LEGATO SYSTEMS INC
PRE 14A, 1998-03-24
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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                              LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.
                                3210 Porter Drive
                           Palo Alto, California 94304


                                  April 6, 1998



TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.

Dear Stockholder:

     You are cordially  invited to attend the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of
Legato Systems,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  which will be held at the Cabana Hotel,
4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California,  on Thursday,  May 14, 1998, at 9:00
a.m.

     Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual  Meeting are given in
the attached Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

     It is important that your shares be  represented  and voted at the meeting.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  SIGN,
DATE AND PROMPTLY  RETURN THE  ACCOMPANYING  PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.  Returning  the proxy does NOT deprive you of your right to attend the
Annual  Meeting.  If you decide to attend the Annual  Meeting and wish to change
your proxy vote, you may do so automatically by voting in person at the meeting.
On March 16, 1998, the Company announced a two-for-one stock split of its Common
Stock  (which will be effected in the form of a stock  dividend) to be effective
on April 17,  1998.  This stock split is more fully  described  in the  attached
Proxy Statement.  It is important to note that, except as otherwise indicated in
the Proxy  Statement,  all share numbers and stock values in the Proxy Statement
have been  adjusted to reflect this  two-for-one  stock split.  On behalf of the
Board of Directors,  I would like to express our appreciation for your continued
interest in the  affairs of the  Company.  We look  forward to seeing you at the
Annual Meeting.


                                            Sincerely,



                                            Louis C. Cole
                                            Chairman of the Board, President and
                                            Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>

                              LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC
                                3210 Porter Drive
                           Palo Alto, California 94304


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                             To be held May 14, 1998

     The  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  (the  "Annual  Meeting")  of Legato
Systems,  Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Cabana Hotel,  4290 El Camino
Real, Palo Alto,  California,  on Thursday,  May 14, 1998, at 9:00 a.m.  for the
following purposes:

     1.   To elect five  directors  of the Board of Directors to serve until the
          next Annual Meeting or until their  successors  have been duly elected
          and qualified;

     2.   To approve an amendment to the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation
          to increase  the number of shares of Common  Stock that the Company is
          authorized to issue from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000;

     3.   To approve  an  amendment  to the  Company's  1995 Stock  Option/Stock
          Issuance Plan, including an increase to the number of shares available
          for  issuance  thereunder,  as set  forth  in the  accompanying  Proxy
          Statement;

     4.   To ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's
          independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31,
          1998; and

     5.   To  transact  such other  business  as may  properly  come  before the
          meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

     The  foregoing  items of business are more fully  described in the attached
Proxy Statement.

     Only  stockholders  of record at the close of business on April 1, 1998 are
entitled  to  notice  of,  and  to  vote  at,  the  Annual  Meeting  and  at any
adjournments  or  postponements  thereof.  A list of such  stockholders  will be
available for  inspection at the Company's  headquarters  located at 3210 Porter
Drive,  Palo Alto,  California,  during ordinary  business hours for the ten-day
period prior to the Annual Meeting.

                                   BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,



                                   Robert V. Gunderson, Jr.
                                   Secretary

Palo Alto, California
April 6, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    IMPORTANT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  SIGN,
DATE AND PROMPTLY  RETURN THE  ACCOMPANYING  PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.  YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF
YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING AND WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PROXY VOTE, YOU
MAY   DO   SO    AUTOMATICALLY   BY   VOTING   IN   PERSON   AT   THE   MEETING.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>

                              LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.
                                3210 Porter Drive
                           Palo Alto, California 94304


                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                       FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                             To be held May 14, 1998

     These proxy materials are furnished in connection with the  solicitation of
proxies  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Legato  Systems,  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual
Meeting")  to be held at the  Cabana  Hotel,  4290 El Camino  Real,  Palo  Alto,
California,  on Thursday,  May 14, 1998, at 9:00 a.m., and at any adjournment or
postponement of the Annual  Meeting.  These proxy materials were first mailed to
stockholders on or about April 6, 1998.


                               PURPOSE OF MEETING

     The  specific  proposals  to be  considered  and acted  upon at the  Annual
Meeting  are  summarized  in  the  accompanying  Notice  of  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders. Each proposal is described in more detail in this Proxy Statement.

                    VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

     The Company's Common Stock is the only type of security entitled to vote at
the Annual  Meeting.  On April 1, 1998,  the record  date for  determination  of
stockholders  entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting,  there were  _____________
shares of Common Stock  outstanding.  All share numbers in this Proxy  Statement
(including  the number of shares  outstanding  on the record date for the Annual
Meeting) have been adjusted to reflect the following:  (i) the two-for-one stock
split  effected by the Company on July 5, 1996 (the "1996 Stock Split") and (ii)
the 1998 Stock Split (as such term is defined in the following paragraph).  Each
stockholder of record on April 1, 1998 is entitled to one vote for each share of
Common Stock held by such stockholder on  April 1, 1998.  Shares of Common Stock
may not be voted  cumulatively.  All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of
election appointed for the meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and
negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes.

     On March 16, 1998, the Company  announced a two-for-one  stock split of its
Common Stock to be effective as of April 17, 1998 (the "1998 Stock Split").  The
1998 Stock  Split will be  effected  in the form of a 100% stock  dividend to be
issued to each  stockholder of record as of  April 3, 1998.  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE
INDICATED  HEREIN,  ALL SHARE  NUMBERS AND STOCK VALUES IN THIS PROXY  STATEMENT
HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE 1998 STOCK SPLIT.

Quorum Required

     The  Company's  bylaws  provide  that  the  holders  of a  majority  of the
Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting,  present in person or represented by proxy,  shall  constitute a quorum
for the  transaction of business at the Annual  Meeting.  Abstentions and broker
non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence
of a quorum.

Votes Required

     Proposal 1. Directors are elected by a plurality of the  affirmative  votes
cast by those shares present in person, or represented by proxy, and entitled to
vote at the Annual Meeting. The five nominees for director receiving the highest
number of affirmative  votes will be elected.  Abstentions and broker  non-votes
will not be counted  toward a nominee's  total.  Stockholders  may not  cumulate
votes in the election of directors.

     Proposal 2.  Approval of the  adoption of the  amendment  to the  Company's
Certificate of Incorporation  requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting.  Abstentions  and  broker  non-votes  are not  affirmative  votes  and,
therefore, will have the same effect as votes against the proposal.

     Proposal 3. Approval of the adoption of the amendment to the Company's 1995
Stock Option/Stock  Issuance Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
those shares present in person or represented by proxy,  and entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting.  Abstentions are not affirmative votes and, therefore,  will
have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Broker non-votes will not be
treated as entitled to vote on the matter and thus,  will not affect the outcome
of the voting on the proposal.

     Proposal 4.  Ratification of the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as
the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December
31, 1998 requires the affirmative  vote of a majority of those shares present in
person, or represented by proxy, and cast either  affirmatively or negatively at
the Annual  Meeting.  Abstentions  and broker  non-votes  will not be counted as
having been voted on the proposal.

Proxies

     Whether or not you are able to attend the Company's Annual Meeting, you are
urged to complete  and return the  enclosed  proxy,  which is  solicited  by the
Company's Board of Directors and which will be voted as you direct on your proxy
when properly completed. In the event no directions are specified,  such proxies
will be voted  FOR the  Nominees  of the  Board of  Directors  (as set  forth in
Proposal  No. 1),  FOR Proposal  Nos. 2, 3, and 4, and in the  discretion of the
proxy  holders as to other  matters  that may  properly  come  before the Annual
Meeting.  You may also revoke or change your proxy at any time before the Annual
Meeting. To do this, send a written notice of revocation or another signed proxy
with a later date to the  Secretary  of the Company at the  Company's  principal
executive  offices  before the  beginning  of the Annual  Meeting.  You may also
automatically  revoke your proxy by attending  the Annual  Meeting and voting in
person.  All shares  represented  by a valid proxy  received prior to the Annual
Meeting will be voted.

Solicitation of Proxies

     The  Company  will bear the  entire  cost of  solicitation,  including  the
preparation, assembly, printing, and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy,
and any additional  soliciting  material  furnished to  stockholders.  Copies of
solicitation  material will be furnished to brokerage houses,  fiduciaries,  and
custodians  holding shares in their names that are beneficially  owned by others
so that they may forward this solicitation  material to such beneficial  owners.
In  addition,  the  Company  may  reimburse  such  persons  for  their  costs of
forwarding the  solicitation  material to such beneficial  owners.  The original
solicitation  of  proxies  by  mail  may  be  supplemented  by  solicitation  by
telephone,  telegram, or other means by directors, officers, employees or agents
of the Company. No additional compensation will be paid to these individuals for
any such  services.  The Company has also retained  Beacon Hill  Partners,  Inc.
("Beacon  Hill") to assist in the  solicitation  of  proxies.  Beacon  Hill will
receive a fee for such  services  of  approximately  $5,000  plus  out-of-pocket
expenses,  which will be paid by the  Company.  Except as described  above,  the
Company does not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by mail.

<PAGE>

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 1


                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The  directors  who are  being  nominated  for  reelection  to the Board of
Directors (the "Nominees"),  their ages as of April 1, 1998, their positions and
offices held with the Company and certain biographical information are set forth
below.  The proxy  holders  intend to vote all  proxies  received by them in the
accompanying form FOR the Nominees listed below unless otherwise instructed.  In
the event any  Nominee is unable or  declines to serve as a director at the time
of the Annual  Meeting,  the  proxies  will be voted for any  nominee who may be
designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. As of the date
of this Proxy Statement,  the Board of Directors is not aware of any Nominee who
is  unable  or will  decline  to serve  as a  director.  The  five (5)  nominees
receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote
at the Annual  Meeting  will be elected  directors of the Company to serve until
the next Annual  Meeting or until their  successors  have been duly  elected and
qualified.



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
Nominees                           Age         Positions and Offices Held with the Company
- ---------------------------       -------      ------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                 <C>        <C>                                                                    
Louis C. Cole (1)                   54         Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Eric A. Benhamou                    42         Director
Kevin A. Fong (2)(3)                44         Director
David N. Strohm (3)                 49         Director
Phillip E. White(2)                 55         Director
<FN>
(1) Member of Stock Option Committee
(2) Member of Audit Committee
(3) Member of Compensation Committee
</FN>
</TABLE>


     Mr. Cole joined the Company as  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and a
Director in June 1989. Since April 1995, Mr. Cole has also served as Chairman of
the Board. Before joining the Company, from March 1987 until July 1988, Mr. Cole
served as Executive Vice President  responsible  for all operating  divisions of
Novell,  Inc., a publicly held manufacturer of computer  networking and software
products.  Mr. Cole  currently  serves as a director of Qualix  Group,  Inc. and
Rogue Wave Software, Inc. both publicly held software companies.  Mr. Cole holds
a B.S. in  mathematics  and  education  from  Pennsylvania  State  University at
Edinboro.

     Mr.  Benhamou  has been a Director  of the Company  since  March 1993.  Mr.
Benhamou has been  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of 3Com  Corporation
("3Com"),  a publicly held computer  network products  company,  since September
1990,  and has been  Chairman  of the Board of 3Com since July 1994.  From April
1990 until September  1990, Mr.  Benhamou  served as Chief Operating  Officer of
3Com. Mr. Benhamou  currently serves as a director of Cypress  Semiconductor,  a
publicly held semiconductor  company,  and Netscape  Communications,  a publicly
held Internet  software company.  Mr. Benhamou holds a Diplome  d'Ingenieur from
Ecole Nationale  Superieure d'Arts et Metiers in Paris,  France,  and an M.S. in
electrical engineering from Stanford University.

     Mr. Fong has been a Director of the Company since  December  1988. Mr. Fong
joined Mayfield Fund ("Mayfield"),  a venture capital firm, in 1988 and has been
a general  partner of several  venture  capital funds  affiliated  with Mayfield
since 1990. Mr. Fong currently serves as a director of Prism Solutions,  Inc., a
publicly  held data  warehousing  company,  as well as  several  privately  held
companies.  Mr. Fong holds a B.S. in electrical  engineering from the University
of California at Berkeley,  and an M.S. in electrical  engineering and an M.B.A.
from Stanford University.

     Mr.  Strohm has been a Director of the Company  since  December  1988.  Mr.
Strohm joined Greylock Management  Corporation  ("Greylock"),  a venture capital
management  company, in 1980 and is a general partner of several venture capital
funds  affiliated with Greylock.  Mr. Strohm  currently  serves as a director of
Banyan  Systems,  Inc., a  manufacturer  of networking  software  products,  and
DoubleClick,  Inc., a leading  provider of  comprehensive  Internet  advertising
solutions,  both publicly  held, as well as several  privately  held  technology
companies.  Mr. Strohm holds a B.A. from  Dartmouth  College and an M.B.A.  from
Harvard University.

     Mr. White has been a Director of the Company  since May 1995.  Since August
1997,  Mr. White has been providing  marketing  consulting  services  within the
high-tech  industry.  From  January  1989 to August  1997,  Mr.  White served as
President,  Chief Executive  Officer and a director of Informix  Corporation,  a
publicly held database software  company.  From March 1986 to December 1988, Mr.
White served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Wyse Technology,  Inc.,
a publicly held personal  computer  manufacturing  company.  Mr. White currently
serves as a director of Adaptec, Inc., a publicly held manufacturer and retailer
of  peripheral  adapters.  In  addition,  Mr.  White is a member of the Board of
Trustees of Illinois Wesleyan  University.  Mr. White holds a B.A. from Illinois
Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois, Urbana.

Board of Directors Meetings and Committees

     During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Board of Directors held
six (6) meetings.  For the fiscal year, each of the directors during the term of
their tenure  attended or  participated  in at least 75% of the aggregate of (i)
the total  number of  meetings  or actions  by  written  consent of the Board of
Directors  and (ii) the total number of meetings  held by all  committees of the
Board of Directors on which each such  director  served.  The Board of Directors
has  three  (3)  standing  committees:  the Audit  Committee,  the  Compensation
Committee and the Stock Option Committee.

     During the fiscal year ended December 31,  1997, the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors held one (1) meeting.  The Audit Committee  reviews,  acts on
and  reports to the Board of  Directors  with  respect to various  auditing  and
accounting matters,  including the selection of the Company's  accountants,  the
scope of the annual audits,  fees to be paid to the Company's  accountants,  the
performance of the Company's  accountants  and the  accounting  practices of the
Company. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Fong and White.

     During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Compensation  Committee
of the Board of Directors held five (5) meetings and acted by written consent in
lieu of a meeting on two (2) occasions.  The Compensation  Committee reviews the
performance   of  the  executive   officers  of  the  Company  and  reviews  the
compensation  programs for other key employees,  including salary and cash bonus
levels and option grants under the 1995 Stock  Option/Stock  Issuance  Plan. The
members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Fong and Strohm.

     During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Stock Option  Committee
of the Board of  Directors  acted by  written  consent  in lieu of a meeting  on
forty-four  (44)  occasions.  The Stock Option  Committee  approves stock option
grants to employees and  consultants of the Company who are not officers up to a
maximum  number of shares set by the Board of  Directors.  Mr. Cole was the sole
member of the Stock Option Committee during 1997.

Director Compensation

     Except for grants of stock options,  directors of the Company  generally do
not receive  compensation for services provided as a director.  The Company also
does not pay compensation for committee  participation or special assignments of
the Board of Directors.

     Non-employee  Board members are eligible for option grants  pursuant to the
provisions of the Automatic  Option Grant Program under the Company's 1995 Stock
Option/Stock  Issuance  Plan.  Under the Automatic  Option Grant  Program,  each
individual who first becomes a  non-employee  Board member after the date of the
Company's  initial public  offering will be granted an option to purchase 48,000
shares on the date such individual joins the Board, provided such individual has
not been in the prior employ of the Company. In addition, at each Annual Meeting
of Stockholders,  each individual who has served as a non-employee  Board member
for at least six months prior to such Annual  Meeting will receive an additional
option  grant to purchase  12,000  shares of Common  Stock,  whether or not such
individual  has been in the prior  employ of the  Company.  The option price for
each option grant under the Automatic  Option Grant Program will be equal to the
fair market value per share of Common Stock on the automatic grant date and each
automatic  option grant will be  immediately  exercisable  for all of the option
shares. The shares purchasable under the option will be subject to repurchase at
the original  exercise  price in the event the  optionee's  Board service should
cease prior to vesting. With respect to each initial grant, the repurchase right
shall lapse and the optionee  shall vest in four (4) equal  annual  installments
from the grant date.  Each annual  grant shall vest in two equal and  successive
annual  installments.  See Proposal No. 3, "Amendment of 1995 Stock Option/Stock
Issuance  Plan."  Pursuant  to  the  Automatic  Option  Grant  Program,  Messrs.
Benhamou,  Fong,  Strohm and White were each granted  options to purchase 48,000
shares of Common Stock on July 5, 1995 at an exercise  price of $4.75 per share,
12,000  shares on May 16, 1996 at an exercise  price of $10.9375 per share,  and
12,000  shares  on May 15,  1997 at an  exercise  price of  $8.9375  per  share.
Pursuant to the Automatic Option Grant Program, each of Messrs.  Benhamou, Fong,
Strohm and White will be granted  options to  purchase  12,000  shares of Common
Stock on May 14, 1998.

     Directors  who are also  employees  of the Company are  eligible to receive
options  and be issued  shares of Common  Stock  directly  under the 1995  Stock
Option/Stock Issuance Plan and are also eligible to participate in the Company's
Employee  Stock Purchase Plan and, if an executive  officer of the Company,  the
Executive Bonus Plan.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

   THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN.


<PAGE>

           STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The  following  table  sets  forth,  as  of  February 28,   1998,   certain
information  with respect to shares  beneficially  owned (as adjusted to reflect
the 1996 Stock Split and the 1998 Stock  Split) by (i) each  person who is known
by the  Company  to be the  beneficial  owner of more than five  percent  of the
Company's  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock,  (ii) each  of the  Company's
directors and the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and
(iii) all  current  directors  and  executive  officers  as a group.  Beneficial
ownership has been  determined in accordance  with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act. Under this rule,  certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially  owned by
more than one person (if,  for example,  persons  share the power to vote or the
power  to  dispose  of  the  shares).  In  addition,  shares  are  deemed  to be
beneficially  owned by a person if the person  has the right to  acquire  shares
(for example,  upon exercise of an option or warrant)  within sixty (60) days of
the date as of which the  information  is provided;  in computing the percentage
ownership of any person, the amount of shares is deemed to include the amount of
shares  beneficially  owned by such person  (and only such  person) by reason of
such acquisition  rights. As a result,  the percentage of outstanding  shares of
any person as shown in the  following  table does not  necessarily  reflect  the
person's actual voting power at any particular date.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Shares Beneficially Owned
                                                                      as of February 28, 1998 (1) (2)
                                                       ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficial Owner                                            Number of Shares                Percentage of Class
- --------------------------------------------------     ---------------------------      ---------------------------
<S>                                                              <C>                                     <C> 
Pilgrim Baxter & Associates....................                  3,307,400                               9.1%
1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300
Wayne, PA 19087
TCW Group, Inc.................................                  2,281,000                               6.3%
865 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Louis C. Cole (3) .............................                  1,925,066                               5.3%
3210 Porter Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Nora M. Denzel (4).............................                     24,712                               *
Kent D. Smith (5) .............................                    345,424                               *
Stephen C. Wise (6)............................                     38,172                               *
Eric A. Benhamou (7) ..........................                    188,000                               *
Kevin A. Fong (8) .............................                    105,496                               *
David N. Strohm (8) ...........................                    331,868                               *
Phillip E. White (9) ..........................                    112,000                               *
All current directors and executive officers
as a group (9 persons) (10) ...................                  3,070,738                               8.2%
_______________________
<FN>
*Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

     (1)  Except as  indicated  in the  footnotes  to this table and pursuant to
          applicable  community  property  laws,  the persons named in the table
          have sole voting and  investment  power with  respect to all shares of
          Common Stock.  To the Company's  knowledge,  the entities named in the
          table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
          of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

     (2)  The  number  of shares of Common  Stock  deemed  outstanding  includes
          shares issuable pursuant to stock options that may be exercised within
          sixty (60) days after February 28, 1998.

     (3)  Includes  options  exercisable into 404,700 shares of Common Stock and
          1,519,992  shares  held by The Louis and  Jolene  Cole 1988  Revocable
          Trust, dated November 7, 1988 (the "Cole Trust"), of which Mr. Cole is
          a trustee.

     (4)  Includes options exercisable into 14,080 shares of Common Stock.

     (5)  Includes options exercisable into 325,524 shares of Common Stock.

     (6)  Includes options exercisable into 18,126 shares of Common Stock.

     (7)  Includes options exercisable into 172,000 shares of Common Stock.

     (8)  Includes options exercisable into 72,000 shares of Common Stock.

     (9)  Includes options exercisable into 112,000 shares of Common Stock.

     (10) Includes options exercisable into 1,190,430 shares of Common Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT


     The  Compensation  Committee  of the  Company's  Board  of  Directors  (the
"Compensation  Committee" or the  "Committee")  has the  exclusive  authority to
establish  the  level of base  salary  payable  to the Chief  Executive  Officer
("CEO") and certain  other  executive  officers of the Company and to administer
the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock  Issuance Plan and Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.  In addition,  the  Committee  has the  responsibility  for  approving the
individual  bonus  programs  to be in  effect  for  the CEO  and  certain  other
executive officers and other key employees each fiscal year.

     For the  1997  fiscal  year,  the  process  utilized  by the  Committee  in
determining  executive officer  compensation  levels was based on the subjective
judgment of the  Committee.  Among the factors  considered by the Committee were
the recommendations of the CEO with respect to the compensation of the Company's
key  executive  officers.  However,  the Committee  made the final  compensation
decisions concerning such officers.

     General Compensation Policy. The Committee's fundamental policy is to offer
the Company's executive officers  competitive  compensation  opportunities based
upon overall Company performance, their individual contribution to the financial
success of the Company and their  personal  performance.  It is the  Committee's
objective  to  have  a  substantial  portion  of  each  officer's   compensation
contingent upon the Company's performance,  as well as upon his or her own level
of  performance.  Accordingly,  each executive  officer's  compensation  package
consists  of:  (i) base  salary,  (ii) cash  bonus  awards  and (iii)  long-term
stock-based incentive awards.

     Base Salary. The base salary for each executive officer is set on the basis
of general market levels and personal performance. Each individual's base pay is
positioned relative to the total compensation package, including cash incentives
and long-term incentives.

     In preparing the performance  graph for this Proxy  Statement,  the Company
has selected the Hambrecht & Quist Software Sector Index. The companies included
in the  Company's  informal  survey are not  necessarily  those  included in the
Hambrecht & Quist Software Sector Index,  because they were determined not to be
competitive  with the  Company  for  executive  talent or  because  compensation
information was not available.

     Annual Cash Bonuses.  Each executive  officer has an established cash bonus
target.  The annual pool of bonuses for executive officers is distributed on the
basis  of  the  Company's  achievement  of  the  financial  performance  targets
established at the start of the fiscal year and personal objectives  established
for each executive.  Actual bonuses paid reflect an individual's  accomplishment
of both corporate and functional objectives.

     Long-Term Incentive Compensation. During fiscal 1997, the Committee, in its
discretion,  made option grants to Messrs.  Cole,  Smith,  Wise,  and Ms. Denzel
under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan. Generally,  a significant grant
is made in the year that an officer commences employment and no grant is made in
the second year.  Thereafter,  option grants may be made at varying times and in
varying amounts in the discretion of the Committee.  Generally, the size of each
grant  is set at a level  that  the  Committee  deems  appropriate  to  create a
meaningful  opportunity for stock ownership based upon the individual's position
with the Company,  the  individual's  potential  for future  responsibility  and
promotion,  the individual's  performance in the recent period and the number of
unvested  options  held by the  individual  at the  time of the new  grant.  The
relative  weight  given to each of these  factors will vary from  individual  to
individual  at  the  Committee's  discretion.   Applying  these  principles,   a
significant  grant was made to Ms. Denzel in connection with her commencement of
employment.  In addition,  a  significant  grant was made to Mr. Wise in 1996 in
connection with his  commencement  of employment.  The Company adopted an option
repricing  program,  for which Mr. Wise was eligible,  and which resulted in the
cancellation  of the 1996 option grant and the grant of a new option in 1997 for
the same number of shares but with a more restrictive vesting schedule.  See the
"Report on Option  Repricing."  The grants  made to Messrs.  Cole and Smith were
made in  recognition  of their years of service  with the Company and to place a
significant portion of their total compensation at risk.

     Each grant  allows the officer to acquire  shares of the  Company's  common
stock at a fixed  price per share (the  market  price on the grant  date) over a
specified period of time. The option vests in periodic  installments  over a two
to  four  year  period,   contingent  upon  the  executive  officer's  continued
employment  with the  Company.  The  vesting  schedule  and the number of shares
granted are established to ensure a meaningful  incentive in each year following
the year of  grant.  Accordingly,  the  option  will  provide  a  return  to the
executive  officer only if he or she remains in the Company's  employ,  and then
only if the market  price of the  Company's  Common Stock  appreciates  over the
option term.

     CEO  Compensation.  The annual  base  salary for Mr.  Cole,  the  Company's
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer,  was  established  by the Committee on
January 27, 1997.  The  Committee's  decision was made primarily on the basis of
Mr. Cole's personal performance of his duties.

     The remaining  components of the Chief Executive Officer's 1997 fiscal year
incentive  compensation  were entirely  dependent  upon the Company's  financial
performance  and  provided  no dollar  guarantees.  The bonus  paid to the Chief
Executive  Officer for the fiscal year was based on the same  incentive plan for
all other  officers.  Specifically,  a target  incentive was  established at the
beginning of the year using an agreed-upon  formula based on Company revenue and
profit.  Each  year,  the  annual  incentive  plan  is  reevaluated  with  a new
achievement  threshold and new targets for revenue and profit.  The option grant
made to the Chief Executive  Officer during the 1997 fiscal year was intended to
reflect his years of service with the Company and to place a significant portion
of Mr. Cole's total  compensation at risk, because the bonus will provide little
or no compensation unless Company performance  achieves  agreed-upon  thresholds
and the options will have no value unless there is  appreciation in the value of
the Company's common stock over the option term.

     Tax Limitation. Under the Federal tax laws, a publicly-held company such as
the Company will not be allowed a federal income tax deduction for  compensation
paid to certain executive  officers to the extent that  compensation  exceeds $1
million per officer in any year. To qualify for an exemption from the $1 million
deduction limitation,  the stockholders were asked to approve a limitation under
the Company's  1995 Stock  Option/Stock  Issuance Plan on the maximum  number of
shares of  Common  Stock for which  any one  participant  may be  granted  stock
options per calendar year. Because this limitation was adopted, any compensation
deemed paid to an executive  officer when he  exercises  an  outstanding  option
under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock  Issuance Plan with an exercise price equal to
the fair  market  value of the option  shares on the grant date will  qualify as
performance-based  compensation  that  will  not be  subject  to the $1  million
limitation.  Since it is not expected that the cash  compensation  to be paid to
the  Company's  executive  officers  for the 1997 fiscal year will exceed the $1
million limit per officer,  the Committee  will defer any decision on whether to
limit the  dollar  amount of all other  compensation  payable  to the  Company's
executive officers to the $1 million cap.

                                          Compensation Committee

                                          Kevin A. Fong
                                          David N. Strohm




           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     The  Compensation  Committee of the Company's Board of Directors was formed
in September  1992,  and the members of the  Compensation  Committee are Messrs.
Fong and Strohm. Neither of these individuals was at any time during 1997, or at
any other time, an officer or employee of the Company.  No executive  officer of
the  Company  serves  as a member  of the  board of  directors  or  compensation
committee  of any entity that has one or more  executive  officers  serving as a
member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.



                             STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder  return
on the  Company's  Common  Stock  between  July 6, 1995 (the date the  Company's
Common Stock commenced public trading) and December 31, 1997 with the cumulative
total  return of (i) the CRSP Total  Return  Index for the Nasdaq  Stock  Market
(U.S. Companies) (the "Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S. Index") and (ii) the Hambrecht &
Quist Software  Sector Index (the "H&Q Software  Sector  Index"),  over the same
period.  This graph  assumes the  investment of $100.00 on  July 6, 1995  in the
Company's Common Stock, the Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S.  Index and the H&Q Software
Sector Index, and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any.

     The comparisons  shown in the graph below are based upon  historical  data.
The Company cautions that the stock price  performance  shown in the graph below
is not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, the potential future performance
of the Company's  Common Stock.  Information used in the graph was obtained from
Hambrecht & Quist LLC, a source believed to be reliable,  but the Company is not
responsible for any errors or omissions in such information.

        Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among Legato Systems, Inc.,
      the Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S. Index and the H&Q Software Sector Index





<TABLE>
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>           <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>   
                                   7/6/95        12/31/95     6/30/96     12/31/96     6/30/97       12/31/97
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Legato Systems, Inc.          $100.00      $114.81      $203.70     $241.67      $137.04         $325.93
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Nasdaq Stock                  $100.00      $112.48      $127.35     $138.36      $154.83         $169.77
     Market-U.S. Index
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     H&Q Software Sector           $100.00      $107.75      $128.21     $130.97      $141.98         $158.39
     Index
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     The Company effected its initial public offering of Common Stock on July 5,
1995 at a price of $4.75 per share (as  adjusted to reflect the 1996 Stock Split
and the 1998 Stock Split). The graph above, however,  commences with the closing
price of $6.75 per share (as  adjusted  to reflect  the 1996 Stock Split and the
1998  Stock  Split)  on July 6,  1995 - the  date  the  Company's  Common  Stock
commenced public trading.

     Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's
previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  that might incorporate this Proxy
Statement  or future  filings  made by the  Company  under those  statutes,  the
Compensation  Committee Report and Stock  Performance  Graph shall not be deemed
filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and  shall not be deemed
incorporated  by  reference  into any of those prior  filings or into any future
filings made by the Company under those statutes.

                 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION

     The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation earned
by the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  and the three  other  most  highly
compensated  executive  officers  who  were  serving  as such at the end of 1997
(collectively,  the "Named Officers"),  each of whose aggregate compensation for
1997 exceeded  $100,000 for services  rendered in all  capacities to the Company
and its subsidiaries for that fiscal year.


<TABLE>

                                            Summary Compensation Table
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Long-Term
                                                                                  Compensation
                                                                                   Number of
                                                                                   Securities
                                                     Annual Compensation           Underlying       All Other
                                              ----------------------------------
 Name and Principal Position           Year      Salary(1)          Bonus           Options      Compensation(2)
<S>                                    <C>        <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>   
 Louis C. Cole                         1997       $218,334           $107,625         100,000          $1,440
   Chairman of the Board, President    1996       $200,004           $100,520         100,000          $2,864
   and Chief Executive Officer         1995       $197,504           $137,264         400,000          $2,022


 Nora Denzel                           1997       $146,666(3)       $  84,000         300,000         $   303
   Senior Vice President Product Operations                                                           
                                       1996              -          $       -               -         $     -
   Chief Technical Officer             1995              -          $       -               -         $     -


 Kent D. Smith                         1997       $198,300          $  86,721          50,000         $   870
   Executive Vice President,           1996       $162,000          $  73,301          40,000         $ 1,907
    Chief Operations Officer           1995       $122,123(4)       $  79,990         400,000         $   954


 Stephen C. Wise                       1997       $165,831          $  56,470      250,000(6)         $   558
   Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief 1996     $ 41,231(5)       $  13,000      200,000(6)         $   128
   Financial Officer, Asst Secretary   1995              -          $       -               -         $     -

<FN>
(1) Salary includes amounts deferred under the Company's 401(k) Plan.
(2) Represents life insurance premiums paid by the Company.
(3) Ms. Denzel commenced employment on January 21, 1997.
(4) Mr. Smith commenced employment on March 31, 1995.
(5) Mr. Wise commenced employment on September 27, 1996.
(6) The option for 200,000 shares granted to Mr. Wise in 1996 was canceled and 
    subsequently regranted on January 27, 1997.
</FN>
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

     The following table contains information concerning the stock option grants
made to each of the Named Officers for 1997. No stock  appreciation  rights were
granted to these individuals during such year.


<TABLE>
                                         Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year


<CAPTION>
                                           Individual Grants(1)                     Potential Realizable
                           ------------------------------------------------------
                            Number of    % of Total                                   Value at Assumed
                           Securities      Options                                 Annual Rates of Stock
                           Underlying    Granted to      Exercise                    Price Appreciation
                             Options      Employees       Price      Expiration      for Option Term(2)
            Name             Granted       in 1997      Per Share       Date          5%           10%
<S>                         <C>              <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>       
 Louis C. Cole.........     100,000          4.10%      $11.875      1/27/07     $  746,812    $1,892,569

 Nora Denzel...........     200,000          8.20%      $11.875      1/27/07     $1,493,625    $3,785,138
                            100,000          4.10%      $16.4375     10/6/07     $1,033,746    $2,619,714

 Kent D. Smith.........      50,000          2.05%      $11.875      1/27/07     $  373,406    $  946,285

 Stephen C. Wise.......     200,000(3)       8.20%      $11.875      1/27/07     $1,493,625    $3,785,138
                             50,000          2.05%     $16.4375      10/6/07     $  516,873    $1,309,857


<FN>
     (1)  The options  disclosed  in the table were  granted on January 27, 1997
          and the second  option,  if any,  was granted on October 6, 1997.  The
          exercise  price  for each  option  may be paid in cash,  in  shares of
          Common  Stock  valued at fair  market  value on the  exercise  date or
          through a cashless exercise procedure involving a same-day sale of the
          purchased shares.  The Company may also finance the option exercise by
          loaning the optionee  sufficient  funds to pay the exercise  price for
          the purchased  shares,  together with any federal and state income tax
          liability  incurred by the optionee in connection  with such exercise.
          The plan administrator has the discretionary  authority to reprice the
          options  through the  cancellation  of those  options and the grant of
          replacement  options  with an exercise  price based on the fair market
          value of the option  shares on the regrant  date.  The options  have a
          maximum term of 10 years measured from the option grant date,  subject
          to earlier  termination  in the event of the  optionee's  cessation of
          service  with the  Company.  Except as  otherwise  noted,  the options
          listed in the table become exercisable for 25% of the shares after one
          year of service from the designated  vesting date and in equal monthly
          installments  over the next 3 years.  Under each of the  options,  the
          option shares will vest upon an  acquisition  of the Company by merger
          or asset sale, unless the acquiring  company assumes the options.  Any
          options  that are assumed or replaced  in the  transaction  and do not
          otherwise accelerate at that time shall automatically  accelerate (and
          any unvested  option shares which do not  otherwise  vest at that time
          shall   automatically  vest)  in  the  event  the  optionee's  service
          terminates by reason of an  involuntary  or  constructive  termination
          within 18 months following the transaction.

     (2)  The  5% and  10%  assumed  annual  rates  of  compounded  stock  price
          appreciation  are  mandated by rules of  the  Securities  and Exchange
          Commission.  There  can be no  assurance  provided  to  any  executive
          officer  or any other  holder  of the  Company's  securities  that the
          actual stock price  appreciation  over the 10-year option term will be
          at the assumed 5% and 10% levels or at any other defined level. Unless
          the market price of the Common Stock appreciates over the option term,
          no value will be realized from the option grants made to the executive
          officers.

     (3)  The option becomes  exercisable  for 25% of the shares after 15 months
          of  service  from the  designated  vesting  date and in equal  monthly
          installments over the next 3 years.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     The following table sets forth  information  concerning option exercises in
1997 and option  holdings as of the end of the 1997 fiscal year with  respect to
each of the Named Officers. No stock appreciation rights were outstanding at the
end of that year.

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
                                  Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
                                         and Fiscal Year-End Option Values


<CAPTION>
                                                               Number of
                                     Value Realized      Securities Underlying         Value of Unexercised
                         Shares     (Market Price at      Unexercised Options          in-the-Money Options
                       Acquired on    Exercise Less            at FY-End                   at FY-End (1)
Name                    Exercise     Exercise Price)   Exercisable  Unexercisable    Exercisable   Unexercisable
<S>                      <C>         <C>                 <C>             <C>          <C>             <C>       
Louis C. Cole......      100,000     $1,199,800          135,116         392,084      $2,552,543      $6,754,907
Nora Denzel........           --             --               --         300,000              --      $2,581,250
Kent D. Smith......       50,000       $888,750          196,166         195,834      $3,925,588      $3,395,907
Stephen C. Wise....           --             --           50,000         200,000        $506,250      $1,796,875



<FN>
(1) Based on the fair market  value of the  Company's  Common  Stock at year end
($22.00) per share less the exercise price payable for such shares.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                     COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPRICING REPORT

     On January 27, 1997, the  Compensation  Committee of the Board of Directors
approved a plan pursuant to which one officer and certain employees were allowed
to exchange  options  with  exercise  prices in excess of the then  current fair
market value for new options having exercise  prices equal to $11.875,  the then
current fair market value of the Common  Stock.  Certain  employees and Mr. Wise
exchanged  their options for an aggregate of 315,100  shares.  Recipients of the
repriced  options were  required to satisfy a 15 month  vesting cliff before any
portion of the repriced option became exercisable. Any employee whose employment
terminated  prior to the date that was 15  months  from  his/her  hire date lost
his/her option. None of the other executive officers participated in the January
1997 repricing exchange.

     Stock options are intended to provide  incentives to the Company's officers
and employees.  The Compensation  Committee believes that such equity incentives
are a  significant  factor in the  Company's  ability  to  attract,  retain  and
motivate key employees who are critical to the Company's long-term success.  The
Compensation Committee further believes that, at their original exercise prices,
the  disparity  between the exercise  price of these options and the then market
prices  for the  Common  Stock  did not  provide  meaningful  incentives  to the
employees  holding the  options.  A review of other  companies  in the  software
industry  indicates that some of these  companies have been confronted with this
problem and have made similar  adjustments  in option  prices to motivate  their
employees.

     The Compensation  Committee approved the repricing of options as a means of
ensuring that optionees will continue to have  meaningful  equity  incentives to
work toward the Company's success. The adjustment was deemed by the Compensation
Committee to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

                                          Compensation Committee

                                          Kevin A. Fong
                                          David N. Strohm
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
                                            Ten-Year Option Repricings

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Length of
                                                                                                                original
                                      Securities                                                              option term
                                  underlying number    Market price of                                        remaining at
                                   of options/SARs      stock at time     Exercise price at                     date of
                                 repriced or amended   of repricing or   time of repricing    New exercise   repricing or
       Name             Date             (#)            amendment ($)     or amendment ($)      price ($)      amendment


<S>                   <C>              <C>                 <C>                 <C>               <C>            <C>     
Stephen C. Wise       1/27/97          200,000             $11.875             $22.25            $11.875        116 mos.
</TABLE>



     Bonus Plan.  In 1996,  the Company  instituted  an executive  bonus program
pursuant to which bonuses will be paid to executive officers based on individual
and Company performance targets. In addition,  certain  non-executive  employees
will receive year-end bonuses if the Company meets its performance targets.


             EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

     None of the  Company's  executive  officers  have  employment  or severance
agreements with the Company,  and their employment may be terminated at any time
at the  discretion of the Board of Directors,  except that Mr.  Ferraro,  Senior
Vice President,  Worldwide Sales, received an offer letter from the Company that
provides  that he will  receive  six  months  of  salary  if his  employment  is
involuntarily terminated within the first 366 days of his employment.

     The  Compensation   Committee  has  the  authority  under  the  1995  Stock
Option/Stock  Issuance  Plan to accelerate  the  exercisability  of  outstanding
options,  or to accelerate  the vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to
outstanding options, held by the Chief Executive Officer and the Company's other
executive  officers.  Such  acceleration  may be  conditioned  on the optionee's
termination   of  employment   (whether   involuntarily   or  through  a  forced
resignation)   and  may  be  conditioned   upon  the  occurrence  of  a  merger,
reorganization  or  consolidation  or upon a hostile  take-over  of the  Company
effected through a tender offer or through a change in the majority of the Board
as a result of one or more contested elections for Board membership.


<PAGE>

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 2

                                AMENDMENT TO THE
                     COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

     The Board of Directors has  determined  that it is in the best interests of
the  Company  and  its  stockholders  to  amend  the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the
Company  from  50,000,000  to  100,000,000  shares.  Accordingly,  the  Board of
Directors has unanimously  approved the proposed Certificate of Amendment to the
Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  of the Company,  in the form
attached  hereto as  Exhibit A (the  "Certificate  of  Amendment"),  and  hereby
solicits  the  approval of the  Company's  stockholders  of the  Certificate  of
Amendment.  If the stockholders approve the Certificate of Amendment,  the Board
of Directors  currently  intends to file the  Certificate  of Amendment with the
Secretary  of State of the State of  Delaware as soon as  practicable  following
such  stockholder  approval.  If the Certificate of Amendment is not approved by
the  stockholders,  the existing  Certificate of Incorporation  will continue in
effect.

     The objectives of the increase in the authorized number of shares of Common
Stock are to ensure that the Company has sufficient  shares available for future
issuances.  The Board of Directors  believes  that it is prudent to increase the
authorized  number of shares of Common Stock to the proposed  levels in order to
provide a reserve of shares  available  for issuance to meet  business  needs as
they arise. Such future activities may include, without limitation,  financings,
establishing strategic  relationships with corporate partners,  providing equity
incentives to employees,  officers or  directors,  or effecting  stock splits or
dividends.  The additional shares of Common Stock authorized may also be used to
acquire or invest in complementary businesses or products or to obtain the right
to  use  complementary  technologies.   Although  the  Company  has  no  present
obligation  to issue  additional  shares of Common  Stock  (except  pursuant  to
employee stock incentive plans),  the Company may continue to evaluate potential
acquisitions of or investments with third parties.

Possible Effects of the Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation

     If the  stockholders  approve the proposed  Certificate  of Amendment,  the
Board of Directors may cause the issuance of  additional  shares of Common Stock
without  further vote of the  stockholders  of the  Company,  except as provided
under Delaware  corporate law or under the rules of any  securities  exchange on
which shares of Common Stock of the Company are then listed.  Current holders of
Common  Stock have no  preemptive  or similar  rights,  which means that current
stockholders do not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of Common Stock
of the Company in order to maintain their  appropriate  ownership  thereof.  The
issuance of additional  shares of Common Stock would decrease the  proportionate
equity interest of the Company's current  stockholders  and,  depending upon the
price paid for such additional shares, could result in dilution to the Company's
current stockholders.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE  "FOR"  THE  APPROVAL  OF THE
AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.




<PAGE>

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 3

                                AMENDMENT TO THE
                      1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN

     The  stockholders  are being  asked to approve an  amendment  to the Legato
Systems,  Inc. 1995 Stock  Option/Stock  Issuance Plan (the "Option Plan").  The
Board of  Directors  "Board")  amended  the  Option  Plan on March 13,  1998 to
increase  the share  reserve by 2,000,000  shares to an aggregate of  12,450,982
shares  and to impose a limit on the  number  of shares by which the pool  would
increase each year, as discussed  below.  The Board  believes that option grants
and the stock  issuances  under the Option  Plan play an  important  role in the
Company's  efforts  to  attract,  employ  and retain  employees,  directors  and
consultants of outstanding ability.

     The Company  established  the Option Plan on May 2, 1995 as a successor  to
the 1989 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan ("Predecessor  Plan") to provide
a means whereby  eligible  individuals  may be given an  opportunity to purchase
shares of Common Stock. The Option Plan was approved by the stockholders on June
9, 1995.  The principal  terms and  provisions of the Option Plan are summarized
below. The summary, however, is not intended to be a complete description of all
the terms of the Option Plan. A copy of the Option Plan will be furnished by the
Company to any stockholder  upon written  request to the Corporate  Secretary at
the executive offices in Palo Alto, California.

     Structure.  The Option Plan is divided into three separate components:  (i)
the Discretionary Option Grant Program, under which eligible individuals may, at
the discretion of the plan administrator,  be granted options to purchase shares
of Common  Stock at an  exercise  price not less than 85% of their  fair  market
value on the grant  date,  (ii) the Stock  Issuance  Program,  under  which such
persons may, in the plan administrator's  discretion, be issued shares of Common
Stock  directly  through  the  purchase  of such shares at a price not less than
eighty-five  percent  (85%)  of  their  fair  market  value at the time of their
issuance  or as a bonus  tied to the  performance  of  services  and  (iii)  the
Automatic Option Grant Program,  under which option grants will automatically be
made at periodic  intervals to eligible  non-employee  Board members to purchase
shares of Common Stock at an exercise  price equal to their fair market value on
the grant date.

     Administration. The Compensation Committee of the Board, which is comprised
of two (2) or more Board members, administers the Option Plan. Committee members
serve for such period of time as the Board may  determine.  No Board  member may
serve on the  Committee if he or she has received an option grant or stock award
under the Option Plan or under any other stock plan of the Company or its parent
or subsidiary  corporations within the twelve (12) month period preceding his or
her appointment to the Committee,  other than grants under the Automatic  Option
Grant  Program.  The  Option  Plan  may also be  administered  with  respect  to
optionees who are not executive officers subject to the short-swing profit rules
of the federal securities laws by the Board or a secondary  committee  comprised
of one or more Board members. The amendment that is the subject of this Proposal
No. 3 also amends the Option Plan to permit the Board to  administer  the Option
Plan with respect to all eligible persons.

     The Committee (or Board or secondary committee to the extent acting as plan
administrator)  has full  authority  (subject to the express  provisions  of the
Option Plan) to determine  the eligible  individuals  who are to receive  grants
under the  Option  Plan,  the  number of shares to be  covered  by each  granted
option,  the date or dates on which the  option is to  become  exercisable,  the
maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding,  whether the granted
option will be an incentive stock option ("Incentive Option") that satisfies the
requirements  of Section  422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code (the  "Code") or a
non-statutory  option not intended to meet such  requirements  and the remaining
provisions of the option grant.

     Eligibility.  Employees (including  officers),  consultants and independent
contractors  who render  services to the Company or its subsidiary  corporations
(whether  now  existing or  subsequently  established)  are  eligible to receive
option grants under the  Discretionary  Option Grant Program and share issuances
under the Stock Issuance Program.  A non-employee  member of the Board or of the
board of directors  of any parent or  subsidiary  corporation  of the Company is
also eligible for option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and
the  Stock  Issuance  Program,  providing  he or  she  is  not a  member  of the
Committee. A non-employee member of the Board is also eligible for option grants
under the Automatic Option Grant Program.

     As of February 28, 1998,  approximately  500 persons (including 5 executive
officers) were eligible to participate in the Option Plan.

     Securities  Subject to Option Plan.  The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock  that may be issued  over the term of the  Option  Plan  shall not  exceed
12,450,982  shares,  assuming  approval  of this  Proposal  No. 3. The number of
shares of Common  Stock  available  for  issuance  under the  Option  Plan shall
automatically increase on the first trading day of each calendar year during the
term of the Option Plan,  beginning January 1, 1997, by an amount equal to three
percent  (3%) of the shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  on December 31 of the
immediately  preceding  calendar  year,  not to exceed  1,500,000  shares in any
calendar year. Accordingly, the pool was increased by 1,016,302 shares effective
January 1, 1997 and by 1,066,448 shares effective January 1,  1998. Prior to the
amendment which is the subject of this Proposal No. 3, there was no limit on the
number of shares by which the pool could  increase  each year pursuant to the 3%
annual  increase and  therefore no Incentive  Options could be granted under the
Option Plan on the basis of such annual increases.

     No one person  participating  in the Option  Plan may  receive  options and
direct stock issuances for more than 400,000 shares of Common Stock per calendar
year, beginning with the 1995 calendar year; provided that for the calendar year
in which  such  person  first  commences  services,  the limit  shall be 800,000
shares.

     Should an option  expire or  terminate  for any reason prior to exercise in
full,  including  options  incorporated  from the  Predecessor  Plan, the shares
subject to the  portion of the option not so  exercised  will be  available  for
subsequent option grants under the Option Plan.

Discretionary Option Grant Program

     Price and  Exercisability.  The option exercise price per share in the case
of an Incentive  Option may not be less than one hundred  percent  (100%) of the
fair  market  value of the Common  Stock on the grant date and, in the case of a
non-statutory option,  eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the grant date.  Options granted under the Discretionary  Option
Grant Program become exercisable at such time or times and during such period as
the  Committee  may determine  and set forth in the  instrument  evidencing  the
option grant.

     The  exercise  price  may be paid in cash or in  shares  of  Common  Stock.
Options may also be exercised through a same-day sale program, pursuant to which
a  designated  brokerage  firm is to effect  the  immediate  sale of the  shares
purchased under the option and pay over to the Company, out of the sale proceeds
on the  settlement  date,  sufficient  funds to cover the exercise price for the
purchased shares plus all applicable  withholding  taxes. The Committee may also
assist any optionee (including an officer or director) in the exercise of his or
her outstanding options by (a) authorizing a Company loan to the optionee or (b)
permitting the optionee to pay the exercise price in installments  over a period
of years. The terms and conditions of any such loan or installment  payment will
be  established by the Committee in its sole  discretion.  The Committee has the
discretionary  authority to reprice  options  through the  cancellation of those
options and the grant of replacement options with an exercise price based on the
fair market value of the option shares on the regrant date.

     No optionee is to have any  stockholder  rights with  respect to the option
shares until the optionee has exercised the option,  paid the exercise price and
become  a  holder  of  record  of the  shares.  Options  are not  assignable  or
transferable  other than by will or the laws of descent  and  distribution,  and
during  the  optionee's  lifetime,  the  option  may be  exercised  only  by the
optionee.

     Termination  of  Service.  Any option  held by the  optionee at the time of
cessation  of  service  will  not  remain   exercisable  beyond  the  designated
post-service exercise period. Under no circumstances, however, may any option be
exercised  after the  specified  expiration  date of the option term.  Each such
option will normally,  during such limited  period,  be exercisable  only to the
extent of the number of shares of Common  Stock in which the  optionee is vested
at the time of cessation of service.  The Committee  has complete  discretion to
extend the period following the optionee's cessation of service during which his
or  her  outstanding   options  may  be  exercised   and/or  to  accelerate  the
exercisability  of such  options  in whole or in part.  Such  discretion  may be
exercised at any time while the options  remain  outstanding,  whether before or
after the optionee's actual cessation of service.

     The  shares of  Common  Stock  acquired  upon the  exercise  of one or more
options may be subject to  repurchase  by the Company at the  original  exercise
price paid per share upon the  optionee's  cessation of service prior to vesting
in such shares.  The  Committee  has complete  discretion  in  establishing  the
vesting schedule to be in effect for any such unvested shares and may cancel the
Company's  outstanding  repurchase  rights with  respect to those  shares at any
time,  thereby  accelerating  the vesting of the shares  subject to the canceled
rights.

     Incentive Options. Incentive Options may only be granted to individuals who
are employees of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation. During any
calendar  year,  the  aggregate  fair market value  (determined  as of the grant
date(s))  of the  Common  Stock  for which one or more  options  granted  to any
employee  under the Option Plan (or any other  option plan of the Company or its
parent or subsidiary  corporations) may for the first time become exercisable as
incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code shall not exceed $100,000.

     Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  One or more  officers of the Company
subject to the short-swing  profit  restrictions of the federal  securities laws
may, at the discretion of the Committee,  be granted limited stock  appreciation
rights in connection  with their option grants under the Option Plan. Any option
with  such a limited  stock  appreciation  right in effect  for at least six (6)
months will automatically be canceled, to the extent exercisable for one or more
vested option shares,  upon the successful  completion of a hostile tender offer
for more than 50% of the  Company's  outstanding  voting stock.  In return,  the
officer  will be entitled to a cash  distribution  from the Company in an amount
per canceled option share equal to the excess of (i) the highest price per share
of Common Stock paid in the tender offer over (ii) the option exercise price.

     Tandem Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  The  Committee is  authorized to issue
tandem stock  appreciation  rights in  connection  with option  grants under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program. Tandem stock appreciation rights provide the
holders  with  the  right  to  surrender   their  options  for  an  appreciation
distribution  from the  Company  equal in amount  to the  excess of (a) the fair
market  value of the vested  shares of Common Stock  subject to the  surrendered
option over (b) the  aggregate  exercise  price  payable for such  shares.  Such
appreciation  distribution  may, at the discretion of the Committee,  be made in
cash or in shares of Common Stock.

Automatic Option Grant Program

     Under the Automatic Option Grant Program,  non-employee  Board members will
receive option grants at specified intervals over their period of Board service.
These special grants may be summarized as follows:

     o Each  individual who was a  non-employee  Board member on the date of the
initial public  offering and each  individual  who becomes a non-employee  Board
member  after  such  date,  whether  through  election  by the  stockholders  or
appointment  by the Board,  will  automatically  be granted,  at the time of the
offering,  or if later, at the time of such initial  election or appointment,  a
non-statutory stock option to purchase 48,000 shares of Common Stock.

     o On the date of each Annual  Stockholders  Meeting beginning with the 1996
Annual Meeting,  each individual who is reelected as a non-employee Board member
will  receive an  additional  grant of a  non-statutory  stock  option under the
Option Plan to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock,  provided such individual
has been a member of the Board for at least six months.

     Each option grant under the Automatic  Option Grant Program will be subject
to the following terms and conditions:

     1.   The option  price per share will be equal to the fair market value per
          share of Common Stock on the  automatic  grant date and each option is
          to have a maximum term of ten years from the grant date.

     2.   Each automatic option grant will be immediately exercisable for all of
          the option shares;  the shares  purchasable  under the option shall be
          subject to repurchase at the original  exercise price in the event the
          optionee's  Board service should cease prior to vesting.  With respect
          to each  initial  grant,  the  repurchase  right  shall  lapse and the
          optionee  vest in four (4) equal  annual  installments  from the grant
          date. Each annual grant shall vest in two equal and successive  annual
          installments.

     3.   The option will remain exercisable for a 12-month period following the
          optionee's termination of service as a Board member for any reason and
          may be exercised  following the Board  members  death by the personal
          representatives  of the  optionee's  estate or the  person to whom the
          grant  is  transferred   by  the  optionee's   will  or  the  laws  of
          inheritance.  In no event,  however, may the option be exercised after
          the expiration date of the option term. During the applicable exercise
          period,  the option may not be  exercised  for more than the number of
          shares  (if  any)  for  which  it is  exercisable  at the  time of the
          optionee's cessation of Board service.

     4.   The option shares will become fully vested in the event of a Corporate
          Transaction  (as  defined  below) or a Change in Control  (as  defined
          below). The option shares will become fully vested in the event of the
          optionee's  cessation of Board service by reason of death or permanent
          disability.

     5.   Upon the occurrence of a hostile tender offer, the optionee shall have
          a thirty (30) day period in which to  surrender  to the  Company  each
          automatic  option  that has been in effect for at least six (6) months
          and the  optionee  will in return be entitled  to a cash  distribution
          from the Company in an amount per canceled  option  share  (whether or
          not the optionee is  otherwise  vested in those  shares)  equal to the
          excess of (i) the  highest  reported  price per share of Common  Stock
          paid in the tender offer over (ii) the option  exercise  price payable
          per share.

     6.   Option grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program will be made in
          strict  compliance  with the express  provisions of that program.  The
          remaining  terms and conditions of the option will in general  conform
          to the terms described below for option grants under the Discretionary
          Option  Grant  Program  and  will  be  incorporated  into  the  option
          agreement evidencing the automatic grant.

Stock Issuance Program

     Shares  may be sold under the Stock  Issuance  Program at a price per share
not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of fair market value, payable in cash or
through a  promissory  note  payable to the  Company.  Shares may also be issued
solely as a bonus for past services.

     The issued shares may either be immediately vested upon issuance or subject
to a vesting  schedule tied to the  performance  of service or the attainment of
performance goals. The Committee will, however, have the discretionary authority
at any time to accelerate the vesting of any and all unvested shares outstanding
under the Option Plan.

General Provisions

     Acceleration  of   Options/Termination   of  Repurchase  Rights.  Upon  the
occurrence of either of the following transactions (a "Corporate Transaction"):

          (i)  the sale, transfer,  or other disposition of all or substantially
               all  of  the  Company's   assets  in  complete   liquidation   or
               dissolution of the Company, or

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

each  outstanding  option under the Option Plan will,  immediately  prior to the
effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of
the shares at the time subject to such option.  However,  an outstanding  option
shall not  accelerate  if and to the extent:  (i) such  option is, in connection
with  the  Corporate  Transaction,   either  to  be  assumed  by  the  successor
corporation  (or parent) or to be replaced with a comparable  option to purchase
shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent),  (ii) such
option  is to be  replaced  with  a cash  incentive  program  of  the  successor
corporation  that preserves the spread existing on the unvested option shares at
the time of the  Corporate  Transaction  and provides for  subsequent  payout in
accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to such option or (iii) the
acceleration  of such  option is  subject  to other  limitations  imposed by the
Committee  at  the  time  of  the  option  grant.   Immediately   following  the
consummation  of  the  Corporate  Transaction,   all  outstanding  options  will
terminate  and cease to be  exercisable,  except to the  extent  assumed  by the
successor corporation.

     Also upon a Corporate  Transaction,  the Company's  outstanding  repurchase
rights  applicable  to options  granted  under the  Discretionary  Option  Grant
Program  or shares  issued  under  the Stock  Issuance  Program  will  terminate
automatically unless assigned to the successor corporation.

     Any options that are assumed or replaced in the Corporate  Transaction  and
do not otherwise accelerate at that time shall automatically accelerate (and any
of the Company's  outstanding  repurchase rights that do not otherwise terminate
at the time of the Corporate  Transaction shall automatically  terminate and the
shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest
in full) in the event the optionee's  service should  subsequently  terminate by
reason of an involuntary  termination  within eighteen (18) months following the
effective date of such Corporate  Transaction.  Any options so accelerated shall
remain  exercisable  for  fully-vested  shares  until  the  earlier  of (i)  the
expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1)-year  period
measured from the effective date of the involuntary termination

         Upon the occurrence of the following transactions("Change in Control"):

               (i)  any  person or  related  group of  persons  (other  than the
                    Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is
                    controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company)
                    acquires  beneficial  ownership  of more than fifty  percent
                    (50%) of the Company's  outstanding voting stock without the
                    Board's recommendation, or

               (ii) there is a change in the  composition  of the  Board  over a
                    period of thirty-six  (36)  consecutive  months or less such
                    that a majority of the Board  members  ceases by reason of a
                    proxy contest,  to be comprised of individuals  who (a) have
                    been Board members  continuously since the beginning of such
                    period or (b) have been elected or nominated  for  selection
                    as Board  members  by a  majority  of the  continuing  Board
                    members,

then the Committee has the  discretion  to  accelerate  outstanding  options and
terminate the Company's outstanding repurchase rights.

     The Committee  also has the  discretion to accelerate  outstanding  options
and/or terminate the Company's  outstanding  repurchase  rights upon a Corporate
Transaction or Change in Control,  which  acceleration or termination may or may
not be  conditioned  upon the subsequent  termination of the optionee's  service
within a specified period following the transaction. The acceleration of options
in the event of a Corporate  Transaction  or Change in Control may be seen as an
anti-takeover  provision  and may  have  the  effect  of  discouraging  a merger
proposal, a takeover attempt, or other efforts to gain control of the Company.

     Valuation.  For purposes of establishing the option price and for all other
valuation  purposes  under the Option Plan,  the fair market value of a share of
Common Stock on any relevant  date will be the closing price per share of Common
Stock on that date, as such price is reported on the Nasdaq National Market. The
market  value of the Common  Stock as reported on the Nasdaq  Stock Market as of
February 27, 1998 was $24.50 per share.

     Changes  in  Capitalization.  In the event any change is made to the Common
Stock  issuable  under the  Option  Plan by reason  of any  stock  split,  stock
dividend,  combination of shares,  exchange of shares, or other change affecting
the  outstanding  Common  Stock as a class  without  the  Company's  receipt  of
consideration,  appropriate  adjustments  will be made to (i) the maximum number
and/or class of  securities  issuable  under the Option  Plan,  (ii) the maximum
number  and/or  class of  securities  for which any one  person  may be  granted
options and direct stock  issuances per calendar year,  (iii) the maximum number
and/or  class  of  securities  for  which  the  share  reserve  is  to  increase
automatically  each year,  (iv) the number and/or class of securities  for which
automatic  option  grants are to be  subsequently  made per  director  under the
Automatic Option Grant Program and (v) the number and/or class of securities and
the exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding  option (including
any option  incorporated  from the  Predecessor  Plan) in order to  prevent  the
dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder.

     Each  outstanding  option  that is assumed in  connection  with a Corporate
Transaction  will be  appropriately  adjusted to apply and pertain to the number
and class of securities that would  otherwise have been issued,  in consummation
of  such  Corporate  Transaction,  to the  option  holder  had the  option  been
exercised   immediately   prior  to  the  Corporate   Transaction.   Appropriate
adjustments  will also be made to the option price  payable per share and to the
class and number of securities  available for future  issuance  under the Option
Plan on both an aggregate and a per-participant basis.

     Option  Plan  Amendments.  The Board may amend or modify the Option Plan in
any and all respects whatsoever. The approval of the Company's stockholders will
be obtained to the extent  required by  applicable  law.  Prior to the amendment
that is the subject of this Proposal No. 3, the Board could not amend the Option
Plan  without  stockholder  approval  if  such  amendment  would  (i) materially
increase  the  maximum  number  of  shares   issuable  under  the  Option  Plan,
(ii) materially modify the eligibility  requirements for option grants, or (iii)
increase materially the benefits accruing to participants under the Option Plan.

     Unless sooner  terminated by the Board,  the Option Plan will in all events
terminate  on  April 30,  2005.  Any  options  outstanding  at the  time of such
termination  will  remain  in force in  accordance  with the  provisions  of the
instruments evidencing such grants.

     As of February 28, 1998, options covering 5,820,638 shares were outstanding
under the Option Plan,  736,134  shares  remained  available  for future  option
grant,  without  giving  effect to the  increase  which is the  subject  of this
Proposal no. 3, and 3,894,210 shares have been issued under the Option Plan. The
expiration  dates  for  all  such  options  range  from   December 6,   2001  to
February 23, 2008.

New Plan Benefits and Option Grant Table

     Because  the Option  Plan is  discretionary,  benefits  to be  received  by
individual optionees are not determinable.  However,  each of Messrs.  Benhamou,
Fong,  Strohm,  and White will receive an option grant to purchase 12,000 shares
under the Automatic  Option Grant Program on the date of the Annual Meeting with
an exercise price per share equal to the closing price per share of Common Stock
on the date of the Annual  Meeting.  The table  below  shows,  as to each of the
executive  officers  named in the  Summary  Compensation  Table and the  various
indicated  groups,  (i) the number of shares of Common  Stock for which  options
have been granted  under the Option Plan  (including  options  granted under the
Predecessor Plan), for the one (1)-year period ending December 31, 1997 plus the
period through  February 28,  1998 and (ii) the weighted  average exercise price
per share.  No direct  stock  issuances  have been made under the Option Plan to
date.
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  Weighted
                                                                                              Average Exercise
                                                                        Number Of Option          Price Of
                          Name And Position                                  Shares           Granted Options
<S>                                                                          <C>                   <C>   
Louis C. Cole......................................................          300,000               $18.98
     Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Nora Denzel........................................................          300,000              $13.395
     Senior Vice President of Product Development, Chief Technical
     Officer
Kent D. Smith......................................................          150,000               $18.98
     Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Stephen C. Wise....................................................          250,000               $12.79
     Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer
All current executive officers as a group (5 persons)..............         1,260,000             $16.015
All current directors (other than executive officers) as a                     48,000              $8.94
     group (4 persons) ............................................
All employees, including current officers who are not                       2,355,300              $16.74
     executive officers, as a group (500 persons) .................
</TABLE>

Federal Income Tax Consequences of Options Granted under the Option Plan

     Options granted under the Option Plan may be either incentive stock options
that  satisfy  the  requirements  of  Section  422 of the Code or  non-statutory
options that are not intended to meet such requirements.  The federal income tax
treatment for the two types of options differs as follows:

     Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at
the time of the option grant,  and no taxable income is generally  recognized at
the time the option is exercised.  However,  the excess of the fair market value
of the purchased  shares on the exercise  date over the exercise  price paid for
the shares  generally is includable in alternative  minimum taxable income.  The
optionee will recognize taxable income in the year in which the purchased shares
are sold or otherwise made the subject of disposition.

     For federal tax purposes, dispositions are divided into two categories: (i)
qualifying  and  (ii)  disqualifying.   The  optionee  will  make  a  qualifying
disposition  of the purchased  shares if the sale or other  disposition  of such
shares is made  after the  optionee  has held the  shares  for more than two (2)
years  after the grant  date of the  option and more than one (1) year after the
exercise  date.  If the  optionee  fails to satisfy  either of these two holding
periods prior to the sale or other disposition of the purchased  shares,  then a
disqualifying disposition will result.

     Upon a qualifying  disposition  of the shares,  the optionee will recognize
long-term  capital  gain in an  amount  equal to the  excess  of (i) the  amount
realized upon the sale or other  disposition  of the purchased  shares over (ii)
the exercise price paid for such shares. If there is a disqualifying disposition
of the shares,  then the excess of (i) the fair market  value of those shares on
the date the  option was  exercised  over (ii) the  exercise  price paid for the
shares will be taxable as ordinary  income.  Any additional gain recognized upon
the disposition will be a capital gain.

     If the optionee makes a disqualifying  disposition of the purchased shares,
then the Company  will be entitled  to an income tax  deduction  for the taxable
year in which such disposition occurs equal to the excess of (i) the fair market
value of such shares on the date the option was exercised over (ii) the exercise
price paid for the shares.  In no other  instance  will the Company be allowed a
deduction  with respect to the optionee's  disposition of the purchased  shares.
The Company  anticipates that any  compensation  deemed paid by the Company upon
one or more  disqualifying  dispositions of incentive stock option shares by the
Company's  executive officers will remain deductible by the Company and will not
have to be taken into  account  for  purposes of the $1 million  limitation  per
covered  individual on the  deductibility  of the  compensation  paid to certain
executive officers of the Company.

     Non-Statutory  Options. No taxable income is recognized by an optionee upon
the grant of a  non-statutory  option.  The optionee  will in general  recognize
ordinary income in the year in which the option is exercised equal to the excess
of the fair market value of the  purchased  shares on the exercise date over the
exercise price paid for the shares, and the optionee will be required to satisfy
the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income.

     Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code apply to the acquisition of
Common Stock under a non-statutory option if the purchased shares are subject to
repurchase  by the  Company.  These  special  provisions  may be  summarized  as
follows:

               (i)  If the shares  acquired upon  exercise of the  non-statutory
                    option  are  subject  to  repurchase  by the  Company at the
                    original  exercise  price  in the  event  of the  optionee's
                    termination of service prior to vesting in such shares,  the
                    optionee will not  recognize any taxable  income at the time
                    of exercise but will have to report as ordinary  income,  as
                    and when the Company's  repurchase  right lapses,  an amount
                    equal  to the  excess  of (a) the fair  market  value of the
                    shares on the date such repurchase right lapses with respect
                    to such  shares  over (b) the  exercise  price  paid for the
                    shares.

               (ii) The optionee may, however,  elect under Section 83(b) of the
                    Internal  Revenue Code to include as ordinary  income in the
                    year of exercise of the non-statutory option an amount equal
                    to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the  purchased
                    shares on the  exercise  date  (determined  as if the shares
                    were not subject to the Company's repurchase right) over (b)
                    the  exercise  price paid for such  shares.  If the  Section
                    83(b)  election is made, the optionee will not recognize any
                    additional income as and when the repurchase right lapses.

     The Company will be entitled to a business  expense  deduction equal to the
amount of  ordinary  income  recognized  by the  optionee  with  respect  to the
exercised non-statutory option. The deduction will in general be allowed for the
taxable year of the Company in which such  ordinary  income is recognized by the
optionee.  The  Company  anticipates  that the  compensation  deemed paid by the
Company upon the exercise of non-statutory options with exercise prices equal to
the fair  market  value of the  option  shares  on the grant  date  will  remain
deductible  by the  Company  and  will not have to be  taken  into  account  for
purposes  of  the  $1  million   limitation   per  covered   individual  on  the
deductibility  of the  compensation  paid to certain  executive  officers of the
Company.

     Stock Appreciation  Rights. An optionee who is granted a stock appreciation
right will recognize ordinary income in the year of exercise equal to the amount
of the  appreciation  distribution.  The Company  will be entitled to a business
expense deduction equal to the appreciation distribution for the taxable year of
the Company in which the ordinary income is recognized by the optionee.

     Stock  Issuances.  The tax principles  applicable to direct stock issuances
under the Option Plan will be  substantially  the same as those summarized above
for the exercise of non-statutory option grants.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE  "FOR"  THE  APPROVAL  OF THE
AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN.

<PAGE>

                                 PROPOSAL NO. 4

                     RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     The Company is asking the stockholders to ratify the appointment of Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's  independent public accountants for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 1998. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of shares  present or represented by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting will
be required to ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

     In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment,  the Board of
Directors will  reconsider its selection.  Even if the  appointment is ratified,
the Board of  Directors,  in its  discretion,  may direct the  appointment  of a
different  independent  accounting firm at any time during the year if the Board
of  Directors  feels  that  such a  change  would  be in the  Company's  and its
stockholders' best interests.

     Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.  has audited the Company's  financial  statements
since  1989.  Its  representatives  are  expected  to be  present  at the Annual
Meeting,  will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so,
and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

     THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE "FOR" THE  RATIFICATION  OF THE
SELECTION  OF COOPERS & LYBRAND  L.L.P.  TO SERVE AS THE  COMPANY'S  INDEPENDENT
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1998.

                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  limits the liability of its
directors for monetary  damages arising from a breach of their fiduciary duty as
directors,  except to the extent  otherwise  required  by the  Delaware  General
Corporation  Law. Such limitation of liability does not affect the  availability
of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

     The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its directors
and  officers to the fullest  extent  permitted  by Delaware  law,  including in
circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary under Delaware
law.  The Company has also  entered  into  indemnification  agreements  with its
officers and directors containing provisions that may require the Company, among
other  things,   to  indemnify  such  officers  and  directors  against  certain
liabilities  that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or
officers and to advance their  expenses  incurred as a result of any  proceeding
against them as to which they could be indemnified.


                COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

     The  members  of the Board of  Directors,  the  executive  officers  of the
Company and persons who hold more than 10% of the Company's  outstanding  Common
Stock  are  subject  to  the  reporting  requirements  of  Section 16(a)  of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  which require them to file reports
with  respect  to their  ownership  of the  Company's  Common  Stock  and  their
transactions  in such Common Stock.  Based upon (i) the copies of  Section 16(a)
reports that the Company  received  from such persons for their 1997 fiscal year
transactions  in the Common Stock and their  Common Stock  holdings and (ii) the
written representations received from one or more of such persons that no annual
Form 5  reports were required to be filed by them for the 1997 fiscal year,  the
Company believes that all reporting  requirements  under  Section 16(a) for such
fiscal year were met in a timely manner by its executive officers, Board members
and greater than  ten-percent  stockholders,  except that John  Ferraro  filed a
Form 3 late.

                                    FORM 10-K

     THE COMPANY WILL MAIL WITHOUT CHARGE,  UPON WRITTEN REQUEST,  A COPY OF THE
COMPANY'S  FORM 10-K  REPORT  FOR  FISCAL  YEAR 1997,  INCLUDING  THE  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS,  SCHEDULE  AND LIST OF EXHIBITS.  REQUESTS  SHOULD BE SENT TO LEGATO
SYSTEMS, INC., 3210 PORTER DRIVE, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304, ATTN: EDMOND MOK,
CORPORATE FINANCE.


                  STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING

     Stockholder  proposals that are intended to be presented at the 1999 Annual
Meeting that are eligible for  inclusion in the  Company's  proxy  statement and
related  proxy  materials  for that meeting  under the  applicable  rules of the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  must be received by the Company not later
than  December 7,  1998,  in order to be included.  Such  stockholder  proposals
should be addressed  to Legato  Systems,  Inc.,  3210 Porter  Drive,  Palo Alto,
California 94304, Attn: Edmond Mok, Corporate Finance.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The Board knows of no other matters to be presented for stockholder  action
at the Annual  Meeting.  However,  if other  matters do properly come before the
Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements  thereof,  the Board intends
that the persons  named in the proxies will vote upon such matters in accordance
with their best judgment.

                                  BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,



                                  Robert V. Gunderson, Jr.
                                  Secretary

Palo Alto, California
April 6, 1998




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  SIGN,
DATE AND PROMPTLY  RETURN THE  ACCOMPANYING  PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE.  YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF
YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING AND WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PROXY VOTE, YOU
MAY   DO   SO    AUTOMATICALLY   BY   VOTING   IN   PERSON   AT   THE   MEETING.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.  YOUR PROMPT  RESPONSE WILL GREATLY
FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING.



<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                         CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE
              AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
                              LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.


     Legato  Systems,  Inc., a corporation  organized and existing  under and by
virtue  of  the  General   Corporation   Law  of  the  State  of  Delaware  (the
"Corporation"),

     DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

     FIRST:  That the Board of Directors  adopted a resolution  setting  forth a
proposed  amendment to the Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of
said Corporation and declaring said amendment  advisable and directing that said
amendment be submitted to the stockholders of said Corporation  entitled to vote
in  respect  thereof  for their  approval.  The  resolution  setting  forth said
amendment is as follows:

     "RESOLVED,  that the Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation of
the  Corporation  be  amended by  replacing  the first  paragraph  of Article IV
thereof so that such paragraph shall be and read as follows:

     "This  corporation  is  authorized  to  issue  two  classes  of stock to be
designated  common  stock  ("Common  Stock")  and  preferred  stock  "Preferred
Stock").  The number of shares of Common  Stock  authorized  to be issued is One
Hundred Million  (100,000,000),  par value $0.0001 per share,  and the number of
shares of Preferred Stock  authorized to be issued is Five Million  (5,000,000),
par value $0.0001 per share."

     SECOND:  That thereafter said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with
the  provisions  of Section 242 of the General  Corporation  Law by  obtaining a
majority  vote of the Common Stock in favor of said  amendment in the manner set
forth in Section 222 of the General Corporation Law.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  this  Certificate  of  Amendment  of the  Amended and
Restated  Certificate of Incorporation  has been signed by the President and the
Secretary of the Corporation this ____ day of May, 1998. 
                                             LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.


                                             By:________________________________
                                             Louis C. Cole, President
ATTEST:


By:   ___________________________________
      Robert V. Gunderson, Jr., Secretary


<PAGE>

PROXY                         LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.                         PROXY
                     3210 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304

                    This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the
                   Board of Directors of Legato Systems, Inc.
         for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 14, 1998

     The  undersigned  holder  of Common  Stock,  par  value  $.0001,  of Legato
Systems, Inc. (the "Company") hereby appoints Louis C. Cole and Stephen C. Wise,
or  either  of them,  proxies  for the  undersigned,  each  with  full  power of
substitution,  to  represent  and to vote as  specified in this Proxy all Common
Stock of the Company that the undersigned  stockholder would be entitled to vote
if  personally  present  at the  Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the  "Annual
Meeting") to be held on Thursday May 14th, 1998 at 9:00 a.m.  local time, at the
Cabana  Hotel,   4290 El Camino  Real,   Palo Alto,   California,   and  at  any
adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. The undersigned stockholder
hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore executed for such matters.

     This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner as directed
herein by the undersigned stockholder.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS, FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4, AND IN THE
DISCRETION  OF THE PROXIES AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE
THE  MEETING.  The  undersigned  stockholder  may revoke  this proxy at any time
before it is voted by  delivering  to the  Corporate  Secretary  of the  Company
either a written  revocation  of the proxy or a duly  executed  proxy  bearing a
later date, or by appearing at the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

     THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE "FOR"  THE  ELECTION  OF THE
DIRECTORS AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4.

     PLEASE MARK,  SIGN,  DATE AND RETURN THIS CARD PROMPTLY  USING THE ENCLOSED
RETURN ENVELOPE. If you receive more than one proxy card, please sign and return
ALL cards in the enclosed envelope.

                  (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE)

                                    (Reverse)
                              LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC.
         Please mark votes
         as in this example


<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>                                <C>                     
1.  To elect the  following  directors to serve for a term  2.  To approve the  amendment  to  FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
    ending  upon the 1999 Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders      the Company's  Certificate of
    or until their successors are elected and qualified:        Incorporation  as  set  forth
                                                                in  the  accompanying   Proxy
Nominees:  Louis  C.  Cole,  Eric A.  Benhamou,  Kevin  A.      Statement.
Fong, David N. Strohm and Phillip E. White
 FOR         WITHHELD             For    all     nominees,  3.  To approve the  amendment  to  FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                                  except for                    the   Company's   1995  Stock
                                  nominees written below.       Option/Stock  Issuance  Plan,
                                                                including  an increase to the
                                                                number  of  shares  available
                                                                as   set    forth    in   the
                                                                accompanying Proxy Statement.
                                  _______________________
                                  Nominee exception(s).
                                                            4.  To ratify the  appointment of  FOR    AGAINST  ABSTAIN
                                                                Coopers &  Lybrand L.L.P., as
                                                                the   Company's   independent
                                                                accountants  for  the  fiscal
                                                                year   ending    December 31,
                                                                1998.


                                                            In their  discretion,  the  proxies are  authorized  to vote
                                                            upon such other  business  as may  properly  come before the
                                                            Annual Meeting.
</TABLE>

The  undersigned  acknowledges  receipt  of the  accompanying  Notice  of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement.


Signature:              Signature (if held jointly):              Date:   , 1998

Please  date and sign  exactly  as your  name(s)  is  (are)  shown on the  share
certificate(s)   to  which  the  Proxy   applies.   When   shares  are  held  as
joint-tenants,  both should sign.  When  signing as an executor,  administrator,
trustee, guardian,  attorney-in fact or other fiduciary,  please give full title
as such.  When signing as a  corporation,  please sign in full corporate name by
President or other  authorized  officer.  When signing as a partnership,  please
sign in partnership name by an authorized person.



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