IPL SYSTEMS INC
10-K, 1998-01-29
COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES
Previous: RESERVE INSTITUTIONAL TRUST, NSAR-A, 1998-01-29
Next: ADVANCED OXYGEN TECHNOLOGIES INC, 3, 1998-01-29



<PAGE>   1
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 10-K

    [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1997

                                       OR

    [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 0-10370


                                IPL SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

         MASSACHUSETTS                                         04-2511897
  (State or jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)


                 124 ACTON STREET, MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS 01754
              (Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

                                 (508) 461-1000
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code)

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

        SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

                      CLASS A COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
                                (Title of Class)

Indicate by a check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter periods that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No __

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.

The aggregate market value of Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant as of January 15, 1998 was $9,329,154 based on the closing sale price
of such stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market(*) The number of shares outstanding
of the Registrant's Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value, was 23,819,399 on
January 15, 1998.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain portions of the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), no later than 120
days after October 31, 1997, pursuant to Regulation 14A in connection with the
1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 8, 1998 are incorporated
herein by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

- --------

(*) Excludes 18,078,381 shares of Common Stock held by directors and officers
and shareholders whose beneficial ownership equaled or exceeded 10% of the
shares outstanding on January 15, 1998. Exclusion of shares held by any person
should not be construed to indicate that such person possess the power, direct
or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of the
Registrant or that such person is controlled by or under common control with the
Registrant.

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results could
differ materially from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute
to such differences include, but are not limited to, those found in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K in Part I, Item 1 under the caption "Certain Risk Factors
Related to the Company's Business", in Part II, Item 7 under the caption
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and additional factors discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report.

PART I

ITEM  1.   BUSINESS

INTRODUCTION

IPL Systems, Inc. ("IPL" or the "Company") was incorporated in Massachusetts in
January 1973. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the "Company" and "IPL"
each refers to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

On June 3, 1997, IPL completed a business combination with ANDATACO, a
California corporation ("ANDATACO"), whereby ANDATACO was merged with a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IPL (the "Merger"). Although as a legal matter the
Merger resulted in ANDATACO becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of IPL, for
financial reporting purposes the Merger was treated as a recapitalization of
ANDATACO and an acquisition of IPL by ANDATACO. The financial reporting
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission require that the
financial statements reported by IPL subsequent to the Merger be those of
ANDATACO, which include the results of operations of IPL from the date of the
Merger.

The Company intends to submit a proposal to its Stockholders at the 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders that the Company name be changed from IPL Systems, Inc.
to ANDATACO, Inc.

OVERVIEW

IPL designs, manufactures, and distributes storage solutions based on its
Application-Specific Architecture ("ASA") for Windows NT and UNIX environments.
The Company develops products to meet the individual performance and
availability profiles of storage-intensive applications in its target markets.

The Company's open-architecture solutions include Redundant Array of Independent
Disks ("RAID") and RAID-ready disk arrays; tape backup and restore products; web
storage management and other storage management utilities; and data sharing,
remote mirroring and disaster recovery software. These products support multiple
server platforms, including Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Silicon Graphics,
Inc. and various NT systems. The Company backs its products with maintenance,
technical support and customized consulting services programs.

The customers for the Company's products represent a cross-section of industries
and government agencies operating in distributed client/server as well as
centralized computing environments. These customers range in size from FORTUNE
1000 companies to small businesses, and from national to local governments. No
one customer accounted for more than 10 percent of total revenue during fiscal
years 1997, 1996 or 1995. The Company focused its efforts in 1997 on
identifying, and developing solutions for, selected market segments in which
ASA-based technology could provide customers with application-specific storage.
These markets include, high technology development companies, oil and gas
exploration, financial and retail markets with large data warehouse and
relational database installations, and video and entertainment.

The Company distributes internally developed products, as well as products from
other manufacturers through direct, indirect and original equipment manufacturer
("OEM") sales and service channels throughout the world. Historically the
reseller business or the sale of third party non-GigaRAID products



                                       1
<PAGE>   3

accounted for the majority of the Company's revenues, representing 100% of
revenues in fiscal 1995 and declining to 37.2% and 34.6% in fiscal 1996 and
1997, respectively.

The Company's goal is to become the leading provider of open systems storage
solutions. The principal elements of the Company's business strategy are as
follows:

- -        Develop open systems products based on its intelligent enclosure and
         controller technology.

- -        Cooperate with leading hardware and software developers, resellers and
         systems integrators to enhance its storage and storage management
         product offerings for end users.

- -        Develop solutions for the OEM market based on its enclosure and
         controller technology as well as its web storage management software.

- -        Expand its service business through the Professional Services Group
         which was established during the past year.

- -        Focus on increasing gross margins, following the improvement from
         fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1997.

- -        Focus increased resources on the design, development, manufacturing and
         marketing of internally developed and GigaRAID products.

SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Merger with ANDATACO

On June 3, 1997, IPL consummated the Merger with ANDATACO. Under the terms of
the merger agreement, the shareholders of ANDATACO were issued a total of
18,078,381 shares of IPL Class A Common Stock (the "Common Stock") in exchange
for all outstanding shares of capital stock of ANDATACO. The business
combination with ANDATACO has allowed the Company to achieve several strategic
objectives, including acquiring ANDATACO's customer base, increasing the
Company's revenues, realizing certain cost savings and adding ANDATACO's skilled
and experienced personnel.

The Merger was accounted for using the purchase method. Accordingly, the
purchase price was allocated to the estimated fair market value of identifiable
tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Based upon an
independent valuation, the Company allocated $2,400,000 to acquired in-process
research and development for which there is no future alternative use and
$400,000 to existing proprietary technology for which technological feasibility
had been established. As required by generally accepted accounting principles,
the amount allocated to in-process technology was recorded as a one-time charge
to operations and the amount allocated to existing technology was amortized over
its estimated remaining economic life. The excess of the purchase price over the
identifiable net assets acquired of $8,362,000 was recorded as goodwill and is
being amortized on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life of five
years.

PRODUCTS

The Company strives to meet its customers' storage and information management
needs by providing the market with comprehensive, performance-oriented and
flexible storage solutions. During 1997, the Company developed and introduced
ASA. Through ASA, the attributes of storage products are matched to the unique
data patterns of the applications driving storage growth in the Company's target
markets. These applications include digital video, seismic processing, data
warehousing, online transaction processing (OLTP) and general technology
development. ASA-based products announced in 1997 include GigaRAID/HA and
GigaRAID/SX. These products are additions to the GigaRAID High Availability
Series (the "GigaRAID Series") of advanced disk arrays, RAID-ready disk arrays,
disk and tape library systems, and data management software consisting of
distributed network backup recovery and restore solutions.

The GigaRAID Series is a family of RAID and RAID-ready disk and tape storage
systems that are combined with ANDATACO's proprietary, award-winning modular
packaging architecture, Enterprise Storage Packaging ("ESP"), to create complete
storage solutions. The GigaRAID/HA provides high 



                                       2
<PAGE>   4

performance and availability for database/OLTP applications characterized by
small block/random data processing. Other GigaRAID Series products, including
the GigaRAID/SX, offer high performance and availability for certain data
warehouse, seismic processing and video applications characterized by large
block, sequential processing.

RAID is a method of storing data on disk/tape drives controlled either by
software in the host computer or by a hardware-based controller board that
either physically resides in the host computer or inside the storage system
itself. In contrast, RAID-ready storage systems do not use any of the foregoing
RAID storage system methodologies; rather they rely on the host system to
perform the RAID functions, while maintaining the high-availability attributes
required of a RAID enclosure.

GigaRAID products differ from other RAID and RAID-ready systems. The primary
difference is that GigaRAID incorporates the Company's ESP, which contains
features that provide for (i) hot swappable disk and tape canisters; (ii) error
reporting of critical components, such as temperature, power and fan health, and
hard and soft disk/tape error rates, all of which can be reported through
visual, audible and electronic media; (iii) the ability to support most types of
older and newer generation SCSI disk/tape interfaces, such as Ultra SCSI; (iv)
cableless architecture; and (v) the ability to support drives that operate at
10,000 RPMs. Another key differentiator for the GigaRAID Series is its software,
Web Storage Manager (WSM). WSM was one of the first browser-based storage
management software to be released on the market, and allows easy-to-use
graphical user interface for both RAID-ready and RAID products. The GigaRAID
Series includes GigaRAID/SA, which is a rackmount or deskside-tower single
controller Ultra SCSI RAID system, and GigaRAID/HA, which is a rackmount single
or dual controller Ultra SCSI RAID system.

The GigaRAID Series product line also includes GigaRAID 3000, which is a desktop
disk/tape based non-RAID storage system and GigaRAID 8000, which is a rackmount
or deskside tower disk/tape based non-RAID storage system. The Company also
markets automatic tape libraries and DLT tape technology.

SALES AND MARKETING

The Company distributes its internally developed products, and products from
other manufacturers, through a network of 23 sales offices, and through
distributors in Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada and Australia. In the United
States, the Company sells its products directly to end users through its field
sales organization and indirectly through selected distributors. The Company's
domestic sales organization consists of approximately 71 persons located in 23
sales offices in 12 states. The Company's sales force is supported by its
Professional Services Group, a group comprised of the professional services
division and technical support personnel consisting of approximately 12 system
engineers who provide on-site maintenance, help desk support, contract
programming, project management, and consulting services. The Professional
Services Group, which was formed in late fiscal 1997, will serve an integral
role in the Company's sales and marketing strategy, by providing superior
customer service and technical support.

During 1997, the Company transitioned its sales force from a distribution sales
model to a solution-selling model. This transition was necessary in order to
attain higher margin and higher volume sales. The Company recruited and hired a
senior level vice president of worldwide sales to implement the solution-
selling model by attracting senior sales executives with the ability to
penetrate large accounts.

The multi-billion dollar open systems market continues to demonstrate rapid
growth in storage requirements, primarily driven by continued deployment of new
client/server applications. This market is characterized by a broad mix of
computing platforms that offer customers the ability to quickly develop new
applications required for today's highly competitive business environment. The
Company's primary market, RAID disk storage, is estimated by International Data
Corporation (IDC) to account for 83% of total storage revenue, or $19 billion,
currently. By the year 2000, IDC projects that 90% of all multi-user storage
subsystem revenue will be RAID-based. IDC further projects that the UNIX market
will grow to $12.5 billion in revenues by the year 2000, and that the Windows NT
market will grow to $8.4 billion in the same year. The Company intends to
continue product development based on Ultra SCSI and fibre



                                       3
<PAGE>   5

channel drive interfaces. IDC projects a continuing strong market for Ultra SCSI
with some flattening out by 1999, and growth for fibre channel through the year
2000.

ORDER BACKLOG

The Company generally ships products within 30 days after receipt of a purchase
order. Historically, the Company has had little backlog at any given time and
does not consider backlog to be a significant or important measure of sales for
any future period. As a result, net product revenue in any quarter is dependent
on orders booked and products shipped during that quarter.

MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIERS

Manufacture of the Company's disk drive sub-systems and tape drive systems
involves the assembly of purchased electro/mechanical components, custom-made
printed circuit boards fabricated in accordance with the Company's proprietary
designs, storage devices, standard integrated circuits and power supplies. All
products manufactured by the Company in this manner are then tested in the
Company's quality assurance program.

The Company has, and will continue to, rely on outside vendors to manufacture
certain electronic components and subassemblies used in the production of the
Company's products. Certain components, subassemblies, materials and equipment
necessary for the manufacture of the Company's products are obtained from a sole
supplier or a limited group of suppliers. The Company's reliance on sole
suppliers or a limited group of suppliers involves several risks, including a
potential inability to obtain an adequate supply of required products, reduced
control over the price, timely delivery, reliability and quality of finished
products. The Company does not have any long-term supply agreements with its
suppliers. Certain of the Company's suppliers have relatively limited financial
and other resources. Any inability to obtain timely deliveries of products and
services having acceptable qualities, or any other circumstance that could
require the Company to seek alternative sources of supply or to manufacture its
own electronic components, subassemblies and manufacturing equipment internally,
could delay the Company's ability to ship its products. Any such delay could
damage relationships with customers and could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business and operating results. See "Certain Risk Factors Related
to the Company's Business - Dependence on Suppliers."

COMPETITION

The computer data storage industry is intensely competitive and is characterized
by rapid technological change and constant price pressure. The Company competes
with a number of companies in various markets, including EMC Corporation,
Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, Compaq Computer Corporation
and Digital Equipment Corporation ("DEC"), each of which has substantially
greater name recognition, engineering, manufacturing and marketing capabilities,
and greater financial and personnel resources than the Company. The Company
believes that to date no dominant leader has emerged in the high bandwidth
segment of the open systems market. The Company expects to experience increased
competition from established and emerging computer storage hardware and
management software companies, particularly DEC, Hewlett-Packard, Sun
Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, Compaq and EMC Corporation.



                                       4
<PAGE>   6

In addition, increased competitive pressure could lead to intensified
priced-based competition, which could result in a decline in both sales volume
and price reductions. These factors would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations. There also has been, and may continue to be, a
willingness on the part of certain large competitors to reduce prices in order
to preserve or gain market share, which cannot be foreseen by the Company. The
Company believes that pricing pressures are likely to continue as competitors
develop more competitive product offerings.

The principal elements of competition in the Company's markets include rapid
introduction of new technology, product quality and reliability, price and
performance characteristics, service and support, and responsiveness to
customers. The Company believes that, in general, it competes favorably in many
of these areas. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to compete successfully or that competition will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations. See "Certain Risk Factors Related
to the Company's Business - Competition and Risks Associated with New Product
Introductions and Rapid Technological and Market Changes."

PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY

The Company believes that its success in developing new products depends
primarily upon the technical competence and creative skills of its personnel
rather than on the ownership of copyrights or patents. Although the Company
believes that its products and other proprietary rights do not infringe the
proprietary rights of third parties, there can be no assurance that other third
parties will not assert infringement claims against the Company or that such
claims will not be successful. If any infringement exists the Company would
seek, based upon industry practice, licenses to such patents, but there can be
no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain any such licenses on terms
which would not have a material adverse effect on its business. The Company also
relies on unpatented proprietary technology, and there can be no assurance that
others may not independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise
obtain access to the Company's proprietary technology. To protect its rights in
these areas, the Company requires all employees to enter into confidentiality
agreements. There can be no assurance that these agreements will provide
meaningful protection for the Company's trade secrets, know-how or other
proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation
or disclosure of such trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information.
If the Company is unable to maintain the proprietary nature of its technologies,
the Company's business could be adversely affected.

REGULATORY APPROVALS

All of the Company's current and proposed products have to comply with and have
regulatory or independent laboratory approval based on emissions and safety
standards for computing equipment. Delays in complying with such standards or in
obtaining any such approvals could delay introductions of new products.

International sales are subject to compliance with laws of various countries,
import/export restrictions and tariff regulations. While IPL is aware that it
may be subject to export restrictions with respect to certain countries, it has
not experienced difficulty in obtaining export licenses from the United States
Department of Commerce for sales into countries where it presently sells.



EMPLOYEES

As of January 15, 1998, the Company employed approximately 218 full-time
employees, of whom approximately 20 were employed in research and development,
110 in sales, marketing and customer support and 88 in operations and
administration. None of the Company's employees is represented by a labor union
or subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The Company's management
believes its employee relations to be good.



                                       5
<PAGE>   7

Executive Officers and Key Employees

The executive officers and key employees of the Company and their ages as of
January 15, 1998 are as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           NAME                        AGE     POSITIONS HELD
<S>                                    <C>     <C>
           Harris Ravine               55      Chief Executive Officer of the Company
           W. David Sykes              41      President
           Richard A. Hudzik           54      Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
                                               Treasurer and Clerk
           Peter W. Bell               32      Vice President of Worldwide Sales
           Anita D. Buchanan           55      Vice President of Marketing
</TABLE>


         Harris Ravine was elected Chairman of the Board and appointed Chief
Executive Officer of the Company upon the consummation of the Merger. Mr. Ravine
has served as Chief Executive Officer and as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of ANDATACO since June 1997. From 1995 through May 1997, he was a principal in
BI Capital, a private venture capital group investing in technology and medical
start up opportunities. From 1985 to 1994, Mr. Ravine held senior executive
positions with Storage Technology Corporation, most recently as Executive Vice
President, Chief Administrative Officer and Group Officer for midrange and UNIX
applications. Mr. Ravine is a member of the board of directors of Amplicon
Financial, Inc., a publicly-held financial services company.

         W. David Sykes founded ANDATACO in November 1986 and served as its
President and Chief Executive Officer until the Merger, at which time Mr. Sykes
was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and appointed President of
the Company. He has also served as a director of ANDATACO since November 1986.

         Richard A. Hudzik joined ANDATACO as Chief Financial Officer in October
1996 and was appointed Vice President - Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Clerk of the Company at the time of the Merger. From November 1990
through October 1996, Mr. Hudzik served as Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Autosplice, Inc., a privately held manufacturer of printed circuit
board components and related equipment. Prior to November 1990, Mr. Hudzik
served in various executive capacities with certain manufacturing and high
technology companies, including ITT and Johnson and Johnson.

           Peter W. Bell has served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales of the
Company since July 1997. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bell was Executive
Vice President of NetXchange Communications, an emerging Internet telephony
software company, where he was responsible for worldwide sales and marketing.
From 1986 to 1996, Mr. Bell held various management positions at EMC
Corporation, including, sales, marketing and operations, and most recently,
Director of the Open Systems Group for North America.

           Anita D. Buchanan joined the Company in 1991 as Director of Corporate
Communications and Investor Relations. Ms. Buchanan was named Vice President of
Marketing in October 1995. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Buchanan was Vice
President of Marketing and Software Sales for Selectrum, Inc., an IBM industry
remarketer and provider of local network solutions for IBM systems.


                                       6
<PAGE>   8

CERTAIN RISK FACTORS RELATED TO THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS

Rapid Technological and Market Changes. The market for the Company's products is
characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving customer needs which
increasingly shorten the life cycles of existing products and require ongoing
development and introduction of new products at an increasingly rapid rate. The
Company's ability to realize its expectations will depend on its success at
enhancing its current offerings, developing new products that keep pace with
developments in technology and meet evolving customer requirements for
performance and price, and delivering those products with appropriate customer
service and support. This will require, among other things, correctly
anticipating customer needs, hiring and retaining personnel with the necessary
skills and creativity, and providing adequate resources for product development.
Failure by the Company to anticipate or respond adequately to technological
developments and customer requirements, significant delays in the development,
product testing, or availability of new or enhanced products, or the failure of
customers to accept such products could adversely affect the Company's
technological position and operating results. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance that the Company's competitors will not succeed in developing products
or technologies that have superior price or performance characteristics compared
to any products being offered or developed by the Company.

Fluctuations in Operating Results; Recent Losses. The Company has recently
experienced losses from operations and may in the future experience further
losses and significant period-to-period fluctuations in operating results. The
Company's revenues in any quarter are dependent on the timing of product
shipments as well as the status of competing product introductions. Like many
other high technology companies, a disproportionately large percentage of
quarterly sales occur in the closing weeks of each quarter.

Dependence on Key Personnel. The success of the Company's operations depends on
its ability to attract and retain experienced technical, sales, marketing and
management personnel. Such personnel are in great demand and the Company must
compete for their services. Any failure to attract and retain such personnel
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to develop and
market competitive products.

Dependence on Suppliers. The Company has and will continue to rely on outside
vendors to manufacture certain subsystems and electronic components and
subassemblies used in the production of the Company's products. Certain
components, subassemblies, materials and equipment necessary for the manufacture
of the Company's products are obtained from a sole supplier or a limited group
of suppliers. The Company's reliance on sole suppliers or a limited group of
suppliers involves several risks, including a potential inability to obtain an
adequate supply of required products and reduced control over the price, timely
delivery, reliability and quality of finished products. The Company does not
have any long-term supply agreements with its suppliers. Certain of the
Company's suppliers have relatively limited financial and other resources. Any
inability to obtain timely deliveries of products and services having acceptable
qualities, or any other circumstance that could require the Company to seek
alternative sources of supply or to manufacture its own electronic components,
subassemblies and manufacturing equipment internally, could delay the Company's
ability to ship its products. Any such delay could damage relationships with
customers and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
operating results.

Quarterly Trends; New Product Introductions. The Company historically has
experienced significant fluctuations in its quarterly revenues and operating
results, including net income, and anticipates that these fluctuations will
continue. Quarterly results have been or may in the future be influenced by the
timing of announcements or introductions of new products and product upgrades by
the Company or its competitors, 



                                       7
<PAGE>   9

customer ordering patterns, and delays in product development. In addition, new
products typically have a lengthy evaluation period before any purchase is made.

Competition and Risks Associated with New Product Introductions. The market for
the Company's products is intensely competitive. Increased competition could
result not only in a decline in sales volume, but also in price reductions that
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating
results and financial condition. In addition, certain of the Company's
suppliers are also competitors. Price reductions made by these suppliers to
their customers without similar price reductions to the Company could have a
material adverse effect on the Company.

Stock Price Volatility. Due to the factors noted above, the Company's future
earnings and stock price may be subject to significant volatility, particularly
on a quarterly basis. Any shortfall in earnings from levels expected by
securities analysts could have an immediate and significant adverse effect on
the trading price of the Company's common stock in any given period. Shortfalls
could be caused by shortfalls in revenues and/or increased levels of
expenditures. Additionally, the Company participates in a highly dynamic
industry, which often results in significant volatility of the Company's stock
price.

Control of Majority Stockholder. W. David Sykes the Company's President and Vice
Chairman of the Board and his affiliates beneficially own 75.9% of the
Company's outstanding Common Stock. As a result, Mr. Sykes will have the ability
to control the election of all the Company's directors, to determine the outcome
of most corporate actions submitted to the vote of the Company's stockholder and
to generally control the affairs and management of the Company. In addition, the
voting power of Mr. Sykes under certain circumstances could have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.

Transition From Reseller Business to Manufacturing Business. Historically, the
reseller business of the Company accounted for the majority of the Company's
revenues. In fiscal 1997, revenue from the sale of third party non-GigaRAID
products accounted for 34.6% of revenues. Such decline is attributed to the
Company's strategy to focus increased resources on the design, development,
manufacturing and marketing of internally developed products. There can be no
assurance, however, that the Company will be successful in developing any new
products. The Company's success will depend, in part, on its ability to
maintain and enhance its existing products and broaden its product offerings by
developing and introducing new products that keep pace with technological
developments in a cost effective manner, respond to evolving customer
preferences and requirements and achieve market acceptance. Lack of market
acceptance for the Company's existing or new products, the Company's failure to
introduce new products in a timely or cost-effective manner, or the Company's
failure to achieve a technological advantage over its competition while also
remaining price competitive, would materially adversely affect the Company's
results of operations and financial condition. There can be no assurance that
the Company will be successful in its product development efforts. In addition,
there can be no assurance that the Company's products, even if successfully
developed, will achieve timely market acceptance.

Moreover, the introduction of products embodying new technology and the
emergence of new industry standards could render the Company's existing
products obsolete and unmarketable. The Company's future success will depend on
its ability to continue to develop and manufacture new competitive products and
to enhance its existing products, both of which will require continued
investment in engineering and product development. The success of product
enhancements and new products depends on a variety of factors, including
product selection and specification, timely and efficient completion of product
design, cost effective implementation of manufacturing and assembly processes
and effective sales and marketing efforts. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully manage all of the diverse aspects of
successful new product development in order to develop and maintain competitive
products.

ITEM  2.   PROPERTIES

The Company's principal administrative, marketing and sales activities are
located in approximately 42,400 square feet of facilities in San Diego,
California leased from an entity owned by the president and principal
shareholder of the Company. The space is occupied under a lease agreement that
expires in March 2003. The Company also leases approximately 24,400 square feet
of office and manufacturing space located in Maynard, Massachusetts, primarily
for research and development activities, for a term extending through March 31,
1998. See Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for
information regarding the Company's obligations under its facilities leases.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no legal proceedings to which the Company is a party, other than
routine litigation incidental to its business, which, in the opinion of its
management, is unlikely to have a material adverse effect on its financial
condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matter was submitted to a vote of the Company's security holders during the
quarter ended October 31, 1997.



                                       8
<PAGE>   10

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the
symbol IPLS. The following table reflects, for the period indicated, the high
and low sales prices for the Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Price
                                                       -----
Year                                       High                        Low
- ----                                       ----                        ---
<S>           <C>                         <C>                       <C>    
1997          First Quarter               $2.125                    $1.3375
              Second Quarter               2.625                     1.4175
              Third Quarter                1.75                      0.9375
              Fourth Quarter               2.75                      1.3125

1996          First Quarter                5.875                     2.50
              Second Quarter               8.25                      3.50
              Third Quarter                4.25                      1.875
              Fourth Quarter               2.50                      1.25
</TABLE>

On January 15, 1998, the last sale price of the Company's Common Stock was
$1.625, and there were approximately 273 record holders and more than 2,565
beneficial holders of the Company's Common Stock.

The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock.
The Company currently intends to retain future earnings to finance the growth
and development of its business.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

During fiscal 1997, the Company has sold and issued the following securities
which were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act").

(1)  On June 3, 1997, the date the Merger was consummated, the Company issued
     92,199 shares of Common Stock to Richard A. Hudzik pursuant to the terms of
     an offer letter entered into between ANDATACO and Mr. Hudzik.

(2)  On October 31, 1997, the Company issued 15,000 shares of Common Stock to
     Thomas Linnell pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement.

The issuance of the Common Stock described in paragraphs (1) and (2) above were
deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended ("Securities Act") by virtue of section 4(2) and/or Regulation D
promulgated thereunder and by virtue of Rule 701 promulgated thereunder in that
the shares were issued pursuant to written contracts relating to compensation,
as provided by Rule 701.

ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

The following financial data, insofar as it relates to each of the fiscal years
1993 through 1997, have been derived from audited consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto. This data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and related
notes thereto set forth at the pages indicated in Item 14(a)(1).



                                       9
<PAGE>   11

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Year Ended October 31,
                                                   ------------------------------------------------
                                                   1997       1996       1995       1994       1993
                                                   ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                     (in thousands, except for per share amounts)
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>       <C>    
Sales                                            $93,259    $99,733    $ 100,048   $83,559   $71,703
Operating (loss) income                           (5,098)       811        2,838       181       520
Net (loss) income                                 (6,209)        39        2,106      (202)       45
Net (loss) income per share                        (0.30)      0.00         0.12     (0.01)     0.00
Shares used to compute per share data             20,464     18,168       18,184    18,078    18,078

Working capital                                  $ 5,169    $ 8,932     $  3,639   $ 2,069   $ 2,104
Total assets                                      29,989     23,667       26,481    18,285    19,948
Shareholders' equity (deficit)                     4,736       (798)       2,118        12       214
</TABLE>


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS

The discussion contained herein as well as elsewhere in this report contains
forward-looking statements based on the current expectations of the Company's
management. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which
could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors
that could cause or contribute to such differences include but are not limited
to fluctuations in the Company's operating results, continued new product
introductions by the Company, market acceptance of the Company's new product
introductions, new product introductions by competitors, technological changes
in the computer storage industry and other factors referred to herein including
but not limited to the factors discussed under the caption "Certain Risk Factors
Related to the Company's Business." Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date
hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of
any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect
events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.

OVERVIEW

IPL designs, manufactures, and distributes storage solutions based on its ASA
for Windows NT and UNIX environments. The Company's open-architecture solutions
include RAID and RAID-ready disk arrays; tape backup and restore products; and
storage management, data sharing, remote mirroring and disaster recovery
software. The Company distributes internally developed products, as well as
products from other manufacturers, through direct, indirect and OEM sales and
service channels throughout the world.

The Company's key markets, NT and UNIX storage, are expected to continue their
rapid growth. IPL's recently announced ASA is driving all of the Company's
product development efforts, from additions to the GigaRAID Series to the
development of new software.

The Company strives to meet its customers' storage and information management
needs by providing the market with comprehensive, performance-oriented and
flexible storage solutions. Recognizing that applications have unique data
patterns, the Company developed a design process that matches its storage
solution systems to these individual patterns. The Company's products include
the GigaRAID Series of advanced disk arrays, RAID-ready disk arrays, disk and
tape library systems, and data management software consisting of distributed
network backup recovery and restore solutions. The GigaRAID Series is a family
of RAID and RAID-ready disk and tape storage systems that are combined with
ANDATACO's proprietary, award-winning modular packaging architecture, ESP, to
create complete storage solutions.

Historically, the reseller business or the sale of third party non-GigaRAID
products accounted for the majority of the Company's revenues, representing 100%
of revenues in fiscal 1995 and declining to 37.2% and 34.6% in fiscal 1996 and
1997, respectively. Although the Company plans to continue to sell third 



                                       10
<PAGE>   12

party products, management's strategy is to focus increased resources on the
design, development, manufacturing and marketing of internally developed and
GigaRAID products.

Effective June 3, 1997, the Company consummated the Merger with ANDATACO. Under
the terms of the merger agreement, the shareholders of ANDATACO were issued a
total of 18,078,381 shares of IPL Common Stock in exchange for all outstanding
shares of capital stock of ANDATACO. The combination with ANDATACO has allowed
the Company to achieve several strategic objectives, including acquiring
ANDATACO's customer base, increasing the Company's revenues, realizing certain
cost savings and adding ANDATACO's skilled and experienced personnel.

The Merger was accounted for using the purchase method. Accordingly, the
purchase price was allocated to the estimated fair market value of identifiable
tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Based upon an
independent valuation, the Company allocated $2,400,000 to acquired in-process
research and development for which there is no future alternative use and
$400,000 to existing proprietary technology for which technological feasibility
had been established. As required by generally accepted accounting principles,
the amount allocated to in-process technology was recorded as a one-time charge
to operations and the amount allocated to existing technology was amortized over
its estimated remaining economic life. The excess of the purchase price over the
identifiable net assets acquired of $8,362,000 was recorded as goodwill and is
being amortized on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life of five
years.

Included in the results of operations for fiscal 1997 are certain Merger-related
costs, including $2,400,000 for acquired in-process research and development;
$400,000 of amortization expense for existing purchased technology and $697,000
for goodwill amortization. The Company's cash position at October 31, 1997 was
impacted by one-time transaction costs related to the Merger for both IPL and
ANDATACO of approximately $912,000.

In addition, the Merger impacted the Company's performance as the time required
to affect the integration of operations and administration, and the
restructuring of its combined sales and service organization, diverted personnel
and management resources from day to day operating activities to the one-time
activities required for the Merger.

As part of the Company's plans to reshape and position the Company for a return
to profitability, the Company incurred an increase in its selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A") costs in fiscal 1997 in order to develop its sales
organization and its overall infrastructure.

In late 1997 the Company announced the creation of the Professional Services
Group. The Professional Services Group provides customized service programs for
customers including on-site maintenance, help desk support, contract
programming, project management, and consulting. This new element of the
Company's business required an initial investment in 1997 for key management,
technical and support personnel.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere within this Annual Report. Fluctuations
in annual and quarterly results may occur as a result of factors affecting
demand for the Company's products such as the timing of the Company's and
competitors' new product introductions and upgrades. Due to such fluctuations,
historical results and percentage relationships are not necessarily indicative
of the operating results for any future period.



                                       11
<PAGE>   13

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth for the Company's results of operations and the
percentage relationship of certain items to sales during the periods shown:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Year ended October 31,
                                                                       ----------------------
                                                            1997               1996             1995
                                                            ----               ----             ----
<S>                                                        <C>               <C>              <C>   
Sales                                                      100.0%            100.0%           100.0%
Cost of sales                                               76.9              80.6             79.0
                                                            ----             -----             ----

Gross profit                                                23.1              19.4             21.0
                                                            ----             -----             ----

Operating expenses:
   Selling, general and administrative                      24.3              17.4             17.9
   Rent expense to shareholder                               0.3               0.3              0.3
   Purchased research and development                        2.6                 -                -
   Research and development                                  1.4               0.9                -
                                                            ---              -----             ----
Total operating expenses                                    28.6              18.6             18.2
                                                            ----             -----             ----

(Loss) income from operations                               (5.5)              0.8              2.8

Other expense, net                                          (1.2)             (0.8)            (0.7)
                                                            ----             -----             ----

Net (loss) income                                           (6.7)%             0.0%             2.1%
                                                            ====             =====             ====
</TABLE>

The following table sets forth the Company's product mix as a percentage of
sales during the periods shown:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Year ended October 31,
                                                            ----------------------------------------
                                                            1997               1996             1995
                                                            ----               ----             ----
<S>                                                         <C>                <C>         <C>     
GigaRAID Product Family:
   GigaRAID/SA/HA                                           15.0%              0.5%               -
   GigaRAID FT                                              13.8               9.6                -
   GigaRAID 3000/8000                                       20.0               5.0                -
                                                            ----             -----            -----

                                                            48.8              15.1                -
                                                            ----             -----            -----

Non-GigaRAID Mass Storage Products:
   Rapid Tape                                                1.1               1.9                -
   RAID Lite                                                 1.4              11.8                -
   RAID-ready Disk Arrays                                    4.9              20.9                -
   Tape Library Systems                                      9.2              13.1                -
                                                            ----             -----            -----

                                                            16.6              47.7                -
                                                            ----             -----            -----
Non-GigaRAID Distribution Product:
   ATL                                                       3.3               2.3                -
   Other                                                    31.3              34.9            100.0%
                                                            ----             -----            -----

                                                            34.6              37.2            100.0
                                                            ----             -----            -----

                                                           100.0%            100.0%           100.0%
                                                           =====             =====            =====
</TABLE>

Revenues in fiscal 1997 were $93,259,000 compared with $99,733,000 in fiscal
1996. The 6.5% decrease in revenue is primarily attributable to a decrease of
$32,127,000 in sales of non-GigaRAID mass storage



                                       12
<PAGE>   14

products including RAID Lite and RAPID-Tape products and a decrease of
$4,760,000 in sales of non-GigaRAID distribution products. This decrease was
partially offset by a $27,112,000 increase in sales of internally developed
GigaRAID products and a $3,300,000 increase in distribution of GigaRAID
products. The decrease in non-GigaRAID distribution product sales in fiscal 1997
compared to fiscal 1996 is consistent with the Company's strategy to focus its
sales organization on internally designed products capable of producing higher
margins. Although the Company plans to continue to sell third-party non-GigaRAID
products, management's strategy is to focus increased resources on the design,
development, manufacturing and marketing of internally developed products. The
decrease in revenues was further impacted by the Merger. The time required of
management to affect the integration of operations and administration, and the
restructuring of the combined sales and service organization, diverted personnel
and management resources from day to day operating activities.

In fiscal 1996, the Company's revenues remained relatively flat at $99,733,000
compared to $100,048,000 in fiscal 1995.

Notwithstanding the decline in revenues, gross profit in fiscal 1997 was
$21,577,000, representing approximately 23.1% of revenues, compared to
$19,358,000 in fiscal 1996, representing 19.4% of revenues. This increase in
gross profit was primarily attributable to increased revenues from higher margin
internally designed and integrated GigaRAID products as a percentage of total
revenues in fiscal 1997 as compared to fiscal 1996. In addition, there was a
reduction in costs of certain components used to manufacture products in fiscal
1997 compared to fiscal 1996.

Gross margins decreased slightly to 19.4% in fiscal 1996 compared with 21.0% in
fiscal 1995.

SG&A expenses increased $5,322,000, or 30.8%, to $22,620,000 in fiscal 1997 as
compared with $17,298,000 in fiscal 1996. SG&A consists primarily of salaries,
commissions and employee benefits, as well as consulting, advertising, promotion
and certain merger related expenses. In fiscal 1997, the Company had an
additional $2,133,000 of SG&A related to the Merger between ANDATACO and IPL,
including $1,036,000 representing the portion of IPL expenses not eliminated as
a result of the Merger in order to effect the integration, goodwill amortization
of $697,000, and $400,000 of amortization of existing purchased technology
related to the Merger. Before the impact of these charges in fiscal 1997, SG&A
expenses increased $3,189,000, or 18.4%. This increase is primarily due to costs
associated with the development of the Company's sales organization and overall
infrastructure including the addition of sales and support personnel; the focus
of its sales organization on internally designed and other GigaRAID products
capable of producing higher margins; the development of alternative distribution
channels; and the addition of key management, service and engineering personnel.

SG&A expenses decreased approximately $506,000, or 2.8%, to $17,298,000 in
fiscal 1996 from $17,804,000 in fiscal 1995. Fiscal 1995 SG&A expenses included
a $1,000,000 bonus paid to the Company's principal stockholder. No such bonus
was paid in fiscal 1996. The decrease was partially offset by costs associated
with additional sales and support personnel and related overhead costs.

Research and development increased $406,000, or 44.2%, in fiscal 1997 to
$1,325,000 from $919,000 as compared with fiscal 1996. Such expenses consist
primarily of salaries, employee benefits, overhead and outside contractors. The
increase in product development costs in fiscal 1997 over fiscal 1996 was
primarily due to an increase in personnel and related expenses resulting from
the Merger, including additional costs incurred to further develop the acquired
in-process research and development. This is in line with the Company's strategy
to continue to focus increased resources on design and development of products
and differentiating technologies for which it believes there is a need in the
market. However, there can be no assurance that product development programs
invested in by the Company will be successful or that products resulting from
such programs will achieve market acceptance.



                                       13
<PAGE>   15

Research and development expense was $919,000 in fiscal 1996 as compared to $0
in fiscal 1995. The increase in development costs in fiscal 1996 over fiscal
1995 was due to the establishment of research and development efforts in fiscal
year 1996 by the Company. New products developed include ANDATACO's ESP product
line.

The acquisition of IPL by ANDATACO was accounted for using the purchase method.
Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the estimated fair market value
of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Based upon an independent valuation, the Company allocated $2,400,000 to
acquired in-process research and development for which there is no future
alternative use and $400,000 to existing proprietary technology for which
technological feasibility had been established. As required by generally
accepted accounting principles, the amount allocated to in-process technology
was recorded as a one-time charge to operations and the amount allocated to
existing technology was amortized over its estimated remaining economic life.
The in-process research and development purchased in the acquisition generally
relates to the next generation of Database RAID Architecture which merges IPL's
Advanced Controller Technology with ANDATACO's ESP. The research and development
costs incurred after the Merger were largely incurred to merge the IPL Advanced
Controller Technology with the ANDATACO packaging technology, resulting in the
initial beta shipment of the GigaRAID/HA in July 1997 and general availability
in September 1997. The post-merger effort in developing this technology
represented 33% of the product development cycle, or a two month period of a
total six month product development period.

Interest expense increased $178,000, or 37.7%, to $650,000 in fiscal 1997 from
$472,000 in fiscal 1996. The increase is primarily a result of an increase in
bank borrowings throughout the year and an increase in the Company's effective
borrowing rate in fiscal 1997 as compared to fiscal 1996. Interest expense on
the shareholder loan increased $160,000, or 53.2%, to $461,000 in fiscal 1997
from $301,000 in fiscal 1996. The increase is the result of an increase in the
shareholder loan balance.

Interest expense increased $60,000, or 14.6%, to $472,000 in fiscal 1996 from
$412,000 in fiscal 1995. The increase is primarily a result of increased bank
borrowings in fiscal 1996 as compared to fiscal 1995.

In 1997 the Company had a net loss of $6,209,000, or $ 0.30 per share, compared
with 1996 net income of $39,000, or $0.00 per share.

In 1996 the Company had net income of $39,000, or $0.00 per share, compared with
1995 net income of $2,106,000, or $0.12 per share.

QUARTERLY TRENDS

The Company historically has experienced significant fluctuations in its
revenues and operating results, including net income, and anticipates that these
fluctuations will continue. The Company operates with relatively little backlog
of its products, and the majority of its revenues each quarter result from
orders received in that quarter. Consequently, if near-term demand for the
Company's products weakens in a given quarter or if inventory of the Company's
products in the distribution channel satisfies near-term demand, the Company's
operating results for that quarter would be adversely affected. In addition,
when the Company announces enhanced versions of its products, the announcement
may have the effect of slowing sales of the current version of the product as
buyers delay their purchase. Quarterly results have been or may in the future be
influenced by the timing of announcements or introductions of new products and
product upgrades by the Company or its competitors, distributor ordering
patterns, delays in product development, and licensing of the Company's products
and core technology. In addition, new products typically have a lengthy
evaluation period before any purchase is made.



                                       14
<PAGE>   16


STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY

Due to the factors noted above, the Company's future earnings and stock price
may be subject to significant volatility, particularly on a quarterly basis. Any
shortfall in earnings from levels expected by securities analysts could have an
immediate and significant adverse effect on the trading price of the Company's
common stock in any given period. Shortfalls could be caused by shortfalls in
revenues, timing of the receipt of technology license fees, and/or increased
levels of expenditures. Additionally, the Company participates in a highly
dynamic industry, which often results in significant volatility of the Company's
stock price.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's cash as of October 31, 1997 was $41,000 compared with $765,000 at
October 31, 1996. The decrease in cash is primarily attributable to net cash
used in financing activities for payments on notes payable and a net reduction
in the bank line of credit of $449,000 in fiscal 1997, and expenditures made in
the normal course of business. (The changes in assets and liabilities summarized
in the statement of cash flows reflect decreases and increases resulting from
the operating activities of the Company and do not include the increases in
assets and liabilities resulting from the Merger).

The Company acquired approximately $1,154,000 of cash in the Merger. The
Company's cash position at October 31, 1997 was impacted by one-time transaction
costs related to the Merger for IPL of $434,000 and for ANDATACO of
approximately $478,000. The IPL transaction costs were accrued and expensed
prior to the Merger date and the ANDATACO transaction costs were capitalized as
part of the purchase price.

Accounts receivable decreased 16.4% from $12,980,000 at October 31, 1996 to
$10,846,000 at October 31, 1997, primarily as a result of the decrease in
revenue. As a result, working capital decreased by $3,763,000 to $5,169,000 at
October 31, 1997 from that of the prior year.

The Company expects to be able to satisfy all working capital and capital
expenditure requirements through internally generated cash flows from
operations, and borrowings available on its credit facility. Management believes
that its financial position and available borrowings on its credit facility will
be sufficient to meet the operating requirements of its business for a period of
at least twelve months.

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(In thousands, except per share data)

     The following table presents selected quarterly financial information for
the periods indicated. This information has been derived from unaudited
consolidated financial statements which, in the opinion of management, include
all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for
a fair presentation of such information. These operating results are not
necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Jan. 31,          April 30,         July 31,         Oct. 31,
Fiscal 1997                              1997              1997               1997             1997
                                       ---------        ---------          ---------         ------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>     
Sales                                  $  25,497        $  21,540         $  22,057         $ 24,165
Gross profit                               5,992            4,587             4,906            6,092
Income (loss) from operations                235             (111)           (3,896)          (1,326)
Net loss                                    (110)            (339)           (4,169)          (1,591)
Net loss per share                         (0.01)           (0.02)            (0.19)           (0.07)

</TABLE>



                                       15
<PAGE>   17

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Jan. 31,          April 30,         July 31,         Oct. 31,
Fiscal 1996                              1996              1996               1996             1996
                                       ---------        ---------          ---------         ------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>     
Sales                                  $  25,551        $  20,385         $  26,026         $ 27,771
Gross profit                               4,650            3,641             4,968            6,099
(Loss) income from operations               (218)          (1,249)              675            1,603
Net (loss) income                           (404)          (1,426)              469            1,400
Net (loss) income per share                (0.02)           (0.08)             0.03             0.07
</TABLE>


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary data required
by this item are set forth in the pages indicated in Item 14(a)(1).

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING ON FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE

Prior to the Merger, Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte & Touche") had served as
the Company's independent accountants, and Price Waterhouse LLP ("Price
Waterhouse") had served as ANDATACO's independent accountants. Price Waterhouse,
as independent accountants for ANDATACO, was consulted by ANDATACO's management
on the proposed accounting for the Merger. The new management of the Company
following the Merger determined to engage Price Waterhouse as the Company's
independent accountants after completion of the Merger and so notified Deloitte
& Touche. On June 10, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors ratified
management's decision to engage Price Waterhouse as the Company's independent
accountants for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1997.

The reports of Deloitte & Touche for the two fiscal years ended December 31,
1995 and 1996 do not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, nor
were such reports qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles, financial statement disclosure or practice, except that
the report for the year ended December 31, 1996 included an explanatory
paragraph relating to an uncertainty regarding the ability of the Company (prior
to the Merger) to continue as a going concern. Moreover, during such two fiscal
years and any subsequent interim period preceding the date of the Company's
change in accountants, there were no disagreements with Deloitte & Touche on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or
audit scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche would have caused Deloitte & Touche to make
reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with their
report. The Company has furnished a copy of the disclosure contained in this
item to Deloitte & Touche requesting such firm to respond as to whether it
agrees with the information set forth herein relating to such firm. Deloitte &
Touche has responded that it agrees with the statements made herein with respect
to such firm.



                                       16
<PAGE>   18


PART III
ITEM  10.     DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

See the section entitled "Executive Officers" in Part I Item 1 hereof for
information regarding executive officers. The information required by this item
with respect to directors is incorporated by reference from the information
under the caption "Election of Directors" contained in the Company's Definitive
Proxy Statement which will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation
14A in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 8, 1998 (the "Proxy Statement").

ITEM  11.     EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the
information appearing under the caption "Executive Compensation" in the Proxy
Statement.

ITEM  12.     SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the
information appearing under the caption "Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management" in the Proxy Statement.

ITEM  13.     CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the
information appearing under the caption "Certain Transactions" of the Proxy
Statement and Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
contained elsewhere in this report.



                                       17
<PAGE>   19

PART IV

ITEM  14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Page Number
                                                                                             -----------
<S>     <C>                                                                                  <C>
(a)(1)  Index to Consolidated Financial Statements:

        The financial statements required by this item are contained in a
        separate section beginning on page F-1 of this Annual Report on Form
        10-K.

        Report of Independent Accountants...............................................        F-1

        Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 31, 1997 and 1996......................        F-2

        Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Years
         Ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................        F-3

        Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Years
         Ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995..........................................        F-4

        Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)
         For the Years Ended October 31,1997, 1996, and 1995............................        F-5

        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements......................................        F-6


 (a)(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:

        The financial statement schedules required by this item are submitted in
        a separate section beginning on page S-1 of this Annual Report on Form
        10-K and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
        Statements.

        Schedule VIII -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                                       S-1


        All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not
        required, or because the required information is included in the
        Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto appearing elsewhere
        in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 (a)(3)  Index to Exhibits:
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Exhibit
  Number          Description of Document
  ------          -----------------------
<S>       <C>                                      
    2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of February
          28, 1997, by and among the Company, IPL Acquisition Corp., ANDATACO
          and W. David Sykes, filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current
          Report on Form 8-K dated as of February 28, 1997 and incorporated
          herein by reference.

    3.1   Restated Articles of Organization dated March 24, 1981, and Articles
          of Amendment, dated May 12, 1981, and July 8, 1992, filed as Exhibit
          3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
          ended December 31, 1992 (the "1992 Form 10-K"), and incorporated
          herein by reference.
</TABLE>

                                       18
<PAGE>   20

<TABLE>
<S>       <C>                                       
    3.2   By-Laws, as amended, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual
          Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1987
          (Commission File No. 0-10370) and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.1   Stockholder Agreement dated as of April 25, 1980, as amended, filed as
          Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File
          No. 2-71414) "1981 Registration Statement") and incorporated herein by
          reference.

   10.2   Second Amendment to Stockholder Agreement dated as of May 24, 1989,
          filed as Exhibit 10.3. to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
          S-1 (File No. 33-40454) (the "1991 Registration Statement") and
          incorporated herein by reference.

   10.3   Form of Indemnification Agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's 
          1991 Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.4   Lease dated August 20, 1992 between the Company and Maynard Industrial
          Park Associates, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the 1992 Form 10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference.

   10.5   1993 Director Stock Option Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the
          Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1993 (the "1993 Form 10-K") and incorporated herein by
          reference.

   10.6   Form of Executive Severance Agreement, filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the 
          1993 Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.7   1991/1993 Consolidated Equity Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.9 to
          the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1994 (the "1994 Form 10-K") and incorporated herein by
          reference.

   10.8   Consulting Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995 between the Company
          and Firecracker Technology Corp., filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the 1994
          Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.9   Employment Agreement with Ronald J. Gellert dated as of December 4,
          1995 between the Company and Ronald J. Gellert, filed as Exhibit 10.9
          to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
          December 31, 1995 (the "1995 Form 10-K") and incorporated herein by
          reference.

   10.10  Stock Option Agreement dated as of December 4, 1995 between the
          Company and Ronald J. Gellert, filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the 1995 Form
          10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.11  1996 Consolidated Equity Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the
          Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
          1996 (the "1996 Form 10-K") and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.12  Consulting Agreement dated as of October 1, 1996 between the Company
          and Cornelius P. McMullan, filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the 1996 Form
          10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

   10.13  Consulting Agreement dated as of October 1, 1996 between the Company
          and Harris Ravine, filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the 1996 Form 10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference.

   10.14  Consulting Agreement dated as of January 1, 1997 between the Company
          and BI Capital, Ltd., filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the 1996 Form 10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference.
</TABLE>

                                       19
<PAGE>   21

<TABLE>
<S>       <C>                            
   10.15  Consulting Agreement dated as of March 1, 1997 between the Company and
          Harris Ravine, filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the 1996 Form 10-K and
          incorporated herein by reference.

   10.16  OEM Agreement dated as of February 25, 1997 between the Company and 
          ANDATACO, filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the 1996 Form 10-K and incorporated
          herein by reference.

   10.17  Lease Agreement dated as of January 1, 1993 and Addendum dated as of 
          October 1, 1994, between the Company and Syko Properties, Inc.

   10.18  Line of Credit Agreement dated as of December 1, 1997 and Addendum 
          dated as of December 15, 1997 between Imperial Savings Bank and the Company.

   10.19  Employment Agreement dated as of May 1, 1997 between ANDATACO and 
          Harris Ravine.

   10.20  Employment Agreement dated as of May 1, 1997 between ANDATACO and W.
          David Sykes.

   10.21  Noncompetition Agreement dated as of June 3, 1997 between ANDATACO and
          W. David Sykes.

   10.22  Letter Agreement regarding employment terms dated September 20, 1996 
          between the Company and Richard A. Hudzik.

   10.23  Compensation Agreement dated as of July 8, 1997 between the Company
          and Peter W. Bell, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly
          Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 1997 and
          incorporated herein by reference.

   10.24  Promissory Note dated February 10, 1997, between the Company and W. David Sykes.

   11.1   Computation of Net Income per Common Share.

   21.1   List of subsidiaries.

   23.1   Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent Accountants.

   27.1   Financial Data Schedule

</TABLE>

          EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS

Exhibits 10.3, 10.5 through 10.15 and 10.19 through 10.23 to this Form 10-K are
management contracts or compensatory plan arrangements.

         REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

There were no reports on Form 8-K filed for the quarter ended October 31, 1997.



                                       20
<PAGE>   22

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, IPL Systems, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City and County of
San Diego, State of California on the 28th day of January, 1998.

                                IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


                                      By: /s/ Harris Ravine
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Harris Ravine
                                          Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Harris Ravine and W. David Sykes, and each of
them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or any of them or their of his substitute or substituted, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   Signature                                Title                                  Date
   ---------                                -----                                  ----
<S>                                   <C>                                       <C> 
/s/ Harris Ravine                     Chief Executive Officer                   January 28, 1998
- -------------------------------       and Director (Principal
    Harris Ravine                     Executive Officer)
                                      


/s/ W. David Sykes                    President and Chairman                    January 28, 1998
- -------------------------------       of the Board and Director
   W. David Sykes                     


/s/Richard A. Hudzik                  Vice President - Finance,                 January 28, 1998
- -------------------------------       Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer
   Richard A. Hudzik                  and Clerk (Principal Financial
                                      and Accounting Officer)
                                      


/s/ Cornelius P. McMullan             Director                                  January 28, 1998
- -------------------------------
   Cornelius P. McMullan


/s/ Melville Straus                   Director                                  January 28, 1998
- -------------------------------
   Melville Straus
</TABLE>

                                       21
<PAGE>   23

                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



To the Board of Directors
  and Shareholders of IPL Systems, Inc.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index
appearing under Item 14(a)(1) and (2) of this Form 10-K present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of IPL Systems, Inc. and its
subsidiaries at October 31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31,
1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed
above.




Price Waterhouse LLP


San Diego, California
December 12, 1997


                                      F-1
<PAGE>   24

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            OCTOBER 31,
                                                                --------------------------------
                                                                    1997                1996
                                                                ------------        ------------
<S>                                                             <C>                 <C>         
ASSETS

Current assets:
   Cash                                                         $     41,000        $    765,000
   Accounts receivable, net                                       10,846,000          12,980,000
   Inventories                                                     7,458,000           7,149,000
   Other current assets                                              353,000             214,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

     Total current assets                                         18,698,000          21,108,000

Goodwill, net                                                      7,665,000                  --
Property and equipment, net                                        3,599,000           2,463,000
Other assets                                                          27,000              96,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

                                                                $ 29,989,000        $ 23,667,000
                                                                ============        ============


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                                             $  7,660,000        $ 10,053,000
   Accrued expenses                                                4,202,000           1,559,000
   Deferred revenue                                                1,554,000             400,000
   Current portion of notes payable                                  113,000             164,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

     Total current liabilities                                    13,529,000          12,176,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

Bank line of credit                                                6,500,000           7,053,000
Bonuses payable                                                           --             167,000
Notes payable, less current portion                                   28,000             142,000
Shareholder loan                                                   5,196,000           4,927,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

     Total long-term liabilities                                  11,724,000          12,289,000
                                                                ------------        ------------

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

Shareholders' equity (deficit):
   Common stock, $0.01 par value; 30,000,000 shares
     authorized; 23,819,399 shares issued and outstanding            238,000               2,000
   Additional paid in capital                                     10,107,000                  --
   Accumulated deficit                                            (5,609,000)           (800,000)
                                                                ------------        ------------

     Total shareholders' equity (deficit)                          4,736,000            (798,000)
                                                                ------------        ------------

                                                                $ 29,989,000        $ 23,667,000
                                                                ============        ============
</TABLE>


          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                      F-2
<PAGE>   25

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                -------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1997                  1996                 1995
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>                  <C>          
Sales                                           $  93,259,000        $  99,733,000        $ 100,048,000

Cost of sales                                      71,682,000           80,375,000           79,076,000
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

   Gross profit                                    21,577,000           19,358,000           20,972,000

Operating expenses:
   Selling, general and administrative             22,620,000           17,298,000           17,804,000
   Rent expense to shareholder                        330,000              330,000              330,000
   Purchased research and development               2,400,000                   --                   --
   Research and development                         1,325,000              919,000                   --
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

                                                   26,675,000           18,547,000           18,134,000
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------  

(Loss) income from operations                      (5,098,000)             811,000            2,838,000

Other income (expense):
   Interest income                                         --                1,000                8,000
   Interest expense                                  (650,000)            (472,000)            (412,000)
   Interest expense to shareholder                   (461,000)            (301,000)            (298,000)
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

                                                   (1,111,000)            (772,000)            (702,000)
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

(Loss) income before provision for taxes           (6,209,000)              39,000            2,136,000

Provision for income taxes                                 --                   --               30,000
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

Net (loss) income                               $  (6,209,000)       $      39,000        $   2,106,000
                                                =============        =============        =============

Net (loss) income per share                     $       (0.30)       $        0.00        $        0.12
                                                =============        =============        =============

Shares used in computing
   net (loss) income per share                     20,464,000           18,168,000           18,184,000
                                                =============        =============        =============

Unaudited Pro forma data:

   Loss (income) before pro forma provision
   for income taxes                             $  (6,209,000)       $      39,000        $   2,106,000

   Pro forma provision for income taxes                78,000               16,000              863,000
                                                -------------        -------------        -------------

Net (loss) income after pro forma
   provision for income taxes                   $  (6,287,000)       $      23,000        $   1,243,000
                                                =============        =============        =============

Pro forma net (loss) income per share           $       (0.31)       $        0.00        $        0.07
                                                =============        =============        =============
</TABLE>


          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                       F-3

<PAGE>   26

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                          ----------------------------------------------------
                                                              1997                1996               1995
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------
<S>                                                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>         
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net (loss) income                                      $ (6,209,000)       $     39,000        $  2,106,000
   Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)
     income to net cash (used in) provided
     by operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                         1,335,000             446,000             440,000
       Amortization of goodwill                                697,000                  --                  --
       Purchased research and development                    2,400,000                  --                  --  
       Stock compensation                                      137,000                  --                  --
   Changes in assets and liabilities, net of Merger
     transaction (Note 2):
       Accounts receivable                                   3,149,000             492,000          (2,318,000)
       Inventories                                             192,000           3,176,000          (5,302,000)
       Other assets                                             73,000             (70,000)            (41,000)
       Accounts payable                                     (3,525,000)         (4,866,000)          6,055,000
       Accrued expenses                                        328,000            (569,000)            404,000
       Deferred revenue                                      1,154,000              74,000             (55,000)
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

         Net cash (used in) provided by
           operating activities                               (269,000)         (1,278,000)          1,289,000
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Cash acquired in Merger transaction (net of
     cash expended of $478,000) (Note 2)                       676,000                  --                  --
   Payments for purchases of property
     and equipment                                            (682,000)           (770,000)           (680,000)
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

         Net cash used in investing activities                  (6,000)           (770,000)           (680,000)
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   (Payments) proceeds under bank line
     of credit agreement, net                                 (553,000)          4,508,000            (990,000)
   Dividends paid                                                   --          (2,955,000)                 --
   Proceeds from shareholder loan                              269,000           2,000,000             555,000
   Payments on shareholder loan                                     --            (758,000)           (120,000)
   Borrowings under notes payable                                   --                  --             450,000
   Payments on notes payable                                  (165,000)           (287,000)           (209,000)
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

         Net cash (used in) provided by
           financing activities                               (449,000)          2,508,000            (314,000)
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

Net (decrease) increase in cash                               (724,000)            460,000             295,000

Cash at beginning of year                                      765,000             305,000              10,000
                                                          ------------        ------------        ------------

Cash at end of year                                       $     41,000        $    765,000        $    305,000
                                                          ============        ============        ============          
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

   Cash paid for interest                                 $  1,127,000        $    812,000        $    898,000
                                                          ============        ============        ============

   Cash paid for income taxes                             $         --        $     27,000        $      3,000
                                                          ============        ============        ============

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES:

   Issuance of stock in Merger transaction (Note 2)       $ 11,606,000        $         --        $         --
                                                          ============        ============        ============

</TABLE>


          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                      F-4
<PAGE>   27



IPL SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              ADDITIONAL
                                                     COMMON STOCK              PAID IN           ACCUMULATED
                                                SHARES         AMOUNT          CAPITAL        EARNINGS (DEFICIT)       TOTAL
                                            ------------    ------------     ------------     ------------------    --------------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>              <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Balance at October 31, 1994                       10,000    $      2,000                         $     10,000        $     12,000

Net income                                                                                          2,106,000           2,106,000
                                            ------------    ------------     ------------        ------------       -------------

Balance at October 31, 1995                       10,000           2,000                            2,116,000           2,118,000

Dividends paid                                                                                     (2,955,000)         (2,955,000)

Net income                                                                                             39,000              39,000
                                            ------------    ------------     ------------        ------------       -------------

Balance at October 31, 1996                       10,000           2,000                             (800,000)           (798,000)

Recapitalization of ANDATACO as a
   result of Merger with IPL Systems, Inc.       (10,000)         (2,000)    $      2,000                                      --
   (Note 2)

Elimination of S Corporation deficit
   against additional paid in capital at
   date of Merger (Note 2)                                                     (1,400,000)          1,400,000                  --

IPL common stock outstanding
   immediately before Merger                   5,633,819          56,000          (56,000)                                     --
   (Note 2)

Issuance of IPL common stock
   in Merger (Note 2)                         18,078,381         181,000       11,425,000                              11,606,000

Issuance of common stock for
   compensation                                  107,199           1,000          136,000                                 137,000

Net loss                                                                                           (6,209,000)         (6,209,000)
                                            ------------    ------------     ------------        ------------       -------------

Balance at October 31, 1997                   23,819,399    $    238,000     $ 10,107,000        $ (5,609,000)       $  4,736,000
                                            ============    ============     ============        ============        ============
</TABLE>



          See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



                                      F-5
<PAGE>   28


IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1 - THE COMPANY

IPL Systems, Inc. (the "Company" or "IPL"), founded in 1973, designs,
manufactures, and distributes storage solutions based on its Application
Specific Architecture for Windows NT and UNIX environments. The Company's
products include RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) and RAID-ready disk
arrays; tape backup and restore products; and storage management, data sharing,
remote mirroring and disaster recovery software. The Company supplies its
products through direct, indirect and original equipment manufacturer sales and
service channels throughout the world. The Company's president and principal
shareholder and his affiliates beneficially own 75.9% of the Company's
outstanding common stock.


NOTE 2 - BUSINESS COMBINATION

On June 3, 1997 (the "Closing Date"), IPL Systems, Inc. completed a business
combination with ANDATACO, whereby ANDATACO was merged with a wholly-owned
subsidiary of IPL (the "Merger"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, the
shareholders of ANDATACO were issued a total of 18,078,381 shares of IPL Class A
Common Stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of capital stock of
ANDATACO. Although as a legal matter the Merger resulted in ANDATACO becoming a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IPL, for financial reporting purposes the Merger was
treated as a recapitalization of ANDATACO and an acquisition of IPL by ANDATACO
(reverse acquisition). The financial reporting requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission require that the financial statements reported by IPL
subsequent to the Merger be those of ANDATACO, which include the results of
operations of IPL from the Closing Date.

The acquisition of IPL by ANDATACO was accounted for using the purchase method.
Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the estimated fair market value
of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Based upon an independent valuation, the Company allocated $2,400,000 to
acquired in-process research and development for which there is no future
alternative use and $400,000 to existing proprietary technology for which
technological feasibility had been established. As required by generally
accepted accounting principles, the amount allocated to in-process technology
was recorded as a one-time charge to operations and the amount allocated to
existing technology was amortized over its estimated useful life. The excess of
the purchase price over the identifiable net assets acquired of $8,362,000 was
recorded as goodwill and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over its
estimated useful life of five years.

The following table sets forth the allocation of the purchase price to the
estimated fair value of identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and
liabilities assumed:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>          
   Purchase Price:

     Fair Value of IPL stock of 5,633,819 shares
       outstanding immediately before the Merger                                $  11,606,000

     Transaction costs                                                                478,000
                                                                                -------------

                                                                                   12,084,000
                                                                                -------------
   Allocation of Purchase Price to Identifiable Net Assets:

     Tangible assets                                                                4,203,000
     Assumed liabilities                                                           (3,281,000)
     In-process research and development                                            2,400,000
     Intangible asset                                                                 400,000
                                                                                -------------
                                                                                    3,722,000
                                                                                -------------

   Excess of Purchase Price Over Identifiable
     Net Assets                                                                 $   8,362,000
                                                                                =============

</TABLE>



                                      F-6
<PAGE>   29

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Historically, IPL had a December 31 fiscal year end. In June 1997, IPL changed
its fiscal year end from December 31 to October 31. ANDATACO has an October 31
year end.

Because of the requirement to account for the Merger as a reverse acquisition,
the financial information contained in this report is that of ANDATACO, which
includes the results of operations of IPL for the five months ended October 31,
1997.

The following are unaudited pro forma results of operations as if the
transaction had been consummated at the beginning of fiscal years ended October
31, 1997 and 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        YEAR ENDED
                                                        OCTOBER 31,
                                                    1997           1996
                                                 (UNAUDITED)    (UNAUDITED)
                                             ---------------   ---------------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>            
           Sales                             $    97,507,000   $   119,860,000
                                             ===============   =============== 
           Net loss                          $   (12,500,000)  $    (1,693,000)
                                             ===============   =============== 
           Net loss per share                $         (0.53)  $         (0.07)
                                             ===============   =============== 
</TABLE>



NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The financial statements as of and for the year ended October 31, 1997
consolidate the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles, requires management to make assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

Revenue from the sale of products is recognized as of the date shipments are
made to customers net of an allowance for returns and provision for warranty
costs in excess of those provided for by the original equipment manufacturer.
Revenue related to extended warranty contracts is deferred and recognized over
the period in which costs are expected to be incurred, based upon historical
evidence, in performing services under the contract. The Company also contracts
with outside vendors to provide service relating to various on-site warranties
which are offered for sale to customers; on-site warranty revenues and amounts
paid in advance to outside service organizations are recognized in the financial
statements in sales and cost of goods sold, respectively, over the warranty
period.

INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined using the
first-in-first-out method, or market.



                                      F-7
<PAGE>   30

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is provided using the
straight-line basis over the assets' estimated useful lives of five to seven
years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the
leases or their estimated useful lives. Total depreciation and amortization was
$935,000, $446,000 and $440,000 in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived assets, certain
identifiable intangibles and associated goodwill when there is evidence that
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset
may not be recovered. An impairment loss would be recognized when the asset's
fair value is less than its carrying amount. No such impairment losses have been
identified by the Company.

GOODWILL

The Company has classified as goodwill the purchase price in excess of fair
value of the identifiable net assets acquired in the Merger. Goodwill is being
amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of five years.
Amortization charged to operations amounted to $697,000 for the year ended
October 31, 1997.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company measures compensation expense for its stock-based employee
compensation plans using the intrinsic value method and provides pro forma
disclosures of net income and earnings per share as if fair value based methods
had been applied in measuring compensation expense. Compensation charges related
to non-employee stock-based compensation are measured using fair value based
methods.

INCOME TAXES

The Company records a provision (benefit) for income taxes using the liability
method. Current income tax expense or benefit represents the amount of income
taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current year. A deferred
income tax liability or asset is established for the expected future
consequences resulting from the differences between the financial reporting and
income tax bases of assets and liabilities and from net operating loss and
credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax expense or benefit represents the net
change during the year in the deferred income tax liability or asset. A
valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets
to the amounts expected to be more likely than not realized.

Concurrent with the Merger, ANDATACO changed its taxpayer status from a
Subchapter S Corporation to a Subchapter C Corporation. Effective with that
change, the Company transferred the amount of its accumulated deficit at that
date to additional paid in capital. Therefore, the Company's accumulated deficit
at October 31, 1997 includes losses solely incurred by the Company since the
Merger.

Prior to the consummation of the Merger, ANDATACO elected to be taxed under
Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and consequently
all federal income taxes and most state taxes were paid directly by its
shareholders. Because of the change in taxpayer status to a Subchapter C
Corporation, the Company will be subject to federal and state income taxes. The
tax provision in fiscal 1997 is calculated giving effect to the change of
ANDATACO from a Subchapter S Corporation to a Subchapter C Corporation, and
resultant adjustments for federal and state income taxes, as if ANDATACO had
been taxed as a C Corporation rather than an S Corporation since inception.

PRO FORMA AMOUNTS (UNAUDITED)

The pro forma amounts presented in the statement of operations reflect the
Company's conversion from a Subchapter S Corporation to a Subchapter C
Corporation, and the resultant adjustments for federal and state income taxes,
as if the Company had been taxed as a Subchapter C Corporation rather than a
Subchapter S Corporation since inception.

PRO FORMA NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (UNAUDITED)

Pro forma net income (loss) per share is computed based on the weighted average
number of shares of common stock outstanding during the periods presented.




                                      F-8
<PAGE>   31

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The carrying amount shown for the bank line of credit approximates its fair
value due to the relatively short term nature of this arrangement and to its
adjustable interest rate. The carrying amounts shown for notes payable and
shareholder loan are reasonable approximations of their fair values based upon
the interest rates at which the Company could enter into similar borrowing
arrangements.

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

Net income (loss) per common share has been computed by dividing net income
(loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. For the
purpose of this computation, the IPL shares issued to the ANDATACO shareholders
in connection with the Merger have been treated as outstanding at the beginning
of each period. The number of shares of IPL common stock outstanding immediately
before the Merger have been treated as having been issued at the Closing Date.
Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants have
been excluded from the computation as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

The Company grants credit to customers from a broad cross section of industries,
based on an evaluation of the customers' financial condition. Accounts
receivable from sales are generally not collateralized. Credit losses have been
within management's expectations.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." SFAS No.
128 will be adopted by the Company as required in the first quarter of fiscal
1998. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 128, the Company will present basic earnings per
share as well as diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share will be
computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share will be computed based
on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
period increased by the effect of dilutive stock options using the treasury
stock method. Pro forma basic (loss) earnings per share for the years ended
October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 are $(0.30), $0.00 and $0.12, respectively. Pro
forma diluted (loss) earnings per share for the years ended October 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 are $(0.30), $0.00 and $0.12, respectively.



                                      F-9
<PAGE>   32

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income."
The Company will adopt SFAS No. 130 as required for all periods beginning after
December 15, 1997. This statement establishes standards for reporting and
presentation of comprehensive income and its components in the financial
statements. Comprehensive income is defined as "the change in equity (net
assets) of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other
events and circumstances from non-owner sources. It includes all changes in
equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners or
distributions to owners."

In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information." The Company will adopt SFAS No. 131 as
required for all periods beginning after December 15, 1997. This statement
requires the disclosure of certain information about operating segments in the
financial statements. It also requires that public companies report certain
information about their products and services, the geographic areas in which
they operate, and their major customers.

NOTE 4 - COMPOSITION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL STATEMENT CAPTIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      OCTOBER 31,
                                                                1997              1996
                                                           -------------     -------------
<S>                                                        <C>               <C>          
Accounts receivable:
   Accounts receivable - trade                             $   11,106,000    $  13,199,000
   Less allowance for doubtful accounts and returns              (260,000)        (219,000)
                                                           --------------    -------------

                                                           $   10,846,000    $  12,980,000
                                                           ==============    =============

Inventories:
   Purchased components                                    $    5,541,000    $   5,937,000
   Work in progress                                               125,000          366,000
   Finished goods                                               1,792,000          846,000
                                                            -------------    -------------
                                                            $   7,458,000    $   7,149,000
                                                            =============    =============

Property and equipment:
   Equipment                                                $   4,241,000    $   2,784,000
   Leasehold improvements                                         942,000          864,000
   Furniture and fixtures                                         797,000          261,000
   Vehicles                                                       119,000          119,000
                                                            -------------    -------------

                                                                6,099,000        4,028,000
   Less accumulated depreciation and amortization              (2,500,000)      (1,565,000)
                                                            -------------    -------------
                                                            $   3,599,000    $   2,463,000
                                                            =============    =============

Accrued expenses:
   Sales commissions                                        $   1,807,000    $   1,140,000
   Other                                                        2,395,000          419,000
                                                            -------------    -------------
                                                            $   4,202,000    $   1,559,000
                                                            =============    =============
</TABLE>



                                      F-10
<PAGE>   33

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


BONUSES PAYABLE

The Company has recorded a long-term obligation related to ten-year bonus
agreements (the "Agreements") with certain employees. Under the Agreements, a
bonus will be payable to an employee ten years after the date employment
commenced with the Company. Continuous employment during the ten years is a
condition precedent to the Company's obligation to pay the bonus. The bonus is
accrued over the ten year service period; amounts forfeited are credited to
operations. At October 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company has accrued $172,000 as a
short-term liability and $167,000 as a long-term liability, respectively. A net
charge of $5,000, a net credit of $108,000 and a net charge of $6,000 are
included in the results of operations for the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.

The Company has a management incentive award plan which provides for the payment
of cash awards or bonuses to officers and other key employees when the Company
achieves specified objectives. Awards earned under the plan were $17,000, $0 and
$1,300,000 during the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.


NOTE 5 - BANK LINE OF CREDIT

The Company has a revolving line of credit with a bank which provides for it to
borrow the lesser of (i) $10,000,000 or (ii) 80 percent of eligible domestic
accounts receivable plus the lesser of $1,000,000 or 25 percent of eligible
inventory, at the bank's prime rate plus one percent (9.5 percent at October 31,
1997). The revolving line of credit was renewed in December 1997 for a thirteen
month period. The line is secured by all of the Company's property and accounts
receivable and is guaranteed by the Company's principal shareholder. As of
October 31, 1997 and 1996, there was $6,500,000 and $7,053,000 outstanding and
$3,311,000 and $947,000 available under the line of credit, respectively. The
credit agreement includes covenants which, among other things, require the
Company to maintain stated minimum working capital and net worth amounts plus
specific liquidity and long-term solvency ratios.

In connection with the line of credit, there are warrants outstanding with a
right to purchase 180,783 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise
price of $1.94 per share. The warrants expire in March 1999.


NOTE 6 - NOTES PAYABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          OCTOBER 31,
                                                                    1997              1996
                                                                -------------     -------------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>          
Notes payable are comprised as follows:

   Note payable to a bank, payable in monthly 
     installments of $9,375 principal plus interest
     at the bank's prime rate plus 1 percent (9.5 
     percent at October 31, 1997) through November 1998
     (secured by certain assets)                                $     141,000     $     254,000

   Note payable to an individual due on demand
     with interest at 7 percent per annum
     payable quarterly (unsecured)                                        -              52,000
                                                                -------------     -------------
                                                                      141,000           306,000

   Less current portion                                              (113,000)         (164,000)
                                                                -------------     -------------

                                                                $      28,000     $     142,000
                                                                =============     =============
</TABLE>

Maturities of the Company's outstanding debt at October 31, 1997 are $113,000
and $28,000 in fiscal 1998 and 1999, respectively.


                                      F-11
<PAGE>   34

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 7 - INCOME TAXES

Due to its change in taxpayer status to a Subchapter C Corporation concurrent
with the Merger, the Company is subject to federal and state income taxes and
has recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in fiscal 1997. The Company has
recorded a valuation allowance in full for deferred tax assets which, more
likely than not, will not be realized based on recent operating results.

Deferred income taxes at October 31, 1997 and 1996 are comprised as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 OCTOBER 31,
                                                           1997               1996
                                                       -------------     -------------
<S>                                                    <C>               <C>          
Deferred tax assets:
   Inventory                                           $   1,299,000     $         -
   Allowance for doubtful accounts and returns               194,000               - 
   Warranty reserves                                         102,000               -
   Vacation and deferred compensation                        268,000               -
   Net operating loss carryforwards                        3,991,000               -
   State income taxes                                          4,000               -
   Other                                                     259,000               - 
                                                       -------------     -------------

       Gross deferred tax asset                            6,117,000               -
                                                       -------------     -------------

Deferred tax liabilities:
   Property and equipment depreciation                       (33,000)              -
                                                       -------------     -------------

       Gross deferred tax liability                          (33,000)              -
                                                       -------------     -------------

Valuation allowance                                       (6,084,000)              -
                                                       -------------     -------------

Net deferred income taxes                              $         -     $           -
                                                       =============     =============
</TABLE>

The Company has approximately $11,070,000 in federal and $3,898,000 in state net
operating loss carryforwards which expire through 2012 and 2002, respectively. 
The Company experienced a change of control as a result of the Merger, which
limits the ability of the Company to utilize the carryforward amounts. Any
future change of control, as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue
Code, could further limit the Company's ability to utilize the carryforwards.

The provision (benefit) for income taxes is comprised of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                   1997           1996           1995
                                               ------------   ------------   ---------------
<S>                                            <C>            <C>            <C>            
Current tax expense (benefit)
   Federal                                     $        -     $        -     $           -   
   State                                                -              -              30,000
                                               ------------   ------------   ---------------
                                                        -              -              30,000
                                               ------------   ------------   ---------------

Deferred tax expense (benefit)
   Federal                                     $        -     $        -     $           -
   State                                                -              -                 -
                                               ------------   ------------   ---------------
                                                        -              -                 -
                                               ------------   ------------   ---------------
                                               $        -     $        -     $        30,000
                                               ============   ============   ===============
</TABLE>



                                      F-12
<PAGE>   35

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed by
applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                      1997            1996           1995
                                                  ------------   ------------   ---------------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>            
Amount computed at statutory Federal
   rate of 34%                                    $ (2,111,000)   $    13,000   $       716,000
Benefit of "S" Corporatoin status                      209,000        (13,000)         (716,000)
State income taxes, net of Federal benefit                 -              -              30,000
Increase in valuation allowance                        783,000            -                 -
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes             1,257,000            -                 -
Conversion from "S" to "C" Corporation                (138,000)           -                 -
                                                  ------------   ------------   ---------------
                                                  $        -     $        -     $        30,000
                                                  ============   ============   ===============
</TABLE>


NOTE 8 - STOCK OPTIONS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a number of stock option plans, administered by its Board of
Directors or its designees, which provide for the issuance of options to
employees, officers and directors. The exercise price of a stock option is
generally equal to the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the
date the option is granted. Certain of the plans permit options granted to
qualify as "Incentive Stock Options" under the Internal Revenue Code while other
plans are specified as non-qualified. Additionally, certain of the non-qualified
plans call for 100% vesting of outstanding options upon a change of control of
the Company. Options generally vest at a rate of 20 percent per year over a
period of five years from the date of grant and expire after a period not to
exceed ten years. However, the Board may, at its discretion, implement a
different vesting schedule with respect to any new stock option grant. A total
of 3,225,000 shares of Class A Common Stock has been reserved for issuance under
the Company's stock option plans.

Transactions under the Company's stock option plans during the years ended
October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 are summarized as follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          1993, 1996 CONSOLIDATED AND 1997 PLANS  1993 DIRECTOR PLAN
                                          --------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
                                                       WEIGHTED
                                                        AVERAGE     WEIGHTED                    WEIGHTED      WEIGHTED
                                             NUMBER    EXERCISE      AVERAGE       NUMBER       AVERAGE       AVERAGE
                                          OF OPTIONS    PRICE      FAIR VALUE    OF OPTIONS  EXERCISE PRICE  FAIR VALUE
                                          ----------   --------  --------------- ----------  --------------  ----------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>        <C>               <C>          <C>         <C>
Outstanding, October 31, 1994               640,000    $ 3.84                       24,000       $ 8.92
   Granted                                  209,500      3.38       $ 1.79          20,000         4.44        $ 2.35
   Exercised                               (206,000)     3.18                            -
   Canceled                                (121,200)     7.62                      (12,000)        8.92
                                          ---------                               --------

Outstanding, October 31, 1995               522,300      3.04                       32,000         6.12
   Granted                                  243,500      2.40         1.08          12,000        14.54          3.27
   Exercised                                (46,300)     2.66                            -
   Canceled                                (143,900)     3.48                       (7,200)        8.92
                                          ---------                               --------

Outstanding, October 31, 1996               575,600      2.69                       36,800         8.32
   Granted                                1,989,500      1.56         1.07               -
   Exercised                                      -                                      -
   Canceled                                (380,600)     2.79                            -
                                          ---------                               --------

Outstanding, October 31, 1997             2,184,500      1.64                       36,800         8.32
                                          =========                               ========

Exercisable, October 31, 1997               328,873                                 19,600
                                          =========                               ========

</TABLE>



                                      F-13
<PAGE>   36

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The following table sets forth information regarding options outstanding at
October 31, 1997 under the 1993, Consolidated 1996 and 1997 Plans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         WEIGHTED
                                                                                                          AVERAGE
                                                                            WEIGHTED      WEIGHTED       EXERCISE
                                           RANGE OF           NUMBER         AVERAGE       AVERAGE       PRICE FOR
                                           EXERCISE          CURRENTLY      EXERCISE      REMAINING      CURRENTLY
NUMBER OF OPTIONS                           PRICES          EXERCISABLE       PRICE     LIFE (YEARS)    EXERCISABLE
- -----------------                           ------          -----------       -----     ------------    -----------
<S>                                    <C>                  <C>            <C>          <C>             <C>  
     1,180,000                         $ 1.125 - $ 1.25       204,998         $1.18         9.65           $1.17
       989,500                          $ 2.00 - $ 2.50       117,875          2.17         9.68            2.26
        15,000                               $3.25              6,000          3.25         8.00            3.25
     ---------                                               --------

     2,184,500                                                328,873
     =========                                                =======
</TABLE>

The following table sets forth information regarding options outstanding at
October 31, 1997 under the Director Plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         WEIGHTED
                                                                                                          AVERAGE
                                                                            WEIGHTED      WEIGHTED       EXERCISE
                                           RANGE OF           NUMBER         AVERAGE       AVERAGE       PRICE FOR
                                           EXERCISE          CURRENTLY      EXERCISE      REMAINING      CURRENTLY
NUMBER OF OPTIONS                           PRICES          EXERCISABLE       PRICE     LIFE (YEARS)    EXERCISABLE
- -----------------                           ------          -----------       -----     ------------    -----------
<S>                                    <C>                   <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>  
    10,000                                  $ 3.25              2,000         $3.25         8.08           $3.25
    10,000                                  $ 5.63              4,000          5.63         7.67            5.63
    16,800                             $ 7.25 - $ 20.50        13,600         12.93         5.78           14.04
    ------                                                     ------

    36,800                                                     19,600
    ======                                                     ======
</TABLE>

No compensation expense has been recognized for its employee option grants,
which are fixed in nature, as the options have been granted at fair market
value. Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation awards
issued during 1997 and 1996 been determined based on the fair value at the grant
dates of awards consistent with the method prescribed by Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,"
the Company's net (loss) income and pro forma net (loss) income per share would
have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31,
                                                   1997               1996
                                                   ----               ----
<S>                                           <C>               <C>          
Net (loss) income:
   As reported                                $  (6,209,000)    $      39,000
                                              =============     ============= 
   Pro forma                                  $  (6,385,000)    $     (69,000)
                                              =============     ============= 

Net (loss) income per share:
   As reported                                $       (0.30)      $     0.00
                                              =============     ============= 

   Pro forma                                  $       (0.31)      $     0.00
                                              =============     ============= 
</TABLE>


The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions used for grants during the years ended October 31, 1997 and 1996,
respectively: dividend yield of 0.0% for both years, risk-free interest rates of
6.13% and 6.16%, expected volatility of 80% for both years, and expected lives
of 5.0 years for both years.



                                      F-14
<PAGE>   37

IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


401(k) PLAN

During 1992, the Company adopted an employee savings and retirement plan (the
"401(k) Plan") covering all of the Company's employees. The 401(k) Plan permits,
but does not require, matching contributions by the Company on behalf of all
participants. No such contributions were made in fiscal 1997, 1996 or 1995.


NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company currently conducts its operations in twenty-three facilities
throughout the United States. Certain of these facilities are leased from
various parties, including related parties, under noncancelable operating leases
that expire at various times through March 2003.

Future minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases,
inclusive of the Company's obligation to its president and principal shareholder
(Note 10), are reflected in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       YEAR ENDING
       OCTOBER 31,
<S>                                          <C>          
         1998                                $     840,000
         1999                                      525,000
         2000                                      491,000
         2001                                      437,000
         2002                                      437,000
         Thereafter                                147,000
                                             -------------

                                             $   2,877,000
                                             =============
</TABLE>


Total rent expense was $918,000, $853,000 and $687,000 for the years ended
October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

The Company may be subject to various claims and legal proceedings in the
ordinary course of conducting its business. In the opinion of management, the
liability associated with the resolution of such matters, if any, will not have
a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.

NOTE 10 - CERTAIN RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company currently leases its corporate headquarters from an entity owned by
the president and principal shareholder of the Company. The Company paid this
entity approximately $330,000 during each of the years ended October 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 under the terms of the lease agreement.

The Company paid its president and principal shareholder $900,000, $1,200,000
and $2,251,000 during the years ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, for his services. Included in fiscal 1997 compensation is $67,000
paid as part of a non-competition agreement. Under this agreement, the president
and principal shareholder will receive additional compensation of $200,000 per
year through fiscal 2002. Included in the fiscal year 1995 compensation was a
bonus for $1,000,000. No bonus was paid for fiscal years 1997 or 1996.

The shareholder loan to the president and principal shareholder is unsecured,
due in June 2004, with interest payable monthly at 9 percent per annum. This
loan is subordinate to the bank line of credit. Interest expense from the
shareholder loan was $461,000, $301,000 and $298,000 during the years ended
October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

                                      F-15
<PAGE>   38

                SCHEDULE VIII - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS


               Fiscal Years Ended October 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Balance at       Additions
                                                 Beginning        Charged to                           Balance at
                                                  of Year          Income            Deductions*       End of Year
                                                ----------      ------------         -----------       -----------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>        
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable:

1997                                            $  219,000      $   236,000        $  195,000       $   260,000
1996                                               272,000           60,000           113,000           219,000
1995                                               184,000          133,000            45,000           272,000

Allowance for Inventory Obsolescence:

1997                                            $  200,000      $   600,000        $    2,000       $   798,000
1996                                               183,000           30,000            13,000           200,000
1995                                               293,000          244,000           354,000           183,000
</TABLE>

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

* Deductions represent amounts written off against the allowance, net of
  recoveries.




                                       S-1

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                   AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION

            STANDARD INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL SINGLE-TENANT LEASE - NET
                DO NOT USE THIS FORM FOR MULTI-TENANT BUILDINGS)

1. Basic Provisions ("Basic Provisions")

         Parties:     This Lease ("Lease"), dated for reference purposes only is
                      made by and between SYKO PROPERTIES, INC., a California
                      Corporation, ("Lessor") and ANDATACO, a California
                      Corporation ("Lessee"), (collectively the "Parties," or
                      individually a "Party").

      1.2 Premises: That certain real property, including all improvements
therein or to be provided by Lessor under the terms of this lease, and commonly
known as 10140 Mesa Rim Road, located in the county of San Diego, State of
California and generally described as (describe briefly the nature of the
property and, if applicable, the "Project", if the property is located within a
Project) ("Premises"). (See also Paragraph 2)

      1.3 Term: five (5) years and zero (0) months ("Original Term") commencing
April 1, 1993 ("Commencement Date") and ending March 31, 1998 ("Expiration
Date"). (See also Paragraph 3)

      1.4 Early Possession: ("Early Possession Date"). (See also Paragraphs 3.2
and 3.3)

      1.5 Base Rent: $ 27,549.60 per month ("Base Rent"), payable in advance on
the first day of each month commencing on the Commencement date (See also
Paragraph 4)

If this box is checked, there are provisions in this Lease for the Base Rent to
be adjusted.

      1.6 Base Rent Paid Upon Execution: $ 27,549.60 as Base Rent for the first
month's rent

      1.7 Security Deposit: $5,000 ("Security Deposit"). (See also Paragraph 5)

      1.8 Agreed Use: The premise shall be used and occupied only for general
office and computer assembly and storage or any other use which is reasonably
comparable and for no other purpose. (See also Paragraph 6)

      1.9 Insuring Party. Lessor is the "Insuring Party" unless otherwise stated
herein. (See also Paragraph 8)

      1.10 Real Estate Brokers: (See also Paragraph 1.5)

          (a) Representation: The following real estate brokers (collectively,
the "Brokers") and brokerage relationships exist in this transaction (check
applicable boxes):

      represents Lessor exclusively ("Lessor's Broker"); represents Lessee
      exclusively ("Lessee's Broker") or represents both Lessor and Lessee
      ("Dual Agency").

          (b) Payment to Brokers: Upon execution and delivery of this Lease by
both Pal Lessor shall pay to the Broker the fee agreed to in their separate
written agreement (or if there is no such agreement, the sum of % of the total
Base Rent for the brokerage services rendered by said Broker).

      1.11 Guarantor. The obligations of the Lessee under this Lease are to be
guaranteed by ("Guarantor"). (See also Paragraph 37)

<PAGE>   2

      1.12 Addenda and Exhibits. Attached hereto is an Addendum or Addenda
consisting of Exhibit "A" all of which constitute a part of this Lease.

2. Premises.

     2.1 Letting. Lessor hereby leases to Lessee, and Lessee hereby leases from
Lessor, the Premises. for the term, at the rental. and upon all of the terms
covenants and conditions set forth in this Lease, Unless otherwise provided
herein. any statement of size set forth in this Lease, or trial may rave been
used in calculating rental. is an approximation which the Parties agree is
reasonable and the rental based thereon is not subject to revision whether or
not the actual size is more or less.

      2.2 Condition, Lessor shall deliver the Premises to Lessee broom clean and
free of debris on the Commencement Date or the Early Possession Date. whichever
first occurs ("Start Date"), and, so long as the required service contracts
described in Paragraph 7.1b) below are obtained by Lessee within thirty (30)
days following the Start Date, warrants that the existing electrical, plumbing,
fire sprinkler, lighting, heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems
("HVAC"), loading doors. if any, and all other such elements in the Premises,
other than those constructed by Lessee, shall be in good operating condition on
said date and that the structural elements of the roof. bearing walls and
foundation of any buildings on the Premises (the "Building") shall be free of
material defects. It a non-compliance with said warranty exists as of the Start
Date. Lessor shall, as Lessor's sole obligation with respect to such matter,
except as otherwise provided in this Lease, promptly after receipt of written
notice from Lessee setting forth with specificity the nature and extent of such
non-compliance, rectify same at Lessor's expense. It, after the Start Date.
Lessee does not give Lessor written notice of any non-compliance with this
warranty within (i) one year as to the surface of the roof and the structural
portions of the roof, foundations and bearing walls. (ii) six (6) months as to
the HVAC systems, (iii) thirty (30) days as to the remaining systems and other
elements of the Building, correction of such non-compliance shall be the
obligation of Lessee at Lessee's sole cost and expense.

      2.3 Compliance. Lessor warrants that the improvements on the Premises
comply with all applicable laws. covenants or restrictions of record, building
codes, regulations and ordinances ("Applicable Requirements") in effect on the
Start Date. Said warranty does not apply to the use to which Lessee will put the
Premises or to any Alterations or Utility Installations (as defined in Paragraph
7.3(a)) made or to be made by Lessee. NOTE Lessee is responsible for determining
whether or not the zoning is appropriate for Lessees intended use. and
acknowledges that past uses of the Premises may no longer be allowed If the
Premises do not comply with said warranty, Lessor shall. except as otherwise
provided. promptly after receipt of written notice from Lessee setting forth
with specificity the nature and extent of such noncompliance, rectify the same
at Lessors expense, If Lessee does not give Lessor written notice of a
non-compliance with this warranty within six (6) months following the Start
Date, correction of that non-compliance shall be the obligation of Lessee at
Lessee's sole cost and expense, If the Applicable Requirements are hereafter
changed (as opposed to being in existence at the Start Date, which is addressed
in Paragraph 6.2(e) below) so as to require during the term of this Lease the
construction of an addition to or an alteration of the Building, the remediation
of any Hazardous Substance. or the reinforcement or other physical modification
of the Building ("Capital Expenditure"), Lessor and Lessee shall allocate the
cost of such work as follows:

          (a) Subject to Paragraph 2.3(c) below, if such Capital Expenditures
are required as a result of the specific and unique use of the Premises by
Lessee as compared with uses by tenants in general. Lessee shall be fully
responsible for the cost thereof, provided, however that if such, Capital
Expenditure is required during the last two (2) years of this Lease and the cost
thereof exceeds six (6) months' Base Rent, Lessee may instead terminate this
Lease unless Lessor notifies Lessee, in writing, within ten (10) days after
receipt of Lessee's termination notice that Lessor has elected to pay the
difference between the actual cost thereof and the amount equal to six (6)
months' Base Rent. If Lessee elects termination. Lessee shall immediately cease
the use of the Premises which requires such Capital Expenditure and deliver to
Lessor written notice specifying a termination date at least ninety (90) days
thereafter. Such termination date shall, however, in no event be earlier than
the last day that Lessee could legally utilize the Premises without commencing
such Capital Expenditure.

<PAGE>   3

          (b) If such Capital Expenditure is not the result of the specific and
unique use of the Premises by Lessee (such as, governmentally mandated seismic
modifications), then Lessor and Lessee shall allocate the obligation to pay for
such costs pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 7.1 (c): provided, however,
that if such Capital Expenditure is required during the last two years of this
Lease or if Lessor reasonably determines that it is not economically feasible to
pay its share thereof, Lessor shall have the option to terminate this Lease upon
ninety (90) days prior written notice to Lessee unless Lessee notifies Lessor,
in writing, within ten (10) days after receipt of Lessor's termination notice
that Lessee will pay for such Capital Expenditure. If Lessor does not elect to
terminate, and fails to tender its share of any such Capital Expenditure. Lessee
may advance such funds and deduct same, with Interest, from Rent until Lessor's
share of such costs have been fully paid. If Lessee is unable to finance
Lessor's share, or if the balance of the Rent due and payable for the remainder
of this Lease is not sufficient to fully reimburse Lessee on an offset basis.
Lessee shall have the right to terminate this Lease upon thirty (30) days
written notice to Lessor.

          (c) Notwithstanding the above, the provisions concerning Capital
Expenditures are intended to apply only to non-voluntary, unexpected, and new
Applicable Requirements. If the Capital Expenditures are instead triggered by
Lessee as a result of an actual or proposed in use, change in intensity of use,
or modification to the Premises then, and in that event, Lessee shall be fully
responsible for the cost thereof, and Lessee shall not have any right to
terminate this Lease.

      2.4 Acknowledgements. Lessee acknowledges that: (a) it has been advised by
Lessor and/or Brokers to satisfy itself with respect to the condition of the
Premises (including but not limited to the electrical, HVAC and fire sprinkler
systems, security, environmental aspects, and compliance with Applicable
Requirements), and their suitability for Lessee's intended use, (b) Lessee has
made such investigation as it deems necessary with reference to such matters and
assumes all responsibility therefor as the same relate to its occupancy of the
Premises, and (c) neither Lessor. Lessor's agents, nor any Broker has made any
oral or written representations or warranties with respect to said matters other
than as set forth in this Lease. In addition, Lessor acknowledges that: (a)
Broker has made no representations, promises or warranties concerning Lessee's
ability to honor the Lease or suitability to occupy the Premises, and (b) it is
Lessor's sale responsibility to investigate the financial capability and/or
suitability of a(( proposed tenants.

      2.5 Lessee as Prior Owner/Occupant. The warranties made by Lessor in
Paragraph 2 shall be of no force or effect if immediately Prior to the Start
Date Lessee was the owner or occupant of the Premises. In such event, Lessee
shall be responsible for any necessary corrective work.

3. Term.

      3.1 Term. The Commencement Date, Expiration Date and Original Term of this
Lease are as specified in Paragraph 1.3.

      3.2 Early Possession. If Lessee totally or partially occupies the Premises
prior to the Commencement Date, the obligation to pay Base Rent shall be abated
for the period of such early possession. All other terms of this Lease
(including but not limited to the obligations to pay Real Property Taxes and
insurance premiums and to maintain the Premises) shall, however, be in effect
during such period. Any such early possession shall not affect the Expiration
Date.

      3.3 Delay In Possession. Lessor agrees to use its best commercially
reasonable efforts to deliver possession of the Premises to Lessee by the
Commencement Date. If, despite said efforts, Lessor is unable to deliver
possession as agreed. Lessor shall not be subject to any liability therefor, nor
shall such failure affect the validity of this Lease, Lessee shall not, however,
be obligated to pay Rent or perform its other obligations until it receives
possession of the Premises. If possession is not delivered within sixty (60)
days after the Commencement Date, Lessee may, at its option, by notice in
writing within ten (10) days after the end of such sixty (60) day period,

<PAGE>   4

cancel this Lease, in which event the Parties shall be discharged from all
obligations hereunder, If such written notice is not received by Lessor within
said ten (10) day period, Lessee's right to cancel shall terminate. Except as
otherwise provided, if possession is not tendered to Lessee by the Start Date
and Lessee does not terminate this Lease, as aforesaid, any period of rent
abatement that Lessee would otherwise have enjoyed shall run from the date of
delivery of possession and continue for a period equal to what Lessee would
otherwise have enjoyed under the terms hereof, but minus any days of delay
caused by the acts or omissions of Lessee. If possession of the Premises is not
delivered within four (4) months after the Commencement Date, this Lease shall
terminate unless other agreements are reached between Lessor and Lessee, in
writing.

      3.4 Lessee Compliance. Lessor shall not be required to tender possession
of the Premises to Lessee until Lessee complies with its obligation to provide
evidence of insurance (Paragraph 8.5). Pending delivery of such evidence, Lessee
shall be required to perform all of its obligations under this Lease from and
after the Start Date, including the payment of Rent, notwithstanding Lessor's
election to withhold possession pending receipt of such evidence of insurance.
Further, if Lessee is required to perform any other conditions prior to or
concurrent with the Start Date, the Start Date shall occur but Lessor may elect
to withhold possession until such conditions are satisfied.

4. Rent.

      4.1. Rent Defined. All monetary obligations of Lessee to Lessor under the
terms of this Lease (except for the Security Deposit) are deemed to be rent
("Rent").

      4.2 Payment. Lessee shall cause payment of Rent to be received by Lessor
in lawful money of the United States, without offset or deduction (except as
specifically permitted in this Lease), on or before the day on which it is due.
Rent for any period during the term hereof which is for less than one (1) full
calendar month shall be prorated based upon the actual number of days of said
month. Payment of Rent shall be made to Lessor at its address stated herein or
to such other persons or place as Lessor may from time to time designate in
writing, Acceptance of a payment which is less than the amount then due shall
not be a waiver of Lessor's rights to the balance of such Rent, regardless of
Lessor's endorsement of any check so stating.

5. Security Deposit. Lessee shall deposit with Lessor upon execution hereof the
Security Deposit as security for Lessee's faithful performance of its
obligations under this Lease. If Lessee fails to pay Rent, or otherwise Defaults
under this Lease, Lessor may use, apply or retain all or any portion of said
Security Deposit for the payment of any amount due Lessor or to reimburse or
compensate Lessor for any liability, expense, loss or damage which Lessor may
suffer or incur by reason thereof. If Lessor uses or applies all or any portion
of said Security Deposit, Lessee shall within ten (10) days after written
request therefor deposit monies with Lessor sufficient to restore said Security
Deposit to the full amount required by this Lease. If the Base Rent increases
during the term of this Lease, Lessee shall, upon written request from Lessor,
deposit additional moneys with Lessor so that the total amount of the Security
Deposit shall at ail times bear the same proportion to the increased Base Rent
as the initial Security Deposit bore to the initial Base Rent. Should the Agreed
Use be amended to accommodate a material change in the business of Lessee or to
accommodate a sublessee or assignee, Lessor shall have the right to increase the
Security Deposit to the extent necessary, in Lessors reasonable judgment, to
account for any increased wear and tear that the Premises may suffer as a result
thereof. If a change in control of Lessee occurs during this Lease and following
such change the financial condition of Lessee is, in Lessor's reasonable
judgment, significantly reduced. Lessee shall deposit such additional monies
with Lessor as shall be sufficient to cause the Security Deposit to be at a
commercially reasonable level based on said change in financial condition.
Lessor shall not be required to keep the Security Deposit separate from its
general accounts. Within fourteen (14) days after the expiration or termination
of this Lease, if Lessor elects to apply the Security Deposit only to unpaid
Rent, and otherwise within thirty (30) days after the Premises have been vacated
pursuant to Paragraph 7.4(c) below. Lessor shall return that portion of the
Security Deposit not used or applied by Lessor. No part of the Security Deposit
shall be considered to be held in trust, to bear interest or to be prepayment
for any monies to be paid by Lessee under this Lease.

<PAGE>   5

6. Use.

      6.1 Use. Lessee shall use and occupy the Premises only for the Agreed Use,
or any other legal use which is reasonably comparable thereto, and for no other
purpose, Lessee shall not use or permit the use of the Premises in a manner that
is unlawful, creates damage, waste or a nuisance, or that disturbs owners and/or
occupants of, or causes damage to neighboring properties. Lessor shall not
unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to any written request for a
modification of the Agreed Use, so long as the same will not impair the
structural integrity of the improvements on the Premises or the mechanical or
electrical systems therein, is not significantly more burdensome to the
Premises. If Lessor elects to withhold consent, Lessor shall within five (5)
business days after such request give written notification of same, which notice
shall include an explanation of Lessor's objections to the change in use.

      6.2 Hazardous Substances.

          (a) Reportable Uses Require Consent. The term "Hazardous Substance" as
used in this Lease shall mean any product, substance, or waste whose presence,
use, manufacture, disposal, transportation, or release, either by itself or in
combination with other materials expected to be on the Premises, is either: (i)
potentially injurious to the public health, safety or welfare, the environment
or the Premises, (ii) regulated or monitored by any governmental authority, or
(iii) a basis for potential liability of Lessor to any governmental agency or
third party under any applicable statute or common law theory. Hazardous
Substances shall include, but not be limited to, hydrocarbons, petroleum,
gasoline, and/or crude oil or any products, by-products or fractions thereof,
Lessee shall not engage in any activity in or on the Premises which constitutes
a Reportable Use of Hazardous Substances without the express prior written
consent of Lessor and timely compliance (at Lessee's expense) with all
Applicable Requirements. "Reportable Use" shall mean (i) the installation or use
of any above or below ground storage tank, (ii) the generation, possession,
storage, use, transportation, or disposal of a Hazardous Substance that requires
a permit from, or with respect to which a report, notice, registration or
business plan is required to be filed with, any governmental authority, and/or
(ml the presence at the Premises of a Hazardous Substance with respect to which
any Applicable Requirements requires that a notice be given to persons entering
or occupying the Premises or neighboring properties. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Lessee may use any ordinary and customary materials reasonably
required to be used in the normal course of the Agreed Use, so long as such use
is in compliance with all Applicable Requirements, is not a Reportable Use, and
does not expose the Premises or neighboring property to any meaningful risk of
contamination or damage or expose Lessor to any liability therefor. In addition,
Lessor may condition its consent to any Reportable Use upon receiving such
additional assurances as Lessor reasonably deems necessary to protect itself,
the public, the Premises and/or the environment against damage, contamination,
injury and/or liability, including, but not limited to, the installation (and
removal on or before Lease expiration or termination) of protective
modifications (such as concrete encasements) and/or increasing the Security
Deposit.

          (b) Duty to Inform Lessor. If Lessee knows, or has reasonable cause to
believe, that a Hazardous Substance has come to be located in, on, under or
about the Premises, other than as previously consented to by Lessor, Lessee
shall immediately give written notice of Such fact to Lessor, and provide Lessor
with a copy of any report, notice, claim or other documentation which it has
concerning the presence of such Hazardous Substance.

          (c) Lessee Remediation. Lessee shall not cause or permit any Hazardous
Substance to be spilled or released in, on, under, or about the Premises
(including through the plumbing or sanitary sewer system) and shall promptly, at
Lessee's expense. take all investigatory and/or remedial action reasonably
recommended, whether or not formally ordered or required, for the cleanup of any
contamination of, and for the maintenance, security and/or monitoring of the
Premises or neighboring properties, that was caused or materially contributed to
by Lessee, or pertaining to or involving any Hazardous Substance brought onto
the Premises during the term of this Lease, by or for Lessee, or any third
party.

          (d) Lessee Indemnification. Lessee shall indemnify, defend and hold
Lessor, its agents, employees, lenders and ground lessor, if any, harmless from
and against any and all loss of rents and/or damages, liabilities, judgments,
claims, expenses, penalties, and attorneys' and consultants' fees arising out of
or involving any Hazardous Substance brought onto the Premises by or for Lessee,
or any third party (provided, however, that

<PAGE>   6

Lessee shall have no liability under this Lease with respect to underground
migration of any Hazardous Substance under the Premises from adjacent
properties), Lessee's obligations shall include, but not be limited to, the
effects of any contamination or injury to person, property or the environment
created or suffered by Lessee, and the cost of investigation, removal,
remediation, restoration and/or abatement, and shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Lease. No termination, cancellation or release agreement
entered into by Lessor and Lessee shall release Lessee from its obligations
under this Lease with respect to Hazardous Substances, unless specifically so
agreed by Lessor in writing at the time of such agreement.

          (e) Lessor Indemnification. Lessor and its successors and assigns
shall indemnify, defend, reimburse and hold Lessee, its employees and lenders,
harmless from and against any and all environmental damages, including the cost
of remediation, which existed as a result of Hazardous Substances on the
Premises prior to the Start Date or which are caused by the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of Lessor, its agents or employees. Lessor's obligations, as
and when required by the Applicable Requirements, shall include, but not be
limited to, the cost of investigation, removal, remediation, restoration and/or
abatement, and shall survive the expiration or termination of this Lease.

          (f) Investigations and Remediations. Lessor shall retain the
responsibility and pay for any investigations or remediation measures required
by governmental entities having jurisdiction with respect to the existence of
Hazardous Substances on the Premises prior to the Start Date, unless such
remediation measure is required as a result of Lessee's use (including
"Alterations", as defined in paragraph 7.3(a) below) of the Premises, in which
event Lessee shall be responsible for such payment. Lessee shall cooperate fully
in any such activities at the request of Lessor, including allowing Lessor and
Lessor's agents to have reasonable access to the Premises at reasonable times in
order to carry out Lessor's investigative and remedial responsibilities.

          (g) Lessor Termination Option. If a Hazardous Substance Condition
occurs during the term of this Lease, unless Lessee is legally responsible
therefor (in which case Lessee shall make the investigation and remediation
thereof required by the Applicable Requirements and this Lease shall continue in
full force and effect, but subject to Lessor's rights under Paragraph 6.2(d) and
Paragraph 13), Lessor may, at Lessor's option, either (i) investigate and
remediate such Hazardous Substance Condition, if required, as soon as reasonably
possible at Lessor's expense, in which event this Lease shall continue in full
force and effect, or (ii) if the estimated cost to remediate such condition
exceeds twelve (12) times the then monthly Base Rent or $100,000, whichever is
greater, give written notice to Lessee, within thirty (30) days after receipt by
Lessor of knowledge of the occurrence of such Hazardous Substance Condition, of
Lessor's desire to terminate this Lease as of the date sixty (60) days following
the date of such notice. In the event Lessor elects to give a termination
notice, Lessee may, within ten (10) days thereafter, give written notice to
Lessor of Lessee's commitment to pay the amount by which the cost of the
remediation of such Hazardous Substance Condition exceeds an amount equal to
twelve (12) times the then monthly Base Rent or $100,000, whichever is greater.
Lessee shall provide Lessor with said funds or satisfactory assurance thereof
within thirty (30) days following such commitment. In such event, this Lease
shall continue in full force and effect, and Lessor shall proceed to make such
remediation as soon as reasonably possible after the required funds are
available. If Lessee does not give such notice and provide the required funds or
assurance thereof within the time provided, this Lease shall terminate as of the
date specified in Lessor's notice of termination.

      6.3 Lessee's Compliance with Applicable Requirements. Except as otherwise
provided in this Lease, Lessee shall, at Lessee's sole expense, fully,
diligently and in a timely manner, materially comply with all Applicable
Requirements, the requirements of any applicable fire insurance underwriter or
rating bureau, and the recommendations of Lessor's engineers and/or consultants
which relate in any manner to the Premises, without regard to whether said
requirements are now in effect or become effective after the Start Date. Lessee
shall, within ten (10) days after receipt of Lessor's written request, provide
Lessor with copies of all permits and other documents, and other information
evidencing Lessee's compliance with any Applicable Requirements specified by
Lessor, and shall immediately upon receipt, notify Lessor in writing (with
copies of any documents involved) of any threatened or actual claim, notice,
citation, warning, complaint or report pertaining to or involving the failure of
Lessee or the Premises to comply with any Applicable Requirements.

<PAGE>   7

      6.4 Inspection; Compliance. Lessor and Lessor's "Lender" (as defined in
Paragraph 30 below) and consultants shall have the right to enter into Premises
at any time, in the case of an emergency, and otherwise at reasonable times, for
the purpose of inspecting the condition of the Premises and for verifying
compliance by Lessee with this Lease. The cost of any such inspections shall be
paid by Lessor, unless a violation of Applicable Requirements, or a
contamination is found to exist or be imminent, or the inspection is requested
or ordered by a governmental authority. In such case, Lessee shall upon request
reimburse Lessor for the cost of such inspections, so long as such inspection is
reasonably related to the violation or contamination.

                                     PAGE 3                             Initials

                                                                FORM 204N-R-2/97

<PAGE>   8

7. Maintenance; Repairs, Utility Installations; Trade Fixtures and Alterations.

      7.1 Lessee's Obligations.

          (a) In General. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 2.2
(Condition), 2.3 (Compliance), 6.3 (Lessee's Compliance with Applicable
Requirements), 7.2 (Lessor's Obligations), 9 (Damage or Destruction), and 14
(Condemnation), Lessee shall, at Lessee's sole expense, keep the Premises.
Utility Installations, and Alterations in good order, condition and repair
(whether or not the portion of the Premises requiring repairs, or ire means of
repairing the same, are reasonably or readily accessible to Lessee, and whether
or not the need for such repairs occurs as a result of Lessee's use, any prior
use, the elements or the age of such portion of the Premises), including, but
not limited to, all equipment or facilities, such as plumbing, heating,
ventilating, air-conditioning, electrical, lighting facilities, boilers,
pressure vessels, fire protection system, fixtures, walls (interior and
exterior), foundations, ceilings, roofs, floors, windows, doors, plate glass,
skylights, landscaping, driveways, parking lots, fences, retaining walls, signs,
sidewalks and parkways located in, on, or adjacent to the Premises. Lessee, in
keeping the Premises in good order, condition and repair, shall exercise and
perform good maintenance practices, specifically including the Procurement and
maintenance of the service contracts required by Paragraph 7.1(b) below.
Lessee's obligations shall include restorations, replacements or renewals when
necessary to keep the Premises and all improvements thereon or a part thereof in
good order, condition and state of repair, Lessee shall, during the term of this
Lease, keep the exterior appearance of the Building in a first-class condition
consistent with the exterior appearance of other similar facilities of
comparable age and size in the vicinity, including, when necessary, the exterior
repairing of the Building.

          (b) Service Contracts. Lessee shall, at Lessee's sole expense, procure
and maintain contracts, with copies to Lessor, in customary form and substance
for, and with contractors specializing and experienced in the maintenance of the
following equipment and improvements, if any, if and when installed on the
Premises: (i) HVAC equipment, (ii) boiler, and pressure vessels, (iii) fire
extinguishing systems, including fire alarm and/or smoke detection, (iv)
landscaping and irrigation systems, (v) roof covering and drains, (vi) driveways
and parking lots, (vii) clarifiers (viii) basic utility feed to the perimeter of
the Building, and (ix) any other equipment, if reasonably required by Lessor,

          (c) Replacement, Subject to Lessees indemnification of Lessor as set
forth in Paragraph 8.7 below, and without relieving Lessee of liability
resulting from Lessee's failure to exercise and perform good maintenance
Practices, if the Basic Elements described in Paragraph 7.1(b) cannot be
repaired other than at a cost which is in excess of 50% of the cost of replacing
such Basic Elements, then such Basic Elements shall be replaced by Lessor, and
the cost thereof shall be prorated between the Parties and Lessee shall only be
obligated to pay, each month during the remainder of the term of this Lease, on
the date on which Base Rent is clue, an amount equal to the product of
multiplying the cost of such replacement by a fraction, the numerator of which
is one, and the denominator of which is the number of months of the useful life
of such replacement as such useful life is specified pursuant to Federal income
tax regulations or guidelines for depreciation thereof (including interest on
the unamortized balance as is then commercially reasonable in the judgment of
Lessor's accountants), with Lessee reserving the right to prepay its obligation
at any time.

      7.2 Lessor's Obligations. Subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 2.2
(Condition), 2.3 (Compliance), 9 (Damage or Destruction) and 14 (Condemnation),
it is intended by the Parties hereto that Lessor have no obligation, in any
manner whatsoever, to repair and maintain the Premises, or the equipment
therein, all of which obligations are intended to be that of the Lessee. It is
the intention of the Parties that the terms of this Lease govern the respective
obligations of the Parties as to maintenance and repair of the Premises, and
they expressly waive the benefit of any statute now or hereafter in effect to
the extent it is inconsistent with the terms of this Lease.

      7.3 Utility Installations; Trade Fixtures; Alterations.

<PAGE>   9

          (a) Definitions; Consent Required. The term "Utility Installations"
refers to all floor and window coverings, air lines, power panels, electrical
distribution, security and fire protection systems, communication systems,
lighting fixtures, HVAC equipment, plumbing, and fencing in or on the Premises.
The term "Trade Fixtures" shall mean Lessee's machinery and equipment that can
be removed without doing material damage to the Premises. The term "Alterations"
shall mean any modification of the improvements, other than Utility
Installations or Trade Fixtures, whether by addition or deletion, "Lessee Owned
Alterations and/or Utility Installations" are defined as Alterations and/or
Utility Installations made by Lessee that are not yet owned by Lessor pursuant
to Paragraph 7.4(a). Lessee shall not make any Alterations or Utility
Installations to the Premises without Lessor's prior written consent. Lessee
may, however, make non-structural Utility Installations to the interior of the
Premises (excluding the roof) without such consent but upon notice to Lessor, as
long as they are not visible from the outside, do not involve puncturing,
relocating or removing the roof or any existing walls, and the cumulative cost
thereof during this Lease as extended does not exceed $50,000 in the aggregate
or $10,000 in any one year.

          (b) Consent. Any Alterations or Utility Installations that Lessee
shall desire to make and which require the consent of the Lessor shall be
presented to Lessor in written form with detailed plans. Consent shall be deemed
conditioned upon Lessee's: (i) acquiring all applicable governmental permits,
(6) furnishing Lessor with copies of both the permits and the plans and
specifications prior to commencement of the work, and (iii) compliance with all
conditions of said permits and other Applicable Requirements in a prompt and
expeditious manner. Any Alterations or Utility Installations shall be performed
in a workmanlike manner with good and sufficient materials. Lessee shall
promptly upon completion furnish Lessor with as-built plans and specifications.
For work which costs an amount equal to the greater of one month's Base Rent, or
$10,000. Lessor may condition its consent upon Lessee providing a lien and
completion pond in an amount equal to one and one-half times the estimated cost
of such Alteration or Utility Installation and/or upon Lessee's posting an
additional Security Deposit with Lessor.

          (c) Indemnification. Lessee shall pay, when due, all claims for labor
or materials furnished or alleged to have been furnished to or for Lessee at or
for use on the Premises, which claims are or may be secured by any mechanic's or
materialmen's lien against the Premises or any interest therein. Lessee shall
give Lessor not less than ten (10) days' notice prior to the commencement of any
work in, on or about the Premises, and Lessor shall have the right to post
notices of non-responsibility. If Lessee shall contest the validity of any such
lien, claim or demand, then Lessee shall, at its sole expense defend and protect
itself, Lessor and the Premises against the same and shall pay and satisfy any
such adverse judgment that may be rendered thereon before the enforcement
thereof. If Lessor shall require, Lessee shall furnish a surety bond in an
amount equal to one and one-half times the amount of such contested lien, claim
or demand, indemnifying Lessor against liability for the same. If Lessor elects
to participate in any such action, Lessee shall pay Lessor's attorneys fees and
costs.

      7.4 Ownership; Removal; Surrender; and Restoration.

          (a) Ownership. Subject to Lessor's right to require removal or elect
ownership as hereinafter provided, all Alterations and Utility Installations
made by Lessee shall be the property of Lessee, but considered a part of the
Premises, Lessor may, at any time, elect in writing to be the owner of all or
any specified part of the Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility Installations.
Unless otherwise instructed per Paragraph 7.4(b) hereof, all Lessee Owned
Alterations and Utility Installations shall, at the expiration or termination of
this Lease, become the property of Lessor and be surrendered by Lessee with the
Premises.

          (b) Removal. By delivery to Lessee of written notice from Lessor not
earlier than ninety (90) and not later than thirty (30) days prior to the end of
the term of this Lease, Lessor may require that any or all Lessee Owned
Alterations or Utility Installations be removed by the expiration or termination
of this Lease. Lessor may require the removal at any time of all or any part of
any Lessee Owned Alterations or Utility Installations made without the required
consent.

          (c) Surrender/Restoration. Lessee shall surrender the Premises by the
Expiration Date or any earlier termination date, with all of the improvements,
parts and surfaces thereof broom clean and free of debris, and in

<PAGE>   10

good operating order, condition and state of repair, ordinary wear and tear
excepted. "Ordinary wear and tear" shall not include any damage or deterioration
that would have been prevented by good maintenance practice. Lessee shall repair
any damage occasioned by the installation, maintenance or removal of Trade
Fixtures, Lessee Owned Alterations and/or Utility Installations, furnishings,
and equipment as well as the removal of any storage tank installed by or for
Lessee, and the removal, replacement, or remediation of any soil, material or
groundwater contaminated by Lessee. Trade Fixtures shall remain the property of
Lessee and shall be removed by Lessee. The failure by Lessee to timely vacate
the Premises pursuant to this Paragraph 7.4(c) without the express written
consent of Lessor shall constitute a holdover under the provisions of Paragraph
26 below.

8. Insurance; Indemnity.

      8.1 Payment For Insurance. Lessee shall pay for all insurance required
under Paragraph 8 except to the extent of the cost attributable to liability
insurance carried by Lessor under Paragraph 8.2(b) in excess of $2,000,000 per
occurrence. Premiums for policy periods commencing prior to or extending beyond
the Lease term shall be prorated to correspond to the Lease term. Payment shall
be made by Lessee to Lessor within ten (10) days following receipt of an
invoice.

      8.2 Liability Insurance.

          (,a), Carried by Lessee. Lessee shall obtain and keep in force a
Commercial General Liability Policy of Insurance protecting Lessee and Lessor
against claims for bodily injury, personal injury and property damage based upon
or arising out of the ownership, use, occupancy or Maintenance of the Premises
and all areas appurtenant thereto. Such insurance shall be on an occurrence
basis providing single limit coverage in an amount not less than $2.000,000 per
occurrence with an "Additional Insured-Managers or Lessors of Premises
Endorsement" and contain the "Amendment of the Pollution Exclusion Endorsement"
for damage caused by heat, smoke or fumes from a hostile fire. The Policy shall
not contain any intra-insured exclusions as between insured persons or
organizations, but shall include coverage for liability assumed under this Lease
as an "insured contract" for the performance of Lessee's indemnity obligations
under this Lease. The limits of said insurance shall not, however, limit the
liability of Lessee nor relieve Lessee of any obligation hereunder. All
insurance carried by Lessee shall be primary to and not contributory with any
similar insurance carried by Lessor, whose insurance shall be considered excess
insurance only.

          (b) Carried by Lessor. Lessor shall maintain liability insurance as
described in Paragraph 8.2(a), in addition to, and not in lieu of, the insurance
required to be maintained by Lessee. Lessee shall not be named as an additional
insured therein.

      8.3 Property Insurance - Building, Improvements and Rental Value.

          (a) Building and Improvements. The Insuring Party shall obtain and
keep in force a policy or policies in the name of Lessor, with loss payable to
Lessor, any groundlessor, and to any Lender(s) insuring loss or damage to the
Premises. The amount of such insurance shall be equal to the full replacement
cost of the Premises, as the same shall exist from time to time, or the amount
required by any Lenders, but in no event more than the commercially reasonable
and available insurable value thereof. If Lessor is the Insuring Party, however,
Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility installations, Trade Fixtures, and Lessee's
personal property shall be insured by Lessee under Paragraph 8.4 rather than by
Lessor, it the coverage is available and commercially appropriate, such policy
or policies shall insure against all risks of direct physical loss or damage
(except the perils of flood and/or earthquake unless required by a Lender),
including coverage for debris removal and the enforcement of any Applicable
Requirements requiring the upgrading, demolition, reconstruction or replacement
of any portion of the Premises as the result of a covered loss. Said policy or
policies shall also contain an agreed valuation provision in lieu of any
coinsurance clause, waiver of subrogation, and inflation guard protection
causing an increase in the annual property insurance coverage amount by a factor
of not less than the adjusted U.S. Department of Labor

<PAGE>   11

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the city nearest to where the
Premises are located. If such insurance coverage has a deductible clause, the
deductible amount shall not exceed $1,000 per occurrence, and Lessee shall be
liable for such deductible amount in the event of an Insured Loss.

          (b) Rental Value. The Insuring Party shall obtain and keep in force a
policy or policies in the name of Lessor with loss payable to Lessor and any
Lender, insuring the loss of the full Rent for one (1) year. Said insurance
shall provide that in the event the Lease is terminated by reason of an insured
loss, the period of indemnity for such coverage shall be extended beyond the
date of the completion of repairs or replacement of the Premises, to provide for
one full year's loss of Rent from the date of any such loss. Said insurance
shall contain an agreed valuation provision in lieu of any coinsurance clause,
and the amount of coverage shall be adjusted annually to reflect the projected
Rent otherwise payable by Lessee, for the next twelve It 2) month period. Lessee
shall be liable for any deductible amount in the event of such loss.

          (c) Adjacent Premises. If the Premises are part of a larger building,
or of a group of buildings owned by Lessor which are adjacent to the Premises,
the Lessee shall pay for any increase in the premiums for the property insurance
of such building or buildings if said increase is caused by Lessee's acts,
omissions, use or occupancy of the Premises.

      8.4 Lessee's Property/Business Interruption Insurance.

          (a) Property Damage. Lessee shall obtain and maintain insurance
coverage on all of Lessee's personal property, Trade Fixtures, and Lessee Owned
Alterations and Utility Installations. Such insurance shall be full replacement
cost coverage with a deductible of not to exceed $1,000 per occurrence. The
proceeds from any such insurance shall be used by Lessee for the replacement of
personal property, Trade Fixtures and Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility
Installations. Lessee shall provide Lessor with written evidence that such
insurance is in force.

          (b) Business Interruption. Lessee shall obtain and maintain loss of
income and extra expense insurance in amounts as will reimburse Lessee for
direct or indirect loss of earnings attributable to all perils commonly insured
against by prudent lessees in the business of Lessee or attributable to
prevention of access to the Premises as a result of such perils.

          (c) No Representation of Adequate Coverage. Lessor makes no
representation that the limits or forms of coverage of insurance specified
herein are adequate to cover Lessee's property, business operations or
obligations under this Lease.

      8.5 Insurance Policies. Insurance required herein shall be by companies
duly licensed or admitted to transact business in the state where the Premises
are located, and maintaining during the policy term a "General Policyholders
Rating" of at least B+, V, as set forth in the most current issue of "Best's
Insurance Guide", or such other rating as may be required by a Lender. Lessee
shall not do or permit to be done anything which invalidates the required
insurance policies. Lessee shall, prior to the Start Date, deliver to Lessor
certified copies of policies of such insurance or certificates evidencing the
existence and amounts of the required insurance. No such policy shall be
cancelable or subject to modification except after thirty (30) days prior
written notice to Lessor. Lessee shall, at least thirty (30) days prior to the
expiration of such policies, furnish Lessor with evidence of renewals or
"insurance binders" evidencing renewal thereof, or Lessor may order such
insurance and charge the cost thereof to Lessee, which amount shall be payable
by Lessee to Lessor upon demand. Such policies shall be for a term of at least
one year, or the length of the remaining term of this Lease, whichever is less.
If either Party shall fail to procure and maintain the insurance required to be
carried by it, the other Party may, but shall not be required to, procure and
maintain the same.

      8.6 Waiver of Subrogation. Without affecting any other rights or remedies,
Lessee and Lessor each hereby release and relieve the other, and waive their
entire right to recover damages against the other, for loss of or 

<PAGE>   12

damage to its property arising out of or incident to the perils required to be
insured against herein. The effect of such releases and waivers is not limited
by the amount of insurance carried or required, or by any deductibles applicable
hereto. The Parties agree to have their respective property damage insurance
carriers waive any right to subrogation that such companies may have against
Lessor or Lessee, as the case may be, so long as the insurance is not
invalidated thereby.

      8.7 Indemnity. Except for Lessor's gross negligence or willful misconduct,
Lessee shall indemnity, protect, defend and hold harmless the Premises, Lessor
and its agents, Lessor's master or ground lessor, partners and Lenders, from and
against any and all claims, loss of rents and/or damages, liens, judgments,
penalties, attorneys' and consultants' fees, expenses and/or liabilities arising
out of, involving, or in connection with, the use and/or occupancy of the
Premises by Lessee. If any action or proceeding is brought against Lessor by
reason of any of the foregoing matters, Lessee shall upon notice defend the same
at Lessee's expense by counsel reasonably satisfactory to Lessor and Lessor
shall cooperate with Lessee in such defense, Lessor need not have first paid any
such claim in order to be defended or indemnified.

      8.8 Exemption of Lessor from Liability. Lessor shall not be liable for
injury or damage to the person or goods, wares, merchandise or other property of
Lessee. Lessee's employees, contractors, invitees, customers, or any other
person in or about the Premises, whether such damage or injury is caused by or
results from fire, steam, electricity, gas, water or rain, or from the breakage,
leakage, obstruction or other defects of pipes, fire sprinklers, wires,
appliances, plumbing, HVAC or lighting fixtures, or from any other cause,
whether the said injury or damage results from conditions arising upon the
Premises or upon other portions of the Building of which the Premises are a
part, or from other sources or places. Lessor shall not be liable for any
damages arising from any act or neglect of any other tenant of Lessor,
Notwithstanding Lessor's negligence or breach of this Lease, Lessor shall under
no circumstances be liable for injury to Lessee's business or for any loss of
income or profit therefrom.

9. Damage or Destruction.

      9.1 Definitions.

          (a) "Premises Partial Damage" shall mean damage or destruction to the
improvements on the Premises, other than Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility
Installations, which can reasonably be repaired in six (6) months or less from
the date of the damage or destruction. Lessor snail notify Lessee in writing
within thirty (30) days from the date of the damage or destruction as to whether
or not the damage is Partial or Total.

          (b) "Premises Total Destruction" shall mean damage or destruction to
the Premises, other than Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility Installations and
Trade Fixtures, which cannot reasonably be repaired in six (6) months or less
from the date of the damage or destruction, Lessor shall notify Lessee in
writing within thirty (30) days from the date of the damage or destruction as to
whether or not the damage is Partial or Total.

          (c) "Insured Loss" shall mean damage or destruction to improvements on
the Premises, other than Lessee Owned Alterations and Utility installations and
Trade Fixtures, which was caused by an event required to be covered by the
insurance described in Paragraph 8.3(a), irrespective of any deductible amounts
or coverage limits involved.

          (d) "Replacement Cost" shall mean the cost to repair or rebuild the
improvements owned by Lessor at the time of the occurrence to their condition
existing immediately prior thereto, including demolition, debris removal and
upgrading required by the operation of Applicable Requirements, and without
deduction for depreciation.

          (e) "Hazardous Substance Condition" shall mean the occurrence or
discovery of a condition involving the presence of, or a contamination by, a
Hazardous Substance as defined in Paragraph 6.2(a), in, on, or under the
Premises.

      9.2 Partial Damage - Insured Loss. If a Premises Partial Damage that is an
insured Loss occurs, then Lessor shall, at Lessor's expense, repair such damage
(but not Lessee's Trade Fixtures or Lessee Owned Alterations and 

<PAGE>   13

Utility installations) as soon as reasonably possible and this Lease shall
continue in full force and effect: provided, however, that Lessee shall, at
Lessor's election, make the repair of any damage or destruction the total cost
to repair of which is $10,000 or less, and, in such event, Lessor shall make any
applicable insurance proceeds available to Lessee on a reasonable basis for that
purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the required insurance was not in
force or the insurance proceeds are not sufficient to effect such repair, the
Insuring Party shall promptly contribute the shortage in proceeds (except as to
the deductible which is Lessee's responsibility) as and when required to
complete said repairs. In the event, however, such shortage was due to the fact
that, by reason of the unique nature of the improvements, full replacement cost
insurance coverage was not commercially :reasonable and available, Lessor snail
have no obligation to pay for the shortage in insurance proceeds or to fully
restore the unique aspects of the Premises unless Lessee provides Lessor with
the funds to cover same, or adequate assurance thereof, within ten (10) days
following receipt of written notice of such shortage and request therefor, it
Lessor receives said funds or adequate assurance thereof within said ten (10)
day period, the party responsible for making the repairs shall complete them as
soon as reasonably possible and this Lease shall remain in full force and
effect, if such funds or assurance are not received, Lessor may nevertheless
elect by written notice to Lessee within ten (10) days thereafter to: (i) make
such restoration and repair as is commercially reasonable with Lessor paying any
shortage in proceeds, in which case this Lease shall remain in full force and
effect, or have this Lease terminate thirty (30) days thereafter. Lessee shall
not be entitled to reimbursement of any funds contributed by Lessee to repair
any such damage or destruction. Premises Partial Damage due to flood or
earthquake shall be subject to Paragraph 9.3, notwithstanding that there may be
some insurance coverage, but the net proceeds of any such insurance shall be
made available for the repairs if made by either Party.

      9.3 Partial Damage - Uninsured Loss, If a Premises Partial Damage that is
not an Insured Loss occurs, unless caused by a negligent or willful act of
Lessee (in which event Lessee shall make the repairs at Lessee's expense),
Lessor may either: (i) repair such damage as soon as reasonably possible at
Lessor's expense, in which event this Lease shall continue in full force and
effect, or (6) terminate this Lease by giving written notice to Lessee within
thirty (30) days after receipt by Lessor of knowledge of the occurrence of such
damage. Such termination shall be effective sixty (60) days following the date
of such notice. In the event Lessor elects to terminate this Lease, Lessee shall
have the right within ten (1 0) days after receipt of the termination notice to
give written notice to Lessor of Lessee's commitment to pay for the repair of
such damage without reimbursement from Lessor. Lessee shall provide Lessor with
said funds or satisfactory assurance thereof within thirty (30) days after
making such commitment. In such event this Lease shall continue in full force
and effect, and Lessor shall proceed to make such repairs as soon as reasonably
possible after the required funds are available, If Lessee does not make the
required commitment, this Lease shall terminate as of the date specified in the
termination notice.

      9.4 Total Destruction. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if a
Premises Total Destruction occurs, this Lease shall terminate sixty (60) days
following such Destruction. It the damage or destruction was caused by the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of Lessee. Lessor shall have the right to
recover Lessor's damages from Lessee, except as provided in Paragraph 8.6.

      9.5 Damage Near End of Term. If at any time during the last six (6) months
of this Lease there is damage for which the cost to repair exceeds one (1)
month's Base Rent, whether or not an Insured Loss, Lessor may terminate this
Lease effective sixty (60) days following the date of occurrence of such damage
by giving a written termination notice to Lessee within thirty (30) days after
the date of occurrence of such damage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Lessee
at that time has an exercisable option to extend this Lease or to purchase the
Premises, then Lessee may preserve this Lease by, (a) exercising such option and
(b) providing Lessor with any shortage in insurance proceeds (or adequate
assurance thereof) needed to make the repairs on or before the earlier of (i)
the date which is ten days after Lessee's receipt of Lessor's written notice
purporting to terminate this Lease, or (ii) the day prior to the date upon which
such option expires. If Lessee duly exercises such option during such period and
provides Lessor with funds (or adequate assurance thereof) to cover any shortage
in insurance proceeds, Lessor shall, at Lessors commercially reasonable expense,
repair such damage as soon as reasonably possible and this Lease shall continue
in full force and effect. If Lessee fails to exercise such option and provide
such funds or assurance during such period, then this Lease shall terminate on
the date specified in the termination notice and Lessee's option shall be
extinguished.

<PAGE>   14

      9.6 Abatement of Rent; Lessee's Remedies.

          (a) Abatement. In the event of Premises Partial Damage or Premises
Total Destruction or a Hazardous Substance Condition for which Lessee is not
responsible under this Lease, the Rent payable by Lessee for the period required
for the repair, remediation or restoration of such damage snail be abated in
proportion to the degree to which Lessee's use of the Premises is impaired, but
not to exceed the proceeds received from the Rental Value insurance. All other
obligations of Lessee hereunder shall be performed by Lessee, and Lessor shall
have no liability for any such damage, destruction, remediation, repair or
restoration except as provided herein.

          (b) Remedies. If Lessor shall be obligated to repair or restore the
Premises and does not commence, in a substantial and meaningful way, such repair
or restoration within ninety (90) days after such obligation shall accrue,
Lessee may, at any time prior to the commencement of such repair or restoration,
give written notice to Lessor and to any Lenders of which Lessee has actual
notice, of Lessee's election to terminate this Lease on a date not less than
sixty (60) days following the giving of such notice. If Lessee gives such notice
and such repair or restoration is not commenced within thirty (30) days
thereafter, this Lease shall terminate as of the date specified in said notice.
If the repair or restoration is commenced within said thirty (30) days, this
Lease shall continue in full force and effect, "Commence" shall mean either the
unconditional authorization of the preparation of the required plans, or the
beginning of the actual work on the Premises, whichever first occurs.

      9.7 Termination-Advance Payments. Upon termination of this Lease pursuant
to Paragraph 6.2(g) or Paragraph 9, an equitable adjustment shall be made
concerning advance Base Rent and any other advance payments made by Lessee to
Lessor, Lessor shall, in addition, return to Lessee so much of Lessee's Security
Deposit as has not been, or is not then required to be, used by Lessor

      9.8 Waive Statutes. Lessor and Lessee agree that the terms of this Lease
shall govern the effect of any damage to or destruction of the Premises with
respect to the termination of this Lease and hereby waive the provisions of any
present or future statute to the extent inconsistent herewith.

10. Real Property Taxes.

      10.1 Definition of "Real Property Taxes." As used herein, the term "Real
Property Taxes" shall include any form of assessment: real estate, general,
special, ordinary or extraordinary, or rental levy or tax (other than
inheritance, personal income or estate taxes); improvement bond; and/or license
fee imposed upon or levied against any legal or equitable interest of Lessor in
the Premises, Lessor's right to other income therefrom, and/or Lessor's business
of leasing, by any authority having the direct or indirect power to tax and
where the funds are generated with reference to the Building address and where
the proceeds so generated are to be applied by the city, county or other local
taxing authority of a jurisdiction within which the Premises are located. The
term "Real Property Taxes" shall also include any tax, fee, levy, assessment or
charge, or any increase therein, imposed by reason of events occurring during
the term of this Lease, including but not limited to, a change in the ownership
of the Premises.

      10.2

          (a) Payment of Taxes. Lessee shall pay the Real Property Taxes
applicable to the Premises during the term of this Lease. Subject to Paragraph
10.2(b), all such payments shall be made at least ten (10) days prior to any
delinquency date. Lessee shall promptly furnish Lessor with satisfactory
evidence that such taxes have been paid. It any such taxes shall cover any
period of time prior to or after the expiration or termination of this Lease,
Lessee's share of such taxes shall be prorated to cover only that portion of the
tax bill applicable to the period that this Lease is in effect, and Lessor shall
reimburse Lessee for any overpayment, if Lessee shall fail to pay any required
Real Property Taxes. Lessor shall have the right to pay the same, and Lessee
shall reimburse Lessor therefor upon demand.

<PAGE>   15

          (b) Advance Payment. In the event Lessee incurs a late charge on any
Rent payment, Lessor may, at Lessor's option, estimate 'he current Real Property
Taxes, and require that such taxes be paid in advance to Lessor by Lessee,
either: (i) in a lump sum amount equal to the installment due, at least twenty
(20) days prior to the applicable delinquency date, or (ii) monthly in advance
with the payment of the Base event. If Lessor elects to require payment monthly
in advance, the monthly payment shall be an amount equal to the amount of the
estimated installment of taxes divided by the number of months remaining before
the month in which said installment becomes delinquent. When the actual amount
of the applicable tax bill is known, the amount of such equal monthly advance
payments shall be adjusted as required to provide the funds needed to pay the
applicable taxes. If the amount collected by Lessor is insufficient to pay such
Real Property Taxes when due, Lessee shall pay Lessor, upon demand, such
additional sums as are necessary to pay such obligations. All moneys paid to
Lessor under this Paragraph may be intermingled with other moneys of Lessor and
shall not bear interest. In the event of a Breach by Lessee in the performance
of its obligations under this Lease, then any balance of funds paid to Lessor
under the provisions of this Paragraph may at the option of Lessor, be treated
as an additional Security Deposit.

      10.3 Joint Assessment. If the Premises are not separately assessed,
Lessee's liability shall be an equitable proportion of the Real Property Taxes
for all of the land and improvements included within the tax parcel assessed,
such proportion to be conclusively determined by Lessor from the respective
valuations assigned in the assessor's work sheets or such other information as
may be reasonably available.

      10.4 Personal Property Taxes. Lessee shall pay, prior to delinquency, all
taxes assessed against and levied upon Lessee Owned Alterations, Utility
Installations, Trade Fixtures, furnishings, equipment and all personal property
of Lessee. When possible, Lessee shall cause such property to be assessed and
billed separately from the real property of Lessor. It any of Lessee's said
personal property shall be assessed with Lessors real property, Lessee shall pay
Lessor the taxes attributable to Lessee's property within ten (10) days after
receipt of a written statement.

11. Utilities. Lessee shall pay for all water, gas, heat, light, power,
telephone, trash disposal and other utilities and services supplied to the
Premises, together with any taxes thereon. If any such services are not
separately metered to Lessee, Lessee shall pay a reasonable proportion, to be
determined by Lessor, of all charges jointly metered.

12. Assignment and Subletting.

      12.1 Lessor's Consent Required.

          (a) Lessee shall not voluntarily or by operation of law assign,
transfer, mortgage or encumber (collectively, "assign or assignment") or sublet
all or any part of Lessee's interest in this Lease or in the Premises without
Lessor's prior written consent.

          (b) A change in the control of Lessee shall constitute an assignment
requiring consent. The transfer, on a cumulative basis, of twenty-five percent
(25%) or more of the voting control of Lessee shall constitute a change in
control for this purpose.

          (c) The involvement of Lessee or its assets in any transaction, or
series of transactions (by way of merger, sale, acquisition, financing,
transfer, leveraged buy-out or otherwise), whether or not a formal assignment or
hypothecation of this Lease or Lessee's assets occurs, which results or will
result in a reduction of the Net Worth of Lessee by an amount greater than
twenty-five percent (25%) of such Net Worth as it was represented at the time of
the execution of this Lease or at the time of the most recent assignment to
which Lessor has consented, or as it exists immediately prior to said
transaction or transactions constituting such reduction, whichever was or is
greater, shall be considered an assignment of this Lease to which Lessor may
withhold its consent, "Net Worth of Lessee" shall mean the net worth of Lessee
(excluding any guarantors) established under generally accepted accounting
principles.

<PAGE>   16

          (d) An assignment or subletting without consent shall, at Lessor's
option, be a Default curable after notice per Paragraph 13.1(c), or a noncurable
Breach without the necessity of any notice and grace period. If Lessor elects to
treat such unapproved assignment or subletting as a noncurable Breach. Lessor
may either: (i) terminate this Lease, or (ii) upon thirty (30) days written
notice, increase the monthly Base Rent to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the
Base Rent then in effect. Further, in the event of such Breach and rental
adjustment, (i) the purchase price of any option to purchase the Premises held
by Lessee shall be subject to similar adjustment to one hundred ten percent
(110%) of the price previously in effect, and (ii) all fixed and non-fixed
rental adjustments scheduled during the remainder of the Lease term shall be
increased to One Hundred Ten Percent (1 10%) of the scheduled adjusted rent.

          (e) Lessee's remedy for any breach of Paragraph 12.1 by Lessor shall
be limited to compensatory damages and/or injunctive relief.

      12.2 Terms and Conditions Applicable to Assignment and Subletting.

          (a) Regardless of Lessor's consent, any assignment or subletting shall
not: (i) be effective without the express written assumption by such assignee or
sublessee of the obligations of Lessee under this Lease, (ii) release Lessee of
any obligations hereunder, or (iii) alter the primary liability of Lessee for
the payment of Rent or for the performance of any other obligations to be
performed by Lessee.

          (b) Lessor may accept Rent or performance of Lessee's obligations from
any person other than Lessee pending approval or disapproval of an assignment.
Neither a delay in the approval or disapproval of such assignment nor the
acceptance of Rent or performance shall constitute a waiver or estoppel of
Lessor's right to exercise its remedies for Lessee's Default or Breach.

          (c) Lessor's consent to any assignment or subletting shall not
constitute a consent to any subsequent assignment or subletting.

          (d) In the event of any Default or Breach by Lessee, Lessor may
proceed directly against Lessee, any Guarantors or anyone else responsible for
the performance of Lessee's obligations under this Lease, including any assignee
or sublessee, without first exhausting Lessor's remedies against any other
person or entity responsible therefore to Lessor, or any security held by
Lessor.

          (e) Each request for consent to an assignment or subletting shall be
in writing, accompanied by information relevant to Lessor's determination as to
the financial and operational responsibility and appropriateness of the proposed
assignee or sublessee, including but not limited to the intended use and/or
required modification of the Premises, if any, together with a fee of $1,000 or
ten percent (1 0%) of the current monthly Base Rent applicable to the portion of
the Premises which is the subject of the proposed assignment or sublease,
whichever is greater, as consideration for Lessor's considering and processing
said request. Lessee agrees to provide Lessor with such other or additional
information and/or documentation as may be reasonably requested.

          (f) Any assignee of, or sublessee under, this Lease shall, by reason
of accepting such assignment or entering into such sublease, be deemed to have
assumed and agreed to conform and comply with each and every term, covenant,
condition and obligation herein to be observed or performed by Lessee during the
term of said assignment or sublease, other than such obligations as are contrary
to or inconsistent with provisions of an assignment or sublease to which Lessor
has specifically consented to in writing.

      12.3 Additional Terms and Conditions Applicable to Subletting. The
following terms and conditions shall apply to any subletting by Lessee of all or
any part of the Premises and shall be deemed included in all subleases under
this Lease whether or not expressly incorporated therein:

          (a) Lessee hereby assigns and transfers to Lessor all of Lessee's
interest in all Rent payable on any sublease, and Lessor may collect such Rent
and apply same toward Lessee's obligations under this Lease, provided, however,
that until a Breach shall occur in the performance of Lessee's obligations,
Lessee may collect said Rent. 

<PAGE>   17

Lessor shall not, by reason of the foregoing or any assignment of such sublease,
nor by reason of the collection of Rent, be deemed liable to the sublessee for
any failure of Lessee to perform and comply with any of Lessee's obligations to
such sublessee. Lessee hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs any such
sublessee, upon receipt of a written notice from Lessor stating that a Breach
exists in the performance of Lessee's obligations under this Lease, to pay to
Lessor all Rent due and to become due under the sublease. Sublessee shall rely
upon any such notice from Lessor and shall pay all Rents to Lessor without any
obligation or right to inquire as to whether such Breach exists, notwithstanding
any claim from Lessee to the contrary.

          (b) In the event of a Breach by Lessee. Lessor may, at its option,
require sublessee to attorn to Lessor, in which event Lessor shall undertake the
obligations of the sublessor under such sublease from the time of the exercise
of said option to the expiration of such sublease; provided, however, Lessor
shall not be liable for any prepaid rents or security deposit paid by such
sublessee to such sublessor or for any prior Defaults or Breaches of such
sublessor.

          (c) Any matter requiring the consent of the sublessor under a sublease
shall also require the consent of Lessor.

          (d) No sublessee shall further assign or sublet all or any part of the
Premises without Lessor's prior written consent.

          (e) Lessor shall deliver a copy of any notice of Default or Breach by
Lessee to the sublessee, who shall have the right to cure the Default of Lessee
within the grace period, if any, specified in such notice. The sublessee shall
have a right of reimbursement and offset from and against Lessee for any such
Defaults cured by the sublessee.

13. Default; Breach, Remedies.

      13.1 Default; Breach. A "Default" is defined as a failure by the Lessee to
comply with or perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or rules under
this Lease. A "Breach" is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the
following Defaults, and the failure of Lessee to cure such Default within any
applicable grace period:

          (a) The abandonment of the Premises: or the vacating of the Premises
without providing a commercially reasonable level of security, or where the
coverage of the property insurance described in Paragraph 8.3 is jeopardized as
a result thereof, or without providing reasonable assurances to minimize
potential vandalism.

          (b) The failure of Lessee to make any payment of Rent or any Security
Deposit required to be made by Lessee hereunder, whether to Lessor or to a third
party, when due, to provide reasonable evidence of insurance or surety bond, or
to fulfill any obligation under this Lease which endangers or threatens life or
property, where such failure continues for a period of three (3) business days
following written notice to Lessee.

          (c) The failure by Lessee to provide (i) reasonable written evidence
of compliance with Applicable Requirements, (ii) the service contracts, (iii)
the rescission of an unauthorized assignment or subletting, (iv) a Tenancy
Statement, (v) a requested subordination, (vi) evidence concerning any guaranty
and/or Guarantor, (vii) any document requested under Paragraph 42 (easements),
or (viii) any other documentation or information which Lessor may reasonably
require of Lessee under the terms of this Lease, where any such failure
continues for a period of ten (1 0) days following written notice to Lessee.

          (d) A Default by Lessee as to the terms, covenants, conditions or
provisions of this Lease, or of the rules adopted under Paragraph 40 hereof,
other than those described in subparagraphs 13.1(a), (b) or (c), above, where
such Default continues for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice;
provided, however, that if the nature of Lessee's Default is such that more than
thirty (30) days are reasonably required for its cure, then it shall not be
deemed to be a Breach if Lessee commences such cure within said thirty (30) day
period and thereafter diligently prosecutes such cure to completion.

          (e) The occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the making of
any general arrangement or assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii)
becoming a "debtor" as defined in 11 U.S.C. Section 101 or any successor 

<PAGE>   18

statute thereto (unless, in the case of a petition filed against Lessee, the
same is dismissed within sixty (60) days); (iii) the appointment of a trustee or
receiver to take possession of substantially all of Lessee's assets located at
the Premises or of Lessee's interest in this Lease, where possession is not
restored to Lessee within thirty (30) days; or (iv) the attachment, execution or
other judicial seizure of substantially all of Lessee's assets located at the
Premises or of Lessee's interest in this Lease, where such seizure is not
discharged within thirty (30) days; provided, however, in the event that any
provision of this subparagraph (e) is contrary to any applicable law, such
provision shall be of no force or effect, and not affect the validity of the
remaining provisions. 

          (f) The discovery that any financial statement of Lessee or of any
Guarantor given to Lessor was materially false.

          (g) If the performance of Lessee's obligations under this Lease is
guaranteed: (i) the death of a Guarantor, (6) the termination of a Guarantor's
liability with respect to this Lease other than in accordance with the terms of
such guaranty, (iii) a Guarantor's becoming insolvent or the subject of a
bankruptcy filing, (iv) a Guarantor's refusal to honor the guaranty, or (v) a
Guarantor's breach of its guaranty obligation on an anticipatory basis, and
Lessee's failure, within sixty (60) days following written notice of any such
event, to provide written alternative assurance or security, which, when coupled
with the then existing resources of Lessee, equals or exceeds the combined
financial resources of Lessee and the Guarantors that existed at the time of
execution of this Lease.

      13.2 Remedies. If Lessee fails to perform any of its affirmative duties or
obligations, within ten (10) days after written notice (or in case of an
emergency, without notice), Lessor may, at its option, perform such duty or
obligation on Lessee's behalf, including but not limited to the obtaining of
reasonably required bonds, insurance policies, or governmental licenses, permits
or approvals. The costs and expenses of any such performance by Lessor shall be
due and payable by Lessee upon receipt of invoice therefor If any check given to
Lessor by Lessee shall not be honored by the bank upon which it is drawn,
Lessor, at its option, may require all future payments to be made by Lessee to
be by cashiers check. In the event of a Breach, Lessor may, with or without
further notice or demand, and without limiting Lessor in the exercise of any
right or remedy which Lessor may have by reason of such Breach:

          (a) Terminate Lessee's right to possession of the Premises by any
lawful means, in which case this Lease shall terminate and Lessee shall
immediately surrender possession to Lessor, In such event Lessor shall be
entitled to recover from Lessee: (i) the unpaid Rent which had been earned at
the time of termination; (6) the worth at the time of award of the amount by
which the unpaid rent which would have been earned after termination until the
time of award exceeds the amount of such rental loss that the Lessee proves
could have been reasonably avoided: (iii) the worth at the time of award of the
amount by which the unpaid rent for the balance of the term after the time of
award exceeds the amount of such rental loss that the Lessee proves could be
reasonably avoided; and (iv) any other amount necessary to compensate Lessor for
all the detriment proximately caused by the Lessee's failure to perform its
obligations under this Lease or which in the ordinary course of things would be
likely to result therefrom, including but not limited to the cost of recovering
possession of the Premises, expenses of reletting, including necessary
renovation and alteration of the Premises, reasonable attorneys' fees, and that
portion of any leasing commission paid by Lessor in connection with this Lease
applicable to the unexpired term of this Lease. The worth at the time of award
of the amount referred to in provision (iii) of the immediately preceding
sentence shall be computed by discounting such amount at the discount rate of
the Federal Reserve Bank of the District within which the Premises are located
at the time of award plus one percent (1%). Efforts by Lessor to mitigate
damages caused by Lessee's Breach of this Lease shall not waive Lessor's right
to recover damages under Paragraph 12. If termination of this Lease is obtained
through the provisional remedy of unlawful detainer, Lessor shall have the right
to recover in such proceeding any unpaid Rent and damages as are recoverable
therein, or Lessor may reserve the right to recover all or any part thereof in a
separate suit. If a notice and grace period required under Paragraph 13.1 was
not previously given, a notice to pay rent or quit, or to perform or quit given
to Lessee under the unlawful detainer statute shall also constitute the notice
required by Paragraph 13.1. In such case, the applicable grace period required
by Paragraph 13.1 and the unlawful detainer statute shall run concurrently, and
the failure of Lessee to cure the Default within the greater of the two such
grace periods shall constitute both an unlawful detainer and a Breach of this
Lease entitling Lessor to the remedies provided for in this Lease and/or by said
statute. 

<PAGE>   19

          (b) Continue the Lease and Lessee's right to possession and recover
the Rent as it becomes due, in which event Lessee may sublet or assign, subject
only to reasonable limitations. Acts of maintenance, efforts to relet, and/or
the appointment of a receiver to protect the Lessor's interests, shall not
constitute a termination of the Lessee's right to possession.

          (c) Pursue any other remedy now or hereafter available under the laws
or judicial decisions of the state wherein the Premises are located. The
expiration or termination of this Lease and/or the termination of Lessee's right
to possession shall not relieve Lessee from liability under any indemnity
provisions of this Lease as to matters occurring or accruing during the term
hereof or by reason of Lessee's occupancy of the Premises,

      13.3 Inducement Recapture. Any agreement for free or abated rent or other
charges, or for the giving or paying by Lessor to or for Lessee of any cash or
other bonus, inducement or consideration for Lessee's entering into this Lease,
all of which concessions are hereinafter referred to as "Inducement Provisions,"
shall be deemed conditioned upon Lessee's full and faithful performance of all
of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Lease. Upon Breach of this Lease
by Lessee, any such Inducement Provision shall automatically be deemed deleted
from this Lease and of no further force or effect, and any rent, other charge,
bonus, inducement or consideration theretofore abated, given or paid by Lessor
under such an Inducement Provision shall be immediately due and payable by
Lessee to Lessor, notwithstanding any subsequent cure of said Breach by Lessee.
The acceptance by Lessor of rent or the cure of the Breach which initiated the
operation of this paragraph shall not be deemed a waiver by Lessor of the
provisions of this paragraph unless specifically so stated in writing by Lessor
at the time of such acceptance.

      13.4 Late Charges. Lessee hereby acknowledges that late payment by Lessee
of Rent will cause Lessor to incur costs not contemplated by this Lease, the
exact amount of which will be extremely difficult to ascertain. Such costs
include, but are not limited to, processing and accounting charges, and late
charges which may be imposed upon Lessor by any Lender. Accordingly, if any Rent
shall not be received by Lessor within five (5) days after such amount shall be
due, then, without any requirement for notice to Lessee, Lessee shall pay to
Lessor a one-time late charge equal to ten percent (10%) of each such overdue
amount. The parties hereby agree that such late charge represents a fair and
reasonable estimate of the costs Lessor will incur by reason of such late
payment. Acceptance of such late charge by Lessor shall in no event constitute a
waiver of Lessee's Default or Breach with respect to such overdue amount, nor
prevent the exercise of any of the other rights and remedies granted hereunder.
In the event that a late charge is payable hereunder, whether or not collected,
for three (3) consecutive installments of Base Rent, then notwithstanding any
provision of this Lease to the contrary, Base Rent shall, at Lessor's option,
become due and payable quarterly in advance.

      13.5 Interest. Any monetary payment due Lessor hereunder, other than late
charges, not received by Lessor, when due as to scheduled payments (such as Base
Rent) or within thirty (30) days following the date on which it was due for
non-scheduled payment, shall bear interest from the date when due, as to
scheduled payments, or the thirty-first (31st) day after it was due as to
non-scheduled payments. The interest ("Interest") charged shall be equal to the
prime rate reported in the Wall Street Journal as published closest prior to the
date when due plus four percent (4%), but shall not exceed the maximum rate
allowed by law. Interest is payable in addition to the potential late charge
provided for in Paragraph 13.4.

      13.6 Breach by Lessor.

          (a) Notice of Breach. Lessor shall not be deemed in breach of this
Lease unless Lessor fails within a reasonable time to perform an obligation
required to be performed by Lessor. For purposes of this Paragraph, a reasonable
time shall in no event be less than thirty (30) days after receipt by Lessor,
and any Lender whose name and address shall have been furnished Lessee in
writing for such purpose, of written notice specifying wherein such obligation
of Lessor has not been performed; provided, however, that if the nature of
Lessor's obligation is such that more than thirty (30) days are reasonably
required for its performance, then Lessor shall not be in breach if performance
is commenced within such thirty (30) day period and thereafter diligently
pursued to completion.

<PAGE>   20

          (b) Performance by Lessee on Behalf of Lessor. In the event that
neither Lessor nor Lender cures said breach within thirty (30) days after
receipt of said notice, or if having commenced said cure they do not diligently
pursue it to completion, then Lessee may elect to cure said breach at Lessee's
expense and offset from Rent an amount equal to the greater of one month's Base
Rent or the Security Deposit, and to pay an excess of such expense under
protest, reserving Lessee's right to reimbursement from Lessor, Lessee shall
document the cost of said cure and supply said documentation to Lessor.

14. Condemnation. If the Premises or any portion thereof are taken under the
power of eminent domain or sold under the threat of the exercise of said power
(collectively "Condemnation"), this Lease shall terminate as to the part taken
as of the date the condemning authority takes title or possession, whichever
first occurs. If more than ten percent (10%) of any building portion of the
premises, or more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the land area portion of the
premises not occupied by any building, is taken by Condemnation, Lessee may, at
Lessee's option, to be exercised in writing within ten (10) days after Lessor
shall have given Lessee written notice of such taking (or in the absence of such
notice, within ten (1 0) days after the condemning authority shall have taken
possession) terminate this Lease as of the date the condemning authority takes
such possession. It Lessee does not terminate this Lease in accordance with the
foregoing, this Lease shall remain in full force and effect as to the portion of
the Premises remaining, except that the Base Rent shall be reduced in proportion
to the reduction in utility of the Premises caused by such Condemnation.
Condemnation awards and/or payments shall be the property of Lessor, whether
such award shall be made as compensation for diminution in value of the
leasehold, the value of the part taken, or for severance damages; provided,
however, that Lessee shall be entitled to any compensation for Lessee's
relocation expenses, loss of business goodwill and/or Trade Fixtures, without
regard to whether or not this Lease is terminated pursuant to the provisions of
this Paragraph. All Alterations and Utility Installations made to the Premises
by Lessee, for purposes of Condemnation only, shall be considered the property
of the Lessee and Lessee shall be entitled to any and ail compensation which is
payable therefor. In the event that this Lease is not terminated by reason of
the Condemnation, Lessor shall repair any damage to the Premises caused by such
Condemnation.

15. Brokers' Fee.

      15.1 Additional Commission. In addition to the payments owed pursuant to
Paragraph 1.10 above, and unless Lessor and the Brokers otherwise agree in
writing, Lessor agrees that: (a) if Lessee exercises any Option, (b) if Lessee
acquires any rights to the Premises or other premises owned by Lessor and
located within the same Project, if any, within which the Premises is located,
(c) if Lessee remains in possession of the Premises, with the consent of Lessor,
after the expiration of this Lease, or (d) if Base Rent is increased, whether by
agreement or operation of an escalation clause herein, then, Lessor shall pay
Brokers a fee in accordance with the schedule of said Brokers in effect at the
time of the execution of this Lease.

      15.2 Assumption of Obligations, Any buyer or transferee of Lessor's
interest in this Lease shall be deemed to have assumed Lessor's obligation
hereunder. Each Broker shall be a third party beneficiary of the provisions of
Paragraphs 1.10, 15, 22 and 31. If Lessor fails to pay to a Broker any amounts
due as and for commissions pertaining to this Lease when due, then such amounts
shall accrue Interest. In addition, it Lessor fails to pay any amounts to
Lessee's Broker when due, Lessee's Broker may send written notice to Lessor and
Lessee of such failure and if Lessor fails to pay such amounts within ten (10)
days after said notice, Lessee shall pay said monies to its Broker and offset
such amounts against Rent. In addition, Lessee's Broker shall be deemed to be a
third party beneficiary of any commission agreement entered into by and/or
between Lessor and Lessor's Broker.

      15.3 Representations and Indemnities of Broker Relationships. Lessee and
Lessor each represent and warrant to the other that it has had no dealings with
any person, firm, broker or finder (other than the Brokers, if any) in
connection with this Lease, and that no one other than said named Brokers is
entitled to any commission or finder's fee in connection herewith, Lessee and
Lessor do each hereby agree to indemnify, protect, defend and hold the other
harmless from and against liability for compensation or charges which may be
claimed by any such unnamed broker, finder or other similar party by reason of
any dealings or actions of the indemnifying Party, including any costs,
expenses, attorneys' fees reasonably incurred with respect thereto.

<PAGE>   21

16. Estoppel Certificates.

          (a) Each Party (as "Responding Party") shall within ten (10) days
after written notice from the other Party (the "Requesting Party") execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Requesting Party a statement in writing in form
similar to the then most current "Estoppel Certificate" form published by the
American Industrial Real Estate Association, plus such additional information,
confirmation and/or statements as may be reasonably requested by the Requesting
Party.

          (b) If the Responding Party shall fail to execute or deliver the
Estoppel Certificate within such ten day period, the Requesting Party may
execute an Estoppel Certificate stating that: (i) the Lease is in full force and
effect without modification except as may be represented by the Requesting
Party, (ii) there are no uncured defaults in the Requesting Party's performance,
and (iii) it Lessor is the Requesting Party, not more than one month's rent has
been paid in advance, Prospective purchasers and encumbrancers may rely upon the
Requesting Party's Estoppel Certificate, and the Responding Party shall be
estopped from denying the truth of the facts contained in said Certificate.

          (c) If Lessor desires to finance, refinance, or sell the Premises, or
any part thereof, Lessee and all Guarantors shall deliver to any potential
lender or purchaser designated by Lessor such financial statements as may be
reasonably required by such tender or purchaser, including but not limited to
Lessee's financial statements for the past three (3) years. All such financial
statements shall be received by Lessor and such lender or purchaser in
confidence and shall be used only for the purposes herein set forth.

17. Definition of Lessor. The term "Lessor" as used herein shall mean the owner
or owners at the time in question of the fee title to the Premises, or, if this
is a sublease, of the Lessee's interest in the prior lease. In the event of a
transfer of Lessor's title or interest in the Premises or this Lease. Lessor
shall deliver to the transferee or assignee (in cash or by credit) any unused
Security Deposit held by Lessor. Except as provided in Paragraph 15, upon such
transfer or assignment and delivery of the Security Deposit, as aforesaid, the
prior Lessor shall be relieved of all liability with respect to the obligations
and/or covenants under this Lease thereafter to be performed by the Lessor.
Subject to the foregoing, the obligations and/or covenants in this Lease to be
performed by the Lessor shall be binding only upon the Lessor as hereinabove
defined. Notwithstanding the above, and subject to the provisions of Paragraph
20 below, the original Lessor under this Lease, and all subsequent holders of
the Lessors interest in this Lease shall remain liable and responsible with
regard to the potential duties and liabilities of Lessor pertaining to Hazardous
Substances as outlined in Paragraph 6 above.

18. Severability. The invalidity of any provision of this Lease, as determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall in no way affect the validity of any
other provision hereof.

19. Days. Unless otherwise specifically indicated to the contrary, the word
"days" as used in this Lease shall mean and refer to calendar days.

20. Limitation on Liability. Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 1 7 above,
the obligations of Lessor under this Lease shall not constitute personal
obligations of Lessor, the individual partners of Lessor or its or their
individual partners, directors, officers or shareholders, and Lessee shall look
to the Premises, and to no other assets of Lessor, for the satisfaction of any
liability of Lessor with respect to this Lease, and shall not seek recourse
against the individual partners of Lessor, or its or their individual partners,
directors, officers or shareholders, or any of their personal assets for such
satisfaction.

21. Time of Essence. Time is of the essence with respect to the performance of
all obligations to be performed or observed by the Parties under this Lease.

22. No Prior or Other Agreements: Broker Disclaimer. This Lease contains all
agreements between the Parties with respect to any matter

<PAGE>   22

mentioned herein, and no other prior or contemporaneous agreement or
understanding shall be effective. Lessor and Lessee each represents and warrants
to the Brokers that it has made, and is relying solely upon, its own
investigation as to the nature, quality, character and financial responsibility
of the other Party to this Lease and as to the nature, quality and character of
the Premises. Brokers have no responsibility with respect thereto or with
respect to any default or breach hereof by either Party. The liability
(including court costs and Attorneys' fees), of any Broker with respect to
negotiation, execution, delivery or performance by either Lessor or Lessee under
this Lease or any amendment or modification hereto shall be limited to an amount
up to the tee received by such Broker pursuant to this Lease: provided, however,
that the foregoing limitation on each Broker's liability shall not be applicable
to any gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Broker.

23. Notices.

      23.1 Notice Requirements. All notices required or permitted by this Lease
shall be in writing and may be delivered in person (by hand or by courier) or
may be sent by regular, certified or registered mail or U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail, with postage prepaid, or by facsimile transmission, and shall be
deemed sufficiently given it served in a manner specified in this Paragraph 23.
The addresses noted adjacent to a Party's signature on this Lease shall be that
Party's address for delivery or mailing of notices. Either Party may by written
notice to the other specify a different address for notice, except that upon
Lessees taking possession of the Premises, the Premises shall constitute
Lessee's address for notice. A copy of all notices to Lessor shall be
concurrently transmitted to such party or parties at such addresses as Lessor
may from time to time hereafter designate in writing.

      23.2 Date of Notice. Any notice sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, shall be deemed given on the date of delivery shown on
the receipt card, or if no delivery date is shown, the postmark thereon. If sent
by regular mail the notice shall be deemed given forty-eight (48) hours after
the same is addressed as required herein and mailed with postage prepaid.
Notices delivered by United States Express Mail or overnight courier that
guarantee next day delivery shall be deemed given twenty-four (24) hours after
delivery of the same to the Postal Service or courier. Notices transmitted by
facsimile transmission or similar means shall be deemed delivered upon telephone
confirmation of receipt, provided a copy is also delivered via delivery or mail.
If notice is received on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, it shall be deemed
received on the next business day.

24. Waivers. No waiver by Lessor of the Default or Breach of any term, covenant
or condition hereof by Lessee, shall be deemed a waiver of any other term,
covenant or condition hereof, or of any subsequent Default or Breach by Lessee
of the same or of any other term, covenant or condition hereof. Lessor's consent
to, or approval of, any act shall not be deemed to render unnecessary the
obtaining of Lessor's consent to, or approval of, any subsequent or similar act
by Lessee, or be construed as the basis of an estoppel to enforce the provision
or provisions of this Lease requiring such consent. The acceptance of Rent by
Lessor shall not be a waiver of any Default or Breach by Lessee. Any payment by
Lessee may be accepted by Lessor on account of moneys or damages due Lessor,
notwithstanding any qualifying statements or conditions made by Lessee in
connection therewith, which such statements and/or conditions shall be of no
force or effect whatsoever unless specifically agreed to in writing by Lessor at
or before the time of deposit of such payment.

25. Recording. Either Lessor or Lessee shall, upon request of the other,
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the other a short form memorandum of this
Lease for recording purposes. The Party requesting recordation shall be
responsible for payment of any fees applicable thereto.

26. No Right To Holdover. Lessee has no right to retain possession of the
Premises or any part thereof beyond the expiration or termination of this Lease.
In the event that Lessee holds over, then the Base Rent shall be increased to
one hundred fifty percent (1 50%) of the Base Rent applicable during the month
immediately preceding the expiration or termination. Nothing contained herein
shall be construed as consent by Lessor to any holding over by Lessee.

27. Cumulative Remedies. No remedy or election hereunder shall be deemed
exclusive but shall, wherever possible, be cumulative with all

<PAGE>   23

other remedies at law or in equity.

28. Covenants and Conditions; Construction of Agreement. All provisions of this
Lease to be observed or performed by Lessee are both covenants and conditions.
In construing this Lease, all headings and titles are for the convenience of the
parties only and shall not be considered a part of this Lease. Whenever required
by the context, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, This Lease
shall not be construed as if prepared by one of the parties, but rather
according to its fair meaning as a whole, as if both parties had prepared it.

29. Binding Effect; Choice of Law. This Lease shall be binding upon the parties,
their personal representatives, successors and assigns and be governed by the
laws of the State in which the Premises are located. Any litigation between the
Parties hereto concerning this Lease shall be initiated in the county in which
the Premises are located.

30. Subordination; Attornment; Non-Disturbance.

      30.1 Subordination. This Lease and any Option granted hereby shall be
subject and subordinate to any ground lease, mortgage, deed of trust, or other
hypothecation or security device (collectively, "Security Device"), now or
hereafter placed upon the Premises, to any and all advances made on the security
thereof, and to all renewals, modifications, and extensions thereof, Lessee
agrees that the holders of any such Security Devices (in this Lease together
referred to as "Lessor's Lender") shall have no liability or obligation to
perform any of the obligations of Lessor under this Lease. Any Lender may elect
to have this Lease and/or any Option granted hereby superior to the lien of its
Security Device by giving written notice thereof to Lessee, whereupon this Lease
and such Options shall be deemed prior to such Security Device, notwithstanding
the relative dates of the documentation or recordation thereof.

      30.2 Attornment. Subject to the non-disturbance provisions of Paragraph
30.3, Lessee agrees to attorn to a Lender or any other party who acquires
ownership of the Premises by reason of a foreclosure of a Security Device, and
that in the event of such foreclosure, such new owner shall not: (i) be liable
for any act or omission of any prior lessor or with respect to events occurring
prior to acquisition of ownership: (ii) be subject to any offsets or defenses
which Lessee might have against any prior lessor, or (iii) be bound by
prepayment of more than one (1) month's rent.

      30.3 Non-Disturbance. With respect to Security Devices entered into by
Lessor after the execution of this Lease, Lessee's subordination of this Lease
shall be subject to receiving a commercially reasonable non-disturbance
agreement (a "Non-Disturbance Agreement") from the Lender which Non-Disturbance
Agreement provides that Lessee's possession of the Premises, and this Lease,
including any options to extend the term hereof, will not be disturbed so long
as Lessee is not in Breach hereof and attorns to the record owner of the
Premises. Further, within sixty (60) days after the execution of this Lease.
Lessor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a NonDisturbance
Agreement from the holder of any pre-existing Security Device which is secured
by the Premises. In the event that Lessor is unable to provide the
Non-Disturbance Agreement within said sixty (60) days, then Lessee may, at
Lessee's action, directly contact Lessors lender and attempt to negotiate for
the execution and delivery of a Non-Disturbance Agreement.

      30.4 Self-Executing. The agreements contained in this Paragraph 30 shall
be effective without the execution of any further documents: provided, however,
that, upon written request from Lessor or a Lender in connection with a sale,
financing or refinancing of the Premises, Lessee and Lessor shall execute such
further writings as may be reasonably required to separately document any
subordination, attornment and/or NonDisturbance Agreement provided for herein.

31. Attorneys' Fees. It any Party or Broker brings an action or proceeding
involving the Premises to enforce the terms hereof or to declare rights
hereunder, the Prevailing Party (as hereafter defined) in any such proceeding,
action, or appeal thereon, shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees. Such
fees may be awarded in the same suit or recovered in a separate suit, whether or
not such action or proceeding is pursued to decision or judgment, The 

<PAGE>   24

term, "Prevailing Party" shall include, without limitation, a Party or Broker
who substantially obtains or defeats the relief sought, as the case may be,
whether by compromise, settlement, judgment, or the abandonment by the other
Party or Broker of its claim or defense. The attorneys' fees award shall not be
computed in accordance with any court fee schedule, but shall be such as to
fully reimburse all attorneys' fees reasonably incurred, in addition, Lessor
shall be entitled to attorneys' fees, costs and expenses incurred in the
preparation and service of notices of Default and consultations in connection
therewith, whether or not a legal action is subsequently commenced in connection
with such Default or resulting Breach.

32. Lessor's Access; Showing Premises: Repairs. Lessor and Lessor's agents shall
have the right to enter the Premises at any time in the case of an emergency,
and otherwise at reasonable times for the purpose at showing the same to
prospective purchasers, lenders, or lessees, and making such alterations,
repairs, improvements or additions to the Premises as Lessor may deem necessary,
All such activities shall be without abatement of rent or liability to Lessee.
Lessor may at any time place on the Premises any ordinary "For Sale" signs and
Lessor may during the last six (6) months of the term hereof place on the
Premises any ordinary "For Lease" signs, Lessee may at any time place on or
about the Premises any ordinary "For Sublease" sign.

33. Auctions. Lessee shall not conduct, nor permit to be conducted, any auction
upon the Premises without Lessors prior written consent. Lessor shall not be
obligated to exercise any standard of reasonableness in determining whether to
permit an auction,

34. Signs. Except for ordinary "For Sublease" signs, Lessee shall not place any
sign upon the Premises without Lessor's prior written consent. All signs must
comply with all Applicable Requirements

35. Termination; Merger. Unless specifically stated otherwise in writing by
Lessor, the voluntary or other surrender of this Lease by Lessee, the mutual
termination or cancellation hereof, or a termination hereof by Lessor for Breach
by Lessee, shall automatically terminate any sublease or lesser estate in the
Premises; provided, however, that Lessor may elect to continue any one or all
existing subtenancies, Lessor's failure within ten (11 0) days following any
such event to elect to the contrary by written notice to the holder of any such
lesser interest, shall constitute Lessor's election to have such event
constitute the termination of such interest.

36. Consents. Except as otherwise provided herein, wherever in this Lease the
consent of a Party is required to an act by or for the other Party, such consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, Lessor's actual reasonable costs
and expenses (including but not limited to architects', attorneys', engineers'
and other consultants' fees) incurred in the consideration of, or response to, a
request by Lessee for any Lessor consent, including but not limited to consents
to an assignment, a subletting or the presence or use of a Hazardous Substance,
shall be paid by Lessee upon receipt at an invoice and supporting documentation
therefor, Lessor's consent to any act, assignment or subletting shall not
constitute an acknowledgment that no Default or Breach by Lessee of this Lease
exists, nor shall such consent be deemed a waiver of any then existing Default
or Breach, except as may be otherwise specifically stated in writing by Lessor
at the time of such consent. The failure to specify herein any particular
condition to Lessor's consent shall not preclude the imposition by Lessor at the
time of consent of such further or other conditions as are then reasonable with
reference to the particular matter for which consent is being given. In the
event that either Party disagrees with any determination made by the other
hereunder and reasonably requests the reasons for such determination, the
determining party shall furnish its reasons in writing and in reasonable detail
within ten (10) business days following such request.

37. Guarantor.

      37.1 Execution. The Guarantors, if any, shall each execute a guaranty in
the form most recently published by the American Industrial Real Estate
Association, and each such Guarantor shall have the same obligations as Lessee
under this Lease.

<PAGE>   25

      37.2 Default. It shall constitute a Default of the Lessee if any Guarantor
fails or refuses, upon request to provide: (a) evidence of the execution of the
guaranty, including the authority of the party signing on Guarantor's behalf to
obligate Guarantor, and in the case of a corporate Guarantor, a certified copy
of a resolution of its board of directors authorizing the making of such
guaranty, (b) current financial statements, (c) a Tenancy Statement, or (d)
written confirmation that the guaranty is still in effect.

38. Quiet Possession. Subject to payment by Lessee of the Rent and performance
of all of the covenants, conditions and provisions on Lessee's part to be
observed and performed under this Lease, Lessee shall have quiet possession and
quiet enjoyment of the Premises during the term hereof.

39. Options.

      39.1 Definition. "Option" shall mean: (a) the right to extend the term of
or renew this Lease or to extend or renew any lease that Lessee has on other
property of Lessor; (b) the right of first refusal or first offer to lease
either the Premises or other property of Lessor; (c) the right to purchase or
the right of first refusal to purchase the Premises or other property of Lessor.

      39.2 Options Personal To Original Lessee. Each Option granted to Lessee in
this Lease is personal to the original Lessee, and cannot be assigned or
exercised by anyone other than said original Lessee and only while the original
Lessee is in full possession of the Premises and, if requested by Lessor, with
Lessee certifying that Lessee has no intention of thereafter assigning or
subletting.

      39.3 Multiple Options. In the event that Lessee has any multiple Options
to extend or renew this Lease, a later Option cannot be exercised unless the
prior Options have been validly exercised.

      39.4 Effect of Default on Options.

          (a) Lessee shall have no right to exercise an Option: (i) during the
period commencing with the giving of any notice of Default and continuing until
said Default is cured, (ii) during the period of time any Rent is unpaid
(without regard to whether notice thereof is given Lessee), (iii) during the
time Lessee is in Breach of this Lease, or (iv) in the event that Lessee has
been given three (3) or more notices of separate Default, whether or not the
Defaults are cured, during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding
the exercise of the Option.

          (b) The period of time within which an Option may be exercised shall
not be extended or enlarged by reason of Lessees inability to exercise an Option
because of the provisions of Paragraph 39.4(a).

          (c) An Option shall terminate and be of no further force or effect,
notwithstanding Lessee's due and timely exercise of the Option, if, after such
exercise and prior to the commencement of the extended term, (i) Lessee fails to
pay Rent for a period of thirty (30) days after such Rent becomes due (without
any necessity of Lessor to give notice thereof), (ii) Lessor gives to Lessee
three (3) or more notices of separate Default during any twelve (12) month
period, whether or not the Defaults are cured, or (iii) if Lessee commits a
Breach of this Lease.

40. Multiple Buildings. If the Premises are a part of a group of buildings
controlled by Lessor, Lessee agrees that it will observe all reasonable rules
and regulations which Lessor may make from time to time for the management,
safety, and care of said properties, including the care and cleanliness of the
grounds and including the parking, loading and unloading of vehicles, and that
Lessee will pay its fair share of common expenses incurred in connection
therewith.

41. Security Measures. Lessee hereby acknowledges that the rental payable to
Lessor hereunder does not include the cost of guard service or other security
measures, and that Lessor shall have no obligation whatsoever to provide same,
Lessee assumes all responsibility for the protection of the Premises, Lessee,
its agents and invitees and their properly from the acts of third parties.

<PAGE>   26

42. Reservations. Lessor reserves to itself the right, from time to time, to
grant, without the consent or joinder of Lessee, such easements, rights and
dedications that Lessor deems necessary, and to cause the recordation of parcel
maps and restrictions, so long as such easements, rights, dedications, maps and
restrictions do not unreasonably interfere with the use of the Premises by
Lessee. Lessee agrees to sign any documents reasonably requested by Lessor to
effectuate any such easement rights, dedication, map or restrictions.

43. Performance Under Protest. If at any time a dispute shall arise as to any
amount or sum of money to be paid by one Party to the other under the provisions
hereof, the Party against whom the obligation to pay the money is asserted shall
have the right to make payment "under protest and such payment shall not be
regarded as a voluntary payment and there shall survive the right on the Dart of
said Party to institute suit for recovery of such sum. If it shall be adjudged
that there was no legal obligation on the part of said Party to Day such sum or
any part thereof. said Party shall be entitled to recover such sum or so much
thereof as it was not legally required to pay.

44. Authority, If either Party hereto is a corporation, trust, limited liability
company, partnership, or similar entity, each individual executing this Lease on
behalf of such entity represents and warrants that he or she is duly authorized
to execute and deliver this Lease on its behalf, Each party shall, within thirty
(30) days after request, deliver to the other party satisfactory evidence of
such authority.

45. Conflict. Any conflict between the printed provisions of this Lease and the
typewritten or handwritten provisions shall be controlled by the typewritten or
handwritten provisions.

46. Offer. Preparation of this Lease by either Party or their agent and
submission of same to the other Party shall not be deemed an offer to lease to
the other Party. This Lease is not intended to be binding until executed and
delivered by all Parties hereto.

47. Amendments. This Lease may be modified only in writing, signed by the
Parties in interest at the time of the modification. As long as they do not
materially change Lessee's obligations hereunder. Lessee agrees to make such
reasonable non-monetary modifications to this Lease as may be reasonably
required by a Lender in connection with the obtaining of normal financing or
refinancing of the Premises.

48. Multiple Parties. If more than one person or entity is named herein as
either Lessor or Lessee, such multiple Parties shall have joint and several
responsibility to comply with the terms of this Lease.

49. Mediation and Arbitration of Disputes. An Addendum requiring the Mediation
and/or the Arbitration of all disputes between the Parties and/or Brokers
arising out of this Lease is [ ] is not attached to this Lease.

50. Lessee to have four (4) five (5) year options at market rents.

51. Lessee to pay for and install all tenant improvements. Lessee shall deliver
to Lessor a space plan of improvements for approval. Lessor shall not
unreasonably withhold approval.

LESSOR AND LESSEE HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND REVIEWED THIS LEASE AND EACH TERM AND
PROVISION CONTAINED HEREIN, AND BY THE EXECUTION OF THIS LEASE SHOW THEIR
INFORMED AND VOLUNTARY CONSENT THERETO, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE THAT AT THE
TIME THIS LEASE IS EXECUTED, THE TERMS OF THIS LEASE ARE COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE
AND EFFECTUATE THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF LESSOR AND LESSEE WITH RESPECT TO THE
PREMISES.

<PAGE>   27

ATTENTION: NO REPRESENTATION OR RECOMMENDATION IS MADE BY THE AMERICAN
INDUSTRIAL REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION OR BY ANY BROKER AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY,
LEGAL EFFECT, OR TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LEASE OR THE TRANSACTION TO WHICH IT
RELATES, THE PARTIES ARE URGED TO:

1. SEEK ADVICE OF COUNSEL AS TO THE LEGAL AND TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THIS LEASE.

2. RETAIN APPROPRIATE CONSULTANTS TO REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE THE CONDITION OF THE
PREMISES, SAID INVESTIGATION SHOULD INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: THE POSSIBLE
PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, THE ZONING OF THE PREMISES, THE STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY, THE CONDITION OF THE ROOF AND OPERATING SYSTEMS, AND THE SUITABILITY
OF THE PREMISES FOR LESSEE'S INTENDED USE.

WARNING: IF THE PREMISES IS LOCATED IN A STATE OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA, CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF THE LEASE MAY NEED TO BE REVISED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE IN WHICH THE PREMISES IS LOCATED.

The parties hereto have executed this Lease at the place and on the dates
specified above their respective signatures.

LESSOR:

Executed at: SYKO PROPERTIES, INC., a California Corporation
             ------------------------------------------------
By:          /s/ W. David Sykes
             ------------------------------------------------
By LESSOR:   its President W. David Sykes
             ------------------------------------------------

LESSEE:

Executed at: ANDATACO, a California Corporation
             ------------------------------------------------
By:          /s/ W. David Sykes
             ------------------------------------------------
By LESSEE:   W. David Sykes as President
             ------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>   28

                                   EXHIBIT "A"

ADDENDUM TO STANDARD LEASE DATED JANUARY 1, 1993 BETWEEN ANDATACO, A CALIFORNIA
CORPORATION AND SYKO PROPERTIES, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

As of October 1, 1994, and in agreement with the Lessor, the Lessee desires to
extend the original lease set forth for a term of five (5) years to a term of
ten (10) years. The lease term will now end on March 31, 2003.

The following parties affix their signatures for approval.

/s/ W. David Sykes                                October 31, 1994
- -----------------------------------               ----------------
SYKO PROPERTIES, Inc. A California                      Date
Corporation, Lessee

/s/ Laura D'Agrosa                                October 31, 1994
- -----------------------------------               ----------------
ANDATACO, A California Corporation,                     Date
Lessee

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18



                          SECURITY AND LOAN AGREEMENT
                     (ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND/OR INVENTORY)

This Agreement is entered into between ANDATACO
                                                  , a CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

(herein called "Borrower") and IMPERIAL BANK (herein called "Bank").

1.   Bank hereby commits, subject to all the terms and conditions of this
     Agreement and prior to the termination of its commitment as hereinafter
     provided, to make loans to Borrower from time to time in such amounts as
     may be determined by Bank up to, but not exceeding in the aggregate unpaid
     principal balance, the following Borrowing Base:

                                   80% of Eligible Accounts

                                   25% of the Value of Inventory   1,000,000.00

and in no event more than $10,000,000.00

2.   The amount of each loan made by Bank to Borrower hereunder shall be
     debited to the loan ledger account of Borrower maintained by Bank (herein
     called "Loan Account") and Bank shall credit the Loan Account with all
     loan repayments made by Borrower. Borrower promises to pay Bank (a) the
     unpaid balance of Borrower's Loan Account on demand and (b) on or before
     the tenth day of each month, interest on the average daily unpaid balance
     of the Loan Account during the immediately preceding month at the rate of
     ONE percent (1.000%) per annum in excess of the rate of interest which
     Bank has announced as its prime lending rate ("Prime Rate") which shall
     vary concurrently with any change in such Prime Rate. Interest shall be
     computed at the above rate on the basis of the actual number of days
     during which the principal balance of the loan account is outstanding
     divided by 360, which shall for interest computation purposes be
     considered one year. Bank at its option may demand payment of any or all
     of the amount due under the Loan Account including accrued but unpaid
     interest at any time. Such notice may be given verbally or in writing and
     should be effective upon receipt by Borrower. The amount of interest
     payable each month by Borrower shall not be less than a minimum monthly
     charge of $250.00. Bank is hereby authorized to charge Borrower's deposit
     account(s) with Bank for all sums due Bank under this Agreement.

3.   Requests for loans hereunder shall be in writing duly executed by Borrower
     in a form satisfactory to Bank and shall contain a certification setting
     forth the matters referred to in Section 1, which shall disclose that
     Borrower is entitled to the amount of loan being requested.

4.   As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
     meanings:

        A.  "Accounts" means any right to payment for goods sold or leased, or
            to be sold or to be leased, or for services rendered or to be
            rendered no matter how evidenced, including accounts receivable,
            contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, purchase orders, notes,
            drafts, acceptances, general intangibles and other forms of
            obligations and receivables.

        B.  "Inventory" means all of the Borrower's goods, merchandise and
            other personal property which are held for sale or lease, including
            those held for display or demonstration or out on lease or
            consignment or to be furnished under a contract of service or are
            raw materials, work in process or materials used or consumed, or to
            be used or consumed in Borrower's business, and shall include all
            property rights, patents, plans, drawings, diagrams, schematics,
            assembly and display materials relating thereto.

        C.  "Collateral" means any and all personal property of Borrower which
            is assigned or hereafter is assigned to Bank as security or in
            which Bank now has or hereafter acquires a security interest.

        D.  "Eligible Accounts" means all of Borrower's Accounts excluding,
            however, (1) all Accounts under which payment is not received
            within 90 days from any invoice date, (2) all Accounts against
            which the account debtor or any other person obligated to make
            payment thereon asserts any defense, offset, counterclaim or other
            right to avoid or reduce the liability represented by the Account
            and (3) any Accounts if the account debtor or any other person
            liable in connection therewith is insolvent, subject to bankruptcy
            or receivership proceedings or has made an assignment for the
            benefit of creditors or whose credit standing is unacceptable to
            Bank and Bank has so notified Borrower. Eligible Accounts shall
            only include such accounts as Bank in its sole discretion shall
            determine are eligible from time to time.

        E.  "Value of Inventory" means the value of Borrower's Inventory
            determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
            principles consistently applied excluding, however, the amount of
            progress payments, pre-delivery payments, deposits and any other
            sums received by Borrower in anticipation of the sale and delivery
            of inventory, all Inventory on consignment or lease to others, and
            all property on consignment or lease from others to Borrower.

5.   Borrower hereby assigns to Bank all Borrower's present and future
     Accounts, including all proceeds due thereunder, all guaranties and
     security therefor and all merchandise giving rise thereto, and hereby
     grants to Bank a continuing security interest in all Borrower's Inventory
     and in all proceeds and products thereof, whether now owned or hereafter
     existing or acquired, including all moneys in the Collateral Account
     referred to in Section 6 hereof, as security for any and all obligations
     of Borrower to Bank, whether now owing or hereafter incurred and whether
     direct, indirect, absolute or contingent. So long as Borrower is indebted
     to Bank or Bank is committed to extend credit to Borrower, Borrower will
     execute and deliver to Bank such assignments, including Bank's standard
     forms of Specific or General Assignment covering individual Accounts,
     notices, financing statements, and other documents and papers as Bank may
     require in order to affirm, effectuate or further assure the assignment to
     Bank of the Collateral or to give any third party, including the account
     debtors obligated on the Accounts, notice of Bank's interest in the
     Collateral.

6.   Until Bank exercises its rights to collect the Accounts and Inventory
     proceeds pursuant to paragraph 10, Borrower will collect with diligence
     all Borrower's Accounts and Inventory proceeds, provided that no legal
     action shall be maintained thereon or in connection therewith without
     Bank's prior written consent. Any collection of Accounts or Inventory
     proceeds by Borrower, whether in the form of cash, checks, notes, or other
     instruments for the payment of money (properly endorsed or assigned where
     required to enable Bank to collect same), shall be in trust for Bank, and
     Borrower shall keep all such collections separate and apart from all other
     funds and property so as to be capable of identification as the property
     of Bank and deliver said collections, together with the proceeds of all
     cash sales, daily to Bank in the identical form received. The proceeds of
     such collections when received by Bank may be applied by Bank directly to
     the payment of Borrower's Loan Account or any other obligation secured
     hereby. Any credit given by Bank upon receipt of said proceeds shall be
     conditional credit subject to collection. Returned items at Bank's option
     may be charged to Borrower's general account. All collections of the
     Accounts and Inventory proceeds shall be set forth on an itemized
     schedule, showing the name of the account debtor, the amount of each
     payment and such other information as Bank may request.


7.   Until Bank exercises its rights to collect the Accounts or Inventory
     proceeds pursuant to paragraph 10, Borrower may continue its present
     policies with respect to returned merchandise and adjustments. However,
     Borrower shall immediately notify Bank of all cases involving returns,
     repossessions, and loss or damage of or to merchandise represented by the
     Accounts or constituting Inventory and of any credits, adjustments or
     disputes arising in connection with the goods or services represented by
     the Accounts or constituting Inventory and, in any of such events,
     Borrower will immediately pay to Bank from its own funds (and not from the
     proceeds of Accounts or Inventory) for application to Borrower's Loan
     Account or any other obligation secured hereby the amount of any credit
     for such returned or repossessed merchandise and adjustments made to any
     of the Accounts. Until payment is made as provided herein or until release
     by Bank from its security interest, all merchandise returned to or
     repossessed by Borrower shall be set aside and identified as the property
     of Bank and Bank shall be entitled to enter upon any premises where such
     merchandise is located and take immediate possession thereof and remove
     same.



AC 8 E (6/97)                      Page 1 of 2


 

<PAGE>   2
 8.   Borrower represents and warrants to Bank: (1) If Borrower is a
      corporation, that Borrower is duly organized and existing in the State of
      its incorporation and the execution, delivery and performance hereof are
      within Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized and are not
      in conflict with law or the terms of any charter, by-law or other
      incorporation papers, or of any indenture, agreement or undertaking to
      which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower is found or affected; (ii)
      Borrower is, or at the time the collateral becomes subject to Bank's
      security interest will be, the true and lawful owner of and has, or at the
      time the Collateral becomes subject to Bank's security interest will have,
      good and clear title to the Collateral, subject only to Bank's rights
      therein; (iii) Each Account is, or at the time the Account comes into
      existence will be, a true and correct statement of a bona fide
      indebtedness incurred by the debtor named therein in the amount of the
      Account for either merchandise sold or delivered (or being held subject to
      Borrower's delivery instructions) to, or services rendered, performed and
      accepted by, the account debtor; (iv) That there are or will be no
      defenses, counterclaims, or setoffs which may be asserted against the
      Accounts; and (v) any and all financial information, including information
      relating to the Collateral, submitted by Borrower to Bank, whether
      previously or in the future, is or will be true and correct. 

 9.   Borrower will: (i) Furnish Bank from time to time such financial
      statements and information as Bank may reasonably request and inform Bank
      immediately upon the occurrence of a material adverse change therein; (ii)
      Furnish Bank periodically, in such form and detail and at such times as
      Bank may require, statements showing aging and reconciliation of the
      Accounts and collections thereon, and reports as to the inventory and
      sales thereof; (iii) Permit representatives of Bank to inspect the
      Inventory and Borrower's books and records relating to the Collateral and
      make extracts therefrom at any reasonable time and to arrange for
      verification of the Accounts, under reasonable procedures, acceptable to
      Bank, directly with the account debtors or otherwise at Borrower's
      expense; (iv) Promptly notify Bank of any attachment or other legal
      process levied against any of the Collateral and any information received
      by Borrower relative to the Collateral, including the Accounts, the
      account debtors or other persons obligated in connection therewith, which
      may in any way affect the value of the  Collateral or the rights and
      remedies of Bank in respect thereto; (v) Reimburse Bank upon demand for
      any and all legal costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, and other
      expense incurred in collecting any sums payable by Borrower under
      Borrower's Loan Account or any other obligation secured hereby, enforcing
      any term or provision of this Security Agreement or otherwise or in the
      checking, handling and collection of the Collateral and the preparation
      and enforcement of any agreement relating thereto; (vi) Notify Bank of
      each location at which the Inventory is or will be kept, other than for
      temporary processing, storage or similar purposes, and of any removal
      thereof to a new location and of each office of Borrower at which records
      of Borrower relating to the Accounts are kept; (vii) Provide, maintain and
      deliver to Bank policies insuring the Collateral against loss or damage by
      such risks and in such amounts, forms and companies as Bank may require
      and with loss payable solely to Bank, and, in the event Bank takes
      possession of the Collateral, the insurance policy or policies and any
      unearned or returned premium thereon shall at the option of Bank become
      the sole property of Bank, such policies and the proceeds of any other
      insurance covering or in any way relating to the Collateral, whether now
      in existence or hereafter obtained, being hereby assigned to Bank; (viii)
      Do all acts necessary to maintain, preserve and protect all Inventory,
      keep all Inventory in good condition and repair and not to cause any waste
      or unusual or unreasonable depreciation thereof, and (ix) In the event the
      unpaid balance of Borrower's Loan Account shall exceed the maximum amount
      of outstanding loans to which Borrower is entitled under Section 1 hereof,
      Borrower shall immediately pay to Bank, from its own funds and not from
      the proceeds of Collateral, for credit to Borrower's Loan Account the
      amount of such excess.  

 10.  Bank may at any time, without prior notice to Borrower, collect the
      Accounts and Inventory proceeds and may give notice of assignment to any
      and all account debtors, and Borrower does hereby make, constitute and
      appoint Bank its irrevocable, true and lawful attorney with power to
      receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to Borrower to endorse the
      name of Borrower upon any checks or other evidences of payment that may
      come into the possession of Bank upon the Accounts or as proceeds of
      Inventory; to endorse the name of the undersigned upon any document or
      instrument relating to the Collateral; in its name or otherwise, to
      demand, sue for, collect and give acquittances for any and all moneys due
      or to become due upon the Accounts; to compromise, prosecute or defend any
      action, claim or proceeding with respect thereto; and to do any and all
      things necessary and proper to carry out the purpose herein contemplated. 

 11.  Until Borrower's Loan Account and all other obligations secured hereby
      shall have been repaid in full, Borrower shall not sell, dispose of or
      grant a security interest in any of the Collateral other than to Bank, or
      execute any financing statements covering the Collateral in favor of any
      secured part or person other than Bank. 

 12.  Should: (i) Default be made in the payment of any obligation, or breach be
      made in any warranty, statement, promise, term or condition, contained
      herein or hereby secured; (ii) Any statement or representation made for
      the purpose of obtaining credit hereunder prove false; (iii) Bank deem the
      Collateral inadequate or unsafe or in danger of misuse; (iv) Borrower
      become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
      (v) Any proceeding be commenced by or against Borrower under any
      bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt or
      moratorium law or statute; then in any such event, Bank may, at its option
      and without demand first made and without notice to Borrower do any one or
      more of the following: (a) Terminate its obligation to make loans to
      Borrower as provided in  Section 1 hereof; (b) Declare all sums secured
      hereby immediately due and payable; (c) Immediately take possession of the
      Collateral wherever it may be found, using all necessary force so to do,
      or require Borrower to assemble the Collateral and make it available to
      Bank at a place designated by Bank which is reasonably convenient to
      Borrower and Bank, and Borrower waives all claims for damages due to or
      arising from or connected with any such taking; (d) Proceed in the
      foreclosure of Bank's security interest and sale of the Collateral in any
      manner permitted by law, or provided for herein; (e) Sell, lease or
      otherwise dispose of the Collateral at public or private sale, with or
      without having the Collateral at the place of sale, and upon terms and in
      such manner as Bank may determine, and Bank may purchase same at any such
      sale; (f) Retain the Collateral in full satisfaction of the obligations
      secured thereby; (g) Exercise any remedies of a secured party under the
      Uniform Commercial Code. Prior to any such disposition, Bank may, at as
      option, cause any of the Collateral to be repaired or reconditioned in
      such manner and to such extent as Bank may deem advisable, and any sums
      expended therefor by Bank shall be repaid by Borrower and secured hereby.
      Bank shall have the right to enforce one or more remedies hereunder
      successively or concurrently, and any such action shall not estop or
      prevent Bank from pursuing any further remedy which it may have hereunder
      or by law. If a sufficient sum is not realized from any such disposition
      of Collateral to pay all obligations secured by this Security Agreement,
      Borrower hereby promises and agrees to pay Bank any such disposition of
      Collateral to pay Bank any deficiency.

 13.  If any writ of attachment, garnishment, execution or other legal process
      be issued against any property of Borrower, or if any assessment for taxes
      against Borrower, other than real property, is made by the Federal or
      State government or any department thereof, the obligation of Bank to make
      loans to Borrower as provided in Section 1 hereof shall immediately
      terminate and the unpaid balance of the Loan Account, all other
      obligations secured hereby and all other sums due hereunder shall
      immediately become due and payable without demand, presentment or notice.

 14.  Borrower authorizes Bank to destroy all invoices, delivery receipts,
      reports and other types of documents and records submitted to Bank in
      connection with the transactions contemplated herein at any time
      subsequent to four months from the time such items are delivered to Bank.

 15.  Nothing herein shall in any way limit the effect of the conditions set
      forth in any other security or other agreement executed by Borrower, but
      each and every condition hereof shall be in addition thereto.

*16   Additional Provisions: SEE EXHIBIT "A" ADDENDUM ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A
      PART HEREOF BY THIS REFERENCE.

      Executed this 1st day of DECEMBER, 1997



                                            ANDATACO, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                                  (Name of Borrower)

       IMPERIAL BANK                 BY: /s/ RICHARD HUDZIK  C.F.O.
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                             (Authorized Signature and Title)

BY: /s/ TIM BUBNACK                  BY: None
    -------------------------------      --------------------------------------
                             Title           (Authorized Signature and Title)


*If none, Insert "None"

                                  Page 2 of 2
                   
               
<PAGE>   3
                           GENERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
                  (Tangible and Intangible Personal Property)


(LOGO)

IMPERIAL BANK
Member FDIC

This Agreement is executed on DECEMBER 1, 1997                 , by ANDATACO, A
CALIFORNIA CORPORATION               (hereinafter called "Obligor").

In consideration of financial accommodations given, to be given or continued,
the Obligor grants to IMPERIAL BANK (hereinafter called "Bank") a security
interest in (a) all property (i) delivered to Bank by Obligor, (ii) which shall
be in Bank's possession or control in any matter or for any purpose, (iii)
described below, (iv) now owned or hereafter acquired by Obligor of the type or
class described below and/or in any supplementary schedule hereto, or in any
financing statement filed by Bank and executed by or on behalf of Obligor; (b)
all deposits accounts of Obligor at Bank and (c) the proceeds, increase and
products of such property, all accessions thereto, and all property which
Obligor may receive on account of such collateral which Obligor will immediately
deliver to Bank (collectively referred to as "Collateral") to secure payment and
performance of all of Obligor's present or future debts or obligations to Bank,
whether absolute or contingent (hereafter referred to as "Debt"). Unless
otherwise defined, words used herein have the meanings given them in the
California Uniform Commercial Code.

Collateral:



A. VEHICLE, VESSEL, AIRCRAFT:
- ----------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Identification         License or
Year      Make/Manufacturer      Model      and Serial No.      Registration No.      New or Used
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>       <C>                   <C>         <C>                <C>                    <C>                 





- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Engine or other equipment:______________________________________________________
(For aircraft - original ink signature on copy to FAA)

B. DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS:

Type __________________ Account Number ________________________ Amount $ _______

In name of ____________________________________ Depository _____________________
AND ALL EXTENSIONS OR RENEWALS THEREOF.

C. ACCOUNTS, INTANGIBLES AND OTHER: (Describe)

   All personal property, whether presently existing or hereafter created or
   acquired, including but not limited to: All accounts, chattel paper,
   documents, instruments, money, deposit accounts and general intangibles
   including returns, repossessions, books and records relating thereto, and
   equipment containing said books and records. All Investment property
   including securities and securities entitlements. All goods including
   equipment and inventory. All proceeds including, without limitation,
   insurance proceeds. All guarantees and other security therefor.
   
    The collateral not in Bank's possession will be located at: 10140 MESA RIM,
    SAN DIEGO, CA 92121

[ ] If checked, the Obligor is executing this Agreement as an Accommodation
Debtor only and the Obligor's liability is limited to the security interest
granted in the Collateral described herein. The party being accommodated is

                                                                   ("Borrower").

All the terms and provisions on page 2 hereof are incorporated herein as though
set forth in full, and constitute a part of this Agreement.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                                                Signature                            Address
                                          (indicate title, if applicable)
<S>                                     <C>                                          <C>
       
ANDATACO, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION      By: /s/ RICHARD A. HUDZIK                    10140 MESA RIM
- ----------------------------------      -----------------------------------          --------------------

                                                                                     SAN DIEGO, CA 92121
- ----------------------------------      -----------------------------------          --------------------

- ----------------------------------      -----------------------------------          --------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4

                         SECURITY AGREEMENT (CONTINUED)

Obligor represents, warrants and agrees:

  1. Obligor will immediately pay (a) any Debt when due, (b) Bank's costs of
collecting the Debt, of protecting, insuring or realizing on Collateral, and any
expenditure of Bank pursuant hereto, including attorney's fees and expenses,
with interest at the rate of 24% per year, or the rate applicable to the Debt,
whichever is less, from the date of expenditure, and (c) any deficiency after
realization of Collateral.

  2. Obligor will use the proceeds of any loan that becomes Debt hereunder for
the purpose indicated on the application therefore, and will promptly contract
to purchase and pay the purchase price of any property which becomes Collateral
hereunder from the proceeds of any loan made for that purpose.

  3. As to all Collateral in Obligor's possession (unless specifically otherwise
     agreed to by Bank in writing). Obligor will:
     (a) Have, or has, possession of the Collateral at the location disclosed
     to Bank and will not remove the Collateral from the location.
     (b) Keep the Collateral separate and identifiable.
     (c) Maintain the Collateral in good and saleable condition, repair it if
     necessary, clean, feed, shelter, water, medicate, fertilize, cultivate,
     irrigate, prune and otherwise deal with the Collateral in all such ways as
     are considered good practice by owners of like property, use it lawfully
     and only as permitted by insurance policies, and permit Bank to inspect
     the Collateral at any reasonable time.
     (d) Not sell, contract to sell, lease, encumber or transfer the Collateral
     (other than inventory Collateral) until the Debt has been paid, even
     though Bank has a security interest in proceeds of such Collateral.

  4. As to Collateral which is inventory and accounts, Obligor:
     (a) May, until notice from Bank, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of
     inventory Collateral in the ordinary course of business only, and collect
     the cash proceeds thereof.
     (b) Will, upon notice from Bank, deposit all cash proceeds as received in
     a demand deposit account with Bank, containing only such proceeds and
     deliver statements identifying units of inventory disposed of, accounts
     which give rise to proceeds, and all acquisitions and returns of inventory
     as required by Bank.
     (c)Will receive in trust, schedule on forms satisfactory to the Bank and
     deliver to Bank all non-cash proceeds other than inventory received in
     trade.
     (d) If not in default, may obtain release of Bank's interest in
     individual units of inventory upon request, therefore, payment to Bank of
     the release price of such units shown on any Collateral schedule
     supplementary hereto, and compliance herewith as to proceeds thereof.

  5. As to Collateral which are accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles
     and proceeds described in 4(c) above, Obligor warrants, represents and
     agrees:
     (a) All such Collateral is genuine, enforceable in accordance with its
     terms, free from default, prepayment, defense and conditions precedent
     (except as disclosed to and accepted by Bank in writing), and is supported
     by consecutively numbered invoices to, or rights against, the debtors
     thereon. Obligor will supply Bank with duplicate invoices or other
     evidence of Obligor's rights on Bank's request;
     (b) All persons appearing to be obligated on such Collateral have
     authority and capacity to contract;
     (c) All Chattel paper is in compliance with law as to form, content and
     manner of preparation and execution and has been properly registered,
     recorded, and/or filed to protect Obligor's interest thereunder;
     (d) If an account debtor shall also be indebted to Obligor on another
     obligation, any payment made by him not specifically designated to be
     applied on any particular obligation shall be considered to be a payment
     on the account in which Bank has a security interest. Should any
     remittance include a payment not on account, it shall be delivered to Bank
     and, if no event of default has occurred, Bank shall pay Obligor the
     amount of such payment;
     (e) Obligor agrees not to compromise, settle or adjust any account or
     renew or extend the time of payment thereof without Bank's prior written
     consent.

  6. Obligor owns all Collateral absolutely, and no other person has or claims
     any interest in any Collateral, except as disclosed to and accepted by
     Bank in writing. Obligor will defend any proceeding which may affect title
     to or Bank's security in any Collateral, and will indemnify and hold Bank
     free and harmless from all costs and expenses of Bank's defense.

  7. Obligor will pay when due all existing or future charges, liens or
     encumbrances on and all taxes and assessments now or hereafter imposed on
     or affecting the Collateral and, if the Collateral is in Obligor's
     possession, the realty on which the Collateral is located.

  8. Obligor will insure the Collateral with Bank as loss payee in form and
     amounts with companies, and against risks and liability satisfactory to
     Bank, and hereby assigns such policies to Bank, agrees to deliver them to
     Bank at Bank's request, and authorizes Bank to make any claim thereunder,
     to cancel the insurance on Obligor's default, and to receive payment of
     and endorse any instrument in payment of any loss or return premium. If
     Obligor should fail to deliver the required policy or policies to the
     Bank, Bank may, at Obligor's cost and expense, without any duty to do so,
     get and pay for insurance naming as the insured, at Bank's option, either
     both Obligor and Bank, or only Bank, and the cost thereof shall be secured
     by this Security Agreement, and shall be repayable as provided in
     Paragraph 1 above.

  9. Obligor will give Bank any information it requires. All information at any
     time supplied to Bank by Obligor (including, but not limited to, the value
     and condition of Collateral, financial statements, financing statements,
     and statements made in documentary Collateral) is correct and complete,
     and Obligor will notify Bank of any adverse change in such information.
     Obligor will promptly notify Bank of any change of Obligor's residence,
     chief executive office or mailing address.

 10. Bank is irrevocably appointed Obligor's attorney-in-fact to do any act
     which Obligor is obligated hereby to do, to exercise such rights as
     Obligor may exercise, to use such equipment as Obligor might use, to enter
     Obligor's premises to give notice of Bank's security interest, and to
     collect Collateral and proceeds and to execute and file in Obligor's name
     any financing statements and amendments thereto required to perfect Bank's
     security interest hereunder, all to protect and preserve the Collateral
     and Bank's rights hereunder. Bank may:
     (a) Endorse, collect and receive delivery or payment of instruments and
     documents constituting Collateral;
     (b) Make extension agreements with respect to or affecting Collateral,
     exchange it for other Collateral, release persons liable thereon or take
     security for the payment thereof, and compromise disputes in connection
     therewith;
     (c) Use or operate Collateral for the purpose of preserving Collateral or
     its value and for preserving or liquidating Collateral.

 11. If more than one Obligor signs this Agreement, their liability is joint
     and several. Any Obligor who is married agrees that recourse may be had
     against separate property for the Debt. Discharge of any Obligor except
     for full payment, or any extension, forbearance, change of rate of
     interest, or acceptance, release or substitution of Collateral or any
     impairment or suspension of Bank's rights against an Obligor, or any
     transfer of an Obligor's interest to another shall not affect the
     liability of any other Obligor. Until the Debt shall have been paid or
     performed in full, Bank's rights shall continue even if the debt is
     outlawed. All Obligors waive: (a) any right to require Bank to proceed
     against any Obligor before any other, or to pursue any other remedy; (b)
     presentment, protest and notice of protest, demand and notice of
     nonpayment, demand or performance, notice of sale, and advertisement of
     sale; (c) any right to the benefit of or to direct the application of any
     Collateral until the Debt shall have been paid; (d) and any right of
     subrogation to Bank until Debt shall have been paid or performed in full.

 12. Upon default, at Bank's option, without demand or notice, all or any part
     of the Debt shall immediately become due. Bank shall have all rights given
     by law, and may sell, in one or more sales, Collateral in any county where
     Bank has an office. Bank may purchase at such sale. Sales for cash or on
     credit to a wholesaler, retailer or user of the Collateral, or at public
     or private auction, are all to considered commercially reasonable. Bank
     may require Obligor to assemble the Collateral and make it available to
     Bank at the entrance to the location of the Collateral, or a place
     designated by Bank.
     Defaults shall include:
     (a) Obligor's failure to pay or perform this or any agreement with Bank or
     breach of any warranty herein, or Borrower's failure to pay or perform any
     agreement with Bank.
     (b) Any change in Obligor's or Borrower's financial condition which in
     Bank's judgment impairs the prospect of Borrower's payment or performance.
     (c) Any actual or reasonably anticipated deterioration of the Collateral
     or in the market price thereof which causes it, in Bank's judgment, to
     become unsatisfactory as security.
     (d) Any levy or seizure against Borrower or any of the Collateral.
     (e) Death, termination of business, assignment for creditors, insolvency,
     appointment of receiver, or the filing of any petition under bankruptcy or
     debtor's relief laws of, by or against Obligor or Borrower or any
     guarantor of the Debt.
     (f) Any warranty or representation which is false or is believed in good
     faith by Bank to be false.

 13. Bank's acceptance of partial or delinquent payments or the failure of Bank
     to exercise any right or remedy shall not waive any obligation of Obligor
     or Borrower or right of Bank to modify this Agreement, or waive any other
     similar default.

 14. On transfer of all or any part of the Debt, Bank may transfer all or any
     part of the Collateral. Bank may deliver all or any part of the Collateral
     to any Obligor at any time, any such transfer or delivery shall discharge
     Bank from all liability and responsibility with respect to such Collateral
     transferred or delivered. This Agreement benefits Bank's successors and
     assigns and binds Obligor's heirs, legatees, personal representatives,
     successors and assigns. Obligor agrees not to assert against any assignee
     of Bank any claim or defense that may exist against Bank. Time is of the
     essence. This Agreement and supplementary schedules hereto contain the
     entire security agreement between Bank and Obligor. Obligor will execute
     any additional agreements, assignments or documents reasonably required by
     Bank to carry this Agreement into effect.

 15. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
     laws of the State of California, to the jurisdiction of whose courts the
     Obligor hereby agrees to submit. Obligor agrees that service of process
     may be accomplished by any means authorized by California law. All words
     used in the singular shall be considered to have been used in the plural
     where the context and construction so require.

 16. To the extent that Obligor acquires any trademarks, service marks, trade
     names and service names and/or the goodwill associated therewith,
     copyrights, patents and/or patent applications (collectively "Intellectual
     Property"), Obligor shall give prompt notice thereof to Bank and shall
     take any and all actions requested from time to time by Bank to perfect
     Obligor's interest in such Intellectual Property and to perfect Bank's
     first priority interest therein. Without limiting the generality of the
     foregoing, the Obligor agrees as follows: Upon Obligor creating, writing,
     producing or acquiring any software, computer source codes or other
     computer programs (collectively, the "Software"), Obligor shall promptly
     register such Software with the U.S. Copyright Office and to the extent
     Obligor's rights therein are acquired from any third party, Obligor shall
     promptly upon such acquisition file with the U.S. Copyright Office any and
     all documents necessary to perfect Obligor's rights therein. Upon Obligor
     creating, writing, producing or otherwise acquiring any Software, Obligor
     shall give prompt notice thereof to Bank. Obligor shall execute and
     deliver to Bank any and all copyright mortgages, UCC financing statements
     and other documents and instruments which Bank may request in connection
     with the Bank perfecting its first priority security interest in such
     Software.

<PAGE>   5
                                   "EXHIBIT A"

ADDENDUM TO SECURITY AND LOAN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN ANDATACO AND
IMPERIAL BANK
DATED DECEMBER 15, 1997


This Addendum is made and entered into as of December 15, 1997, between ANDATACO
(Borrower") and IMPERIAL BANK ("Bank"). This Addendum amends and supplements the
Security and Loan Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms
herein and the terms of the Security and Loan Agreement, the terms herein shall
in all cases govern and control. All capitalized terms herein, unless otherwise
defined herein, shall have the meaning set forth in the Security and Loan
Agreement.

1. Any commitment of Bank, pursuant to the terms of the Security and Loan
Agreement, to make advances against Eligible Accounts shall expire on FEBRUARY
15, 1999, subject to Bank's right to renew said commitment in its sole
discretion. Any such renewal of the commitment shall not be binding upon Bank
unless it is in writing and signed by an officer of the Bank.

2. Borrower represents and warrants that:

        a. LITIGATION. There is no litigation or other proceeding pending or
threatened against or affecting Borrower, and Borrower is not in default with
respect to any order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any court or other
governmental or regulatory authority.

        b. FINANCIAL CONDITION. The balance sheet of Borrower of SEPTEMBER 30,
1997, and the related profit and loss statement on that date, a copy of which
has heretofore been delivered to Bank by Borrower, and all other statements and
data submitted in writing by Borrower to Bank in connection with this request
for credit are true and correct, and said balance sheet and profit and loss
statement truly present the financial condition of Borrower as of the date
thereof and the results of the operations of Borrower for the period covered
thereby, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles on a basis consistently maintained. Since such date, there have been
no materially adverse changes in the financial condition or business of
Borrower. Borrower has no knowledge of any liabilities, contingent or otherwise,
at such date not reflected in said balance sheet, and Borrower has not entered
into any special commitments or substantial contracts which are not reflected in
said balance sheet, other than in the ordinary and normal course of its
business, which may have a materially adverse effect upon its financial
condition, operations or business as now conducted.

        c. TRADEMARKS, PATENTS. Borrower, as of the date hereof, possesses all
necessary trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, and
licenses to conduct its business as now operated, without any known conflict
with valid trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents and license rights of
others.
<PAGE>   6
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 2



        d. TAX STATUS. Borrower has no liability for any delinquent state, local
or federal taxes, and, if Borrower has contracted with any government agency,
Borrower has no liability for renegotiation of profits.

3. Borrower agrees that so long as it is indebted to Bank, it WILL NOT, without
Bank's WRITTEN CONSENT:

        a. TYPE OF BUSINESS. MANAGEMENT. Make any substantial change in the
character of its business; or make any change in its executive management (for
purposes of this section "executive management" shall refer to the Chairman of
the Board and the Chief Executive Officer).

        b. OUTSIDE INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any
indebtedness for borrowed moneys other than loans from Bank except obligations
now existing as shown in financial statement dated SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, including
those being refinanced by Bank; or sell or transfer, either with or without
recourse, any accounts or notes receivable or any moneys due to become due.

        c. LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES. Create, incur, assume any mortgage, pledge,
encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including the charge upon property at
any time purchased or acquired under conditional sale or other title retention
agreement) upon any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, other than
liens for taxes not delinquent, and liens in Bank's favor.

        d. LOANS, INVESTMENTS, SECONDARY LIABILITIES. Make any loans or advances
to any person or other entity other than in the ordinary and normal course of
its business as now conducted or make any investment in the securities of any
person or other entity other than the United States Government; or guarantee or
otherwise become liable upon the obligation of any person or other entity,
except by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection in the
ordinary and normal course of its business.

        e. ACQUISITION OR SALE OF BUSINESS; MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION. Purchase or
otherwise acquire the assets or business of any person or other entity; or
liquidate, dissolve, merge or consolidate, or commence any proceedings
therefore; or sell any assets except in the ordinary and normal course of its
business as now conducted; or sell, lease, assign, or transfer any substantial
part of its business or fixed assets, or any property or other assets necessary
for the continuance of its business as now conducted, including without
limitation the selling of any property or other asset accompanied by the leasing
back of the same.

        f. DIVIDENDS, STOCK PAYMENTS. Declare or pay any dividend (other than
dividends payable in common stock of Borrower) or make any other distribution on
any of its capital stock now outstanding or hereafter issued, or purchase,
redeem or retire any of such stock.

<PAGE>   7
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 3



        g. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Make or incur obligations for capital
expenditures in excess of $1,600,000 in any one fiscal year.

        h. LEASE LIABILITY. Make or incur liability for payments of rent under
leases of real property in excess of $1,500,000 and personal property in excess
of $100,000 in any one fiscal year.

4. Should there be a default under the Security and Loan Agreement, the General
Security Agreement, or under the Note, all obligations, loans and liabilities of
Borrower to Bank, due or to become due, whether now existing or hereafter
arising, shall, at the option of Bank, become immediately due and payable
without notice or demand, and Bank shall thereupon have the right to exercise
all of its default rights and remedies. The default rate of interest shall be
five percent per year in excess of the rate otherwise charged.

5. As a condition precedent to Bank's obligation to make any advances to
Borrower, Borrower shall, among other things: cause a guarantee to be executed
by IPL Systems, Inc. in the amount of $10,141,000 in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank.

6. In addition to the provisions in the Security and Loan Agreement, Eligible
Accounts shall only include such accounts as Bank in its sole discretion shall
determine are eligible from time to time. "Eligible Accounts" shall also NOT
include any of the following:

        a. Accounts with respect to which the account debtor is an officer,
director, shareholder, employee, subsidiary or affiliate of Borrower.

        b. Accounts with respect to which 25% or more of the account debtor's
total accounts or obligations outstanding to Borrower are more than 90 days from
invoice date.

        c. Salesmen's accounts for promotional purposes.

        d. For accounts representing more than 20% of total accounts receivable,
the balance in excess of the 20%. However, the Bank may deem, at its sole
discretion, the entire amount, or any portion thereof, eligible.

        e. Accounts with respect to international transactions unless insured by
an insurance company acceptable to the Bank or covered by letters of credit
issued or confirmed by a bank acceptable to the Bank.

        f. Credit balances greater than 90 days from invoice date.

        g. U.S. Government receivables, unless formally assigned to the Bank.

        h. Accounts over 90 days from invoice date.
<PAGE>   8
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 4



        i. Accounts where the account debtor is a seller to Borrower, whereby a
potential offset exists.

        j. Consignment or guaranteed sales.

        k. Contract receivables; bill and hold accounts.

        l. Equipment and rental offsets; collection accounts (aged up to 90 days
from invoice date).

 7. Borrower may borrow against eligible inventory consisting of raw material,
deemed acceptable to Bank, up to a $1,000,000 sublimit within the line of
credit, not to exceed 25% of the balance outstanding, contingent upon Borrowing
Base availability, and substantiated by monthly inventory certification
submitted by Borrower to Bank.

        Inventory eligible for advance under the Security and Loan Agreement
shall NOT include the following:

        a. Goods on consignment.

        b. Inventory reserve amounts.

        c. Obsolete inventory.

        d. Inventory not insured, or inventory for which Bank is not named as
loss payee.

        e. Work in Process.

        f. Finished goods.

        g. Inventory located in areas making it difficult to verify its
existence, or which will cause undue expense in liquidation due to
transportation costs, or other logistical reasons.

8. All financial covenants and financial information referenced herein shall be
interpreted and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent with previous years. Compliance with
financial covenants shall be calculated and monitored on a quarterly basis.

9. Borrower affirmatively covenants that so long as any loans, obligations or
liabilities remain outstanding or unpaid to Bank, it WILL:

<PAGE>   9
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 5



        a. Have and maintain a Minimum Tangible Net Worth (meaning the excess of
all assets, excluding any value for goodwill, trademarks, patents, copyrights,
organization expense and other similar intangible items, over its liabilities,
less subordinated debt) of not less than $2,200,000 as of 10/31/97; not less
than $2,100,000 as of 01/31/98; not less than $2,400,000 as of 04/30/98, not
less than $3,300,000 as of 07/31/98 and not less than $4,400,000 as of FYE
10/31/98 and thereafter. Minimum tangible net worth requirements to be increased
by equal amount of any future increase in net worth as a result of an equity or
subordinated debt placement.

        b. Have and maintain a ratio of total liabilities to Tangible Net Worth
of not greater than 10.8 to 1.0. as of 10/31/97; not greater than 10.8 to 1.0 as
of 01/31/98; not greater than 10.80 to 1.0 as of 04/30/98; not greater than 8.50
to 1.0 as of 7/31/98 and not greater than 7.0 to 1.0 as of FYE 10/31/98 and
thereafter.

        c. Have and maintain minimum Trading Capital (meaning the sum of the
Borrower's Cash, Accounts Receivable and Inventory minus the sum of the
Borrower's Accounts Payable, Bank Credit Line Outstandings and Deferred Revenue)
of not less than $2,100,000 as of 10/31/97; not less than $2,500,000 as of
01/31/98; not less than $2,200,000 as of 04/30/98; not less than $3,000,000 as
of 07/31/98 and not less than $3,400,000 as of FYE 10/31/98 and thereafter. .

        d. At all times maintain a Trading Ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.0.
Trading Ratio shall mean the Borrower's Trading Assets (the sum of cash,
accounts receivable and inventory) divided by the Borrower's Trading Liabilities
(the sum of accounts payable, outstandings on the Bank credit line and deferred
revenue).

        e. Maintain all significant bank deposit accounts and banking
relationship with Bank.

        f. On a weekly basis, deliver to Bank sales and cash receipts together
with a borrowing base certificate. Within 10 days from each month-end, deliver
to Bank an accounts receivable aging reconciled to the general ledger of
Borrower, a detailed accounts payable aging reconciled to the Borrower's general
ledger and setting forth the amount of any book overdraft or the amount of
checks issued but not sent and an inventory certification outlining both
inventory composition and activity for the month. All the foregoing will be in a
form and with such detail as Bank may request from time to time.

        g. Within 30 days after the end of each month, deliver to Bank a profit
and loss statement and a balance sheet in form satisfactory to Bank all
certified by an officer of Borrower, and a letter certifying compliance with all
loan covenants signed by the Chief Financial Officer of Borrower.

        h. Within 90 days after the end of Borrower's fiscal year, deliver to
Bank the same financial statements as otherwise provided monthly together with
Changes in Financial 
<PAGE>   10
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 6



Position Statement, prepared on an audited basis by an independent certified
public accountant selected by Borrower, but acceptable to Bank.

        i. On a quarterly basis, provide Bank with an alphabetized list of
customers including addresses.

        j. Guarantor shall provide annually updated financial statements within
90 days of Guarantor's FYE.

        k. RIGHTS AND FACILITIES. Maintain and preserve all rights, franchises
and other authority adequate for the conduct of its business; maintain its
properties, equipment and facilities in good order and repair; conduct its
business in an orderly manner without voluntary interruption and, if a
corporation or partnership, maintain and preserve its existence.

        l. INSURANCE. Maintain public liability, property damage and workers
compensation insurance and insurance on all its insurable property against fire
and other hazards with responsible insurance carriers to the extent usually
maintained by similar businesses. Borrower shall provide evidence of property
insurance in amounts and types acceptable to the Bank and Bank shall be named as
Loss Payee in a Lender's Loss Payable Endorsement form 438BFU or equivalent.

        m. TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES. Pay and discharge, before the same
become delinquent and before penalties accrue thereon, all taxes, assessments
and governmental charges upon or against it or any of its properties, and any of
its other liabilities at any time existing, except to the extent and so long as:

        (a)     The same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
                proceedings in such manner as not to cause any materially
                adverse effect upon its financial condition or the loss of any
                right of redemption from any sale thereunder; and

        (b)     It shall have set aside on its books reserves (segregated to the
                extent required by generally accepted accounting practice)
                deemed by it adequate with respect thereto.

        n. RECORDS AND REPORTS. Maintain a standard and modern system of
accounting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on a
basis consistently maintained; permit Bank's representatives to have access to,
and to examine its properties, books and records at all reasonable times.

        o. SUBORDINATION. Cause $5,196,000 due to W. David Sykes to be
subordinated to Bank's line of credit by a subordination agreement acceptable to
Bank.

10. The extensions of credit under the Security and Loan Agreement shall be
available as follows:
<PAGE>   11
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 7



        a. Up to $10,000,000  in direct advances.

        b. Up to $500,000 for the issuance of sight and usance commercial
letters of credit.

        c. Up to 75% of the Borrowing Base for domestic Bankers Acceptances
(individual "BA" and collectively "BA's") in minimum, amounts of $250,000. Each
BA must be an eligible acceptance under applicable Federal Rules and
Regulations. The maturity of each BA is not to exceed 60 days.

        d. The combined outstandings of a. b. and c. shall not exceed
$10,000,000                     .

11.  FEES AND INTEREST:

        a. The rate of interest applicable to the Line of Credit Loan Account
shall be 1.0% per year in excess of the rate of interest which Bank has
announced as its prime lending rate ("Prime Rate") which shall vary concurrently
with any change in such Prime Rate. A commitment fee of $15,000 shall be due
upon execution of documents. A documentation fee of $250 shall be due upon
execution of documents.

        b. Bankers Acceptances shall be priced at Bank's prevailing BA rate plus
350 basis points. Pricing on currently outstanding BA's will be converted to
Prime plus 1.0%.

        c. Letters of credit shall be priced at Bank's prevailing rate(s).

        d. Borrower will pay 0.25% on the unused portion of the commitment, as a
non-utilization fee, on a quarterly average basis should average loan
outstandings, inclusive of Banker Acceptances, be less than $4,000,000 for any
quarter.

        e. Upon Borrower reaching a debt to tangible net worth ratio of 5.25 to
1.0 and two consecutive quarters of net profits (with combined aggregate profits
at or above $2,000,000), pricing shall adjust to Prime +0.75% with a BA option
of BA rate plus 250 basis points. Upon Borrower reaching a debt to tangible net
worth ratio of 2.00 to 1.0 and two or more consecutive quarters of net profits,
(with combined aggregate profits at or above $2,000,000), pricing shall adjust
to Prime rate with BA option of BA rate plus 225 basis points. Interest shall be
computed at the above rates on the basis of the actual number of days during
which the principal balance of the loan account is outstanding divided by 360,
which shall for interest computation purposes be considered one year. The
default rate shall be five percent per year in excess of the rate otherwise
applicable.

If any installment payment, interest payment, principal payment or principal
balance payment due hereunder is delinquent twenty or more days, Borrower agrees
to pay Bank a late charge in the amount of 5% of the payment so due and unpaid,
in addition to the 



<PAGE>   12
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 8



payment; but nothing in this paragraph is to be construed as any obligation on
the part of Bank to accept payment of any payment past due or less than the
total unpaid principal balance after maturity. All payments shall be applied
first to any late charges owing, then to interest and the remainder, if any, to
principal.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay
on the part of your Bank or any holder or Notes Issued hereunder, in the
exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof or of any other right,
power or privilege. All rights and remedies existing under this agreement or any
not issued in connection with a loan that your Bank may make hereunder, are
cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

NOTICE OF DEFAULT. Borrower shall promptly notify Bank in writing of the
occurrence of any event of default hereunder or any event which upon notice and
lapse of time would be an event of default.

14. REFERENCE PROVISION. a. Other than (i) non-judicial foreclosure and all
matters in connection therewith regarding security interests in real or personal
property; or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, or the exercise of other
provisional remedies (any and all of which may be initiated pursuant to
applicable law), each controversy, dispute or claim between the parties arising
out of or relating to the Security and Loan Agreement, this Exhibit A, any
General Security Agreement executed by Borrower in favor of Bank, or any Note
executed by Borrower in favor of Bank (collectively, in this Paragraph 14, the
"Agreement"), which controversy, dispute or claim is not settled in writing
within thirty (30) days after the "Claim Date" (defined as the date on which a
party subject to the Agreement gives written notice to all other parties that a
controversy, dispute or claim exists), will be settled by a reference proceeding
in California in accordance with the provisions of Section 638 et seq. of the
California Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP"), or their successor section , which
shall constitute the exclusive remedy for the settlement of any controversy,
dispute or claim concerning this Agreement, including whether such controversy,
dispute or claim is subject to the reference proceeding and except as set forth
above, the parties waive their rights to initiate any legal proceedings against
each other in any court or jurisdiction other than the Superior Court in the
County where the Real Property, if any, is located or Los Angeles County if none
(the "Court"). The referee shall be a retired Judge of the Court selected by
mutual agreement of the parties, and if they cannot so agree within forty-five
(45) days after the Claim Date, the referee shall be promptly selected by the
Presiding Judge of the Court (or his representative). The referee shall be
appointed to sit as a temporary judge, with all of the powers of a temporary
judge, as authorized by law, and upon selection should take and subscribe to the
oath of office as provided for in Rule 244 of the California Rules of Court (or
any subsequently enacted Rule). Each party shall have one peremptory challenge
pursuant to CCP Section 170.6. The referee shall (a) be requested to set the
matter for hearing within sixty (60) days after the Claim Date and (b) try any
and all issues of law or fact and report a statement of decision upon them, if
possible, within ninety (90) 


<PAGE>   13
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 9




days of the Claim Date. Any decision rendered by the referee will be final,
binding and conclusive and judgment shall be entered pursuant to CCP Section 644
in any court in the State of California having jurisdiction. Any party may apply
for a reference proceeding at any time after thirty (30) days following the
notice to any other party of the nature of the controversy, dispute or claim, by
filing a petition for a hearing and/or trial. All discovery permitted by this
Paragraph 14 shall be completed no later than fifteen (15) days before the first
hearing date established by the referee. The referee may extend such period in
the event of a party's refusal to provide requested discovery for any reason
whatsoever, including, without limitation, legal objections raised to such
discovery or unavailability of a witness due to absence or illness. No party
shall be entitled to "priority" in conducting discovery. Depositions may be
taken by either party upon seven (7) days written notice, and request for
production or inspection of documents shall be responded to within ten (10) days
after service. All disputes relating to discovery which cannot be resolved by
the parties shall be submitted to the referee whose decision shall be final and
binding upon the parties. Pending appointment of the referee as provided herein,
the Court is empowered to issue temporary and/or provisional remedies, as
appropriate.

b. Except as expressly set forth in this Paragraph 14, the referee shall
determine the manner in which the reference proceeding is conducted including
the time and place of all hearings, the order of presentation of evidence, and
all other questions that arise with respect to the course of the reference
proceeding. All proceedings and hearings conducted before the referee, except
for trial, shall be conducted without a court reporter, except that when any
party so requests, a court reporter will be used at any hearing conducted before
the referee. The party making such a request shall have the obligation to
arrange for and pay for the court reporter. The costs of the court reporter at
the trial shall be borne equally by the parties.

c. The referee shall be required to determine all issues in accordance with
existing case law and the statutory laws of the State of California. The rules
of evidence applicable to proceedings at law in the State of California will be
applicable to the reference proceeding. The referee shall be empowered to enter
equitable as well as legal relief, to provide all temporary and/or provisional
remedies and to enter equitable orders that will be binding upon the parties.
The referee shall issue a single judgment at the close of the reference
proceeding which shall dispose of all of the claims of the parties that are the
subject of the reference. The parties hereto expressly reserve the right to
contest or appeal from the final judgment or any appealable order or appealable
judgment entered by the referee. The parties hereto expressly reserve the right
to findings of fact, conclusions of law, a written statement of decision, and
the right to move for a new trial or a different judgment, which new trial, if
granted, is also to be a reference proceeding under this provision.

d. In the event that the enabling legislation which provides for appointment of
a referee is repealed (and no successor statute is enacted), any dispute between
the parties that would otherwise be determined by the reference procedure herein




<PAGE>   14
EXHIBIT A
PAGE 10



described will be resolved and determined by arbitration. The arbitration will
be conducted by a retired judge of the Court, in accordance with the California
Arbitration Act, Section 1280 through Section 1294.2 of the CCP as amended from
time to time. The limitations with respect to discovery as set forth hereinabove
shall apply to any such arbitration proceeding.





This addendum is executed by and on behalf of the parties as of the date first
above written.


                ANDATACO       "BORROWER"


BY:/s/ Harris Ravine
   -------------------------------

    Chief Executive Officer
    -----------------------
             Title



IMPERIAL BANK,  "BANK"

BY:/s/ Tim Bubnack
   --------------------------------

  V.P. - Commercial Loan Officer
  ------------------------------
             Title


  December 15, 1997
  -----------------
        Date

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.19



                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

               THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of May 1, 1997, by and between ANDATACO, a California corporation (the
"Company"), and Harris Ravine ("Employee"). Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning given to such terms in that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of February 28, 1997 by
and among IPL Systems, Inc., IPL Acquisition Corp., W. David Sykes and the
Company.

        1.     DUTIES.

               (a) GENERAL. The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee
hereby agrees to serve, as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Company during the Term (as defined in Section 2) hereof.
Employee shall have such duties and powers as are normally accorded to a Chief
Executive Officer of a corporation and shall loyally, conscientiously and in
good faith perform such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by
the Board of Directors of the Company.

               (b) BUSINESS PLAN COMMITTEE. Prior to the beginning of each
fiscal year of the Company, Employee and the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Business Plan Committee") shall work together to establish performance goals
for the Company and Employee for the coming fiscal year. The performance goals
shall be mutually agreeable to the parties and shall be set forth in a formal
business plan (the "Business Plan") to be adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Company. The Business Plan shall set forth the performance goals in a manner
that permits a quantitative determination that such performance goals have been
satisfied. Performance goals subject to quantitative analysis may include, for
example, target total sales, target net income, target earnings per share, or
any other number or financial ratio that the Business Plan Committee shall
adopt. The performance goals set forth in the Business Plan may be amended or
modified only by written consent of each member of the Business Plan Committee.

        2.     TERM AND TERMINATION.

               (a)    TERM OF AGREEMENT.

                      (i)    ORIGINAL  TERM. Unless earlier terminated as
provided in this Agreement, the term of Employee's employment shall commence on
the Closing Date and shall continue until June 30, 2002 (the "Original Term").

                      (ii)   ONE-YEAR  RENEWALS. Unless (A) the Company or
Employee delivers written notice of its or his intention not to extend the term
of this Agreement on or prior to the date that is three (3) months prior to the
expiration of the Original Term or the then applicable Annual Renewal Period (as
defined below), if any, or (B) this Agreement is otherwise terminated prior to
the expiration of the Original Term or the then applicable Annual Renewal Period
as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for
an




                                       1.
<PAGE>   2

unlimited number of additional one (1) year periods (each an "Annual Renewal
Period"). The Original Term and any Annual Renewal Periods are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Term."

               (b) TERMINATION BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, express or implied, or Section 2924 of the
California Labor Code or any similar provision, this Agreement (and Employee's
employment) may be terminated immediately and without notice by the Company for
"Cause." For the purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall be defined as
Employee's:

                      (i)    material failure to perform his  duties and
obligations hereunder following notice from the Board of Directors specifying
such failures in detail and Employee fails to cure or diligently commence curing
such failures within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice;

                      (ii) engaging or participating in any activity which is
directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the Company;

                      (iii)  commission of any fraud against the Company or use
or appropriation for his personal use and benefit of any funds, assets or
properties of the Company not authorized by the Company to be so used or
appropriated; or

                      (iv) knowing violation of law, conviction for commission
of a felony or conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.

               Upon termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to
this Section 2(b), Employee shall be entitled to receive on the date of
termination an amount equal to Employee's Base Salary (as defined in Section 4)
prorated through the date of termination. Upon any termination of this Agreement
under this Section 2(b), Employee shall not be entitled to any Bonus amounts
otherwise due under Section 4 and, except as expressly provided under this
Section 2(b), the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee under
this Agreement.

               (c) TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, express or implied, or Section 2924
of the California Labor Code or any similar provision, this Agreement (and
Employee's employment) may be terminated at the will of the Company without
Cause upon delivery of written notice to Employee. Upon any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 2(c), Employee shall be entitled to receive
an amount equal to (i) eighteen (18) months of Employee's Base Salary, plus (ii)
any unpaid Bonus amounts then earned by Employee up through the date of
termination. All amounts payable to Employee under clause (i) of the preceding
sentence shall be paid to Employee in eighteen (18) equal monthly installments
commencing on the date of termination and any Bonus amounts payable to Employee
under clause (ii) shall be paid to Employee within thirty (30) days of
termination. The total amount of Bonus due to Employee under clause (ii) above
shall be determined as of the date of termination on a prorated basis and shall
be calculated pursuant to Section 4(b)(i). Upon any termination of this
Agreement under this Section 2(c),




                                       2.
<PAGE>   3

except as expressly provided under this Section 2(c), the Company shall have no
further obligations to Employee under this Agreement.

               (d) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE. Employee may voluntarily
terminate his employment with the Company by giving the Company thirty (30) days
advance written notice. Upon any voluntary termination of his employment with
the Company under this Section 2(d), Employee shall be entitled to receive an
amount equal to Employee's Base Salary prorated through the date of termination.
Upon any termination of Employee's employment with the Company pursuant to this
Section 2(d), Employee shall not be entitled to any Bonus Amounts otherwise due
under Section 4 and, except as expressly provided under this subsection (d), the
Company shall have no further obligations to Employee under this Agreement.

               (e) AUTOMATIC TERMINATION. This Agreement (and Employee's
employment) shall terminate immediately and without the necessity of any notice
or any other action by any party hereto upon the first to occur of any of the
following:

                      (i)  The death of Employee;

                      (ii) The loss of Employee's legal capacity to contract;

                      (iii) The inability of Employee to perform his duties or
responsibilities hereunder, as a result of mental or physical ailment or
incapacity, for an aggregate of ninety (90) days (whether or not consecutive)
unless waived in writing by Company;

                      (iv) the expiration of the Term of this Agreement,
provided that timely notice has been given as required by Section 2(a)(ii); or

               Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to any of clauses
(i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 2(e), Employee or Employee's estate, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to an amount equal to (1) Employee's Base Salary
prorated through the date of termination and any unpaid Bonus then earned by
Employee as of the date of termination, plus (2) Employee's Base Salary for a
period of twelve (12) months. The amounts payable under (1) above shall be
payable on the date of termination. The amount payable under (2) above shall be
payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the date of
termination. Upon payment of such amounts, the Company shall have no further
obligations to Employee or Employee's estate, as the case may be, under this
Agreement.

               (f) TERMINATION UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that
Employee's employment with the Company (or its successor) is terminated without
Cause within twelve (12) months after a "Change of Control" of the Company,
Employee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i) eighteen (18)
months of Employee's Base Salary, plus (ii) any unpaid Bonus amounts then earned
by Employee up through the date of termination. Such amount shall be paid to
Employee in eighteen (18) equal monthly installments commencing on the date of
termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall be
deemed to have occurred upon the consummation of a (1) merger or consolidation
of the Company with




                                       3.
<PAGE>   4

or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or any other corporate
reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to
such consolidation, merger or reorganization, own less than 30% of the Company's
voting power immediately after such consolidation, merger or reorganization; (2)
transaction or series of related transactions in which in excess of 30% of the
Company's voting power is transferred; or (3) sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company."

        3.     EXCLUSIVITY OF EMPLOYMENT.

               (a) LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE. During the Term of this
Agreement, Employee shall devote his full business time, interest, abilities and
energies to the Company and use his best efforts, skills and abilities to
promote the general welfare and interest of the Company and to preserve,
maintain and enhance its business and business relationships with its customers
and employees.

               (b) NONCOMPETITION. During Employee's employment with the
Company, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, render services of a
business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or entity that
competes with the Company's business or welfare, whether for compensation or
otherwise, or engage in any business activities competitive with the Company's
business or welfare, whether alone, as an employee, as a partner, or as a
shareholder, officer or director of any other corporation or other business
entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative
capacity of any other entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the expenditure of
reasonable amounts of time for educational, charitable or professional
activities shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement if those activities do
not materially interfere with the services required under this Agreement. The
noncompetition provisions of this Section 3(b) shall terminate on June 30, 2002.

        4.     COMPENSATION.

               (a)    BASE SALARY.

                      (i) Beginning on the date hereof, and continuing
throughout the entire Term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay Employee a
fixed annual salary in an amount equal to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000) or such greater amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors
from time to time (the "Base Salary").

                      (ii) The Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments
(subject to proration for a period of employment of greater or less than a year
or any applicable payroll period therein) on the Company's regular payroll
dates. Employee authorizes the Company to make such deductions and withholdings
from his Base Salary and any other earnings of Employee from Company as are
required by law, which deductions shall include, without limitation, withholding
for federal and state income tax and Social Security and Medicare withholdings.

               (b)    BONUS.




                                       4.
<PAGE>   5

                      (i) Subject to Section 4(b)(ii) below, commencing on the
fiscal year beginning November 1, 1997 and for each fiscal year of the Company
thereafter during the Term of this Agreement, Employee shall be eligible to
receive a cash bonus (the "Bonus"), assuming achievement of "100% of Plan," in
an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of (A) Employee's Base Salary in effect
during the last fiscal year, or (B) in the event Employee's Base Salary
increases or decreases during the last fiscal year, the Employee's average
annual Base Salary during the last fiscal year. For the purposes of this
Agreement, the term "100% of Plan" shall be understood to mean that the Company
and Employee shall have satisfied each performance goal set forth in the
Business Plan for a given fiscal year.

                      (ii) Upon the Company and Employee achieving 100% of Plan
during any fiscal year, the Company shall pay to Employee the Bonus set forth in
Section 4(b)(i). In the event the Company and Employee fail to achieve 100% of
Plan during any fiscal year, Employee shall be entitled to receive only that
percentage of the Bonus that is equal to that percentage of the Business Plan
which the Company and Employee have achieved, as determined by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that in no event shall Employee be entitled to any
Bonus amounts if the Company and Employee fail to achieve at least 90% of Plan,
as determined by the Board of Directors.

               (c)    STOCK OPTIONS.

                      (i) GENERAL TERMS. As soon as practicable after the
Closing Date, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause to be granted
to Employee an option to purchase up to seven hundred thousand (700,000) shares
of Common Stock of IPL Systems, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation ("IPL"), at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock of IPL on the
date of grant (the "Option"). The Option shall be a nonstatutory stock option
and is not intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning
of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Option
shall be granted under IPL's standard form of nonstatutory stock option
agreement used in connection with its employee stock option plans. The shares of
Common Stock underlying the Option shall have been registered pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such that the shares when issued shall be
shall be freely tradable (subject to any restrictions that may be imposed on
"control shares" and restrictions generally placed on officers, directors or 5%
or greater shareholders of a company).

                      (ii) VESTING. The shares of Common Stock underlying the
Option shall vest and the Option shall become exercisable as follows:

                           (1) During the first year of this Agreement (the
"Initial Vesting Period"), 250,000 shares shall vest ratably and monthly
commencing on the date of this Agreement;

                           (2) 225,000 shares shall vest at the rate of 56,250
shares per year at the end of each year during the four-year period commencing
on the first anniversary of the end of the Initial Vesting Period;




                                       5.
<PAGE>   6

                           (3) an additional 225,000 shares shall vest at the
rate of 56,250 per year at the end of each year during the four-year period
commencing on the first anniversary of the end of the Initial Vesting Period,
provided, that, the Company meets 100% of Plan for the fiscal year in which such
vesting date occurs (that portion of the Option vesting in any fiscal year under
this Section 4(c)(ii)(3) being referred to herein as the "Contingent Option").
If the Company fails to achieve 100% of Plan during any fiscal year, Employee
shall be entitled to receive only that percentage of the Contingent Option that
is equal to that percentage of the Business Plan that the Company and Employee
have achieved; provided, however, that in no event shall Employee be entitled to
any portion of the Contingent Option that would otherwise vest in any fiscal
year if the Company and Employee fail to achieve at least 90% of Plan for such
fiscal year, as determined by the Board of Directors. Any portion of the
Contingent Option that fails to vest as set forth in this Section 4(c)(ii)(3)
shall expire and no longer be exercisable and in no event shall the shares
subject to any portion of the Contingent Option that expires under this Section
4(c)(ii)clause (3) be carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year.

                      (iii) LOCK-UP PERIOD. Employee acknowledges that the
shares of Common Stock of IPL underlying the Option shall be subject to certain
restrictions on disposition and in that regard Employee shall execute the form
of Lock-Up Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

                      (iv) GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION. In the event the Company is
unable to cause to be granted to Employee the Option, the Company and Employee
agree to negotiate in good faith alternative compensation to be paid to Employee
that is reasonably equivalent in value to the Option; provided, however, that
payment of such alternative compensation shall be in a manner that reasonably
correlates to the time period in which the Option would have vested in
accordance with this Agreement.

               (d)    ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. During the term of
this Agreement:

                      (i) Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks paid
vacation in each twelve-month period during Employee's employment hereunder;

                      (ii) the Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for all
reasonable and necessary travel and other business expenses incurred or paid by
Employee in connection with the performance of his services under this Agreement
upon approval of the Company and presentation of expense statements, vouchers,
logs and such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably request
from time to time;

                      (iii) the Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for the
annual cost of premiums for a term life insurance policy insuring the life of
Employee and providing for death benefits in the amount of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000). If Employee's employment is terminated in accordance with this
Agreement, Employee shall immediately assume sole financial responsibility for
the payment of the premiums with respect to such life insurance policy;




                                       6.
<PAGE>   7

                      (iv) the Company shall provide a monthly car allowance
(including the cost of leasing, maintaining and operating the car) in an amount
to be determined by the Company and Employee upon the Employee's relocation to
San Diego;

                      (v) the Company shall reimburse Employee for reasonable
costs and expenses of one professional organization membership upon prior
written approval of the Company of such expenses;

                      (vi) Employee shall be entitled to participate in any
other policies, programs and benefits which the Company may, in its sole and
absolute discretion, make generally available to its other senior executives
from time to time including, but not limited to, disability insurance, pension
and retirement plans, health or medical insurance and similar programs; and

                      (vii) Employee shall be entitled to a relocation allowance
in an amount to be reasonably determined by the Company and Employee.

        5.     NONDISCLOSURE AND ASSIGNMENT OF PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION. In consideration and recognition of the fact that Employee has had,
or during the course of his employment with the Company may have, access to
Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) of the Company or other
information and data of a secret or proprietary nature of the Company which the
Company desires to keep confidential, and that the Company has furnished, or
during the course of Employee's employment will furnish, such Confidential
Information to Employee, Employee agrees and acknowledges as follows:

               (a) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. As used herein, the term
"Confidential Information" shall mean and include, without limitation, any and
all marketing and sales data, plans and strategies, financial projections,
customer lists, prospective customer lists, promotional ideas, data concerning
the Company's services, designs, methods, inventions, improvements, discoveries
or designs, whether or not patentable, "know-how," training and sales
techniques, and any other information of a similar nature disclosed to Employee
or otherwise made known to him as a consequence of or through his employment
with the Company (including information originated by Employee) during
Employee's employment; provided, however, that the term Confidential Information
shall not include any information that (i) at the time of the disclosure or
thereafter is or becomes generally available to and known by the public, other
than as a result of a disclosure by Employee or any agent or representative of
Employee in violation of this Agreement, or (ii) was available to Employee on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives.

               (b) EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT TO COMPANY. The Company has
exclusive property rights to all Confidential Information, and Employee hereby
assigns to Company all rights he might otherwise possess in any Confidential
Information. Except as required in the performance of his duties to the Company,
Employee will not at any time during or after his employment, directly or
indirectly use, communicate, disclose, disseminate, lecture upon, publish
articles or otherwise disclose or put in the public domain, any Confidential




                                       7.
<PAGE>   8

Information relating to the Company, or its services, products or business.
Employee agrees to deliver to the Company any and all copies of Confidential
Information in the possession or control of Employee upon the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, or at any other time upon request. This Section 5
shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the termination of
Employee's employment with the Company.

        6.     SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. In consideration and recognition of
the fact that Employee's position with the Company is an executive position
involving fiduciary responsibility to the Company and access to the Company's
Confidential Information, Employee agrees that he will not solicit or take away
any employees of the Company for employment by any enterprise that competes
with, or is engaged in a substantially similar business to, the business of, the
Company. This Section 6 shall survive for a period of two (2) years from the
date of termination of this Agreement.

        7.     REPRESENTATION BY EMPLOYEE. Employee represents and warrants that
he is under no restriction or disability by reason of any prior contract or
otherwise which would prevent him from entering into and performing his duties
and obligations under this Agreement.

        8.     NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given on the date of service if served personally on the party to whom notice is
to be given, or on the date indicated on the return receipt as the date of
receipt or refusal if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given by first
class mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and properly addressed as follows:

               to the Company:      ANDATACO
                                    10140 Mesa Rim Road
                                    San Diego, CA 92121
                                    Attn:  President
                                    Fax: (619) 453-9294

               to the Employee:     HARRIS RAVINE
                                    8475 Greenwood Drive
                                    Niwot, CO 80503
                                    Fax: (303) 652-0424

               Any party may change its address for the purpose of this Section
8 by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set
forth above.

        9.     ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings
relating to the subject matter hereof, written or otherwise.




                                       8.
<PAGE>   9

        10.    AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or
canceled, and any of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof may be amended,
only by a written instrument executed by Employee and by an authorized
representative of the Company which expressly states the intention of the
parties to modify the terms of this Agreement.

        11.    WAIVER. Any failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right,
power or privilege herein contained, or any failure or delay at any time to
require the other party's performance of any obligation under this Agreement,
shall not affect the right to subsequently exercise that right, power or
privilege, or to require performance of that obligation. A waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed, nor shall constitute, a waiver
of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute
a continuing waiver. A waiver shall not be binding unless executed in writing by
the party making the waiver.

        12.    ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Company and its successors and assigns;
however, this Agreement is personal to Employee and may not be assigned by
Employee in whole or in part.

        13.    SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid and effective under
applicable law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be unlawful, void or
for any reason unenforceable, it shall be deemed separable from, and shall in no
way affect the validity or enforceability of, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be enforced to
the fullest extent possible.

        14.    ATTORNEYS' FEES. In any judicial action or proceeding or any
arbitration proceeding between the parties to enforce any of the provisions of
this Agreement, to seek damages on account of the breach hereof, to seek
injunctive relief to prevent the breach hereof, to seek a judicial determination
of the rights or obligations of any party hereto, or in any judicial action or
proceeding or any arbitration proceeding between the parties in which this
Agreement is raised as a defense, regardless of whether the action or proceeding
is prosecuted to judgment, and in addition to any other remedy, the unsuccessful
party shall pay the successful party all costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the successful party.

        15.    GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with, and governed by, the laws of the State of California, excluding any choice
of law principles which direct the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction.

        16.    EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The subject headings of this Agreement are
included for convenience only, and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of any of its provisions.

        17.    COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.




                                       9.
<PAGE>   10

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



               "Company"               ANDATACO,
                                       a California corporation



                                       By: /s/ W. DAVID SYKES
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Name: W. David Sykes
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title: President
                                                 -------------------------------



               "Employee"              /s/ HARRIS RAVINE
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       HARRIS RAVINE











                                      10.


<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20



                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

               THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of May 1, 1997, by and between ANDATACO, a California corporation (the
"Company"), and W. David Sykes ("Employee"). Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined shall have the meaning given to such terms in that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated as of February 28, 1997 by
and among IPL Systems, Inc., IPL Acquisition Corp., the Company and Employee.

        1.     DUTIES.

               (a)    GENERAL. The Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee
hereby agrees to serve, as the President and Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company during the Term (as defined in Section 2) hereof.
Employee shall have such duties and powers as are normally accorded to a
President of a corporation and shall loyally, conscientiously and in good faith
perform such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Company.

               (b)    BUSINESS PLAN COMMITTEE. Prior to the beginning of each
fiscal year of the Company, Employee and the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Business Plan Committee") shall work together to establish performance goals
for the Company and Employee for the coming fiscal year. The performance goals
shall be mutually agreeable to the parties and shall be set forth in a formal
business plan (the "Business Plan") to be adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Company. The Business Plan shall set forth the performance goals in a manner
that permits a quantitative determination that such performance goals have been
satisfied. Performance goals subject to quantitative analysis may include, for
example, target total sales, target net income, target earnings per share, or
any other number or financial ratio that the Business Plan Committee shall
adopt. The performance goals set forth in the Business Plan may be amended or
modified only by written consent of each member of the Business Plan Committee.

        2.     TERM AND TERMINATION.

               (a)    TERM OF AGREEMENT.

                      (i)    ORIGINAL TERM. Unless earlier terminated as
provided in this Agreement, the term of Employee's employment shall commence on
the Closing Date and shall continue until June 30, 2002 (the "Original Term").

                      (ii)   ONE-YEAR RENEWALS. Unless (A) the Company or
Employee delivers written notice of its or his intention not to extend the term
of this Agreement on or prior to the date that is three (3) months prior to the
expiration of the Original Term or the then applicable Annual Renewal Period (as
defined below), if any, or (B) this Agreement is otherwise terminated prior to
the expiration of the Original Term or the then applicable Annual Renewal Period
as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for
an




                                       1.
<PAGE>   2

unlimited number of additional one (1) year periods (each an "Annual Renewal
Period"). The Original Term and any Annual Renewal Periods are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Term."

               (b)    TERMINATION BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE. Notwithstanding anything
in this Agreement to the contrary, express or implied, or Section 2924 of the
California Labor Code or any similar provision, this Agreement (and Employee's
employment) may be terminated immediately and without notice by the Company for
"Cause." For the purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall be defined as
Employee's:

                      (i)    engaging or participating in any  activity  which
is directly competitive with or intentionally injurious to the Company;

                      (ii)   commission of any fraud against the Company or use
or appropriation for his personal use and benefit of any funds, assets or
properties of the Company not authorized by the Company to be so used or
appropriated; or

                      (iii)  knowing violation of law, conviction for commission
of a felony or conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.

               Upon termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to
this Section 2(b), Employee shall be entitled to receive on the date of
termination an amount equal to Employee's Base Salary (as defined in Section 4)
prorated through the date of termination. Upon any termination of this Agreement
under this Section 2(b), Employee shall not be entitled to any Bonus amounts
otherwise due under Section 4 and, except as expressly provided under this
Section 2(b), the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee under
this Agreement.

               (c)    TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, express or implied, or Section 2924
of the California Labor Code or any similar provision, this Agreement (and
Employee's employment) may be terminated at the will of the Company without
Cause upon delivery of written notice to Employee; provided, however, that
Employee shall nonetheless be entitled to receive (i) his Base Salary for the
number of years (or part thereof for any partial year) remaining on the Original
Term or if less than one (1) year remains on the Original Term or the Original
Term shall have expired, then for a period of one (1) year from the date of
termination, and (ii) any unpaid Bonus amounts then earned by Employee up
through the date of termination. All amounts payable to Employee under clause
(i) of the preceding sentence shall be paid to Employee in that number of equal
monthly installments as are remaining on the Original Term or part thereof, or
if the Original Term shall have expired, then in twelve (12) equal monthly
installments, and all amounts payable to Employee under clause (ii) above shall
be paid within thirty (30) days of termination. If the Company elects to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to this subparagraph (c), the Company shall
have no further obligations to Employee under this Agreement other than the
payment of the Base Salary referenced in the preceding sentence. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event Employee is terminated by the Company under this
Section 2(c) and Employee thereafter




                                       2.
<PAGE>   3

engages or participates in any activity described in Section 2(b)(i), the
Company shall have no further obligations to pay Employee as set forth in this
Section 2(c).

               (d)    VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE. Employee may
voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company by giving the Company
fourteen (14) days advance written notice. Upon any voluntary termination of his
employment with the Company under this Section 2(d), Employee shall be entitled
to receive an amount equal to Employee's Base Salary prorated through the date
of termination. Upon any termination of Employee's employment with the Company
pursuant to this Section 2(d), Employee shall not be entitled to any Bonus
Amounts otherwise due under Section 4 and, except as expressly provided under
this subsection (d), the Company shall have no further obligations to Employee
under this Agreement.

               (e)    AUTOMATIC TERMINATION. This Agreement (and Employee's
employment) shall terminate immediately and without the necessity of any notice
or any other action by any party hereto upon the first to occur of any of the
following:

                      (i)    The death of Employee;

                      (ii)   The loss of Employee's legal capacity to contract;

                      (iii)  The inability of Employee to perform his duties or
responsibilities hereunder, as a result of mental or physical ailment or
incapacity, for an aggregate of ninety (90) calendar days during any calendar
year (whether or not consecutive) unless waived in writing by Company; or

                      (iv)   the expiration of the Term of this Agreement,
provided that timely notice has been given as required by Section 2(a)(ii).

               Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to any of clauses
(i), (ii) or (iii) of this Section 2(e), Employee or Employee's estate, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to an amount equal to (1) Employee's Base Salary
prorated through the date of termination and any unpaid Bonus then earned by
Employee as of the date of termination, plus (2) Employee's Base Salary for a
period of twelve (12) months. The amounts payable under (1) above shall be
payable on the date of termination. The amount payable under (2) above shall be
payable in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the date of
termination. Upon payment of such amounts, the Company shall have no further
obligations to Employee or Employee's estate, as the case may be, under this
Agreement.

               (f)    TERMINATION UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that
Employee's employment with the Company (or its successor) is terminated without
Cause within twelve (12) months after a "Change of Control" of the Company and
at no time during the six (6) months preceding such Change in Control did
Employee beneficially own securities representing more than 30% of the Company's
voting power, Employee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to (i)
eighteen (18) months of Employee's Base Salary, plus (ii) any unpaid Bonus
amounts then earned by Employee up through the date of termination. Such amount
shall be paid to Employee




                                       3.
<PAGE>   4

in eighteen (18) equal monthly installments commencing on the date of
termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall be
deemed to have occurred upon the consummation of a (1) merger or consolidation
of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or
any other corporate reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, own less than
30% of the Company's voting power immediately after such consolidation, merger
or reorganization; (2) transaction or series of related transactions in which in
excess of 30% of the Company's voting power is transferred; or (3) sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company."

        3.     EXCLUSIVITY OF EMPLOYMENT.

               (a)    LOYAL AND CONSCIENTIOUS SERVICE. During the Term of this
Agreement, Employee shall devote his full business time, interest, abilities and
energies to the Company and use his best efforts, skills and abilities to
promote the general welfare and interest of the Company and to preserve,
maintain and enhance its business and business relationships with its customers
and employees.

               (b)    NONCOMPETITION. During Employee's employment with the
Company, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, render services of a
business, professional or commercial nature to any other person or entity that
competes with the Company's business or welfare, whether for compensation or
otherwise, or engage in any business activities competitive with the Company's
business or welfare, whether alone, as an employee, as a partner, or as a
shareholder, officer or director of any other corporation or other business
entity, or as a trustee, fiduciary or in any other similar representative
capacity of any other entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the expenditure of
reasonable amounts of time for educational, charitable or professional
activities shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement if those activities do
not materially interfere with the services required under this Agreement. The
noncompetition provisions of this Section 3(b) shall terminate on June 30, 2002;
provided, however, that in the event Employee is terminated by the Company
pursuant to Section 2(c) prior to the expiration of the Original Term,
Employee's obligations under this Section 3(b) to not compete with the Company
shall be contingent upon the Company continuing to pay Employee his Base Salary
pursuant to Section 2(c).

        4.     COMPENSATION.

               (a)    BASE SALARY.

                      (i)    Beginning on the date hereof, and continuing
throughout the entire Term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay Employee a
fixed annual salary in an amount equal to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($250,000) or such greater amount as may be determined by the Board of Directors
from time to time (the "Base Salary").

                      (ii)   The Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments
(subject to proration for a period of employment of greater or less than a year
or any applicable payroll




                                       4.
<PAGE>   5

period therein) on the Company's regular payroll dates. Employee authorizes the
Company to make such deductions and withholdings from his Base Salary and any
other earnings of Employee from Company as are required by law, which deductions
shall include, without limitation, withholding for federal and state income tax
and Social Security and Medicare withholdings.

               (b)    BONUS.

                      (i)    Subject to Section 4(b)(ii) below, commencing on
the fiscal year beginning November 1, 1997 and for each fiscal year of the
Company thereafter during the Term of this Agreement, Employee shall be eligible
to receive a cash bonus (the "Bonus"), assuming achievement of "100% of Plan,"
in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of (A) Employee's Base Salary in
effect during the last fiscal year, or (B) in the event Employee's Base Salary
increases or decreases during the last fiscal year, the Employee's average
annual Base Salary during the last fiscal year. For the purposes of this
Agreement, the term "100% of Plan" shall be understood to mean that the Company
and Employee shall have satisfied each performance goal set forth in the
Business Plan for a given fiscal year.

                      (ii)   Upon the Company and Employee achieving 100% of
Plan during any fiscal year, the Company shall pay to Employee the Bonus set
forth in Section 4(b)(i). In the event the Company and Employee fail to achieve
100% of Plan during any fiscal year, Employee shall be entitled to receive only
that percentage of the Bonus that is equal to that percentage of the Business
Plan which the Company and Employee have achieved, as determined by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that in no event shall Employee be entitled to any
Bonus amounts if the Company and Employee fail to achieve at least 90% of Plan,
as determined by the Board of Directors.

               (c)    ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. During the Term of
this Agreement:

                      (i)    Employee shall be entitled to five (5) weeks paid
vacation in each twelve-month period during Employee's employment hereunder;

                      (ii)   the Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for all
reasonable and necessary travel and other business expenses incurred or paid by
Employee in connection with the performance of his services under this Agreement
upon approval of the Company and presentation of expense statements, vouchers,
logs and such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably request
from time to time.

                      (iii)  the Company shall pay or reimburse Employee for the
annual cost of premiums for a term life insurance policy insuring the life of
Employee and providing for death benefits in the amount of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000). If Employee's employment is terminated in accordance with this
Agreement, Employee shall immediately assume sole financial responsibility for
the payment of the premiums with respect to such life insurance policy.




                                       5.
<PAGE>   6

                      (iv)   the Company shall provide a monthly car allowance
(including the cost of leasing, maintaining and operating the car) in an amount
to be determined by the Company and Employee;

                      (v)    the Company shall reimburse Employee for reasonable
costs and expenses of one professional organization membership upon prior
written approval of the Company of such expenses;


                      (vi)   Employee shall be entitled to participate in any
other policies, programs and benefits which the Company may, in its sole and
absolute discretion, make generally available to its other senior executives
from time to time including, but not limited to, disability insurance, pension
and retirement plans, health or medical insurance and similar programs.

        5.     NONDISCLOSURE AND ASSIGNMENT OF PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION. In consideration and recognition of the fact that Employee has had,
or during the course of his employment with the Company may have, access to
Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) of the Company or other
information and data of a secret or proprietary nature of the Company which the
Company desires to keep confidential, and that the Company has furnished, or
during the course of Employee's employment will furnish, such Confidential
Information to Employee, Employee agrees and acknowledges as follows:

               (a)    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. As used herein, the term
"Confidential Information" shall mean and include, without limitation, any and
all marketing and sales data, plans and strategies, financial projections,
customer lists, prospective customer lists, promotional ideas, data concerning
the Company's services, designs, methods, inventions, improvements, discoveries
or designs, whether or not patentable, "know-how," training and sales
techniques, and any other information of a similar nature disclosed to Employee
or otherwise made known to him as a consequence of or through his employment
with the Company (including information originated by Employee) during
Employee's employment; provided, however, that the term Confidential Information
shall not include any information that (i) at the time of the disclosure or
thereafter is or becomes generally available to and known by the public, other
than as a result of a disclosure by Employee or any agent or representative of
Employee in violation of this Agreement, or (ii) was available to Employee on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, or any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives.

               (b)    EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; ASSIGNMENT TO COMPANY. The Company has
exclusive property rights to all Confidential Information, and Employee hereby
assigns to Company all rights he might otherwise possess in any Confidential
Information. Except as required in the performance of his duties to the Company,
Employee will not at any time during or after his employment, directly or
indirectly use, communicate, disclose, disseminate, lecture upon, publish
articles or otherwise disclose or put in the public domain, any Confidential
Information relating to the Company, or its services, products or business.
Employee agrees to deliver to the Company any and all copies of Confidential
Information in the possession or control of Employee upon the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, or at any other time




                                       6.
<PAGE>   7

upon request. This Section 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and
the termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

        6.     SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. In consideration and recognition of
the fact that Employee's position with the Company is an executive position
involving fiduciary responsibility to the Company and access to the Company's
Confidential Information, Employee agrees that he will not solicit or take away
any employees of the Company for employment by any enterprise that competes
with, or is engaged in a substantially similar business to, the business of, the
Company. This Section 6 shall survive for a period of two (2) years from the
date of termination of this Agreement.

        7.     REPRESENTATION BY EMPLOYEE. Employee represents and warrants that
he is under no restriction or disability by reason of any prior contract or
otherwise which would prevent him from entering into and performing his duties
and obligations under this Agreement.

        8.     NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given on the date of service if served personally on the party to whom notice is
to be given, or on the date indicated on the return receipt as the date of
receipt or refusal if mailed to the party to whom notice is to be given by first
class mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid, return receipt requested,
and properly addressed as follows:

               to the Company:      ANDATACO
                                    10140 Mesa Rim Road
                                    San Diego, CA 92121
                                    Attn:  President
                                    Fax: (619) 453-9294

               to the Employee:     W. DAVID SYKES
                                    2016 Oceanfront
                                    Del Mar, CA 92014
                                    Fax: (619) 755-3030

               Any party may change its address for the purpose of this Section
8 by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set
forth above.

        9.     ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
and understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby, and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings
relating to the subject matter hereof, written or otherwise.

        10.    AMENDMENT. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or
canceled, and any of the terms, covenants or conditions hereof may be amended,
only by a written instrument executed by Employee and by an authorized
representative of the Company which expressly states the intention of the
parties to modify the terms of this Agreement.




                                       7.
<PAGE>   8

        11.    WAIVER. Any failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right,
power or privilege herein contained, or any failure or delay at any time to
require the other party's performance of any obligation under this Agreement,
shall not affect the right to subsequently exercise that right, power or
privilege, or to require performance of that obligation. A waiver of any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed, nor shall constitute, a waiver
of any other provision, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute
a continuing waiver. A waiver shall not be binding unless executed in writing by
the party making the waiver.

        12.    ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Company and its successors and assigns;
however, this Agreement is personal to Employee and may not be assigned by
Employee in whole or in part.

        13.    SEVERABILITY. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid and effective under
applicable law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be unlawful, void or
for any reason unenforceable, it shall be deemed separable from, and shall in no
way affect the validity or enforceability of, the remaining provisions of this
Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be enforced to
the fullest extent possible.

        14.    ATTORNEYS' FEES. In any judicial action or proceeding or any
arbitration proceeding between the parties to enforce any of the provisions of
this Agreement, to seek damages on account of the breach hereof, to seek
injunctive relief to prevent the breach hereof, to seek a judicial determination
of the rights or obligations of any party hereto, or in any judicial action or
proceeding or any arbitration proceeding between the parties in which this
Agreement is raised as a defense, regardless of whether the action or proceeding
is prosecuted to judgment, and in addition to any other remedy, the unsuccessful
party shall pay the successful party all costs and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the successful party.

        15.    GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with, and governed by, the laws of the State of California, excluding any choice
of law principles which direct the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction.

        16.    EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The subject headings of this Agreement are
included for convenience only, and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of any of its provisions.

        17.    COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.






                                       8.
<PAGE>   9


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



               "Company"               ANDATACO,
                                       a California corporation



                                       By: /s/ ANDATACO
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -------------------------------



               "Employee"              /s/ W. DAVID SYKES
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       W. DAVID SYKES











                                       9.



<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.21


                            NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT


        THIS NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT ("Agreement ") is made and entered into by
and between W. DAVID SYKES ("Shareholder") and IPL SYSTEMS, INC., a
Massachusetts corporation ("Parent") as of June 3, 1997.


                                    RECITALS

        WHEREAS, this Agreement is entered into in connection with that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated February 28, 1997 (the
"Merger Agreement") by and among Shareholder, ANDATACO, a California corporation
("Andataco"), Parent and IPL Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), whereby Merger Sub will be
merged with and into Andataco and Andataco will be the surviving corporation and
become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger");

        WHEREAS, Shareholder is a key employee and the principal shareholder of
Andataco;

        WHEREAS, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent will acquire from
Shareholder and certain trusts affiliated with Shareholder all of the
outstanding capital stock of Andataco;

        WHEREAS, to protect the value of the business of Andataco being
purchased, including the goodwill attendant thereto, by Parent, and in
consideration of Parent completing the Merger and making payments to Shareholder
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, Parent desires that Shareholder
enter into, and Shareholder is willing to enter into, this Agreement upon the
term and conditions set forth herein; and

        WHEREAS, but for Shareholder entering into this Agreement, Parent would
not have consummated the acquisition of all of the capital stock of Andataco as
contemplated by the Merger Agreement.


                                    AGREEMENT

        NOW, THEREFORE, as a material inducement to Parent to purchase all of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of Andataco from Shareholder pursuant to
the Merger Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Parent and Shareholder,
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

        1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be five years from the date of
the consummation of the Merger ( the "Term").

        2. CONSIDERATION. In consideration of Shareholder entering into this
Agreement and agreeing to be bound by the terms hereof, Parent shall pay
Shareholder a total consideration of one million and twenty dollars ($1,000,020)
payable in equal monthly installments of sixteen thousand six hundred
sixty-seven dollars ($16,667) per month commencing on the last business




                                       1.
<PAGE>   2

day of each month following the date of the consummation of the Merger and
ending on the date of expiration of the Term. No interest shall accrue or be
payable upon any amounts due under this Agreement.

        3. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE. Until the earlier of (a) the expiration of
the Term, (b) Parent ceasing to make the payments to Shareholder as provided in
Section 2 above, or (c) Parent or Andataco ceasing to make the salary or
severance payments to Shareholder as required under the terms of that certain
Employment Agreement between Shareholder and Andataco dated as of February __,
1997 (the "Employment Agreement") or an employment agreement replacing or
amending such Employment Agreement, Shareholder will not, directly or
indirectly, own, operate or control, or be a director, officer, employee,
shareholder or partner of any business, firm, entity or organization that is
similar to, or directly or indirectly competes with, the business of Andataco.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shareholder shall not be deemed to be engaged,
directly or indirectly, in any business solely as a passive investor holding
debt or equity securities of such business or if Shareholder is employed by a
business enterprise that is not engaged in the same business as Andataco and
Shareholder does not apply his expertise at such business or enterprise that is
or could be competitive with the business of Andataco.

        4. NO SOLICITATION OF CUSTOMERS OR EMPLOYEES. During the Term of this
Agreement, Shareholder will not interfere with the business of Andataco or any
of its affiliates by soliciting or attempting to divert, take away or call on,
directly or indirectly, for himself or for any other person or entity, any
customers of Andataco or any of its affiliates, nor directly or indirectly,
induce or influence any employee, customer, supplier, reseller or distributor of
Andataco or any of its affiliates to terminate his or her relationship with
Andataco or any of its affiliates.

        5. NON-DISCLOSURE OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. Shareholder will maintain
in confidence and will not disclose to any person, firm, corporation or other
entity any confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets of or
relating to Andataco or any of its affiliates, including, without limitation,
information with respect to its operations, inventories, products, business
practices, finances, principals, vendors, suppliers, customers or potential
customers, marketing methods, costs, prices, compensation paid to employees and
other terms of employment. The parties hereby stipulate and agree that as
between them the foregoing matters are important, material and confidential
proprietary information and trade secrets and affect the successful conduct of
the business of Andataco.

        6. BOOKS AND RECORDS. All books, records, conversations, correspondence,
files, lists, data and other information or documents pertaining to or
concerning the business of Andataco or any of its affiliates are confidential
information which may not be disclosed under the provisions of Paragraph 5
hereof and shall be and remain the sole and exclusive property of Andataco or
such affiliate. Shareholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that he does not
have, and shall not assert, any interest in or property right to any such
information or documents.

        7. GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF RESTRICTIONS. The restrictions contained in this
Agreement shall apply in the United States of America which Shareholder hereby
acknowledges




                                       2.
<PAGE>   3

and agrees is where Andataco has carried on substantial business and in which
Andataco presently conducts or, after the consummation of the Merger as
contemplated by the Merger Agreement, will conduct, or its affiliates will
conduct, a similar business.

        8. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Parent and Shareholder agree that the
duration, scope and geographical area for which this Agreement is to be
effective have been specifically negotiated by sophisticated, commercial parties
and specifically agree that such duration, scope and geographical area are
reasonable. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable by reason of such
provision extending the covenants and agreements contained herein for too great
a period of time or over too great a geographical area, or by reason of its
being too extensive in any other respect, such agreement or covenant shall be
interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time and geographical
area, and to the maximum extent in all other respects, as to which it is valid
and enforceable, all as determined by such court in such action. In no event
shall the consideration required to be paid pursuant to Paragraph 2 hereof be
reduced on account of any reduction in the duration, scope or geographical area
of the covenant contained herein. Any determination that any provision hereof is
invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, shall have no effect on the
validity or enforceability of any remaining provision hereof.

        9. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Shareholder acknowledges that any breach by him of
any of the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 3, 4 and 5 herein will
cause irreparable damage to Parent and Andataco, the exact amount of which will
be difficult or impossible to ascertain, and that the remedies at law for any
such breach will be inadequate. Accordingly, Shareholder agrees that Parent and
Andataco shall be entitled to equitable relief in the form of a temporary
restraining order and preliminary or permanent injunctive relief ordering
Shareholder's specific performance of this Agreement and of the covenants and
agreements contained in Sections 3, 4, and 5.

        10. NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to
be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing to the
address or facsimile telephone number set forth beneath the name of such party
below (or to such other address or facsimile telephone number as such party
shall have specified in a written notice given to the other parties hereto):

               if to Parent or Andataco:

                      IPL Systems, Inc.
                      124 Acton Street
                      Maynard, MA 01754
                      Attention: Chief Executive Officer
                      Facsimile: (508) 461-1321







                                       3.
<PAGE>   4

               if to Shareholder:

                      W. David Sykes
                      2016 Ocean Front
                      Del Mar, CA 92014
                      Facsimile: (619) 755-3030

               with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

                      Cooley Godward LLP
                      4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100
                      San Diego, CA 92121
                      Attention:  Jeremy D. Glaser, Esq.
                      Facsimile:  (619) 453-3555

All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been received
(a) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (b) in the
case of a telecopy, when the party receiving such telecopy shall have confirmed
receipt of the communication, (c) in the case of delivery by
nationally-recognized, overnight courier, on the business day following dispatch
and (d) in the case of mailing, on the fifth business day following such
mailing.

        11. MODIFICATION. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or
canceled and any of the terms, covenants or provisions hereof may be amended
only by a written instrument executed by both Shareholder and Parent.

        12. WAIVER. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be deemed, or shall constitute, a waiver of any other provision, whether or not
similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. No waiver shall be
binding unless executed in writing by the party making the waiver.

        13. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement may not be assigned by Parent
(by operation of law, by merger or otherwise) without Shareholder's prior
written consent. Except for the payment provisions set forth in Section 2 above,
the obligations and rights under this Agreement may not be assigned by
Shareholder but shall inure to the benefit of his executors and heirs. This
Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Parent and its
successors and permitted assigns.

        14. ATTORNEYS' FEES. In any judicial action or proceeding or arbitration
proceeding between Shareholder and Parent to enforce any of the provisions of
this Agreement, to seek damages on account of the breach hereof, to seek
injunctive relief to prevent the breach or continued breach hereof, to seek a
determination of the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, regardless
of whether the action or proceeding is prosecuted to judgment and in addition to
any other remedy, the unsuccessful party shall pay the successful party all
costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred therein by
the by the successful party.




                                       4.
<PAGE>   5

        15. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California as such laws are applied to
contracts entered into and performed entirely within the State of California by
California residents.

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



                                       IPL SYSTEMS, INC.


                                       By: /s/ IPL SYSTEMS, INC.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                --------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -------------------------------



                                       /s/ W. DAVID SYKES
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       W. DAVID SYKES








                                       5.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.22




September 20, 1996

Richard Hudzik
8889 Ragweed Court
San Diego, CA 92129

RE: OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

Dear Richard,

I am very pleased to confirm our offer to you of employment with ANDATACO (the
"Company"). You will report to me, in the position of Chief Financial Officer.
If you accept our offer, your effective date of hire will be October 3, 1996.

The terms of our offer are as follows:

1.  Your starting salary will be $135,000 per year, payable as earned in
    accordance with the Company's normal payroll policies. You are also eligible
    for the standard Andataco bonus plan: 10% of your yearly salary as the
    Company hits Budget one (1) numbers and an additional 10% of your yearly
    salary as the Company hits its Budget two (2) numbers. These Budgets are set
    by the Company and all Executives/Managers are on the same plan.

2.  If your employment is terminated by Andataco without mutual consent by
    yourself, you will be entitled to six (6) months severance pay. This will be
    paid to you monthly at the regular payroll intervals. You will not be
    eligible for any bonus after your termination date.

3. You are granted a .5% stock option plan which vest in the following manner:

   a)  .125% will vest every six (6) months of employment until the .5% is
       achieved.

   b)  .5% will be vested upon the sale of more than 10% of Andataco stock to
       any outside company, and the cap which is stipulated in "d" below is
       removed.

   c)  The value of Andataco will be set at $10,000,000.00 today.

   d)  The value of Andataco will be $12,000,000.00 in two (2) years and this
       will be the cap for this stock option plan.

   e)  Upon termination for any reason the stock option plan will vest and be
       purchased by the Company.



<PAGE>   2


    Letter to Richard Hudzik
    Offer of Employment
    September 20, 1996
    Page Two of Three


4.  You will be eligible for the group health insurance, paid holidays and sick
    days as stipulated in the Company's personnel policies. You are also
    eligible for two (2) weeks vacation per year beginning immediately.

5.  As an employee of the Company you will have access to certain Company
    confidential information and you may, during the course of your employment,
    develop certain information or inventions which will be the property of the
    Company. To protect the interest of the Company, you will need to sign the
    Company's standard "Proprietary Rights & Confidentiality Agreement" as a
    condition of your employment. We wish to impress upon you that we do not
    wish you to bring with you any confidential or proprietary material of any
    former employer or to violate any other obligations you may have to your
    former employers.

6.  Your employment with the company is terminable at will, which means that you
    will be free to terminate your employment with the Company at any time for
    any reason or no reason, with or without notice. Similarly, the Company may
    terminate your employment at any time for any reason or no reason, with or
    without notice. By accepting this offer of employment, you will be agreeing
    that your employment is terminable at will, and acknowledge that no one has
    the authority to promise you, either orally or in writing, anything to the
    contrary.

7.  The terms of this letter constitutes the entire agreement between us
    regarding your employment with the Company and shall supersede any other
    agreements made prior to or on the date of this letter. This offer, if not
    accepted, will expire on September 23, 1996 at 5:00pm.

The Company requires all new employees to provide information verifying
authorization to work in the United States. This is considered an important
condition to employment.

Please be aware that as our Company evolves, there may be opportunities or
changes in your initial responsibilities, salary, title, or reporting
relationships.

Any disputes or questions arising hereunder, including the construction or
application of this Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force. If the
parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator with ten (10) days after demand of
either party, either or both parties may request the American Arbitration
Association to name a panel of five (5) arbitrators. Andataco shall strike the
names of two (2) on this list; the offeree shall then strike two (2) names and
the remaining name shall be the arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrator shall
be final and binding upon the parties, both as to law and to fact, and shall not
be appealable to any court in any jurisdiction. The expenses of the arbitrator
shall be shared equally by the parties, unless the arbitrator determines that
the expenses shall be otherwise assessed.


<PAGE>   3


Letter to Richard Hudzik
Offer of Employment
September 20, 1996
Page Three of Three

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on
age, color, disability, national origin, race, medical condition, marital
status, religion or sex.

We are pleased to extend this offer to you. To let us know that you have read it
and accept all of its terms, please sign and return this letter to me. We look
forward to you joining us Richard, and we are confident that your abilities and
qualifications will contribute to our mutual success. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me or Rosa Nava at (619) 453-9191.



Sincerely,

ANDATACO

by: /s/ W. David Sykes

W. David Sykes
President



Acknowledged, Accepted and Agreed


 by: /s/ Richard Hudzik                    Date signed    9/21/96
- -----------------------------------                    --------------
         Richard Hudzik



<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.24



                          SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE



$5,195,548.87                                                  February 10, 1997
                                                           San Diego, California



        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ANDATACO, a California corporation ("BORROWER"),
hereby promises to pay to the order of W. David Sykes ("LENDER"), in lawful
money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the
principal sum of five million one hundred ninety-five thousand five hundred
forty-eight and 87/100 Dollars ($5,195,548.87) (the "Loan"), or such lesser or
greater amount as may be outstanding hereunder from time to time as indicated on
the attached Schedule "A", together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
payable on the dates and in the manner set forth below.

        1. PRINCIPAL REPAYMENT. The outstanding principal amount of the Loan
shall be due and payable in full on June 30, 2004.

        2. INTEREST RATE. Borrower further promises to pay interest on the
outstanding principal amount hereof from the date hereof until payment in full.
Interest on this Note shall be payable as follows: (a) during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on June 30, 2002, interest shall be
payable at the rate of nine percent (9.0%) per annum compounded annually and (b)
thereafter, interest shall be payable at a rate equal to the "applicable federal
rate" per annum compounded annually published by the Internal Revenue Service
for the month of June 2002 for an instrument with a two (2) year term, or in
either case, the maximum rate permissible by law (which under the laws of the
State of California shall be deemed to be the laws relating to permissible rates
of interest on commercial loans), whichever is less. Interest shall be payable
in arrears on the last day of each month and shall be calculated on the basis of
a 365-day year (or 366-day year in the case of leap years) for the actual number
of days elapsed.

        3. PLACE OF PAYMENT. All amounts payable hereunder shall be payable to
Lender at the executive offices of Borrower, 10140 Mesa Rim Road, San Diego,
California, 92121, unless another place of payment shall be specified in writing
by Lender.

        4. APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Payments on this Note shall be applied first
to accrued interest, and thereafter to the outstanding principal balance hereof.

        5. DEFAULT RATE. Any principal repayment or interest payment on the Loan
hereunder not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, shall bear interest at ten percent (10.0%) per annum compounded
annually or the maximum rate permissible by law (which under the laws of the
State of California shall be deemed to be the laws relating to permissible rates
of interest on commercial loans), whichever is less.




                                       1.
<PAGE>   2

        6. DEFAULT. Each of the following events shall be an "Event of Default"
hereunder:

           (a) Borrower fails to pay any of the principal amount due under this
Note or any accrued interest or other amounts due under this Note on the date
the same becomes due and payable or within five (5) calendar days thereafter; or

           (b) Borrower files any petition or action for relief under any
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or moratorium law, or any other law for
the relief of, or relating to, debtors, now or hereafter in effect, or makes any
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or takes any corporate action in
furtherance of any of the foregoing; or

           (c) An involuntary petition is filed against Borrower (unless such
petition is dismissed or discharged within sixty (60) days), under any
bankruptcy statute now or hereafter in effect, or a custodian, receiver,
trustee, assignee for the benefit of creditors (or other similar official) is
appointed to take possession, custody or control of any property of Borrower.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder, all unpaid principal,
accrued interest and other amounts owing hereunder shall, at the option of
Lender in the case of SECTION 6(A) or automatically, in the case of SECTION 6(B)
or (C), be immediately collectible by Lender pursuant to applicable law.

        7. SCHEDULE. Lender shall and is hereby irrevocably authorized by
Borrower to endorse on the schedule attached hereto appropriate notations
evidencing the date and amount of each payment of principal made by the
undersigned with respect to the Loan and such notations shall create a
rebuttable presumption regarding the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Loan. No failure on the part of Lender to make any endorsement of a notation as
provided herein shall in any way affect the Loan or any obligation of Lender or
Borrower with respect thereto.

        8. SUBORDINATION.

           (a) SENIOR DEBT. For purposes of this Note, "Senior Debt" shall mean
all presently existing and hereafter arising indebtedness and other obligations
for borrowed money of any kind or nature of the Borrower in favor of a bank or
other financial institution incurred by Borrower for working capital or other
general corporate purposes, and all renewals, extensions, modifications and
refundings thereof.

           (b) AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. Lender hereby agrees that Lender shall
enter into such agreements and instruments in favor of any holder of Senior Debt
as may be reasonably requested to evidence that the indebtedness represented by
this Note is subordinated in right of payment to the extent and substantially in
the manner provided in this Section 8 to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Debt.

           (c) LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY. Upon any distribution to
creditors of Borrower in a liquidation or dissolution of Borrower or in a
bankruptcy,




                                       2.
<PAGE>   3

reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to
Borrower or its property:

               (i) holders of the Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive
payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest (including interest
accruing after the commencement of any such proceeding) to the date of payment
on the Senior Debt before Lender shall be entitled to receive any payment of
principal of or interest on this Note; and

               (ii) until the Senior Debt is paid in full in cash, any
distribution to which Lender would be entitled but for this Section 8 shall be
made to holders of the Senior Debt, except that Lender may receive securities
that are subordinated to the Senior Debt to at least the same extent as this
Note.

           (d) DEFAULT ON SENIOR DEBT.

               (i) Upon the maturity of the Senior Debt by lapse of time,
acceleration or otherwise, all such Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, or
such payment duly provided for in cash or in a manner satisfactory to holders of
the Senior Debt, before any payment is made by Borrower or any person acting on
behalf of Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on this Note.

               (ii) Borrower may not pay the principal of or interest on this
Note and may not acquire this Note for cash or property (other than capital
stock of Borrower or other securities of Borrower that are subordinated to the
Senior Debt to at least the same extent as this Note) if a default on the Senior
Debt occurs and is continuing that permits holders of such Senior Debt to
accelerate its maturity and Borrower has not obtained a waiver from the holders
of such Senior Debt waiving their rights to accelerate the maturity of the Note
as a result of such default.

               (iii) Borrower may resume payments on this Note and may acquire
the Note when the default on the Senior Debt referred to in subsection (ii)
above is cured or waived.

           (e) ACCELERATION OF NOTE. If payment of this Note is accelerated
because of an Event of Default, Borrower shall promptly notify the holder of the
Senior Debt of the acceleration. Borrower shall pay the Note when 30 days pass
after the acceleration occurs if this Section permits the payment at that time.

           (f) SUBROGATION. After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until this
Note is paid in full, Lender shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of the
Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent
that distributions otherwise payable to Lender have been applied to the payment
of the Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Section to a holder of Senior
Debt which otherwise would have been made to the Lender is not, as between
Borrower and Lender, a payment by Borrower on Senior Debt.

           (g) RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Section defines the relative rights of
Lender and the holder of the Senior Debt. Nothing in this Note shall:




                                       3.
<PAGE>   4

               (i) impair, as between Borrower and Lender, the obligation of
Borrower, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest
on this Note in accordance with its terms.

               (ii) affect the relative rights of Lender and creditors of
Borrower other than the holder of the Senior Debt; or

               (iii) prevent Lender from exercising Lender's available remedies
upon a default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders of the
Senior Debt to receive distributions otherwise payable to Lender.

        If Borrower fails because of this Section to pay principal of or
interest on the Note on the due date, the failure is still a default or Event of
Default.

           (h) SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY BORROWER. No right of a
holder of the Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the indebtedness
evidenced by this Note shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by
Borrower or by its failure to comply with this Note.

        9. NEGOTIABILITY; BORROWER PURCHASE RIGHTS.

           (a) Subject to subsection (b) below, Lender may, at any time and from
time to time, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise transfer (each a
"Transfer") all or any portion of the outstanding principal of this Note and/or
any accrued and unpaid interest thereon (the "Transfer Amount") to any person or
entity (a "Third Party").

           (b) If Lender proposes to Transfer to a Third Party any Transfer
Amount, it shall give Borrower written notice (the "Transfer Notice") of its
intention to do so, which Transfer Notice shall identify the Third Party and
shall contain the terms and conditions upon which Lender proposes to effectuate
the Transfer. Borrower shall have fifteen (15) days from the receipt of the
Transfer Notice to purchase the Transfer Amount upon the terms and conditions
specified in the Transfer Notice. If Borrower elects not to purchase the
Transfer Amount, Lender shall have 120 days thereafter to Transfer such Transfer
Amount at a purchase price and upon terms no more favorable to the Third Party
purchaser thereof than specified in the Transfer Notice. In the event Lender has
not made such Transfer within the 120-day period, Lender shall not thereafter
Transfer any Transfer Amount without first offering such Transfer Amount to
Borrower in the manner provided above.

        10. WAIVER; PAYMENT OF FEES AND EXPENSES. Borrower waives presentment
and demand for payment, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest of
this Note, and shall pay all costs of collection when incurred, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses. The
right to plead any and all statutes of limitations as a defense to any demands
hereunder is hereby waived to the full extent permitted by law.




                                       4.
<PAGE>   5

        11. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, excluding
conflict of laws principles that would cause the application of laws of any
other jurisdiction.

        12. USURY LIMITATION. In no event shall the amount paid or agreed to be
paid to Lender as interest hereunder exceed the amount that would result from
the application of the highest lawful rate permissible under the then applicable
usury laws. If it is hereafter determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
that the interest payable hereunder is in excess of the amount which Lender may
legally collect under the then applicable usury laws, such amount which would be
excessive interest shall be applied to the payment of the unpaid principal
balance due hereunder and not to the payment of interest or, if all principal
shall previously have been paid, promptly repaid by Lender to Borrower.

        13. SEVERABILITY. Every provision of this Note is intended to be
severable. If any term or provision hereof is declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal or invalid, such illegal or invalid term or provision
shall not affect the balance of the terms and provisions hereof, which terms and
provisions shall remain binding and enforceable.

        14. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The provisions of this Note shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding on any successor to Borrower and shall extend to
any permitted holder hereof.





BORROWER                               ANDATACO,
                                       a California corporation

                                       By: /s/ W. DAVID SYKES
                                          ------------------------------------
                                       Name:  W. David Sykes
                                       Title: President








                                       5.







<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 11.1



                               IPL SYSTEMS, INC.
                   COMPUTATION OF NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Year Ended October 31,
                                             ----------------------------------
                                               1997         1996         1995
                                             --------     --------     --------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>          <C>
Fully diluted net (loss) income
  per share:

Net (loss) income                            $ (6,209)    $     39     $  2,106
                                             --------     --------     --------

Weighted average shares outstanding            20,464       18,078       18,078

Dilutive stock options based on the
  treasury stock method using the 
  higher of average or period end 
  market price                                   --             90          106
                                             --------     --------     --------

Shares used in computing net
  (loss) income per share                      20,464       18,168       18,184
                                             --------     --------     --------

Net (loss) income per common and 
  equivalent share                           $  (0.30)    $   0.00     $   0.12
                                             ========     ========     ========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 21.1



                               IPL SYSTEMS, INC.
                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT


ANDATACO
IPL International Sales Corporation
IPL Investments, Inc.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-35441 and 333-35467) of IPL Systems, Inc. of
our report dated December 12, 1997 appearing on page F-1 of this Form 10-K.



Price Waterhouse LLP


San Diego, California
January 27, 1998

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<CASH>                                          41,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               10,846,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  7,450,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            18,698,000
<PP&E>                                       6,099,000
<DEPRECIATION>                              (2,500,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              29,989,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       13,529,000
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                       238,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,498,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                29,989,000
<SALES>                                     93,259,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            93,259,000
<CGS>                                       71,682,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               26,675,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,111,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (6,209,000)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (6,209,000)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                (6,209,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (0.30)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (0.30)
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission