CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC
S-8, 1999-12-10
COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC
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<PAGE>   1


    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 1999
                                                Registration No. 333-___________

================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

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

                             CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           DELAWARE                                     74-2846643
  (State or other jurisdiction              (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)

                      9390 RESEARCH BOULEVARD, SUITE II-300
                                AUSTIN, TX 78759
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

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

                             CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC.
                            1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)

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

                                 BRIAN R. SMITH
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                             CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC.
                      9390 RESEARCH BOULEVARD, SUITE II-300
                                AUSTIN, TX 78759
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (512) 349-0300
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================================
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED     AMOUNT TO BE         PROPOSED MAXIMUM           PROPOSED MAXIMUM          AMOUNT OF
                                         REGISTERED (1)    OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE   AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE   REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                      (2)                       (2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                <C>                        <C>                        <C>
1999 Stock Incentive Plan               3,868,923 shares           $ 82.94                $ 320,888,473.60         $ 84,714.56
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan         450,000 shares           $ 82.94                $  37,323,000.00         $  9,853.27
Common Stock $0.01 par value
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        4,318,923 shares           $ 82.94                $ 358,211,473.60         $ 94,567.83
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Aggregate Registration Fee:  $ 94,567.83
=================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
     Common Stock which become issuable under the Crossroads Systems Inc. 1999
     Stock Incentive Plan and 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan by reason of any
     stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
     effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in
     an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of Registrant's Common
     Stock.

(2)  Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high
     and low selling prices per share of Registrant's Common Stock on December
     6, 1999, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.



<PAGE>   2


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     Crossroads Systems Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference
into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):

     (a) The Registrant's Prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b)
         promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, filed with
         the SEC on October 20, 1999, in connection with the Registrant's
         Registration Statement No. 333-85505, in which there is set forth the
         audited financial statements as of and for the Registrant's nine-months
         ended July 31, 1999;

     (b) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-15331 on Form 8-A12G/A
         filed with the SEC on October 15, 1999, in which there is described the
         terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant's outstanding
         Common Stock.

     All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration Statement and
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities

     Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides,
in effect, that any person made a party to any action by reason of the fact that
he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Registrant may and, in
certain cases, must be indemnified by Registrant against, in the case of a
non-derivative action, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and
reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by him as a result of
such action, and in the case of a derivative action, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), if in either type of action he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
Registrant. This indemnification does not apply, in a derivative action, to
matters as to which it is adjudged that the director, officer, employee or agent
is liable to Registrant, unless upon court order it is determined that, despite
such adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the
case, he is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses, and, in a
non-derivative action, to any criminal proceeding in which such person had
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

     Article V of our Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
provides that no director shall be liable to Registrant or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest
extent permitted by the DGCL.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>   3


     Reference is made to Section 8 of the underwriting agreement filed as
Exhibit 1.1 to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-85505, pursuant to
which the underwriters have agreed to indemnify Registrant's officers and
directors against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

     Registrant intends to enter into indemnification agreements with each
director, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant's Registration
Statement No. 333-85505. Pursuant to such agreements, we will be obligated, to
the extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify such directors against all
expenses, judgments, fines and penalties incurred in connection with the defense
or settlement of any actions brought against them by reason of the fact that
they were directors of Registrant or assumed certain responsibilities at the
direction of Registrant. Registrant also intends to purchase directors and
officers liability insurance in order to limit its exposure to liability for
indemnification of directors and officers.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

     Not Applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number       Exhibit
- ------       -------

<S>          <C>
4            Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders.  Reference is made to Registrant's
             Registration Statement No. 000-15331 on form 8-A12G/A which is incorporated
             herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(b).

5            Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

23.1         Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

23.2         Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

24           Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

99.1         Crossroads Systems Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.

99.2         Crossroads Systems Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
</TABLE>

Item 9. Undertakings.

     A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment 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; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Crossroads
Systems Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan and 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>   4


     B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement 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.

     C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act
may be permitted to directors, officers, or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the 1933 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 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3

<PAGE>   5
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas this 8th day of December,
1999.

                                       CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC.


                                       By: /s/ BRIAN R. SMITH
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Brian R. Smith
                                           Chief Executive Officer and
                                           Chairman of the Board

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

     That the undersigned officers and directors of Crossroads Systems Inc., a
Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Brian R. Smith, Chief
Executive Officer, and Reagan Y. Sakai, Chief Financial Officer, and each of
them, the lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and authority to
do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said
attorneys and agents, and any one of them, determine may be necessary or
advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration
Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority,
the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the
undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this
Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and
post-effective, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to any and
all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that all said attorneys and agents, or
any one of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of
Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney as of the date indicated.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                       Title                                       Date
- ---------                                       -----                                       ----

<S>                                            <C>                                          <C>
/s/ BRIAN R. SMITH
- -----------------------------------            Chief  Executive  Officer and  Chairman      December 8, 1999
Brian R. Smith                                 of the Board (Principal Executive
                                               Officer)

/s/ REAGAN Y. SAKAI                            Chief Financial Officer  (Principal          December 8, 1999
- -----------------------------------            Financial and Accounting Officer)
Reagan Y. Sakai

/s/ RICHARD D. EYESTONE
- -----------------------------------            Director                                     December 8, 1999
Richard D. Eyestone
</TABLE>

                                      II-4

<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>                                          <C>

- -----------------------------------            Director
Wo Overstreet

/s/ DAVID L. RIEGEL
- -----------------------------------            Director                                     December 8, 1999
David L. Riegel

/s/ WILLIAM P. WOOD
- -----------------------------------            Director                                     December 8, 1999
William P. Wood
</TABLE>

                                      II-5

<PAGE>   7


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                WASHINGTON, D.C.

                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             CROSSROADS SYSTEMS INC.



<PAGE>   8


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number     Exhibit
- ------     -------

<S>        <C>
4          Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders.  Reference is made to Registrant's
           Registration Statement No. 000-15331 on form 8-A12G/A which is incorporated
           herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(b).

5          Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.

23.1       Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants.

23.2       Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in Exhibit 5.

24         Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this Registration Statement.

99.1       Crossroads Systems Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.

99.2       Crossroads Systems Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
</TABLE>




<PAGE>   1


                                    EXHIBIT 5

             OPINION AND CONSENT OF BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP.



                                December 9, 1999

Crossroads Systems Inc.
9390 Research Boulevard, Suite II-300
Austin, TX 78759

     Re: Crossroads Systems Inc. (the "Company") Registration Statement for
         Offering of an Aggregate of 4,318,923 Shares of Common Stock

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Crossroads Systems Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of (i)
an initial reserve of 3,868,923 shares of the Company's common stock (the
"Shares") for issuance under the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Incentive Plan") and (ii) an initial reserve of 450,000 Shares for issuance
under the Company's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"),
(collectively, the "Plans").

     This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.

     We have reviewed the Company's charter documents and the corporate
proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the establishment of the
Plans. Based on such review, we are of the opinion that, if, as and when the
Shares are issued and sold (and the consideration therefor received) pursuant to
the (a) provisions of option agreements duly authorized under the Incentive Plan
and in accordance with the Registration Statement, (b) duly authorized direct
stock issuances in accordance with the Incentive Plan and in accordance with the
Registration Statement, or (c) duly authorized stock purchase rights granted and
exercised under the Purchase Plan and in accordance with the Registration
Statement, such Shares will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to the
Registration Statement.

     This opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written above and we
disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or
developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which may
alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly
limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by
implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company, the
Plans or the Shares issuable under such Plans.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       /s/  BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP

                                       BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP




<PAGE>   1


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated September 17, 1999 relating to the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Crossroads
Systems, Inc. and Subsidiary, which appear in Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on October 18, 1999 (file No.
333-85505).


/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

Austin, Texas
December 8, 1999

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                            CROSSROADS SYSTEMS, INC.
                            1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


                                  ARTICLE ONE

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS


         I.   PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

              This 1999 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the
interests of Crossroads Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing
eligible persons with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or
otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an
incentive for them to remain in the service of the Corporation.

              Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the attached Appendix.

         II.  STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

              A. The Plan shall be divided into five separate equity programs:

                  (i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program under which
         eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be
         granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock,

                  (ii) the Salary Investment Option Grant Program under which
         eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their base salary
         invested each year in special options,

                  (iii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons
         may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
         Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of such
         shares or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any
         Parent or Subsidiary),

                  (iv) the Automatic Option Grant Program under which eligible
         non-employee Board members shall automatically receive options at
         periodic intervals to purchase shares of Common Stock; and

                  (v) the Director Fee Option Grant Program under which
         non-employee Board members may elect to have all or any portion of
         their annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash applied to a
         special option grant.

<PAGE>   2


              B. The provisions of Articles One and Seven shall apply to all
equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons
under the Plan.

         III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

              A. Prior to the Section 12 Registration Date, the Discretionary
Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs shall be administered by the Board
unless otherwise determined by the Board. Beginning with the Section 12
Registration Date, the following provisions shall govern the administration of
the Plan:

                  (i) The Board shall have the authority to administer the
         Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to
         Section 16 Insiders but may delegate such authority in whole or in part
         to the Primary Committee.

                  (ii) Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and
         Stock Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to
         participate in those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be vested
         in the Primary Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the Board may
         retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all such
         persons.

                  (iii) Administration of the Automatic Option Grant Program
         shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of that program.

              B. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
administrative jurisdiction under the Plan, have full power and authority
subject to the provisions of the Plan:

                  (i) to establish such rules as it may deem appropriate for
         proper administration of the Plan, to make all factual determinations,
         to construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan and the awards
         thereunder and to resolve any and all ambiguities thereunder;

                  (ii) to determine, with respect to awards made under the
         Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs, which eligible
         persons are to receive such awards, the time or times when such awards
         are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such award,
         the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the award, the status of a
         granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option
         and the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding;

                  (iii) to amend, modify or cancel any outstanding award with
         the consent of the holder or accelerate the vesting of such award; and

                  (iv) to take such other discretionary actions as permitted
         pursuant to the terms of the applicable program.


                                       2.
<PAGE>   3


Decisions of each Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative
functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties.

              C. Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee
shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be
removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the
functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority
previously delegated to such committee.

              D. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee
shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee
shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board
members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee
or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any options or stock issuances under the Plan.

         IV.  ELIGIBILITY

              A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs are as follows:

                  (i) Employees,

                  (ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of
         directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and

                  (iii) consultants and other independent advisors who provide
         services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

              B. Only Employees who are Section 16 Insiders or other highly
compensated individuals shall be eligible to participate in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program.

              C. Only non-employee Board members shall be eligible to
participate in the Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant
Programs.

         V.   STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

              A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized
but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased by the
Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock
initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed Three
Million Eight Hundred Sixty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty Three (3,868,923)
shares. Such authorized share reserve consists of (i) the number of shares which
remain available for issuance, as of the Section 12 Registration Date, under the
Predecessor Plan, including the shares subject to the outstanding options to be
incorporated into the Plan and the additional shares which would otherwise be
available for future grant (estimated to be 2,368,923 shares), plus (ii) an
increase of One Million Five



                                       3.
<PAGE>   4

Hundred Thousand (1,500,000) shares authorized by the Board subject to
stockholder approval prior to the Section 12 Registration Date.

              B. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance
under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of each
calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning with the 2001 calendar
year, by an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar year,
but in no event shall such annual increase exceed Five Hundred Thousand
(500,000) shares.

              C. No one person participating in the Plan may receive options,
separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances for
more than Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares of Common Stock in the
aggregate per calendar year, beginning with the 1999 calendar year.

              D. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options
(including options incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan) shall
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options
expire, terminate or are cancelled for any reason prior to exercise in full.
Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased by the
Corporation, at the original exercise or issue price paid per share, pursuant to
the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the
number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall
accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent options
or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However, should the exercise price of
an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in
satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise
of an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan, then the number
of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced
by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised or which vest
under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock
issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance. Shares of Common Stock
underlying one or more stock appreciation rights exercised under the Plan shall
not be available for subsequent issuance.

              E. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange
of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class
without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments
shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable
under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities by which the share
reserve is to increase each calendar year pursuant to the automatic share
increase provisions of the Plan, (iii) the number and/or class of securities for
which any one person may be granted options, separately exercisable stock
appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan per calendar year,
(iv) the number and/or class of securities for which grants are subsequently to
be made under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and continuing
non-employee Board members, (v) the number and/or class of securities and the
exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan
and (vi) the number and/or class of securities and



                                       4.
<PAGE>   5

price per share in effect under each outstanding option incorporated into this
Plan from the Predecessor Plan. Such adjustments to the outstanding options are
to be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of
rights and benefits under such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan
Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.




                                       5.
<PAGE>   6

                                  ARTICLE TWO

                       DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM


         I.   OPTION TERMS

              Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the
form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such
document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing
an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such options.

              A. EXERCISE PRICE.

                 1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator at the time of the option grant and may be less than, equal to or
greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant
date.

                 2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section II of
Article Seven and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or more
of the following forms:

                    (i) in cash or check made payable to the Corporation;

                    (ii) shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
         necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial
         reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise
         Date, or

                    (iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested
         shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to
         which the Optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions
         to (a) a Corporation-approved brokerage firm to effect the immediate
         sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the
         sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to
         cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares
         plus all applicable Federal, state and local income and employment
         taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such
         exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the
         purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete
         the sale.

              Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.

              B. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. Each option shall be exercisable
at such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall
be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents
evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess of ten
(10) years measured from the option grant date.



                                       6.
<PAGE>   7

              C. CESSATION OF SERVICE.

                 1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any
options outstanding at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service or death:

                    (i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
         cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such
         period of time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan
         Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing the option, but
         no such option shall be exercisable after the expiration of the option
         term.

                    (ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the
         Optionee at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by his or
         her Beneficiary.

                    (iii) During the applicable post-Service exercise period,
         the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the
         number of vested shares for which the option is exercisable on the date
         of the Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of the
         applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the
         option term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for
         any vested shares for which the option has not been exercised. However,
         the option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service,
         terminate and cease to be outstanding to the extent the option is not
         otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.

                    (iv) Should the Optionee's Service be terminated for
         Misconduct or should the Optionee engage in Misconduct while his or her
         options are outstanding, then all such options shall terminate
         immediately and cease to be outstanding.

                 2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion,
exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding:

                    (i) to extend the period of time for which the option is to
         remain exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service to
         such period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate,
         but in no event beyond the expiration of the option term, and/or

                    (ii) to permit the option to be exercised, during the
         applicable post-Service exercise period, for one or more additional
         installments in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee
         continued in Service.

              D. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of an option shall have no
stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a
holder of record of the purchased shares.



                                       7.
<PAGE>   8

              E. REPURCHASE RIGHTS. The Plan Administrator shall have the
discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common
Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the
Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per
share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase
right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and
the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established
by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such
repurchase right.

              F. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During the lifetime of the
Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution following the Optionee's death. Non-Statutory Options shall be
subject to the same restrictions, except that a Non-Statutory Option may, to the
extent permitted by the Plan Administrator, be assigned in whole or in part
during the Optionee's lifetime (i) as a gift to one or more members of the
Optionee's immediate family, to a trust in which Optionee and/or one or more
such family members hold more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial
interest or to an entity in which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting
interests are owned by one or more such family members or (ii) pursuant to a
domestic relations order. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be
the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment
and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan
Administrator may deem appropriate.

         II.  INCENTIVE OPTIONS

              The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive
Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the
provisions of Articles One, Two and Six shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when
issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

              A. ELIGIBILITY. Incentive Options may only be granted to
Employees.

              B. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share shall not be less
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.

              C. DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the
shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant)
for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any
other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the
first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year
shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the
extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable
for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options are granted.

              D. 10% STOCKHOLDER. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is
granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be
less than one hundred


                                       8.
<PAGE>   9

ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured
from the option grant date.

         III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

              A. Each option outstanding at the time of a Change in Control but
not otherwise fully-vested shall automatically accelerate so that each such
option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control,
become exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
that option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested
shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option shall not so accelerate
if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Change in
Control, assumed or otherwise continued in full force and effect by the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) pursuant to the terms of the Change in
Control, (ii) such option is replaced with a cash incentive program of the
successor corporation which preserves the spread existing at the time of the
Change in Control on the shares of Common Stock for which the option is not
otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent payout in
accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to those option shares or
(iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by
the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant. Each option outstanding
at the time of the Change in Control shall terminate as provided in Section
III.C. of this Article Two.

              B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control, except to
the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are assigned to the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continue in full force and effect
pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) such accelerated vesting
is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time
the repurchase right is issued.

              C. Immediately following the consummation of the Change in
Control, all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding,
except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or
otherwise expressly continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of
the Change in Control.

              D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Change in
Control, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have been
issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Change in Control had the
option been exercised immediately prior to such Change in Control. Appropriate
adjustments to reflect such Change in Control shall also be made to (i) the
exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the
aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same, (ii)
the maximum number and/or class of securities available for issuance over the
remaining term of the Plan and (iii) the maximum number and/or class of
securities for which any one person may be granted options, separately
exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan
per calendar year.

              E. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate in connection with a Change in Control,
whether or not those



                                       9.
<PAGE>   10

options are assumed or otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to
the terms of the Change in Control. Any such option shall accordingly become
exercisable, immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control,
for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to that option and may
be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common
Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or
more of the Corporation's repurchase rights shall not be assignable in
connection with such Change in Control and shall terminate upon the consummation
of such Change in Control.

              F. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate upon an Involuntary Termination of the
Optionee's Service within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18)
months) following the effective date of any Change in Control in which those
options do not otherwise accelerate. Any options so accelerated shall remain
exercisable for fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of
the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1) year period measured from
the effective date of the Involuntary Termination. In addition, the Plan
Administrator may at any time provide that one or more of the Corporation's
repurchase rights shall immediately terminate upon such Involuntary Termination.

              G. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide that one or more
options will automatically accelerate in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
Any such option shall become exercisable, immediately prior to the effective
date of such Hostile Take-Over, for all of the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to that option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator may
at any time provide that one or more of the Corporation's repurchase rights
shall terminate automatically upon the consummation of such Hostile Take-Over.
Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition such automatic acceleration
and termination upon an Involuntary Termination of the Optionee's Service within
a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective
date of such Hostile Take-Over. Each option so accelerated shall remain
exercisable for fully-vested shares until the expiration or sooner termination
of the option term.

              H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection
with a Change in Control or Hostile Take Over shall remain exercisable as an
Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar
($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is
exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a
Non-Statutory Option under the Federal tax laws.

         IV.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

              The Plan Administrator may, subject to such conditions as it may
determine, grant to selected Optionees stock appreciation rights which will
allow the holders of those rights to elect between the exercise of the
underlying option for shares of Common Stock and the surrender of that option in
exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the
excess of (a) the Option Surrender Value of the number of shares for which the
option is surrendered over (b) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. The distribution may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair
Market Value on the option surrender date, in



                                      10.
<PAGE>   11

cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall in
its sole discretion deem appropriate.



                                      11.
<PAGE>   12

                                 ARTICLE THREE

                     SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM


         I.   OPTION GRANTS

              The Primary Committee may implement the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program for one or more calendar years beginning after the Underwriting
Date and select the Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated Employees
eligible to participate in the Salary Investment Option Grant Program for each
such calendar year. Each selected individual who elects to participate in the
Salary Investment Option Grant Program must, prior to the start of each calendar
year of participation, file with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) an
irrevocable authorization directing the Corporation to reduce his or her base
salary for that calendar year by an amount not less than Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). The Primary
Committee shall have complete discretion to determine whether to approve the
filed authorization in whole or in part. To the extent the Primary Committee
approves the authorization, the individual who filed that authorization shall be
granted an option under the Salary Investment Grant Program on the first trading
day in January for the calendar year for which the salary reduction is to be in
effect.

         II.  OPTION TERMS

              Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option evidenced by one or
more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided,
however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.

              A. EXERCISE PRICE.

                 1. The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three and
one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.

                 2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the alternative
forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Except to the
extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized,
payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the
Exercise Date.

              B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula
(rounded down to the nearest whole number):

                 X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where

                 X is the number of option shares,



                                      12.
<PAGE>   13

                 A is the dollar amount of the approved reduction in
              the Optionee's base salary for the calendar year, and

                 B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
              on the option grant date.

              C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall become
exercisable in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments
upon the Optionee's completion of each calendar month of Service in the calendar
year for which the salary reduction is in effect. Each option shall have a
maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

              D. CESSATION OF SERVICE. Each option outstanding at the time of
the Optionee's cessation of Service shall remain exercisable, for any or all of
the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of
Service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period following the Optionee's cessation of
Service. To the extent the option is held by the Optionee at the time of his or
her death, the option may be exercised by his or her Beneficiary. However, the
option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate
and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any and all shares of Common
Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.

         III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

              A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over
while the Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option shall
automatically accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to
the effective date of the Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over, become fully
exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option accelerated in
connection with a Change in Control shall terminate upon the Change in Control,
except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or
otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change
in Control. Each such option accelerated in connection with a Hostile Take-Over
shall remain exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.

              B. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to the number and class of
securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of
such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such
Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

              C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a
cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i)
the Option Surrender Value of the shares of Common Stock at



                                      13.
<PAGE>   14

the time subject to each surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is
otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise
price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five
(5) days following the surrender of the option to the Corporation.

         IV.  REMAINING TERMS

              The remaining terms of each option granted under the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for
options made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.



                                      14.
<PAGE>   15

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                             STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM


         I.   STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

              Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening options.
Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program
pursuant to share right awards which entitle the recipients to receive those
shares upon the attainment of designated performance goals or Service
requirements. Each such award shall be evidenced by one or more documents which
comply with the terms specified below.

              A. PURCHASE PRICE.

                 1. The purchase price per share of Common Stock subject to
direct issuance shall be fixed by the Plan Administrator and may be less than,
equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
issue date.

                 2. Subject to the provisions of Section II of Article Seven,
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of
the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem
appropriate in each individual instance:

                    (i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation, or

                    (ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any
          Parent or Subsidiary).

              B. VESTING/ISSUANCE PROVISIONS.

                 1. The Plan Administrator may issue shares of Common Stock
which are fully and immediately vested upon issuance or which are to vest in one
or more installments over the Participant's period of Service or upon attainment
of specified performance objectives. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may
issue share right awards which shall entitle the recipient to receive a
specified number of vested shares of Common Stock upon the attainment of one or
more performance goals or Service requirements established by the Plan
Administrator.

                 2. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other
property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the
Participant may have the right to receive with respect to his or her unvested
shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting
requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock and
(ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.



                                      15.
<PAGE>   16

                 3. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with
respect to the issued shares of Common Stock, whether or not the Participant's
interest in those shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the
right to vote such shares and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such
shares.

                 4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while
holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock, or should the performance
objectives not be attained with respect to one or more such unvested shares of
Common Stock, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the
Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant shall have no further
stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the surrendered
shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration paid in cash
or cash equivalent (including the Participant's purchase-money indebtedness),
the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the cash consideration paid for
the surrendered shares and shall cancel the unpaid principal balance of any
outstanding purchase-money note of the Participant attributable to the
surrendered shares.

                 5. The Plan Administrator may waive the surrender and
cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock (or other assets
attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the
Participant's Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives
applicable to those shares. Such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of
the Participant's interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver
applies. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the
Participant's cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the
applicable performance objectives.

                 6. Outstanding share right awards shall automatically
terminate, and no shares of Common Stock shall actually be issued in
satisfaction of those awards, if the performance goals or Service requirements
established for such awards are not attained. The Plan Administrator, however,
shall have the authority to issue shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of one
or more outstanding share right awards as to which the designated performance
goals or Service requirements are not attained.

         II.  CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

              A. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights shall
terminate automatically, and all the shares of Common Stock subject to those
terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in
Control, except to the extent (i) those repurchase rights are assigned to the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) or otherwise continue in full force
and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control or (ii) such
accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan
Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.

              B. The Plan Administrator may at any time provide for the
automatic termination of one or more of those outstanding repurchase rights and
the immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated
rights upon (i) a Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over or (ii) an Involuntary
Termination of the Participant's Service within a



                                      16.
<PAGE>   17

designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective
date of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over in which those repurchase
rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or
otherwise continue in full force and effect.

         III. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

              Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be
held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such
shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive
legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.



                                      17.
<PAGE>   18

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                         AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM


         I.   OPTION TERMS

              A. GRANT DATES. Options shall be made on the dates specified
below:

                 1. Each individual who is first elected or appointed as a
non-employee Board member at any time after the Underwriting Date shall
automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or appointment, a
Non-Statutory Option to purchase Fifteen Thousand (15,000) shares of Common
Stock, provided that individual has not previously been in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

                 2. On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting beginning
with the 2000 Annual Stockholder Meeting, each individual who is to continue to
serve as a non-employee Board member shall automatically be granted a
Non-Statutory Option to purchase Five Thousand (5,000) shares of Common Stock.

              B. EXERCISE PRICE.

                 1. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option
grant date.

                 2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.

              C. OPTION TERM. Each option shall have a term of ten (10) years
measured from the option grant date.

              D. EXERCISE AND VESTING OF OPTIONS. Each option shall be
immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any shares
purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the Corporation, at
the exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's cessation of Board
service prior to vesting in those shares. Each initial 15,000-share option shall
vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, in a series of four
(4) successive equal annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued
service as a Board member, with the first such installment to vest upon the
Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. Each annual 5,000-share option shall vest, and the Corporation's
repurchase right shall lapse, upon the Optionee's completion of one (1) year of
Board service measured from the option grant date.

              E. CESSATION OF BOARD SERVICE. The following provisions shall
govern the exercise of any options outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
cessation of Board service:



                                      18.
<PAGE>   19

                    (i) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
         cessation of Board service for any reason shall remain exercisable for
         a twelve (12)-month period following the date of such cessation of
         Board service, but in no event shall such option be exercisable after
         the expiration of the option term.

                    (ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the
         Optionee at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by his or
         her Beneficiary.

                    (iii) Following the Optionee's cessation of Board service,
         the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the
         number of shares for which the option was exercisable on the date of
         such cessation of Board service. Upon the expiration of the applicable
         exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term,
         the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested
         shares for which the option has not been exercised. However, the option
         shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service,
         terminate and cease to be outstanding for any and all shares for which
         the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.

                    (iv) However, should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board
         member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all shares at
         the time subject to the option shall immediately vest so that such
         option may, during the twelve (12)-month exercise period following such
         cessation of Board service, be exercised for all or any portion of
         those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.

         II.  CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

              A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over, the
shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not
otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option may,
immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control or Hostile
Take-Over, became fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to such option and maybe exercised for all or any of those shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option accelerated in
connection with a Change in Control shall terminate upon the Change in Control,
except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or
otherwise continued in full force and effect pursuant to the terms of the Change
in Control. Each such option accelerated in connection with a Hostile Take-Over
shall remain exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.

              B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically terminate
and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall
immediately vest in full, in the event of any Change in Control or Hostile
Take-Over.

              C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding


                                      19.
<PAGE>   20

options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from
the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Option Surrender
Value of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered
option (whether or not the option is otherwise at the time exercisable for those
shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such
cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of
the option to the Corporation.

              D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Change in
Control shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to the number and class of
securities which would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of
such Change in Control had the option been exercised immediately prior to such
Change in Control. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.

         III. REMAINING TERMS

              The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for options made
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.



                                      20.
<PAGE>   21

                                  ARTICLE SIX

                        DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM


         I.   OPTION GRANTS

              The Board may implement the Director Fee Option Grant Program as
of the first day of any calendar year beginning after the Underwriting Date.
Upon such implementation of the Program, each non-employee Board member may
elect to apply all or any portion of the annual retainer fee otherwise payable
in cash for his or her service on the Board to the acquisition of a special
option grant under this Director Fee Option Grant Program. Such election must be
filed with the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer prior to the first day of
the calendar year for which the election is to be in effect. Each non-employee
Board member who files such a timely election with respect to the annul retainer
fee shall automatically be granted an option under this Director Fee Option
Grant Program on the first trading day in January in the calendar year for which
that fee would otherwise be payable.

         II.  OPTION TERMS

              Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option governed by the terms
and conditions specified below.

              A. EXERCISE PRICE.

                 1. The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three and
one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.

                 2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the alternative
forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Except to the
extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized,
payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the
Exercise Date.

              B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula
(rounded down to the nearest whole number):

                 X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where

                 X is the number of option shares,

                 A is the portion of the annual retainer fee subject to the
              non-employee Board member's election, and

                 B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
              option grant date.


                                      21.
<PAGE>   22

              C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall become
exercisable in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments
upon the Optionee's completion of each month of Board service during the
calendar year in which the option is granted. Each option shall have a maximum
term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

              D. CESSATION OF BOARD SERVICE. Should the Optionee cease Board
service for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while holding
one or more options, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or
all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such
cessation of Board service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten
(10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of such cessation of Board service. However, each option
held by the Optionee at the time of such cessation of Board service shall
immediately terminate and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any and
all shares of Common Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that time
exercisable.

              E. DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY. Should the Optionee's service as
a Board member cease by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then each
option held by such Optionee shall immediately become exercisable for all the
shares of Common Stock at the time subject to that option, and the option may be
exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares until the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation
of Board service.

              Should the Optionee die after cessation of Board service but while
holding one or more options, then each such option may be exercised, for any or
all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Board service (less any shares subsequently purchased by
Optionee prior to death), by the Optionee's Beneficiary. Such right of exercise
shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.

         III. CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

              A. In the event of any Change in Control or Hostile Take-Over
while the Optionee remains in Board service, each outstanding option held by
such Optionee shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control or Hostile
Take-Over, become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any
or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option
accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall terminate upon the
Change in Control, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) or otherwise expressly continued in full force and effect
pursuant to the terms of the Change in Control. Each such option accelerated in
connection with a Hostile Take-Over shall remain exercisable until the
expiration or sooner termination of the option term.

              B. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each of
his or her outstanding



                                      22.
<PAGE>   23

options. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from
the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Option Surrender
Value of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered
option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those
shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such
cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of
the option to the Corporation.

         IV.  REMAINING TERMS

              The remaining terms of each option granted under this Director Fee
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for options made
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.



                                      23.
<PAGE>   24

                                 ARTICLE SEVEN

                                  MISCELLANEOUS


         I.   NO IMPAIRMENT OF AUTHORITY

              Outstanding awards shall in no way affect the right of the
Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or
business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or
transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

         II.  FINANCING

              The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to
pay the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or
the purchase price of shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by
delivering a full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or
more installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest
rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator
in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum credit available to the
Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise
price or purchase price payable for the purchased shares plus (ii) any Federal,
state and local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or
the Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.

         III. TAX WITHHOLDING

              A. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of options or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the
Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and
local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

              B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or
all holders of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock under
the Plan with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or
part of the Withholding Taxes incurred by such holders in connection with the
exercise of their options or the vesting of their shares. Such right may be
provided to any such holder in either or both of the following formats:

                 Stock Withholding: The election to have the Corporation
withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise
of such Non-Statutory Option or the vesting of such shares, a portion of those
shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the
Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the
holder.

                 Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at
the time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares vest, one or more
shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in
connection with the option exercise or share



                                      24.
<PAGE>   25

vesting triggering the Withholding Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value
equal to the percentage of the Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%))
designated by the holder.

         IV.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

              A. The Plan shall become effective immediately on the Section 12
Registration Date. However, the Salary Investment Option Grant and Director Fee
Option Grant Programs shall not be implemented until such time as the Primary
Committee or the Board may deem appropriate. Options may be granted under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program at any time on or after the Section 12
Registration Date. However, no options granted under the Plan may be exercised,
and no shares shall be issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the
Corporation's stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the Section 12 Registration Date, then all options
previously granted under this Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding,
and no further options shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the
Plan.

              B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plan,
and no further options or direct stock issuances shall be made under the
Predecessor Plan after the Section 12 Registration Date. All options outstanding
under the Predecessor Plan on the Section 12 Registration Date shall be
incorporated into the Plan at that time and shall be treated as outstanding
options under the Plan. However, each outstanding option so incorporated shall
continue to be governed solely by the terms of the documents evidencing such
option, and no provision of the Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise
modify the rights or obligations of the holders of such incorporated options
with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock.

              C. One or more provisions of the Plan, including (without
limitation) the option/vesting acceleration provisions of Article Two relating
to Changes in Control, may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be extended
to one or more options incorporated from the Predecessor Plan which do not
otherwise contain such provisions.

              D. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) September 30,
2009, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all
outstanding options in connection with a Change in Control. Upon such plan
termination, all outstanding options and unvested stock issuances shall
thereafter continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions
of the documents evidencing such grants or issuances.

         V.   AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

              A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority
to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment
or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect
to stock options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the
Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or
modification. In addition, certain amendments may require stockholder approval
pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.



                                      25.
<PAGE>   26

              B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted under
the Discretionary Option Grant and Salary Investment Option Grant Programs and
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program that are
in each instance in excess of the number of shares then available for issuance
under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually issued under those programs
shall be held in escrow until there is obtained stockholder approval of an
amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock available
for issuance under the Plan. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the date the first such excess issuances are made, then
(i) any unexercised options granted on the basis of such excess shares shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly
refund to the Optionees and the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid
for any excess shares issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with
interest (at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares
were held in escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically cancelled
and cease to be outstanding.

        VI.   USE OF PROCEEDS

              Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate
purposes.

        VII.  REGULATORY APPROVALS

              A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock
option under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon
the exercise of any granted option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program
shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits
required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock
options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

              B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or
delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with
all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the
filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares
of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements
of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which
Common Stock is then listed for trading.

        VIII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

              Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the
Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration
or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the
Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each,
to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.


                                      26.
<PAGE>   27


                                    APPENDIX


              The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

              A. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the automatic option
grant program in effect under the Plan.

              B. BENEFICIARY shall mean, in the event the Plan Administrator
implements a beneficiary designation procedure, the person designated by an
Optionee or Participant, pursuant to such procedure, to succeed to such person's
rights under any outstanding awards held by him or her at the time of death. In
the absence of such designation or procedure, the Beneficiary shall be the
personal representative of the estate of the Optionee or Participant or the
person or persons to whom the award is transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution.

              C. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.

              D. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control
of the Corporation effected through any of the following transactions:

                  (i) a merger, consolidation or reorganization approved by the
         Corporation's stockholders, unless securities representing more than
         fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the voting
         securities of the successor corporation are immediately thereafter
         beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in substantially the
         same proportion, by the persons who beneficially owned the
         Corporation's outstanding voting securities immediately prior to such
         transaction,

                  (ii) any stockholder-approved transfer or other disposition of
         all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets, or

                  (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or
         related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
         directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
         control with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership (within the
         meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more
         than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
         Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
         offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board
         recommends such stockholders accept.

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

              F. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.


                                      A-1.
<PAGE>   28


              G. CORPORATION shall mean Crossroads Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the
assets or voting stock of Crossroads Systems, Inc. which shall by appropriate
action adopt the Plan.

              H. DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the director fee
option grant program in effect under the Plan.

              I. DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the discretionary
option grant program in effect under the Plan.

              J. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.

              K. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the Corporation
shall have received written notice of the option exercise.

              L. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant
date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

                  (i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
         National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
         selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as
         such price is reported on the Nasdaq National Market or any successor
         system. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on
         the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
         selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
         exists.

                  (ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
         Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price
         per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
         determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the
         Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape
         of transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price
         for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market
         Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for
         which such quotation exists.

                  (iii) For purposes of any option grants made on the
         Underwriting Date, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to
         the price per share at which the Common Stock is to be sold in the
         initial public offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

                  (iv) For purposes of any options made prior to the
         Underwriting Date, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the
         Plan Administrator, after taking into account such factors as it deems
         appropriate.



                                      A-2.
<PAGE>   29

              M. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean:

                  (i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or
         related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
         directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
         control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the
         meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more
         than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
         Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
         offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board
         does not recommend such stockholders to accept, or

                  (ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
         thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
         Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for
         Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have
         been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or
         (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during
         such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in
         clause (A) who were still in office at the time the Board approved such
         election or nomination.

              N. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.

              O. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION shall mean the termination of the
Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:

                  (i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or discharge by
         the Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or

                  (ii) such individual's voluntary resignation following (A) a
         change in his or her position with the Corporation or Parent or
         Subsidiary employing the individual which materially reduces his or her
         duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or
         she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation
         (including base salary, fringe benefits and target bonus under any
         performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen
         percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual's place of
         employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such
         change, reduction or relocation is effected by the Corporation without
         the individual's consent.

              P. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use
or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any intentional wrongdoing by such
person, whether by omission or commission, which adversely affects the business
or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in



                                      A-3.
<PAGE>   30

a material manner. This shall not limit the grounds for the dismissal or
discharge of any person in the Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary).

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

              R. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

              S. OPTION SURRENDER VALUE shall mean the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the Corporation
or, in the event of a Hostile Take-Over, effected through a tender offer, the
highest reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in
effecting such Hostile Take-Over, if greater. However, if the surrendered option
is an Incentive Option, the Option Surrender Value shall not exceed the Fair
Market Value per share.

              T. OPTIONEE shall mean any person to whom an option is granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant, Automatic
Option Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program.

              U. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation)
in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.

              V. PARTICIPANT shall mean any person who is issued shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

              W. PERMANENT DISABILITY OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED shall mean the
inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve
(12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Option Grant
and Director Fee Option Grant Programs, Permanent Disability or Permanently
Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member to perform
his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be
of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

              X. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as
set forth in this document.

              Y. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the particular entity, whether
the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized
to administer the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant and
Stock Issuance Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons,
to the extent such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under
those programs with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction.



                                      A-4.
<PAGE>   31
However, the Primary Committee shall have the plenary authority to make all
factual determinations and to construe and interpret any and all ambiguities
under the Plan to the extent such authority is not otherwise expressly delegated
to any other Plan Administrator.

              Z. PREDECESSOR PLAN shall mean the Corporation's pre-existing 1996
Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan in effect immediately prior to the Plan
Effective Date hereunder.

              AA. PRIMARY COMMITTEE shall mean the committee of two (2) or more
non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders and to administer the Salary Investment Option Grant Program with
respect to all eligible individuals.

              BB. SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the salary
investment grant program in effect under the Plan.

              CC. SECONDARY COMMITTEE shall mean a committee of one (1) or more
Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than
Section 16 Insiders.

              DD. SECTION 12 REGISTRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the
Common Stock is first registered under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act.

              EE. SECTION 16 INSIDER shall mean an officer or director of the
Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the
1934 Act.

              FF. SERVICE shall mean the performance of services for the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an
Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or
independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the
documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance.

              GG. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock Exchange
or the New York Stock Exchange.

              HH. STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM shall mean the stock issuance program
in effect under the Plan.

              II. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.

              JJ. 10% STOCKHOLDER shall mean the owner of stock (as determined
under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).



                                      A-5.
<PAGE>   32

              KK. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.

              LL. UNDERWRITING DATE shall mean the date on which the
Underwriting Agreement is executed and priced in connection with an initial
public offering of the Common Stock.

              MM. WITHHOLDING TAXES shall mean the Federal, state and local
income and employment withholding tax liabilities to which the holder of
Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock may become subject in
connection with the exercise of those options or the vesting of those shares.



                                      A-6.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.2

                            CROSSROADS SYSTEMS, INC.
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN



    I.   PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

         This 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to promote the
interests of Crossroads Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing
eligible employees with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the
Corporation through participation in a payroll-deduction based employee stock
purchase plan designed to qualify under Section 423 of the Code.

         Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the attached Appendix.

    II.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

         The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to interpret and
construe any provision of the Plan and to adopt such rules and regulations for
administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Decisions of the Plan Administrator
shall be final and binding on all parties having an interest in the Plan.

    III. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN

         A. The stock purchasable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized
but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock
purchased on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which
may be issued over the term of the Plan shall initially be limited to Four
Hundred Fifty Thousand (450,000) shares.

         B. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under
the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of each calendar
year during the term of the Plan, beginning with the 2001 calendar year, by an
amount equal to one percent (1%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on
the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar year, but in no event
shall such annual increase exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) shares.

         C. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of
shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without
the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be
made to the maximum number and class of securities issuable in the aggregate
under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities purchasable per
Participant and in the aggregate on any one Purchase Date and (iii) the number
and class of securities and the price per share in effect under each outstanding
purchase right in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits
thereunder.


<PAGE>   2


    IV.  OFFERING PERIODS

         A. Shares of Common Stock shall be offered for purchase under the Plan
through a series of successive offering periods until such time as (i) the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner terminated.

         B. Each offering period shall be of such duration (not to exceed
twenty-four (24) months) as determined by the Plan Administrator prior to the
start date of such offering period. However, the initial offering period shall
commence at the Effective Time and terminate on the last business day in
November 2001. Subsequent offering periods shall commence as designated by the
Plan Administrator.

         C. Each offering period shall be comprised of a series of one or more
successive Purchase Intervals. Purchase Intervals shall run from the first
business day in June each year to the last business day in November of the same
year and from the first business day in December each year to the last business
day in May of the following year. However, the first Purchase Interval in effect
under the initial offering period shall commence at the Effective Time and
terminate on the last business day in May 2000.

         D. Should the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any
Purchase Date within an offering period be less than the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the start date of that offering period, then that
offering period shall automatically terminate immediately after the purchase of
shares of Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and a new offering period shall
commence on the next business day following such Purchase Date. The new offering
period shall have a duration of twenty (24) months, unless a shorter duration is
established by the Plan Administrator within five (5) business days following
the start date of that offering period.

    V.   ELIGIBILITY

         A. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee on the start date of an
offering period under the Plan may enter that offering period on such start date
or on any subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period,
provided he or she remains an Eligible Employee.

         B. Each individual who first becomes an Eligible Employee after the
start date of an offering period may enter that offering period on any
subsequent Semi-Annual Entry Date within that offering period on which he or she
is an Eligible Employee.

         C. The date an individual enters an offering period shall be designated
his or her Entry Date for purposes of that offering period.

         D. To participate in the Plan for a particular offering period, the
Eligible Employee must complete the enrollment forms prescribed by the Plan
Administrator (including a


                                       2
<PAGE>   3


stock purchase agreement and a payroll deduction authorization) and file such
forms with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) on or before his or her
scheduled Entry Date.

    VI.  PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

         A. The payroll deduction authorized by the Participant for purposes of
acquiring shares of Common Stock during an offering period may be any multiple
of one percent (1%) of the Base Salary paid to the Participant during each
Purchase Interval within that offering period, up to a maximum of fifteen
percent (15%). The deduction rate so authorized shall continue in effect
throughout the offering period, except to the extent such rate is changed in
accordance with the following guidelines:

            (i)   The Participant may, at any time during the offering period,
                  reduce his or her rate of payroll deduction to become
                  effective as soon as possible after filing the appropriate
                  form with the Plan Administrator. The Participant may not,
                  however, effect more than one (1) such reduction per Purchase
                  Interval.

            (ii)  The Participant may, prior to the commencement of any new
                  Purchase Interval within the offering period, increase the
                  rate of his or her payroll deduction by filing the appropriate
                  form with the Plan Administrator. The new rate (which may not
                  exceed the fifteen percent (15%) maximum) shall become
                  effective on the start date of the first Purchase Interval
                  following the filing of such form.

         B. Payroll deductions shall begin on the first pay day following the
Participant's Entry Date into the offering period and shall (unless sooner
terminated by the Participant) continue through the pay day ending with or
immediately prior to the last day of that offering period. The amounts so
collected shall be credited to the Participant's book account under the Plan,
but no interest shall be paid on the balance from time to time outstanding in
such account. The amounts collected from the Participant shall not be required
to be held in any segregated account or trust fund and may be commingled with
the general assets of the Corporation and used for general corporate purposes.

         C. Payroll deductions shall automatically cease upon the termination of
the Participant's purchase right in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

         D. The Participant's acquisition of Common Stock under the Plan on any
Purchase Date shall neither limit nor require the Participant's acquisition of
Common Stock on any subsequent Purchase Date, whether within the same or a
different offering period.

    VII. PURCHASE RIGHTS

         A. GRANT OF PURCHASE RIGHT. A Participant shall be granted a separate
purchase right for each offering period in which he or she participates. The
purchase right shall be granted on the Participant's Entry Date into the
offering period and shall provide the Participant with the right to purchase
shares of Common Stock, in a series of successive


                                       3
<PAGE>   4


installments over the remainder of such offering period, upon the terms set
forth below. The Participant shall execute a stock purchase agreement embodying
such terms and such other provisions (not inconsistent with the Plan) as the
Plan Administrator may deem advisable.

         Under no circumstances shall purchase rights be granted under the Plan
to any Eligible Employee if such individual would, immediately after the grant,
own (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) or hold outstanding options or
other rights to purchase, stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Corporation
or any Corporate Affiliate.

         B. EXERCISE OF THE PURCHASE RIGHT. Each purchase right shall be
automatically exercised in installments on each successive Purchase Date within
the offering period, and shares of Common Stock shall accordingly be purchased
on behalf of each Participant (other than Participants whose payroll deductions
have previously been refunded pursuant to the Termination of Purchase Right
provisions below) on each such Purchase Date. The purchase shall be effected by
applying the Participant's payroll deductions for the Purchase Interval ending
on such Purchase Date to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at the
purchase price in effect for the Participant for that Purchase Date.

         C. PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price per share at which Common Stock
will be purchased on the Participant's behalf on each Purchase Date within the
offering period shall be equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of (i)
the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the Participant's Entry Date
into that offering period or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on that Purchase Date.

         D. NUMBER OF PURCHASABLE SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable by a Participant on each Purchase Date during the offering period
shall be the number of whole shares obtained by dividing the amount collected
from the Participant through payroll deductions during the Purchase Interval
ending with that Purchase Date by the purchase price in effect for the
Participant for that Purchase Date. However, the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date shall not
exceed Seven Hundred Fifty (750) shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the
event of certain changes in the Corporation's capitalization. In addition, the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in the aggregate by all
Participants on any one Purchase Date under the Plan and the International Plan
shall not exceed One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (112,500) shares,
subject to periodic adjustments in the event of certain changes in the
corporation's capitalization.

         E. EXCESS PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. Any payroll deductions not applied to the
purchase of shares of Common Stock on any Purchase Date because they are not
sufficient to purchase a whole share of Common Stock shall be held for the
purchase of Common Stock on the next Purchase Date. However, any payroll
deductions not applied to the purchase of Common Stock by reason of the
limitation on the maximum number of shares purchasable on the Purchase Date
shall be promptly refunded.

         F. TERMINATION OF PURCHASE RIGHT. The following provisions shall govern
the termination of outstanding purchase rights:


                                       4
<PAGE>   5


            (i)   A Participant may, at any time prior to the next scheduled
Purchase Date in the offering period, terminate his or her outstanding purchase
right by filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator (or its
designate), and no further payroll deductions shall be collected from the
Participant with respect to the terminated purchase right. Any payroll
deductions collected during the Purchase Interval in which such termination
occurs shall, at the Participant's election, be immediately refunded or held for
the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date. If no such election is made at
the time such purchase right is terminated, then the payroll deductions
collected with respect to the terminated right shall be refunded as soon as
possible.

            (ii)  The termination of such purchase right shall be irrevocable,
and the Participant may not subsequently rejoin the offering period for which
the terminated purchase right was granted. In order to resume participation in
any subsequent offering period, such individual must re-enroll in the Plan (by
making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or before his or
her scheduled Entry Date into that offering period.

            (iii) Should the Participant cease to remain an Eligible Employee
for any reason (including death, disability or change in status) while his or
her purchase right remains outstanding, then that purchase right shall
immediately terminate, and all of the Participant's payroll deductions for the
Purchase Interval in which the purchase right so terminates shall be immediately
refunded. However, should the Participant cease to remain in active service by
reason of an approved unpaid leave of absence, then the Participant shall have
the right, exercisable up until the last business day of the Purchase Interval
in which such leave commences, to (a) withdraw all the payroll deductions
collected to date on his or her behalf for that Purchase Interval or (b) have
such funds held for the purchase of shares on his or her behalf on the next
scheduled Purchase Date. In no event, however, shall any further payroll
deductions be collected on the Participant's behalf during such leave. Upon the
Participant's return to active service (i) within ninety (90) days following the
commencement of such leave or, (ii) prior to the expiration of any longer period
for which such Participant's right to reemployment with the Corporation is
guaranteed by either statute or contract, his or her payroll deductions under
the Plan shall automatically resume at the rate in effect at the time the leave
began. However, should the Participant's leave of absence exceed ninety (90)
days and his or her re-employment rights not be guaranteed by either statute or
contract, then the Participant's status as an Eligible Employee will be deemed
to terminate on the ninety-first (91st) day of that leave, and such
Participant's purchase right for the offering period in which that leave began
shall thereupon terminate. An individual who returns to active employment
following such a leave shall be treated as a new Employee for purposes of the
Plan and must, in order to resume participation in the Plan, re-enroll in the
Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or before
his or her scheduled Entry Date into the offering period.


                                       5
<PAGE>   6


         G. CHANGE IN CONTROL. Each outstanding purchase right shall
automatically be exercised, immediately prior to the effective date of any
Change in Control, by applying the payroll deductions of each Participant for
the Purchase Interval in which such Change in Control occurs to the purchase of
whole shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per share equal to eighty-five
percent (85%) of the lower of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the Participant's Entry Date into the offering period in which such
Change in Control occurs or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control. However, the
applicable limitations on the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in
the aggregate by all Participants shall not apply to any such purchase.

         The Corporation shall use its best efforts to provide at least ten
(10)-days prior written notice of the occurrence of any Change in Control, and
Participants shall, following the receipt of such notice, have the right to
terminate their outstanding purchase rights prior to the effective date of the
Change in Control.

         H. PRORATION OF PURCHASE RIGHTS. Should the total number of shares of
Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to outstanding purchase rights on any
particular date exceed the number of shares then available for issuance under
the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the
available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, and the payroll
deductions of each Participant, to the extent in excess of the aggregate
purchase price payable for the Common Stock pro-rated to such individual, shall
be refunded.

         I. ASSIGNABILITY. The purchase right shall be exercisable only by the
Participant and shall not be assignable or transferable by the Participant.

         J. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. A Participant shall have no stockholder rights
with respect to the shares subject to his or her outstanding purchase right
until the shares are purchased on the Participant's behalf in accordance with
the provisions of the Plan and the Participant has become a holder of record of
the purchased shares.

    VIII. ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS

         A. No Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to acquire Common
Stock pursuant to any purchase right outstanding under this Plan if and to the
extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase Common Stock
accrued under any other purchase right granted under this Plan and (ii) similar
rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans (within the meaning of
Code Section 423) of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate, would otherwise
permit such Participant to purchase more than Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000) worth of stock of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate
(determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates
such rights are granted) for each calendar year such rights are at any time
outstanding.

         B. For purposes of applying such accrual limitations to the purchase
rights granted under the Plan, the following provisions shall be in effect:


                                       6
<PAGE>   7


            (i)   The right to acquire Common Stock under each outstanding
    purchase right shall accrue in a series of installments on each successive
    Purchase Date during the offering period on which such right remains
    outstanding.

            (ii)  No right to acquire Common Stock under any outstanding
    purchase right shall accrue to the extent the Participant has already
    accrued in the same calendar year the right to acquire Common Stock under
    one (1) or more other purchase rights at a rate equal to Twenty-Five
    Thousand Dollars ($25,000) worth of Common Stock (determined on the basis of
    the Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates of grant) for each
    calendar year such rights were at any time outstanding.

         C. If by reason of such accrual limitations, any purchase right of a
Participant does not accrue for a particular Purchase Interval, then the payroll
deductions which the Participant made during that Purchase Interval with respect
to such purchase right shall be promptly refunded.

         D. In the event there is any conflict between the provisions of this
Article and one or more provisions of the Plan or any instrument issued
thereunder, the provisions of this Article shall be controlling.

    IX.  EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

         A. The Plan was adopted by the Board on September 15, 1999 and shall
become effective at the Effective Time, provided no purchase rights granted
under the Plan shall be exercised, and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued
hereunder, until (i) the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of
the Corporation and (ii) the Corporation shall have complied with all applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act (including the registration of the shares of Common
Stock issuable under the Plan on a Form S-8 registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission), all applicable listing requirements of
any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which the
Common Stock is listed for trading and all other applicable requirements
established by law or regulation. In the event such stockholder approval is not
obtained, or such compliance is not effected, within twelve (12) months after
the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, the Plan shall terminate and
have no further force or effect, and all sums collected from Participants during
the initial offering period hereunder shall be refunded.

         B. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall terminate upon
the earliest of (i) the last business day in November 2009, (ii) the date on
which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have been sold
pursuant to purchase rights exercised under the Plan or (iii) the date on which
all purchase rights are exercised in connection with a Corporate Transaction. No
further purchase rights shall be granted or exercised, and no further payroll
deductions shall be collected, under the Plan following such termination.


                                       7
<PAGE>   8


    X.   AMENDMENT/TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

         A. The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time to become effective immediately following the close of any Purchase
Interval. However, the Plan may be amended or terminated immediately upon Board
action, if and to the extent necessary to assure that the Corporation will not
recognize, for financial reporting purposes, any compensation expense in
connection with the shares of Common Stock offered for purchase under the Plan,
should the financial accounting rules applicable to the Plan at the Effective
Time be subsequently revised so as to require the recognition of compensation
expense in the absence of such amendment or termination.

         B. In no event may the Board effect any of the following amendments or
revisions to the Plan without the approval of the Corporation's stockholders:
(i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan,
except for permissible adjustments in the event of certain changes in the
Corporation's capitalization, (ii) alter the purchase price formula so as to
reduce the purchase price payable for the shares of Common Stock purchasable
under the Plan or (iii) modify eligibility requirements for participation in the
Plan.

    XI.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

         A. Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to
continue in the employ of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate for any
period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way
the rights of the Corporation (or any Corporate Affiliate employing such person)
or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to
terminate such person's employment at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.

         B. All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan
shall be paid by the Corporation; however, each Plan Participant shall bear all
costs and expenses incurred by such individual in the sale or other disposition
of any shares purchased under the Plan.

         C. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Texas without regard to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.


                                       8
<PAGE>   9


                                   SCHEDULE A

                          CORPORATIONS PARTICIPATING IN
                        1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                            AS OF THE EFFECTIVE TIME

                            Crossroads Systems, Inc.
                        Crossroads Systems (Texas), Inc.



<PAGE>   10





                                    APPENDIX


         The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

         A. BASE SALARY shall mean the base salary payable to a Participant by
one or more Participating Corporations during such individual's period of
participation in one or more offering periods under the Plan; Base Salary shall
not include any overtime payments, bonuses, commissions, current profit-sharing
distributions or other incentive-type payments. Such Base Salary shall be
calculated before deduction of (A) any income or employment tax withholdings or
(B) any pre-tax contributions made by the Participant to any Code Section 401(k)
salary deferral plan or any Code Section 125 cafeteria benefit program now or
hereafter established by the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate.

         B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.

         C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change of ownership of the
Corporation pursuant to any of the following transactions:

                (i)   a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing
     more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
     Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons
     different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to
     such transaction, or

                (ii)  the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
     substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in complete liquidation
     or dissolution of the Corporation, or

                (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by a person or
     related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
     directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common
     control with the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
     of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty
     percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
     outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly
     to the Corporation's stockholders.

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

         E. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.

         F. CORPORATE AFFILIATE shall mean any parent or subsidiary corporation
of the Corporation (as determined in accordance with Code Section 424), whether
now existing or subsequently established.


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<PAGE>   11


         G. CORPORATION shall mean Crossroads Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the
assets or voting stock of Crossroads Systems, Inc. which shall by appropriate
action adopt the Plan.

         H. EFFECTIVE TIME shall mean the time at which the Underwriting
Agreement is executed. Any Corporate Affiliate which becomes a Participating
Corporation after such Effective Time shall designate a subsequent Effective
Time with respect to its employee-Participants.

         I. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE shall mean any person who is employed by a
Participating Corporation on a basis under which he or she is regularly expected
to render more than twenty (20) hours of service per week for more than five (5)
months per calendar year for earnings considered wages under Code Section
3401(a).

         J. ENTRY DATE shall mean the date an Eligible Employee first commences
participation in the offering period in effect under the Plan. The earliest
Entry Date under the Plan shall be the Effective Time.

         K. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

                (i)   If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq
     National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
     price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is
     reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq
     National Market or any successor system. If there is no closing selling
     price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market
     Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for
     which such quotation exists.

                (ii)  If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
     Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
     share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
     determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the
     Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of
     transactions on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the
     Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be
     the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such
     quotation exists.

                (iii) For purposes of the initial offering period which begins
     at the Effective Time, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to
     the price per share at which the Common Stock is sold in the initial public
     offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

         L. 1933 ACT shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                      A-2


<PAGE>   12


         M. PARTICIPANT shall mean any Eligible Employee of a Participating
Corporation who is actively participating in the Plan.

         N. PARTICIPATING CORPORATION shall mean the Corporation and such
Corporate Affiliate or Affiliates as may be authorized from time to time by the
Board to extend the benefits of the Plan to their Eligible Employees. The
Participating Corporations in the Plan are listed in attached Schedule A.

         O. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan,
as set forth in this document.

         P. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the committee of two (2) or more Board
members appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

         Q. PURCHASE DATE shall mean the last business day of each Purchase
Interval. The initial Purchase Date shall be May 31, 2000.

         R. PURCHASE INTERVAL shall mean each successive six (6)-month period
within the offering period at the end of which there shall be purchased shares
of Common Stock on behalf of each Participant.

         S. SEMI-ANNUAL ENTRY DATE shall mean the first business day in June and
December each year on which an Eligible Employee may first enter an offering
period.

         T. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange.

         U. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the Corporation's
initial public offering of its Common Stock.



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