CISCO SYSTEMS INC
424B3, 1998-12-02
COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>   1
                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                Commission File No. 333-67789



                                2,083,039 SHARES


                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK


        This Prospectus relates to the public offering, which is not being
underwritten, of 2,083,039 shares of our Common Stock which is held by some of
our current shareholders and optionholders.

        The prices at which such shareholders and optionholders may sell the
shares will be determined by the prevailing market price for the shares or in
negotiated transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale
of the shares.

        Our Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "CSCO." On November 20, 1998, the average of the high and low price for
the Common Stock was $74.63.

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

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

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


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

                The date of this Prospectus is December 2, 1998



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<PAGE>   2




        No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with
the offering made hereby, and if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Cisco
Systems, Inc. (referred to in this Prospectus as "Cisco" or the "Registrant"),
any selling shareholder or by any other person. Neither the delivery of this
Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create
any implication that information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to
the date hereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities covered
by this Prospectus, nor does it constitute an offer to or solicitation of any
person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation may not lawfully
be made.

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at
the SEC's public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information
on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public
from our web site at http://cisco.com or at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov.

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information filed with the
SEC will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the
documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section
13a, 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until our
offering is completed.

               (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July 25, 1998,
        filed September 25, 1998, including certain information in Cisco's
        Definitive Proxy Statement in connection with Cisco's 1998 Annual
        Meeting of Shareholders and certain information in Cisco's Annual Report
        to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 25, 1998;

               (b) Cisco's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed October 13, 1998
        and November 20, 1998, respectively;

               (c) The description of Cisco common stock contained in its
        registration statement on Form 8-A filed January 8, 1990, including any
        amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such
        descriptions; and

               (d) The description of Cisco's Preferred Stock Purchase Rights,
        contained in its registration statement on Form 8-A filed on June 11,
        1998, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of
        updating such description.

        You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:

               Larry R. Carter
               Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
               Cisco Systems, Inc.
               255 West Tasman Drive
               San Jose, CA 95134
               408-526-4000

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement. We have authorized no
one to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of
these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not
assume that the information in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement is
accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.



                                       3

<PAGE>   3


                                   THE COMPANY

        Cisco's principal executive offices are located at 255 West Tasman
Drive, San Jose, California 95134. Cisco's telephone number is (408) 526-4000.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        Cisco is registering all 2,083,039 shares (the "Shares") on behalf of
certain selling shareholders. All of the shares either originally were issued by
us or will be issued upon exercise of options to acquire shares of our common
stock in connection with our acquisition of Clarity Wireless Incorporated. We
merged with Clarity Wireless Incorporated and we were the surviving corporation.
Cisco will receive no proceeds from this offering. The Selling Shareholders
named in the table below or pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors-in-interest selling shares received from a named selling shareholder
as a gift, partnership distribution or other non-sale-related transfer after the
date of this prospectus (collectively, the "Selling Shareholders") may sell the
shares from time to time. The Selling Shareholders will act independently of
Cisco in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each
sale. The sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter
market or otherwise, at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related
to the then current market price, or in negotiated transactions. The Selling
Shareholders may effect such transactions by selling the shares to or through
broker-dealers. The shares may be sold by one or more of, or a combination of,
the following:

        -       a block trade 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,

        -       purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such
                broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus,

        -       an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of such
                exchange,

        -       ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
                broker solicits purchasers, and

        -       in privately negotiated transactions.

        To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented
from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. In effecting
sales, broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Shareholders may arrange for other
broker-dealers to participate in the resales.

        The Selling Shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In
such transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the
course of hedging the positions they assume with Selling Shareholders. The
Selling Shareholders also may sell shares short and redeliver the shares to
close out such short positions. The Selling Shareholders may enter into option
or other transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery to the
broker-dealer of the shares. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise
transfer such shares pursuant to this prospectus. The Selling Shareholders also
may loan or pledge the shares to a broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the
shares so loaned, or upon a default the broker-dealer may sell the pledged
shares pursuant to this prospectus.

        Broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of
commissions, discounts or concessions from Selling Shareholders. Broker-dealers
or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of the shares for
whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both.
Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary
commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with the sale.
Broker-dealers or agents and any other participating broker-dealers or the
Selling Shareholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with sales of the shares.
Accordingly, any such commission, discount or concession received by them and
any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. Because Selling
Shareholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act, the Selling Shareholders will be subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. In addition, any
securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule
144 promulgated under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this prospectus. The Selling Shareholders have advised Cisco that
they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or 



                                       4

<PAGE>   4


arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their
securities. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection
with the proposed sale of shares by Selling Shareholders.

        The shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or
dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in
certain states the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration
or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

        Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in the distribution of the shares may not simultaneously engage
in market making activities with respect to our common stock for a period of two
business days prior to the commencement of such distribution. In addition, each
Selling Shareholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act
and the associated rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including
Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of
shares of our common stock by the Selling Shareholders. Cisco will make copies
of this prospectus available to the Selling Shareholders and has informed them
of the need for delivery of copies of this prospectus to purchasers at or prior
to the time of any sale of the shares.

        Cisco will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act upon being notified by a Selling
Shareholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a
broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, special offering,
exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or
dealer. Such supplement will disclose:

        -       the name of each such Selling Shareholder and of the
                participating broker-dealer(s),

        -       the number of shares involved,

        -       the price at which such shares were sold,

        -       the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
                broker-dealer(s), where applicable,

        -       that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to
                verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in
                this prospectus, and

        -       other facts material to the transaction.

        In addition, upon being notified by a Selling Shareholder that a donee
or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares, Cisco will file a supplement to
this prospectus.

        Cisco will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the
registration of the shares. The Selling Shareholders will bear all commissions
and discounts, if any, attributable to the sales of the shares. The Selling
Shareholders may agree to indemnify any broker-dealer or agent that participates
in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The Selling Shareholders
have agreed to indemnify certain persons, including broker-dealers and agents,
against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of the shares,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.




                                       5


<PAGE>   5



                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth the number of shares owned by each of the
Selling Shareholders. None of the Selling Shareholders has had a material
relationship with Cisco within the past three years other than as a result of
the ownership of the shares or other securities of Cisco. No estimate can be
given as to the amount of shares that will be held by the Selling Shareholders
after completion of this offering because the Selling Shareholders may offer all
or some of the shares and because there currently are no agreements,
arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the shares.
The shares offered by this prospectus may be offered from time to time by the
Selling Shareholders named below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Number of
                                            Number of Shares     Percent of         Shares
                                              Beneficially      Outstanding     Registered for
Name of Selling Shareholder                      Owned             Shares       Sale Hereby(1)
- ---------------------------                 ----------------    -----------     --------------
<S>                                               <C>                               <C>    
Stritter, Edward P...........................     327,100            *              327,100
Raleigh, Greg G..............................     325,466            *              325,466
Pollack, Mike A..............................     211,940            *              211,940
Jones, Vincent K IV..........................     211,294            *              211,294
Robert T. Wall...............................     168,895            *              168,895
David R. Johnson.............................      83,949            *               83,949
82 additional  Selling   Shareholders,
   each of whom beneficially owns
   less than one-tenth of one percent
   of the total outstanding Common
   Stock of Cisco as of September 23, 1998...     754,395            *              754,395
                                                =========        =====            =========
               Total                            2,083,039            *            2,083,039
</TABLE>

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

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

(1) This registration statement also shall cover any additional shares of common
stock which become issuable in connection with the shares registered for sale
hereby by reason of any stock divided, stock split, recapitalization or other
similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results
in an increase in the number of Cisco's outstanding shares of common stock.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for
Cisco by Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, Palo Alto, California.

                                    EXPERTS

        The consolidated balance sheets as of July 25, 1998 and July 26, 1997
and the consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended July 25, 1998 incorporated
by reference in this prospectus, have been incorporated herein in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the
authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.



                                       6


<PAGE>   6




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


We have not authorized any person to make a statement that differs from what is
in this prospectus. If any person does make a statement that differs from what
is in this prospectus, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an
offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these securities in any state
in which the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus
is complete and accurate as of its date, but the information may change after
that date.




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



                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                PAGE
                                                ----
<S>                                              <C>
Where You Can Find More Information...............3
The Company.......................................4
Plan of Distribution..............................4
Selling Shareholders..............................6
Legal Matters.....................................6
Experts...........................................6
</TABLE>








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




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





                               CISCO SYSTEMS, INC.



                                2,083,039 SHARES
                                 OF COMMON STOCK






                                   ----------

                                   PROSPECTUS

                                   ----------





                                December 2, 1998








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






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