APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORP
S-3, 1999-04-13
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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<PAGE>
 
         As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 1999
                                                     Registration No. 333-xxxxx
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                     --------------------------------------
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                     --------------------------------------
                       APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
                     --------------------------------------
                       Delaware                    94-2586591
          (State or Other Jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer
           Incorporation or Organization)     Identification Number)

                              6290 Sequence Drive
                              San Diego, CA  92121
                                 (619) 450-9333
       (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area
               Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
                     --------------------------------------
                                   COPIES TO:
                               Mark A. Medearis
                             Carl L. Spataro, Jr.
                               VENTURE LAW GROUP
                          A Professional Corporation
                              2800 Sand Hill Road
                             Menlo Park, CA  94025
                        ------------------------------
        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
                         ------------------------------
  If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]
  If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [X]
  If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act Registration Statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]              
                                                           ---------------
  If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act 
Registration Statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]              
                          ----------------
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 Title Of Each Class Of                  Amount              Proposed Maximum           Proposed Maximum             Amount Of
     Securities To                       To Be                   Offering                   Aggregate               Registration
     Be Registered                     Registered            Price Per unit(1)          Offering Price(1)               Fee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                       <C>                      <C>                         <C>
Common Stock, par value $0.001          2,908,587                 $43.00                  $125,069,241                $34,770
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the
registration fee based on the average of the high and low closing price of the
Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on April 9, 1999 pursuant
to Rule 457(c).
     The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
<PAGE>
 
                  Subject To Completion, Dated April 13, 1999

Prospectus

                       APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION

                        2,908,587 shares of Common Stock

     The common stock offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk.
You should carefully consider the "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3 in
determining whether to purchase the common stock.

                   ----------------------------------------
                                        
     The selling stockholders identified on page 20 of  this prospectus are
offering these shares of common stock.  For additional information on the
methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled "Plan of Distribution"
on page 18.  We will not receive any portion of the proceeds from the sale of
these shares.

     Applied Micro Circuits Corporation's common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol "AMCC".

     On April 9, 1999, the last sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq
National Market was $43.625 per share.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================
                                                                Underwriting
                                              Price to         Discounts and        Proceeds to
                                               Public           Commissions     Selling Stockholders
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>                 <C>                 <C>  
Per Share............................      See Text Above      See Text Above      See Text Above
Total................................
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of the securities or passed on the
adequacy of accuracy of the disclosures in this prospectus.  Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.

     The information in the prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  The
selling stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This
prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an
offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.

                 The date of this prospectus is  April 13, 1999
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
THE COMPANY.............................................................    3

RISK FACTORS............................................................    3

USE OF PROCEEDS.........................................................   18

ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK TO SELLING STOCKHOLDERS........................   18

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION....................................................   18

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS....................................................   20

LEGAL MATTERS...........................................................   22

EXPERTS.................................................................   22

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.....................................   22
</TABLE>

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give
any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus.  You
should not rely on any unauthorized information.  This prospectus does not offer
to sell or seek offers to buy any shares in any jurisdiction in which it is
unlawful.  The information in this prospectus is current as of the date on the
cover.

                                  THE COMPANY

     Applied Micro Circuits Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and
markets high-performance, high-bandwidth silicon solutions for the world's
communications infrastructure.  We utilize a combination of high-frequency
mixed-signal design expertise, system-level knowledge and multiple silicon
process technologies to offer IC products for the telecommunications markets
that address the SONET/SDH and ATM transmission standards and for the data
communications markets that address the Gigabit Ethernet, ATM and Fibre Channel
transmission standards.  We also leverage our technology to provide solutions
for the ATE, high-speed computing and military markets.  Our customers include
3Com, Alcatel, Cisco Systems, Compaq, Hughes Electronics, Nortel, Sun
Microsystems and Teradyne. We have developed multiple generations of many of our
products. In the telecommunications market, we provide ATM and SONET/SDH
physical layer transceivers, overhead processors, physical media devices and
clock recovery and synthesis units for the OC-3, OC-12 and OC-48 standards, and
are currently developing OC-192 chips. In the data communications market, we
provide physical layer transceivers for serial backplane, Gigabit Ethernet and
Fibre Channel applications. In the high-speed computing market, we provide PCI
controllers and high-frequency clock drivers and clock generators. In addition,
we also provide high-performance, low-power application-specific integrated
circuit products for the ATE and military markets.

     Applied Micro Circuits Corporation was originally incorporated in
California on April 9, 1979 and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1987.  The
company commenced operating in April 1979.

     Our principal executive offices are located at 6290 Sequence Drive, San
Diego, CA 92121, and our telephone number is (619) 450-9333.  As used in this
prospectus, "we," "us," "our" and "AMCC" refer to Applied Micro Circuits
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries..

                                  RISK FACTORS

     An investment in the common stock offered by this prospectus involves a
high degree of risk.  Prospective purchasers of the common stock offered by this
prospectus should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to
the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.  This prospectus includes forward-looking statements based upon
current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from historical results or our predictions.
We use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "future" and "intend"
and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements.  You should not
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of
the date of this prospectus.

Our operating results may fluctuate because of many factors, many of which are
beyond our control.

     If our operating results are below the expectations of public market
analysts or investors, then the market price of our common stock could be
materially and adversely affected.

     Some of the factors that affect our quarterly and annual results, but which
are difficult to control or predict are:

     .  the rescheduling or cancellation of orders by customers;
     .  fluctuations in the timing and amount of customer requests for product
        shipments;
     .  fluctuations in manufacturing output, yields and inventory levels;

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     .  changes in the mix of products that our customers buy;
     .  our ability to introduce new products and technologies on a timely 
        basis;
     .  the announcement or introduction of products and technologies by our
        competitors;
     .  the availability of external foundry capacity, purchased parts and raw
        materials;
     .  competitive pressures on selling prices;
     .  the amounts and timing of costs associated with warranties and product
        returns;
     .  the amounts and timing of investments in research and development;
     .  market acceptance of our products and of our customers' products;
     .  the timing of depreciation and other expenses that we expect to incur in
        connection with our proposed new wafer fabrication facility;
     .  costs associated with compliance with applicable environmental
        regulations or remediation;
     .  costs associated with future litigation, if any, including without
        limitation, litigation or settlements relating to the use or ownership
        of intellectual property;
     .  general semiconductor industry conditions; and
     .  general economic conditions, including, but not limited to, economic
        conditions in Asia.

     Our expense levels are relatively fixed and are based, in part, on our
expectations of future revenues. We are continuing to increase our operating
expenses for personnel and new product development. However, we have a limited
ability to reduce expenses quickly in response to any revenue shortfalls.
Consequently, our business, financial condition and operating results would be
adversely affected if we do not achieve increased revenues. We can have revenue
shortfalls for a variety of reasons, including:

     .  significant pricing pressures that occur because of declines in average
        selling prices over the life of a product;
     .  sudden shortages of raw materials or production capacity constraints
        that lead producers to allocate available supplies or capacity to
        customers with resources greater than us and, in turn, interrupt our
        ability to meet our production obligations;
     .  fabrication or test capacity constraints for internally manufactured
        devices which interrupt our ability to meet our production obligations;
        and
     .  the rescheduling or cancellation of customer orders.

     In addition, our business is characterized by short-term orders and
shipment schedules, and customer orders typically can be canceled or rescheduled
without significant penalty to the customer. Due to the absence of substantial
noncancellable backlog, we typically plan our production and inventory levels
based on internal forecasts of customer demand, which are highly unpredictable
and can fluctuate substantially. In addition, from time to time, in response to
anticipated long lead times to obtain inventory and materials from our outside
foundries, we may order materials in advance of anticipated customer demand,
which might result in excess inventory levels or unanticipated inventory write-
downs if expected orders fail to materialize, or other factors render the
customer's products less marketable. Furthermore, we currently anticipate that
an increasing portion of our revenues in future periods will be derived from
sales of application-specific standard products ("ASSPs"), as compared to
application-specific integrated circuits ("ASICs"). Customer orders for ASSPs
typically have shorter lead times than orders for ASICs, which may make it
increasingly difficult for us to predict revenues and inventory levels and
adjust production appropriately in future periods. If we are unable to plan
inventory and production levels effectively, our financial condition and
operating results could be materially adversely affected.

     One example of the volatility of our results is that we experienced revenue
fluctuations and incurred net losses in fiscal 1995 and 1996. These revenue
fluctuations and net losses were caused by the termination of a relationship
with a strategic foundry partner, decreased orders from two major customers,
charges associated with a reduction in the company's workforce and charges for
excess inventory. Accordingly, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of
operating results should not be relied upon as an indication of future
performance. In addition, the results of any quarterly period are not indicative
of results to be expected for a full fiscal year.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
Our operating results depend substantially on our manufacturing yields, which
may not meet expectations.

     AMCC Fabrication

     We manufacture most of our semiconductors at our San Diego facility. Our
yields can decline whenever a substantial percentage of wafers must be rejected
or a significant number of die on each wafer are nonfunctional. Such declines
can be caused by many factors over which we have little or no control, including
minute levels of contaminants in the manufacturing environment, design issues,
defects in masks used to print circuits on a wafer and difficulties in the
fabrication process. Unfortunately, the ongoing expansion of the manufacturing
capacity of our existing wafer fabrication facility could increase the risk of
contaminants in the facility. In addition, many of these problems are difficult
to diagnose, time consuming and expensive to remedy and can result in shipment
delays.

     Because the majority of our costs of manufacturing are relatively fixed,
maintenance of the number of shippable die per wafer is critical to our results
of operations. Yield decreases can result in substantially higher unit costs and
may result in reduced gross profit and net income. In the past we experienced
yield problems in connection with the manufacture of our products. For example,
in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 we experienced a decrease in internal
yields primarily due to increasing volume production of a single product at less
than normal production yields in support of a customer's delivery requirements.
This decrease in internal yields adversely impacted our gross margin for the
quarter by approximately $600,000. We estimate yields per wafer in order to
estimate the value of inventory. If yields are materially different than
projected, work-in-process inventory may need to be revalued. We have in the
past and may in the future from time to time take inventory write-downs as a
result of decreases in manufacturing yields. We may suffer periodic yield
problems in connection with new or existing products or in connection with the
commencement of production in our proposed new manufacturing facility or the
transfer of our operations to this facility.

     Fabrication by Third Parties

     Semiconductor manufacturing yields are a function both of product design
and process technology. When our products are manufactured by an outside
foundry, the process technology is typically proprietary to the manufacturer.
Since low yields may result from either design or process technology failures,
yield problems may not be effectively determined or resolved until an actual
product exists that can be analyzed and tested to identify process sensitivities
relating to the design rules that are used. As a result, yield problems may not
be identified until well into the production process, and resolution of yield
problems may require cooperation between ourselves and our manufacturer. In some
cases this risk could be compounded by the offshore location of certain of our
manufacturers, increasing the effort and time required to identify, communicate
and resolve manufacturing yield problems.

     If we develop relationships with additional outside foundries, yields could
be adversely affected due to difficulties associated with adapting our
technology and product design to the proprietary process technology and design
rules of the new foundries. Because of our limited access to wafer fabrication
capacity from outside foundries for certain products, any decrease in
manufacturing yields of such products could result in an increase in our per
unit costs for such products and force us to allocate available product supply
among customers, which could potentially adversely impacting customer
relationships as well as revenues and gross margin.  Our outside foundries may
not achieve or maintain acceptable manufacturing yields in the future.
Furthermore, we also face the risk of product recalls resulting from design or
manufacturing defects which are not discovered during the manufacturing and
testing process.

Our business strategy is based on increasing dependence on telecommunications
and data communications markets.

     An important part of our strategy is to continue our focus on the
telecommunications market and to leverage our technology and expertise to
penetrate further the data communications market for high-speed ICs. If we are
unable to penetrate these markets further, our short and long term business will
suffer. In the short term, we 
<PAGE>
 
may experience reduced revenues. In the long term, our revenues could stop
growing and may decline. We anticipate that sales to our other traditional
markets will grow more slowly or not at all and, in some instances, as in the
case of military markets, may decrease over time.

     The telecommunications and data communications markets are characterized
by:

     .  extreme price competition;
     .  rapid technological change;
     .  industry standards that are continually evolving; and
     .  in many cases, short product life cycles.

     These markets frequently undergo transitions in which products rapidly
incorporate new features and performance standards on an industry-wide basis.
If our products are unable to support the new features or performance levels
required by OEMs in these markets, we would be likely to lose business from an
existing or potential customer and, moreover, would not have the opportunity to
compete for new design wins until the next product transition occurs. If we fail
to develop products with required features or performance standards for the
telecommunications or data communications markets, or if we experience a delay
as short as a few months in bringing a new product to market, or if our
telecommunications or data communications customers fail to achieve market
acceptance of their products, our revenues could be significantly reduced for a
substantial period.

     A significant portion of our revenues in recent periods has been, and is
expected to continue to be, derived from sales of products based on the
Synchronous Optical Network, or SONET, and Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, or
SDH, transmission standards and the Asynchronous Transfer Mode, or ATM,
transmission standard. If the communications market evolves to new standards, we
may not be able to successfully design and manufacture new products that address
the needs of our customers or gain substantial market acceptance. Although we
have developed products for the Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel
communications standards, volume sales of these products are modest, and we may
not be successful in addressing the market opportunities for products based on
these standards.

Our business could be adversely affected if we do not adequately address the
risks associated with our recent acquisition of Cimaron Communications
Corporation.

     On March 17, 1999, we completed the acquisition of Cimaron Communications
Corporation.  This transaction is accompanied by a number of risks, including:

     .  the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of Cimaron;
     .  the potential disruption of AMCC's and Cimaron's ongoing business and
        distraction of management;
     .  possible unanticipated expenses related to technology integration;
     .  the potential impairment of relationships with employees and customers
        as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and
     .  potential unknown liabilities associated with acquired businesses.

     We may not be successful in addressing these risks or any other problems
encountered in connection with the Cimaron acquisition.

     In addition, the market price of  our common stock could decline as a
result of the merger if:

     .  the integration of AMCC and Cimaron is unsuccessful;
     .  the combined company does not achieve the perceived benefits of the
        merger as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial analysts;
     .  the effect of the merger on the combined company financial results is
        not consistent with the expectations of financial analysts; or

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     .  the management of Cimaron employees who are geographically distant from
        our headquarters, but engaged in developing technology and products that
        are vital for our future revenues.

     We intend to account for the merger under the pooling of interests
accounting and financial reporting rules. To qualify the merger as a pooling of
interests for accounting purposes, AMCC and Cimaron and their respective
affiliates must meet the criteria for pooling of interests accounting
established in opinions published by the Accounting Principles Board and
interpreted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Commission.
These opinions are complex, and the interpretation of them is subject to change.
Consummation of the merger was conditioned, among other things, upon the receipt
by us of a letter from our independent accountants that, subject to customary
qualifications, they concur with management's conclusion that no conditions
exist that would preclude AMCC and Cimaron from being parties to a business
combination that would be accounted for as a pooling of interests. However, the
availability of pooling of interests accounting treatment for the merger depends
in part, upon circumstances and events occurring after the effective time. For
example, there must be no significant changes in the business of the combined
company, including significant dispositions of assets, for a period of two years
following the effective time. Further, our affiliates and Cimaron's affiliates
must not sell, or otherwise reduce their risk with respect to, any shares of
either AMCC and Cimaron capital stock, except for a deminimus number as defined
by certain Commission rules and regulations, during the period beginning 30 days
before the effective time and continuing until the day that we publicly announce
financial results covering at least 30 days of combined operations of AMCC and
Cimaron after the merger.  We expect that such combined financial results will
be published in late April 1999. If our affiliates or Cimaron's affiliates sell
their shares of AMCC common stock prior to that time despite a contractual
obligation not to do so, the merger may not qualify for accounting as a pooling
of interests for financial reporting purposes. The failure of the merger to
qualify for pooling of interests accounting treatment for financial reporting
purposes for any reason would materially and adversely affect our reported
earnings and likely, the price of our common stock.

Our business strategy is also based on increasing dependence on application-
specific standard products.

     We have under development a number of ASSPs for the telecommunications and
data communications markets, from which we expect to derive an increasing
portion our future revenues. However, we have a limited operating history in
selling ASSPs, particularly to customers in the telecommunications and data
communications markets. In addition, our relationships with certain customers in
these markets have only been established recently. Our future success in selling
ASSPs, and in particular, selling ASSPs to customers in the telecommunications
and data communications markets, will depend in large part on whether our ASSPs
are developed on a timely basis and whether such products achieve market
acceptance among new and existing customers, and on the timing of the
commencement of volume production of products in corporating our ASSPs, if at
all. We have in the past encountered difficulties in introducing new products in
accordance with customers' delivery schedules and initial expectations. We may
encounter similar difficulties in the future, and we may not be able to develop
and introduce ASSPs in a timely manner so as to meet customer demands.

We currently depend on the automated test equipment market, and that market has
recently experienced declines in demand.

     We have historically derived significant revenues from product sales to
customers in the Automated Test Equipment, or ATE, market and currently
anticipate that we will continue to derive significant revenues from sales to
customers in this market in the near term.  During the past year, customers in
the ATE market have experienced decreased demand due primarily to slower growth
in the semiconductor industry and economic turmoil in Asia. Accordingly, our net
revenues in the ATE market has declined for three consecutive quarters as of
December 31, 1998, and we believe that our revenue from the ATE market may
decline further.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
We depend on the high-speed computing market, but we believe that the average
selling prices of our IC products for the high-speed computing market will
decline in future periods and that our gross margin on sales of such products
may also decline in future periods.

     The market for high-speed computing IC products is subject to extreme price
competition, and we may not be able to reduce the costs of manufacturing high-
speed computing IC products in response to declining average selling prices.
Even if we successfully utilize new processes or technologies to reduce the
manufacturing costs of our high-speed computing products in a timely manner, our
customers in the high-speed computing market may not purchase these products.

     Furthermore, we expect that certain competitors may seek to develop and
introduce products that integrate the functions performed by our high-speed
computing IC products on a single chip. In addition, one or more of our
customers may choose to utilize discrete components to perform the functions
served by our high-speed computing IC products or may use their own design and
fabrication facilities to create a similar product. In either case, the need for
high-speed computing customers to purchase our IC products could be eliminated.

Our markets are subject to rapid technological change, so our success depends
heavily on our ability to develop and introduce new products

     The markets for our products are characterized by:

     .  rapidly changing technologies;
     .  evolving and competing industry standards;
     .  short product life cycles;
     .  changing customer needs;
     .  emerging competition;
     .  frequent new product introductions and enhancements;
     .  increased integration with other functions; and
     .  rapid product obsolescence.

     To develop new products for these markets, we must develop, gain access to
and use leading technologies in a cost-effective and timely manner and continue
to develop technical and design expertise. In addition, we must have our
products designed into our customers' future products and maintain close working
relationships with key customers in order to develop new products, particularly
ASSPs, that meet customers' changing needs.  We also must respond to changing
industry standards, trends towards increased integration and other technological
changes on a timely and cost-effective basis. Furthermore, if we fail to achieve
design wins with key customers our business will be significantly hurt because
once a customer has designed a supplier's product into its system, the customer
typically is extremely reluctant to change its supply source due to significant
costs associated with qualifying a new supplier.

     Products for telecommunications and data communications applications, as
well as for high-speed computing applications, are based on industry standards
that are continually evolving. Our ability to compete in the future will depend
on our ability to identify and ensure compliance with these evolving industry
standards. The emergence of new industry standards could render our products
incompatible with products developed by major systems manufacturers. As a
result, we could be required to invest significant time and effort and to incur
significant expense to redesign our products to ensure compliance with relevant
standards. If our products are not in compliance with prevailing industry
standards for a significant period of time, we could miss opportunities to
achieve crucial design wins. We may not be successful in developing or using new
technologies or in developing new products or product enhancements that achieve
market acceptance. Our pursuit of necessary technological advances may require
substantial time and expense.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and subject to rapid
technological change, price erosion and heightened international competition.

     The telecommunications, data communications, ATE and high-speed computing
industries are intensely competitive. We believe that the principal factors of
competition in our markets are price, product performance, product quality and
time-to-market. Our ability to compete successfully in our markets depends on a
number of factors, including:

     .  success in designing and subcontracting the manufacture of new products
        that implement new technologies;
     .  product quality;
     .  reliability;
     .  price;
     .  the efficiency of production;
     .  design wins for our IC products;
     .  expansion of production of our products for particular systems 
        manufacturers;
     .  end-user acceptance of the systems manufacturers' products;
     .  market acceptance of competitors' products; and
     .  general economic conditions.

     In addition, our competitors may offer enhancements to existing products or
offer new products based on new technologies, industry standards or customer
requirements that are available to customers on a more timely basis than
comparable products from us or that have the potential to replace or provide
lower-cost alternatives to our products. The introduction of enhancements or new
products by our competitors could render our existing and future products
obsolete or unmarketable.  In addition, we expect that certain of our
competitors and other semiconductor companies may seek to develop and introduce
products that integrate the functions performed by our IC products on a single
chip, thus eliminating the need for our products.

     In the communications markets, we compete primarily against Giga, Hewlett-
Packard, Lucent, Maxim, Philips, Sony, Texas Instruments, Rockwell
International, TriQuint and Vitesse.  Some of these companies use gallium
arsenide ("GaAs") process technologies for certain products.  In certain
circumstances, most notably with respect to ASICs supplied to Nortel, our
customers or potential customers have internal IC manufacturing capabilities.
In the ATE market, our products compete primarily against GaAs based products
offered by Vitesse and silicon ECL and BiCMOS products offered principally by
semiconductor manufacturers such as Analog Devices, Lucent Technologies and
Maxim. In the high-speed computing market, we compete primarily against
Chrontel, Cypress, ICS, PLX and Tundra. Many of these companies and potential
new competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing
and marketing resources than we do.

If we are not successful in expanding the capacity of our existing fabrication
facility and in constructing our new facility on time and within budget, we may
face serious capacity constraints.

     We currently manufacture a majority of our IC products at our four-inch
wafer fabrication facility located in San Diego, California. We believe that we
will be able to satisfy our production needs from this fabrication facility
through 2001, although this date may vary depending on, among other things, our
rate of growth. However, if we cannot expand the capacity of this facility on a
timely basis, we could experience significant capacity constraints that could
render us unable to meet customer demand or force us to spend more to make
wafers to meet demand. We will be required to hire, train and manage additional
production personnel in order to increase production capacity as scheduled.

     Based on our current forecasts of future need for manufacturing capacity,
we have tentative plans for the construction of a new six-inch wafer fabrication
facility, initially to complement, and potentially to replace, our existing
facility in San Diego. We are also exploring other alternatives for the
expansion of our manufacturing 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
capacity, including purchasing a wafer fabrication facility or entering into
strategic relationships to obtain additional capacity. In July 1998 we acquired
the right to purchase, in the form of a ground lease, a parcel of land as a site
for our new wafer fabrication facility. This parcel of land is located
approximately one quarter mile from our headquarters in San Diego, California.
The Company has made payments of $1.0 million related to this ground lease
through December 31, 1998. In December 1998, the Company exercised this right to
acquire the land and will be required to make additional payments of
approximately $3.7 million. We currently plan to acquire the site to which we
have rights by mid-1999, to initiate construction of the new facility during
2000 and to complete the physical plant during 2001. Following the completion of
the physical plant, we must install equipment and perform necessary testing
prior to commencing commercial production at the facility, a process which we
anticipate will take at least nine months. Accordingly, we believe the new
facility will not commence commercial production prior to late 2001. We estimate
that the cost of the new wafer fabrication facility will be at least $80.0
million, of which at least $35.0 million relates to the purchase of land and
construction of the building and at least $45.0 million relates to capital
equipment purchases necessary to establish the initial manufacturing capacity of
the facility. We intend to fund approximately $24.0 million of the total cost of
the new facility with a portion of the proceeds from our initial and secondary
public offering, which are now invested in short-term investments. The balance
of the cost of this facility is expected to be funded through a combination of
available cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, cash from
operations and additional debt, lease or equity financing. We may not be able to
obtain the additional financing necessary to fund the construction and
completion of the new manufacturing facility. In addition, the rights to acquire
the site for our proposed new manufacturing facility are subject to certain
conditions, and, as a result, we may experience delays in acquiring the site or,
if the site becomes unavailable, in finding a new site for the potential wafer
fabrication facility. Our existing wafer fabrication facility is, and its
proposed new wafer fabrication facility is expected to be, located in California
and these facilities may be subject to natural disasters such as earthquakes or
floods. In addition, the depreciation and other expenses that we will incur in
connection with the expansion of our existing manufacturing facility and in
connection with our proposed new wafer fabrication facility may adversely affect
our gross margin in any future fiscal period.

     The construction of the new wafer fabrication facility entails significant
risks, including:

     .  shortages of materials and skilled labor;
     .  unforeseen environmental or engineering problems;
     .  work stoppages;
     .  weather interferences; and
     .  unanticipated cost increases.

     Any one of these risks could have a material adverse effect on the
building, equipping and production start-up of the new facility. In addition,
unexpected changes or concessions required by local, state or federal regulatory
agencies with respect to necessary licenses, land use permits, site approvals
and building permits could involve significant additional costs and delay the
scheduled opening of the facility and could reduce our anticipated revenues.
Also, the timing of commencement of operation of the new facility will depend
upon the availability, timely delivery and successful installation and testing
of the necessary process equipment. As a result of the foregoing and other
factors, the new facility may not be completed and in volume production within
its current budget or within the period currently scheduled.  Furthermore, we
may be unable to achieve adequate manufacturing yields in the proposed new
fabrication facility in a timely manner, and our revenues may not increase
commensurate with the anticipated increase in manufacturing capacity associated
with the new facility.  In addition, in the future, we may be required for
competitive reasons to make capital investments in the existing wafer
fabrication facility or to accelerate the timing of the construction of our new
wafer fabrication facility in order to expedite the manufacture of products
based on more advanced manufacturing processes.

     The successful operation of our proposed new wafer fabrication facility, if
completed, as well as our overall production operations, will also be subject to
numerous risks. We have no prior experience with the operation of the equipment
or the processes involved in producing finished six-inch wafers, which differ
significantly from those involved in the production of four-inch wafers. We will
be required to hire, train and manage production personnel in order to
effectively operate the new facility. We do not have sufficient excess

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
production capacity at our existing San Diego facility to fully offset any
failure of the proposed new wafer fabrication facility to meet planned
production goals.  We may transfer current San Diego manufacturing operations
into the proposed new wafer fabrication facility subsequent to its completion.
Should this transfer occur, we may experience delays in completing product
testing and documentation required by customers to qualify or requalify our
products from this facility.  We will also have to effectively coordinate and
manage two manufacturing facilities to successfully meet overall production
goals. We have no experience in coordinating and managing production facilities
that are located at different sites or in the transfer of manufacturing
operations from one facility to another. As a result of these and other factors,
our failure to successfully operate the proposed new wafer fabrication facility,
to successfully coordinate and manage the two sites or to transfer our
manufacturing operations could adversely affect our overall production.

The markets for our products are characterized by rapid changes in manufacturing
process technologies; therefore, to provide competitive products to our target
markets, we must develop or otherwise gain access to improved process
technologies.

     Our future success will depend, in large part, upon our ability to continue
to improve existing process technologies, to develop new process technologies
including silicon germanium, or SiGe, processes, and to adapt our process
technologies to emerging industry standards. In the future, we may be required
to transition one or more of our products to process technologies with smaller
geometries, other materials or higher speeds in order to reduce costs and/or
improve product performance. We may not be able to improve our process
technologies and develop or otherwise gain access to new process technologies,
including, but not limited to SiGe process technologies, in a timely or
affordable manner.  In addition, products based on these technologies may not
achieve market acceptance.

Our dependence on third-party manufacturing and supply relationships increases
the risk that we will not have an adequate supply of products to meet demand or
that our cost of goods will be higher than expected.

     We rely on outside foundries for the manufacture of certain products,
including all of our products designed on CMOS processes and all products that
we anticipate will be designed on silicon germanium processes. We generally do
not have long-term wafer supply agreements with our outside foundries that
guarantee wafer or product quantities, prices or delivery lead times. Instead,
our products that are manufactured by outside foundries are manufactured on a
purchase order basis. We expect that, for the foreseeable future, certain
products will be manufactured by a single outside foundry. Because establishing
relationships with new outside foundries takes several months, there is no
readily available alternative source of supply for these products. A
manufacturing disruption experienced by one or more of our outside foundries
would impact the production of certain of our products for a substantial period
of time.  Furthermore, the transition to the next generation of manufacturing
technologies at one or more of our outside foundries could be unsuccessful or
delayed.

     There are additional risks associated with our dependence upon third-party
manufacturers for certain products. These include, but are not limited to:

     .  reduced control over delivery schedules and quality;
     .  risks of inadequate manufacturing yields and excessive costs;
     .  the potential lack of adequate capacity during periods of excess demand;
     .  limited warranties on wafers or products supplied to us;
     .  potential increases in prices; and
     .  potential misappropriation of our intellectual property.

     With respect to certain of our products, we depend upon external foundries
to produce wafers and, in some cases, finished products of acceptable quality,
to deliver those wafers and products to us on a timely basis and to allocate to
us a portion of their manufacturing capacity sufficient to meet our needs. On
occasion, we have experienced difficulties with our suppliers failing to produce
goods of sufficient quality or quantity or failing to meet delivery deadlines.
Our wafer and product requirements typically represent a very small portion of
the total production of these external foundries. As a result, we are subject to
the risk that a producer will cease production 

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
on an older or lower-volume process that is used to produce our parts.
Additionally, we cannot be certain our external foundries will continue to
devote resources to the production of our products or continue to advance the
process design technologies on which the manufacturing of our products are
based.

     Certain of our products are assembled and packaged by third-party
subcontractors. We do not have long-term agreements with any of these
subcontractors.  Assembly and packaging is conducted on a purchase order basis.
As a result, we cannot directly control product delivery schedules. This could
lead to product shortages or quality assurance problems that could increase the
costs of manufacturing, assembly or packaging of our products. In addition, we
may, from time to time, be required to accept price increases for assembly or
packaging services.  Due to the amount of time normally required to qualify
assembly and packaging subcontractors, product shipments could be delayed
significantly if we are required to find alternative subcontractors. In the
future, we may contract with third parties for the testing of our products. Any
problems associated with the delivery, quality or cost of the assembly, testing
or packaging of our products could have a material adverse effect on our
business.

     Due to an industry transition to six-inch and eight-inch wafer fabrication
facilities, there is a limited number of suppliers of the four-inch wafers that
we use to build products in our existing manufacturing facility, and we rely on
a single supplier for these wafers. Although we believe that we will have
sufficient access to four-inch wafers to support production in our existing
fabrication facility for the foreseeable future, we cannot be certain that our
current supplier will continue to supply us with four-inch wafers on a long-term
basis. Additionally, the availability of manufacturing equipment needed for a
four-inch process is limited, and certain new equipment required for more
advanced processes may not be available for a four-inch process.

Our customers are concentrated, so the loss of one or more key customers could
significantly reduce our revenues and profits.

     Historically, a relatively small number of customers has accounted for a
significant portion of our revenues in any particular period. For example, our
five largest customers accounted for approximately 44%, 46%, 56% and 62% of our
revenues in fiscal 1997, fiscal 1998, the first nine months of fiscal 1999 and
the quarter ended December 31, 1998, respectively, and sales to Nortel accounted
for approximately 20%, 21%, 18% and 20% of our revenues in each of these
periods. However, we have no long-term volume purchase commitments from any of
our major customers. We anticipate that sales of products to relatively few
customers will continue to account for a significant portion of our revenues. A
reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more significant
customers or the loss of one or more key customers could significantly reduce
our revenues and profits.  We cannot assure you that our current customers will
continue to place orders with us, that orders by existing customers will
continue at current or historical levels or that we will be able to obtain
orders from new customers.

Our strategy is based on growth, and periods of rapid growth and expansion have
placed, and could continue to place, a significant strain on our limited
personnel and other resources.

     To manage expanded operations effectively, we will be required to continue
to improve our operational, financial and management systems and to successfully
hire, train, motivate and manage our employees. In addition, the integration of
past and future potential acquisitions, the construction and operation of our
planned wafer fabrication facility, the initial integration of the proposed new
wafer fabrication facility with our current facility and the subsequent
potential transfer of our manufacturing operations to the proposed new wafer
fabrication facility will require significant management, technical and
administrative resources. We cannot be certain that we will be able to manage
our growth or effectively integrate our planned wafer fabrication facility into
our current operations.

Our future success depends in part on the continued service of our key design
engineering, sales, marketing and executive personnel and our ability to
identify, hire and retain additional personnel.

     There is intense competition for qualified personnel in the semiconductor
industry, in particular design engineers, and we may not be able to continue to
attract and train engineers or other qualified personnel necessary for the
development of our business or to replace engineers or other qualified personnel
who may leave our employ in the future.  Our anticipated growth is expected to
place increased demands on our resources and will likely

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
require the addition of new management personnel and the development of
additional expertise by existing management personnel.  Although we have entered
into an "at-will" employment agreement with David M. Rickey, the President and
Chief Executive Officer, we have not entered into fixed term employment
agreements with any of our executive officers except for one-year employment
agreements with Ram Sudireddy, Vice President, Cimaron, and Gary Martin, Vice
President and Chief Technical Officer, Cimaron.  In addition, we have not
obtained key-person life insurance on any of our executive officers or key
employees.  Loss of the services of, or failure to recruit, key design engineers
or other technical and management personnel could be significantly detrimental
to our product and process development programs.

We anticipate that we will need to raise additional capital in the future, and
we cannot be certain that additional debt, lease or equity financing will be
available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

     We require substantial working capital to fund our business, particularly
to finance inventories and accounts receivable and for capital expenditures.  We
believe that our available cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and
cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our capital
requirements through the next 12 months, although we could be required, or could
elect, to seek to raise additional financing during this period.  Our future
capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

     .  the costs associated with the expansion of manufacturing operations;
     .  the rate of revenue growth;
     .  the timing and extent of spending to support research and development
        programs and expansion of sales and marketing;
     .  the timing of introductions of new products and enhancements to existing
        products; and
     .  market acceptance of our products.

     Additionally, we may elect to acquire other businesses, which would entail
the issuance of stock and the payment of cash.  We may elect to raise additional
cash to finance such transactions.  We expect that we will need to raise
additional debt or equity financing in the future, primarily for purposes of
financing the acquisition of property for our proposed new wafer fabrication
facility, the construction of the proposed new wafer fabrication facility and
the purchase of equipment for the proposed new wafer fabrication facility.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property adequately.

     We rely in part on patents to protect our intellectual property. There can
be no assurance that our pending patent applications or any future applications
will be approved, or that any issued patents will provide us with competitive
advantages or will not be challenged by third parties, or that if challenged,
will be found to be valid or enforceable, or that the patents of others will not
have an adverse effect on our ability to do business. Furthermore, others may
independently develop similar products or processes, duplicate our products or
processes or design around any patents that may be issued to us.

     To protect our intellectual property, we also rely on the combination of
mask work protection under the Federal Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of
1984, trademarks, copyrights, trade secret laws, employee and third-party
nondisclosure agreements and licensing arrangements. Despite these efforts, we
cannot be certain that others will not independently develop substantially
equivalent intellectual property or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets
or intellectual property, or disclose such intellectual property or trade
secrets, or that we can meaningfully protect our intellectual property.

Our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially
adversely affected by litigation involving patents and proprietary rights.

     As a general matter, the semiconductor industry is characterized by
substantial litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights.
We have, in the past and may, in the future be notified that we may be
infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties.  We have certain
indemnification obligations to customers

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
with respect to the infringement of third-party intellectual property rights by
our products. We cannot be certain that infringement claims by third parties or
claims for indemnification by customers or end users of our products resulting
from infringement claims will not be asserted in the future or that such
assertions, if proven to be true, will not materially adversely affect our
business. On July 31, 1998, the Lemelson Medical, Education & Research
Foundation Limited Partnership filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for
the District of Arizona against 26 companies, including us, engaged in the
manufacture and/or sale of IC products. The complaint alleges infringement by
the defendants of certain U.S. patents held by the Lemelson Partnership relating
to certain semiconductor manufacturing processes. On November 25, 1998, we were
served a summons pursuant to this lawsuit. The complaint seeks, among other
things, injunctive relief and unspecified treble damages. Previously, the
Lemelson Partnership has offered us a license under the Lemelson patents. We are
monitoring this matter and, although the ultimate outcome of this matter is not
currently determinable, we believe, based in part on the licensing terms
previously offered by the Lemelson Partnership, that the resolution of this
matter will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or
liquidity; however, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of
this matter will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations
for any quarter. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we would prevail in
any such litigation.

     Any litigation relating to the intellectual property rights of third
parties, including the Lemelson Patents, whether or not determined in our favor
or settled by us, would at a minimum be costly and could divert the efforts and
attention of our management and technical personnel.  In the event of any
adverse ruling in any such litigation, we could be required to pay substantial
damages, cease the manufacturing, use and sale of infringing products,
discontinue the use of certain processes or obtain a license under the
intellectual property rights of the third party claiming infringement.  A
license might not be available on reasonable terms or at all.

Our operating results are subject to fluctuations because we rely substantially
on foreign customers.

     International sales (including sales to Canada) accounted for 40%, 42% and
40% of revenues in fiscal 1997, fiscal 1998 and the first nine months of fiscal
1999, respectively. International sales may increase in future periods and may
account for an increasing portion of our revenues. As a result, an increasing
portion of our revenues may be subject to certain risks, including:

     .  changes in regulatory requirements;
     .  tariffs and other barriers;
     .  timing and availability of export licenses;
     .  political and economic instability;
     .  difficulties in accounts receivable collections;
     .  natural disasters;
     .  difficulties in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary and branch
        operations;
     .  difficulties in managing distributors;
     .  difficulties in obtaining governmental approvals for communications and
        other products;
     .  foreign currency exchange fluctuations;
     .  the burden of complying with a wide variety of complex foreign laws and
        treaties; and
     .  potentially adverse tax consequences.

     Although less than eight percent of our revenues were attributable to sales
in Asia during the nine months ended December 31, 1998, the recent economic
instability in certain Asian countries could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and operating results, particularly to the extent that this
instability impacts the sales of products manufactured by our customers. We are
also subject to the risks associated with the imposition of legislation and
regulations relating to the import or export of high technology products. We
cannot predict whether quotas, duties, taxes or other charges or restrictions
upon the importation or exportation of our products will be implemented by the
United States or other countries. Because sales of our products have been
denominated to date primarily in United States dollars, increases in the value
of the United States dollar could increase the price of our products so that
they become relatively more expensive to customers in the local currency of a
particular country,

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
leading to a reduction in sales and profitability in that country. Future
international activity may result in increased foreign currency denominated
sales. Gains and losses on the conversion to United States dollars of accounts
receivable, accounts payable and other monetary assets and liabilities arising
from international operations may contribute to fluctuations in our results of
operations. Some of our customer purchase orders and agreements are governed by
foreign laws, which may differ significantly from United States laws. Therefore,
we may be limited in our ability to enforce our rights under such agreements and
to collect damages, if awarded.

We could incur substantial fines or litigation costs associated with our
storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials.

     We are subject to a variety of federal, state and local governmental
regulations related to the use, storage, discharge and disposal of toxic,
volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in our manufacturing process. Any
failure to comply with present or future regulations could result in the
imposition of fines, the suspension of production or a cessation of operations.
In addition, these regulations could restrict our ability to expand our
facilities at the present location or construct or operate our planned wafer
fabrication facility or could require us to acquire costly equipment or incur
other significant expenses to comply with environmental regulations or clean up
prior discharges.  Since 1993 we have been named as a potentially responsible
party, or PRP, along with a large number of other companies that used Omega
Chemical Corporation in Whittier, California to handle and dispose of certain
hazardous waste material. We are a member of a large group of PRPs that has
agreed to fund certain remediation efforts at the Omega site, which efforts are
ongoing. To date, our payment obligations with respect to these funding efforts
have not been material, and we believe that our future obligations to fund these
efforts will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition or operating results. Although we believe that we are currently in
material compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, we
cannot assure you that we are or will be in material compliance with these laws
or regulations or that our future obligations to fund any remediation efforts,
including those at the Omega site, will not have a material adverse effect on
our business.

Our ability to manufacture sufficient wafers to meet demand could be severely
hampered by a shortage of water.

     We use significant amounts of water throughout our manufacturing process.
Previous droughts in California have resulted in restrictions being placed on
water use by manufacturers and residents in California. In the event of future
drought, reductions in water use may be mandated generally, and it is unclear
how such reductions will be allocated among California's different users. We
cannot be certain that near term reductions in water allocations to
manufacturers will not occur.

Our stock price is volatile.

     The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly to date.
In addition, the market price of the common stock could be subject to
significant fluctuations due to general market conditions and in response to
quarter-to-quarter variations in:

     .  our anticipated or actual operating results;
     .  announcements or introductions of new products;
     .  technological innovations or setbacks by us or our competitors;
     .  conditions in the semiconductor, telecommunications, data
        communications, ATE, high-speed computing or military markets;
     .  the commencement of litigation;
     .  changes in estimates of the Company's performance by securities
        analysts;
     .  announcements of merger or acquisition transactions; and
     .  other events or factors.

     In addition, the stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price
and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices of many high
technology companies, particularly semiconductor companies, and

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance
of companies. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market
conditions, may affect adversely the market price of our common stock.

If we are not adequately prepared for the transition to Year 2000, our business,
operating results and financial condition could suffer.

     As a semiconductor manufacturer with our own wafer fabrication facility, we
are dependent on computer systems and manufacturing equipment with embedded
hardware or software to conduct our business. We have developed and are
currently executing a plan designed to make our computer systems, applications,
computer and manufacturing equipment and facilities Year 2000 ready. The plan
covers five stages including:

     (i)    inventory;
     (ii)   assessment;
     (iii)  remediation;
     (iv)   testing; and
     (v)    contingency planning.

     The inventory and assessment stages were completed in March 1999. We will
primarily utilize internal resources to reprogram, or replace where necessary,
and test the software for Year 2000 modifications. The remediation, testing and
contingency planning stages are targeted to be completed in November 1999.

     We have initiated communications with our critical external suppliers to
determine the extent to which we may be vulnerable to their failure to resolve
their own Year 2000 issues. Where practicable, we will assess and attempt to
mitigate our risks with respect to the failure of these entities to be Year 2000
ready. The effect, if any, on our results of operations from the failure of such
parties to be Year 2000 ready, is not reasonably estimable.

     As of December 31, 1998, we have incurred and expensed approximately
$200,000 related to the Year 2000 project and expect to incur an additional
$700,000 on completing the Year 2000 project.  Approximately one-half the costs
associated with the Year 2000 project will be internal resources that have been
reallocated from other projects, with the balance of costs reflecting
incremental spending for equipment and software upgrades. The costs of the Year
2000 Project will be funded through operating cash flows, with the cost of
internal resources expensed as incurred and the cost of equipment and software
upgrades capitalized or expensed in accordance with our policy on property and
equipment.

     The costs of the project and the date on which we plan to complete the Year
2000 modifications are based on management's best estimates, which were derived
utilizing numerous assumptions of future events, including the continued
availability of certain resources, third party modification plans and other
factors. However, there can be no guarantee that these estimates will be
achieved, and actual results could differ materially from those plans. Among the
factors that might cause such material differences are:

     .  the availability and cost of personnel trained in this area;
     .  the ability to locate and correct all relevant computer codes; and
     .  the ability to identify and correct equipment with embedded hardware or
        software and similar uncertainties.

The anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation and of the
Delaware General Corporation Law may delay, defer or prevent a change of
control.

     Our board of directors has the authority to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of
preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences and privileges
and restrictions, including voting rights, of those shares without any further
vote or action by our stockholders. The rights of the holders of common stock
will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders
of any shares of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance
of preferred stock may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of AMCC, as
the terms of the preferred

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
stock that might be issued could potentially prohibit our consummation of any
merger, reorganization, sale of substantially all of our assets, liquidation or
other extraordinary corporate transaction without the approval of the holders of
the outstanding shares of preferred stock. In addition, the issuance of
preferred stock could have a dilutive effect on stockholders of AMCC. Section
203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, to which we are subject, restricts
certain business combinations with any "interested stockholder" as defined by
this statute. The statute may also delay, alter or prevent a change of control.

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     The proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered by this prospectus
are solely for the account of the selling shareholders.  We will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of these shares.

               ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK TO SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     On March 17, 1999, we issued 2,908,587 shares of our common stock to the
shareholders of Cimaron Communications Corporation pursuant to a merger
agreement.  Under the terms of the merger agreement, Cimaron Communications
Corporation became our wholly-owned subsidiary.

                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Shares of common stock offered by this prospectus may be offered and sold
from time to time by the selling stockholders.  The selling stockholders will
act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner
and size of each sale.  Such sales may be made on the Nasdaq National Market or
otherwise, at prices and under terms then prevailing or at prices related to the
then current market price or in negotiated transactions, including pursuant to
one or more of the following methods:

     .  purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-
        dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;
     .  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker
        solicits purchasers;
     .  block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell
        the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
        as principal to facilitate the transaction; and
     .  in privately negotiated transactions.

     In connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise, the selling
stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions.  In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or
other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the common stock in
the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling stockholders.  The
selling stockholders may also sell the common stock short and redeliver the
shares to close out such short positions.  The selling stockholders may also
enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial
institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-
dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as
supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).  The selling stockholders
may also pledge shares to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and,
upon a default, such broker-dealer or other financial institution, may effect
sales of the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or
amended to reflect such transaction).  The selling stockholders and any
underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the
shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" under the Securities Act of 1933.  Any
discount, commission or concession received by such persons might be deemed to
be an underwriting discount or commission under the Securities Act.  We have
agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities arising
under the Securities Act.

     Certain of the selling stockholders may distribute their shares from time
to time to their limited and/or general partners, who may sell shares pursuant
to this prospectus.  In addition, each selling stockholder may also transfer
shares owned by him or her by gift and, upon the transfer, the donee would have
the same rights of sale as the selling stockholder under this prospectus.

     The selling stockholders may pay selling commissions or brokerage fees with
respect to the sale of the common stock offered by this prospectus.  Each
selling stockholder will also pay all applicable transfer taxes incurred in
connection with the sale of shares.

     We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  may apply to sales of the shares
offered by this prospectus in the market, and to their own activities

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
and those of their affiliates. The selling stockholders have advised us that
during the time they are engaged in attempting to sell the shares offered by
this prospectus, they will:

     .    not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with any of our
securities;
     .    provide copies of this prospectus to each person to whom shares may be
offered, and to each broker-dealer, if any, through whom shares are offered;

     .    not bid for or purchase any of our securities or any rights to acquire
our securities, or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our
securities or rights to acquire our securities other than as permitted under the
Exchange Act;

     .    not effect any sale or distribution of the shares offered hereby until
after the prospectus has been appropriately amended or supplemented, if
required; and

     .    effect all sales, distributions or gifts of shares in accordance with
this plan of distribution.

     We have agreed to maintain the effectiveness of this registration statement
until March 17, 2000.  No sales may be made pursuant to this prospectus after
the expiration date unless we amend or supplement this prospectus to indicate
that we have agreed to extend the period of effectiveness. The selling
stockholders may sell all, some or none of the shares offered by this
prospectus.

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
                             SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     The following table sets forth certain information as of March 31, 1999
with respect to the selling stockholders.  The following table assumes that the
selling stockholders sell all of the shares offered by this prospectus.  We are
unable to determine the exact number of shares that actually will be sold.

     The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is based on a total
of 26,612,069 shares outstanding at March 31, 1999 determined in accordance with
Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act.  The information is not necessarily indicative
of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.  Under Rule 13d-3, beneficial
ownership includes any shares as to which an individual has sole or shared
voting power or investment power, and also includes shares which an individual
has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 31, 1999 through the exercise
of any stock option or other right.  Unless otherwise indicated in the
footnotes, each person has sole voting and investment power (or shares such
powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the shares shown as beneficially
owned.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Shares Beneficially Owned                                 Shares Beneficially 
                                            Prior                                Shares Offered by    Owned After
Selling Stockholder                         to the Offering                      this Prospectus(1)   the Offering
- ------------------                          ---------------------------------    -----------------    -------------------------
                                                   Number        Percent                                Number      Percent
                                                   ------        -------                              ----------   ---------
<S>                                                <C>          <C>              <C>                  <C>          <C>       
Matrix Partners(2)                                 795,200         2.99%               795,200                 0      *
Greylock IX, Limited Partnership                   789,236         2.97                789,236                 0      *
Ramakrishna Sudireddy                              321,936         1.21                321,936                 0      *
Gary Martin                                        278,817         1.05                278,817                 0      *
Gururaj Deshpande                                  115,934         *                   115,934                 0      *
Charles Waite                                       73,845         *                    73,845                 0      *
Shahrukh Merchant                                   68,788         *                    68,788                 0      *
Christos Skalkos                                    65,604         *                    65,604                 0      *
Steve Boulanger                                     62,097         *                    62,097                 0      *
John LoMedico                                       62,097         *                    62,097                 0      *
John Langevin                                       32,802         *                    32,802                 0      *
Other former Cimaron stockholders as a             243,224         *                   242,230               994      *
group(3)
</TABLE>

______________________________
(1)  Of the total shares of common stock listed as owned by the selling
     stockholders, a total of 290,858 shares are held in an escrow account to
     secure indemnification obligations of the selling stockholders to us.  It
     is expected that these shares (less any shares that may be distributed from
     the escrow account to us in satisfaction of indemnification claims) will be
     released from escrow and distributed to the selling stockholders no later
     than June 30, 1999.  The number of shares indicated as owned by each
     selling stockholder includes those shares (representing 10% of the number
     of shares listed as beneficially owned by each selling stockholder) which
     such selling stockholder is entitled to receive upon distribution of these
     shares from the escrow account.

(2)  Includes 715,680 shares owned by Matrix Partners V, LP and 79,520 shares
     owned by Matrix V Entrepreneurs Fund, LP.

(3)  Includes 994 shares issuable upon exercise of options that will have vested
     as of May 29, 1999.

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
     Except as described below, none of the selling stockholders in the above
table has had any material relationship, other than as an employee or
consultant, with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the last
three years:

 .    Prior to the merger of Cimaron Communications Corporation with AMCC,
     pursuant to which Cimaron became our wholly owned subsdiary, the following
     selling stockholders had the following material relationships with Cimaron:

        .  Ramakrishna Sudireddy, President and Chief Executive Officer,
           Director;
        .  Gary Martin, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Director;
        .  Charles Waite, Vice President of Operations;
        .  Steve Boulanger, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;
        .  John LoMedico, Vice President of Sales and Marketing;
        .  Gururaj Deshpande, Director;
        .  Greylock IX Limited Partnership owned more than 10% of the
           outstanding stock of Cimaron and David Aronoff, a general partner of
           Greylock was a director of Cimaron; and
        .  Matrix Partners V, L.P. and Matrix V Entrepreneurs Fund, L.P., owned
           more than 10% of the outstanding stock of Cimaron and Timothy
           Barrows, a general partner of both Matrix partnerships, was a
           director of Cimaron.

 .    Following the merger, Mr. Sudireddy became the Vice President, Cimaron and
     Mr. Martin became the Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Cimaron.

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the issuance of the common stock offered by this prospectus
will be passed upon by Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation, Menlo
Park, California, counsel to Applied Micro Circuits Corporation.

                                    EXPERTS

     Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 1998, as set forth in their report, which is
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration
statement. Our financial statement and schedule are incorporated by reference in
reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.

                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information in the
registration statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with
the rules of the SEC.  We file proxy statements and annual, quarterly and
special reports and other information with the SEC.  You can  inspect and copy
the registration statement as well as the reports, proxy statements and other
information we have filed with the SEC at the public reference room  maintained
by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and at the SEC Regional
Offices located at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048.  You can call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information
about the public reference rooms.  We are also required to file electronic
versions of these documents with the SEC, which may be accessed from the SEC's
World Wide Web site at http://www.sec.gov.  Reports, proxy and information
statements and other information concerning Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
may be inspected at The Nasdaq Stock Market at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C.  20006.

     The SEC requires us to "incorporate by reference" certain of our publicly-
filed documents into this prospectus, which means that information included in
those documents is considered part of this prospectus.  Information that we file
with the SEC after the effective date of this prospectus will automatically
update and supersede this information.  We incorporate by reference the
documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until the selling stockholders
have sold all the shares, or until we terminate the effectiveness of this
registration statement.

     The following documents filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference in
this prospectus:

     1.  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1998, (File
No 0-23193), as amended by Form 10-K/A.

     2.  Our definitive Proxy Statement dated June 15, 1998, filed in connection
with our 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

     3.  Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the quarters ended
December 31, 1998, September 30, 1998, and June 30, 1998, (File No. 0-23193).

     4.  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 18, 1999
(File No. 0-23193).

     5.  The description of our common stock in our Registration Statement on
Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 10, 1997, (File No. 0-23193), including
any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
     6.  All of the filings pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of
filing the original Registration Statement and prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement.

     We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to
those documents.  You should direct any requests for documents to Joel Holliday,
6290 Sequence Drive, San Diego, CA 92121, telephone:  (619) 450-9333.

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.   Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

     The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the
Registrant in connection with the sale and distribution of the common stock
being registered.  Selling commissions and brokerage fees and any applicable
transfer taxes and fees and disbursements of counsel for the selling
stockholders are payable individually by the selling stockholders.  All amounts
shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee and the Nasdaq listing fee.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Amount
                                                                                                 To be Paid
                                                                                                 ----------
<S>                                                                                            <C>
SEC registration fee..............................................................              $ 34,770.00
Legal fees and expenses...........................................................              $ 25,000.00*
Accounting fees and expenses......................................................              $ 20,000.00*
Nasdaq listing fee................................................................              $ 17,500.00
Miscellaneous expenses............................................................              $  2,750.00*
                                                                                                -----------
                                                                                               
   Total..........................................................................              $100,020.00
                                                                                                ===========
</TABLE>

*Estimate
Item 15.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to
award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under
certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses
incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933.  Article Seventh of the
Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article VI of
the Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by law.  In addition,
the Registrant has entered into Indemnification Agreements with its officers and
directors and maintains director and officer liability insurance.

     In connection with this offering, the selling stockholders have agreed to
indemnify the Registrant, its directors and officers and each such person who
controls the Registrant, against any and all liability arising from inaccurate
information provided to the Registrant by the selling stockholders and contained
herein up to a maximum of the net proceeds received by the selling stockholders
from the sale of their shares hereunder.
 
Item 16. Exhibits

           Exhibit
           Number                Description of Exhibit
           -------               ----------------------    
                                                           
               2.1               Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March
                                 3, 1999 among Applied Micro Circuits
                                 Corporation, Wiley Acquisition Corporation and
                                 Cimaron Communications Corporation
               4.1               Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock
                                 of the Company*
               5.1               Opinion of Venture Law Group, A Professional
                                 Corporation
              23.1               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent
                                 Auditors (see page II-5)
              23.2               Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
              24.1               Power of Attorney (see page II-4)

        * Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's
          Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-37609).

                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
Item 17.   Undertakings

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

         (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");

         (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-
     effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
     Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
     securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
     deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
     may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
     price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
     offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
     the effective registration statement;

         (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any
     material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1) (i) and (1) (ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement.

     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.

     (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 15 above or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Registrant by such director, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered
hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on the 12 day of
April 1999.

                              APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS


                              By: /s/ DAVID M. RICKEY
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                 David M. Rickey
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints, David M. Rickey and Joel O.
Holliday, and each of them, as his attorney-in-fact, each with full power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and any
and all Registration Statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with or related to the Offering
contemplated by this Registration Statement and its amendments, if any, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorney to any and
all amendments to said Registration Statement.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                               Title                                           Date
- ----------------------------------      -------------------------------------------     -----------------
<S>                                     <C>                                             <C>
/s/ DAVID M. RICKEY 
- -----------------------------                        
(David M. Rickey)                          President, Chief Executive Officer and          April 12, 1999
                                           Director (Principal Executive Officer)
 /s/ JOEL O. HOLLIDAY
- -----------------------------              Vice President and Chief Financial
(Joel O. Holliday)                         Officer (Principal Financial and                April 12, 1999 
                                           Accounting Officer)
 /s/ ROGER A. SMULLEN, SR.
- -----------------------------
(Roger A. Smullen, Sr.)                    Director and Chairman of the Board of           April 12, 1999
                                           Directors                                       
 /s/ WILLIAM K. BOWES, JR.
- -----------------------------
(William K. Bowes, Jr.)                    Director                                        April 12, 1999
                                                                                           
 
- -----------------------------
(R. Clive Ghest)                           Director                                        
                                                                                           
 /s/ FRANKLIN P. JOHNSON, JR.
- -----------------------------
(Franklin P. Johnson, Jr.)                 Director                                        April 12, 1999
                                                                                           
 /s/ ARTHUR B. STABENOW
- -----------------------------
(Arthur B. Stabenow)                       Director                                        April 12, 1999
</TABLE>

                                     II-3
<PAGE>
 
              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Applied Micro Circuits Corporation

     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 and related Prospectus of Applied Micro
Circuits Corporation for the registration of 2,908,587 shares of its common
stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April
21, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of
Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 15, 1998, as amended on October 15, 1998.


                                          Ernst & Young LLP

San Diego, California
April 12, 1999

                                     II-4
<PAGE>
 
                      APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION

                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit
Number
- ------
 2.1        Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 3, 1999 among Applied
            Micro Circuits Corporation, Wiley Acquisition Corporation and
            Cimaron Communications Corporation

 4.1        Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company*

 5.1        Opinion of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation

 23.1       Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
            (see page II-5)

 23.2       Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 24.1       Power of Attorney (see page II-4)

 * Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Company's
   Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-37609)

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                           dated as of March 3, 1999

                                     among

                      APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION,

                         WILEY ACQUISITION CORPORATION

                                      and

                       CIMARON COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Page
                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE I - THE MERGER.......................................................    2

     Section 1.1 Effective Time of the Merger................................    2
     Section 1.2 Closing.....................................................    2
     Section 1.3 Effects of the Merger.......................................    2
     Section 1.4 Directors and Officers......................................    2

ARTICLE II - CONVERSION OF SECURITIES........................................    3

     Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock.................................    3
     Section 2.2 Escrow Agreement............................................    4
     Section 2.3 Dissenting Shares...........................................    5
     Section 2.4 Exchange of Certificates....................................    5
     Section 2.5 Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares............    6
     Section 2.6 No Fractional Shares........................................    7
     Section 2.7 Tax and Accounting Consequences.............................    7

ARTICLE III - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TARGET.......................    7

     Section 3.1 Organization of Target......................................    7
     Section 3.2 Target Capital Structure....................................    8
     Section 3.3 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.......    9
     Section 3.4 Financial Statements; Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities....   11
     Section 3.5 Tax Matters.................................................   11
     Section 3.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events........................   13
     Section 3.7 Title and Related Matters...................................   14
     Section 3.8 Proprietary Rights..........................................   15
     Section 3.9 Employee Benefit Plans......................................   17
     Section 3.10 Bank Accounts..............................................   19
     Section 3.11 Contracts..................................................   19
     Section 3.12 Orders, Commitments and Returns............................   21
     Section 3.13 Compliance With Law........................................   21
     Section 3.14 Labor Difficulties; No Discrimination......................   21
     Section 3.15 Trade Regulation...........................................   22
     Section 3.16 Insider Transactions.......................................   22
     Section 3.17 Employees, Independent Contractors and Consultants.........   22
     Section 3.18 Insurance..................................................   22
     Section 3.19 Litigation.................................................   23
     Section 3.20 Governmental Authorizations and Regulations................   23
     Section 3.21 Subsidiaries...............................................   23
     Section 3.22 Compliance with Environmental Requirements.................   23
     Section 3.23 Corporate Documents........................................   24
     Section 3.24 No Brokers.................................................   24
     Section 3.25 Pooling of Interests.......................................   24
</TABLE> 

                                      -i-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Page
                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                             <C>
     Section 3.26 Customers and Suppliers....................................   24
     Section 3.27 Target Action..............................................   24
     Section 3.28 Offers.....................................................   25
     Section 3.29 Information Statement......................................   25
     Section 3.30 Accounts Receivable........................................   25
     Section 3.31 Year 2000 Compliance.......................................   25
     Section 3.32 Disclosure.................................................   25

ARTICLE IV - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND SUB..............   26

     Section 4.1 Organization of Acquiror and Sub............................   26
     Section 4.2 Acquiror Capital Structure..................................   26
     Section 4.3 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.......   27
     Section 4.4 Commission Filings; Financial Statements....................   28
     Section 4.5 Absence of Certain Changes or Events........................   28
     Section 4.6 Compliance with Laws........................................   28
     Section 4.7 Pooling of Interests........................................   29
     Section 4.8 Interim Operations of Sub...................................   29
     Section 4.9 Disclosure..................................................   29
     Section 4.10 Stockholders Consent.......................................   29
     Section 4.11 Litigation.................................................   29

ARTICLE V - PRECLOSING COVENANTS OF TARGET...................................   29

     Section 5.1 Notice to Target Shareholders...............................   29
     Section 5.2 Advice of Changes...........................................   30
     Section 5.3 Operation of Business.......................................   30
     Section 5.4 Access to Information.......................................   32
     Section 5.5 Satisfaction of Conditions Precedent........................   33
     Section 5.6 Other Negotiations..........................................   33

ARTICLE VI - PRECLOSING AND OTHER COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR AND SUB..............   33

     Section 6.1 Advice of Changes...........................................   33
     Section 6.2 Reservation of Acquiror Common Stock........................   33
     Section 6.3 Satisfaction of Conditions Precedent........................   33
     Section 6.4 Nasdaq National Market Listing..............................   34
     Section 6.5 Stock Options...............................................   34
     Section 6.6 Registration of Shares Issued in the Merger.................   35
     Section 6.7 Procedures for Sale of Shares Under Registration Statement..   39
     Section 6.8 Certain Employee Benefit Matters............................   39
     Section 6.9 Indemnity of Target Affiliates..............................   39

ARTICLE VII - OTHER AGREEMENTS...............................................   40

     Section 7.1 Confidentiality.............................................   40
</TABLE> 

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Page
                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                             <C>
     Section 7.2 No Public Announcement......................................   40
     Section 7.3 Regulatory Filings; Consents; Reasonable Efforts............   40
     Section 7.4 Pooling Accounting..........................................   40
     Section 7.5 Further Assurances..........................................   40
     Section 7.6 Escrow Agreement............................................   41
     Section 7.7 FIRPTA......................................................   41
     Section 7.8 Blue Sky Laws...............................................   41
     Section 7.9 Other Filings...............................................   41
     Section 7.10 Tax Free Reorganization....................................   41

ARTICLE VIII - CONDITIONS TO MERGER..........................................   42

     Section 8.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger..   42
     Section 8.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Sub....   42
     Section 8.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of Target..............   43

ARTICLE IX - TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.......................................   44

     Section 9.1 Termination.................................................   44
     Section 9.2 Effect of Termination.......................................   44
     Section 9.3 Fees and Expenses...........................................   44

ARTICLE X - ESCROW AND INDEMNIFICATION.......................................   45

     Section 10.1 Indemnification............................................   45
     Section 10.2 Escrow Fund................................................   45
     Section 10.3 Damage Threshold...........................................   46
     Section 10.4 Escrow Periods.............................................   46
     Section 10.5 Claims Upon Escrow Fund....................................   46
     Section 10.6 Valuation..................................................   47
     Section 10.7 Objections to Claims.......................................   47
     Section 10.8 Resolution of Conflicts....................................   47
     Section 10.9 Stockholders' Agents.......................................   48
     Section 10.10 Actions of the Stockholders' Agents.......................   49
     Section 10.11 Third-Party Claims........................................   49

ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS...................................................   51

     Section 11.1 Survival of Representations and Covenants..................   51
     Section 11.2 Notices....................................................   51
     Section 11.3 Interpretation.............................................   52
     Section 11.4 Counterparts...............................................   52
     Section 11.5 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.............   52
     Section 11.6 Governing Law..............................................   53
     Section 11.7 Assignment.................................................   53
     Section 11.8 Amendment..................................................   53
</TABLE> 

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                  (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Page
                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                             <C>
     Section 11.9 Extension; Waiver..........................................   53
     Section 11.10 Specific Performance......................................   53
</TABLE> 
 
EXHIBITS
- --------
 
EXHIBIT A - EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B - NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT C - AFFILIATE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT D - ESCROW AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT E - INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION LETTER
EXHIBIT F - SUBJECT MATTER OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO TARGET
EXHIBIT G - SUBJECT MATTER OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO ACQUIROR

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>
 
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                          ----------------------------

     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of March 3, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), is entered into by and among Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Acquiror"), Wiley Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror ("Sub"), and Cimaron
Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Target").

                                   RECITALS:
                                   -------- 

     A.   The Boards of Directors of Acquiror, Sub and Target deem it advisable
and in the best interests of each corporation and the respective stockholders
that Acquiror and Target combine in order to advance the long-term business
interests of Acquiror and Target;

     B.   The combination of Acquiror and Target shall be effected by the terms
of this Agreement through a transaction in which Sub will merge with and into
Target, Target will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror and the
stockholders of Target will become stockholders of Acquiror (the "Merger");

     C.   For Federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall
qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");

     D.   For accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall be
accounted for as a pooling of interests transaction;

     E.   As a further condition and inducement to Acquiror's willingness to
enter into this Agreement, certain employees of Target who are also stockholders
of Target, including Ram Sudireddy, Gary Martin, Charles Waite, Shahrukh
Merchant, Christos Skalkos and Kathy Bechtel have, concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement executed and delivered Employment Agreements in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A and Noncompetition Agreements in the form
                        ---------                                          
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Noncompetition Agreements"), which agreements
                   ---------                                                    
shall only become effective at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.1
below).

     F.   As a further condition and inducement to Acquiror's willingness to
enter into this Agreement, certain stockholders of Target have executed and
delivered to Acquiror Affiliates Agreements in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C (the "Affiliates Agreements").
- ---------                               

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below, the
parties agree as follows:
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER
                                   ----------

     Section 1.1  Effective Time of the Merger.  Subject to the provisions of
                  ----------------------------                               
this Agreement, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") in such
mutually acceptable form as is required by the relevant provisions of the
Delaware Corporations Code ("Delaware Law") shall be duly executed and delivered
by the parties hereto and thereafter delivered to the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware for filing on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2).
The Merger shall become effective upon the due and valid filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the
"Effective Time").

     Section 1.2  Closing.  The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take
                  -------                                                      
place at 10:00 a.m., California time, on March 17, 1999, or such later as is
agreed by Acquiror and Target, which shall be no later than the second business
day after satisfaction or waiver of the latest to occur of the conditions set
forth in Article VIII (the "Closing Date"), at the offices of Venture Law Group,
A Professional Corporation, 2775 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California unless
another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by Acquiror and Target.

     Section 1.3  Effects of the Merger.
                  --------------------- 

          (a) At the Effective Time (i) the separate existence of Sub shall
cease and Sub shall be merged with and into Target (Sub and Target are sometimes
referred to herein as the "Constituent Corporations" and Target following
consummation of the Merger is sometimes referred to herein as the "Surviving
Corporation"), (ii) subject to Section 6.9 of this Agreement, the Certificate of
Incorporation of Sub shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation and (iii) subject to Section 6.9 of this Agreement, the Bylaws of
Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of
the Surviving Corporation.

          (b) At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as
provided in the applicable provisions of Delaware Law.  Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, at and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation shall possess all the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of a
public as well as of a private nature, and be subject to all the restrictions,
disabilities and duties of each of the Constituent Corporations.

     Section 1.4  Directors and Officers.  The directors of Sub immediately
                  ----------------------                                   
prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the
Surviving Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are duly
elected or appointed.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE II

                            CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
                            ------------------------

     Section 2.1  Conversion of Capital Stock.  At the Effective Time, by virtue
                  ---------------------------                                   
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, or Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value,
of Target ("Target Common Stock") or capital stock of Sub:

          (a) Capital Stock of Sub.  Each issued and outstanding share of the
              --------------------                                           
capital stock of Sub shall be converted into and become one fully paid and
nonassessable share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Surviving
Corporation.

          (b) Cancellation of Acquiror-Owned and Target-Owned Stock.  Any shares
              -----------------------------------------------------             
of Target Common Stock or Preferred Stock that are owned by Acquiror, Sub,
Target or any other direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary (as defined
below) of Acquiror or Target shall be canceled and retired and shall cease to
exist and no stock of Acquiror or other consideration shall be delivered in
exchange.  As used in this Agreement, the word "Subsidiary" means, with respect
to any other party, any corporation or other organization, whether incorporated
or unincorporated, of which (i) such party or any other Subsidiary of such party
is a general partner (excluding partnerships, the general partnership interests
of which held by such party or any Subsidiary of such party do not have a
majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or (ii) at least a majority
of the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization or a majority
of the profit interests in such other organization is directly or indirectly
owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its subsidiaries, or
by such party and one or more of its subsidiaries.

          (c)  Exchange Ratio.
               -------------- 

               (i) Subject to Sections 2.2 and 2.4, each issued and outstanding
share of Target Common Stock and each issued and outstanding share of Target
Series A Preferred Stock (other than shares to be canceled in accordance with
Section 2.1(b) and any Dissenting Shares as defined in and to the extent
provided in Section 2.3) shall be converted into the right to receive a fraction
of a fully paid and nonassessable share of Acquiror Common Stock (as defined in
Section 4.2) equal to the "Exchange Ratio" as defined in and determined in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.1(c). All such shares of Target
Common Stock, when so converted, shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate representing any such shares shall cease to have any rights
with respect thereto, except the right to receive the shares of Acquiror Common
Stock and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be
issued or paid in consideration therefor upon the surrender of such certificate
in accordance with Section 2.4, without interest.

               (ii) The "Exchange Ratio" for the conversion of the Target Common
Stock and Series A Preferred Stock shall be calculated by dividing (x) 3,000,000
by (y) the sum 

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
of (A) the total number of shares of Target Common Stock issued and outstanding
and issuable upon conversion of Target Preferred Stock issued and outstanding at
the Effective Time, plus (B) the total number of shares of Target Common Stock
                    ----
issuable on a "net exercise basis," assuming exercise of all Target Options (as
defined in Section 2.1(d)) outstanding at the Effective Time, whether vested or
unvested, plus (C) the total number of shares of committed but unissued or
          ----
unpriced Target capital stock or options or other rights to purchase or acquire
Target capital stock, if any.

                 (iii) If, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective
Time, the outstanding shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall have been changed
into a different number of shares or a different class by reason of any
reclassification, split-up, stock dividend or stock combination, then the
Exchange Ratio shall be correspondingly adjusted.  The Exchange Ratio shall not
change as a result of fluctuations in the market price of Acquiror Common Stock
between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time.

          (d) Target Stock Options.  At the Effective Time, all then outstanding
              --------------------                                              
options, whether vested or unvested, ("Target Options") to purchase Target
Common Stock issued under Target's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Target Stock
Plan") that by their terms survive the Closing will be assumed by Acquiror in
accordance with Section 6.5.  All of the Target Options issued and outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement are listed on Schedule 2.1(d) attached hereto.
An updated Schedule 2.1(d) of Target Options shall be delivered by Target to
Acquiror on the Closing Date.

          (e) Restricted Shares.  Shares of Target Common Stock or Target
              -----------------                                          
Preferred Stock which are subject to repurchase by Target in the event the
holder thereof ceases to be employed by Target ("Target Restricted Shares")
shall be converted into Acquiror Common Stock on the same basis as provided in
subsection (c) above and shall be registered in such holder's name, but shall be
held by Target or Acquiror pursuant to the existing agreements in effect on the
date of this Agreement.  Holders of the Target Restricted Shares are identified
on Schedule 2.2(e) together with the vesting schedules associated with such
shares.

     Section 2.2  Escrow Agreement.  At the Effective Time or such later time as
                  ----------------                                              
determined in accordance with Section 2.3(b), Acquiror will deposit in escrow
certificates representing ten percent of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock
issued or issuable in the merger in exchange for the stock of Target.  Such
shares shall be held in escrow on behalf of the persons who are the holders of
Target Common Stock in the Merger immediately prior to the Effective Time (the
"Former Target Stockholders"), on a pro rata basis, in accordance with each such
Former Target Stockholders' percentage ownership ("Pro Rata Portion") of Target
Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger (assuming conversion of all Target
Preferred Stock to Target Common Stock).  Such shares (the "Escrow Shares")
shall be held as security for the Former Target Stockholders' indemnification
obligations under Article X and pursuant to the provisions of an escrow
agreement (the "Escrow Agreement") to be executed pursuant to Section 7.6.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 2.3  Dissenting Shares.
                  ----------------- 

          (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
any shares of Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock held by a holder who
has exercised, or who still has the right to exercise, such holder's dissenter's
rights in accordance with Section 262 of Delaware Law ("Dissenting Shares"),
shall not be converted into or represent a right to receive Acquiror Common
Stock pursuant to Section 2.1, but the holder of the Dissenting Shares shall
only be entitled to such rights as are granted by Section 262 of Delaware Law.

          (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.3(a), if any holder of
shares of Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock who does not vote in
favor of the Merger Agreement or who demands his dissenter's rights with respect
to such shares under Section 2.1 shall effectively withdraw or lose (through
failure to perfect or otherwise) his rights to receive payment for the fair
market value of such shares under Delaware Law, then, as of the later of the
Effective Time or the occurrence of such event, such holder's shares shall
automatically be converted into and represent only the right to receive Acquiror
Common Stock and payment for fractional shares as provided in Section 2.1(c) and
2.6, without interest, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates
representing such shares; provided that if such holder effectively withdraws or
                          --------                                             
loses his right to receive payment for the fair market value of such shares
after the Effective Time, then, at such time Acquiror will deposit in escrow
certificates representing 10% of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock which such
holder would otherwise be entitled to receive.

          (c) Target shall give Acquiror (i) prompt notice of any written
demands for payment with respect to any shares of capital stock of Target
pursuant to Section 262 of Delaware Law, withdrawals of such demands, and any
other instruments served pursuant to Delaware Law and received by the Target and
(ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with
respect to demands for dissenter's rights under Delaware Law.  Target shall not,
except with the prior written consent of Acquiror, voluntarily make any payment
with respect to any demands for dissenter's rights with respect to Target Common
Stock or Target Preferred Stock or offer to settle or settle any such demands.

     Section 2.4  Exchange of Certificates.
                  ------------------------ 

          (a) From and after the Effective Time, each holder of an outstanding
certificate or certificates ("Certificates") which represented shares of Target
Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall have the right to surrender each Certificate to Acquiror (or at Acquiror's
option, an exchange agent to be appointed by Acquiror), and receive in exchange
for all Certificates held by such holder a certificate representing the number
of whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock (other than the Escrow Shares) into
which the Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock evidenced by the
Certificates so surrendered shall have been converted pursuant to the provisions
of Article II of this Agreement.  The surrender of Certificates shall be
accompanied by duly completed and executed Letters of Transmittal, which (along
with appropriate instructions) shall be sent by Acquiror's Transfer Agent to the
Former Target Stockholders promptly following the Closing 

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
Date. Until surrendered, each outstanding Certificate which prior to the
Effective Time represented shares of Target Common Stock or Target Preferred
Stock shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of the
number of whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock into which the shares of Target
Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock have been converted but shall, subject to
applicable dissenter's rights under applicable law and Section 2.3, have no
other rights. Subject to dissenter's rights under applicable law and Section
2.3, from and after the Effective Time, the holders of shares of Target Common
Stock or Target Preferred Stock shall cease to have any rights in respect of
such shares and their rights shall be solely in respect of the Acquiror Common
Stock into which such shares of Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock
have been converted. From and after the Effective Time, there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the records of Target of shares of Target
Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time.

          (b) If any shares of Acquiror Common Stock are to be issued in the
name of a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate(s)
surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition to the
issuance of such shares that (i) the Certificate(s) so surrendered shall be
transferable, and shall be properly assigned, endorsed or accompanied by
appropriate stock powers, (ii) such transfer shall otherwise be proper and (iii)
the person requesting such transfer shall pay Acquiror, or its exchange agent,
any transfer or other taxes payable by reason of the foregoing or establish to
the satisfaction of Acquiror that such taxes have been paid or are not required
to be paid.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Acquiror nor Target shall be
liable to a holder of shares of Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock
for shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable to such holder pursuant to the
provisions of Article II of the Agreement that are delivered to a public
official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

          (c) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming
such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, Acquiror shall issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the shares of Acquiror
Common Stock issuable in exchange therefor pursuant to the provisions of Article
II of the Agreement.  The Board of Directors of Acquiror may in its discretion
and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such
lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate to provide to Acquiror an indemnity
agreement against any claim that may be made against Acquiror with respect to
the Certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

     Section 2.5  Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares.  No
                  ------------------------------------------------     
dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with
respect to Acquiror Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time
shall be paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the
shares of Acquiror Common Stock represented thereby and no cash payment in lieu
of fractional shares shall be paid to any such holder pursuant to Section 2.6
below until the holder of record of such Certificate shall surrender such
Certificate.  Subject to the effect of applicable laws, following surrender of
any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the record holder of the
certificates representing whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued in
exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the
amount of any cash payable in lieu of a fractional share of Acquiror Common
Stock to which such holder is entitled 

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
pursuant to Section 2.6 below and the amount of dividends or other distributions
with a record date after the Effective Time previously paid with respect to such
whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment date,
the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the
Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date subsequent to surrender
payable with respect to such whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

     Section 2.6  No Fractional Shares.  No certificate or scrip representing
                  --------------------                                       
fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender
for exchange of Certificates, and such fractional share interests will not
entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a shareholder of Acquiror.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, each holder of shares of
Target Common Stock or Target Preferred Stock exchanged pursuant to the Merger
who would otherwise have been entitled to receive a fraction of a share of
Acquiror Common Stock (after taking into account all Certificates delivered by
such holder) shall receive, in lieu thereof, cash (without interest) in an
amount equal to such fractional part of a share of Acquiror Common Stock
multiplied by the closing price of Acquiror Common Stock on the date of the
Effective Time (the "Closing Stock Price").

     Section2.7  Tax and Accounting Consequences.
                 ------------------------------- 

          (a) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall
constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.
The parties hereto adopt this Agreement as a "plan of reorganization" within the
meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the United States Income Tax
Regulations.

          (b) It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall qualify
for accounting treatment as a pooling of interests.

                                  ARTICLE III

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TARGET
                    ----------------------------------------

     Target represents and warrants to Acquiror and Sub that the statements
contained in this Article III are true and correct, except as set forth in the
disclosure schedule delivered by Target to Acquiror on or before the date of
this Agreement (the "Target Disclosure Schedule").  The Target Disclosure
Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and
lettered paragraphs contained in this Article III.

     Section 3.1  Organization of Target.  Target is a corporation duly
                  ----------------------                               
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, has all requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate its
property and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or
ownership or leasing of properties makes such qualification or licensing
necessary and where the failure to be so qualified or licensed is reasonably
likely to result in a material adverse effect on the business, as presently
conducted, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects, property or results of operations (a
"Material Adverse Effect") of Target.  The Target 

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete listing of the locations of all
sales offices, manufacturing facilities, and any other offices or facilities of
Target and a true and complete list of all states in which Target maintains any
employees. The Target Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of
all states in which Target is duly qualified or licensed to transact business as
a foreign corporation.

     Section 3.2  Target Capital Structure.
                  ------------------------ 

          (a) The authorized capital stock of Target consists of 10,000,000
shares of Target Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Target Preferred Stock, of
which 4,467,200 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock.  As of the
date of this Agreement, there are:  (i) 2,863,176 shares of Target Common Stock
issued and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and 2,130,878 of which are subject to repurchase rights under the
Target Stock Plan or related agreements as described in the Target Disclosure
Schedule; (ii) 4,452,200 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding (collectively, the "Target Preferred Stock"), all of which are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and all of which are convertible
into Target Common Stock on a one share for one share basis; (iii) 4,452,200
shares of Target Common Stock reserved for future issuance upon conversion of
the Target Preferred Stock; (iv) 233,398 shares of Target Common Stock reserved
for future issuance pursuant to Target Options granted and outstanding under the
Target Stock Plan; and (v) 945,012 shares of Target Common Stock available and
reserved for issuance upon exercise of options or pursuant to awards to be
granted in the future under the Target Stock Plan.  The issued and outstanding
shares of Target Common Stock and Target Preferred Stock are held of record by
the stockholders of Target as set forth and identified in the stockholder list
attached as Schedule 3.2(a) to the Target Disclosure Schedule.  The issued and
outstanding Target Options are held of record by the option holders as set forth
and identified in the option holder list provided to Acquiror or its
representatives.  All shares of Target Common Stock and Target Preferred Stock
subject to issuance as specified above, upon issuance on the terms and
conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable,
shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.  All
shares of Target Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Target Options, upon
issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instrument pursuant to
which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.  Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.2(a), none of the
issued and outstanding shares of Target Common Stock are subject to contractual
rights to repurchase upon the termination of the employment or consulting
services of the holder thereof with Target or its affiliates.  All outstanding
shares of Target Common Stock and Target Preferred Stock and outstanding Target
Options (collectively "Target Securities") were issued in compliance with
applicable federal and state securities laws.  Except for the redemption rights
of the Target Preferred Stock provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation,
there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of Target to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Target Common Stock or Target
Preferred Stock or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital
contribution or otherwise) in any other entity.  An updated Schedule 3.2(a)
reflecting changes, if any, permitted by this Agreement in the capitalization of
Target between the date hereof and the Effective Time shall be delivered by
Target to Acquiror on the Closing Date.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
          (b) Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, there are no equity
securities of any class or series of Target, or any security exchangeable into
or exercisable for such equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding.  Except as set forth in this Section 3.2, there are no options,
warrants, equity securities, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any
character to which Target is a party or by which it is bound obligating Target
to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional
shares of capital stock of Target or (except as set forth in the stock
restriction agreements, stock option agreements and the Investor Rights
Agreements listed in Schedule 3.2) obligating Target to grant, extend,
accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such option, warrant, equity
security, call, right, commitment or agreement.  Target is not in discussion,
formal or informal, with any person or entity regarding the issuance of any form
of additional Target equity that has not been issued or committed to prior to
the date of this Agreement.  Except as provided in this Agreement and the other
Transaction Documents (as defined in Section 3.3(a))or any transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other
agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the shares of capital
stock of Target.

          (c) All Target Options have been issued in accordance with the terms
of the Target Stock Plan and pursuant to the standard forms of option agreement
previously provided to Acquiror or its representatives.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.2, neither the consummation of transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents nor any action taken by Target in
connection with such transactions will result in (i) any acceleration of vesting
in favor of any optionee under any Target Option; (ii) any acceleration of
vesting in favor of any stockholder under the Target Stock Plan whose shares are
subject to a right of repurchase on behalf of the Company; (iii) any additional
benefits for any optionee under any Target Option; or (iv) the inability of
Acquiror or Target after the Effective Time to exercise any right or benefit
held by Target prior to the Effective Time with respect to any Target Option
assumed by Acquiror or any stock awards under the Target Stock Plan, including,
without limitation, the right to repurchase an optionee's or stockholder's
unvested shares on termination of such optionee's or stockholder's employment.
The assumption by Acquiror of Target Options in accordance with Section 6.5
hereunder will not (i) give the optionees additional benefits which they did not
have under their options prior to such assumption (after taking into account the
existing provisions of the options, such as their respective exercise prices and
vesting schedules) and (ii) constitute a breach of the Target Stock Plan or any
agreement entered into pursuant to such plan.

     Section 3.3  Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
                  ----------------------------------------------------- 

          (a) Target has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and all Transaction Documents to which it is or will become
a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
such Transaction Documents.  The execution and delivery by Target of this
Agreement and such Transaction Documents and the consummation by Target of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Transaction Documents have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Target,
including the approval of the Merger by Target's stockholders under the
provisions of Delaware Law and Target's Certificate of Incorporation.  This
Agreement has been and such 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Transaction Documents have been or, to the extent not executed as of the date
hereof, will be duly executed and delivered by Target. This Agreement and each
of the Transaction Documents to which Target is a party constitutes, and each of
the Transaction Documents to which Target will become a party when executed and
delivered by Target will constitute, assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto, the valid and binding
obligation of Target, enforceable against Target in accordance with their
respective terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general
principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at law or in equity. For purposes of this Agreement, "Transaction
Documents" means all documents or agreements required to be delivered by any
party under this Agreement including the Certificate of Merger, the Escrow
Agreement, the Investment Representation Letter (as defined in Section 8.2(c)),
the Affiliates Agreements, the Employment Agreements and the Noncompetition
Agreements.

          (b) The execution and delivery by Target of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a party does not and the
consummation by Target of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a party will not, (i)
conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Target, (ii) result in any violation
or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a
default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of
any obligation or loss of any benefit) under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement, instrument or obligation to which Target is a party or by which it or
any of its properties or assets may be bound, or (iii) conflict or violate any
permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law,
ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Target or any of its properties or
assets, except in the case of (ii) and (iii) for any such conflicts, violations,
defaults, terminations, cancellations or accelerations which would not have a
Material Adverse Effect on Target.

          (c) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any court, administrative agency or commission or
other governmental authority or instrumentality ("Governmental Entity") is
required by or with respect to Target in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or of any other Transaction Document to which it is
or will become a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or such Transaction Document or the continuation of the business
activities of Target following consummation of the Merger without a Material
Adverse Change (as defined in Section 3.6(a)), except for (i) the filing of the
Certificate of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State, (ii) such consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as
may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws and (iii)
such other consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which,
if not obtained or made, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Target.

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 3.4  Financial Statements; Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.
                  -------------------------------------------------------- 

          (a) Target has delivered to Acquiror copies of Target's draft audited
balance sheet as of December 31, 1998 (the "Most Recent Balance Sheet") and
draft audited statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flow for
the period since inception then-ended (collectively, with the Most Recent
Balance Sheet, the "Target Financial Statements").

          (b) The Target Financial Statements are complete and in accordance
with the books and records of Target and present fairly in all material respects
the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Target as of
their historical dates and for the periods indicated.  The Target Financial
Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated and
with each other.  The reserves, if any, reflected on the Target Financial
Statements are believed by management to be adequate in light of the
contingencies with respect to which they were made.

          (c) Target has no debt, liability, or obligation of any nature,
whether accrued, absolute, contingent, or otherwise, and whether due or to
become due, that is not reflected or reserved against in the Most Recent Balance
Sheet, except for those that may have been incurred after the date of the Most
Recent Balance Sheet or that would not reasonably be required, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with
prior periods, to be included in a balance sheet or the notes thereto.  All
debts, liabilities, and obligations incurred after the date of the Most Recent
Balance Sheet were incurred in the ordinary course of business (except for
liabilities or obligations incurred in connection with the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement), and are usual and normal in amount and do not
exceed $50,000 individually or $250,000 in aggregate.

     Section 3.5  Tax Matters.
                  ----------- 

          (a) For purposes of this Section 3.5 and other provisions of this
Agreement relating to Taxes, the following definitions shall apply:

                  (i) The term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes, however
denominated, including any interest, penalties or other additions to tax that
may become payable in respect thereof, (A) imposed by any federal, territorial,
state, local or foreign government or any agency or political subdivision of any
such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, all income or profits taxes (including but not limited to,
federal income taxes and state income taxes), payroll and employee withholding
taxes, unemployment insurance, social security taxes, sales and use taxes, ad
valorem taxes, excise taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, business
license taxes, occupation taxes, real and personal property taxes, stamp taxes,
environmental taxes, ozone depleting chemicals taxes, transfer taxes, workers'
compensation, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums and other
governmental charges, and other obligations of the same or of a similar nature
to any of the foregoing, which are required to be paid, withheld or collected,
(B) any liability for the payment of amounts referred to in (A) as a result of
being a member of any affiliated, consolidated, 

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
combined or unitary group, or (C) any liability for amounts referred to in (A)
or (B) as a result of any obligations to indemnify another person.

              (ii) The term "Returns" shall mean all reports, estimates,
declarations of estimated tax, information statements and returns relating to,
or required to be filed in connection with, any Taxes, including information
returns or reports with respect to backup withholding and other payments to
third parties.

          (b) All Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Target have
been duly filed on a timely basis and such Returns are true, complete and
correct in all material respects.  All Taxes shown to be payable on such Returns
or on subsequent assessments with respect thereto, and all payments of estimated
Taxes required to be made by or on behalf of Target under Section 6655 of the
Code or comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law, have been paid in
full on a timely basis or have been accrued on the Most Recent Balance Sheet,
and no other Taxes are payable by Target with respect to items or periods
covered by such Returns (whether or not shown on or reportable on such Returns).
Target has withheld and paid over all Taxes required to have been withheld and
paid over, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding
requirements, including maintenance of required records with respect thereto, in
connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent
contractor, or other third party.  There are no liens on any of the assets of
Target with respect to Taxes, other than liens for Taxes not yet due and payable
or for Taxes that Target is contesting in good faith through appropriate
proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established on the Most
Recent Balance Sheet.  Target has not at any time been (i) a member of an
affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated, combined or unitary income
or franchise tax returns, or (ii) a member of any partnership or joint venture
for a period for which the statue of limitations for any Tax potentially
applicable as a result of such membership has not expired.

          (c) The amount of Target's liability for unpaid Taxes (whether actual
or contingent) for all periods through the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet
does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of the liability accruals for
Taxes reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet, and the Most Recent Balance
Sheet reflects proper accrual in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent with prior periods of all liabilities
for Taxes payable after the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet attributable
to transactions and events occurring prior to such date.  No liability for Taxes
has been incurred (or prior to Closing will be incurred) since such date other
than in the ordinary course of business.

          (d) Acquiror has been furnished by Target with true and complete
copies of (i) relevant portions of income tax audit reports, statements of
deficiencies, closing or other agreements received by or on behalf of Target
relating to Taxes, and (ii) all federal and state income or franchise tax
Returns and state sales and use tax Returns for or including Target for all
periods since the inception of Target.  Target does not do business in or derive
income from any state other than states for which Returns have been duly filed
and furnished to Acquiror.

          (e) The Returns of or including Target have never been audited by a
government or taxing authority, nor is any such audit in process, pending or, to
Target's 

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
knowledge, threatened (either in writing or verbally, formally or informally).
No deficiencies exist or have been asserted (either in writing or verbally,
formally or informally), and Target has not received notice (either in writing
or verbally, formally or informally) that it has not filed a Return or paid
Taxes required to be filed or paid. Target is neither a party to any action or
proceeding for assessment or collection of Taxes, nor has such event been
asserted or threatened (either in writing or verbally, formally or informally)
against Target or any of its assets. No waiver or extension of any statute of
limitations is in effect with respect to Taxes or Returns of Target. Target has
disclosed on its federal and state income and franchise tax Returns all
positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement
penalty within the meaning of Code Section 6662 or comparable provisions of
applicable state tax laws.

          (f) Target is not, nor has it ever been, a party to any tax sharing
agreement.

          (g) Target is not, nor has it been, a United States real property
holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during
the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, and
Acquiror is not required to withhold tax by reason of Section 1445 of the Code.
Target is not a "consenting corporation" under Section 341(f) of the Code.
Target has not entered into any compensatory agreements with respect to the
performance of services which payment thereunder would result in a nondeductible
expense to Target pursuant to Section 280G of the Code or an excise tax to the
recipient of such payment pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.  Target has not
agreed to, nor is it required to make any adjustment under Code Section 481(a)
by reason of, a change in accounting method.  Target is not, nor has it been, a
"reporting corporation" subject to the information reporting and record
maintenance requirements of Section 6038A and the regulations thereunder.
Target is in compliance with the terms and conditions of any applicable tax
exemptions, agreements or orders of any foreign government to which it may be
subject or which it may have claimed, and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not have any adverse effect on such compliance.

     Section 3.6  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Since December 31,
                  ------------------------------------                     
1998, Target has not:

          (a) suffered any material adverse change in its business, as presently
conducted, assets (including intangible assets), liabilities, condition
(financial or otherwise), prospects, property or results of operations
("Material Adverse Change").

          (b) suffered any damage, destruction or loss, whether covered by
insurance or not, that has resulted, or could be reasonably expected to result,
in a Material Adverse Effect on Target;

          (c) granted or agreed to make any increase in the compensation payable
or to become payable by Target to its officers or employees;

          (d) declared, set aside or paid any dividend or made any other
distribution on or in respect of the shares of the capital stock of Target or
declared any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other
acquisition by Target of such shares;

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
          (e) made any change in the accounting methods or practices it follows,
whether for general financial or tax purposes, or any change in depreciation or
amortization policies or rates adopted therein;

          (f) sold, leased, abandoned or otherwise disposed of any real property
or any material machinery, equipment or other operating property;

          (g) sold, assigned, transferred, licensed or otherwise disposed of any
patent, trademark, trade name, brand name, copyright (or pending application for
any patent, trademark or copyright) invention, work of authorship, process,
know-how, formula or trade secret or interest thereunder or other intangible
asset, except as set forth in Schedule 3.6 or 3.11;

          (h) permitted or allowed any of its property or assets to be subjected
to any mortgage, deed o trust, pledge, lien, security interest or other
encumbrance of any kind (except those permitted under Section 3.7);

          (i) made any capital expenditure or commitment individually in excess
of $20,000 or in the aggregate in excess of $50,000;

          (j) paid, loaned or advanced any amount to, or sold, transferred or
leased any properties or assets to, or entered into any agreement or arrangement
with, any of its Affiliates (as defined in Section 3.16), officers, directors or
stockholders or any affiliate or associate of any of the foregoing (except in
the case of salaries in the ordinary course of business);

          (k) made any amendment to or terminated any agreement which, if not so
amended or terminated, would be required to be disclosed on the Target
Disclosure Schedule; or

          (l) agreed to take any action described in this Section 3.6 or outside
of its ordinary course of business or which would constitute a material breach
of any of the representations contained in this Agreement.

     Section 3.7  Title and Related Matters.  Target has good and marketable
                  -------------------------                                 
title to all the properties, interests in properties and assets, real and
personal, used in or necessary for the operation of the business of Target, free
and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges, charges or encumbrances of any kind
or character, except the lien of current taxes not yet due and payable.  The
equipment of Target used in the operation of its business is, taken as a whole,
(i) adequate for the business conducted by Target and (ii) in good operating
condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted.  All real or personal
property leases to which Target is a party are valid, binding, enforceable and
effective in accordance with their respective terms.  To the knowledge of
Target, there is not under any of such leases any existing default or event of
default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default.  The Target Disclosure Schedule contains a description of all personal
property leased or owned with an individual net book value in excess of $20,000
and real property leased or owned by Target, describing its interest in said
property.  True and correct copies of Target's real property and personal
property leases have been provided to Acquiror or its representatives.

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 3.8  Proprietary Rights.
                  ------------------ 

          (a) Target owns all right, title and interest in and to, or otherwise
possesses legally enforceable rights, or is licensed to use, all patents and
patent rights and applications therefor, copyrights, technology, maskworks,
software, software tools, know-how, processes, inventions, ideas, algorithms,
trade secrets, trademarks, service marks and trade names and all applications
and registrations therefor, Internet domain names and applications therefor, net
lists, schematics, inventory, ideas, algorithms and other proprietary rights
used in or necessary for the conduct of Target's business as conducted to the
date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the technology,
information, databases, data lists, data compilations, and all proprietary
rights developed or discovered or used in connection with or contained in all
versions and implementations of  any product or technology which has been or is
being marketed, distributed, licensed, used or sold by Target or currently is
under development by Target (collectively, the "Target Products"), free and
clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances (including without limitation
licensing and distribution rights) (all of which are referred to as "Target
Proprietary Rights").  In addition, Target is not aware of any legal
restrictions or impediments that would prevent Target from conducting its
business as proposed to be conducted.  The Target Disclosure Schedule contains
an accurate and complete (i) description of all patents and patent applications,
trademarks and service marks (with separate listings of registered copyrights
and unregistered trademarks and service marks), trade names, Internet domain
names and registered and maskwork in or related to the Target Products or
otherwise included in the Target Proprietary Rights and all applications and
registrations therefor, including the jurisdictions in which each such Target
Proprietary Right has been issued or registered or in which any such application
of such issuance and registration has been filed, (ii) list of all licenses and
other agreements with third parties (the "Third Party Licenses") relating to any
patents, patent rights, copyrights, trade secrets, software, inventions, ideas,
designs, information, data, algorithms, technology, know-how, processes or other
proprietary rights that Target is licensed or otherwise authorized by such third
parties to license, use, market, distribute or incorporate in Target Products ,
excluding commercially available "off-the-shelf" software (such patents, patent
rights, copyrights, trade secrets, software, inventions, ideas, designs,
information, data, algorithms, technology, know-how, processes or other
proprietary rights are collectively referred to as the "Third Party
Technology").  All of Target's patents, patent rights, copyrights, maskworks,
trademark, trade name or Internet domain name registrations covering the Target
Products are valid and in full force and effect; and consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not alter or impair any such
rights.  No claims have been asserted or threatened against Target (and Target
is not aware of a valid basis for any claims which could be asserted or
threatened against Target or which have been asserted or threatened against
others relating to Target Proprietary Rights or Target Products) by any person
challenging Target's use, possession, manufacture, license, sale or distribution
of Target Products or challenging the Target Proprietary Rights (including,
without limitation, the Third Party Technology) or challenging or questioning
the validity thereof, or of any material license or agreement relating thereto
(including, without limitation, the Third Party Licenses) or alleging a
violation of any person's or entity's privacy, personal or confidentiality
rights.  There is no valid basis for any claim of the type specified in the
immediately preceding sentence which could in any material way relate to or
interfere with the continued enhancement, exploitation, licensing 

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
and use by Target of any of the Target Products. None of the Target Products nor
the license and use or exploitation of any Target Proprietary Rights in Target's
current business infringes on the rights of or constitutes misappropriation of
any proprietary information or intangible property right of any third person or
entity, including without limitation any patent, patent right, trade secret,
copyright, maskwork, trademark or trade name. Target has not been sued or named
in any suit, action or proceeding which involves a claim of such infringement,
misappropriation or unfair competition.

          (b) Except as set forth in the Target Disclosure Schedule, Target has
not granted any third party any right to manufacture, reproduce, license, use,
distribute, market or exploit any of the Target Products or Target Proprietary
Rights or any adaptations, translations, or derivative works based on the Target
Products or Target Proprietary Rights or any portion thereof.   Except with
respect to the rights of third parties to the Third Party Technology, no third
party has any express right to manufacture, reproduce, distribute, market or
exploit any works or materials of which any of the Target Products are a
"derivative work" as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act,
Title 17, U.S.C. Section 101.

          (c) All material designs, drawings, specifications, net lists,
schematics, designs, maskworks, source code, object code, scripts,
documentation, flow charts, diagrams, data lists, databases, compilations and
information which form part of any of the Target Products at any stage of their
development (the "Target Components") were written, developed and created solely
and exclusively by employees of Target without the assistance of any third party
or entity or were created by third parties who assigned ownership of their
rights to Target by means of valid and enforceable consultant confidentiality
and invention assignment agreements, copies of which have been delivered to
Acquiror.  Target has at all times used commercially reasonable efforts
customary in its industry to treat the Target Proprietary Rights related to
Target Products and Target Components as containing trade secrets and has not
disclosed or otherwise dealt with such items in such a manner as intended or
reasonably likely to cause the loss of such trade secrets by release into the
public domain.

          (d) To Target's knowledge, no employee, contractor or consultant of
Target is in violation in any material respect of any term of any written
employment contract, patent disclosure agreement or any other written contract
or agreement relating to the relationship of any such employee, consultant or
contractor with Target or, to Target's knowledge, any other party because of the
nature of the business conducted by Target or proposed to be conducted by
Target.  The Target Disclosure Schedule lists all employees, contractors and
consultants who have participated in any way in the development of the Target
Products or the Target Proprietary Rights.

          (e) Each person presently or previously employed by Target (including
independent contractors, if any) with access authorized by Target to
confidential information has executed a confidentiality and non-disclosure
agreement pursuant to the form of agreement previously provided to Acquiror or
its representatives.  Such confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
constitute valid and binding obligations of Target and such person, enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms.

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
          (f) No product liability or warranty claims have been communicated in
writing to or threatened against Target.

          (g) To Target's knowledge, there is no material unauthorized use,
disclosure, infringement or misappropriation of any Target Proprietary Rights,
or any Third Party Technology to the extent licensed by or through Target, by
any third party, including any employee or former employee of Target.  Except
pursuant to the agreements listed in Schedule 3.8, Target has not entered into
any agreement to indemnify any other person against any charge of infringement
of any third party intellectual property rights.

          (h) Target has used all commercially reasonable efforts customary in
the industry to protect and preserve the confidentiality and proprietary nature
of all source code, net lists, schematics, masks, trade secrets and other
confidential information  ("Confidential Information").  All use, disclosure or
appropriation of Confidential Information owned by Target by or to a third party
has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement between Target and such
third party.  All use, disclosure or appropriation of Confidential Information
not owned by Target has been pursuant to the terms of a written agreement
between Target and the owner of such Confidential Information, or is otherwise
lawful.

     Section 3.9  Employee Benefit Plans.
                  ---------------------- 

          (a) The Target Disclosure Schedule lists, with respect to Target and
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is treated as a single
employer with Target (an "ERISA Affiliate") within the meaning of Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, (i) all material employee benefit plans (as
defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA"), (ii) each loan to a non-officer employee, loans to
officers and directors and any stock option, stock purchase, phantom stock,
stock appreciation right, supplemental retirement, severance, sabbatical,
medical, dental, vision care, disability, employee relocation, cafeteria benefit
(Code Section 125) or dependent care (Code Section 129), life insurance or
accident insurance plans, programs or arrangements, (iii) all bonus, pension,
profit sharing, savings, deferred compensation or incentive plans, programs or
arrangements, (iv) other fringe or employee benefit plans, programs or
arrangements that apply to senior management of Target and that do not generally
apply to all employees, and (v) any current or former employment or executive
compensation or severance agreements, written or otherwise, for the benefit of,
or relating to, any present or former employee, consultant or director of Target
as to which (with respect to any of items (i) through (v) above) any potential
liability is borne by Target (together, the "Target Employee Plans").

          (b) Target has delivered to or made available to Acquiror or its
representatives a copy of each of the Target Employee Plans and related plan
documents (including trust documents, insurance policies or contracts, employee
booklets, summary plan descriptions and other authorizing documents, and, to the
extent still in its possession, any material employee communications relating
thereto) and has, with respect to each Target Employee Plan which is subject to
ERISA reporting requirements, provided copies of any Form 5500 reports filed for
the last three plan years.  Any Target Employee Plan intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) 

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
of the Code has either obtained from the Internal Revenue Service a favorable
determination letter as to its qualified status under the Code, including all
amendments to the Code effected by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and subsequent
legislation, or has applied to the Internal Revenue Service for such a
determination letter prior to the expiration of the requisite period under
applicable Treasury Regulations or Internal Revenue Service pronouncements in
which to apply for such determination letter and to make any amendments
necessary to obtain a favorable determination. Target has also furnished
Acquiror with the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter
issued with respect to each such Target Employee Plan, and nothing has occurred
since the issuance of each such letter which could reasonably be expected to
cause the loss of the tax-qualified status of any Target Employee Plan subject
to Code Section 401(a).

          (c) (i) None of the Target Employee Plans promises or provides retiree
medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any person; (ii) there has been no
"prohibited transaction," as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA and
Section 4975 of the Code, with respect to any Target Employee Plan, which could
reasonably be expected to have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Affect on
Target, (iii) each Target Employee Plan has been administered in accordance with
its terms and in compliance with the requirements prescribed by any and all
statutes, rules and regulations (including ERISA and the Code), except as would
not have, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Target, and Target and
each subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate have performed all material obligations
required to be performed by them under, are not in any material respect in
default, under or violation of, and have no knowledge of any material default or
violation by any other party to, any of the Target Employee Plans; (iv) neither
Target nor any subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is subject to any material
liability or penalty under Sections 4976 through 4980 of the Code or Title I of
ERISA with respect to any of the Target Employee Plans; (v) all material
contributions required to be made by Target or any subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate
to any Target Employee Plan have been made on or before their due dates and a
reasonable amount has been accrued for contributions to each Target Employee
Plan for the current plan years; (vi) with respect to each Target Employee Plan,
no "reportable event" within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (excluding any
such event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has been waived
under the regulations to Section 4043 of ERISA) nor any event described in
Section 4062, 4063 or 4041 of ERISA has occurred; and (vii) no Target Employee
Plan is covered by, and neither Target nor any subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has
incurred or expects to incur any material liability under Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code.  With respect to each Target Employee Plan subject to
ERISA as either an employee pension plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
ERISA or an employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA, Target has prepared in good faith and timely filed all requisite
governmental reports (which were true and correct as of the date filed) and has
properly and timely filed and distributed or posted all notices and reports to
employees required to be filed, distributed or posted with respect to each such
Target Employee Plan except as would not give rise, in the aggregate, to a
Material Adverse Effect on Target.  No suit, administrative proceeding, action
or other litigation has been brought, or to the best knowledge of Target is
threatened, against or with respect to any such Target Employee Plan, including
any audit or inquiry by the IRS or United States Department of Labor.  Neither
Target nor any ERISA Affiliate is a party to, or has made any contribution to or
otherwise incurred any obligation under, any "multi-employer plan" as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA.

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
          (d) With respect to each Target Employee Plan, Target has complied
with (i) the applicable health care continuation and notice provisions of the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("COBRA") and the
proposed regulations thereunder and (ii) the applicable requirements of the
Family Leave Act of 1993 and the regulations thereunder, except to the extent
that such failure to comply would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Target.

          (e) Except as set forth in the Target Disclosure Schedule, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i)
entitle any current or former employee or other service provider of Target or
any other ERISA Affiliate to severance benefits or any other payment (including,
without limitation, unemployment compensation, golden parachute or bonus),
except as expressly provided in this Agreement, or (ii) accelerate the time of
payment or vesting of any such benefits, or (iii) increase or accelerate any
benefits or the amount of compensation due any such employee or service
provider.

          (f) There has been no amendment to, written interpretation or
announcement (whether or not written) by Target or other ERISA Affiliate
relating to, or change in participation or coverage under, any Target Employee
Plan which would materially increase the expense of maintaining such Plan above
the level of expense incurred with respect to that Plan for the most recent
fiscal year included in the Target Financial Statements.

     Section 3.10  Bank Accounts.  The Target Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
                   -------------                                                
names and locations of all banks, trusts, companies, savings and loan
associations, and other financial institutions at which Target maintains
accounts of any nature and the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon
or make withdrawals therefrom.

     Section 3.11  Contracts.
                   --------- 

          (a) Except as set forth on the Target Disclosure Schedule:

                  (i)  Target has no agreements, contracts or commitments that
provide for the sale, licensing, transfer, assignment, distribution, marketing,
promotion or resale by Target of any Target Products or Target Proprietary
Rights, nor has Target granted any license of any Target trademarks or
servicemarks.

                  (ii)  Target has no Third Party Licenses.

                  (iii) Target has no agreements, contracts or commitments that
call for fixed and/or contingent payments or expenditures by or to Target
(including, without limitation, any advertising or revenue sharing arrangement)
individually in excess of $20,000.

                  (iv)  Target has no outstanding sales or advertising contract,
commitment or proposal that Target currently expects to result in any loss to
Target upon completion or performance thereof.

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
                  (v)    Target has no outstanding agreements, contracts or
commitments to employ, engage or utilize officers, employees, agents,
consultants, advisors, salesmen, sales representatives, distributors or dealers
that are not cancelable by Target "at will" and without liability, penalty or
premium.

                  (vi)   Target has no employment, independent contractor or
similar agreement, contract or commitment that is not terminable on no more than
thirty (30) days' notice without penalty, liability or premium of any type,
including, without limitation, severance or termination pay.

                  (vii)  Target has no currently effective collective bargaining
or union agreements, contracts or commitments.

                  (viii) Target is not restricted by agreement from competing
with any person or from carrying on its business anywhere in the world.

                  (ix)   Target has not guaranteed any obligations of other
persons or made any agreements to acquire or guarantee any obligations of other
persons.

                  (x)    Target has no outstanding loan or advance to any
person; nor is it party to any line of credit, standby financing, revolving
credit or other similar financing arrangement of any sort which would permit the
borrowing by Target of any sum.

                  (xi)   Target has no agreements pursuant to which Target has
agreed to manufacture for, supply to or distribute to any third party any Target
Products or Target Components.

                  (xii)  There are no agreements, understandings or proposed
transactions between the Company and any of its officers, directors, affiliates
or any affiliate thereof.

     True and correct copies of each document or instrument listed on the Target
Disclosure Schedule pursuant to this Section 3.11(a) (the "Material Contracts")
have been provided to Acquiror or its representatives.

          (b) All of the Material Contracts listed on the Target Disclosure
Schedule are valid, binding, in full force and effect, and enforceable by Target
in accordance with their respective terms.  No party to any such Material
Contract has notified Target that it intends to cancel, withdraw, modify or
amend such contract, agreement or arrangement.

          (c) Target is not in material default under or in material breach or
violation of, nor, to Target's knowledge, is there any valid basis for any claim
of material default by Target under, or material breach or violation by Target
of, any Material Contract.  To Target's knowledge, no other party is in material
default under or in material breach or violation of, nor is there any valid
basis for any claim of material default by any other party under or any material
breach or violation by any other party of, any Material Contract.

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
          (d) Except as specifically indicated on the Target Disclosure
Schedule, none of the Material Contracts provides for indemnification by Target
of any third party.  No claims have been made or threatened that would require
indemnification by Target, and Target has not paid any amounts to indemnify any
third party as a result of indemnification requirements of any kind.

     Section 3.12  Orders, Commitments and Returns.  All accepted advertising
                   -------------------------------                           
arrangements entered into by Target for, and all material agreements, contracts,
or commitments for the purchase of supplies by Target, were made in the ordinary
course of business.  To the knowledge of Target, no outstanding purchase or
outstanding lease commitment of Target is in excess of the normal, ordinary and
usual requirements of its business or was made at any price (on both a per unit
and aggregate basis) materially in excess of the current market price at the
time made, or contains terms and conditions materially more onerous to Target
than those usual and customary in the industry.  There are no oral contracts or
arrangements for the sale of advertising or any other product or service by
Target.

     Section 3.13  Compliance With Law.  Target and the operation of its
                   -------------------                                  
business are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations. Neither Target nor, to Target's knowledge, any of its employees has
directly or indirectly paid or delivered any fee, commission or other sum of
money or item of property, however characterized, to any finder, agent,
government official or other party in the United States or any other country,
that was or is in violation of any federal, state, or local statute or law or of
any statute or law of any other country having jurisdiction.  Target has not
participated directly or indirectly in any boycotts or other similar practices
affecting any of its customers.  Target has complied in all material respects at
all times with any and all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, rules,
regulations, proclamations and orders relating to the importation or exportation
of its products.

     Section 3.14  Labor Difficulties; No Discrimination.
                   ------------------------------------- 

          (a) Target is not engaged in any unfair labor practice and is not in
material violation of any applicable laws respecting employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment, and wages and hours.  There is no
unfair labor practice complaint against Target actually pending or, to the
knowledge of Target, threatened before the National Labor Relations Board. There
is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown, or stoppage actually pending or, to the
knowledge of Target, threatened against Target.  To the knowledge of Target, no
union organizing activities are taking place with respect to the business of
Target.  No grievance, nor any arbitration proceeding arising out of or under
any collective bargaining agreement is pending and, to the knowledge of Target,
no claims therefor exist.  No collective bargaining agreement that is binding on
Target restricts it from relocating or closing any of its operations. Target has
not experienced any material work stoppage or other material labor difficulty.

          (b) There is and has not been any claim against Target, or to Target's
knowledge, threatened against Target, based on actual or alleged race, age, sex,
disability or other harassment or discrimination, or similar tortuous conduct,
nor to the knowledge of Target, is there any basis for any such claim.

                                     -21-
<PAGE>
 
          (c) There are no pending claims against Target or any of its
subsidiaries under any workers compensation plan or policy or for long term
disability.  Neither Target nor any of its subsidiaries has any monetary
material obligations under COBRA with respect to any former employees or
qualifying beneficiaries thereunder.  There are no proceedings pending or, to
the knowledge of Target, threatened, between Target and any of their respective
employees, which proceedings have or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Target.

     Section 3.15  Trade Regulation. All of the prices charged by Target in
                   ----------------                                        
connection with the marketing or sale of any products or services have been in
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.  No claims have been
communicated or threatened in writing against Target with respect to wrongful
termination of any dealer, distributor or any other marketing entity,
discriminatory pricing, price fixing, unfair competition, false advertising, or
any other violation of any laws or regulations relating to anti-competitive
practices or unfair trade practices of any kind, and to Target's knowledge, no
specific situation, set of facts, or occurrence provides any basis for any such
claim.

     Section 3.16  Insider Transactions.  To the knowledge of Target, no
                   --------------------                                 
affiliate ("Affiliate") as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") of Target has any interest in any
equipment or other property, real or personal, tangible or intangible,
including, without limitation, any Target Proprietary Rights or any creditor,
supplier, customer, manufacturer, agent, representative, or distributor of
Target Products; provided, however, that no such Affiliate or other person shall
                 --------  -------                                              
be deemed to have such an interest solely by virtue of the ownership of less
than 1% of the outstanding stock or debt securities of any publicly-held
company, the stock or debt securities of which are traded on a recognized stock
exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System.

     Section 3.17  Employees, Independent Contractors and Consultants.  The
                   --------------------------------------------------      
Target Disclosure Schedule lists and describes all past and all currently
effective written or, to Target's knowledge, oral consulting, independent
contractor and/or employment agreements and other material agreements concluded
with individual employees, independent contractors or consultants to which
Target is a party.  True and correct copies of all such written agreements have
been provided to or made available to Acquiror or its representatives.  All
independent contractors have been properly classified as independent contractors
for the purposes of federal and applicable state tax laws, laws applicable to
employee benefits and other applicable law.  All salaries and wages paid by
Target are in compliance in all material respects with applicable federal, state
and local laws.  Also shown on the Target Disclosure Schedule are the names,
positions and salaries or rates of pay, including bonuses, of all persons
presently employed by Target.

     Section 3.18  Insurance.   The fire, liability and other insurance policies
                   ---------                                                    
held by Target are of the type and in amounts which are customary and adequate
for a company of its nature and size.  The Target Disclosure Schedule contains a
list of all claims made by Target under such policies.  To the knowledge of
Target, Target has not done anything, either by way of action or inaction, that
might invalidate such policies in whole or in part. There is no claim pending
under 

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied
or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums due and
payable under all such policies and bonds have been paid and Target is otherwise
in compliance with the terms of such policies and bonds in all material
respects. Target has no knowledge of any threatened termination of, or material
premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.

     Section 3.19  Litigation. There is no private or governmental action, suit,
                   ----------                                                   
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending before any agency, court
or tribunal, foreign or domestic, or, to the knowledge of Target, threatened
against Target or any of its properties or any of its officers or directors (in
their capacities as such).  There is no judgment, decree or order against
Target, or, to the knowledge of Target, any of its respective directors or
officers (in their capacities as such).  To Target's knowledge, no circumstances
exist that could form a valid basis for a claim against Target as a result of
the conduct of Target's business (including, without limitation, any claim of
infringement of any intellectual property right).

     Section 3.20  Governmental Authorizations and Regulations. Target has
                   -------------------------------------------            
obtained each federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental consent,
license, permit, grant, or other authorization of a Governmental Entity (i)
pursuant to which Target currently operates or holds any interest in any of its
properties or (ii) that is required for the operation of Target's business or
the holding of any such interest, and all of such authorizations are in full
force and effect, except where the failure to obtain or have any such Target
authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Target.

     Section 3.21  Subsidiaries.  Target has no subsidiaries.  Target does not
                   ------------                                               
own or control (directly or indirectly) any capital stock, bonds or other
securities of, and does not have any proprietary interest in, any other
corporation, general or limited partnership, firm, association or business
organization, entity or enterprise, and Target does not control (directly or
indirectly) the management or policies of any other corporation, partnership,
firm, association or business organization, entity or enterprise.

     Section 3.22  Compliance with Environmental Requirements.  Target has
                   ------------------------------------------             
obtained all permits, licenses and other authorizations which are required under
federal, state and local laws applicable to Target and relating to pollution or
protection of the environment, including laws or provisions relating to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants,
contaminants, or hazardous or toxic materials, substances, or wastes into air,
surface water, groundwater, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or
handling of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic materials,
substances, or wastes or which are intended to assure the safety of employees,
workers or other persons, except where the failure to obtain or have any such
Target authorizations could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Target.  Target is in compliance in all material respects with
all terms and conditions of all such permits, licenses and authorizations.
Target is not aware of, nor has Target received written notice of, any
conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, or actions which
may form a valid basis of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or
investigation of, by, against or relating to Target, based on or related to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, 

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
disposal, transport, or handling, or the emission, discharge, release or
threatened release into the environment, of any pollutant, contaminant, or
hazardous or toxic substance, material or waste, or relating to the safety of
employees, workers or other persons.

     Section 3.23  Corporate Documents.  Target has furnished to Acquiror or its
                   -------------------                                          
representatives copies of: (a) its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as
amended to date; (b) its minute book containing all records required to be set
forth of all proceedings, consents, actions, and meetings of the stockholders,
the board of directors and any committees thereof; (c) all material permits,
orders, and consents issued by any regulatory agency with respect to Target, or
any securities of Target, and all applications for such permits, orders, and
consents; and (d) the stock transfer books of Target setting forth all transfers
of any capital stock.  The corporate minute books, stock certificate books,
stock registers and other corporate records of Target are complete and accurate,
and the signatures appearing on all documents contained therein are the true
signatures of the persons purporting to have signed the same.  All actions
reflected in such books and records were duly and validly taken in compliance
with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction.

     Section 3.24  No Brokers.  Neither Target nor, to Target's knowledge, any
                   ----------                                                 
Target stockholder is obligated for the payment of fees or expenses of any
broker or finder in connection with the origin, negotiation or execution of this
Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or in connection with any
transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.

     Section 3.25  Pooling of Interests.  To Target's knowledge, neither Target
                   --------------------                                        
nor any of its Affiliates has, through the date of this Agreement, taken or
agreed to take any action which would prevent Acquiror from accounting for the
business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of interests.

     Section 3.26  Customers and Suppliers.  No customer which individually
                   -----------------------                                 
accounted for more than 5% of Target's gross revenues during the 12-month period
preceding the date hereof, and no supplier of Target, has canceled or otherwise
terminated, or made any written threat to Target to cancel or otherwise
terminate its relationship with Target, or has at any time on or after December
31, 1998 decreased materially its services or supplies to Target in the case of
any such supplier, and to Target's knowledge, no such supplier or customer
intends to cancel or otherwise terminate its relationship with Target.  Target
has not knowingly breached, so as to provide a benefit to Target that was not
intended by the parties, any agreement with, or engaged in any fraudulent
conduct with respect to, any customer or supplier or Target.

     Section 3.27  Target Action.  The Board of Directors of Target, by
                   -------------                                       
unanimous written consent or at a meeting duly called and held, has by the
unanimous vote of all directors (i) determined that the Merger is fair and in
the best interests of Target and its stockholders, (ii) approved the Merger and
this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Delaware Law, and (iii)
directed that this Agreement and the Merger be submitted to Target stockholders
for their approval and resolved to recommend that Target stockholders vote in
favor of the approval of this Agreement and the Merger.

                                     -24-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 3.28  Offers.  Target has suspended or terminated, and has the
                   ------                                                  
legal right to terminate or suspend, all negotiations and discussions of
Acquisition Transactions (as defined in Section 5.6) with parties other than
Acquiror.

     Section 3.29  Information Statement.  The information supplied by Target
                   ---------------------                                     
for inclusion in the information statement to be sent to the stockholders of
Target in connection with the notice required under Section 228(d) and Section
262(d)(2) of Delaware Law of Target (such information statement as amended or
supplemented is referred to herein as the "Information Statement") shall not, on
the date the Information Statement is first mailed to Target stockholders
contain any statement which is false or misleading with respect to any material
fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not false or misleading.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Target makes no
representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by
or relating to Acquiror or Sub which is contained in any of the foregoing
documents.

     Section 3.30  Accounts Receivable.  Subject to any reserves set forth in
                   -------------------                                       
the Most Recent Balance Sheet, the accounts receivable shown on the Most Recent
Balance Sheet represent and will represent bona fide claims against debtors for
sales and other charges, and are not subject to discount except for normal cash
and immaterial trade discounts.  The amount carried for doubtful accounts and
allowances disclosed in the Most Recent Balance Sheet is in the judgment of
Target's management sufficient to provide for any losses which may be sustained
on realization of the receivables.

     Section 3.31  Year 2000 Compliance.  Except as would not reasonably be
                   --------------------                                    
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Target, all of Target's
Information Technology (as defined below) effectively addresses the Year 2000
issue and will not cause an interruption in the ongoing operations of Target's
business on or after January 1, 2000.  For purposes of the foregoing, the term
"Information Technology" shall mean and include all software, hardware,
firmware, telecommunications systems, network systems, embedded systems and
other systems, components and/or services that are owned or used by Target in
the conduct of its business, or purchased by Target from third party suppliers.

     Section 3.32  Disclosure.  No statements by Target contained in this
                   ----------                                            
Agreement, its exhibits and schedules nor in any of the certificates or
documents, including any of the Transaction Documents, delivered or required to
be delivered by Target to Acquiror or Sub under this Agreement contains any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits (when read together with all such
other statements) to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made.

                                     -25-
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE IV

               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR AND SUB
               --------------------------------------------------

     Acquiror and Sub represent and warrant to Target and the Former Target
Stockholders that, the statements contained in this Article IV are true and
correct.

     Section 4.1  Organization of Acquiror and Sub.  Each of Acquiror and its
                  --------------------------------                           
subsidiaries, including Sub, is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of
incorporation and has all requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate
its property and to carry on its business as now being conducted and is duly
qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified or licensed would have a
Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror.

     Section 4.2  Acquiror Capital Structure.  The authorized capital stock of
                  --------------------------                                  
Acquiror consists of 60,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value of $0.01 per
share ("Acquiror Common Stock") and 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share ("Acquiror Preferred Stock"), of which there were issued
and outstanding as of the close of business on December 31, 1998, 23,362,772
shares of Acquiror Common Stock and no shares of Acquiror Preferred Stock.
There are no other outstanding shares of capital stock or voting securities of
Acquiror other than shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued after December 31,
1998 under Acquiror's 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Acquiror's 1998
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (collectively, the "ESPP") or upon the exercise of
options issued under Acquiror's 1982 Employee Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1992
Stock Option Plan or 1997 Director Stock Option Plan.  The authorized capital
stock of Sub consists of 1,000 shares of Common Stock, all of which are issued
and outstanding and are held by Acquiror.  All outstanding shares of Acquiror
and Sub have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and are
nonassessable and free of any liens or encumbrances other than any liens or
encumbrances created by or imposed upon the holders thereof.  As of the close of
business on December 31, 1998, Acquiror has reserved an aggregate of 2,485,959
shares of Common Stock for issuance to employees, directors and independent
contractors upon exercise of outstanding options to acquire shares of Acquiror
Common Stock issued under the Acquiror stock option plans and an aggregate of 0
shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants.
Other than as contemplated by this Agreement or under the ESPP, and except as
described in this Section 4.2, there are no other options, warrants, calls,
rights, commitments or agreements to which Acquiror or Sub is a party or by
which either of them is bound obligating Acquiror or Sub to issue, deliver,
sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased
or redeemed, any shares of the capital stock of Acquiror or Sub or obligating
Acquiror or Sub to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call,
right, commitment or agreement.  The shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to the Merger (including shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued
upon exercise of Target Options assumed by Acquiror) have been reserved for
issuance and will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-
assessable and issued in compliance with all applicable federal or state
securities laws.

                                     -26-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.3  Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
                  -----------------------------------------------------   

          (a)     Each of Acquiror and Sub has all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to
which it is or will become a party and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and such Transaction Documents.  The execution
and delivery of this Agreement and such Transaction Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such
Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of Acquiror and Sub.  This Agreement has been and such
Transaction Documents have been or, to the extent not executed as of the date
hereof, will be duly executed and delivered by Acquiror and Sub.  This Agreement
and each of the Transaction Documents to which Acquiror or Sub is a party
constitutes, and each of the Transaction Documents to which Acquiror or Sub will
become a party when executed and delivered by Acquiror or Sub will constitute,
the valid and binding obligation of Acquiror or Sub, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general
principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
a proceeding at law or in equity.

          (b)     The execution and delivery by Acquiror or Sub of this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a party
does not, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a party will not, (i)
conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Acquiror or Sub, (ii) result in any
violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time,
or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit) under any of the
terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease,
contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation to which Acquiror or Sub
is a party or by which either of them or any of their properties or assets may
be bound, or (iii) conflict or violate any permit, concession, franchise,
license, judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation
applicable to Acquiror or Sub or any of their properties or assets, except in
the case of (ii) and (iii) for any such conflicts, violations, defaults,
terminations, cancellations or accelerations which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          (c)     No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required by
or with respect to Acquiror or Sub in connection with the execution and delivery
of this Agreement or the Transaction Documents to which it is or will become a
party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby,
except for (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Delaware
Secretary of State, (ii) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable
federal and state securities laws and the laws of any foreign country, and (iii)
such other consents, authorizations, filings, approvals and registrations which,
if not obtained or made, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                                     -27-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.4  Commission Filings; Financial Statements.
                  ----------------------------------------   

          (a)     Acquiror has filed with the Commission and made available to
Target or its representatives all forms, reports and documents required to be
filed by Acquiror with the Commission since March 31, 1998 (collectively, the
"Acquiror Commission Reports"). The Acquiror Commission Reports constitute all
of the documents required to be filed by the Acquiror under Section 13 or 14 of
the Exchange Act with the Commission since March 31, 1998. The Acquiror
Commission Reports (i) at the time filed, (or if amended or superseded by a
filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing)
complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act"), and the Exchange
Act, as the case may be, and (ii) did not at the time they were filed (or if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on
the date of such filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated in such Acquiror Commission
Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Acquiror Commission
Reports, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

          (b)     Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any
related notes) contained in the Acquiror Commission Reports, including any
Acquiror Commission Reports filed after the date of this Agreement until the
Closing, complied or will comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission with respect
thereto, was prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except
as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the Commission) and fairly
presented the consolidated financial position of Acquiror and its subsidiaries
as at the respective dates and the consolidated results of its operations and
cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim
financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end
adjustments which were not or are not expected to be material in amount.

     Section 4.5  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as otherwise
                  ------------------------------------                        
disclosed in the Acquiror Commission Reports, since March 31, 1998, Acquiror and
its subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course and, since
such date, there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Change with respect to
Acquiror any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than any change in the
business of Acquiror occurring as a result of the execution or announcement of
this Agreement and provided that changes in the trading prices of Acquiror
Common Stock shall not constitute a change with respect to Acquiror); or (ii)
any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with
respect to Acquiror or any of its subsidiaries having a Material Adverse Effect
on Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     Section 4.6  Compliance with Laws.  Acquiror has complied with, is not in
                  --------------------                                          
violation of, and has not received any notices of violation with respect to, any
federal, state or local statute, law or regulation with respect to the conduct
of its business, or the ownership or operation of its business, except for
failures to comply or violations which would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                                     -28-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 4.7   Pooling of Interests.  To its knowledge, neither Acquiror
                   --------------------                                       
nor any of its affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action which would
prevent Acquiror from accounting for the business combination to be effected by
the Merger as a pooling of interests.

     Section 4.8   Interim Operations of Sub.  Sub was formed solely for the
                   -------------------------                                  
purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has
engaged in no other business activities and has conducted its operations only as
contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 4.9   Disclosure.  No statements by Acquiror contained in this
                   ----------                                                
Agreement, its exhibits and schedules, or any of the certificates or documents,
including any of the Transaction Documents, required to be delivered by Acquiror
or Sub to Target under this Agreement contain any untrue statement of material
fact or omits (when read together with all such other statements) to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

     Section 4.10  Stockholders Consent.  No consent or approval of the
                   --------------------                                  
shareholders of Acquiror is required or necessary for Acquiror to enter into
this Agreement or the Transaction Documents or to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

     Section 4.11  Litigation.  Except as otherwise disclosed in the Acquiror
                   ----------                                                  
Commission Reports, (i) there is no private or governmental action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending before any agency, court
or tribunal, foreign or domestic, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror or any of its
subsidiaries, threatened against Acquiror or any of its properties or any of its
officers or directors (in their capacities as such), which, if determined
adversely to Acquiror, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Acquiror and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (ii) there is no judgment, decree or order
against Acquiror, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, any of its respective
directors or officers (in their capacities as such) relating to the business of
Acquiror, the presence of which would have Material Adverse Effect with respect
to Acquiror and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.  To Acquiror's knowledge, no
circumstances exist that could form a valid basis for a claim against Acquiror
as a result of the conduct of Acquiror's business (including, without
limitation, any claim of infringement of any intellectual property right) that
would have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Acquiror.

                                   ARTICLE V

                        PRECLOSING COVENANTS OF TARGET
                        ------------------------------

     During the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time,
Target covenants and agrees as follows:

     Section 5.1   Notice to Target Stockholders.  Prior to the Effective Time,
                   -----------------------------
Target will send to all stockholders who have not consented to the Merger
Agreement the notice required under Section 228(d) and Section 262(d)(2) of
Delaware Law, along with the Information Statement.  The notice and the
Information Statement shall comply in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                     -29-
 
<PAGE>
 
     Section 5.2   Advice of Changes.  Target will promptly advise Acquiror in
                   -----------------                                            
writing of any event occurring subsequent to the date of this Agreement which
would render any representation or warranty of Target contained in this
Agreement, if made on or as of the date of such event or the Closing Date,
untrue or inaccurate in any material respect.

     Section 5.3   Operation of Business.  During the period from the date of
                   ---------------------                                       
this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of the
Agreement or the Effective Time, Target agrees (except to the extent that
Acquiror shall otherwise consent in writing), to carry on its business in the
usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
previously conducted, to pay its debts and taxes when due, subject to good faith
disputes over such debts or taxes, to pay or perform other obligations when due,
and, to the extent consistent with such business, use all reasonable efforts
consistent with past practices and policies to preserve intact its present
business organization, keep available the services of its present officers and
key employees and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers,
distributors, licensors, licensees, and others having business dealings with it,
to the end that its goodwill and ongoing businesses shall be unimpaired at the
Effective Time.  Target shall promptly notify Acquiror of any event or
occurrence not in the ordinary course of business of Target.  Except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Target shall not, without the prior
written consent of Acquiror:

          (a)      Accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability or
the vesting schedule of options or restricted stock granted under any employee
stock plan or agreements or authorize cash payments in exchange for any Target
Option or any options granted under any of such plans except as specifically
required by the terms of such plans or any related agreements or any such
agreements in effect as of the date of this Agreement and disclosed in the
Target Disclosure Schedule;

          (b)      Declare or pay any dividends on or make any other
distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its
capital stock, or split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue
or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or
in substitution for shares of capital stock of such party, or purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock
except from former employees, directors and consultants in accordance with
agreements providing for the repurchase of shares in connection with any
termination of service by such party;

          (c)      Issue, deliver or sell or authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any shares of its
capital stock or securities convertible into shares of its capital stock, or
subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire, or other agreements or
commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares or other
convertible securities, other than (i) the issuance of (A) shares of Target
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Target Options or pursuant to other
commitments that are outstanding on the date of this Agreement and set forth in
Schedule 3.2 or (B) shares of Target Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
shares of Target Preferred Stock or (ii) the repurchase of shares of Common
Stock from terminated employees pursuant to the terms of outstanding stock
restriction or similar agreements;

                                     -30-
<PAGE>
 
          (d)      Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with,
or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or substantial portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership
or other business organization or division, or otherwise acquire or agree to
acquire any assets;

          (e)      Sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to
the business of Target, except in the ordinary course of business; 

          (f)      Except as set forth in Section 3.6 of the Disclosure
Schedule, (i) increase or agree to increase the compensation payable or to
become payable to its officers or employees, except for increases in salary or
wages of non-officer employees in accordance with past practices, (ii) grant any
additional severance or termination pay to, or enter into any employment or
severance agreements with, officers, (iii) grant any severance or termination
pay to, or enter into any employment or severance agreement, with any non-
officer employee, except in accordance with past practices, (iv) enter into any
collective bargaining agreement, or (v) establish, adopt, enter into or amend in
any material respect any bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock
option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,
employment, termination, severance or other plan, trust, fund, policy or
arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or employees;

          (g)      Revalue any of its assets, including writing down the value
of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable;

          (h)      Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any
such indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or rights to
acquire any debt securities or guarantee any debt securities of others;

          (i)      Amend or propose to amend its Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws;

          (j)      Incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures in excess
of $50,000 in the aggregate or in excess of $15,000 as to any individual matter;

          (k)      Lease, license, sell, transfer or encumber or permit to be
encumbered any asset, Target Proprietary Right or other property associated with
the business of Target (including sales or transfers to Affiliates of Target)
except for Software License Agreements and Software Development Agreements
entered into in the ordinary course of business.

          (1)      Enter into any lease or contract for the purchase or sale of
any property, real or personal, except in the ordinary course of business;

          (m)      Fail to maintain its equipment and other assets in good 
working condition and repair according to the standards it has maintained up to
the date of this Agreement, subject only to ordinary wear and tear;

          (n)      Change accounting methods;

                                     -31-
<PAGE>
 
          (o)      Amend or terminate any material contract, agreement or
license to which it is a party except in the ordinary course of business;

          (p)      Loan any amount to any person or entity, or guaranty or act
as a surety for any obligation;

          (q)      Waive or release any material right or claim, except in the
ordinary course of business;

          (r)      Make or change any Tax or accounting election, change any
annual accounting period, adopt or change any accounting method, file any
amended Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or
assessment relating to Target, surrender any right to claim refund of Taxes or
consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any
Tax claim or assessment relating to Target if any such election, adoption,
change, amendment, agreement, settlement, surrender, consent or other similar
action or omission would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability of
Target or Acquiror;

          (s)      Take any action, or fail to take any action, that would cause
there to be a Material Adverse Change with respect to Target;

          (t)      Enter into any agreement in which the obligation of Target
exceeds $25,000 or shall not terminate or be subject to termination for
convenience within 180 days following execution;

          (u)      Enter into any agreement not in the ordinary course of
business (including without limitation any material licenses, any OEM
agreements, any exclusive agreements of any kind, or any agreements providing
for obligations that would extend beyond six months of the date of this
Agreement); or

          (v)      Take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in Sections (a) through (u) above, or any action which is
reasonably likely to make any of Target's representations or warranties
contained in this Agreement untrue or incorrect in any material respect on the
date made (to the extent so limited) or as of the Effective Time.

     Section 5.4   Access to Information.  Until the Closing, Target shall
                   ---------------------                                    
allow Acquiror and its agents reasonable free access during normal business
hours upon reasonable notice to its files, books, records, and offices,
including, without limitation, any and all information relating to taxes,
commitments, contracts, leases, licenses, and personal property and financial
condition.  Until the Closing, Target shall cause its accountants to cooperate
with Acquiror and its agents in making available all financial information
requested, including without limitation the right to examine all working papers
pertaining to all financial statements prepared or audited by such accountants.
No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this
Section shall effect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement or its exhibits and schedules.  All such access
shall be subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined in
Section 7.1).

                                     -32-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 5.5   Satisfaction of Conditions Precedent.  Target will use its
                   ------------------------------------                        
best efforts to satisfy or cause to be satisfied all the conditions precedent
which are set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, and Target will use its best
efforts to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be
consummated, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to obtain
all consents and authorizations of third parties and to make all filings with,
and give all notices to, third parties which may be necessary or reasonably
required on its part in order to effect the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.  Target shall use its best efforts to obtain any and all consents
necessary with respect to those Material Contracts listed on Schedule 5.5 of the
Target Disclosure Schedule in connection with the Merger (the "Material
Consents").

     Section 5.6   Other Negotiations.  Target will not (and it will not permit
                   ------------------ 
any of its officers, directors, employees, agents and Affiliates on its behalf
to) take any action to solicit, initiate, seek, encourage or support any
inquiry, proposal or offer from, furnish any information to, or participate in
any negotiations with, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or
group (other than Acquiror) regarding any acquisition of Target, any merger or
consolidation with or involving Target, or any acquisition of any material
portion of the stock or assets of Target or any material license of Target
Proprietary Rights, except for Software License Agreements and Software
Development Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business(any of
the foregoing being referred to in this Agreement as an "Acquisition
Transaction") or enter into an agreement concerning any Acquisition Transaction
with any party other than Acquiror.  If between the date of this Agreement and
the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, Target receives from
a third party any offer or indication of interest regarding any Acquisition
Transaction, or any request for information regarding any Acquisition
Transaction, Target shall (i) notify Acquiror immediately (orally and in
writing) of such offer, indication of interest or request, including the
identity of such party and the full terms of any proposal therein, and (ii)
notify such third party of Target's obligations under this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VI

              PRECLOSING AND OTHER COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR AND SUB
              --------------------------------------------------

     Section 6.1   Advice of Changes.  Acquiror and Sub will promptly advise
                   -----------------                                          
Target in writing of any event occurring subsequent to the date of this
Agreement which would render any representation or warranty of Acquiror or Sub
contained in this Agreement, if made on or as of the date of such event or the
Closing Date, untrue or inaccurate in any material respect.

     Section 6.2   Reservation of Acquiror Common Stock.  Acquiror shall
                   ------------------------------------                   
reserve for issuance, out of its authorized but unissued capital stock, the
maximum number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock as may be issuable upon
consummation of the Merger, including shares of Acquiror Common Stock that will
be issued upon exercise of Target Options assumed by Acquiror.

     Section 6.3   Satisfaction of Conditions Precedent.  Acquiror and Sub will
                   ------------------------------------
use their best efforts to satisfy or cause to be satisfied all the conditions
precedent which are set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.3, and Acquiror and Sub will
use their best efforts to cause the transactions 

                                     -33-
<PAGE>
 
contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated, and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, to obtain all consents and authorizations of third
parties and to make all filings with, and give all notices to, third parties
which may be necessary or reasonably required on its part in order to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     Section 6.4   Nasdaq National Market Listing.  Acquiror shall cause the
                   ------------------------------                             
shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable to the stockholders of Target in the
Merger, including shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
Acquiror Options, to be authorized for listing on the Nasdaq National Market
prior to the Closing.

     Section 6.5   Stock Options.
                   ------------- 

          (a)      At the Effective Time, each outstanding Target Option under
the Target Option Plan, whether vested or unvested, shall be assumed by Acquiror
and deemed to constitute an option (a "Acquiror Option") to acquire, on the same
terms and conditions as were applicable under the Target Option, the same number
of shares of Acquiror Common Stock as the holder of such Target Option would
have been entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger had such holder exercised
such option in full immediately prior to the Effective Time (rounded down to the
nearest whole number), at a price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole
cent) equal to (i) the aggregate exercise price for the shares of Target Common
Stock otherwise purchasable pursuant to such Target Option divided by (ii) the
number of full shares of Acquiror Common Stock deemed purchasable pursuant to
such Acquiror Option in accordance with the foregoing; provided, however, that,
                                                       --------  -------
in the case of any Target Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies
("Incentive stock options"), the option price, the number of shares purchasable
pursuant to such option and the terms and conditions of exercise of such option
shall be determined in order to comply with Section 424(a) of the Code. The
term, exercisability, vesting schedule, acceleration events, status as an
"incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code, if applicable, and all
of the other terms of the option shall otherwise remain unchanged.

          (b)      As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Acquiror
shall deliver to the participants in the Target Option Plan appropriate notice
setting forth such participants' rights pursuant thereto and the grants pursuant
to the Target Option Plan shall continue in effect on the same terms and
conditions (subject to the adjustments required by this Section 6.5 after giving
effect to the Merger). Acquiror shall comply with the terms of the Target Option
Plan and use best efforts to ensure, to the extent required by, and subject to
the provisions of, such Target Option Plan and Sections 422 and 424(a) of the
Code, that Target Options which qualified as incentive stock options prior the
Effective Time continue to qualify as incentive stock options after the
Effective Time.

          (c)      Acquiror shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve
for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock for delivery
upon exercise of Target Options assumed in accordance with this Section 6.5. As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time and in any event no later than 10
business days after the Closing Date, Acquiror shall file a registration
statement on Form S-8 (or any successor or other appropriate forms) under the
Securities Act or another appropriate form with respect to the shares of
Acquiror Common Stock 

                                     -34-
<PAGE>
 
subject to such options and shall use its best efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of such registration statement or registration statements (and
maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein)
for so long as such options remain outstanding.

     Section 6.6   Registration of Shares Issued in the Merger.
                   ------------------------------------------- 

          (a)      Registrable Shares. For purposes of this Agreement,
                   ------------------
"Registrable Shares" shall mean the shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued in
the Merger, including any and all Escrow Shares, but excluding shares of
Acquiror Common Stock issued in the Merger that have been sold or otherwise
transferred without the consent of Acquiror (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld) by the stockholders of Target who initially received such shares in
the Merger prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined
below) (collectively, the "Holders") and excluding shares of Acquiror Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of Target Options (the issuance of which will be
registered on Form S-8); provided however, that a distribution of shares of
Acquiror Common Stock issued in the Merger without additional consideration, to
underlying beneficial owners (such as the general and limited partners,
stockholders or trust beneficiaries of a Holder) shall not be deemed such a sale
or transfer for purposes of this Section 6.6 and such underlying beneficial
owners shall be entitled to the same rights under this Section 6.6 as the
initial Holder from which the Registrable Shares were received and shall be
deemed Holders for the purposes of this Section 6.6.

          (b)     Public Announcement of Combined Financial Results. In the
                  -------------------------------------------------
event that the Effective Time occurs after March 1, 1999 but prior to March 18,
1999, the Acquiror shall use its best efforts to publicly announce the combined
financial results of Target and Acquiror for the 30-day period following the
Closing by April 22, 1999. In the event that the Effective Time occurs after
March 18, 1999, the Acquiror will use its best efforts to publicly announce the
combined financial results of Target and Acquiror for the 30-day period
following the Closing within 45 days of the Effective Time.

          (c)      Required Registration. Acquiror shall use its best efforts to
                   ---------------------  
prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (or
such successor or other appropriate form that Acquiror is eligible to use) under
the Securities Act with respect to the Registrable Shares (the "Registration
Statement") and to effect all such registrations, qualifications and compliances
in connection therewith (including, without limitation, filing any Exchange Act
reports or Financial Statements with the Commission and obtaining appropriate
qualifications under applicable state securities or "blue sky" laws and
compliance with any other applicable governmental requirements or regulations)
as any selling Holder may reasonably request and that would permit or facilitate
the public sale of Registrable Shares (provided however that Acquiror shall not
be required in connection therewith to qualify to do business or to file a
general consent to service of process in any such state or jurisdiction), in
each case so that such Registration Statement and all other such registrations,
qualifications and compliances may become effective no later than 30 days after
the Closing Date, or as soon as practicable thereafter in the event such
Registration Statement becomes subject to review by the Commission Staff.

                                     -35-
<PAGE>
 
          (d)   Effectiveness; Suspension Right.
                ------------------------------- 

                (i)     Acquiror will use its best efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and other applicable registrations,
qualifications and compliances for one (1) year from the Closing Date (the
"Registration Effective Period"), and from time to time will amend or supplement
the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein as and to the
extent necessary to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any
applicable state securities statute or regulation, subject to the following
limitations and qualifications.

                (ii)    Following the date on which the Registration Statement
is first declared effective and subject to the restrictions set forth in the
Affiliates Agreements, the Holders will be permitted (subject in all cases to
Section 6.7 below) to offer and sell Registrable Shares during the Registration
Effective Period in the manner described in the Registration Statement provided
that the Registration Statement remains effective and has not been suspended.


                (iii)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.6,
Acquiror shall have the right at any time to require that all Holders suspend
further open market offers and sales of Registrable Shares whenever, and for
such period of time (but not to exceed sixty (60) days) as, in the reasonable
judgment of Acquiror after consultation with counsel there is material
undisclosed information or events with respect to Acquiror (the "Suspension
Right"). In the event Acquiror exercises the Suspension Right, such suspension
will continue for the period of time reasonably necessary for disclosure to
occur at a time that is not detrimental to Acquiror and its stockholders or
until such time as the information or event is no longer material, each as
determined in good faith by Acquiror after consultation with counsel. Acquiror
will promptly give the Holders notice of any such suspension and will use all
reasonable efforts to minimize the length of the suspension. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Acquiror will not exercise its Suspension Right so as to suspend open
market offers and sales of Registrable Securities for a total of more than 60
days in any fiscal quarter.

          (e)   Expenses. Acquiror shall bear all costs and expenses for
                --------
purposes of this Section 6.6, including, without limitation, printing expenses
(including a reasonable number of prospectuses for circulation by the selling
Holders), reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel for Acquiror and
one counsel for the selling Holders (up to $5,000), "blue sky" expenses,
accounting fees and filing fees, but shall not include underwriting commissions
or similar charges, legal fees and disbursements of other counsel for the
selling Holders.

          (f)   Indemnification.
                --------------- 

                (i)     To the extent permitted by law, Acquiror will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities
Act) for such Holder, its officers, directors, stockholders or partners and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such
losses, claims, 

                                     -36-
<PAGE>
 
damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations
(collectively a "Violation"): (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including
any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any
amendments or supplements thereto, (B) the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (C) any violation or alleged violation by
Acquiror of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or
any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
any state securities law; and Acquiror will pay to each such Holder (and its
officers, directors, stockholders or partners), underwriter or controlling
person, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or
action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6.6(e)(i) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without
the consent of Acquiror; nor shall Acquiror be liable in any such case for any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out
of or is based upon (a) a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in the
Registration Statement by any such Holder, or (b) a Violation that would not
have occurred if such Holder had delivered to the purchaser the version of the
Prospectus most recently provided by Acquiror to the Holder as of the date of
such sale.

                (ii)    To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will
indemnify and hold harmless Acquiror, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who
controls Acquiror within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter, any
other Holder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and any
controlling person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses,
claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing
persons may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other
federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation
(which includes without limitation the failure of the Holder to comply with the
prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act, and the failure of
the Holder to deliver the most current prospectus provided by Acquiror prior to
such sale), in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement or such
Violation is caused by the Holder's failure to deliver to the purchaser of the
Holder's Registrable Shares a prospectus (or amendment or supplement thereto)
that had been made available to the Holder by Acquiror; and each such Holder
will pay any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any person intended
to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 6.6(e)(ii) in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action;
provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section
6.6(e)(ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the
consent of such Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  The
aggregate indemnification and contribution liability of each Holder under this
Section 6.6(e)(ii) shall not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in
connection with sale of shares pursuant to the Registration Statement.

                                     -37-
<PAGE>
 
                (iii)   Each person entitled to indemnification under this
Section 6.6(e) (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required
to provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such
Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be
sought and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such
claim and any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the
                                              --------
Indemnifying Party who conducts the defense of such claim or any litigation
resulting therefrom shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval
shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate
in such defense at such party's expense, and provided further that the failure
                                             -------- -------
of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 6.6 unless the
Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced thereby. No Indemnifying Party, in
the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall (except with the consent of
each Indemnified Party) consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by
the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all
liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Each Indemnified Party shall
furnish such information regarding itself or the claim in question as an
Indemnifying Party may reasonably request in writing and as shall be reasonably
required in connection with the defense of such claim and litigation resulting
therefrom.

                (iv)    To the extent that the indemnification provided for in
this Section 6.6(e) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unavailable to an Indemnified Party with respect to any loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense referred to herein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified
Party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of
the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.

          (g)   Current Public Information.  Until the earlier of the second
                --------------------------                                  
anniversary of the Closing Date (or, if any Holder is an affiliate of Acquiror,
the third anniversary of the Closing Date) or the date all shares of Acquiror
Common Stock subject to this Section 6.6 have been sold, Acquiror will timely
file all reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act, and the
rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, all to the extent
required to enable such Holders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 144 and
the Registration Statement.  Upon written request, Acquiror will deliver to such
Holders a written statement as to whether it has complied with such
requirements.

                                     -38-
<PAGE>
 
     6.7  Procedures for Sale of Shares Under Registration Statement.
          ---------------------------------------------------------- 

          (a)     Delivery of Prospectus.  For any offer or sale of any of the
                  ----------------------                                      
Registrable Shares by a Holder in a transaction that is not exempt under the
Securities Act, the Holder, in addition to complying with any other federal
securities laws, shall deliver a copy of the final prospectus (or amendment of
or supplement to such prospectus) of Acquiror covering the Registrable Shares in
the form furnished to the Holder by Acquiror to the purchaser of any of the
Registrable Shares on or before the settlement date for the purchase of such
Registrable Shares.

          (b)     Copies of Prospectuses. Acquiror shall, within two (2) trading
                  ----------------------
days following the request, furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies
of a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so
that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares, such
prospectus shall not as of the date of delivery to the Holder include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing.

     Section 6.8  Certain Employee Benefit Matters.  From and after the
                  --------------------------------                       
Effective Time, employees of Target at the Effective Time will be provided with
employee benefits by the Surviving Corporation or Acquiror which in the
aggregate are no less favorable to such employees than those provided from time
to time by Acquiror to similarly situated employees.  If any employee of Target
becomes a participant in any employee benefit plan, program, policy or
arrangement of Acquiror, such employee shall be given credit for all service
prior to the Effective Time with Target to the extent permissible under such
plan, program, policy or arrangement.  All Target Options assumed by Acquiror at
the Effective Time pursuant to the terms of Section 6.5(a) shall remain
outstanding following the Effective on the same terms and conditions as prior to
the Effective Time, subject to the adjustments contemplated by such Section 6.5.
Employees of Target as of the Effective Time shall be permitted to participate
in the ESPP commencing on the first enrollment date following the Effective
Time, subject to compliance with the eligibility and other provisions of such
plan.

     Section 6.9  Indemnity of Target Affiliates.
                  ------------------------------   

          (a)     Acquiror shall not, for a period of there years after the
Effective Time, take any action to alter or impair any exculpatory or
indemnification provisions now existing in the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws of Target for the benefit of any individual who served as a director or
officer of Target at any time prior to the Effective Time (the "Indemnified
Executives"), except for any changes which do not affect the application of such
provisions to acts or omissions of such individuals prior to the Effective Time.

          (b)     From and after the Effective Time, Acquiror agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Executive against any costs or
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or amounts paid in settlement incurred in connection with any claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters
existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or
claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to 

                                     -39-
<PAGE>
 
the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law (and Acquiror shall also advance
expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law,
provided the Indemnified Executive to whom expenses are advanced provides an
undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such
Indemnified Executive is not entitled to indemnification).

                                  ARTICLE VII

                               OTHER AGREEMENTS
                               ----------------

     Section 7.1  Confidentiality.  Each party acknowledges Acquiror and
                  ---------------                                         
Target have previously executed a Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement dated November
3, 1998 (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), which agreement shall continue in
full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

     Section 7.2  No Public Announcement.  The parties have agreed upon the
                  ----------------------                                     
form and substances of a joint press release announcing the consummation of the
Merger, which shall be issued at a time and in a manner mutually agreed upon.
Other than such joint press release, the parties shall make no public
announcement concerning this Agreement, their discussions or any other
memoranda, letters or agreements between the parties relating to the Merger;
                                                                            
provided, however, that either of the parties, but only after reasonable
- --------  -------                                                       
consultation with the other, may make disclosure if required under applicable
law.

     Section 7.3  Regulatory Filings; Consents; Reasonable Efforts.  Subject
                  ------------------------------------------------            
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Target and Acquiror shall use
their respective best efforts to (i) make all necessary filings with respect to
the Merger and this Agreement under the Exchange Act and applicable blue sky or
similar securities laws and obtain required approvals and clearances with
respect thereto and supply all additional information requested in connection
therewith; (ii) make merger notification or other appropriate filings with
federal, state or local governmental bodies or applicable foreign governmental
agencies and obtain required approvals and clearances with respect thereto and
supply all additional information requested in connection therewith; (iii)
obtain all consents, waivers, approvals, authorizations and orders required in
connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the consummation of the Merger; and (iv) take, or cause to be taken, all
appropriate action, and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or
advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement as promptly as practicable.

     Section 7.4  Pooling Accounting.  Target and Acquiror shall each use its
                  ------------------                                           
best efforts to cause the business combination to be effected by the Merger to
be accounted for as a pooling of interests.  Neither Target nor Acquiror shall
take any action that would adversely affect the ability of Acquiror to account
for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a pooling of
interests.

     Section 7.5  Further Assurances.  Prior to and following the Closing,
                  ------------------                                        
each party agrees to cooperate fully with the other parties and to execute such
further instruments, documents and agreements and to give such further written
assurances, as may be reasonably requested by any 

                                     -40-
<PAGE>
 
other party to better evidence and reflect the transactions described herein and
contemplated hereby and to carry into effect the intents and purposes of this
Agreement.

     Section 7.6   Escrow Agreement.  On or before the Effective Date, Acquiror
                   ----------------                                 
shall, and the parties hereto shall exercise their best efforts to cause the
Escrow Agent (as defined in Section 10.2) and the Stockholders' Agents (as
defined in Section 10.9) to enter into an Escrow Agreement in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit D.
          --------- 

     Section 7.7   FIRPTA.  Target shall, prior to the Closing Date, provide
                   ------                                                     
Acquiror with a properly executed Foreign Investment and Real Property Tax Act
of 1980 ("FIRPTA") FIRPTA Notification Letter which states that shares of
capital stock of Target do not constitute "United States real property
interests" under Section 897(c) of the Code, for purposes of satisfying
Acquiror's obligations under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1445-2(c)(3).  In
addition, simultaneously with delivery of such FIRPTA Notification Letter,
Target shall provide to Acquiror, as agent for Target, a form of notice to the
Internal Revenue Service in accordance with the requirements of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.897-2(h)(2), along with written authorization for Acquiror
to deliver such notice form to the Internal Revenue Service on behalf of Target
upon the Closing of the Merger.

     Section 7.8   Blue Sky Laws.  Acquiror shall take such steps as may be
                   -------------                                             
necessary to comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all jurisdictions
which are applicable to the issuance of the Acquiror Common Stock in connection
with the Merger.  Target shall use its best efforts to assist Acquiror as may be
necessary to comply with the securities and blue sky laws of all jurisdictions
which are applicable in connection with the issuance of Acquiror Common Stock in
connection with the Merger.

     Section 7.9   Other Filings.  As promptly as practicable after the date of
                   -------------                                     
this Agreement, Target and Acquiror will prepare and file any other filings
required under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other Federal,
foreign or state securities or blue sky laws relating to the Merger and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the "Other Filings").  The Other
Filings will comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of
law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  Whenever any event
occurs which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to any
Other Filing, Target or Acquiror, as the case may be, will promptly inform the
other of such occurrence and cooperate in making any appropriate amendment or
supplement, and/or mailing to stockholders of Target, such amendment or
supplement.

     Section 7.10  Tax Free Reorganization.  No party shall take any action
                   -----------------------                                   
either prior to or after the Effective Time that could reasonably be expected to
cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a "reorganization" under Section 368(a)
of the Code.

                                     -41-
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII

                             CONDITIONS TO MERGER
                             --------------------

     Section 8.1   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
                   ---------------------------------------------------------- 
The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:

          (a)      No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality.  No temporary
                   ----------------------------------------               
restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by
any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or
prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger shall have been issued,
nor shall any proceeding brought by a domestic administrative agency or
commission or other domestic Governmental Entity or other third party, seeking
any of the foregoing be pending; nor shall there be any action taken, or any
statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered, enforced or deemed
applicable to the Merger which makes the consummation of the Merger illegal.

          (b)      Nasdaq. The shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be issued in
                   ------
the Merger (including pursuant to the assumption of Target Options) shall have
been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market.

     Section 8.2   Additional Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror and Sub.
                   --------------------------------------------------------    
The obligations of Acquiror and Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived in
writing exclusively by Acquiror and Sub:

          (a)      Conversion of Preferred Stock; Dissenting Stockholders. All
                   ------------------------------------------------------     
outstanding shares of Target Preferred Stock shall be convertible into shares of
Target Common Stock on a one-share for one-share basis, and holders of not more
than 10% of Target's issued and outstanding capital stock as of the Closing
shall have elected to exercise dissenters' or appraisal rights under Delaware
Law or California Law as to such shares.

          (b)      Escrow Agreement.  The Escrow Agent and Stockholders' Agents
                   ----------------                                         
have executed and delivered to Acquiror the Escrow Agreement and such agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.

          (c)      Investment Representation Letter. Each stockholder of Target
                   -------------------------------- 
who is not an "affiliate" of Target and who has executed a written consent in
favor of the Merger shall have executed and delivered to Acquiror an Investment
Representation Letter, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (each an
                                                      ---------
Representation Letter"), and such agreements shall remain in full force and
effect.

          (d)      Ancillary Agreements.  Each of the Affiliates Agreements,
                   --------------------                                     
Employment Agreements and Noncompetition Agreements executed and delivered
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

                                     -42-
<PAGE>
 
          (e)      Opinion of Target's Counsel.  Acquiror shall have received an
                   ---------------------------                                  
opinion dated the Closing Date of Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to Target, as to
the matters in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.
                                           --------- 

          (f)      Approvals. All authorizations, consents (including the
                   ---------  
Material Consents), or approvals of, or notifications to any third party,
required by Target's contracts, agreements or other obligations in connection
with the consummation of the Merger shall have occurred or been obtained except
for any the absence of which is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect on Target (it being agreed that the absence of consents listed on
Schedule 3.3 would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Target).

          (g)      Termination of Agreements.  The following agreements between
                   -------------------------                                   
Target and certain of its stockholders shall have been terminated:  (i) the
Investor Rights Agreement dated January 15, 1998 among Target and certain
stockholders of Target other than Article VI thereof, and (ii) Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement.

          (h)      Board Resignations. Target shall have received written
                   ------------------
letters of resignation from each of the current members of the Target Board of
Directors and from each officer of Target, in each case effective at the
Effective Time.

          (i)      Pooling Letter; Audit Report.  Acquiror shall have received a
                   ----------------------------                                 
letter from Ernst & Young LLP dated as of the Closing Date and addressed to
Acquiror regarding such firm's unqualified concurrence with Acquiror's
management's conclusion that the business combination to be effected by the
Merger will qualify as a pooling of interests transaction under generally
accepted accounting principles if consummated in accordance with this Agreement.
Target shall have received a letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding
such firm's unqualified concurrence with Target's management's conclusion that
Target is eligible to participate in a business combination to be accounted for
as a pooling of interests and the audit report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
for the Target Financial Statements.

     Section 8.3   Additional Conditions to Obligations of Target.  The
                   ----------------------------------------------        
obligation of Target to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of each
of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively
by Target:

          (a)      Tax Opinion. Target shall have received the opinion dated the
                   -----------     
Closing Date of Hale and Dorr LLP, counsel to Target, to the effect that the
Merger will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a tax-free
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; provided,
                                                                 ---------
however, that if the counsel to Target does not render such opinion, this
- -------
condition shall nonetheless be deemed to be satisfied with respect to Target if
Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation, counsel to Acquiror renders such
opinion to Target. In rendering such opinion, counsel for Target or Acquiror
shall be entitled to rely upon, among other things, reasonable assumptions as
well as representations of Acquiror, Sub and Target.

          (b)      Opinion of Acquiror's Counsel.  Target shall have received an
                   -----------------------------                                
opinion dated the Closing Date of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation,
counsel to Acquiror, as to the matters attached hereto as Exhibit G.
                                                          --------- 
                                     -43-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE IX

                           TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
                           -------------------------

     Section 9.1   Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time
                   -----------                                                 
prior to the Effective Time:

          (a)      by mutual written consent of Acquiror and Target;

          (b)      by either Acquiror or Target, by giving written notice to the
other party, if a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity
shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling or taken any
other action, in each case having the effect of permanently restraining,
enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger, except, if such party relying on
such order, decree or ruling or other action shall not have complied with its
respective obligations under Sections 5.5 or 6.3 of this Agreement, as the case
may be;

          (c)      by Acquiror, by giving written notice to Target, if the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)
on March 23, 1999 (the "Deadline") by reason of the failure of any condition
precedent under Section 8.1 or 8.2 (unless the failure results primarily from a
breach by Acquiror of any representation, warranty, or covenant of Acquiror
contained in this Agreement or Acquiror's failure to fulfill a condition
precedent to closing or other default); or

          (d)      by Target, by giving written notice to Acquiror, if the
Closing shall not have occurred on or before the Deadline, by reason of the
failure of any condition precedent under Section 8.1 or 8.3 (unless the failure
results primarily from a breach by Target of any representation, warranty, or
covenant of Target contained in this Agreement or Target's failure to fulfill a
condition precedent to closing or other default).

     Section 9.2   Effect of Termination.  In the event of termination of this
                   ---------------------                                        
Agreement as provided in Section 9.1, this Agreement shall immediately become
void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of Acquiror,
Target, Sub or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or Affiliates,
except as set forth in Section 9.3 and further except to the extent that such
termination results from the willful breach by any such party of any of its
representations, warranties or covenants set forth in this Agreement.

     Section 9.3   Fees and Expenses.
                   -----------------   

          (a)      If the Merger fails to close by the Deadline, and such
failure is due to a willful breach by Acquiror or Sub or because the conditions
set forth in Section 8.1(b), 8.2(b) (insofar as it relates to the Escrow Agent)
or 8.2(i) (other than as a result of a failure of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to
deliver the letter and audit report referenced in the last sentence of Section
8.2(i)) are not satisfied or waived by the relevant parties by the Deadline,
then Acquiror shall pay to Target a termination fee of U.S. $6,000,000, in
immediately available funds to an account in the United States specified by
Target within three business days after the Deadline. Acquiror, Merger Sub and
Target agree that the agreement contained in the 

                                     -44-
<PAGE>
 
immediately preceding sentence is an integral part of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and constitutes liquidated damages and not a
penalty; provided that such payment shall not deprive Target of any remedy it
may have for a willful breach of this Agreement by Acquiror or Sub. Except as
set forth in this Section 9.3, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated. Target
has submitted a budget to Acquiror for completion of the Merger.

          (b)      If the Merger is consummated, all legal, accounting,
investment banking, broker's and finder's fees and expenses incurred by Target
or its stockholders in connection with the Merger shall be deemed expenses of
the stockholders of Target to the extent such fees and expenses exceed $300,000
and shall be borne by the stockholders of Target to such extent and will not
become obligations of Target. Target will make arrangements for the payments of
such fees acceptable to Acquiror. Any such fees and expenses in excess of
$300,000 incurred by Target shall be recoverable by Acquiror from the Escrow
Fund (as defined in Section 10.2) as Damages (as defined in Section 10.1)
without regard to the damage threshold as contemplated by Section 10.3.

                                   ARTICLE X

                          ESCROW AND INDEMNIFICATION
                          --------------------------

     Section 10.1  Indemnification.  From and after the Effective Time and
                   ---------------                                          
subject to the limitations contained in Section 10.2, the Former Target
Stockholders will, severally and pro rata, in accordance with their Pro Rata
Portion, indemnify and hold Acquiror harmless against any loss, expense,
liability or other damage, including attorneys' fees, to the extent of the
amount of such loss, expense, liability or other damage (collectively "Damages")
that Acquiror has incurred by reason of the breach by Target of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Target contained in this
Agreement that occurs or becomes known to Acquiror during the Escrow Period (as
defined in Section 10.4 below). Such indemnification shall be Acquiror's sole
and exclusive remedy for any such breach by Target, provided, however, that, in
                                                    --------  -------          
addition to the Former Target Stockholders' Pro Rata Portion of the Escrow Fund,
each Former Target Stockholder shall be fully liable to the Acquiror for any
Damages relating to such Former Target Stockholder's willful misrepresentation
or fraud in connection with the representations and warranties set forth herein
and the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and in connection with
the Merger without limitation.  Acquiror acknowledges that, with respect to the
evaluation of the Target Financial Statements for purposes of making any claim
under this Section 10.1 for a breach of the representations set forth in Section
3.4(b), Acquiror and its independent public accountants, Ernst & Young LLP, have
had the opportunity to review Target's accounting policies and methods and
underlying assumptions inherent in the Target Financial Statements and,
accordingly, Acquiror shall be required to consistently apply the accounting
policies, methods and assumptions in the audited Target Financial Statements.

     Section 10.2  Escrow Fund.  As security for the indemnities in Section
                   -----------                                               
10.1, as soon as practicable after the Effective Date, the Escrow Shares shall
be deposited with, Harris Trust 

                                     -45-
<PAGE>
 
Company of California (or such other institution selected by Acquiror with the
reasonable consent of Target) as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent"), such deposit
to constitute the Escrow Fund (the "Escrow Fund") and to be governed by the
terms set forth in this Article X and in the Escrow Agreement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the indemnification obligations of the Former Target Stockholders
pursuant to this Article X shall be limited to the amount and assets deposited
and present in the Escrow Fund and Acquiror shall not be entitled to pursue any
claims for indemnification under this Article X against any Former Target
Stockholder directly or personally and the sole recourse of Acquiror shall be to
make claims against the Escrow Fund in accordance with the terms of the Escrow
Agreement (except for cases involving willful misrepresentation or fraud as set
forth above).

     Section 10.3  Damage Threshold.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
                   ----------------                                       
Former Target Stockholders shall have no liability under Section 10.1 and
Acquiror may not receive any shares from the Escrow Fund unless and until an
Officer's Certificate or Certificates (as defined in Section 10.5 below) for an
aggregate amount of Acquiror's Damages in excess of $300,000 has been delivered
to the Stockholders' Agents and to the Escrow Agent; provided, however, that
                                                     --------  -------      
after an Officer's Certificate or Certificates for an aggregate of $300,000 in
Damages has been delivered, Acquiror shall be entitled to receive Escrow Shares
equal in value to the full amount of Damages identified in such Officer's
Certificate or Certificates.  The amount of Damages recoverable by Acquiror or a
subsidiary of Acquiror under this Article X with respect to an indemnity clam
shall be reduced by any proceeds received by Acquiror or a subsidiary of
Acquiror, with respect to the Damages to which such indemnity claim relates,
from an insurance carrier.

     Section 10.4  Escrow Periods.  The Escrow Fund shall commence on the
                   --------------                                          
Closing Date and terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) the date 6 months
after the date of the Closing or (ii) the date of issuance of the first
independent audit report on Acquiror's financial statements after the Closing,
which financial statements include the financial results of Target (the period
from the Closing to such date referred to as the "Escrow Period"), provided,
                                                                   -------- 
however, that the number of Escrow Shares, which, in the reasonable judgment of
- -------                                                                        
Acquiror and as set forth in an Officer's Certificate delivered pursuant to
Section 10.5, subject to the objection of the Stockholders' Agents and the
subsequent resolution of the matter in the manner provided in Section 10.8, are
necessary to satisfy any unsatisfied claims specified in any Officer's
Certificate theretofore delivered to the Escrow Agent and the Stockholders'
Agents (as defined in Section 10.9) prior to termination of the Escrow Period
with respect to Damages incurred or litigation pending prior to expiration of
the Escrow Period, shall remain in the Escrow Fund until such claims have been
finally resolved.

     Section 10.5  Claims Upon Escrow Fund.  Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent
                   -----------------------                                     
on or before the last day of the Escrow Period of a certificate signed by any
appropriately authorized officer of Acquiror (an "Officer's Certificate"):

          (i)      Stating the aggregate amount of Acquiror's Damages or an
estimate thereof, in each case to the extent known or determinable at such time,
and,

                                     -46-
<PAGE>
 
          (ii)      Specifying in reasonable detail the individual items of such
Damages included in the amount so stated, the date each such item was paid or
properly accrued or arose, and the nature of the misrepresentation, breach or
claim to which such item is related, the Escrow Agent shall, subject to the
provisions of Sections 10.3 and 10.8 hereof, deliver to Acquiror out of the
Escrow Fund, as promptly as practicable, Escrow Shares having a value equal to
such Damages all in accordance with the Escrow Agreement and Section 10.6 below.
Amounts paid or distributed from the Escrow Fund shall be paid or distributed
pro rata among the Holders (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) based upon their
respective percentage interests therein at the time.

     Section 10.6   Valuation. For the purpose of compensating Acquiror for its
                    ---------
Damages pursuant to this Agreement, the value per share of the Escrow Shares
shall be the Closing Stock Price.

     Section 10.7   Objections to Claims. At the time of delivery of any
                    -------------------- 
Officer's Certificate to the Escrow Agent, a duplicate copy of such Officer's
Certificate shall be delivered to the Stockholders' Agents (as defined in
Section 10.9 below) and for a period of thirty (30) days after such delivery,
the Escrow Agent shall make no delivery of Escrow Shares pursuant to Section
10.5 unless the Escrow Agent shall have received written authorization from the
Stockholders' Agents to make such delivery. After the expiration of such thirty
(30) day period, the Escrow Agent shall make delivery of the Escrow Shares in
the Escrow Fund in accordance with Section 10.5, provided that no such delivery
may be made if the Stockholders' Agents shall object in a written statement to
the claim made in the Officer's Certificate, and such statement shall have been
delivered to the Escrow Agent and to Acquiror prior to the expiration of such
thirty (30) day period.

     Section 10.8   Resolution of Conflicts.
                    -----------------------

          (a)       In case the Stockholders' Agents shall so object in writing
to any claim or claims by Acquiror made in any Officer's Certificate, Acquiror
shall have thirty (30) days to respond in a written statement to the objection
of the Stockholders' Agents. If after such thirty (30) day period there remains
a dispute as to any claims, the Stockholders' Agents and Acquiror shall attempt
in good faith for thirty (30) days to agree upon the rights of the respective
parties with respect to each of such claims. If the Stockholders' Agents and
Acquiror should so agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be
prepared and signed by both parties and shall be furnished to the Escrow Agent.
The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely on any such memorandum and shall
distribute the Escrow Shares from the Escrow Fund in accordance with the terms
of the memorandum.

          (b)       If no such agreement can be reached after good faith
negotiation, either Acquiror or the Stockholders' Agents may, by written notice
to the other, demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount of the damage
or loss at issue is in pending litigation with a third party, in which event
arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount is ascertained or both
parties agree to arbitration; and in either such event the matter shall be
settled by arbitration conducted by three arbitrators. Within fifteen (15) days
after such written notice is sent, 

                                     -47-
<PAGE>
 
Acquiror (on the one hand) and the Stockholders' Agents (on the other hand)
shall each select one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so selected shall
select a third arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrators as to the validity
and amount of any claim in such Officer's Certificate shall be binding and
conclusive upon the parties to this Agreement, and notwithstanding anything in
Section 10.5, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to act in accordance with such
decision and make or withhold payments out of the Escrow Fund in accordance with
such decision.

          (c)       Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be held in
Chicago, Illinois under the commercial rules then in effect of the American
Arbitration Association. The non-prevailing party to an arbitration shall pay
its own expenses, the fees of each arbitrator, the administrative fee of the
American Arbitration Association, and the expenses, including, without
limitation, the reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, incurred by the prevailing
party to the arbitration or as otherwise ordered by the arbitrators.

     Section 10.9   Stockholders' Agents.
                    --------------------

          (a)       Timothy Barrows and David Aronoff shall be constituted and
appointed as agents (the "Stockholders' Agents") for and on behalf of the Former
Target Stockholders to give and receive notices and communications, to authorize
delivery to Acquiror of the Escrow Shares or other property from the Escrow Fund
in satisfaction of claims by Acquiror, to object to such deliveries, to agree
to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and demand arbitration
and comply with orders of courts and awards of arbitrators with respect to such
claims, and to take all actions necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the
Stockholders' Agents for the accomplishment of the foregoing. All actions of the
Stockholders' Agents shall be taken jointly, not individually. Such agency may
be changed by the holders of a majority in interest of the Escrow Shares from
time to time upon not less than ten (10) days' prior written notice to Acquiror.
No bond shall be required of the Stockholders' Agents, and the Stockholders'
Agents shall receive no compensation for services. Notices or communications to
or from the Stockholders' Agents shall constitute notice to or from each of the
Former Target Stockholders.

          (b)       The Stockholders' Agents shall not be liable for any act
done or omitted hereunder as Stockholders' Agent while acting in good faith and
in the exercise of reasonable judgment, and any act done or omitted pursuant to
the advice of counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The
Former Target Stockholders shall severally and pro rata, in accordance with
their Pro Rata Portion, indemnify the Stockholders' Agents and hold them
harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Stockholders' Agents and arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of their duties
hereunder under this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement.

          (c)       The Stockholders' Agents shall have reasonable access to
information about Target and Acquiror and the reasonable assistance of Target's
and Acquiror's officers and employees for purposes of performing their duties
and exercising their rights under this Article X, provided that the
                                                  --------         
Stockholders' Agents shall treat confidentially and not disclose any 

                                     -48-
<PAGE>
 
nonpublic information from or about Target or Acquiror to anyone (except on a
need to know basis to individuals who agree to treat such information
confidentially).

     Section 10.10  Actions of the Stockholders' Agents. A decision, act,
                    ----------------------------------- 
consent or instruction of the Stockholders' Agents shall constitute a decision
of all of the Former Target Stockholders for whom shares of Acquiror Common
Stock otherwise issuable to them are deposited in the Escrow Fund and shall be
final, binding and conclusive upon each such Former Target Stockholder, and the
Escrow Agent and Acquiror may rely upon any decision, act, consent or
instruction of the Stockholders' Agents as being the decision, act, consent or
instruction of each and every such Former Target Stockholder. The Escrow Agent
and Acquiror are hereby relieved from any liability to any person for any acts
done by them in accordance with such decision, act, consent or instruction of
the Stockholders' Agents.

     Section 10.11  Third-Party Claims.
                    ------------------

          (a)       If any third party shall notify Acquiror or its affiliates
with respect to any matter (hereinafter referred to as a "Third Party Claim"),
                                                          -----------------
which may result in Damages, then Acquiror shall give prompt notice to
Stockholders' Agents (and in any event within 30 days) of Acquiror becoming
aware of any such Third Party Claim or of facts upon which any such Third Party
Claim will be based setting forth such material information with respect to the
Third Party Claim as is reasonably available to Acquiror; provided, however,
that no delay or failure on the part of Acquiror in notifying Stockholders'
Agents shall relieve Stockholders from any obligation hereunder unless
Stockholders are thereby prejudiced (and then solely to the extent of such
prejudice). The Former Target Stockholders shall not be liable for any attorneys
fees or expenses incurred by Acquiror prior to Acquiror's giving notice to
Stockholders' Agents of a Third Party Claim.

          (b)       In case any Third Party Claim is asserted against Acquiror
or its affiliates, and Acquiror notifies Stockholders' Agents thereof pursuant
to Section 10.11(a) above, Stockholders' Agents will be entitled, if they so
elect by written notice delivered to Acquiror within 30 days after receiving
Acquiror's notice, to assume the defense thereof, at the expense of
Stockholders' Agents (independent of the Escrow Fund), so long as

                    (i)    Acquiror has reasonably determined that Damages which
may be incurred as a result of the Third Party Claim do not exceed either
individually, or when aggregated with all other Third Party Claims, the total
dollar value of the Escrow Shares determined in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement;

                    (ii)   the Third Party Claim involves only money damages and
does not seek an injunction or other equitable relief;

                    (iii)  settlement of, or an adverse judgment with respect
to, the Third Party Claim is not, in the good faith judgment of Acquiror, likely
to establish a precedential custom or practice adverse to the continuing
business interests of Acquiror which could have a material adverse effect on the
business or operations of Acquiror; and

                                     -49-
<PAGE>
 
                    (iv)   counsel selected by Stockholders' Agents is
reasonably acceptable to Acquiror.

                    If Stockholders' Agents so assume any such defense, they
shall conduct the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and diligently.
Stockholders' Agents shall not compromise or settle such Third Party Claim or
consent to entry of any judgment in respect thereof without the prior written
consent of Acquiror.

          (c)       In the event that Stockholders' Agents assume the defense of
the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 10.11(b) above, Acquiror or its
affiliates may retain separate counsel and participate in the defense of the
Third Party Claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of Acquiror unless Acquiror or its affiliates shall reasonably determine
that there is a material conflict of interest between or among Acquiror or its
affiliates and Stockholders with respect to such Third Party Claim, in which
case the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel will be borne by the
Former Target Stockholders. Acquiror or its affiliates will not consent to the
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third
Party Claim without the prior written consent of Stockholders' Agents. Acquiror
will cooperate in the defense of the Third Party Claim and will provide full
access to documents, assets, properties, books and records reasonably requested
by Stockholders' Agents and material to the claim and will make available all
officers, directors and employees reasonably requested by Stockholders' Agents
for investigation, depositions and trial.

          (d)       In the event that Stockholders' Agents fail or elect not to
assume the defense of Acquiror or its affiliates against such Third Party Claim,
which Stockholders' Agents had the right to assume under Section 10.2(b) above,
(i) Acquiror or its affiliates shall have the right to undertake the defense and
(ii) Acquiror shall not compromise or settle such Third Party Claim or consent
to entry of any judgment in respect thereof without the prior written consent of
Stockholders' Agents. In the event that the Stockholders' Agents are not
entitled to assume the defense of Acquiror or its affiliates against such Third
Party Claim pursuant to Section 10.2(b) above, Acquiror or its affiliates shall
have the right to undertake the defense, consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim in any manner it
may deem appropriate (and Acquiror or its affiliates need not consult with, or
obtain any consent from, Stockholders' Agents in connection therewith);
provided, however, that except with the written consent of Stockholders' Agents,
no settlement of any such claim or consent to the entry of any judgment with
respect to such Third Party Claim shall alone be determinative of the validity
of the claim against the Escrow Fund. In each case, Acquiror or its affiliates
shall conduct the defense of the Third Party Claim actively and diligently, and
Former Target Stockholders and Stockholders' Agents will cooperate with Acquiror
or its affiliates in the defense of that claim and will provide full access to
documents, assets, properties, books and records reasonably requested by
Acquiror and material to the claim and will make available all individuals
reasonably requested by Acquiror for investigation, depositions and trial.

                                     -50-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XI

                                 MISCELLANEOUS
                                 -------------

     Section 11.1   Survival of Representations and Covenants.  All
                    -----------------------------------------        
representations and warranties of Target, Acquiror and Sub contained in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing and any investigation at any time made by or
on behalf of Acquiror or Target until the end of the Escrow Period; provided
that the maximum amount recoverable under this Agreement by the Former Target
Stockholders for a breach of the representations and warranties of Acquiror or
Sub shall be an amount equal to 10% of the total number of shares of Acquiror
Common Stock issued in the Merger multiplied by the Closing Stock Price.  Such
limit shall not apply to remedies the Former Target Stockholders may have,
independent of this Agreement, under applicable law.  If Escrow Shares or other
assets are retained in the Escrow Fund beyond expiration of the period specified
in the Escrow Agreement, then (notwithstanding the expiration of such time
period) the representation, warranty, covenant or agreement applicable to such
claim shall survive until, but only for purposes of, the resolution of the claim
to which such retained Escrow Shares or other assets relate.  All covenants and
agreements of Target, Acquiror and Sub shall continue in effect in accordance
with their terms.

     Section 11.2   Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder
                    -------                                                   
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (which is confirmed) or two business days after being mailed by
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):

          with a copy to:

       (a)  if to Acquiror or Sub:

                    Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
                    6290 Sequence Drive
                    San Diego, California  92121
                    Attention:  Chief Executive Officer
                    Fax No. (619) 450-9885
                    Telephone No:  (619) 450-9333

          with a copy at the same address to the attention of the General
          Counsel and Secretary and with a copy to:

                    Venture Law Group
                    A Professional Corporation
                    2800 Sand Hill Road
                    Menlo Park, California  94025
                    Attention:  Mark A. Medearis
                    Fax No:  (650) 233-8386

                                     -51-
<PAGE>
 
                    Telephone No:  (650) 854-4488

       (b)          if to Target, to:

                    Cimaron Communications Corporation
                    200 Brickstone Square
                    Andover, Massachusetts  01810
                    Attention:  President
                    Fax No:  (978) 623-0024
                    Telephone No:  (978) 623-0009

          with a copy to:
   
                    Hale and Dorr LLP
                    60 State Street
                    Boston, MA 02109
                    Attention:  Patrick J. Rondeau, Esq.
                    Fax No:  (617) 526-5000
                             -------------
                    Telephone No:  (617) 526-6000
                                   --------------

     Section 11.3   Interpretation.  When a reference is made in this Agreement
                    --------------
to Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated.  The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.  Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation."  The phrase "made available" in this
Agreement shall mean that the information referred to has been made available if
requested by the party to whom such information is to be made available.
References to the "knowledge of Target" or "Target's knowledge" or any similar
expression shall mean the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of Ram
Sudireddy, Gary Martin and Steve Boulanger and any other individual who is an
executive officer or director of Target.

     Section 11.4   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or
                    ------------                                             
more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by
each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that
all parties need not sign the same counterpart.

     Section 11.5   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This
                    ----------------------------------------------         
Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to herein), the
Confidentiality Agreement, and the Transaction Documents (a) constitute the
entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
and (b) are not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto
(including without limitation any Target employees) any rights or remedies
hereunder; provided that the provisions in Article II concerning issuance of
shares of Acquiror Common Stock in the Merger, the representations and
warranties in Article IV and the provisions in 
                                   

                                     -52-
<PAGE>
 
Section 6.6 concerning registration rights are intended for the benefit of all
Target stockholders and may be enforced by them; and the provisions in Section
6.9 concerning indemnification of directors and officers are intended for the
benefit of such individuals and may be enforced by them.

     Section 11.6   Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed and
                    -------------                                         
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to
any applicable conflicts of law.

     Section 11.7   Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
                    ----------                                                  
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective successors and assigns.

     Section 11.8   Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended by the parties
                    ---------                                                 
hereto, at any time before or after approval of matters presented in connection
with the Merger by the stockholders of Target, but after any such stockholder
approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires the further approval
of stockholders without obtaining such further approval.  This Agreement may not
be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.

     Section 11.9   Extension; Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective
                    -----------------                                       
Time, the parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time
for the performance of any of the obligations or the other acts of the other
parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations or warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party.

     Section 11.10  Specific Performance.  The parties hereto agree that
                    --------------------                                  
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled
to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce
specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States
or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity.



                           [Signature Page Follows]

                                     -53-
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Acquiror, Sub and Target have caused this Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization to be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the date first written above.

     
                                   APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS 
CORPORATION

                                   By:_______________________________

                                   Title:____________________________

                                   WILEY ACQUISITION
                                   CORPORATION

                                   By:_______________________________

                                   Title:____________________________



                                   CIMARON COMMUNICATIONS 
CORPORATION


                                   By:_______________________________

                                   Title:____________________________

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1




April  13, 1999


Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
6290 Sequence Drive
San Diego, CA  92121

     Registration Statement on Form S-3 ( File No. 333-_____)
     --------------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by you
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about April  13, 1999 (the
"Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933 of shares of your common stock (the "Shares"), to be sold
by certain stockholders listed in the Registration Statement (the "Selling
Stockholders").  As your legal counsel in connection with this transaction, we
have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings
proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale of the Shares.

     It is our opinion that the Shares, when sold by the selling stockholders in
the manner described in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it appears in the
Registration Statement and in any amendment to it.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    VENTURE LAW GROUP
                                    A Professional Corporation


                                    /s/ VENTURE LAW GROUP


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