculated by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for
the respective period.
    
 
   
    Supplemental pro forma net income (loss) per common share was calculated by
dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding for the respective period. Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the calculation of supplemental pro forma
net income (loss) per common share includes the number of shares that would be
required to be sold in the initial public offering to fund the payment of the
$20,442,000 of obligations to parent and affiliates (see Note 8). In addition,
the supplemental pro forma net income (loss) per common share for the year ended
September 30, 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1997 excludes interest
expense on the obligations to parent and affiliates of $578,000 and $322,000,
respectively, net of income taxes. Stock options to be granted prior to the
initial public offering have been excluded from the calculation since the option
prices will be equal to the initial public offering price and will therefore not
be dilutive (see Note 11).
    
 
    In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128").
The Company is required to adopt SFAS 128 during its fiscal year ending
September 30, 1998. The adoption of SFAS 128 is not expected to have a material
impact on the Company's calculation of net income (loss) per common share.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
FOREIGN CURRENCY
 
    The Company's sales arrangements with international customers are fixed in
the amount of U.S. dollars to be received. Relative to the activity with
obligations to parent and affiliates, the Company charges the related foreign
exchange gains and losses to the statements of operations.
 
MANAGEMENT'S USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
CHARGE FOR PURCHASED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    In connection with the acquisition of the Company (see Note 1) on July 1,
1994, $6,700,000 of the purchase price was allocated to incomplete research and
development projects. Accordingly, these costs were charged to expense as of the
acquisition date. The development of these projects had not yet reached
technological feasibility and the technology had no alternative future use. The
technology acquired in the acquisition required substantial additional
development by the Company.
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
    For the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, the years ended
September 30, 1995 and 1996, and for the six months ended March 31, 1996 and
1997, the Company paid interest of $0, $120,000, $459,000, $161,000 and
$353,000, respectively. For the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994,
the years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996, and for the six months ended March
31, 1996 and 1997, the Company paid income taxes of $0, $21,000, $495,000,
$495,000 and $2,049,000, respectively.
 
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
 
    In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). SFAS 123 establishes financial accounting and
reporting standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. This statement
also applies to transactions in which an entity issues its equity instruments to
acquire goods or services from non-employees. The Company is required to adopt
SFAS 123 in its annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended September
30, 1997. The Company has elected to adopt the disclosure requirement of this
pronouncement. The adoption of the disclosure requirements is expected to have
no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operation.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
3. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                        ---------------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                            1995          1996           1997
                                                                        ------------  -------------  ------------
<S>                                                                     <C>           <C>            <C>
Billed................................................................  $  4,634,000  $  13,223,000  $  7,642,000
Unbilled..............................................................     2,860,000      2,617,000       666,000
                                                                        ------------  -------------  ------------
                                                                           7,494,000     15,840,000     8,308,000
Less--allowance for doubtful accounts.................................      (100,000)      (100,000)     (150,000)
                                                                        ------------  -------------  ------------
                                                                        $  7,394,000  $  15,740,000  $  8,158,000
                                                                        ------------  -------------  ------------
                                                                        ------------  -------------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
    Unbilled accounts receivable includes costs and estimated earnings on
contracts in progress which have been recognized as revenues but not yet billed
to customers under the provisions of specified contracts. Substantially, all
unbilled accounts receivables are expected to be billed and collected within one
year.
 
4. INVENTORIES:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                          --------------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                              1995          1996          1997
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
Raw materials...........................................................  $  3,362,000  $  2,779,000  $  3,733,000
Work-in-process.........................................................       882,000       199,000       629,000
Finished goods..........................................................            --       189,000       310,000
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                          $  4,244,000  $  3,167,000  $  4,672,000
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
5. OTHER ASSETS:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                           --------------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                               1995          1996         1997
                                                                           ------------  ------------  -----------
<S>                                                                        <C>           <C>           <C>
Acquired product development costs, net..................................  $  1,336,000  $  1,086,000  $   745,000
Investment...............................................................       512,000            --           --
Other....................................................................        53,000       121,000       81,000
                                                                           ------------  ------------  -----------
                                                                           $  1,901,000  $  1,207,000  $   826,000
                                                                           ------------  ------------  -----------
                                                                           ------------  ------------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The acquired product development costs relate to the development of an
Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") product which is sold in the United
States. This asset was purchased from Securicor 3Net Ltd. ("3Net"), an affiliate
of Securicor. Completion of this ISDN product occurred in October 1995.
Therefore, as of September 30, 1995, the Company did not have any amortization
expense related to these costs. Amortization was computed by multiplying the
ratio of current revenues for the product to total and anticipated future
revenues for the product by acquired costs. Amortization expense was $250,000
for the year ended September 30, 1996 and $341,000 for the six months ended
March 31, 1997. The Company's business activities related to the ISDN product
was performed through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
    
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
5. OTHER ASSETS: (CONTINUED)
   
Securicor 3Net, Inc. During the year ended September 30, 1996 and the six months
ended March 31, 1997, the Company sold certain products related to this
technology and recognized certain costs and realized all of the revenues related
to such activities. For the year ended September 30, 1996, the Company
recognized revenues of $792,000 and cost of revenues of $714,000 relating to
such activities. For the six months ended March 31, 1997, the Company recognized
revenues of $1,129,000 and cost of revenues of $732,000 relating to such
activities. These amounts are included in unrelated third party revenues and
cost of revenues. As of September 30, 1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997, related to
these activities, the Company had no receivables and $994,000, $296,000 and $0,
respectively, of payables to this entity which are included in obligations to
parent and affiliates. Additionally, as of September 30, 1995, 1996 and March
31, 1997, the Company had billed accounts receivable of $0, $610,000 and $96,000
from the one unrelated third party who purchased this product. In May 1997, the
Company transferred all of its stock in Securicor 3Net, Inc. to an affiliate of
Securicor at net book value due to the related party nature of the transaction.
    
 
    In January 1995, the Company made a $512,000 minority investment in a
business. In addition, in September 1995, the Company provided a credit facility
to this entity. As of September 30, 1995, no amounts were outstanding under this
credit facility. On May 2, 1996, the Company sold this investment for proceeds
of $2,061,000 plus the repayment of the balance on the credit facility which was
approximately $600,000 on May 2, 1996. These proceeds included a $1,500,000
technology transfer fee, $561,000 as repayment for the Company's initial
investment ($512,000) and amounts due from this entity under the credit
facility, which was terminated at this date. The Company recognized a gain on
the sale of this investment of $1,549,000 (see Note 10). Due to the temporary
nature and percentage ownership of this investment, this investment was
accounted for under the cost method of accounting. Additionally, the Company did
not exercise significant influence over this investment nor did it direct this
entity's financial or operating activities. For the years ended September 30,
1995 and 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997, revenues
recognized by the Company from this entity were $381,000, $2,166,000, $376,000
and $1,120,000, respectively, and are included in unrelated third party
revenues. For the years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 and the six months
ended March 31, 1996 and 1997, other income from this entity was $37,000,
$1,549,000, $0 and $0, respectively. Additionally, amounts due from this entity
of $165,000, $258,000 and $854,000 are included in accounts receivable and
amounts due to this entity of $50,000, $0 and $0 are included in other accrued
expenses as of September 30, 1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997, respectively.
 
6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                          --------------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                              1995          1996          1997
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
Developed technology....................................................  $  1,800,000  $  1,800,000  $  1,800,000
Goodwill................................................................       308,000       308,000       308,000
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                             2,108,000     2,108,000     2,108,000
Less--Accumulated amortization..........................................      (955,000)   (1,719,000)   (1,921,000)
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                          $  1,153,000  $    389,000  $    187,000
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
7. LONG-TERM DEBT:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                ---------------------   MARCH 31,
                                                                                  1995        1996        1997
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
<S>                                                                             <C>        <C>         <C>
Term note payable, payable in annual installments of $98,000 plus interest at
  5.3% through 1998...........................................................  $      --  $  196,000  $    98,000
Capitalized lease obligations, payable in monthly installments of $8,500
  including interest at 15% through 1998......................................         --     136,000       87,000
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
                                                                                       --     332,000      185,000
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
Less--Current portion.........................................................         --    (185,000)    (185,000)
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
                                                                                $      --  $  147,000  $        --
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
                                                                                ---------  ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Maturities of long-term debt as of September 30, 1996, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
1997..............................................................................  $  185,000
1998..............................................................................     147,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    $  332,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    ----------
</TABLE>
 
    In March 1996, the Company entered into a $294,000 term note payable with an
equipment vendor for the purchase of computer hardware and software and the
related maintenance agreements. Included in this amount is $249,000 of computer
hardware and software which has been recorded in property and equipment and the
related $45,000 maintenance contract prepayment which has been recorded in other
current assets. This term note payable is payable in three equal annual
installments of $98,000. The first of these three payments was paid in fiscal
1996. The interest rate charged on this term note payable is 5.3%. Interest
expense for the year ended September 30, 1996 and the six months ended March 31,
1997 was $6,000 and $6,000 respectively.
 
    In April 1996, the Company entered into a $177,000 lease obligation that
qualified as a capital lease for the purchase of computer hardware and software
and the related maintenance agreements. Included in this amount is $148,000 of
computer hardware and software which has been recorded in property and equipment
and the related $29,000 maintenance contract prepayment which has been recorded
in other current assets. This lease is payable in 24 equal monthly installments
of $8,500. The implicit interest rate charged on this obligation is 15%.
Interest expense for the year ended September 30, 1996 and the six months ended
March 31, 1997 was $10,000 and $11,000, respectively. Assets acquired under
capital leases at a cost of $148,000 and $148,000 less accumulated amortization
of $24,000 and $49,000 are included in property and equipment at September 30,
1996 and March 31, 1997, respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
8. OBLIGATIONS TO PARENT AND AFFILIATES:
 
    Information relative to the Company's obligations to parent and affiliates
is as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                      ----------------------------    MARCH 31,
                                                                          1995           1996           1997
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>            <C>
Obligations to parent:
  Interest free.....................................................  $  14,427,000  $  12,326,000  $  12,326,000
  Interest bearing..................................................      2,712,000     10,512,000      8,972,000
  Other.............................................................        237,000        190,000        177,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total obligations to parent.....................................     17,376,000     23,028,000     21,475,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
Obligation to affiliates:
  Receivable from affiliates........................................       (319,000)       (33,000)       (33,000)
  Payables to affiliates............................................      1,404,000        296,000         38,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
    Total obligations to affiliates, net............................      1,085,000        263,000          5,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
Total obligations to parent and affiliates..........................  $  18,461,000  $  23,291,000  $  21,480,000
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
                                                                      -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The Company has been funded through advances from its parent (Securicor).
Certain advances are interest bearing and are loaned to the Company at a base
rate plus 1%. For the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 and the
years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996, the interest rate charged on these
obligations ranged from 6.25% to 6.75%, 6.75% to 7.75% and 6.75% to 7.75%,
respectively. Interest expense for the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30,
1994, the years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 and the six months ended March
31, 1996 and 1997, was $9,000, $141,000, $578,000, $262,000 and $322,000,
respectively. As these obligations to parent and affiliates are due on demand,
this net amount is included in current liabilities. In connection with the
initial public offering, $20,442,000 of the total obligations to parent and
affiliates will be paid (see Note 1). In May 1997, the remaining balance of
$1,038,000 was transferred to an affiliate of Securicor in connection with the
Securicor 3 Net, Inc. transaction (see Note 5).
    
 
9. INTEREST EXPENSE, NET:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     PERIOD FROM
                                                    JULY 1, 1994    YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER   SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                         TO                 30,                     31,
                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                                        1994          1995        1996        1996        1997
                                                    -------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Interest expense on obligations to parent.........    $   9,000    $  141,000  $  578,000  $  262,000  $  322,000
Interest expense..................................           --            --      16,000       5,000      17,000
Interest income...................................           --       (29,000)    (80,000)    (40,000)    (60,000)
                                                         ------    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                      $   9,000    $  112,000  $  514,000  $  227,000  $  279,000
                                                         ------    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                         ------    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
10. OTHER INCOME:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PERIOD FROM
                                                  JULY 1, 1994                             SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH
                                                       TO        YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,           31,
                                                  SEPTEMBER 30,  ------------------------  ----------------------
                                                      1994          1995         1996         1996        1997
                                                  -------------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>         <C>
Litigation settlement gain......................    $      --    $       --  $    350,000  $  350,000  $       --
Gain on sale of investment (see Note 5).........           --            --     1,549,000          --          --
Miscellaneous...................................       66,000       148,000        80,000      63,000      54,000
                                                  -------------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
                                                    $  66,000    $  148,000  $  1,979,000  $  413,000  $   54,000
                                                  -------------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
                                                  -------------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    On December 6, 1995, the Company entered into a litigation settlement
agreement whereby the Company was awarded $350,000. This settlement is to be
paid over three years. The Company received $164,000 in 1996 and $118,000 during
the six months ended March 31, 1997. The remaining balance of $68,000 is
included in other current assets.
 
11. STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY:
 
   
1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
    
 
   
    In May 1997, the Company established the 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"1997 Plan") which authorized 450,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued under
the 1997 Plan. Under the 1997 Plan, a variety of awards, including stock
options, stock appreciation rights and restricted and unrestricted stock grants
may be made to the Company's employees, officers, consultants and advisors.
Common stock options may be granted either in the form of incentive stock
options or non-statutory stock options. The option exercise price of incentive
stock options may not be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date of the grant. It is expected that prior to the completion of the
initial public offering (see Note 1) options to purchase 325,000 shares of
Common Stock will be granted under the 1997 Plan to the employees, officers and
directors of the Company at an exercise price equal to the initial public
offering price per share. One third of these options will vest 90 days after
completion of the Company's initial public offering and the remaining two-thirds
will vest on the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant,
respectively. No additional options to purchase Common Stock have been granted
to date.
    
 
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN:
 
    Prior to July 1994, TeleSciences, Inc. had a profit-sharing retirement plan
and a thrift plan which covered substantially all employees. In connection with
the acquisition on July 1, 1994, all balances in the profit-sharing retirement
plan were transferred into the thrift plan. The thrift plan's name is now
Securicor Telesciences Thrift/401(k) Plan (the "Plan"). Upon this transfer, all
balances were 100% vested. With respect to the Plan, eligible employees must
have one year of service with the Company and be 18 years of age. An employee
may contribute both pre- and post-tax dollars to the Plan, subject to certain
limitations, as defined by the Plan. The employer contributions to the Plan are
equal to 75% of the employee's basic pre-tax contribution up to certain limits,
as defined. The Company's contribution to the Plan for the period
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN: (CONTINUED)
from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, and for the years ended September 30,
1995 and 1996 was $60,000, $245,000, and $277,000, respectively.
 
13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
 
    The Company entered into two separate agreements with Securicor Radiocoms
Ltd., an affiliate of Securicor. The first agreement provided that the Company
construct product for Securicor Radiocoms Ltd. and bill for all costs incurred
in addition to a certain profit percentage, as defined. The second agreement
provided for the construction of additional product for Securicor Radiocoms
Ltd., which was billed at a fixed price per unit. The Company recognized
revenues from Securicor Radiocoms Ltd. for the period from July 1, 1994 to
September 30, 1994, the years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 and the six
months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 of $0, $1,421,000, $2,323,000, $2,040,000
and $0, respectively. The Company recognized cost of revenues related to these
revenues for the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994, the years ended
September 30, 1995 and 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 of
$0, $1,112,000, $1,732,000, $1,488,000 and $0, respectively. As of September 30,
1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997, related to these agreements, the Company had
receivables of $319,000, $31,000 and $22,000, respectively, which are included
in obligations to parent and affiliates and $410,000, $0 and $0, respectively,
of advances from Securicor Radiocoms Ltd. which are included in obligations to
parent and affiliates. As of September 30, 1995, 1996 and March 31, 1997,
$99,000, $0 and $0, respectively, of costs were included in other current assets
related to these agreements.
 
   
    In March 1995, the Company acquired a less than 20% interest in an unrelated
business for approximately $10,200,000. In June 1996, the Company sold this
investment at cost to a company that was then wholly-owned by Securicor. The
acquisition and sale was recorded through the Company's intercompany account
with Securicor. These transactions were directed by Securicor and the Company
had no involvement with the investment. Due to the temporary nature of this
investment, the transactions were not reflected in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements.
    
 
    During the year ended September 30, 1996, certain key executive officers
were granted options to purchase the common stock of Securicor. The aggregate
number of options granted to these executive officers was 104,050. The exercise
price of these options was L2.45 per share, which was the fair market value of
Securicor common stock on the date of grant. These options vest on the third
anniversary of the date of grant. These options expire in June 2006 which is ten
years from the date of grant.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
14. INCOME TAXES:
 
    The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PERIOD FROM
                                                                          JULY 1, 1994          YEAR ENDED
                                                                               TO             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                          SEPTEMBER 30   ------------------------
                                                                              1994          1995         1996
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>            <C>         <C>
Current:
  Federal...............................................................   $    18,000   $  207,000  $  1,183,000
  State.................................................................         5,000       74,000       374,000
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
                                                                                23,000      281,000     1,557,000
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
Deferred:
  Federal...............................................................    (2,328,000)     (52,000)     (169,000)
  State.................................................................      (411,000)      (9,000)      (30,000)
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
                                                                            (2,739,000)     (61,000)     (199,000)
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
                                                                           $(2,716,000)  $  220,000  $  1,358,000
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
                                                                          -------------  ----------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
    Income tax expense differs from the amount currently payable because certain
expenses, primarily depreciation and accruals, are reported in different periods
for financial reporting and income tax purposes.
 
    The federal statutory income tax is reconciled to the effective income tax
rate as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   PERIOD FROM
                                                                                  JULY 1, 1994    YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER
                                                                                       TO                 30,
                                                                                  SEPTEMBER 30    --------------------
                                                                                      1994          1995       1996
                                                                                 ---------------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                              <C>              <C>        <C>
Federal statutory rate.........................................................          (34.0)%       34.0%      34.0%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit.....................................           (5.9  )       5.9        5.9
Other..........................................................................       --               (2.4)      (1.6)
                                                                                         -----    ---------  ---------
                                                                                         (39.9  )%      37.5%      38.3%
                                                                                         -----    ---------  ---------
                                                                                         -----    ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
14. INCOME TAXES: (CONTINUED)
    The components of the net current and long-term deferred tax assets and
liabilities, measured under SFAS No. 109, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                    --------------------------
<S>                                                                 <C>           <C>
                                                                        1995          1996
                                                                    ------------  ------------
Deferred tax assets--
  Charge for purchased research and development...................  $  2,825,000  $  2,910,000
  Accruals........................................................       314,000       408,000
  Other...........................................................        31,000        99,000
                                                                    ------------  ------------
                                                                       3,170,000     3,417,000
Deferred tax liabilities--
  Depreciation....................................................        10,000        90,000
  Other...........................................................        41,000         9,000
                                                                    ------------  ------------
                                                                          51,000        99,000
                                                                    ------------  ------------
    Net deferred tax assets.......................................  $  3,119,000  $  3,318,000
                                                                    ------------  ------------
                                                                    ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
 
   
    Management believes a valuation allowance was not required for the net
deferred tax assets due to the Company's earnings history taking into
consideration the nonrecurring charge for purchased research and development.
This charge represents the significant portion of the net deferred tax assets.
    
 
15. CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
 
    The Company's operations are conducted in one business segment. The
Company's revenues originated from the following geographic destinations:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PERIOD FROM
                                       JULY 1, 1994            YEAR ENDED                    SIX MONTHS
                                            TO               SEPTEMBER 30,                ENDED MARCH 31,
                                       SEPTEMBER 30,  ----------------------------  ----------------------------
                                           1994           1995           1996           1996           1997
                                       -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
North America........................   $ 2,927,000   $  15,541,000  $  28,282,000  $    7,224,00  $  10,938,000
South America........................     2,666,000       7,604,000      2,471,000        817,000        410,000
United Kingdom (related party).......            --       1,421,000      2,323,000      2,040,000             --
Other................................        13,000       1,002,000        888,000        699,000        702,000
                                       -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                        $ 5,606,000   $  25,568,000  $  33,964,000  $  10,780,000  $  12,050,000
                                       -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
                                       -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
   
                      AXIOM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (NOTE 1)
    
 
   
             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
         (INFORMATION AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
                     MARCH 31, 1996 AND 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
15. CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: (CONTINUED)
    The following table summarizes significant customers with revenues in excess
of 10% of the Company's revenues in any given period presented:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PERIOD FROM
                                            JULY 1, 1994           YEAR ENDED                  SIX MONTHS
                                                 TO              SEPTEMBER 30,              ENDED MARCH 31,
                                            SEPTEMBER 30,  --------------------------  --------------------------
CUSTOMER                                        1994           1995          1996          1996          1997
- ------------------------------------------  -------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Ameritech Corporation.....................   $ 1,509,000   $  4,277,000  $  4,431,000  $    912,000  $  1,028,000
Puerto Rico Telephone Co. ................       --             101,000     3,199,000     2,197,000         6,000
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.......        28,000      1,478,000     6,289,000     1,628,000     1,786,000
Telecom Argentina.........................     2,642,000      4,353,000     1,170,000        38,000       379,000
Telecommunications of Jamaica, Ltd........            --        930,000       823,000       685,000       100,000
U S West, Inc.............................     1,143,000      7,349,000    10,219,000     1,905,000     3,890,000
</TABLE>
 
    The failure of any of the Company's significant customers to continue to
purchase products and services from the Company, or any significant delay in
orders from such customers, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations and financial condition.
 
16. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
    The Company has entered into noncancelable operating leases for its office
and manufacturing facilities, production and test equipment and fixtures. The
total rental for production and test equipment and fixtures for the period from
July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 and for the years ended September 30, 1995
and 1996 was $56,000, $267,000 and $266,000, respectively. These lease
agreements provide that the Company will pay all insurance, maintenance and
repairs.
 
    In addition, the Company leases its office and manufacturing facilities
under long-term operating leases. The rental on the office and manufacturing
facilities for the period from July 1, 1994 to September 30, 1994 and for the
years ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 was $117,000, $334,000 and $322,000,
respectively. The amounts payable under these leases are subject to
renegotiation at various intervals specified in the leases.
 
    Future minimum rental payments as of September 30, 1996 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
1997..............................................................................  $  341,000
1998..............................................................................     227,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    $  568,000
                                                                                    ----------
                                                                                    ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company is obligated to make certain payments, as defined, to certain
key Company employees if these employees are terminated. In addition, certain
key employees have performance incentives in the form of cash and equity (in the
parent or an affiliate) related compensation. The Company does not expect to
make these payments other than in the normal course of business.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
To Axiom Inc. (formerly Securicor Communications Inc.):
    
 
    We have audited the accompanying statement of revenues and certain expenses
for the year ended June 30, 1994 of the Predecessor Business (see Note 1). This
statement of revenues and certain expenses is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this
statement of revenues and certain expenses based on our audit.
 
    We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the statement of revenues and certain
expenses is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement of
revenues and certain expenses. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
   
    The statement of revenues and certain expenses has been prepared for the
purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (for inclusion in the Form S-1 filing of Axiom Inc.
(formerly Securicor Communications Inc.)) as described in Note 1 and is not
intended to be a complete presentation of the financial results of the
Predecessor Business.
    
 
    In our opinion, the statement of revenues and certain expenses referred to
above presents fairly, in all material respects, the revenues and certain
expenses of the Predecessor Business for the year ended June 30, 1994, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
   
                                          /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
    
 
Philadelphia, Pa.,
March 7, 1997
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                         PREDECESSOR BUSINESS (NOTE 1)
                   STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES
                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                 <C>
REVENUES..........................................................................  $  20,229
COST OF REVENUES..................................................................     12,803
                                                                                    ---------
      Gross profit................................................................      7,426
                                                                                    ---------
OPERATING EXPENSES:
  Research, development and engineering...........................................      5,450
  Selling, general and administrative.............................................      4,985
                                                                                    ---------
      Total operating expenses....................................................     10,435
                                                                                    ---------
OPERATING LOSS....................................................................  $  (3,009)
                                                                                    ---------
                                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
 
         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                              PREDECESSOR BUSINESS
 
              NOTES TO STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES
 
                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
 
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION:
 
   
    On July 1, 1994, Axiom Inc. (formerly Securicor Communications Inc.) (the
"Company") purchased the net assets of the wireline division of TeleSciences,
Inc. ("TeleSciences"). The net assets acquired are referred to as the
"Predecessor Business." In connection with the Company's initial public offering
as contemplated in this Prospectus, the accompanying financial statement has
been prepared to comply with the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. These rules and regulations require a statement of revenues
and certain expenses of the Predecessor Business. This statement does not
include interest, income taxes and TeleSciences' corporate management fees. The
Company's parent charges were $386,000 and $403,000 for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 1995 and 1996, respectively (see Axiom Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Statements).
    
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
   
    Revenues were generally recognized upon shipment of the equipment and, if
recognized prior to shipment, upon completion of customer acceptance where risks
of ownership are transferred to the customer. Revenues from installation and
customer support activities were recognized as services were provided. Software
license revenues were recognized upon installation or shipment depending upon
the terms of the agreement.
    
 
AGENT COMMISSIONS
 
   
    In certain contracts, particularly large international contracts, the
Predecessor Business may have utilized an agent, who worked directly with the
customer. The Predecessor Business was typically charged a commission based on
the total revenues of the contract. These charges were recorded when the
revenues were recognized and included in cost of revenues.
    
 
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING EXPENSES
 
   
    Research, development and engineering expenses were charged to expense as
incurred. Engineering expenses consisted of costs related to the development of
new products, enhancements to existing products and the integration of existing
products into application specific systems.
    
 
MANAGEMENT'S USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                              PREDECESSOR BUSINESS
 
        NOTES TO STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES (CONTINUED)
 
                        FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1994
 
3. CUSTOMER AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
 
    The Predecessor Business' operations were conducted in one business segment.
The Predecessor Business' revenues originated from the following geographic
destinations:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  YEAR ENDED
                                                                                   JUNE 30,
                                                                                     1994
                                                                                 -------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
North America..................................................................  $  12,366,000
South America..................................................................      7,388,000
Other..........................................................................        475,000
                                                                                 -------------
                                                                                 $  20,229,000
                                                                                 -------------
                                                                                 -------------
</TABLE>
 
    The following table summarizes significant customers with revenues in excess
of 10% of the Predecessor Business' revenues for the year ended June 30, 1994:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUSTOMER                                                                             AMOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<S>                                                                               <C>
Ameritech Corporation...........................................................  $  4,949,000
Telecom Argentina...............................................................     3,945,000
U S West, Inc...................................................................     4,872,000
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
[Description of graphics to be inserted:
 
   
    Inside Back Cover: Photos of the Company's headquarters and products].
    
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE
UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH
SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                  ---------
<S>                                               <C>
Prospectus Summary..............................          3
Risk Factors....................................          6
The Company.....................................         12
Use of Proceeds.................................         12
Dividend Policy.................................         12
Capitalization..................................         13
Dilution........................................         14
Selected Financial Data.........................         15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations....................................         18
Business........................................         25
Management......................................         42
Principal Stockholders..........................         47
Certain Transactions............................         47
Description of Capital Stock....................         49
Shares Eligible for Future Sale.................         50
Underwriting....................................         51
Legal Matters...................................         54
Experts.........................................         54
Additional Information..........................         54
Index to Financial Statements...................        F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
    UNTIL        , 1997 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL DEALERS
EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS
DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO
THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS
AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                2,600,000 SHARES
 
   
                                   AXIOM INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK
    
 
                                ----------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                        , 1997
                            ------------------------
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
                               J.P. MORGAN & CO.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
   
                         ALTERNATE INTERNATIONAL COVER
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 27, 1997
    
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
P R O S P E C T U S
 
   
                                2,600,000 SHARES
    
   
                                   AXIOM INC.
                   (SUCCESSOR TO SECURICOR TELESCIENCES INC.)
                                  COMMON STOCK
    
                                 -------------
 
   
    All of the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), offered hereby are being sold by Axiom Inc. (the "Company"), the
successor to Securicor Telesciences Inc. Of the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock
offered hereby,          are initially being offered outside the United States
and Canada by the International Managers (the "International Offering") and
         are initially being offered in the United States and Canada by the U.S.
Underwriters (the "U.S. Offering" and, together with the International Offering,
the "Offering"). See "Underwriting." The initial public offering price and
underwriting discounts and commissions per share are identical for both the
International Offering and the U.S. Offering. The closing of the International
Offering is a condition to the closing of the U.S. Offering and the closing of
the U.S. Offering is a condition to the closing of the International Offering.
Of the net proceeds from the sale by the Company of the Common Stock,
approximately $20.4 million will be used to repay certain indebtedness from the
Company's sole stockholder. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Certain Transactions."
    
 
   
    Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price will be between
$11.00 and $13.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for a discussion of the factors
to be considered in determining the initial public offering price. The Common
Stock has been approved for quotation on The Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq")
under the symbol "AXIM."
    
 
                             ---------------------
   
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT
   SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED
                                    HEREBY.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
    AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
            SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
                ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                      TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
                                    OFFENSE.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      Price to            Underwriting Discounts          Proceeds to
                                                       Public              and Commissions (1)            Company (2)
<S>                                           <C>                       <C>                         <C>
Per Share...................................             $                          $                          $
Total (3)...................................             $                          $                          $
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) The Company and an affiliate of its sole stockholder have agreed to
    indemnify the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters against
    certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended. See "Underwriting."
    
 
(2) Before deducting estimated expenses of $775,000 payable by the Company.
 
(3) The Company has granted the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters
    30-day options to purchase up to an aggregate of 390,000 additional shares
    of Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as set forth above solely
    to cover over-allotments, if any. If such options are exercised in full, the
    total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds
    to Company will be $         , $         and $         , respectively. See
    "Underwriting."
 
                             ---------------------
 
   
    The shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are offered by the
International Managers subject to prior sale, to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offer without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the
International Managers and to certain further conditions. It is expected that
delivery of certificates for the shares of Common Stock will be made at the
offices of Lehman Brothers Inc., New York, New York, on or about          ,
1997.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS                                      J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LTD.
   
               , 1997
    
<PAGE>
                       ALTERNATE INTERNATIONAL BACK COVER
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
 
    NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE
UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH
SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
                          ---------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       PAGE
                                                       -----
<S>                                                 <C>
Prospectus Summary................................           3
Risk Factors......................................           6
The Company.......................................          12
Use of Proceeds...................................          12
Dividend Policy...................................          12
Capitalization....................................          13
Dilution..........................................          14
Selected Financial Data...........................          15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
  Condition and Results of Operations.............          18
Business..........................................          25
Management........................................          42
Principal Stockholders............................          47
Certain Transactions..............................          47
Description of Capital Stock......................          49
Shares Eligible for Future Sale...................          50
Underwriting......................................          51
Legal Matters.....................................          54
Experts...........................................          54
Additional Information............................          54
Index to Financial Statements.....................         F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
    UNTIL           , 1997 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL
DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN
ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                2,600,000 SHARES
 
   
                                   AXIOM INC.
    
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                                 --------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                        , 1997
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                                  J.P. MORGAN
                                SECURITIES LTD.
 
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The following table sets forth expenses in connection with the issuance and
distribution of the securities being registered, all of which are being borne by
the Registrant.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee...............  $  11,779
                                                                    ---------
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. fee..............      4,387
                                                                    ---------
Nasdaq Stock Market Inc./National Market listing fee..............     36,667
                                                                    ---------
Printing and engraving expenses...................................    125,000
Accountants' fees and expenses....................................    285,000
Legal fees and expenses...........................................    200,000
Blue Sky qualification fees and expenses..........................      2,500
Transfer agent's fees and expenses................................     25,000
                                                                    ---------
Miscellaneous.....................................................     84,667
                                                                    ---------
      TOTAL.......................................................  $ 775,000
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
    The foregoing, except for the Securities and Exchange Commission
registration fee, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. fee, and
the Nasdaq Stock Market fee, are estimates.
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    Under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
as amended, the Registrant has the power to indemnify directors and officers
under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to certain limitations
against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which any of them is a
party by reason of his being a director or officer of the Registrant if it is
determined that he acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct
set forth in such statutory provision.
 
    Article VII of the Registrant's Amended and Restated By-laws filed as
Exhibit 3.2 hereto, provides that the Registrant shall indemnify directors and
officers of the Registrant against all expenses, liability and loss incurred as
a result of such person's being a party to, or threatened to be made a party to,
any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a
director or officer of the Registrant or is or was serving at the request of the
Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another enterprise, to
the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. Article VII further permits the Registrant to maintain insurance, at
its expense, to protect itself and any such director or officer of the
Registrant or another enterprise against any such expenses, liability or loss,
whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person
against such expense, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware. Article VII of the Registrant's By-laws, also generally
permits the Registrant, at its discretion, to indemnify other employees and
agents to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
 
    The Registrant intends to purchase directors' and officers' liability
insurance.
 
    See Section 9 of the U.S. Underwriting Agreement and Section   of the
International Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2 hereto,
respectively, pursuant to which the Underwriters agree to indemnify the
Registrant, its directors, officers and controlling persons against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
    None.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
    (a) Exhibits
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
    NO.
- -----------
<C>          <S>
 
       1.1   Form of U.S. Underwriting Agreement.
 
      +1.2   Form of International Underwriting Agreement.
 
        *2   Agreement and Plan of Merger between STI and the Company, dated May 23, 1997.
 
      *3.1   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
 
      *3.2   Form of Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company.
 
        *5   Form of Opinion of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen with respect to the legality of the securities
             being offered.
 
     *10.1   1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
      10.2   Employment Agreement between STI and Andrew Maunder, dated July 1, 1994.
 
      10.3   Employment Agreement between STI and Donald Hoffman, dated July 1, 1994.
 
      10.4   Employment Agreement between STI and William J. Rahe, Jr., dated February 15, 1995.
 
      10.5   Employment Agreement between STI and Joseph F. Gorecki, dated March 10, 1995.
 
      10.6   Employment Agreement between STI and Michael S. Farina, dated January 31, 1997.
 
      10.7   Agreement between Ameritech Services, Inc. and STI, dated October 11, 1989, as amended.
 
      10.8   General Procurement Agreement between U S West Communications, Inc. and the Company dated May 1, 1991, as
             amended.
 
      10.9   General Procurement Contract for Computer Equipment Software and Services between Southwestern Bell
             Telephone Company and STI, dated June 1, 1995.
 
     10.10   Lease Agreement between STI and Line Lexington Management Corp. dated June 13, 1988, as amended effective
             September 1, 1993.
 
    *10.11   Form of International Marketing Services Agreement between the Company and Securicor.
 
    *10.12   Form of Services Agreement between the Company and 3Net Delaware.
 
    *10.13   Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and Securicor.
 
    *10.14   Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Securicor 3 Net Limited dated May 22, 1997.
 
       *11   Statement regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings.
 
        21   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
     *23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
 
     *23.2   Consent of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen (included as part of Exhibit 5).
 
     *23.3   Consent of Robert B. Kelly.
 
        24   Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Registration Statement).
 
       *27   Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
* Filed herewith.
    
 
   
+ To be filed by amendment.
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
    (b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
    All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the
related instructions or are inapplicable or the required information is given in
the Financial Statements or Notes thereto, and therefore have been omitted.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter
at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to Item 14 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
        (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
    of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
    of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
    form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4)
    or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
    registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
    Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
    prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
    the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
    time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                        SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Amendment to the Registrant's Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in
Moorestown, New Jersey, on the 27th day of May, 1997.
    
 
   
                                AXIOM INC.
 
                                By:            /s/ ANDREW P. MAUNDER
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                 Andrew P. Maunder
                                       PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
    
 
   
    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Andrew P. Maunder and Mark J. Kadish, and each of
them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection herewith, with authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to
all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
    
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the Registrant's Registration Statement has been signed by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
    
 
   
                                                                   DATE
                                                            -------------------
 
     /s/ EDMUND A. HOUGH
- ------------------------------  Chairman                       May 27, 1997
       Edmund A. Hough
 
                                Director, President and
    /s/ ANDREW P. MAUNDER         Chief Executive Officer
- ------------------------------    (principal executive         May 27, 1997
      Andrew P. Maunder           officer)
 
      /s/ MARK J. KADISH        Chief Financial Officer
- ------------------------------    (principal financial and     May 27, 1997
        Mark J. Kadish            accounting officer)
 
     /s/ SAMMY W. PEARSON
- ------------------------------  Director                       May 27, 1997
       Sammy W. Pearson
 
      /s/ TREVOR SOKELL
- ------------------------------  Director                       May 27, 1997
        Trevor Sokell
 
   /s/ MICHAEL G. WILKINSON
- ------------------------------  Director                       May 27, 1997
     Michael G. Wilkinson
 
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
    NO.
- -----------
<C>          <S>
 
       1.1   Form of U.S. Underwriting Agreement.
 
      +1.2   Form of International Underwriting Agreement.
 
        *2   Agreement and Plan of Merger between STI and the Company, dated May 23, 1997.
 
      *3.1   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
 
      *3.2   Form of Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company.
 
        *5   Form of opinion of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen with respect to the legality of the securities
             being offered.
 
     *10.1   1997 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
      10.2   Employment Agreement between STI and Andrew Maunder, dated July 1, 1994.
 
      10.3   Employment Agreement between STI and Donald Hoffman, dated July 1, 1994.
 
      10.4   Employment Agreement between STI and William J. Rahe, Jr., dated February 15, 1995.
 
      10.5   Employment Agreement between STI and Joseph F. Gorecki, dated March 10, 1995.
 
      10.6   Employment Agreement between STI and Michael S. Farina, dated January 31, 1997.
 
      10.7   Agreement between Ameritech Services, Inc. and STI, dated October 11, 1989, as amended.
 
      10.8   General Procurement Agreement between U S West Communications, Inc. and the Company dated May 1, 1991, as
             amended.
 
      10.9   General Procurement Contract for Computer Equipment Software and Services between Southwestern Bell
             Telephone Company and STI, dated June 1, 1995.
 
     10.10   Lease Agreement between STI and Line Lexington Management Corp. dated June 13, 1988, as amended effective
             September 1, 1993.
 
    *10.11   Form of International Marketing Services Agreement between the Company and Securicor.
 
    *10.12   Form of Services Agreement between the Company and 3Net Delaware.
 
    *10.13   Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and Securicor.
 
    *10.14   Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Securicor 3 Net Limited dated May 22, 1997.
 
       *11   Statement regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings.
 
        21   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
 
     *23.1   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
 
     *23.2   Consent of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen (included as part of Exhibit 5).
 
     *23.3   Consent of Robert B. Kelly.
 
        24   Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Registration Statement).
 
       *27   Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
* Filed herewith.
    
 
   
+ To be filed by amendment.
    

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 2


                             AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of this 23rd day of May, 1997, by and between 
AXIOM INC., a Delaware corporation ("Axiom"), and SECURICOR TELESCIENCES 
INC., a Delaware corporation ("STI").

     WHEREAS, Axiom is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, having been incorporated on June 29, 1994 and whose
name was changed from Securicor Communications Inc. by amendment dated May 22,
1997; and

     WHEREAS, STI is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws 
of the State of Delaware, having been incorporated on July 1, 1994; and

     WHEREAS, STI is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Axiom and Axiom is a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor Communications Limited, a company duly
organized and existing under the laws of England (the "Direct Parent"), itself
an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor plc; and

     WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Axiom and STI deem it desirable, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein, that STI be merged with
and into Axiom pursuant to Section 251 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the "DGCL") and that Axiom shall be the surviving corporation of said merger
(the "Merger"). 

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:

Section 1 - The Terms.

     (a)  As promptly as practicable following the date hereof, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, STI shall be merged with and
into Axiom in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, with Axiom
being the surviving corporation (sometimes referred to hereinafter as the
"Surviving Corporation"), and the separate existence of STI shall cease. 

     (b)  The Surviving Corporation shall have the name "Axiom Inc." and, 
pursuant to Section 259 of the DGCL, shall, among other things, possess all 
the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Axiom and STI and shall be 
subject to all the restrictions, disabilities and duties of each of such 
corporations.

<PAGE>

     (c)  Upon the Effective Date:

          (i) The aggregate of the then outstanding shares of STI Common 
Stock, shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of 
Axiom, shall be canceled.

          (ii) Each share of Common Stock of Axiom issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Date shall remain outstanding without
modification or addition.

          (iii) The number of issued and outstanding shares of capital 
stock of the Surviving Corporation after the the Effective Date shall be 100 
shares of Common Stock, all of which shall be held beneficially and of record 
by the Direct Parent.

          (iv) The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation shall be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Axiom Inc.

          (v)  The directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the persons
listed below, with each serving until such time as their successors have been
elected and qualified in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and applicable law, unless sooner removed,
retired, disqualified or deceased:

               Edward A. Hough
               Andrew P. Maunder
               Sammy W. Pearson
               Trevor Sokell
               Michael G. Wilkinson

          (vi) The officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be the persons
below, with each officer serving in the offices set forth beside their names
until such time as their successors have been elected and qualified in
accordance with the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and applicable law,
unless sooner removed, retired, disqualified or deceased.
                                   
               Andrew P. Maunder     -    President and Chief Executive Officer
               Donald Hoffman        -    Senior Vice President, Strategic
                                          Customer Development
               William J. Rahe, Jr.  -    Vice President, Engineering
               Mark J. Kadish        -    Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
               Michael J. Farina     -    Vice President, Marketing and Sales
               Joseph F. Gorecki     -    Vice President, Program Management and
                                          Customer Service

                                      2

<PAGE>

Section 2 - Effective Date.

     (a)  The Effective Date of the Merger shall be the time and date that 
the Certificate of Merger, dated as of May  , 1997 and attached hereto as 
Exhibit I, is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

Section 3 - Covenants and Agreements.

     (a)  Axiom covenants and agrees that it will present this Agreement for 
adoption or rejection by action of its sole stockholder, the Direct Parent, 
and will furnish to such holder all such documents and information in 
connection therewith as is required by law, and will recommend to such holder 
approval of this Agreement by means of a written consent in lieu of special 
meeting in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of the DGCL.

     (b)  Axiom further covenants and agrees that it shall, as the sole 
stockholder of STI, approve this Agreement by means of a written consent in 
lieu of special meeting in accordance with the provisions of Section 228 of 
the DGCL.

Section 4 - Certificate
      
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Axiom and STI have each caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective Chief Executive Officers attested by their
respective Secretaries, all as of the date first written above.


ATTEST:                  AXIOM INC.


   /s/ Mark J. Kadish                            /s/ Edmund A. Hough           
- --------------------------------              ---------------------------------
Mark J. Kadish                                Edmund A. Hough, President 
Secretary                                     and Chief Executive Officer


ATTEST:                                       SECURICOR TELESCIENCES INC.


 /s/ Mark J. Kadish                           /s/ Andrew P. Maunder
- --------------------------------              ---------------------------------
Mark J. Kadish                                Andrew P. Maunder, President 
Secretary                                     and Chief Executive 
                                              Chief Executive Officer

                                      3

<PAGE>
                                CERTIFICATE OF MERGER

                                          OF

                              SECURICOR TELSCIENCES INC.

                                         INTO

                                      AXIOM INC.

     The undersigned corporation, organized and existing under and by virtue of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,

     DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

     FIRST:  That the name and the state of incorporation of each of the
constituent corporations of the merger is as follows:


                Name                        State of Incorporation
                ----                        ----------------------

             Axiom Inc.                            Delaware

      Securicor Telesciences Inc.                  Delaware


     SECOND:  That an agreement and plan of merger between the parties to the
merger has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by each
of the constituent corporations in accordance with the requirements of Section
251 of the  General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     THIRD:  That the name of the surviving corporation of the merger is Axiom
Inc.

     FOURTH:  That the certificate of incorporation of Axiom Inc. shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation.

     FIFTH:  That the executed agreement and plan of merger is on file at the 
principal place of business of the surviving corporation.  The address of the 
principal place of business of the surviving corporation is 351 New Albany 
Road, Moorestown, New Jersey 08054.

     SIXTH:  That a copy of the agreement and plan of merger will be furnished
by the surviving corporation, on request and without cost, to any stockholder of
any constituent corporation.

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Axiom Inc. has caused the Certificate to be signed
by its authorized officer, this 23rd day of May, 1997.

                                        AXIOM INC.


                                       By:  /s/ Edmund A. Hough
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Edmund A. Hough, President and 
                                          Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 3.1

                                 AMENDED AND RESTATED

                             CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                          OF

                                      AXIOM INC.

                       (formerly Securicor Communications Inc.)

    
    Axiom Inc., a corporation organized and existing under, and by virtue of,
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:
    1.   That the name of the Corporation is Axiom Inc.
    2.   That the Corporation is the surviving corporation in the merger of its
predecessor, Axiom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Predecessor Corporation")
and Securicor Telesciences, Inc. (the "Subsidiary").  The original Certificate
of Incorporation of the Predecessor Corporation, under the name Securicor
Communications Inc., was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware on June 29, 1994
    3.   That the Certificate of Incorporation of the Predecessor Corporation,
is hereby amended in its entirety and restated, pursuant to Section 245 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as follows:

    FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is:

                                      Axiom Inc.


    SECOND:  The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is: 
Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County,
Delaware, 19801.  The name of its registered agent at such address is:  THE
CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY.

<PAGE>

    THIRD:  The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted
is:

    To have unlimited power to engage in any lawful act or activity for which
    corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the
    State of Delaware.


    FOURTH:  

         Section 1.     Capital Stock Authorized.  The total number of shares
of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 30,000,000
consisting of: (i) 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share;
and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Preferred Stock").

         
         Section 2.     Provisions Applicable to All Classes and Series of
Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in
one or more classes or series.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation is
hereby expressly granted authority to fix, by resolution or resolutions adopted
prior to the issuance of any shares of a particular class or series of Preferred
Stock, the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other special rights, or the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, of such class or series.

    Section 3.     Provisions Applicable to Common Stock

         (a)  After the requirements with respect to preferential dividends
upon the Preferred Stock of all classes and series thereof shall have been met
and after the Corporation shall have complied with all requirements, if any,
with respect to the setting aside of sums as a sinking fund or redemption or
purchase account for the benefit of any class or series thereof, then, and not
otherwise, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such
dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.

         (b)  After distribution in full of the preferential amounts to be
distributed to the holders of all classes and series thereof of Preferred Stock
then outstanding in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Common Stock
shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation
available for distribution to its stockholders 

                                      2

<PAGE>

ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them 
respectively.

         (c)  Each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in respect of
each share of such stock held by him.

         
    FIFTH:  The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or
repeal the by-laws of the Corporation; provided that the Board of Directors
shall not be permitted to amend Section 2-7, Section 3-10 or Article X of the
by-laws without the affirmative vote of shares entitled to cast two-thirds of
all votes entitled to be cast in an election of directors (whether or not
holders of such shares are present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting).


    SIXTH:  Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.

    SEVENTH:  Any action to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation
shall be taken at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders and shall 
not be effected without a meeting by consent in writing under Section 228 of 
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise.

    EIGHTH:   Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between the
Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between the
Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of the Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for the Corporation under
the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the  Delaware Code or on the 
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers 
appointed for the Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 
of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, 
and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the Corporation, as the
case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a 
majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or 
class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of the
Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to
any reorganization of the Corporation as consequence of such compromise or 
arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization
shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made,
be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the
stockholders

                                      3

<PAGE>

or class of stockholders, of the Corporation, as the case may be, and also on 
the Corporation.

    NINTH:     A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director; provided, however, that this shall not exempt a director
from liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or (iv) for
any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.  If
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is hereafter amended to
authorize the further elimination or limitation of liability of directors, then
the liability of a director of the Corporation, in addition to the limitation on
personal liability provided herein, shall be eliminated or limited to the
fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as so amended.  

    Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders
of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any
limitation on the personal liability of a director of the Corporation existing
at the time of such repeal or modification.

    3.   That the foregoing Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and that written consent
thereto was given by the sole stockholder of the Corporation in accordance with
the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AXIOM INC. has caused this Amended and Restated 
Certificate of Incorporation to be executed in its name by its President this 
     day of       1997.



                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Andrew P. Maunder
                                          President








                                      4


<PAGE>
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                   BY-LAWS OF

                                   AXIOM INC.

                               ARTICLE I - OFFICES

      Section 1-1. Registered Office and Registered Agent. The Corporation shall
maintain a registered office and registered agent within the State of Delaware,
which may be changed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

      Section 1-2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine.

                       ARTICLE II - STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS

      Section 2-1. Place of Stockholders' Meetings. Meetings of stockholders may
be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be
designated by the Board of Directors from time to time. If no such place is
designated by the Board of Directors, meetings of the stockholders shall be held
at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.

      Section 2-2. Annual Meeting. A meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation shall be held in each calendar year, commencing with the year 1998,
at such date and time as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>

      At such annual meeting, there shall be held an election for a Board of
Directors to serve for the ensuing year and until their respective successors
are elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

      Section 2-3. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specifically provided
by law, special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time:

            (a) By the Board of Directors; or

            (b) By the Chairman or President of the Corporation.

      Upon the written request of any person entitled to call a special meeting,
which request shall set forth the purpose for which the meeting is desired, it
shall be the duty of the Secretary to give prompt written notice of such meeting
to be held at such time as the Secretary may fix, subject to the provisions of
Section 2-4 hereof. If the Secretary shall fail to fix such date and give notice
within ten (10) days after receipt of such request, the person or persons making
such request may do so.

      Section 2-4. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings. Written notice
stating the place, date and hour of any meeting shall be given, to the extent
required by law, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the
date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. If
mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

Mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears
on the records of the Corporation. Such notice may be given by or at the
direction of the person or persons authorized to call the meeting.

      When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be
given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at
the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the adjournment is for more
than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

      Section 2-5. Quorum. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote shall constitute a
quorum. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting can continue to do
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum. If a meeting cannot be organized
because of the absence of a quorum, those present may, except as otherwise
provided by law, adjourn the meeting to such time and place as they may
determine. In the case of any meeting for the election of Directors, those
stockholders who attend the second of such adjourned meetings, although less
than a quorum as fixed in this Section, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum
for the purpose of electing Directors.


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

      Section 2-6. Voting List; Proxies. The officer who has charge of the stock
ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before
every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of
each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each
stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for
any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period
of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the
city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting
is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of
the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any
stockholder who is present.

      Upon the willful neglect or refusal of the Directors to produce such a
list at any meeting for the election of Directors, they shall be ineligible to
any office at such meeting.

      Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to
express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in any manner
permitted by law. All proxies shall be filed with the Secretary of the
Corporation not later than the day on which exercised. No proxy shall be


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.

      Section 2-7. Action at Meetings. When a quorum is present at any meeting
of adjournment thereof, action on any matter properly before the meeting, other
than the election of directors, shall be by the affirmative vote of shares
entitled to cast two-thirds (2/3) of all votes entitled to be cast at the
meeting (whether or not holders of such shares are present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting), unless the matter is one upon which by
express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a
different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern
and control the decision of such matter. Directors shall be elected by a
plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy
at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

      Except for the election of directors and as otherwise specifically
provided by law, all other votes may be taken by voice unless a stockholder
demands that it be taken by ballot, in which latter event the vote shall be
taken by written ballot.

      Section 2-8. Business at Meetings of Stockholders. Except as otherwise
provided by law (including but not limited to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor provision thereto) or in
these By-laws, the business which shall be conducted at any meeting of the


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

stockholders shall (a) have been specified in the written notice of the meeting
(or any supplement thereto) given by the Corporation, or (b) be brought before
the meeting at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) be brought before
the meeting by the presiding officer of the meeting unless a majority of the
Directors then in office object to such business being conducted at the meeting,
or (d) have been specified in a written notice given to the Secretary of the
Corporation, by or on behalf of any stockholder who shall have been a
stockholder of record on the record date for such meeting and who shall continue
to be entitled to vote thereat (the "Stockholder Notice"), in accordance with
all of the following requirements:

            (1) Each Stockholder Notice must be delivered to, or mailed and
received at, the offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting
that is called for a date that is within 30 days before or after the anniversary
date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, not less than
120 days prior to the anniversary of the date the Corporation's proxy statement
was released to stockholders in connection with the Corporation's immediately
preceding annual meeting, and (ii) in the case of an annual meeting that is
called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary
date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, not later than the close of
business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of
meeting was mailed or public


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first, except
that, for the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Stockholder Notice must
be received by the Corporation not later than the close of business on November
30, 1997.

            (2) Each such Stockholder Notice must set forth: (i) the name and
address of the stockholder who intends to bring the business before the meeting;
(ii) the general nature of the business which such stockholder seeks to bring
before the meeting and, if a specific action is to be proposed, the text of the
resolution or resolutions which the proposing stockholder proposes that the
stockholders adopt; and (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder
of record of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and
intends to bring the business specified in the notice before the meeting. The
presiding officer of the meeting may, in his or her sole discretion, refuse to
acknowledge any business proposed by a stockholder not made in compliance with
the foregoing procedure.

                        ARTICLE III - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      Section 3-1. Number. The entire Board shall consist of that number of
Directors, not less than one (1) nor more than nine (9), as may from time to
time be prescribed by the Board. The number of Directors shall initially consist
of that number of directors serving at the time of adoption of this Section 3-1.
No decrease in the number of authorized Directors constituting


                                       -7-
<PAGE>

the entire Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

      Section 3-2. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, as a majority
of the Directors may from time to time designate or as may be designated in the
notice calling the meeting.

      Section 3-3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors
shall be held annually, immediately following the annual meeting of
stockholders, at the place where such meeting of the stockholders is held or at
such other place, date and hour as a majority of the newly elected Directors may
designate. At such meeting the Board of Directors shall elect officers of the
Corporation. In addition to such regular meeting, the Board of Directors shall
have the power to fix, by resolution, the place, date and hour of other regular
meetings of the Board.

      Section 3-4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held whenever ordered by the President, by a majority of the members of
the executive committee, if any, or by a majority of the Directors in office.

      Section 3-5. Notices of Meetings of Board of Directors.

            (a) Regular Meetings. No notice shall be required to be given of any
regular meeting, unless the same be


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

held at other than the time or place for holding such meetings as fixed in
accordance with Section 3-3 of these by-laws, in which event one (1) day's
notice shall be given of the time and place of such meeting.

            (b) Special Meetings. At least one (1) day's notice shall be given
of the time, place and purpose for which any special meeting of the Board of
Directors is to be held.

      Section 3-6. Quorum. A majority of the total number of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority
[of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present] shall be
the act of the Board of Directors. If there be less than a quorum present, a
majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time and place to
place and shall cause notice of each such adjourned meeting to be given to all
absent Directors.

      Section 3-7. Informal Action by the Board of Directors. Any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or
of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the
writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or
committee.

      Section 3-8. Powers.

            (a) General Powers. The Board of Directors shall have all powers
necessary or appropriate to the management of the


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

business and affairs of the Corporation, and, in addition to the power and
authority conferred by these by-laws, may exercise all powers of the Corporation
and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute, these by-laws or
the Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by
the stockholders.

            (b) Specific Powers. Without limiting the general powers conferred
by the last preceding clause and the powers conferred by the Certificate of
Incorporation and by-laws of the Corporation, it is hereby expressly declared
that the Board of Directors shall have the following powers:

                  (i) To confer upon any officer or officers of the Corporation
the power to choose, remove or suspend assistant officers, agents or servants.

                 (ii) To appoint any person, firm or corporation to accept and
hold in trust for the Corporation any property belonging to the Corporation or
in which it is interested, and to authorize any such person, firm or corporation
to execute any documents and perform any duties that may be requisite in
relation to any such trust.

                 (iii) To appoint a person or persons to vote shares of another
corporation held and owned by the Corporation. 

                  (iv) To designate, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
full Board of Directors, one (1) or more of its number to constitute an
executive committee which, to the extent


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

provided in such resolution, subject to the limitations of applicable law, shall
have and may exercise the power of the Board of Directors in the management of
the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the
Corporation to be affixed.

                  (v) To designate, by resolution adopted by a majority of the
full Board of Directors, one (1) or more additional committees, each to consist
of one (1) or more Directors, to have such duties, powers and authority as the
Board of Directors shall determine. All committees of the Board of Directors,
including the executive committee, shall have the authority to adopt their own
rules of procedure. Absent the adoption of specific procedures, the procedures
applicable to the Board of Directors shall also apply to committees thereof.

                 (vi) To fix the place, time and purpose of meetings of
stockholders.

                (vii) To purchase or otherwise acquire for the Corporation any
property, rights or privileges which the Corporation is authorized to acquire,
at such prices, on such terms and conditions and for such consideration as it
shall from time to time see fit, and, at its discretion, to pay any property or
rights acquired by the Corporation, either wholly or partly in money or in
stocks, bonds, debentures or other securities of the Corporation.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

               (viii) To create, make and issue mortgages, bonds, deeds of
trust, trust agreements and negotiable or transferable instruments and
securities, secured by mortgage or otherwise, and to do every other act and
thing necessary to effectuate the same.

                 (ix) To appoint and remove or suspend such subordinate
officers, agents or servants, permanently or temporarily, as it may from time to
time think fit, and to determine their duties, and fix, and from time to time
change, their salaries or emoluments, and to require security in such instances
and in such amounts as it thinks fit.

                  (x) To determine who shall be authorized on the Corporation's
behalf to sign bills, notes, receipts, acceptances, endorsements, checks,
releases, contracts and documents.

      Section 3-9. Compensation of Directors. Compensation of Directors and
reimbursement of their expenses incurred in connection with the business of the
Corporation, if any, shall be as determined from time to time by resolution of
the Board of Directors.

      Section 3-10. Removal of Directors by Stockholders. The entire Board of
Directors or any individual Director may be removed from office without
assigning any cause by the holders of shares entitled to cast two-thirds (2/3)
of all votes entitled to be cast at a meeting duly called for that purpose
(whether or not


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

holders of such shares are present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting). In case the Board of Directors or any one (1) or more Directors be so
removed, new Directors may be elected at the same time.

      Section 3-11. Resignations. Any Director may resign at any time by
submitting his written resignation to the Corporation. Such resignation shall
take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation unless another time be
fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so
fixed. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it
effective.

      Section 3-12. Vacancies. Vacancies and new created directorships resulting
from any increase in the authorized number of Directors elected by all of the
stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a
majority of the Directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining Director, and each person so elected shall be a Director until
his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or
removal.

      Section 3-13. Participation by Conference Telephone. Directors may
participate in regular or special meetings of the Board by telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all other persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute
presence at the meeting.


                                      -13-
<PAGE>

      Section 3-14. Nominations. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2-8
of these by-laws (dealing with business at meetings of stockholders),
nominations for the election of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors,
a committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of record
entitled to vote on the election of Directors who is a stockholder at the record
date of the meeting and also on the date of the meeting at which Directors are
to be elected; provided, however, that with respect to a nomination made by a
stockholder, which stockholder must provide timely written notice to the
Secretary of the Corporation, in accordance with the following requirements:

            (1) To be timely, a stockholder's written notice must be delivered
to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the
Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that
is within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately
preceding annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 120 days prior to the
anniversary of the date that the Corporation's proxy statement was released to
shareholders in connection with the Corporation's immediately preceding annual
meeting, and (ii) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date
that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the
immediately preceding annual meeting, or in the case of a special meeting of
stockholders called for the purpose of electing


                                      -14-
<PAGE>

Directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the
day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure
of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first, except that for the
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such notice must be received by the
Corporation no later than the close of business of November 30, 1997; and

            (2) Each such written notice must set forth: (i) the name and
address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination; (ii) the name and
address of the person or persons to be nominated; (iii) a representation that
the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the
meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (iv) a
description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and
each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the
stockholder; (v) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such
stockholder as would have been required to be included in a proxy statement
filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had
the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of
Directors, and (vi) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the
Corporation if so elected. The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse, in
his


                                      -15-
<PAGE>

or her sole discretion, to acknowledge the nomination of any persons as not made
in compliance with the foregoing procedure.

                              ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

      Section 4-1. Election and Office. The Corporation shall have a President,
a Secretary and a Treasurer who shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may elect such additional officers as it may deem proper,
including a Chairman and a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, one (1) or
more Vice Presidents, and one (1) or more assistant or honorary officers. Any
number of offices may be held by the same person.

      Section 4-2. Term. The President, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall
each serve for a term of one (1) year and until their respective successors are
chosen and qualified, unless removed from office by the Board of Directors
during their respective tenures. The term of office of any other officer shall
be as specified by the Board of Directors.

      Section 4-3. Powers and Duties of the President. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall have the usual duties
of an executive officer with general supervision over and direction of the
affairs of the Corporation. In the exercise of these duties and subject to the
limitations of the laws of the State of Delaware, these by-laws, and the actions
of the Board of Directors, he may appoint, suspend and discharge employees and
agents, shall preside at all


                                      -16-
<PAGE>

meetings of the stockholders at which he shall be present, and, unless there is
a Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall preside at all meetings of the Board
of Directors and, unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, shall be
a member of all committees. He shall also do and perform such other duties as
from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

      Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall
have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act
and to vote at any meeting of the stockholders of any corporation in which the
Corporation may hold stock, and, at any such meeting, shall possess and may
exercise any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such
stock and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have possessed and
exercised.

      Section 4-4. Powers and Duties of the Secretary. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall record all proceedings
of the meetings of the Corporation, the Board of Directors and all committees,
in books to be kept for that purpose, and shall attend to the giving and serving
of all notices for the Corporation. He shall have charge of the corporate seal,
the certificate books, transfer books and stock ledgers, and such other books
and papers as the Board of Directors may direct. He shall perform all other
duties ordinarily incident to the office of Secretary and shall have


                                      -17-
<PAGE>

such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors.

      Section 4-5. Powers and Duties of the Treasurer. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall have charge of all the
funds and securities of the Corporation which may come into his hands. When
necessary or proper, unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, he
shall endorse for collection on behalf of the Corporation checks, notes and
other obligations, and shall deposit the same to the credit of the Corporation
in such banks or depositories as the Board of Directors may designate and shall
sign all receipts and vouchers for payments made to the Corporation. He shall
sign all checks made by the Corporation, except when the Board of Directors
shall otherwise direct. He shall enter regularly, in books of the Corporation to
be kept by him for that purpose, a full and accurate account of all moneys
received and paid by him on account of the Corporation. Whenever required by the
Board of Directors, he shall render a statement of the financial condition of
the Corporation. He shall at all reasonable times exhibit his books and accounts
to any Director of the Corporation, upon application at the office of the
Corporation during business hours. He shall have such other powers and shall
perform such other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the
Board of Directors. He shall give such bond, if any, for the faithful
performance of his duties as shall be required by the


                                      -18-
<PAGE>

Board of Directors and any such bond shall remain in the custody of the
President.

      Section 4-6. Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of Directors. The Chairman of the
Board shall have such other powers and perform such further duties as may be
assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors. To be eligible to serve, the
Chairman of the Board must be a Director of the Corporation.

      Section 4-7. Powers and Duties of Vice Presidents and Assistant Officers.
Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, each Vice President and
each assistant officer shall have the powers and perform the duties of his
respective superior officer. Vice Presidents and assistant officers shall have
such rank as shall be designated by the Board of Directors and each, in the
order of rank, shall act for such superior officer in his absence, or upon his
disability or when so directed by such superior officer or by the Board of
Directors. Vice Presidents may be designated as having responsibility for a
specific aspect of the Corporation's affairs, in which event each such Vice
President shall be superior to the other Vice Presidents in relation to matters
within his aspect. The President shall be the superior officer of the Vice
Presidents. The Treasurer and


                                      -19-
<PAGE>

the Secretary shall be the superior officers of the Assistant Treasurers and
Assistant Secretaries, respectively.

      Section 4-8. Delegation of Office. The Board of Directors may delegate the
powers or duties of any officer of the Corporation to any other officer or to
any Director from time to time.

      Section 4-9. Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have the power to
fill any vacancies in any office occurring from whatever reason.

      Section 4-10. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by
submitting his written resignation to the Corporation. Such resignation shall
take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation, unless another time
be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time
so fixed. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it
effective.

                            ARTICLE V - CAPITAL STOCK

      Section 5-1. Stock Certificates. Shares of the Corporation shall be
represented by certificates signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a)
the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a
Vice President, and (b) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares
registered in certificate form. If such certificate is countersigned (i) by a
transfer agent other than the Corporation


                                      -20-
<PAGE>

or its employee, or (ii) by a registrar other than the Corporation or its
employee, the signatures of the officers of the Corporation may be facsimiles.
In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed
upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate
is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he
were such officer at the date of issue.

      Section 5-2. Determination of Stockholders of Record. The Board of
Directors may fix, in advance, a record date to determine the stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any
adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any
other lawful action. Such date shall be not more than sixty (60) nor less than
ten (10) days before the date of any such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days
prior to any other action.

      If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given,
or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the
day on which the meeting is held.


                                      -21-
<PAGE>

      The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall
be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts
the resolution relating thereto.

      A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.

      Section 5-3. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares shall be made on the
books of the Corporation only upon surrender of the share certificate, duly
endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer, which certificate shall be
canceled at the time of the transfer. No transfer of shares shall be made on the
books of this Corporation if such transfer is in violation of a lawful
restriction noted conspicuously on the certificate.

      Section 5-4. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Share Certificates. The Corporation
may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertified shares in place of any
certificate therefore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen, or
destroyed certificate, or his legal representative to give the Corporation a
bond sufficient to indemnify it against claim that may be made against it on
account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the
issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.


                                      -22-
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE VI - NOTICES

      Section 6-1. Contents of Notice. Whenever any notice of a meeting is
required to be given pursuant to these by-laws or the Certificate of
Incorporation or otherwise, the notice shall specify the place, day and hour of
the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders or where
otherwise required by law, the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is
called.

      Section 6-2. Method of Notice. All notices shall be given to each person
entitled thereto, either personally or by sending a copy thereof through the
mail or by telegraph or telecopier, charges prepaid, to his address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation, or supplied by him to the Corporation
for the purpose of notice. If notice is sent by mail, telegraph or telecopier,
it shall be deemed to have been given to the person entitled thereto when
deposited in the United States Mail or with the telegraph office for
transmission or when confirmation of receipt by telecopier is received. If no
address for a stockholder appears on the books of the Corporation and such
stockholder has not supplied the Corporation with an address for the purpose of
notice, notice deposited in the United States Mail addressed to such stockholder
care of General Delivery in the city in which the principal office of the
Corporation is located shall be sufficient.

      Section 6-3. Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given
under any provision of law or of the


                                      -23-
<PAGE>

Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the Corporation, a written waiver,
signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated
therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the
person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning
of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the
purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, Directors, or
members of a committee of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of
notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

                 ARTICLE VII - INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND
                           OFFICERS AND OTHER PERSONS

      Section 7-1. Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a
party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(hereinafter a "proceeding")(other than an action by or in the right of the
Corporation), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or
she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to
employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such


                                      -24-
<PAGE>

proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or
in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exist or may
hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, the rights of
indemnification provided hereby shall continue as theretofore notwithstanding
such amendment unless such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior
to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person
in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators and personal
representatives, provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any
such indemnitees in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Corporation.

      The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract
right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses
incurred in defending any such


                                      -25-
<PAGE>


proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the
Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred
by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and
not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person
while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an
employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding,
shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on
behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall
ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be
indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The Corporation may, by action of
the Board of Directors, provide indemnification to employees and agents of the
Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of
directors and officers.

      Section 7-2. Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. A claimant may bring suit
against the Corporation under Section 7-1 only if the Corporation fails to pay
in full within 30 days of its receipt of a written claim for payment hereunder.
If successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid
also the expense of prosecuting such claim (including, but not limited to,
attorneys' fees). It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action
brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in
advance of


                                      -26-
<PAGE>

its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has
been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of
conduct that make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for
the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden
of providing such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of
the Corporation (including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or
its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the
Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation
(including the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has
not met the applicable standard of conduct.

      Section 7-3. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The right to indemnification and
the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its
final disposition conferred in this Section shall not be exclusive of any other
right that any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation, by-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.


                                      -27-
<PAGE>

      Section 7-4. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its
expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

                               ARTICLE VIII - SEAL

      The form of the seal of the
Corporation, called the corporate seal             [Form of Seal]
of the Corporation, shall be as im-
pressed adjacent hereto.

                            ARTICLE IX - FISCAL YEAR

      The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on September 30.

                             ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

      These or other by-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the
affirmative vote of shares entitled to cast two-thirds (2/3) of all votes
entitled to cast at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders (whether
or not holders of such shares are present in person or represented by proxy at
such meeting). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall have
the power to adopt, amend or repeal these or other by-laws, except that the
Board of Directors shall not have the power


                                      -28-
<PAGE>

to amend Section 2-7, Section 3-10 or Article X of these by-laws unless such
amendment is adopted by the stockholders in accordance with the previous
sentence. The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the Board of
Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power
to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.

                     ARTICLE XI - INTERPRETATION OF BY-LAWS

      All words, terms and provisions of these by-laws shall be interpreted and
defined by and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as amended, and as amended from time to time hereafter. Any
determination involving interpretation or application of these by-laws made in
good faith by the Board of Directors in a manner consistent with the previous
sentence shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties in interest.


                                      -29-


<PAGE>

                                    LAW OFFICES
                         WOLF, BLOCK, SCHORR and SOLIS-COHEN

                           TWELFTH FLOOR PACKARD BUILDING
                                111 SOUTH 15TH STREET
                              PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102-2678
                                   (215) 977-2000
                              facsimile: (215) 977-2334



                                    May   , 1997



Axiom Inc.
351 New Albany Road
Moorestown, NJ 08057-1177

               Re:   Registration Statement Under
                     The Securities Act of 1933 on Form S-1,
                     File No. 333-25439 (the "Registration Statement")

Dear Sirs:

         As counsel to Axiom Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), we 
have assisted in the preparation of the Registration Statement filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, covering 2,990,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value 
$0.01 per share, consisting of 2,600,000 shares (the"Primary Shares") which 
will be sold to the Underwriters and International Managers named in the 
Registration Statement pursuant to the U.S. Underwriting Agreement and the 
International Underwriting Agreement, each filed as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement (collectively, the "Underwriting Agreements"), and an 
aggregate of 390,000 shares (the "Option Shares") for which the Underwriters 
and International Managers have options to purchase from the Company solely 
to cover over-allotments.

         In this connection, we have examined and considered the original or 
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the 
Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Amended 
Certificate"), its Amended and Restated Bylaws, resolutions of its Board of 
Directors and such other documents and corporate records relating to the 
Company and the issuance and sale of the Primary Shares and Option Shares as 
we have deemed appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion.

          In all examinations of documents, instruments and other pages, we 
have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original and certified 
documents and the conformity to original and certified documents of all 
copies submitted to us as conformed, photostat or other copies.  As to 
matters of fact which have not been independently established, we have relied 
upon representations of officers of the Company.

          Based upon the foregoing examination and the information thus 
supplied, it is our opinion that when the Company files the Amended 
Certificate in the form filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement 
and the Primary Shares and Option Shares are sold to and paid for by the


<PAGE>

Axiom Inc.
May  , 1997
Page 2


Underwriters and the International Managers pursuant to the terms of the 
Underwriting Agreements, such shares will be legally issued, fully paid and 
non-assessable.

          We hereby expressly consent to the reference to our Firm in the 
Registration Statement under the Prospectus caption "Legal Matters," and to 
the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                     Very truly yours,



                                     WOLF, BLOCK SCHORR and SOLIS-COHEN 

<PAGE>


                                   Axiom Inc.

                            1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

      1. Purpose. Axiom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby adopts the Axiom Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive
Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan is intended to recognize the contributions made to
the Company by employees (including employees who are members of the Board of
Directors) of the Company or any Affiliate, to provide such persons with
additional incentive to devote themselves to the future success of the Company
or an Affiliate, and to improve the ability of the Company or an Affiliate to
attract, retain, and motivate individuals upon whom the Company's sustained
growth and financial success depend, by providing such persons with an
opportunity to acquire or increase their proprietary interest in the Company
through receipt of rights to acquire the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value
(the "Common Stock"), and through the transfer or issuance of Common Stock. In
addition, the Plan is intended as an additional incentive to directors of the
Company who are not employees of the Company or an Affiliate to serve on the
Board of Directors and to devote themselves to the future success of the Company
by providing them with an opportunity to acquire or increase their proprietary
interest in the Company through the receipt of rights to acquire Common Stock.
Furthermore, the Plan may be used to encourage consultants and advisors of the
Company to further the success of the Company.

      2. Definitions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

            "Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.

            "Affiliate" shall mean a corporation which is a parent corporation
or a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company within the meaning of
Section 424(e) or (f) of the Code.

            "Award" shall mean a transfer of Common Stock made pursuant to the
terms of the Plan.

            "Award Agreement" shall mean the agreement between the Company and a
Grantee with respect to an Award made pursuant to the Plan.

            "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company.

            "Change of Control" shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 9
of the Plan.

            "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            "Committee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 of the
Plan.
<PAGE>

            "Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of the
Plan.

            "Company" shall mean Axiom Inc., a Delaware corporation.

            "Disability" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code.

            "Employee" shall mean an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

            "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

            "Fair Market Value" shall have the meaning set forth in Subsection
8(b) of the Plan.

            "Grantee" shall mean a person to whom an Award has been granted
pursuant to the Plan.

            "ISO" shall mean an Option granted under the Plan which is intended
to qualify as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422(b)
of the Code.

            "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company who is a "non-employee" of the Company within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3.

            "Non-qualified Stock Option" shall mean an Option granted under the
Plan which is not intended to qualify, or otherwise does not qualify, as an
"incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

            "Option" shall mean either an ISO or a Non-qualified Stock Option
granted under the Plan.

            "Optionee" shall mean a person to whom an Option has been granted
under the Plan, which Option has not been exercised and has not expired or
terminated.

            "Option Document" shall mean the document described in Section 8 of
the Plan, as applicable, which sets forth the terms and conditions of each grant
of Options.

            "Option Price" shall mean the price at which Shares may be purchased
upon exercise of an Option, as calculated pursuant to Subsection 8(b) of the
Plan.


                                       -2-
<PAGE>

            "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act.

            "SAR" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11 of the Plan.

            "Section 16 Person" shall mean any person who is an "officer" or
"director" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange
Act or any successor rule.

            "Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock of the Company which
are the subject of Options or granted as Awards under the Plan.

      3. Administration of the Plan. The Board of Directors may administer the
Plan itself or may designate a committee or committees composed of two or more
of members of the Board of Directors. At the discretion of the Board of
Directors, a separate committee may be designated consisting of two or more
Non-Employee Directors to operate and administer the Plan with respect to only
Section 16 Persons, while appointing another committee or itself to administer
the Plan with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in the Plan.
Any such committee or committees designated by the Board of Directors, and the
Board of Directors itself in its administrative capacity with respect to the
Plan, is referred to as the "Committee."

            (a) Meetings. The Committee shall hold meetings at such times and
places as it may determine, shall keep minutes of its meetings, and shall adopt,
amend and revoke such rules or procedures as it may deem proper; provided,
however, that it may take action only upon the agreement of a majority of the
whole Committee. Any action which the Committee shall take through a written
instrument signed by a majority of its members shall be as effective as though
it had been taken at a meeting duly called and held.

            (b) Indemnification. Service on the Committee shall constitute
service as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. Each member of the
Committee shall be entitled, without further act on his or her part, to
indemnity from the Company and limitation of liability to the fullest extent
provided by applicable law and by the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
and/or By-laws in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or
proceeding with respect to the administration of the Plan or the granting of
Options thereunder in which he or she may be involved by reason of his or her
being or having been a member of the Committee, whether or not he or she
continues to be such member of the Committee at the time of the action, suit or
proceeding.

            (c) Interpretation. The Committee shall have the power and authority
to interpret the Plan and to adopt rules and regulations for its administration
that are not inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan. Any such actions
by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties in
interest.


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

      4. Grants under the Plan. Grants under the Plan may be in the form of a
Non-qualified Stock Option, an ISO or a combination thereof, at the discretion
of the Committee.

      5. Eligibility. All Employees, members of the Board of Directors and
consultants and advisors to the Company shall be eligible to receive Options and
Awards hereunder. Consultants and advisors shall be eligible only if they render
bona fide services to the Company unrelated to the offer or sale of securities;
provided, however, that the limitation contained in this sentence shall not
apply to the extent that the inapplicability of such limitation will not
disqualify the Common Stock from being eligible for registration on Form S-8 (or
any successor form) under the Act. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine whether an individual qualifies as an employee.

      6. Shares Subject to Plan. The aggregate maximum number of Shares for 
which Awards or Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan is Four Hundred 
Fifty Thousand (450,000). The number of Shares which may be issued under the 
Plan shall be further subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10. The 
Shares shall be issued from authorized and unissued Common Stock or Common 
Stock held in or hereafter acquired for the treasury of the Company. If an 
Option terminates or expires without having been fully exercised for any 
reason or if Shares subject to an Award have been conveyed back to the Company 
pursuant to the terms of an Award Agreement, the Shares for which the Option 
was not exercised or the Shares that were conveyed back to the Company may 
again be the subject of one or more Options or Awards granted pursuant to the 
Plan.

      7. Term of the Plan. The Plan is effective as of April 15, 1997, the 
date on which it was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by its 
sole stockholder. No ISO may be granted under the Plan after April 15, 2007.

      8. Option Documents and Terms. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be
a Non-qualified Stock Option unless the Option shall be specifically designated
at the time of grant to be an ISO for Federal income tax purposes. If any Option
designated an ISO is determined for any reason not to qualify as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, such Option shall be
treated as a Non-qualified Stock Option for all purposes under the provisions of
the Plan. Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by the Option
Documents in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, which
Option Documents shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions and such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time
to time require which are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

            (a) Number of Option Shares. Each Option Document shall state the
number of Shares to which it pertains. An Optionee may receive more than one
Option, which may include Options which are intended to be ISO's and Options
which are not intended to be ISO's, but only on the terms and subject to the
conditions and restrictions of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, no Optionee shall be granted Options during


                                       -4-
<PAGE>

one fiscal year of the Company for more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand 
(150,000) Shares (such number to be subject to adjustment in accordance with 
Section 10).

            (b) Option Price. Each Option Document shall state the Option Price
which, for a Non-qualified Stock Option, may be less than, equal to, or greater
than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is granted and,
for an ISO, shall be at least 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the
date the Option is granted as determined by the Committee in accordance with
this Subsection 8(b); provided, however, that if an ISO is granted to an
Optionee who then owns, directly or by attribution under Section 424(d) of the
Code, shares possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or an Affiliate, then the Option Price
shall be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the
Option is granted. If the Common Stock is traded in a public market, then the
Fair Market Value per share shall be, if the Common Stock is listed on a
national securities exchange or included in the NASDAQ System, the last reported
sale price thereof for the "Valuation Date" (as hereinafter defined), or, if the
Common Stock is not so listed or included, the mean between the last reported
"bid" and "asked" prices thereof on the Valuation Date, as reported on NASDAQ
or, if not so reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc.
or as reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as
the Committee determines. If the Common Stock is not traded in a public market,
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee. For
purposes of the determination of Fair Market Value under this Section 8(b), the
Valuation Date shall be the immediately preceding business day unless the
transaction with respect to which Fair Market Value is being determined occurs
following the closing of the exchange, the NASDAQ System, NASDAQ or the
financial reporting service, as applicable, in which case the Valuation Date
shall be the date on which the transaction occurs.

            (c) Exercise. No Option shall be deemed to have been exercised prior
to the receipt by the Company of written notice of such exercise and (unless
arrangements satisfactory to the Company have been made for payment through a
broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation P of the Federal
Reserve Board) of payment in full of the Option Price for the Shares to be
purchased. Each such notice shall specify the number of Shares to be purchased
and shall (unless the Shares are covered by a then current registration
statement or a Notification under Regulation A under the Act), contain the
Optionee's acknowledgment in form and substance satisfactory to the Company that
(a) such Shares are being purchased for investment and not for distribution or
resale (other than a distribution or resale which, in the opinion of counsel
satisfactory to the Company, may be made without violating the registration
provisions of the Act), (b) the Optionee has been advised and understands that
(i) the Shares have not been registered under the Act and are "restricted
securities" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Act and are subject to
restrictions on transfer and (ii) the Company is under no obligation to register
the Shares under the Act or to take any action which would make available to the
Optionee any exemption from such registration, (c) such Shares may not be
transferred without compliance with all applicable federal and state securities
laws, and (d) an appropriate legend referring to the foregoing restrictions on
transfer and any other restrictions imposed under the Option Documents may be
endorsed on the certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the


                                       -5-
<PAGE>

Company determines that issuance of Shares should be delayed pending (A)
registration under federal or state securities laws, (B) the receipt of an
opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company that an appropriate exemption
from such registration is available, (C) the listing or inclusion of the Shares
on any securities exchange or an automated quotation system or (D) the consent
or approval of any governmental regulatory body whose consent or approval is
necessary in connection with the issuance of such Shares, the Company may defer
exercise of any Option granted hereunder until any of the events described in
this sentence has occurred.

            (d) Medium of Payment. Subject to the terms of the applicable Option
Document, an Optionee shall pay for Shares (i) in cash, (ii) by certified or
cashier's check payable to the order of the Company, or (iii) by such other mode
of payment as the Committee may approve, including payment through a broker in
accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation P of the Federal Reserve
Board. The Optionee may also exercise the Option in any manner contemplated by
Section 11. Furthermore, the Committee may provide in an Option Document that
payment may be made in whole or in part in shares of the Company's Common Stock
held by the Optionee. If payment is made in whole or in part in shares of the
Company's Common Stock, then the Optionee shall deliver to the Company
certificates registered in the name of such Optionee representing the shares
owned by such Optionee, free of all liens, claims and encumbrances of every kind
and having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of delivery that is at
least as great as the Option Price of the Shares (or relevant portion thereof)
with respect to which such Option is to be exercised by the payment in shares of
Common Stock, endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed in
blank by the Optionee. In the event that certificates for shares of the
Company's Common Stock delivered to the Company represent a number of shares in
excess of the number of shares required to make payment for the Option Price of
the Shares (or relevant portion thereof) with respect to which such Option is to
be exercised by payment in shares of Common Stock, the stock certificate or
certificates issued to the Optionee shall represent (i) the Shares in respect of
which payment is made, and (ii) such excess number of shares. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Committee may impose from time to time such limitations and
prohibitions on the use of shares of the Common Stock to exercise an Option as
it deems appropriate.

            (e) Termination of Options.

                  (i) No Option shall be exercisable after the first to occur of
the following:

                        (A) Expiration of the Option term specified in the
Option Document, which, in the case of an ISO, shall not occur after (1) ten
years from the date of grant, or (2) five years from the date of grant if the
Optionee on the date of grant owns, directly or by attribution under Section
424(d) of the Code, shares possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of an Affiliate;


                                       -6-
<PAGE>

                        (B) Except to the extent otherwise provided in an
Optionee's Option Document, a finding by the Committee, after full consideration
of the facts presented on behalf of both the Company and the Optionee, that the
Optionee has been engaged in disloyalty to the Company or an Affiliate,
including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission of a
felony or proven dishonesty in the course of the Optionee's employment or
service, or has disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of the
Company or an Affiliate. In such event, in addition to immediate termination of
the Option, the Optionee shall automatically forfeit all Shares for which the
Company has not yet delivered the share certificates upon refund by the Company
of the Option Price. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Company may withhold delivery of share certificates pending the resolution of
any inquiry that could lead to a finding resulting in a forfeiture;

                        (C) The date, if any, set by the Board of Directors as
an accelerated expiration date in the event of the liquidation or dissolution of
the Company;

                        (D) The occurrence of such other event or events as may
be set forth in the Option Document as causing an accelerated expiration of the
Option; or

                        (E) Except as otherwise set forth in the Option Document
and subject to the foregoing provisions of this Subsection 8(e), three months
after the Optionee's employment or service with the Company or its Affiliates
terminates for any reason other than Disability or death or one year after such
termination due to Optionee's Disability or death. With respect to this
Subsection 8(e)(i)(E), the only Options that may be exercised during the
three-month or one-year period, as the case may be, are Options which were
exercisable on the last date of such employment or service and not Options
which, if the Optionee were still employed or rendering service during such
three-month or one-year period, would become exercisable, unless the Option
Document specifically provides to the contrary. The terms of an executive
severance agreement or other agreement between the Company and an Optionee,
approved by the Committee, whether entered into prior or subsequent to the grant
of an Option, which provide for Option exercise dates later than those set forth
in Subsection 8(e)(i) shall be deemed to be Option terms approved by the
Committee and consented to by the Optionee.

                  (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may extend
the period during which all or any portion of an Option may be exercised to a
date no later than the Option term specified in the Option Document pursuant to
Subsection 8(e)(i)(A), provided that any change pursuant to this Subsection
8(e)(ii) which would cause an ISO to become a Non-qualified Stock Option may be
made only with the consent of the Optionee.

                  (iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
the Plan or an Option Document, an ISO shall be treated as a Non-qualified Stock
Option to the extent such ISO is exercised at any time after the expiration of
the time period permitted under the Code for the exercise of an ISO.


                                       -7-
<PAGE>

                  (f) Transfers. No Option granted under the Plan may be
transferred, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution except as
otherwise set forth in the Option Document or to the extent that the Committee
otherwise determines.

                  (g) Limitation on ISO Grants. To the extent that the aggregate
fair market value of the shares of Common Stock (determined at the time the ISO
is granted) with respect to which ISO's under all incentive stock option plans
of the Company or its Affiliates are exercisable for the first time by the
Optionee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such ISO's shall, to the
extent of such excess, be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options.

                  (h) Other Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
the Option Documents shall contain such other provisions including, without
limitation, provisions authorizing the Committee to accelerate the
exercisability of all or any portion of an Option granted pursuant to the Plan,
additional restrictions upon the exercise of the Option or additional
limitations upon the term of the Option, as the Committee shall deem advisable.

                  (i) Amendment. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have the right to amend any Option Document or Award Agreement
issued to an Optionee or Award holder, subject to the Optionee's or Award
holder's consent if such amendment is not favorable to the Optionee or Award
holder, or if such amendment has the effect of changing an ISO to a
Non-Qualified Stock Option, except that the consent of the Optionee or Award
holder shall not be required for any amendment made pursuant to Subsection
8(e)(i)(C) or Section 9 of the Plan, as applicable.

      9. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Committee
may take whatever actions it deems necessary or desirable with respect to any of
the Options outstanding which need not be treated identically, including,
without limitation, accelerating (a) the expiration or termination date in the
respective Option Documents to a date no earlier than thirty (30) days after
notice of such acceleration is given to the Optionees, and/or (b) the
exercisability of the Option.

                  A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon
the earliest to occur of the following events:

      (i) any "person" as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any
"person" (as hereinabove defined) acting on behalf of the Company as underwriter
pursuant to an offering who is temporarily holding securities in connection with
such offering, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company, or any "person" (as hereinabove defined)
who, on the date the Plan is effective, shall have been the "beneficial owner"
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of or have voting control over
shares of capital stock of the Company possessing more than twenty-five percent
(25%) of the


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities) is or
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as hereinabove defined), directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of
the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities;

      (ii) during any period of not more than two consecutive years (not
including any period prior to the date the Plan is effective), individuals who
at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors, and any new
director (other than a director designated by a "person" (as hereinabove
defined) who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 9) whose
election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or
whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for
any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

      (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of
the Company with any other corporation or other legal entity, other than (1) a
merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation or (2) a merger or consolidation
effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction)
in which no "person" (as hereinabove defined) (other than a "person" who, on the
date the Plan is effective, shall have been the "beneficial owner" (as
hereinabove defined) of or have voting control over shares of capital stock of
the Company possessing more than twenty five percent (25%) of the combined
voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities) acquires more than
twenty-five percent (25%) of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities;

      (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (or any transaction
having a similar effect); or

      (v) a "change of control" (as may hereinafter be defined by the Board of
Directors for the express purposes of this Plan) has occurred.

      10. Adjustments on Changes in Capitalization.

            (a) In the event that the outstanding Shares are changed by reason
of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification,
stock split-up, combination or exchange of shares and the like (not including
the issuance of Common Stock on


                                       -9-
<PAGE>

the conversion of other securities of the Company which are convertible into
Common Stock) or dividends payable in Shares, an equitable adjustment shall be
made by the Committee in the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan
and in the number of Shares and price per Share subject to outstanding Options.
Unless the Committee makes other provisions for the equitable settlement of
outstanding Options, if the Company shall be reorganized, consolidated, or
merged with another corporation or other legal entity, or if all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be sold or exchanged, an
Optionee shall at the time of issuance of the stock under such corporate event
be entitled to receive upon the exercise of his or her Option the same number
and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities
as he or she would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of any such
corporate event as if he or she had been, immediately prior to such event, the
holder of the number of Shares covered by his or her Option.

            (b) Any adjustment under this Section 10 in the number of Shares
subject to Options shall apply proportionately to only the unexercised portion
of any Option granted hereunder. If fractions of a Share would result from any
such adjustment, the adjustment shall be revised to the next lower whole number
of Shares.

            (c) The Committee shall have authority to determine the adjustments
to be made under this Section, and any such determination by the Committee shall
be final, binding and conclusive.

      11. Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs).

            (a) In General. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the
Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, grant to an Optionee the
right to surrender an Option to the Company, in whole or in part, and to receive
in exchange therefor payment by the Company of an amount equal to the excess of
the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, or
portion thereof, so surrendered (determined in the manner described in section
8(b) as of the date the SARs are exercised) over the exercise price to acquire
such shares (which right shall be referred to as an "SAR"). Except as may
otherwise be provided in an Option Document, such payment may be made, as
determined by the Committee in accordance with subsection 11(c) below and set
forth in the Option Document, either in shares of Common Stock or in cash or in
any combination thereof.

            (b) Grant. Each SAR shall relate to a specific Option granted under
the Plan and shall be granted to the Optionee concurrently with the grant of
such Option by inclusion of appropriate provisions in the Option Document
pertaining thereto. The number of SARs granted to an Optionee shall not exceed
the number of shares of Common Stock which such Optionee is entitled to purchase
pursuant to the related Option. The number of SARs held by an Optionee shall be
reduced by (i) the number of SARs exercised under the provisions of the


                                      -10-
<PAGE>

Option Document pertaining to the related Option, and (ii) the number of shares
of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the related Option.

            (c) Payment. The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine
whether payment in respect of SARs granted to any Optionee shall be made in
shares of Common Stock, or in cash, or in a combination thereof. If payment is
made in Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock which shall be issued
pursuant to the exercise of SARs shall be determined by dividing (i) the total
number of SARs being exercised, multiplied by the amount by which the Fair
Market Value (as determined under section 8(b)) of a share of Common Stock on
the exercise date exceeds the exercise price for shares covered by the related
Option, by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise
date of the SARs. No fractional share of Common Stock shall be issued on
exercise of an SAR; cash may be paid by the Company to the individual exercising
an SAR in lieu of any such fractional share. If payment on exercise of an SAR is
to be made in cash, the individual exercising the SAR shall receive in respect
of each share to which such exercise relates an amount of money equal to the
difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
exercise date and the exercise price for shares covered by the related Option.

            (d) Limitations. SARs shall be exercisable at such times and under
such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion,
shall determine; provided, however, that an SAR may be exercised only at such
times and by such individuals as the related Option under the Plan and the
Option Agreement may be exercised.

      12. Terms and Conditions of Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be evidenced by written Award Agreements in such form as the Committee
shall from time to time approve, which Award Agreements shall comply with and be
subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and
conditions which the Committee may from time to time require which are not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

            (a) Number of Shares. Each Award Agreement shall state the number of
shares of Common Stock to which it pertains.

            (b) Purchase Price. Each Award Agreement shall specify the purchase
price, if any, which applies to the Award. If the Board specifies a purchase
price, the Grantee shall be required to make payment on or before the date
specified in the Award Agreement. A Grantee shall pay for Shares (i) in cash,
(ii) by certified check payable to the order of the Company, or (iii) by such
other mode of payment as the Committee may approve.

            (c) Grant. In the case of an Award which provides for a grant of
Shares without any payment by the Grantee, the grant shall take place on the
date specified in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Award which provides
for a payment, the grant shall take place on the date the initial payment is
delivered to the Company, unless the Committee or the Award Agreement otherwise
specifies. Stock certificates evidencing Shares granted pursuant to


                                      -11-
<PAGE>

an Award shall be issued in the sole name of the Grantee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, as a precondition to a grant, the Company may require an
acknowledgment by the Grantee as required with respect to Options under Section
8.

            (d) Conditions. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement any
conditions under which the Grantee of that Award shall be required to convey to
the Company the Shares covered by the Award. Upon the occurrence of any such
specified condition, the Grantee shall forthwith surrender and deliver to the
Company the certificates evidencing such Shares as well as completely executed
instruments of conveyance. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide that
certificates for Shares transferred pursuant to an Award be held in escrow by
the Company or an officer of the Company until such time as each and every
condition has lapsed and that the Grantee be required, as a condition of the
Award, to deliver to such escrow agent or Company officer stock powers covering
the Award Shares duly endorsed by the Grantee. Unless otherwise provided in the
Award Agreement, distributions made on Shares held in escrow will be deposited
in escrow, to be distributed to the party becoming entitled to the Shares on
which the distribution was made. Stock certificates evidencing Shares subject to
conditions shall bear a legend to the effect that the Common Stock evidenced
thereby is subject to repurchase or conveyance to the Company in accordance with
an Award made under the Plan and that the Shares may not be sold or otherwise
transferred.

            (e) Lapse of Conditions. Upon termination or lapse of each and every
forfeiture condition, if any, the Company shall cause certificates without the
legend referring to the Company's repurchase right (but with any other legends
that may be appropriate) evidencing the Shares covered by the Award to be issued
to the Grantee upon the Grantee's surrender of the legended certificates held by
him or her to the Company.

            (f) Rights as Stockholder. Upon payment of the purchase price, if
any, for Shares covered by an Award and compliance with the acknowledgment
requirement of subsection 12(c), the Grantee shall have all of the rights of a
stockholder with respect to the Shares covered thereby, including the right to
vote the Shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made
with respect thereto, except to the extent otherwise provided by the Committee
or in the Award Agreement.

      13. Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company may amend
the Plan from time to time in such manner as it may deem advisable.
Nevertheless, the Board of Directors of the Company may not change the class of
individuals eligible to receive an ISO or increase the maximum number of Shares
as to which Options may be granted or the maximum number of Shares as to which
Options may be granted to any one employee during one fiscal year of the Company
without obtaining approval, within twelve months before or after such action, by
the stockholders in the manner required by applicable state law. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Committee may, at its sole discretion,
amend the Plan and any outstanding Option or Award to (i) eliminate any
provision it determines is no longer


                                      -12-
<PAGE>

required to comply with Rule 16b-3 as a result of revisions to Rule 16b-3 which
are generally effective after the date the Plan is effective or (ii) provide the
holder of the Option or Award an exemption from potential liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

      14. No Commitment to Retain. The grant of an Option or Award pursuant to
the Plan shall not be construed to imply or to constitute evidence of any
agreement, express or implied, on the part of the Company or any Affiliate to
retain the Optionee or Grantee as an employee, consultant or advisor of the
Company or any Affiliate, as a member of the Board of Directors or in any other
capacity.

      15. Withholding of Taxes. In connection with any event relating to an
Option or Award, the Company shall have the right to (a) require the recipient
to remit or otherwise make available to the Company an amount sufficient to
satisfy any federal, state and/or local withholding tax requirements prior to
the delivery or transfer of any certificate or certificates for such Shares or
(b) take whatever other action it deems necessary to protect its interests with
respect to tax liabilities. The Company's obligations under the Plan shall be
conditioned on the Optionee's or Grantee's compliance, to the Company's
satisfaction, with any withholding requirement.

      16. Interpretation. The Plan is intended to enable transactions under the
Plan with respect to directors to satisfy the conditions of Rule 16b-3; to the
extent that any provision of the Plan would cause a conflict with such
conditions or would cause the administration of the Plan as provided in Section
3 to fail to satisfy the conditions of Rule 16b-3, such provision shall be
deemed null and void to the extent permitted by applicable law. This section
shall not be applicable if no class of the Company's equity securities is then
registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.


                                      -13-


<PAGE>
                   INTERNATIONAL MARKETING SERVICES AGREEMENT


            THIS INTERNATIONAL MARKETING SERVICES AGREEMENT (this 
"Agreement"), effective as of ______________, 1997, is entered into by and 
between AXIOM INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), 
and SECURICOR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, an English corporation (together with 
its subsidiaries, "Securicor").


                                    RECITALS

            WHEREAS, Securicor owns a substantial portion of the capital stock
of the Company; and

            WHEREAS, Securicor desires to offer the Company the ability to
obtain certain international marketing services that Securicor is able to
provide to its portfolio companies in a cost effective manner.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
terms and conditions stated below, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Securicor and the
Company, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

SECTION 1:  SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY SECURICOR

            In consideration of the fees set forth in Section 2, Securicor
agrees to perform such international marketing services for the Company as the
Company may from time to time request, including, without limitation, business
development and other marketing services performed by designated Securicor
personnel as described more fully on Schedule A attached hereto. Securicor shall
be responsible for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it and its personnel
in connection with the performance of such services hereunder.

SECTION 2:  FEES

            The Company shall pay an annual fee of $160,000 to Securicor for the
services provided pursuant to this Agreement. Such fee shall be paid in twelve
equal monthly installments in arrears, with the first $13,333 installment being
due and payable on ________________, 1997. All payments shall be made by means
of inter-Company transfers through the payment system operated by Securicor.

SECTION 3:  EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES.

            In the event Securicor is required to perform any services not
specifically contemplated in Section 1 of this Agreement or undertake an
extraordinary project in carrying out those services, Securicor and the Company
shall, in good faith, negotiate an additional fee
<PAGE>

which shall be paid to Securicor by the Company, and in the event the parties
are unable to agree upon the amount of such extra fee, Securicor shall not be
obligated to perform such additional services.

SECTION 4:  SECURICOR'S PERFORMANCE STANDARD.

            Securicor shall perform all of its obligations set forth in Section
1 with all due care, in a commercially reasonable manner, and in a manner
consistent with its own administrative practices and standards or the standards
prevailing in the telecommunications industry, whichever standard of conduct is
more stringent.

SECTION 5:  COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

            Each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party
that all of its practices and acts in connection with this Agreement are and at
all times will be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local
laws, statutes, rules and regulations.

SECTION 6:  LIABILITY.

                  (a) Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
Securicor harmless from all claims and liabilities (including reasonable
attorney's fees) incurred or assessed against it in connection with the
performance of services, except such as may arise from Securicor's own negligent
action, negligent failure to act, willful misconduct or willful violation of
applicable law.

                  (b) No Personal Liability. No liability shall attain in favor
of one party to this Agreement against any officer, director or employee of the
other party. The party attaining such liability agrees to look solely to the
assets of the other party for satisfaction.

SECTION 7:  TERM.

            This Agreement shall extend for an initial term beginning on the
effective date of this Agreement and ending on September 30, 1997 and shall be
automatically renewed for additional six-month periods unless written notice of
termination is given by either party to the other at least 30 days prior to the
end of such initial period or any subsequent renewal period.

SECTION 8:  INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS OF SECURICOR.

            The relationship of Securicor to the Company is that of independent
contractor. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting a partnership,
joint venture or agency between Securicor and the Company.

SECTION  9: CONFIDENTIALITY.
<PAGE>

            It is understood between the parties hereto that during the term of
this Agreement, each of the parties may be dealing with confidential information
and processes which are the other party's property, used in the course of its
respective business. Each of the parties agrees that it will not intentionally
disclose any such confidential information to anyone, directly or indirectly,
without the prior consent of the other party.

SECTION 10: MISCELLANEOUS.

                  (a) No Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by
either party without the prior written consent of the other party, which,
because of the nature of the parties' respective obligations hereunder, may be
declined by such party for any reason or no reason.

                  (b) Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
effective when delivered in person or sent by facsimile, cable, telegram or
telex, or by overnight courier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, to the following addresses:

                        If to Securicor:

                              Securicor Communications Limited
                              Sutton Park House
                              15 Carshalton Road
                              Sutton Surrey  SM1 4LD
                              UNITED KINGDOM
                              Attention:  Angus Gribbon
                              Telephone:  011-44-1-817-722-2710
                              Telecopier: 011-44-1-817-770-1145

                        If to the Company:


                              AXIOM Inc.
                              351 New Albany Road
                              Moorestown, New Jersey 080507-1177
                              USA
                              Attention:  Andrew P. Maunder
                              Telephone:  1-609-866-1000
                              Telecopier: 1-609-778-0836


                  (c) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, and the
observance of any term hereof may be waived (either prospectively or
retroactively and either generally or in a particular instance) only by a
written document signed by authorized representatives of the parties hereto.
<PAGE>

                  (d) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey. Any and all
legal actions brought by one party against the other shall be brought in the
state or federal courts of the State of New Jersey.

                  (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior oral or
written understandings and agreements between the parties regarding the subject
matter addressed in this Agreement.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date specified at the
beginning hereof.

                                          AXIOM INC.

                                          By:___________________________________
                                             Andrew P. Maunder, President

                                          SECURICOR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

                                          By:___________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:


<PAGE>
                               SERVICES AGREEMENT


            THIS SERVICES AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), effective as of May 23,
1997, is entered into by and between AXIOM INC., a Delaware corporation 
(the "Company"), and SECURICOR 3NET, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Securicor 
3Net").


                                    RECITALS

            WHEREAS, prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Company
and Securicor 3Net were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Securicor plc (together
with its subsidiaries "Securicor");

            WHEREAS, the Company is contemplating a public offering of its
Common Stock (the "Offering") and upon the completion of the Offering the
Company will no longer be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor; and

            WHEREAS, the Company leases a certain office building known as 351
New Albany Road, Moorestown, New Jersey 08057 (collectively with any new
headquarters offices, the "Premises"); and

            WHEREAS, prior to the effective date of this Agreement, certain of
Securicor 3Net's employees and independent contractors ("3Net Personnel") have
used office facilities on the Premises and the Company has provided certain
administrative services (the "Services") to such personnel and to Securicor
3Net, including primarily accounting and financial, general management, human
resources, reception and secretarial assistance services, in consideration of
which Securicor 3Net has paid the Company varying amounts per month by means of
inter-company transfers through a payment system operated by Securicor (the
"Securicor Payment System"); and

            WHEREAS, Securicor 3Net desires that 3Net Personnel be able to
continue to use the Premises and continue to benefit from the Services and the
Company desires to make available the Premises and the Services to Securicor
3Net and 3Net Personnel on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the
terms and conditions stated below, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Securicor 3Net and
the Company, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

SECTION 1:  USE AND OCCUPANCY OF THE PREMISES

            During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall permit 3Net
Personnel to use and occupy a portion of the Premises for general office
purposes in a manner consistent with
<PAGE>

the past practices of the parties. The Company shall operate and manage the
Premises, and shall have authority to establish reasonable operating procedures
concerning the use and occupancy of the Premises. 3Net Personnel shall conform
their use and occupancy of the Premises to such reasonable operating procedures
as the Company shall establish.

SECTION 2:  ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY THE COMPANY

            The Company agrees to perform such Services as Securicor 3Net may
from time to time request in a manner consistent with the past practices of the
parties.

SECTION 3:  FEES

                  (a) Use of Premises. In consideration of the use by 3Net
Personnel of the Premises, Securicor 3Net shall pay, in accordance with
subsection (c) below, the Company a fee of $800 per month for each 3Net
Personnel assigned to the Premises on the fifteenth (15th) day of each calendar
month. The fee shall include all allocable facilities costs including rent,
utilities, building services and telecommunications and Securicor 3Net shall not
be obligated to pay any additional amounts to the Company as reimbursement for
such costs.

                  (b) Administrative Services. In consideration of the Company
providing the Services specified in Section 2 above, Securicor 3Net shall pay
the Company a fee of $5,000 per month in accordance with subsection (c) below.

                  (c) Payment. All fees payable hereunder shall be chargeable in
arrears on the last day of each calendar month during the Term of this
Agreement. Payment shall be made by means of the Securicor Payment System. Any
amounts due to the Company that have not been credited to the Company through
the Securicor Payment System prior to thirty (30) days after the date on which
payment originally was due shall accrue interest at the standard rate in effect
with respect to inter-company borrowing through the Securicor Payment System.

                  (d) 3Net's Direct Expenditures. All expenditures specifically
authorized by 3Net Personnel shall be treated by the Company as expenses of
Securicor 3Net and shall be applied directly to the books of Securicor 3Net.

SECTION 4:  EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES.

            In the event the Company is required to perform any services not
specifically contemplated in Section 2 of this Agreement or undertake an
extraordinary project in carrying out those services, Securicor 3Net and the
Company shall, in good faith, negotiate an additional fee which shall be paid to
the Company by Securicor 3Net, and in the event the parties are unable to agree
upon the amount of such extra fee, the Company shall not be obligated to perform
such additional services.

SECTION 5:  THE COMPANY'S PERFORMANCE STANDARD.
<PAGE>

            The Company shall perform the administrative services set forth in
Section 2 with all due care, in a commercially reasonable manner, and in a
manner consistent with its own administrative practices and standards or the
standards.

SECTION 6:  COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

            Each party represents, warrants and covenants to the other party
that all of its practices and acts in connection with this Agreement are and at
all times will be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local
laws, statutes, rules and regulations.

SECTION 7:  LIABILITY.

                  (a) Indemnification. Securicor 3Net agrees to indemnify and
hold the Company harmless from all claims and liabilities (including reasonable
attorney's fees) incurred or assessed against it in connection with its use of
the Premises and the Company's performance of Services, except such as may arise
from the Company's own negligent action, negligent failure to act, willful
misconduct or willful violation of applicable law.

                  (b) No Personal Liability. No liability shall attain in favor
of one party to this Agreement against any officer, director or employee of the
other party. The party attaining such liability agrees to look solely to the
assets of the other party for satisfaction.

SECTION 8:  TERM.

            The initial term of this Agreement shall begin on the effective date
of this Agreement and expire on September 30, 1997 and shall be automatically
renewed for additional one-year periods unless written notice of termination is
given by either party to the other at least 15 days prior to the end of the
initial period or any subsequent renewal period, subject to the right of either
party to terminate this Agreement at any time upon 90 days' prior written notice
to the other.

SECTION 9:  INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS OF THE COMPANY.

            The relationship of the Company to Securicor 3Net is that of
independent contractor. Nothing herein shall be construed as constituting a
partnership, joint venture or agency between the Company and the Securicor 3Net.

SECTION 10: CONFIDENTIALITY.

            It is understood between the parties hereto that during the term of
this Agreement, each of the parties may be dealing with confidential information
and processes which are the other party's property, used in the course of its
respective business. Each of the parties agrees that it will not intentionally
disclose any such confidential information to anyone, directly or indirectly,
without the prior consent of the other party.
<PAGE>

SECTION 11: MISCELLANEOUS.

                  (a) No Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by
either party without the prior written consent of the other party, which,
because of the nature of the parties' respective obligations hereunder, may be
declined by such party for any reason or no reason.

                  (b) Notices. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
effective when delivered in person or sent by facsimile, cable, telegram or
telex, or by overnight courier or registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, to the following addresses:

                        If to Securicor 3Net:

                              c/o Securicor Communications Ltd.
                              Sutton Park House
                              15 Carshalton Road
                              Sutton Surrey  SM1 4LD
                              UNITED KINGDOM
                              Attention:  Angus Gribbon
                              Telephone:  011-44-1-817-722-2710
                              Telecopier:  011-44-1-817-770-1145

                        If to the Company:


                              Axiom Inc.
                              351 New Albany Road
                              Moorestown, New Jersey 080507-1177
                              USA
                              Attention:  Andrew P. Maunder
                              Telephone:  1-609-866-1000
                              Telecopier:  1-609-778-0836


                  (c) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, and the
observance of any term hereof may be waived (either prospectively or
retroactively and either generally or in a particular instance) only by a
written document signed by authorized representatives of the parties hereto.

                  (d) Choice of Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey. Any and all
legal actions brought by one party against the other shall be brought in the
state or federal courts of the State of New Jersey.
<PAGE>

                  (d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior oral or
written understandings and agreements between the parties regarding the subject
matter addressed in this Agreement.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed and delivered, effective as of the date specified at the
beginning hereof.


                                          AXIOM INC.



                                          By:___________________________________
                                             Andrew P. Maunder, President

                                          SECURICOR 3NET, INC.


                                          By:___________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:


<PAGE>
                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT



            This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, effective as of the 
___________ day of _____________, 1997, by and between AXIOM INC., a Delaware 
corporation (the "Company"), and SECURICOR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED, a company 
organized under the laws of England and Wales ("Securicor").



                                    RECITALS

            WHEREAS, prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Company
was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Securicor; and

            WHEREAS, concurrently with the effective date of this Agreement, the
Company has proposed to complete an initial public offering (the "Offering") of
its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"); and

            WHEREAS, upon the completion of the Offering, Securicor will own
_______ shares of the Common Stock (the "Shares"), representing approximately
[60%] of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding; and

            WHEREAS, the Company and Securicor desire that this Agreement govern
the rights of Securicor to cause the Company to register the Shares and certain
other matters as set forth herein.

            1. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings indicated:

                  (a) The term "Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                  (b) The term "Holder" means Securicor and any assignee of the
registration rights set forth in this Agreement in accordance with Section 10 of
this Agreement.

                  (c) The term "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

                  (d) The term "register", "registered," and "registration"
refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration
statement in compliance with the Act, and the declaration or ordering by the SEC
of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

                  (e) The term "Registration Stock" means (i) the Shares and
(ii) any Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion
or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a
dividend or other distribution with respect
<PAGE>

to, or in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares, excluding in all cases,
however, any Registration Stock sold by a person in a transaction in which such
person's rights under this Agreement are not assigned.

                  (f) The term "SEC" means the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission.

            2. Piggyback Registration.

                  If the Company shall seek to register under the Act any Common
Stock (except shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any stock option
plan, stock purchase plan, savings, dividend reinvestment or similar plan or an
acquisition, merger or exchange of stock) and if the form of registration
statement proposed to be used may be used for the registration of the
Registration Stock, then, on each such occasion, the Company shall furnish
Holder with at least twenty (20) days prior written notice thereof. At the
written request of Holder, given within twenty (20) days after the receipt of
such notice, the Company will use its best efforts to cause all of the
Registration Stock for which registration shall have been requested by Holder to
be included in such registration statement. In the event that the proposed
registration by the Company is, in whole or in part, an underwritten public
offering of the Common Stock of the Company, and the managing underwriter
determines and advises in writing that the inclusion of all Registration Stock
proposed to be included in the underwritten public offering and other issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock proposed to be included therein by persons
other than holders of Registration Stock who have the contractual right to have
such shares included in such registration statement (the "Other Shares") would
interfere with the successful marketing (including pricing) of the securities,
then the number of shares of Registration Stock and Other Shares to be included
in such underwritten public offering shall be reduced first pro rata (based on
the total number of shares held by Holder and any holders of Other Shares) among
the holders of the Registration Stock and the Other Shares and, secondly, if
necessary, among the Company's shares requested by the Company to be registered.

            3. Demand Registration.

                  (a) If the Company shall be requested in writing by Holder to
effect the registration under the Securities Act of any of the Registration
Stock, the Company, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection 3(b),
shall effect as soon as practicable after the receipt of such request, the
registration under the Act of all Registration Stock which Holder so requests to
be registered.

                        (i)  If Holder intends to distribute the Registration
Stock covered by its request by means of an underwriting, it shall so advise the
Company as a part of its request made pursuant to this subsection 3(a). The
managing underwriter will be selected by Holder and shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company. In such event, Holder shall (together with


                                        2
<PAGE>

the Company as provided in subsection 4(e)) enter into an underwriting agreement
in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such
underwriting.

                        (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
include in a registration requested under this subsection 3(a) any additional
authorized shares of the Common Stock, whether or not issued, for sale by the
Company or for sale by others; provided, however, that such shares shall not be
included to the extent that the managing underwriter chosen in accordance with
subsection (i) above concludes in good faith that the inclusion of such shares
will interfere with the successful marketing of the shares of Registration Stock
to be included therein.

                        (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company
shall furnish to Holder a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company stating that in the good faith
judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be detrimental for
such registration statement to be filed or would require the Company to make
public disclosure of information the premature disclosure of which would have an
adverse effect on the Company, and it is therefore beneficial to the Company to
defer the filing of such registration statement (or the intended sale of
Registration Stock pursuant to a then effective registration statement), the
Company shall have the right to defer taking action with respect to such filing,
or require Holder to refrain from selling Registration Stock, as the case may
be, for a period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days.

                  (b) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take
any action to effect, any registration pursuant to this Section 3:

                        (i) After the Company has effected one registration
pursuant to this Section 3 in the previous twelve (12) months and such
registration has been declared or ordered effective; or

                        (ii) During the period beginning on a date thirty (30)
days prior to the Company's good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and
ending on a date one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of, a
registration of Common Stock or other securities of the Company under the Act in
connection with a public offering of such securities (other than a registration
relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in a stock option or
other employee benefits plan of the Company); provided that the Company is
actively employing in good faith reasonable efforts to cause such registration
statement to become effective.

            4. Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under Section 3 of
this Agreement to effect the registration of any Registration Stock, the Company
shall, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

                  (a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement
with respect to such Registration Stock and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of Holder,
keep such registration statement effective for a period


                                      3
<PAGE>

of up to ninety (90) days or until the distribution contemplated in the
registration statement is completed, whichever occurs first; provided, however,
that such 90-day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the
period Holder refrains from selling Registration Stock included in such
registration at the request of an underwriter of Common Stock (or other
securities) of the Company.

                  (b) Consistent with the subsection (a) above, prepare and file
with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and
the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement. Holder
shall delay any sale to the extent the Company informs Holder that an amendment
or supplement is required. Company shall promptly prepare and file such
amendment or supplement and, if applicable, use reasonable efforts to cause it
to become effective.

                  (c) Furnish to Holder such numbers of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Act, and such other documents as Holder may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of Registration Stock owned by it.

                  (d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the
securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or
Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by Holder;
provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a
condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to
service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

                  (e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter
into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. Holder shall
also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.

                  (f) Cause all such Registration Stock registered pursuant
hereto to be listed on each securities exchange or trading market on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.

                  (g) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all
Registration Stock registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
Registration Stock, in each case not later than the effective date of such
registration.

            5. Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Section 4 of this
Agreement with respect to the Registration Stock that Holder shall furnish to
the Company such information regarding Holder, the Registration Stock held, and
the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to
effect the registration of Holder's Registration Stock.


                                        4
<PAGE>

           6. Expenses of Registration. Holder shall bear all expenses incurred
directly in connection with the registration, filing or qualification of the
Registration Stock requested under Section 3, including all registration, filing
and qualification fees, printers' and accounting fees and fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company. All expenses related to the disposition of
Registration Stock, whether pursuant to a request under Section 2 or Section 3
of this Agreement, including all underwriting discounts, brokerage commissions
and transfer taxes also shall be borne by Holder.

           7. Delay of Registration. Holder shall not have any right to obtain
or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration
pursuant to this Agreement as the result of any controversy that might arise
with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.

            8. Indemnification. In the event any Registration Stock is included
in a registration statement under the provisions of this Agreement:

                  (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for
Holder and each person, if any, who controls Holder or underwriter within the
meaning of the Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Act,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including
any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any
amendments or supplements thereto, 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 (a "Violation"); and the Company shall pay to
Holder or any such underwriter or controlling person any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 8(a) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such
settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case
for any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it
arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection
with such registration by Holder or any such underwriter or controlling person.

                  (b) To the extent permitted by law, Holder shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has
signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of the Act, any underwriter, any other person selling
securities in such registration statement and any controlling person of any such
underwriter or other person, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject,
under the Act, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereto) arise out of or


                                        5
<PAGE>

are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the
extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished by Holder expressly for use in connection with
such registration; and Holder shall pay any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection
8(b), in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this subsection 8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is
effected without the consent of Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided further, that, in no event shall any indemnity under this
subsection 8(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received by 
Holder.

                  (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 8, deliver to
the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel
reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party, with the fees and expenses to
be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party
by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to
deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such
action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
indemnified party under this Section 8, but the omission so to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it
may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8.

                  (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified
party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss,
liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall Holder's liability to
contribute under this subsection 8(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the
offering received by Holder. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of
the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
indemnifying


                                        6
<PAGE>

party or by the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

                  (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are
in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting
agreement shall control.

                  (f) The obligations of the Company and Holder under this
Section 8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registration Stock
pursuant to a registration statement under this Agreement, and otherwise.

            9. Assignment of Registration Rights. The right to cause the Company
to register Registration Stock pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned (but
only with all related obligations) by Holder to a single transferee of such
securities, provided that:

                  (a) Holder transfers a majority of the Registration Stock and
related registration rights to such transferee;

                  (b) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such
transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such
transferee or assignee; and

                  (c) such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by and
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without
limitation the provisions of Sections 8 and 10 of this Agreement, whereupon such
transferee, consistent with the provisions of Section 11 of this Agreement,
shall have the exclusive power to exercise all rights of Holder under the terms
of this Agreement.

            10. "Market Stand-Off" Agreement. Holder hereby agrees that, during
the period of duration (not to exceed 180 days) specified by the Company and an
underwriter of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, following the
effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Act,
Holder shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and such underwriter,
directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell, contract to sell (including, without
limitation, any short sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise transfer
or dispose of (other than to donees who agree to be similarly bound) any
securities of the Company held by Holder at any time during such period except
Common Stock included in such registration. In order to enforce the foregoing
covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the
Registration Stock of Holder (and the shares or securities of every other person
subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period.

            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations described in this
Section 11 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to an employee
benefit plan of the Company on Form S-8 or a similar form which may be
promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to an SEC Rule 145
transaction.


                                        7
<PAGE>

            11. Termination of Registration Rights.

                  This Agreement shall terminate at such time that Holder no
longer holds at least 10% of the Shares owned by Securicor at the effective date
of this Agreement.

            12. Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Indulgences, Etc. Neither the failure nor any delay on the
part of either party to exercise any right, remedy, power or privilege under
this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege preclude any other or
further exercise of the same or of any other right, remedy, power or privilege,
nor shall any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege with respect to
any occurrence be construed as a waiver of such right, remedy, power or
privilege with respect to any other occurrence.

                  (b) Controlling Law. This Agreement and all questions relating
to its validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement (including, without
limitation, provisions concerning limitations of actions), shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey,
notwithstanding any conflict-of-laws doctrines of such state or other
jurisdiction to the contrary, and without the aid of any canon, custom or rule
of law requiring construction against the draftsman.

                  (c) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given, made and received only when
delivered (personally, by courier service such as Federal Express, or by other
messenger) or when deposited with a national postal service, registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set
forth below:

                        (i)   If to the Company:


                              Axiom Inc.
                              351 New Albany Road
                              Moorestown, New Jersey 08057-1177
                              Attention: Andrew P. Maunder, President



                              with a copy, given in the manner prescribed above,
                              to:

                              Jason M. Shargel, Esquire
                              Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen
                              Twelfth Floor Packard Building
                              S.E. Corner 15th & Chestnut Streets
                              Philadelphia, PA  19102-2678


                                        8
<PAGE>

                        (ii)  If to Holder:



                              Securicor Communications Limited
                              Sutton Park House
                              15 Carshalton Road
                              Sutton Surrey SM1 4LD
                              Attention:  Angus Gribbon



                        In addition, notice by mail shall be by air mail if
posted outside of the continental United States.

                        Any party may alter the address to which communications
or copies are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address in
conformity with the provisions of this paragraph for the giving of notice.

                  (c) Binding Nature of Agreement; No Assignment. Except as
otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns (including a transferee
of the Registration Stock). Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any other party other than the parties hereto or their
respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations,
or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly
provided in this Agreement.

                  (d) Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall
together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become
binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together,
shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the
signatories.

                  (e) Provisions Separable. The provisions of this Agreement are
independent of and separable from each other, and no provision shall be affected
or rendered invalid or unenforceable by virtue of the fact that for any reason
any other or others of them may be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part.

                  (f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and
understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or written,
except as herein contained. The express terms hereof control and supersede any
course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the
terms hereof. This Agreement may not be modified or amended other than by an
agreement in writing.


                                        9
<PAGE>

                  (g) Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings in this
Agreement are for convenience only; they form no part of this Agreement and
shall not affect its interpretation.

                  (f) Gender, Etc. Words used herein, regardless of the number
and gender specifically used, shall be deemed and construed to include any other
number, singular or plural, and any other gender, masculine, feminine or neuter,
as the context indicates is appropriate.

                  (g) Number of Days. In computing the number of days for
purposes of this Agreement, all days shall be counted, including Saturdays,
Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the final day of any time
period falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which federal banks are or may
elect to be closed, then the final day shall be deemed to be the next day which
is not a Saturday, Sunday or such holiday.

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



                                    AXIOM INC.




                                    By:_________________________________________
                                       Andrew P. Maunder, President



                                    SECURICOR COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED



                                    By:_________________________________________
                                          Name:_________________________________
                                          Title:________________________________


                                       10


<PAGE>
                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.14


                               STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

    This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, made as of this 22nd day of May 1997, is
entered into by and between Axiom Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Axiom"), and
Securicor 3 Net Limited, an English corporation ("3 Net").

                                      BACKGROUND
                                      ----------

    Axiom is the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Securicor 3 Net Inc., a Delaware corporation ("3 Net Delaware")(such shares 
owned by Axiom are hereinafter referred to as the "Shares").

    3 Net and Axiom are both indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Securicor
plc, an English corporation ("Securicor").

    3 Net desires to purchase, and Axiom desires to sell, the Shares upon the
terms and conditions set forth below.

    NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the presents and the mutual agreements
contained in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound, the parties 
agree as follows:

    1.   Sale and Purchase of Shares.  Axiom hereby sells, transfers, assigns 
and delivers to 3 Net, and 3 Net hereby purchases, assumes and accepts from 
Axiom, all of Axiom's right, title and interest in and to the Shares.  
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Axiom is 
delivering to 3 Net a certificate or certificates representing the Shares with
a stock transfer power duly executed in blank attached thereto.

    2.   Purchase Price; Payment.  In consideration of the transfer of the 
Shares, 3 Net shall pay to Axiom an amount in cash equal to the Book Value 
(as defined below) (the "Purchase Price"), which the Board of Directors of 
Axiom has determined to be fair value for the Shares.   For the purposes of 
this Agreement, Book Value shall mean book value of the Shares as recorded on
the unaudited balance sheet of Axiom at April 30, 1997.  Contemporaneously with
delivery of the Shares, 3 Net shall pay the Purchase Price to Axiom by check, 
wire transfer or book entry adjustment through the inter-company payment system 
operated by Securicor.

    3.   Further Assurances.  The parties agree to execute and deliver all such
other instruments and take all such other action as any party may reasonably 
request from time to time, without payment of further consideration, in order to
effectuate the transactions provided for herein.

    4.   Entire Agreement;  Binding Nature of Agreement.  This Agreement 
contains the entire understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the 
subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements 
and understandings, inducements or conditions, express or implied, oral or 
written, except as herein contained.  The 



<PAGE>

express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or 
usage of trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.  This Agreement shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their 
respective successors and assigns.

    5.   Execution in Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any 
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original as 
against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of which shall 
together constitute one and the same instrument.  This agreement shall become
binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, 
shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the 
signatories.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
and delivered as of the date first above written.

                        AXIOM INC.



                        By:     /s/ Edmund A. Hough                     
                             ---------------------------------
                                Dr. Edmund A. Hough, 
                             Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


                        SECURICOR 3 NET LIMITED



                        By:     /s/ Michael Wilkinson                   
                             ---------------------------------
                                 Michael Wilkinson, Finance Director 


                                       2



<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 11

                                   AXIOM INC.
      SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE CALCULATION (A)
                                         Year Ended       Six Months Ended
                                     September 30, 1996    March 31, 1997
                                     ------------------   ----------------

Pro forma net income (loss) per
   common share:

Net income (loss) - adjusted (A)          $2,549,000         $(2,272,000)
                                          ----------         ------------
                                          ----------         ------------
Weighted average number of shares
   issued and outstanding                  3,476,900           3,476,900

Number of shares that would be
   required to be sold in the initial
   public offering to fund the
   payment of the obligations to
   parent and affiliates                   1,703,500           1,703,500
                                           ----------         -----------


Adjusted weighted average number
   of shares outstanding                   5,180,400           5,180,400
                                          ----------         -----------
Pro forma net income (loss) per
   common share                           $     0.49          $    (0.44)
                                          ----------         -----------
                                          ----------         -----------

- -----------

(A) Supplemental Pro forma Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Unaudited)

Supplemental Pro forma net income (loss) per common share was calculated by 
dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares 
outstanding for the respective period. Pursuant to the requirements of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, the calculation of supplemental pro forma 
net income (loss) per common share includes the number of shares that would 
be required to be sold in the initial public offering to fund the payment of 
the $20,442,000 in obligations to parent and affiliates. In addition, the 
supplemental pro forma forma net income (loss) per common share for the year 
ended September 30, 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1997 excludes 
interest expense on the obligations to parent and affiliates of $578,000 and 
$322,000, respectively, net of income taxes. Stock options to be granted 
prior to the initial public offering have been excluded from the calculation 
since the option prices will be equal to the initial public offering price 
and will therefore not be dilutive.


<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 11.1



                                   AXIOM INC.
      SUPPLEMENTAL PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE CALCULATION (A)


                                         Year Ended       Six Months Ended
                                     September 30, 1996    March 31, 1997
                                     ------------------   ----------------

Pro forma net income (loss) per
   common share:

Net income (loss) - adjusted (A)          $2,549,000         $(2,272,000)
                                          ----------         ------------
                                          ----------         ------------
Weighted average number of shares
   issued and outstanding                  3,476,900           3,476,900

Number of shares that would be
   required to be sold in the initial
   public offering to fund the
   payment of the obligations to
   parent and affiliates                   1,703,500           1,703,500
                                           ----------         -----------


Adjusted weighted average number
   of shares outstanding                   5,180,400           5,180,400
                                          ----------         -----------
Pro forma net income (loss) per
   common share                           $     0.49          $    (0.44)
                                          ----------         -----------
                                          ----------         -----------



- -----------

(A) Supplemental Pro forma Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Unaudited)

Supplemental Pro forma net income (loss) per common share was calculated by 
dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares 
outstanding for the respective period. Pursuant to the requirements of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission, the calculation of supplemental pro forma 
net income (loss) per common share includes the number of shares that would 
be required to be sold in the initial public offering to fund the payment of 
the $20,442,000 in obligations to parent and affiliates. In addition, the 
supplemental pro forma forma net income (loss) per common share for the year 
ended September 30, 1996 and the six months ended March 31, 1997 excludes 
interest expense on the obligations to parent and affiliates of $578,000 and 
$322,000, respectively, net of income taxes. Stock options to be granted 
prior to the initial public offering have been excluded from the calculation 
since the option prices will be equal to the initial public offering price 
and will therefore not be dilutive.



<PAGE>
                                           EXHIBIT 23.1

                     CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



To Axiom Inc.



As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our 
reports and to all references to our firm included in or made a part of this 
registration statement.

                                       /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP



Philadelphia, PA
May 27, 1997





<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.3

                              CONSENT OF ROBERT B. KELLY

    I, Robert B. Kelly, hereby accept the nomination to serve as director of
Axiom Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and consent to be named as a
nominee director in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.
333-25439, and all amendments thereto.


                               /s/    Robert B. Kelly
                               ----------------------------------
                               Robert B. Kelly


Dated:   May 22, 1997
      --------------------------

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1995             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                           3,326                   1,279
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,740                   8,158
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                      3,167                   4,672
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                23,045                  17,774
<PP&E>                                           4,277                   5,046
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,541                   2,105
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  30,336                  24,607
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           31,638                  28,478
<BONDS>                                            147                       0
                                0                       0
                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     (1,539)                 (4,001)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    30,336                  24,607
<SALES>                                         33,964                  12,050
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                33,964                  12,050
<CGS>                                           18,165                   7,834
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   18,165                   7,834
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                13,714                   8,213
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 514                     279
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,550                 (4,222)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,358                 (1,760)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,192                 (2,462)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,192                 (2,462)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.63                  (0.71)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>


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