SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH INC
DEF 14A, 1997-07-29
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
 
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )
 
Filed by the Registrant [X]
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement                [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                                     Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>

                         Silicon Valley Research, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
[X]  No fee required.
 
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
 
     (1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
 
     (2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
 
     (3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
          pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
          filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
 
     (4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
 
     (5)  Total fee paid:
 
[ ]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
 
[ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
 
     (1)  Amount Previously Paid:
 
     (2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
 
     (3)  Filing Party:
 
     (4)  Date Filed:
<PAGE>   2
 
                         SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.
                            6360 SAN IGNACIO AVENUE
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95119
 
                                                                   July 29, 1997
 
To Our Shareholders:
 
     You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC. on Thursday, September 4, 1997, at the Company's
corporate headquarters, 6360 San Ignacio Avenue, San Jose, California, at 9:00
a.m., Pacific Daylight Time.
 
     The matters expected to be acted upon at the meeting are described in
detail in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy
Statement. Also enclosed is a copy of the 1997 SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.
Annual Report, which includes audited financial statements and certain other
information.
 
     It is important that you use this opportunity to take part in the affairs
of SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC. by voting on the business to come before this
meeting. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN,
DATE AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE. Returning the proxy does not deprive you of your right to attend the
meeting and vote your shares in person.
 
     We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
 
                                          Sincerely,
                                          /s/ Robert R. Anderson
                                          Robert R. Anderson
                                          Chief Executive Officer and
                                          Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
Enclosures
<PAGE>   3
 
                         SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.
                            6360 SAN IGNACIO AVENUE
                               SAN JOSE, CA 95119
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
                   TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1997
                            ------------------------
 
Dear Shareholders:
 
     You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of SILICON
VALLEY RESEARCH, INC. (the "Company"), which will be held at 9:00 a.m., Pacific
Daylight Time, on Thursday, September 4, 1997, at the Company's corporate
headquarters, 6360 San Ignacio Avenue, San Jose, California, for the following
purposes:
 
          1. To elect four directors of the Company to serve until the next
     Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their respective successors have
     been elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.
 
          2. To amend the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of
     Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized
     from 25,000,000 to 40,000,000.
 
          3. To approve an amendment to extend the term of the Company's 1988
     Stock Option Plan and increase the number of shares authorized to be issued
     thereunder from 2,745,976 to 3,745,976.
 
          4. To approve an amendment to the Company's 1990 Directors' Stock
     Option Plan that increases the number of shares authorized to be issued
     thereunder from 125,000 to 225,000.
 
          5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
     The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.
 
     Shareholders of record of the Company's Common Stock at the close of
business on July 15, 1997 are entitled notice of, and to vote at, the meeting
and any adjournment thereof.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          /s/ Robert R. Anderson
                                          Robert R. Anderson
                                          Chairman
 
San Jose, California
July 29, 1997
 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE SO
THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
<PAGE>   4
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                                 JULY 29, 1997
 
     The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of
SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC., a California corporation (the "Company"), for use
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on September 4, 1997, or any
adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting. The date of this Proxy Statement is July 29, 1997, the
approximate date on which this Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of
proxy were first sent or given to shareholders.
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
     Annual Report. An annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997 is
enclosed with this Proxy Statement.
 
     Voting Securities. Only shareholders of record as of the close of business
on July 15, 1997 will be entitled to vote at the meeting and any adjournment
thereof. As of that date, there were 16,764,624 shares of Common Stock of the
Company issued and outstanding. Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy.
Each holder of shares of Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote for each share
of stock held on the proposals presented in this Proxy Statement. The Company's
Bylaws provide that a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to
vote, whether present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting.
 
     Shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Under the cumulative voting method, a shareholder may multiply the number of
shares owned by the number of directors to be elected and cast this total number
of votes for any one candidate or distribute the total number of votes in any
proportion among as many candidates as the shareholder desires. A shareholder
may not cumulate his or her votes for a candidate unless such candidate's name
has been placed in nomination prior to the voting and unless a shareholder has
given notice at the meeting, prior to the voting, of his or her intention to
cumulate his or her votes. If any shareholder gives such notice, all
shareholders may then cumulate their votes. Management is hereby soliciting
discretionary authority to cumulate votes represented by proxies if cumulative
voting is invoked.
 
     Solicitation of Proxies. The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by
the Company. In addition, the Company will solicit shareholders by mail through
its regular employees and will request banks and brokers, and other custodians,
nominees and fiduciaries, to solicit their customers who have stock of the
Company registered in the names of such persons and will reimburse them for
their reasonable, out-of-pocket costs. The Company may use the services of its
officers, directors and others to solicit proxies, personally or by telephone,
without additional compensation.
 
     Voting of Proxies. All valid proxies received prior to the meeting will be
voted. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a shareholder
specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted
upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If
no choice is indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted in favor of the
proposal. A shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke his or her proxy,
at any time prior to the time it is voted, by delivery to the Secretary of the
Company of a written instrument revoking the proxy or a duly executed proxy with
a later date, or by attending the meeting and voting in person.
<PAGE>   5
 
     Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management. The following
table sets forth certain information as of July 15, 1997, with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i) all persons known by
the Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding
Common Stock of the Company, (ii) each director and director-nominee of the
Company, (iii) the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table below and
(iv) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL           AMOUNT AND NATURE OF         PERCENT
                 OWNER OR IDENTITY OF GROUP            BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP(1)     OF CLASS(2)
        ---------------------------------------------  -----------------------     -----------
        <S>                                            <C>                         <C>
        Austin Marxe(3)..............................         4,400,276                23.8
          153 E. 53rd Street, 51st Floor
          New York, NY 10022
        J.F. Shea(4).................................         3,429,851                19.0
          655 Brea Canyon Road
          Walnut, California 91789
        Robert R. Anderson(5)........................         1,371,342                 7.9
          6360 San Ignacio Avenue
          San Jose, California 95119
        Roy L. Rogers(6).............................         1,186,103                 7.0
          2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 120
          Menlo Park, California 94025
        Minoru Takagi(7).............................            44,270                   *
        Teng-Sheng Moh(8)............................            40,446                   *
        Ching-Chy Wang(9)............................            26,471                   *
        Benjamin Huberman(10)........................            12,406                   *
        Thomas A. Sherby(11).........................            22,166                   *
        Yoshio Nishi(12).............................            10,531                   *
        All executive officers and directors as a
          group(13) (11 persons).....................         2,950,619                16.6
        Former Officers:
        Glenn E. Abood...............................             1,039                   *
        Arthur Monk..................................                 0                   *
        Craig Wentzel................................             2,516                   *
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  *  Less than 1%
 
 (1) Unless otherwise indicated below, each person or entity named in the table
     has sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares shown
     as beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.
 
 (2) Percentage of ownership is based on 16,764,624 shares of Common Stock
     outstanding on July 15, 1997.
 
 (3) Includes 574,713 shares and 574,713 shares subject to warrants exercisable
     within 60 days of July 15, 1997 held by Special Situations Private Equity
     Fund, L.P., 1,620,569 shares and 862,069 shares subject to warrants
     exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1997 held by Special Situations Fund
     III, L.P. and 480,856 shares and 287,356 shares subject to warrants
     exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1997 held by Special Situations
     Cayman Fund, L.P. Mr. Marxe is a General Partner of Special Situations
     Private Equity Fund, L.P., Special Situations Fund III, LP. and Special
     Situations Cayman Fund, L.P.
 
 (4) Includes 1,708,168 shares held by J.F. Shea Co., Inc. (of which Mr. Edmund
     H. Shea, Jr. is Vice President) and 472,258 shares held by the E&M RP Trust
     (of which Mr. Shea is trustee). Also includes 1,249,425 shares subject to
     warrants exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1997 held by J.F. Shea Co.,
     Inc.
 
 (5) Includes 470,956 shares held in trusts of which Mr. Anderson is trustee,
     including 400,956 shares held by the Robert R. and Sally E. Anderson Trust,
     12,500 shares held by the Robert K. Anderson Trust, 12,500 shares held by
     the Sharon Davidson Trust, 35,000 shares held by the Timothy R. Anderson
     Trust
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
     and 10,000 shares held by the Steven Davidson Trust. Also includes 17,550
     shares of which Mr. Anderson disclaims beneficial ownership, including
     2,550 shares owned by Sharon Davidson and 15,000 shares owned by Steven
     Davidson, two of Mr. Anderson's children. Also includes 462,356 shares
     subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1997 and 33,124
     shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1997.
 
 (6) Represents 283,333 shares held by R & W Ventures II (a limited partnership
     of which Roy L. Rogers serves as a general partner), 645,440 shares and
     222,414 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of July 15,
     1997 held by the Rogers Family Trust (of which Roy L. Rogers serves as
     trustee) and 15,000 shares held by the Roy L. Rogers IRA. Also includes
     19,916 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of July 15,
     1997.
 
 (7) Includes 44,270 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     July 15, 1997.
 
 (8) Includes 32,446 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     July 15, 1997.
 
 (9) Includes 19,874 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     July 15, 1997.
 
(10) Includes 7,406 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of July
     15, 1997.
 
(11) Includes 22,166 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     July 15, 1997.
 
(12) Includes 9,281 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of July
     15, 1997.
 
(13) Includes 188,483 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of
     July 15, 1997 and 799,712 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60
     days of July 15, 1997.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
                                 PROPOSAL NO. 1
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Company's directors are elected annually to serve until the next annual
meeting of shareholders and thereafter until their successors are elected and
are qualified. The Bylaws of the Company authorize a flexible number of
directors ranging from five to nine. Following the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders that will be held on September 4, 1997, there will be one vacancy
on the Company's Board of Directors.
 
     Unless otherwise directed by shareholders, the proxyholders will vote all
shares represented by proxies held by them for the election of the following
nominees, all of whom are now members of the Company's Board of Directors. The
Company is advised that all of the nominees have indicated their availability
and willingness to serve, if elected. In the event that any nominee becomes
unavailable or unable to serve as a director of the Company prior to the voting,
the proxyholders will refrain from voting for the unavailable nominee and will
vote for a substitute nominee for the office of director as the Board may
recommend. If a quorum is present and voting, the four nominees for director
receiving the highest number of votes will be elected directors. Abstentions and
shares held by brokers that are present but not voted because the brokers were
prohibited from exercising discretionary authority, i.e. "broker non-votes",
will be counted as present for purposes of determining if a quorum is present.
 
DIRECTORS/NOMINEES
 
     The names of the nominees to the Board and their respective ages are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               NAME                             AGE      DIRECTOR SINCE
        ---------------------------------------------------    -----     ---------------
        <S>                                                    <C>       <C>
        Robert R. Anderson(3)..............................     59       January 1994
        Benjamin Huberman(2)...............................     59       October 1995
        Roy L. Rogers(1)(2)................................     62       January 1994
        Thomas A. Sherby(1)................................     63       September 1994
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Member of Audit Committee
 
(2) Member of Compensation Committee
 
(3) Member of Nominating Committee
 
     MR. ANDERSON has been Chairman of SVR since January 1994 and Chief
Executive Officer since December 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Anderson was Chief
Executive Officer from April 1994 until July 1995 and was Chief Financial
Officer from September 1994 to November 1995. Mr. Anderson co-founded KLA
Instruments Corporation ("KLA"), a supplier of equipment for semiconductor
companies, in 1975. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of KLA from November
1991 to March 1994 and served as Chairman of the Board of KLA from May 1985 to
November 1991. Prior to that, Mr. Anderson served as Chief Operating Officer and
Chief Financial Officer of KLA for nine years. Mr. Anderson currently serves as
a director of Applied Science & Technology Inc., a supplier of systems
components for the semiconductor industry.
 
     MR. HUBERMAN has been a director of SVR since October 1995. For the past
six years, Mr. Huberman has been President of the Huberman Consulting Group in
Washington, D.C. He has held numerous governmental positions, including Deputy
Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is also
a member of the Chief of Naval Operations' Executive Panel and has been Chairman
of the Technical Advisory Panel to the U.S. Space Command. He currently serves
on the boards of Zycad Corp., an electronic design automation company and Audre
Recognition Systems, Inc., a developer of software which is used to convert
documents into digital data.
 
     MR. ROGERS has been a director of SVR since January 1994. For the last ten
years, Mr. Rogers has served as a general partner of two venture capital limited
partnerships, R & W Ventures I and R & W Ventures II. Previously, for a 15-year
period, he held management positions in research, institutional sales and
corporate finance at Hambrecht & Quist, an investment banking firm.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
     DR. SHERBY has been a director of SVR since September 1994. He has served
as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Knights
Technology, Inc. a supplier of prepackaged software since April 1989. He has
over 20 years of management experience in the electronics and computer
industries with Fairchild Semiconductor, Dataproducts Corp., a manufacturer of
peripheral data processing equipment, and AT & T Global Information Solutions
(formerly NCR Corporation), a manufacturer of computers and peripherals.
 
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
 
     The Board met seven times during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997. Each
director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and the Committees
on which he served during such period.
 
     Standing committees of the Board include an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee and a Nominating Committee. The Audit Committee recommends engagement
of the Company's independent accountants, reviews the scope of the audit,
considers comments made by the independent accountants and reviews the non-audit
services provided by the Company's independent accountants. The Audit Committee
met eleven times during fiscal 1997. At various times during fiscal 1997, John
Doyle, Robert Anderson, Thomas A. Sherby and Roy L. Rogers served as members of
the Audit Committee. Thomas Sherby and Roy L. Rogers are the current members of
the Audit Committee.
 
     The Compensation Committee reviews and sets the level of cash and other
remuneration for the executive officers of the Company, subject to approval by
the Board. The Compensation Committee met twice during fiscal 1997. At various
times during fiscal 1997, Roy L. Rogers, Thomas Sherby and John Doyle served as
members of the Compensation Committee. Roy L. Rogers and Benjamin Huberman are
the current members of the Compensation Committee.
 
     The Nominating Committee searches for and selects new members to fill
vacancies on the Board occurring between shareholder meetings and determines
which candidates will be presented to the shareholders as nominees for election,
subject to approval by the Board. Robert R. Anderson is the current member of
the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will consider nominees for
director recommended by the shareholders of the Company to the Secretary at the
corporate headquarters.
 
                                 PROPOSAL NO. 2
 
                AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S AMENDED AND RESTATED
                ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER
                      OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
 
     The Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation currently
authorize the issuance of up to twenty five million (25,000,000) shares of
Common Stock. The Board of Directors proposes that the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation be amended to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock authorized to forty million (40,000,000) .
 
     As of July 15, 1997 approximately 16,764,624 shares of the Company's Common
Stock were outstanding and approximately 8,054,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options
and other contingent issuances of the Company's Common Stock. The Board of
Directors believes that the Company needs to increase the authorized number of
shares of Common Stock in order to continue to issue options to attract and
motivate employees, to enable the Company to attract and retain qualified
persons to serve as non-employee directors of the Company and to have
flexibility to raise capital in the future by issuing shares of its Common
Stock. As set forth elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the Company plans to
increase the shares reserved under its Employee Stock Option Plan and the
Directors' Stock Option Plan.
 
     A director and an executive officer/director, in consideration of the
Company's private placement of equity securities in April 1997, agreed to not
exercise any of their options and/or warrants to purchase shares of the
Company's Common Stock, until one of several conditions are met, including such
time as the
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
Company has received shareholder approval and effectively amended its Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation to increase its authorized shares of
Common Stock to cover the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon all other
contingent issuances of shares of Common Stock by the Company. Each such officer
and director has a personal interest in the proposed amendment to the Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation.
 
VOTE REQUIRED AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATION
 
     The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders,
at which a quorum is present and voting either in person or by proxy, is
required for approval of the proposals to amend the Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation to increase the authorized stock. Abstentions and
broker non-votes will each be counted as present for purposes of determining the
presence of a quorum. Abstentions will have the same effects as a negative vote.
Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this vote. The Board
believes that the proposed amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation is in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company for
the reasons stated above. THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S AMENDED
AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
 
                                 PROPOSAL NO. 3
 
                      AMENDMENT TO 1988 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     The 1988 Stock Option Plan (the "1988 Plan") was adopted by the Board on
May 16, 1988 and was approved by the Company's shareholders on August 23, 1988.
The 1988 Plan initially provided for the issuance of options to purchase up to
300,000 shares of Common Stock, plus any shares that were or that became
available for issuance under the Company's 1984 Employee Stock Option Plan which
expired in August 1989. Options to purchase 375,976 shares became available for
issuance under the former 1984 Employee Stock Option Plan. An amendment to the
1988 Plan to increase by 320,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance
thereunder and to make certain changes required by the California Department of
Corporations was approved by the Board on March 22, 1993 and by the Company's
shareholders on August 26, 1993. An amendment to the 1988 Plan to increase by
250,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder was approved by
the Board on May 16, 1994 and by the Company's shareholders on September 8,
1994. An amendment to the 1988 Plan to increase by 500,000 the number of shares
reserved for issuance thereunder was approved by the Board on July 24, 1995 and
by the Company's shareholders on September 6, 1995. An amendment to the 1988
Plan to increase by 1,000,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance
thereunder was approved by the Board on May 15, 1996 and by the Company's
shareholders on September 19, 1996. Accordingly, a total of 2,745,976 shares
have been reserved for issuance under the 1988 Plan and as of July 15, 1997
there were approximately 702,742 shares available for issuance.
 
     By its terms, the 1988 Plan will expire on May 16, 1998. On June 6, 1997,
the Board amended the 1988 Plan, subject to shareholder approval, to extend the
term of the plan until May 16, 2008 and to increase the number of shares
authorized to be issued thereunder from 2,745,976 to 3,745,976. As of July 15
1997, options to purchase 1,634,665 shares were outstanding under the 1988 Plan,
with exercise prices ranging from $0.875 to $8.75, a weighted average exercise
price of $1.7401 and expiration dates ranging from April 1, 1998 to June 6, 2007
and 69 persons were eligible to participate in the 1988 Plan.
 
     A summary of the principal provisions of the 1988 Plan and the proposed
amendments thereto is set forth below under "1988 Stock Option Plan."
 
     The Board of Directors now seeks shareholder approval of the amendment to
the Company's 1988 Plan to extend the term of the Plan until May 16, 2008 and
increase the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock available for
issuance thereunder by 1,000,000 shares from a total of 2,745,976 shares to a
total of 3,745,976 shares. The Amendment will enable the Company to continue to
grant options under the terms and
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
conditions of the 1988 Plan for an additional ten years. An increase in the
number of shares reserved for issuance under the 1988 Plan is needed to enable
the Company to continue to grant options to employees in accordance with its
existing compensation policies. Management of the Company believes that the
ability to grant options to employees is essential to the Company's ability to
attract and retain highly qualified employees.
 
     Since each executive officer of the Company is eligible to participate in
the 1988 Plan, each such officer has a personal interest in the proposed
amendment to the 1988 Plan.
 
VOTE REQUIRED AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATION.
 
     The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, at which a quorum representing a
majority of all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company is present and
voting, either in person or by proxy, is required for approval of this proposal.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will each be counted as present for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will have the same effect as a
negative vote on this proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the
outcome of this vote.
 
     The Board of Directors believes that the proposed amendment to extend the
term of the plan until May 16, 2008 and increase the share reserve of the 1988
Stock Option Plan is in the best interests of the shareholders and the Company
for the reasons stated above. THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE 1988
STOCK OPTION PLAN UNTIL MAY 16, 2008 AND INCREASE THE AGGREGATE MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE 1988 STOCK OPTION PLAN BY 1,000,000 SHARES.
 
                                 PROPOSAL NO. 4
 
            THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1990 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN.
 
     The 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors' Plan") was adopted
by the Board on May 14, 1990 and was approved by the Company's shareholders on
July 10, 1990. A total of 75,000 shares of Common Stock has been reserved for
issuance under the Directors' Plan. To the extent that any outstanding option
under the Directors' Plan expires or terminates prior to exercise in full, the
shares of Common Stock for which such option is not exercised become available
for future grants under the Directors' Plan. An amendment to the Directors' Plan
to increase by 50,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder was
approved by the Board on July 24, 1995 and by the Company's shareholders on
September 6, 1995. Accordingly, a total of 125,000 shares have been reserved for
issuance under the Directors' Plan and as of July 15, 1997 there were
approximately 12,000 shares available for issuance.
 
     On June 6, 1997, the Board amended the Directors' Plan, subject to
shareholder approval, to increase the number of shares authorized to be issued
thereunder from 125,000 to 225,000. As of July 15, 1997, options to purchase
103,000 shares were outstanding under the Directors' Plan, with exercise prices
ranging from $0.875 to $8.25, a weighted average exercise price of $3.7048 and
expiration dates ranging from January 24, 2001 to April 1, 2007.
 
     A summary of the principal provisions of the Directors' Plan and the
proposed amendments thereto is set forth below under "1990 Directors' Stock
Option Plan."
 
     The Board of Directors now seeks shareholder approval of the amendments to
the Company's Directors' Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company's
Common Stock available for issuance thereunder by 100,000 shares from a total of
125,000 to a total of 225,000 shares. An increase in the number of shares
reserved for issuance under the Directors' Plan is needed to enable the Company
to continue to grant options to directors in accordance with its existing
compensation policies. Management of the Company believes that the ability to
grant options to directors is essential to the Company's ability to attract and
retain highly qualified non-employee directors.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
     Since each director of the Company is eligible to participate in the
Directors' Plan, each such director has a personal interest in the proposed
amendment to the Directors' Plan.
 
VOTE REQUIRED AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATION
 
     The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, at which a quorum representing a
majority of all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company is present and
voting, either in person or by proxy, is required for approval of this proposal.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will each be counted as present for purposes of
determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will have the same effect as a
negative vote on this proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the
outcome of this vote.
 
     The Board of Directors believes that the proposed amendment to increase the
share reserve of the 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan is in the best interests
of the shareholders and the Company for the reasons stated above. THEREFORE, THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL
TO INCREASE THE AGGREGATE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE UNDER THE 1990
DIRECTORS' PLAN BY 100,000 SHARES.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
                    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS
 
     The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid
to the two persons who served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer during
fiscal 1997 and the Company's three most highly compensated executive officers
who were serving as executive officers at the end of fiscal 1997 whose salary
and bonus for fiscal 1997 was at least $100,000 and two other former executive
officers whose salary and bonus for fiscal 1997 was at least $100,000 and who
would have been among the Company's most highly compensated executive officers,
but for the fact that the individuals were not serving as executive officers of
the Company at the end of fiscal 1997, for all services in all capacities to the
Company during fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    LONG-TERM
                                                     ANNUAL                        COMPENSATION
                                                  COMPENSATION               ------------------------
                                       ----------------------------------                 ALL OTHER
                                       FISCAL       SALARY         BONUS     OPTIONS     COMPENSATION
     NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION        YEAR          ($)         ($)(1)       (#)          ($)(2)
- -------------------------------------  ------       -------       -------    -------     ------------
<S>                                    <C>          <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>
Robert R. Anderson(3)................   1997         50,000             0    250,000              0
  Chairman of the Board                 1996         85,322        85,803     40,000              0
  and Chief Executive Officer           1995          2,000             0          0              0
Minoru Takagi........................   1997        244,311             0     30,000(15)          0
  Vice President of SVR                 1996        260,047(4)          0     20,000              0
  and President of SVR K.K.             1995        271,930(5)          0     12,500              0
Dr. Teng-Sheng Moh(6)................   1997        116,667        12,067     75,000(16)     11,375
  Vice President of Engineering         1996         94,271        37,521     42,500              0
  and Support                           1995         64,795         9,477     12,500              0
Dr. Ching-Chy Wang(7)................   1997        108,024(8)      6,852     77,500(17)      8,613
  Vice President of SVR                 1996         94,167        17,133     20,500              0
  and President of SVR-Asia Pacific     1995         75,000         9,743      3,125              0
 
Former Officers:
Glenn E. Abood(9)....................   1997        142,500        22,206    450,000(18)     53,675
  Chief Executive Officer               1996        131,415        51,701    250,000         31,408
                                        1995             --            --         --             --
Arthur E.B. Monk(10).................   1997        124,993(11)    11,329     11,000        104,063
  Vice President of Marketing and       1996        121,501        45,303     16,000          9,326
  Corporate Development                 1995         83,689        10,000     50,000          6,248
Craig Wentzel(12)....................   1997        143,063(13)         0     60,500(19)     66,175
  Vice President of Sales               1996         48,709(14)         0     60,500          2,600
                                        1995             --            --         --             --
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 (1) The Executive Officers participated in a Bonus Plan known as the
     "Management By Objectives" ("MBO") plan. Under this plan bonuses were paid
     to officers quarterly based, in part, on the officer achieving
     predetermined goals and, in part, on the profitability of the Company.
 
 (2) Other Compensation paid to the current executive officers and Mr. Monk
     comprise car allowances. Amounts paid to Mr. Abood were $47,500 for
     severance, $25,206 for moving expenses and the remainder for car
     allowances. Other compensation for Mr. Wentzel was $30,000 for severance,
     $30,000 for forgiveness of debt and the remainder for car allowances.
 
 (3) Mr. Anderson became Chairman of SVR in January 1994 and resumed the
     position of Chief Executive Officer in December 1996. Prior to that, Mr.
     Anderson was Chief Executive Officer from April 1994 until July 1995 and
     Chief Financial Officer from September 1994 to November 1995.
 
 (4) Represents a base salary of $211,449 and commissions in the amount of
     $48,598.
 
 (5) Represents a base salary of $197,348 and commissions in the amount of
     $74,582.
 
 (6) Dr. Teng-Sheng Moh joined SVR as Senior Technologist in June 1994, was
     named Director of Engineering in June 1995 and was named Vice President of
     Engineering in November 1995. Dr. Moh has over 11 years experience in EDA
     research and development.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
 (7) Dr. Ching-Chy Wang joined SVR in June 1994 as Principle Technologist and
     was named Vice President of SVR and President of SVR Asia Pacific in
     February 1996.
 
 (8) Represents a base salary of $105,567 and commissions in the amount of
     $2,457.
 
 (9) Mr. Abood became Chief Executive Officer in July 1995 and terminated
     December 1996. See also "Employment Agreements and Change-in-Control
     Arrangements," later herein.
 
(10) Mr. Monk joined the Company as Vice President of Marketing in July 1994,
     was named Vice President of Corporate Development in February 1995, was
     named Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development in April 1996
     and terminated October 1996.
 
(11) Represents a base salary of $99,000 and commissions in the amount of
     $25,993.
 
(12) Mr. Wentzel joined the Company as Vice President of Eastern Area Sales in
     December 1995; became Vice President of Sales in April 1996 and terminated
     January 1997.
 
(13) Represents a base salary of $90,000 and commissions in the amount of
     $53,063.
 
(14) Represents a base salary of $40,000 and commissions in the amount of
     $8,709.
 
(15) Includes options for 20,000 shares which were repriced on November 21,
     1996, which amended options granted in fiscal 1996.
 
(16) Includes options for 55,000 shares which were repriced on November 21,
     1996, which amended options granted in fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997.
 
(17) Includes options for 35,500 shares which were repriced on November 21,
     1996, which amended options granted in fiscal 1996 and 1997.
 
(18) Includes options for 350,000 shares which were repriced on November 21,
     1996, which amended options granted in fiscal 1996 and 1997.
 
(19) Includes options for 60,500 shares which were repriced on November 21,
     1996, which amended options granted in fiscal 1996.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding individual
grants of stock options pursuant to the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan during
fiscal 1997 to each of the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table
above.
                          OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL 1997
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             POTENTIAL REALIZED
                                                                                              VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                                                              ANNUAL RATES OF
                                                     PERCENT OF                                 STOCK PRICE
                                          OPTIONS   TOTAL OPTIONS                             APPRECIATION FOR
                                          GRANTED    GRANTED TO     EXERCISE                  OPTION TERM (1)
                                          (SHARES)  EMPLOYEES IN    PRICE      EXPIRATION   --------------------
                                          (#)(2)     FISCAL 1997    ($/SH)(3)  DATE (4)        5%         10%
                                          -------   -------------   ------     ---------    --------    --------
<S>                                       <C>       <C>             <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>
Robert R. Anderson......................  250,000         10%       1.3125       2/19/07     206,719     521,719
Minoru Takagi...........................   10,000          *        1.3125       2/19/07       8,269      20,869
                                            7,500          *        2.5000(5)    2/27/06      11,813      29,813
                                           12,500          *        2.5000(5)    4/03/05      19,688      49,688
Teng-Sheng Moh..........................   10,000          *        1.3125       2/19/07       8,269      20,869
                                           10,000          *        4.7500       8/01/06      29,925      75,525
                                           10,000          *        2.5000(5)    8/01/06      15,750      39,750
                                            5,000          *        2.5000(5)    2/27/06       7,875      19,875
                                           25,000          1%       2.5000(5)   11/22/05      39,375      99,375
                                           12,500          *        2.5000(5)    6/01/05      19,688      49,688
                                            2,500          *        2.5000(5)   10/17/04       3,938       9,938
Ching-Chy Wang..........................   27,000          1%       1.3125       2/19/07      22,326      56,346
                                           15,000          *        6.7500       7/01/06      63,788     160,988
                                           15,000          *        2.5000(5)    7/01/06      23,625      59,625
                                            3,000          *        2.5000(5)    2/27/06       4,725      11,925
                                           15,000          *        2.5000(5)    2/13/06      23,625      59,625
                                            2,500          *        2.5000(5)    6/01/05       3,938       9,938
Former Officers:
Glenn E. Abood..........................  100,000          4%       4.5000       4/01/06     283,500     715,500
                                          100,000          4%       2.5000(5)    4/01/06     157,500     397,500
                                          250,000         10%       2.5000(5)    5/10/05     393,750     993,750
Arthur E.B. Monk........................    6,000          *        4.7500       2/27/06      17,955      45,315
                                            5,000          *        4.8750       2/13/06      15,357      38,757
Craig Wentzel...........................    5,500          *        2.5000(5)    2/27/06       8,663      21,863
                                            5,000          *        2.5000(5)    2/13/06       7,875      19,875
                                           50,000          2%       2.5000(5)   11/27/05      78,750     198,750
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
*less than 1%
(1) Potential gains are net of exercise price, but before taxes associated with
    exercise. These amounts represent certain assumed rates of appreciation only
    based on Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Actual gains, if any, on
    stock option exercises are dependent on future performance of the Common
    Stock, overall market conditions and the individual option holder's
    continued employment through the vesting period.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, all options were granted under the Company's
    1988 Stock Option Plan. Options become exercisable as the underlying shares
    vest. Generally, 20% of the shares subject to an option vest one year after
    the date of grant, and the remaining shares vest in equal monthly
    installments over the following four years. The Board retains discretion to
    modify the terms (including the price) of outstanding options granted under
    the 1988 Stock Option Plan. See also "Employment Agreements and
    Change-in-Control Arrangements."
(3) All of these options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value
    of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant, except those noted as
    having been amended, see footnote (5) below.
(4) The expiration date is the earlier to occur of six years after the options
    have become fully vested or ten years after the date of grant. These options
    vest over five years, 20% the first year, plus 1/60 per month over the next
    four years.
(5) On November 21, 1996, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors
    approved an offer to all employees permitting an election to amend options
    with exercise prices in excess of $2.50 to change the exercise price to the
    fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on that date, which was
    $2.50, with continuation of the existing vesting schedule. These options
    were amended.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
     The following table sets forth certain information concerning the number
and value at March 31, 1997 of unexercised options held by each of the persons
named in the Summary Compensation Table.
 
              AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                         FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 NUMBER OF SECURITIES                VALUE OF
                                                                UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED          UNEXERCISED IN-THE-
                                                                   OPTIONS AT FISCAL             MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                    SHARES                           YEAR END (#)             FISCAL YEAR END ($)(1)
                                  ACQUIRED ON      VALUE      ---------------------------   ---------------------------
              NAME                EXERCISE(#)   REALIZED($)   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
- --------------------------------  -----------   -----------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                               <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Robert R. Anderson                        0             --       27,082        272,918            --             --
Minoru Takagi                             0             --       38,904         27,346            --             --
Teng-Sheng Moh                            0             --       23,540         51,460            --             --
Ching-Chy Wang                            0             --       11,435         60,440            --             --
Former Officers:
Glenn E. Abood                            0             --            0        350,000            --             --
Arthur E.B. Monk                     28,125      20,859.38            0         37,875            --             --
Craig Wentzel                             0             --       18,766         41,734            --             --
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) The exercise prices of these stock options were above the market price of
    the Company's Common Stock on March 31, 1997. The average of the high and
    low market price as of March 31, 1997 was $1.125.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
     The following table provides the specified information concerning all
repricings of options to purchase the Company's Common Stock held by any
executive officer.
 
                           TEN-YEAR OPTION REPRICING
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    LENGTH OF
                                       NUMBER OF     MARKET PRICE                                  OPTION TERM
                                      UNDERLYING     OF STOCK AT     EXERCISE PRICE                REMAINING AT
                                        OPTIONS        TIME OF         AT TIME OF        NEW         DATE OF
                         REPRICING    REPRICED OR    REPRICING OR     REPRICING OR     EXERCISE    REPRICING OR
         NAME              DATE       AMENDED(#)     AMENDMENT($)     AMENDMENT($)     PRICE($)    AMENDMENT(1)
- -----------------------  ---------    -----------    ------------    --------------    --------    ------------
<S>                      <C>          <C>            <C>             <C>               <C>         <C>
Minoru Takagi             11/21/96       12,500         2.5000           3.4376         2.5000      100 months
                          11/21/96        7,500         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      111 months
Teng-Sheng Moh            11/21/96        2,500         2.5000           3.2500         2.5000       95 months
                          11/21/96       12,500         2.5000           5.0000         2.5000      103 months
                          11/21/96       25,000         2.5000           6.7500         2.5000      108 months
                          11/21/96        5,000         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96       10,000         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      116 months
Ching-Chy Wang            11/21/96        2,500         2.5000           5.0000         2.5000      103 months
                          11/21/96       15,000         2.5000           4.8750         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96        3,000         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96       15,000         2.5000           6.7500         2.5000      115 months
Warren Wong               11/21/96       75,000         2.5000           4.3200         2.5000      119 months
Former Officers:
Glenn E. Abood            11/21/96      250,000         2.5000           3.1250         2.5000      102 months
                          11/21/96      100,000         2.5000           4.5000         2.5000      112 months
Cheryl Billings           11/21/96        6,000         2.5000           2.7500         2.5000       78 months
                          11/21/96        7,500         2.5000           5.0000         2.5000      103 months
                          11/21/96       10,000         2.5000           4.8750         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96        4,500         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96       13,726         2.5000           5.1250         2.5000      118 months
                          11/21/96       15,000         2.5000           4.2510         2.5000      117 months
Gopi Ganapathy            11/21/96      100,000         2.5000           4.2510         2.5000      117 months
Craig Wentzel             11/21/96       50,000         2.5000           7.5000         2.5000      108 months
                          11/21/96        5,000         2.5000           4.8750         2.5000      111 months
                          11/21/96        5,500         2.5000           4.7500         2.5000      111 months
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Repriced options continue to vest on the same schedule as the original
    option, which is generally a five year vesting schedule with 20% vested one
    year after original grant date and 1/60 vested monthly for the remaining
    four years.
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Mr. Anderson received $50,000 for serving as an officer and no fee for
serving as a director. Mr. Anderson received options as set forth above under
"Option Grants in Fiscal 1997". Mr. Abood received $218,381 for serving as an
officer and no fee for serving as a director during the portion of the year he
was employed by the Company (see notes to Summary Compensation Table). Mr. Abood
received options as set forth above under "Option Grants in Fiscal 1997".
Officer Directors (defined below) receive no fee for serving as directors.
Effective April 1, 1995, Investor Directors (as defined below) are paid a
retainer of $6,000 per year, $500 for each Board meeting attended and $250 for
each Committee meeting attended; and Outside Directors (as defined below) are
paid a retainer of $8,000 per year, $1,000 for each Board Meeting attended and
$500 for each Committee meeting attended. Each of the Company's non-employee
directors is eligible to receive options under the Company's 1990 Directors'
Stock Option Plan, the terms of which are described below under "1990 Directors'
Stock Option Plan."
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
     In January 1994, the Company issued to Robert R. Anderson, for $25,000, a
warrant to purchase 125,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at $0.88 per
share. This warrant expires on January 20, 1999.
 
     The subordinated debt which was issued in September 1994, under an
agreement with certain investors, required quarterly payments of interest at
7 1/2% and was subordinated to all indebtedness of the Company to banks,
insurance companies, factors or other lending or financial institutions
regularly engaged in the business of lending money, and was due in September
1996. One of the investors was a 5% shareholder, J. F. Shea, and two, Robert R.
Anderson and Roy L. Rogers, were directors of the Company. The investors also
purchased warrants for $52,000 in cash entitling them to purchase 258,333 shares
of unregistered Common Stock of the Company at a price of $1.50 per share at any
time prior to September 1, 1999. This subordinated debt was paid in full by the
Company in February 1996.
 
     On April 16, 1997 the Company completed a private placement of units
comprising 4,517,242 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase an
additional 4,517,242 shares of Common Stock at $1.31 per share through April 15,
2000. Four of the investors are 5% shareholders and participated in the
offering, as follows:
 
     Austin W. Marxe purchased 574,713 shares and 574,713 shares subject to
     warrants held by Special Situation Private Equity Fund, L.P., 862,069
     shares and 862,069 shares subject to warrants held by Special Situation
     Fund III, L.P. and 287,356 shares and 287,356 shares subject to warrants
     held by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. Mr. Marxe is a General Partner
     of Special Situations Equity Fund, L.P., Special Situation Fund III, L.P.
     and Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P.
 
     J.F. Shea Co., Inc. purchased 1,149,425 shares and 1,149,425 shares subject
     to warrants.
 
     Robert R. Anderson, an officer and director of the Company, purchased
     287,356 shares and 287,356 shares subject to warrants.
 
     Roy L. Rogers, a director of the Company, purchased 172,414 shares and
     172,414 shares subject to warrants for the Rogers Family Trust.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
 
     Under the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan, in the event of a dissolution
or liquidation of the Company, a merger in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation, a transaction or series of transactions in which 50% or
more of the then outstanding voting stock is sold or otherwise transferred to a
single transferee or group of related transferees, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, any or all outstanding options
may be assumed or replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption or
replacement shall be binding on all optionees. In the alternative, the successor
corporation may substitute equivalent options or provide substantially similar
consideration to optionees as was provided to shareholders (after taking into
account the existing provisions of the options). The successor corporation may
also issue, in place of outstanding shares of the Company held by the optionee,
substantially similar shares or other property subject to repurchase
restrictions no less favorable to the optionee.
 
     Under the Company's Directors' Plan, in the event of a Transfer of Control
(as defined in the Directors' Plan) of the Company, any unexercisable or
unvested portion of outstanding options will be immediately exercisable and
vested in full as of the date 10 days prior to the date of the Transfer of
Control. In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company, in its sole
discretion, may arrange for the acquiring corporation to either assume the
Company's rights and obligations under outstanding options or substitute
substantially equivalent options for the acquiring corporation's stock for
outstanding options. Any options which are neither assumed or substituted by the
acquiring corporation in connection with the Transfer of Control, nor exercised
as of the date of the Transfer of Control, will terminate and cease to be
outstanding as of the date of the Transfer of Control.
 
     In December 1996, Mr. Abood was removed from his position as Chief
Executive Officer. In October 1995, the Company entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Abood pursuant to which Mr. Abood received monthly severance
payments at his final salary rate for six months following his
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
termination. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company had advanced Mr. Abood
$100,000 as a three year forgivable loan bearing interest at 5.9% per annum (one
third of the principal and all accrued interest on such loan was forgiven
annually beginning on the first anniversary of the loan, October 15, 1996).
Additionally, the contract provided for approximately $32,000 in reimbursement
of relocation expenses. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Abood was granted an
option to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock at the fair
market value on date of grant. The agreement provided that Mr. Abood would
receive stock option grants to purchase 50,000 shares at the fair market value
on the date of grant on each of the first and second anniversaries of Mr.
Abood's employment with the Company. On April 8, 1996, the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors granted Mr. Abood a stock option for 100,000
shares pursuant to Mr. Abood's employment contract. All of Mr. Abood's stock
options have subsequently expired unexercised.
 
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The Company's Board of Directors approved a change in the Company's
independent accountants for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1996, from Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. to Price Waterhouse LLP on March 29, 1996, based on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. The former
accountants neither resigned nor declined to stand for reelection. The
Registrant's Audit Committee and Board of Directors determined that sound
business practice suggested that it would be appropriate to consider
periodically whether the Registrant would be able to reduce its overall
accounting costs, while maintaining or enhancing the efficiency of the audit
process, by seeking competitive proposals on its accounting work. After
reviewing the proposals received (including a fee quote from its former
accountants), the Audit Committee recommended to the full Board that the
Registrant change accounting firms.
 
     During the interim period from April 1, 1995 through March 29, 1996, there
were no disagreements between the Company and Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. would have caused it to make reference to the subject
matter of the disagreement in connection with its report. No "reportable event"
described in Item 304 of Regulation S-B (during such period of time the Company
was a small business issuer reporting under Regulation S-B) has occurred within
the period from April 1, 1995 through March 29, 1996.
 
     The Company did not consult with Price Waterhouse LLP during the period
from April 1, 1995 through March 29, 1996, on any matter which was the subject
of any disagreement or any reportable event or on the application of accounting
principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements.
 
     Members of the firm of Price Waterhouse LLP, the Company's principal
accountant for the current fiscal year, and for the most recently completed
fiscal year, are invited to the shareholders' meeting and are expected to
attend. They will have an opportunity, if they so desire, to make a statement
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions, if any there be.
 
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and
persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's
equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports
of changes in ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the
Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners are
required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all reports
they file under Section 16(a).
 
     To the Company's knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of
such reports furnished to the Company and written representation that no other
reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors and greater than ten-percent beneficial owners were complied
with during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   19
 
         REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                           ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Compensation Committee (The "Committee") of the Board of Directors is
comprised of two nonemployee directors; Roy L. Rogers and Benjamin Huberman.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE POLICY
 
     The Committee establishes base salary levels and target bonuses for the
Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and other executive officers of the Company at,
or about, the beginning of each fiscal year. The Committee acts on behalf of the
Board of Directors to establish the general compensation policy of the company
for all executive officers of the Company. The Committee administers the equity
incentive plans, including the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan and the Bonus
Plan for executive officers. The Committee believes that the compensation of the
CEO and the other executive officers should be commensurate with Company
performance and the individual executive's performance. The Committee also
believes that such compensation should be competitive with the compensation
executive officers receive at similar companies for similar services. In this
way, the Company will be able to attract and retain competent executive talent.
Consistent with this policy, a designated portion of the compensation of each
executive officer is contingent upon corporate performance and the executive's
performance. Equity incentives for executive officers are provided through the
granting of stock options under the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan. During the
formal Committee meetings in fiscal year 1997, all discussions regarding
compensation of the then CEO, Glenn Abood, were held without his attendance.
None of the other executive officers of the Company were present during the
discussions regarding their compensation. Robert R. Anderson resumed the role of
Chief Executive Officer of the Company in December 1996, subsequent to the
meeting of the Committee for fiscal year 1997. His salary did not increase as a
result of his resuming the position of Chief Executive Officer. However, he was
granted 250,000 stock options under the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan.
 
     In determining the executive officers' salaries, incentive compensation,
and stock option grants, the Committee makes reference to the Radford Survey of
competitive salaries in the technology sector for similar positions, informal
surveys and inquiries, which may be conducted by the Company from time to time,
and the Committee members' own knowledge and familiarity with competitive
compensation rates of executive officers within the electronics industry.
 
     In preparing the performance graph for this Proxy Statement, The Company
has selected the Standard & Poors' High Technology Composite Index (The "S&P
High Technology Index"). The companies that the Company included in its
stratified salary surveys are not necessarily those included in the indices, as
such companies may not be competitive with the Company for executive talent.
 
FISCAL YEAR 1997 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     Base Salary. The base salaries of the executive officers for fiscal year
1997 were set by the Committee in April of 1996. The Committee set these
salaries on the basis of personal performance and the levels it believes are
comparable with other companies that compete for similar executive talent and
intends to compensate executive officers at the middle of the range of employees
of similar rank. The executive officers also qualify for and enjoy the standard
benefits that are available to full-time employees of the Company including
participation in a 401(k) plan.
 
     Bonus Plan. This plan was established, and is administered, to encourage
personal performance and enhance overall company performance. The bonus is paid
quarterly and is based on the Company's profit and revenue goals (one half of
which is based on achievement of the annual revenue goal and one half of which
is based on achievement of the quarterly profit goal). The maximum potential
bonus payment for each executive officer who is a vice president is up to 35%
(25% for executive officers who are not vice presidents) of his or her annual
base salary if all goals are achieved and lower amounts are payable for partial
achievement of goals. This plan was in effect throughout fiscal year 1997 and
bonuses were paid to all executive officers, except the Vice President of Sales,
who does not participate in this plan but participates in an incentive-driven
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   20
 
commission plan not administered by the Committee. The Committee believes that
the Company's bonus plan is instrumental in encouraging top performance from its
executive officers.
 
     Stock Options. Stock options are granted to executive officers when they
first join the Company, in connection with a significant increase in
responsibility, or to attain equality with a peer group. The Committee may grant
additional stock options to executive officers to continue to retain such
executives and provide incentives. The size of the option grants are determined
based on expected future performance, existing options held by each optionee and
other employees of similar rank and past performance. Generally, stock options
become exercisable as they vest at a price that is equal to the fair market
value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Generally, stock
options vest over a five-year period and are contingent on the continued
employment of the executive officer with the Company. At the beginning of fiscal
year 1997, the Committee granted incentive stock options to two then executive
officers. During fiscal year 1997, the Committee granted stock options to three
new executive officers as an incentive to join the Company; and stock options
were granted to three employees who were promoted to executive officers.
Additional stock options were granted by the Committee during fiscal year 1997
as incentives to six executive officers.
 
FISCAL YEAR 1997 CEO COMPENSATION
 
     Mr. Anderson agreed to resume the position of Chief Executive Officer in
December 1996, receiving stock options for 250,000 shares. Until the Company
becomes profitable, Mr. Anderson agreed to continue his annual salary of
$50,000, which he received as a part-time officer of the Company.
 
     Mr. Abood became the President and CEO of the Company in July 1995. The
Company and Mr. Abood entered into an employment agreement following arms-length
negotiations. Under this agreement, Mr. Abood was entitled to an annual salary
of $175,000, participation in the Company's employment benefit plans, and annual
incentive compensation payments. Pursuant to this employment agreement, Mr.
Abood was also granted stock options. See "Employment Agreements and
Change-in-Control Agreements" for a description of the terms of Mr. Abood's
employment agreement. In December 1996, Mr. Abood was removed from his position
as Chief Executive Officer.
 
TAX LIMITATION
 
     Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits deductions for
compensation paid to certain executive officers to the extent that such
compensation exceeds $1 million per officer in any year. An exemption from the
Section 162(m) limit exists for "performance-based" compensation. Compensation
recognized by an executive officer when he or she exercises an outstanding
option under the 1988 Stock Option Plan with an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of the option shares on the grant date will qualify as
performance-based compensation that will not be subject to the Section 162(m) $1
million limitation. The Company did not pay any nondeductible compensation to
any of its executive officers in fiscal year 1997. Since it is not expected that
the cash compensation to be paid to the Company's executive officers for fiscal
year 1998 will exceed the $1 million limit per officer, the Committee will defer
any decision on whether to limit the dollar amount of all other compensation
payable to the Company's executive officers to the $1 million upper limit.
 
                                          Compensation Committee
                                          Roy L. Rogers
                                          Benjamin Huberman
 
REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON REPRICING OF
OPTIONS
 
     In November 1996, the Compensation Committee considered the options held by
the Company's executive officers and employees and the fact that a broad decline
in the price of the Common Stock of the Company had resulted in a substantial
number of stock options granted pursuant to the Company's Amended 1988 Stock
Option Plan (the "Option Plan") having exercise prices well above the recent
historical trading prices of the Common Stock. The Committee was advised by
management that management believed employee turnover was likely to increase, in
part, because a substantial component of their compensation was
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   21
 
comprised of options with exercise prices well above the then current trading
price, making such compensation less attractive than compensation offered by
other companies in the same geographic location granting options offering
greater opportunity for appreciation.
 
     The Committee believed that (i) the Company's success in the future would
depend in large part on its ability to retain a number of its highly skilled
technical and managerial personnel, (ii) that competition for such personnel
would be intense, (iii) that the loss of key employees could have a significant
adverse impact on the Company's business, and (iv) that it would be important
and cost-effective to provide equity incentives to employees and executive
officers of the Company to improve the Company's performance and the value of
the Company for its stockholders. The Committee considered granting new options
to existing employees at fair market value, but recognized that the size of the
option grants required to offset the decline in market price would result in
significant additional dilution to stockholders. Considering these factors, the
Committee determined it to be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders to restore the incentives for employees and executive officers to
remain as employees of the Company and to exert their maximum efforts on behalf
of the Company by amending stock options under the Option Plan, at the
optionee's election, to change the exercise price to the current market value of
the Company's Common Stock.
 
     Accordingly, in November 1996, the Committee approved an offer to all
employees of the Company, including executive officers, to exchange outstanding
options with exercise prices above the then current trading price for options
with an exercise price equal to the current trading price. Options for 1,182,165
shares with exercise prices ranging from $2.5625 to $8.8750 were exchanged for
options for an equal number of shares at an exercise price of $2.50, the fair
market value of the Company's Common Stock on November 21, 1996, the date of the
Committee's approval of the repricing. See EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER
MATTERS -- "Ten-Year Option Repricings" table for further information concerning
the repricing.
 
     In July 1997, as a result of the continued decline in the price of the
Company's Common Stock, the Compensation Committee reviewed the options held by
the Company's executive officers and employees and the fact that a substantial
number of stock options granted pursuant to the 1988 Plan, including those
repriced in November 1996, had exercise prices well above the recent historical
trading prices of the Common Stock. The Committee was advised by management that
management believed employee turnover was likely to increase because the
employees held options with exercise prices significantly higher than the then
current trading price of the Company's Common Stock.
 
     The Committee again considered all of the factors it had considered in
connection with the repricing in November 1996, as well as the reduction of
approximately ten percent of the Company's work force in July 1997 related to
the change in the Company's strategy and the need to retain and motivate its
employees during this transition period. The Committee determined it to be in
the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to restore the incentives
for employees and executive officers to remain as employees of the Company and
to exert their maximum efforts on behalf of the Company by granting replacement
stock options under the 1988 Plan at the optionee's election, with exercise
prices equal to current market value. The Committee decided that vesting on the
exchanged options should continue in accordance with the vesting schedule of the
forfeited options.
 
     Accordingly, in July 1997, the Committee approved an offer to all employees
of the Company, including executive officers, to exchange outstanding options
with exercise prices above the then current trading price for options with an
exercise price equal to the current trading price, with vesting continuing in
accordance with the vesting schedule of the forfeited option. Optionees who
participate in the exchange receive a lower exercise price on their exchanged
options, subject to a restriction on the exercise of such options.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors was formed
on January 23, 1995. The members of the Compensation Committee were Mr. Rogers
and Mr. Sherby. On August 30, 1996, Mr. Sherby resigned from the Compensation
Committee and Mr. Doyle was appointed to the Compensation Committee by the Board
of Directors. Neither of these persons was at any time during fiscal year 1997,
or at
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   22
 
any other time, an officer or employee of the Company. No executive officer of
the Company serves as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation
Committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a
member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, except
that Mr. Anderson serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Knights
Technology, Inc., a privately held company, which Mr. Sherby serves as CEO and
Chairman.
 
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT COMPARISON
 
     The following graph shows the total shareholder return of an investment of
$100 in cash on March 31, 1992 for (i) the Company's Common Stock, (ii) the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Index (the "S&P 500") and (iii) the S&P High
Technology Index (the "S&P HTC"). All values assume reinvestment of the full
amount of all dividends and are calculated as of March 31 of each year:
 
                COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
             AMONG SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC., THE S&P 500 INDEX
                     AND THE S&P HIGH TECH COMPOSITE INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        MEASUREMENT PERIOD            SILICON VALLEY                           S&P HIGH TECH
      (FISCAL YEAR COVERED)           RESEARCH, INC.          S&P 500            COMPOSITE
<S>                                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>
3/92                                               100                 100                 100
3/93                                               124                 115                 110
3/94                                                61                 117                 130
3/95                                               186                 134                 165
3/96                                               249                 177                 223
3/97                                                62                 212                 301
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* The graph above assumes $100 invested on March 31, 1992 in stock or
  index -- including reinvestment of dividends, calculated as of each fiscal
  year ending March 31. The graph above was plotted using the following data:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 MEASUREMENT PERIOD       SILICON VALLEY                 S&P HIGH TECH
(FISCAL YEAR COVERED)     RESEARCH, INC.     S&P 500       COMPOSITE
- ---------------------     --------------     -------     -------------
<S>                       <C>                <C>         <C>
         3/92                  $100           $ 100          $ 100
         3/93                   124             115            110
         3/94                    61             117            130
         3/95                   186             134            165
         3/96                   249             177            223
         3/97                    62             212            301
</TABLE>
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   23
 
CHANGES TO BENEFIT PLAN
 
     The Company has proposed an amendment to increase the number of shares
available for issuance under the Company's 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan
from 125,000 to 225,000. Only non-employee directors of the Company are eligible
to participate in the Directors' Plan. During fiscal 1998, options granted to
all outside directors as a group are expected to total 9,000 shares. Exercise
prices are based upon the fair market value on the date of grant.
 
                             1988 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     Set forth below is a summary of the principal features of the 1988 Plan,
which summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and
conditions of the 1988 Plan. The Company will provide, without charge, to each
person to whom a proxy statement is delivered, upon request of such person and
by first class mail, a copy of the 1988 Plan. Any such request should be
delivered as follows: Secretary, Silicon Valley Research, Inc., 6360 San Ignacio
Avenue, San Jose, CA 95119.
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1988 PLAN
 
     General. The 1988 Plan was adopted by the Board on May 16, 1988 and was
approved by the Company's shareholders on August 23, 1988. By its terms, the
1988 Plan will expire on May 16, 1998. As adopted, the 1988 Plan provided for
the issuance of options to purchase up to 300,000 shares of Common Stock, plus
any shares that were or that became available for issuance under the Company's
1984 Employee Stock Option Plan which expired in August 1989. Options to
purchase 375,976 shares became available for issuance under the former 1984
Employee Stock Option Plan. An amendment to the 1988 Plan to increase by 320,000
the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder and to make certain
changes required by the California Department of Corporations was approved by
the Board on March 22, 1993 and by the Company's shareholders on August 26,
1993. An amendment to the 1988 Plan to increase by 250,000 the number of shares
reserved for issuance thereunder was approved by the Board on May 16, 1994 and
by the Company's shareholders on September 8, 1994. An amendment to the 1988
Plan to increase by 500,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance
thereunder was approved by the Board on July 24, 1995 and by the Company's
shareholders on September 6, 1995. An amendment to the 1988 Plan to increase by
1,000,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder was approved by
the Board on May 15, 1996 and by the Company's shareholders on September 19,
1996. Accordingly, a total of 2,745,976 shares have been reserved for issuance
under the 1988 Plan and as of July 15, 1997, there were approximately 702,742
shares available for issuance (without taking into account the proposed share
reserve increase).
 
     On June 6, 1997, the Board amended the 1988 Plan, subject to shareholder
approval, to extend the term of the plan until May 16, 2008 and increase the
number of shares authorized to be issued thereunder from 2,745,976 to 3,745,976.
As of July 15, 1997, options to purchase 1,634,665 shares were outstanding under
the 1988 Plan, with exercise prices ranging from $0.875 to $8.75, a weighted
average exercise price of $1.7401, and expiration dates ranging from April 1,
1998 to June 6, 2007 and 69 persons were eligible to participate in the 1988
Plan.
 
     Eligibility. Options may be granted under the 1988 Plan to employees,
officers, directors who are also employees, consultants, independent contractors
and advisers of the Company, or of any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company. Options granted under the 1988 Plan may be incentive stock options
("ISOs") within the meaning of section 422(b) of the Code or non-qualified stock
options ("NQSOs"); however, only employees (including officers and directors who
are also employees) of the Company, or a parent or subsidiary of the Company,
may be granted ISOs. No person may be granted options under the 1988 Plan to
purchase in excess of 250,000 shares in any fiscal year.
 
     Administration. The 1988 Plan may be administered by the Board or by a
committee appointed by the Board. The Board or committee has discretion to
select optionees and to establish the terms and conditions of each option,
subject to the provisions of the 1988 Plan.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   24
 
     Terms and Conditions of Options. Each option granted under the 1988 Plan is
evidenced by a written stock option grant between the Company and the optionee,
specifying the number of shares subject to the option and the other terms and
conditions of the option, consistent with the requirements of the 1988 Plan. The
exercise price of an option granted under the 1988 Plan must be at least 100% of
the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant, except
that for the grant of an option to a person holding 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or
subsidiary of the Company (a "10% Shareholder") the exercise price must be at
least 110% of the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of
grant. As of July 15, 1997, the closing price the Company's Common Stock was
$0.8125.
 
     Options granted under the 1988 Plan will become exercisable and vested at
such times as specified by the Board or committee. Generally, options granted
under the 1988 Plan become exercisable as the underlying shares vest. Generally,
20% of the shares subject to an option vest one year after the date of grant and
the remaining shares in equal monthly installments over the following four
years, subject to the optionee's continued employment or service. The maximum
term of options granted under the Option Plan is ten years (except in the case
of an option granted to a 10% shareholder, which must be exercised within five
years of the date of grant). Options are nontransferable by the optionee other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and are exercisable
during the optionee's lifetime only by the optionee.
 
     Upon the termination of employment of an optionee for any reason other than
death or disability, the optionee's option may be exercised to the extent (and
only to the extent) that it was exercisable by the optionee on the date of
termination, within three months of the date of termination or such shorter
period as specified in the stock option grant. If the termination is due to the
death or disability of an optionee, this exercise period is extended to 12
months from the date of termination, or such shorter period as specified in the
stock option grant.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX INFORMATION
 
     The following summary is intended only as a general guide as to the United
States federal income tax consequences under current law with respect to
participation in the 1988 Plan and does not attempt to describe all possible
federal or other tax consequences of such participation. Furthermore, the tax
consequences of options are complex and subject to change, and a taxpayer's
particular situation may be such that some variation of the described rules is
applicable. Optionees should consult their own tax advisors prior to the
exercise of any option and prior to the disposition of any shares of Common
Stock acquired upon the exercise of an option.
 
     ISOs. The optionee will recognize no income upon the grant of an ISO and
incur no tax on its exercise (unless the optionee is subject to the alternative
minimum tax (the "AMT") described below). If the optionee holds the stock
acquired upon exercise of an ISO (the "ISO Shares") for at least one year after
the date the option was exercised and for at least two years after the date the
option was granted, the optionee generally will realize long-term capital gain
or loss (rather than ordinary income) upon the disposition of the ISO Shares.
This gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the amount realized
upon such disposition and the amount paid for the ISO Shares.
 
     If the optionee disposes of ISO Shares prior to the expiration of either
required holding period (a "disqualifying disposition"), the difference between
the fair market value of the ISO Shares on the date of exercise and the option
exercise price will be treated as ordinary income. Any gain in excess of that
amount will be a capital gain. If a loss is recognized, there will be no
ordinary income, and such loss will be a capital loss. A capital gain or loss
will be long-term if the optionee's holding period is more than 12 months. Any
ordinary income recognized by the optionee upon the disposition of the shares
should be deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes.
 
     Alternative Minimum Tax. Generally, the difference between the fair market
value of stock purchased by an exercise of an ISO (generally measured as of the
date of exercise) and the amount paid for that stock upon exercise of an ISO is
an adjustment to income for purposes of calculating the AMT (which is imposed
only to the extent that it exceeds the taxpayer's regular tax). Special rules
may apply with respect to certain
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   25
 
subsequent sales of the shares in a disqualifying disposition, certain basis
adjustments for purposes of computing the AMT income on a subsequent sale of the
shares and certain tax credits which may arise with respect to optionees subject
to the AMT.
 
     NQSOs. An optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time a NQSO
is granted. However, upon exercise of a NQSO the optionee will include in
income, as compensation, an amount equal to the difference between the fair
market value of the shares on the date of exercise (in most cases) and the
optionee's purchase price. The included amount will be treated as ordinary
income by the optionee and may be subject to income and employment tax
withholding by the Company (either by payment in cash by the optionee or
withholding from the optionee's salary) if the optionee is an employee or former
employee. Upon resale of the shares by the optionee, any subsequent appreciation
or depreciation in the value of the shares will be treated as capital gain or
loss. A capital gain or loss will be long-term if the optionee's holding period
is more than 12 months. The Company will generally be entitled to a deduction to
the extent that the optionee recognizes ordinary income upon the exercise of a
NQSO and the Company satisfies any applicable withholding and reporting
requirements.
 
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
 
     The amendment to the 1988 Plan, if approved by the required vote of the
shareholders of the Company at the Meeting, will extend the term of the plan to
May 16, 2008 and increase the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
that may be issued under the 1988 Plan from 2,745,976 to 3,745,976.
 
                       1990 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     Set forth below is a summary of the principal features of the Directors'
Plan, as amended, which summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
terms and conditions of the Directors' Plan. The Company will provide, without
charge, to each person to whom a proxy statement is delivered, upon request of
such person and by first class mail, a copy of the Directors' Plan. Any such
request should be delivered as follows: Secretary, Silicon Valley Research,
Inc., 6360 San Ignacio Avenue, San Jose, CA 95119.
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AS AMENDED
 
     General. The Directors' Plan was adopted by the Board on May 14, 1990 and
was approved by the Company's shareholders July 10, 1990. As adopted, a total of
75,000 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Directors'
Plan. To the extent that any outstanding option under the Directors' Plan
expires or terminates prior to exercise in full, the shares of Common Stock for
which such option is not exercised become available for future grants under the
Directors' Plan. The Board and the shareholders have amended the Directors' Plan
from time to time in order to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder
and to modify the provisions regarding the grant of nonqualified stock options
to nonemployee directors pursuant to the Directors' Plan. A total of 125,000
shares have been reserved for issuance under the Directors' Plan and as of July
15, 1997, there were approximately 12,000 shares available for future grants
under the Directors' Plan (without taking into account the proposed share
reserve increase).
 
     On June 6, 1997, the Board amended the Directors' Plan, subject to
shareholder approval, to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder from
125,000 to 225,000.
 
     Administration. The Directors' Plan is administered by the Board or a duly
appointed committee of the Board. However, under the Directors' Plan, as
amended, the Board or the committee has no discretion to select the non-employee
directors of the Company who are granted options under the Directors' Plan, to
set the exercise price of such options, to determine the number of shares for
which or the time at which particular options are granted or to establish the
duration of such options, except in the sense of administering the Directors'
Plan subject to its provisions. The Board or committee is authorized to
interpret the Directors' Plan and options granted under the Directors' Plan, and
all such determinations of the Board or committee will be final and binding on
all persons having an interest in the Directors' Plan or any option.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   26
 
     Eligibility. The Directors' Plan provides for the automatic grant of stock
options (as discussed below) to directors of the Company who are not, at the
time of option grant, employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary
corporation of the Company (the "Outside Directors"). As of July 15, 1997,
options to purchase 103,000 shares were outstanding under the Directors' Plan,
with exercise prices ranging from $0.875 to $8.25, a weighted average exercise
price of $3.7048, and expiration dates ranging from January 24, 2001 to April 1,
2007. As of July 15, 1997, four Outside Directors were eligible to participate
in the Directors' Plan.
 
     Automatic Grant of Options. In order to establish levels of automatic
grants to attract and retain qualified Outside Directors to contribute to the
long-term success of the Company, the Board amended the Directors' Plan
effective January 23, 1995 (the "Effective Date") to provide that each Outside
Director who is initially elected or appointed to the Board after the Effective
Date will automatically be granted an option to purchase 15,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock on the day immediately following such initial election or
appointment; provided, however, that for Outside Directors who own 1% or more of
the total combined voting power of the Company ("Investor Directors"), the
option will be for 10,000 shares (the "Initial Option"). The Board amended the
Directors' Plan to provide that the size of the Initial Option for each Outside
Director (who is not an Investor Director) elected after September 19, 1996 will
be 20,000 shares. In addition, the Board amended the Directors' Plan to provide
that each Outside Director (who is not an Investor Director) who received an
Initial Option prior to June 20, 1996 will receive an additional grant of 5,000
shares pursuant to the Directors' Plan, effective as of September 19, 1996,
provided that he was serving as an Outside Director as of the date as such. To
provide options of the same size to the Outside Directors serving on the Board
on the Effective Date, each Outside Director then holding office was
automatically granted an option to purchase 15,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock (10,000 shares for an Investor Director), less the number of shares
subject to options granted to such Outside Director under the Directors' Plan
prior to the Effective Date. The Directors' Plan also provides for the automatic
grant of an option to purchase 1,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock to
each Outside Director on April 1, 1995 and each anniversary thereof; provided,
however, that the size of such option will be 1,000 shares for Investor
Directors (the "Annual Option"). The Board has amended the Directors' Plan to
provide that the size of the Annual Option for each Outside Director (who is not
an Investor Director) granted after September 19, 1996 will be 3,000 shares. In
addition, the Board has amended the Directors' Plan to provide that each Outside
Director (who is not an Investor Director) who received an Annual Option prior
to June 20, 1996 will receive an additional grant of 1,500 shares pursuant to
the Directors' Plan provided that he is serving as an Outside Director as of
September 19, 1996. These amendments were approved by the Board on May 15, 1996
and by the Shareholders on September 19, 1996. In addition, the Directors' Plan
provided for the grant of an option on February 11, 1997 to each Outside
Director who was serving as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board on such
date. Each option was for 10,000 shares (reduced by the number of shares subject
to any other options granted outside of the Directors' Plan to the Outside
Director on such date).
 
     Terms and Conditions of Options. The exercise price of any option granted
under the Directors' Plan must equal the fair market value, as determined
pursuant to the Directors' Plan, of a share of the Company's Common Stock on the
date of grant. As of July 15, 1997, the closing price of the Company's Common
Stock was $0.8125. Each option granted under the Directors' Plan is evidenced by
a written agreement between the Company and the Outside Director specifying the
number of shares subject to the option and the other terms and conditions of the
option, consistent with the requirements of the Directors' Plan. No option is
exercisable after the expiration of 10 years after the date such option is
granted, subject to earlier termination in the event the optionee ceases to be a
director of the Company or in the event of a Transfer of Control of the Company,
as discussed below. One-fourth of the shares subject to an option granted under
the Directors' Plan generally become vested and exercisable one year after the
date of grant and the remaining shares vest in equal monthly installments over a
three-year period thereafter.
 
     Shares subject to an option granted under the Directors' Plan may be
purchased for cash, or in cash equivalent, by tender of shares of the Company's
Common Stock owned by the optionee having a fair market value not less than the
exercise price, by the assignment of the proceeds of a sale of some or all of
the shares of Common Stock being acquired upon the exercise of the option, or by
any combination of these. During the lifetime of the optionee, the option may be
exercised only by the optionee or the optionee's guardian or legal
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   27
 
representative. An option may not be transferred or assigned, except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution.
 
     Transfer of Control. A "Transfer of Control" will be deemed to occur upon
any of the following events in which the shareholders of the Company do not
retain, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the beneficial interest
in the voting stock of the Company or its successor: (i) the direct or indirect
sale or exchange by the shareholders of the Company of all or substantially all
of the stock of the Company, (ii) a merger in which the Company is a party, or
(iii) the sale, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company. A Transfer of Control will also occur in the event of a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company. In the event of a Transfer of Control
of the Company, all shares subject to options outstanding under the Directors'
Plan will become immediately exercisable and fully vested as of the date 10 days
prior to such event. In addition, the Board may arrange with the surviving,
continuing, successor, or purchasing corporation or parent corporation thereof
(the "Acquiring Corporation") to either assume outstanding options or substitute
options for the Acquiring Corporation's stock for the outstanding options. Any
options which are neither assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring
Corporation, nor exercised as of the date of the Transfer of Control, will
terminate effective as of such date.
 
     Termination or Amendment. All options must be granted, if at all, within 10
years from May 14, 1990, the date the Directors' Plan was initially adopted by
the Board. The Board or committee may terminate or amend the Directors' Plan at
any time, but, without shareholder approval, the Board may not amend the
Directors' Plan to increase the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance thereunder or expand the class of persons eligible to receive
options.
 
SUMMARY OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE DIRECTORS' PLAN
 
     The federal income tax consequences of the options granted under the
Directors' Plan are the same as the federal income tax consequences described
for nonqualified stock options granted pursuant to the 1988 Plan set forth
above.
 
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
 
     The amendment to the 1990 Directors' Stock Option Plan, if approved by the
required vote of the shareholders of the Company at the Meeting, will increase
the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock that may be issued under the
Directors' Plan from 125,000 to 225,000.
 
                     SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED
                             AT NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
 
     Proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the next Annual
Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company must be received at the Company's
principal office not later than May 7, 1998, and satisfy the conditions
established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for shareholder proposals
to be included in the Company's proxy statement for that meeting.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   28
 
                                 OTHER BUSINESS
 
     The Board does not presently intend to bring any other business before the
Meeting, and, so far as is known to the Board, no matters are to be brought
before the Meeting except as specified in the accompanying notice. As to any
business that may properly come before the Meeting, however, it is intended that
proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof, in accordance
with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          /s/ Robert R. Anderson
                                          Robert R. Anderson
                                          Chairman
 
Dated July 29, 1997
 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE SO
THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   29
                         SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.

                         Annual Meeting of Shareholders

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Robert R. Anderson or Laurence G. Colegate,
Jr., or either of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote 
all shares of Silicon Valley Research, Inc. (the "Company"), which the 
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be 
held at our corporate headquarters, located at 6360 San Ignacio Avenue, 
San Jose, California 95119, on Thursday, September 4, 1997, at
9:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and at any adjournment thereof, hereby
ratifying all that said proxy or his substitute may do by virtue hereof, 
and the undersigned authorizes and instructs said proxy to vote as follows:

                                                                   SEE REVERSE
                                                                       SIDE
<PAGE>   30
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>        <C>     <C>     <C>         <C>                        <C>                                  <C>     <C>       <C>
/X/  Please mark your
     votes as this
     example

                 FOR   WITHHELD                                                                              FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
1. Election of   / /     / /     New Issues: Robert R. Anderson         2. To approve an amendment to the    / /     / /       / /
   Directors                                 Benjamin Huberman             Company's Amended and Restated
                                             Roy L. Rogers                 Articles of Incorporation to
                                             Thomas A. Sherby              increase the number of shares of
                                                                           Common Stock authorized from
                                                                           25,000,000 to 40,000,000

                                                                        3. To approve an amendment to        / /     / /       / /
                                                                           extend the term of the
                                                                           Company's 1988 Stock Option
                                                                           Plan and increase the number
                                                                           of shares authorized to be
                                                                           issued thereunder from
                                                                           2,745,976 to 3,745,976

                                                                        4. To approve an amendment to      / /    / /       / /
                                                                           the Company's Directors' Stock
                                                                           Option Plan that increases
                                                                           the number of shares authorized
                                                                           to be issued thereunder from
                                                                           125,000 to 225,000.

                                                                        5. To transact such other matters as may properly come 
                                                                           before the meeting or any adjournment thereof

SIGNATURE(S)                                                        Dated            , 1997
            -------------------------------------------------------      ------------

*NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign.
       When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please
       give full title as such.
</TABLE>


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