ADEPT TECHNOLOGY INC
DEF 14A, 1998-10-06
SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY, NEC
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment no. __)


Filed by the Registrant    [X]                       
Filed by a party other than the Registrant   [ ]

Check the appropriate box:                 
[ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement           [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the   
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement                 Commission Only (as permitted by
[ ]  Definitive Additional Materials            Rule 14a-6(e)(2))               
[ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to       
     Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12       


                             Adept Technology, Inc.
                ------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.
[ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.


(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transactions applies:

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

(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transactions applies:

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

(3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed pursuant
      to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
      calculated and state how it was determined):

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

(4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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

(5)   Total fee paid:

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

[ ]   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ ]   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange  Act
      Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
      paid  previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration  statement
      number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)   Amount previously paid:

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

(2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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

(3)  Filing party:

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

(4)  Date filed:

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


<PAGE>


                                  [adept logo]

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

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                           To Be Held November 5, 1998


TO THE SHAREHOLDERS:

     NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of Adept
Technology,  Inc., a California  corporation  (the  "Company"),  will be held on
Thursday, November 5, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Santa Clara Marriott,
2700 Mission College Boulevard,  Santa Clara, California 95054 for the following
purposes:

     1.  To elect six (6)  directors  to serve until the next Annual  Meeting of
         Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

     2.  To approve  (i) the  adoption  of the  Company's  1998  Employee  Stock
         Purchase Plan,  (ii) the  reservation of 600,000 shares of Common Stock
         for issuance  thereunder and (iii) an annual  increase in the number of
         shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance  thereunder,  beginning on
         July 1, 1999,  in an amount equal to the lesser of (x) 300,000  shares,
         (y) 3.0% of Common  Stock  outstanding  as of the last day of the prior
         fiscal  year or (z) such  amount as may be  determined  by the Board of
         Directors.

     3.  To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent  auditors
         of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999.

     4.  To transact such other  business as may properly come before the Annual
         Meeting,  including  any  motion to  adjourn  to a later date to permit
         further   solicitation   of  proxies  if   necessary,   or  before  any
         adjournments thereof.

     The  foregoing  items of  business  are more fully  described  in the Proxy
Statement  accompanying this Notice. Only shareholders of record at the close of
business  on  September  25,  1998 are  entitled to notice of and to vote at the
meeting and any adjournment thereof.


                                               FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
                                               ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                                               /s/ Bruce E. Shimano
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Bruce E. Shimano
                                               Secretary


San Jose, California
October 5, 1998


                          YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     ALL  SHAREHOLDERS  ARE  CORDIALLY  INVITED  TO ATTEND  THE  MEETING IN
     PERSON. IN ORDER TO ASSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, YOU ARE
     REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS
     POSSIBLE  AND  RETURN IT IN THE  ENCLOSED  ENVELOPE.  ANY  SHAREHOLDER
     ATTENDING  THE  MEETING  MAY  VOTE  IN  PERSON  EVEN  IF HE OR SHE HAS
     RETURNED A PROXY.
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                             ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

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

                            PROXY STATEMENT FOR 1998
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

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


                 INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

General

     The  enclosed  Proxy is  solicited  on behalf of the Board of  Directors of
Adept Technology, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"), for use at the
Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  (the "Annual  Meeting")  to be held  Thursday,
November 5, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. local time, or at any  adjournment or postponement
thereof,  for the purposes set forth  herein and in the  accompanying  Notice of
Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders.  The Annual  Meeting will be held at the Santa
Clara Marriott,  2700 Mission College Boulevard,  Santa Clara, California 95054.
The Company's principal executive office is located at 150 Rose Orchard Way, San
Jose,  California  95134,  and its  telephone  number at that  location is (408)
432-0888.

     When proxies are properly  dated,  executed and  returned,  the shares they
represent  will  be  voted  at  the  Annual  Meeting  in  accordance   with  the
instructions of the  shareholder.  If no specific  instructions  are given,  the
shares will be voted for the election of the nominees  for  directors  set forth
herein;  for  approval of the  adoption of the  Company's  1998  Employee  Stock
Purchase Plan, the  reservation of 600,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock
for issuance thereunder and an annual increase in the number of shares of Common
Stock  reserved for issuance  thereunder,  beginning  July 1, 1999, in an amount
equal to the lesser of (i)  300,000  shares,  (ii) three  percent  (3.0%) of the
Company's  Common Stock  outstanding as of the last day of the prior fiscal year
or (iii) such amount as determined by the Company's Board of Directors;  for the
ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors of the Company for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1999;  and at the  discretion of the proxy  holders,
upon such other  business as may properly come before the Annual  Meeting or any
adjournment or postponement thereof.

     These proxy  solicitation  materials and the Annual Report to  Shareholders
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998,  including financial  statements,  were
first mailed on or about October 5, 1998 to all shareholders entitled to vote at
the Annual Meeting.

Record Date and Shares Outstanding

     Shareholders  of record at the close of business on September 25, 1998 (the
"Record Date") are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  At
the Record Date,  8,533,824  shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value,
were issued and outstanding and held of record by 367 shareholders.

Revocability of Proxies

     Any proxy given pursuant to this  solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it at any time  before  its use by  delivering  to the  Secretary  of the
Company a written  notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later
date or by attending the meeting and voting in person.

Voting

     Each  shareholder  is entitled  to one vote for each share of Common  Stock
held by such  shareholder on the Record Date. Every  shareholder  voting for the
election of directors  (Proposal One) may cumulate such shareholder's  votes and
give one  candidate  a number of votes  equal to the number of  directors  to be
elected  multiplied by the number of shares that such shareholder is entitled to
vote, or distribute such shareholder's votes on the same principle among as many
candidates as the shareholder may select, provided that votes cannot be cast for
more than six candidates.  However, no shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate
votes unless the  candidate's  name has been placed in  nomination  prior to the
voting and the

                                        1

<PAGE>


shareholder, or any other shareholder,  has given notice at the meeting prior to
the voting of the shareholder's  intention to cumulate the shareholder's  votes.
On all  other  matters,  each  share of  Common  Stock  has one  vote.  A quorum
comprising the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
on the  Record  Date must be  present  or  represented  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 for the
transaction  of business  but will not be treated as votes cast for  purposes of
the proposals presented herein.

Solicitation of Proxies

     The cost of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company has
retained the services of ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C. to aid in the
solicitation  of proxies from brokers,  bank nominees,  and other  institutional
owners. The Company estimates that it will pay ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services
L.L.C. a fee of approximately  $6,000 for its services and will reimburse it for
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses.  In  addition,  the Company  may  reimburse
brokerage firms and other persons  representing  beneficial owners of shares for
their expenses in forwarding  solicitation  material to such beneficial  owners.
Proxies may also be solicited by certain of the  Company's  directors,  officers
and  regular  employees,  without  additional  compensation,  personally  or  by
telephone, facsimile, or telegram.

Deadline for Receipt of Shareholder Proposals for 1999 Annual Meeting

     Shareholders are entitled to present  proposals for action at a forthcoming
meeting if they comply with the  requirements of the proxy rules  established by
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Proposals of shareholders of the Company
that are intended to be presented by such  shareholders  at the  Company's  1999
Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  must be  received by the Company no later than
June 7, 1999 in order that they may be  considered  for  inclusion  in the proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.

     The attached proxy card grants the proxy holders discretionary authority to
vote on any matter raised at the Annual  Meeting.  If a  shareholder  intends to
submit a proposal at the  Company's  Annual  Meeting,  which is not eligible for
inclusion in the proxy statement relating to that meeting,  the shareholder must
give notice to the Company in accordance with the  requirements set forth in the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  no later than August 21, 1999. If
such a shareholder  fails to comply with the  foregoing  notice  provision,  the
proxy holders will be allowed to use their  discretionary  voting authority when
and if the proposal is raised at the Company's Annual Meeting in 1999.


                                  PROPOSAL ONE

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Nominees

     A board of six directors is to be elected at the Annual Meeting.  The Board
of Directors of the Company has  authorized the nomination at the Annual Meeting
of the persons named herein as  candidates.  Unless  otherwise  instructed,  the
proxy  holders  will vote the  proxies  received by them for the  Company's  six
nominees named below, all of whom are presently directors of the Company. In the
event  that any  nominee  of the  Company  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 shall be  designated  by the present  Board of Directors to fill the
vacancy.  The  Company  is not aware of any  nominee  who will be unable or will
decline to serve as a director.  The Board of Directors  will consider the names
and  qualifications  of candidates for the Board  submitted by  shareholders  in
accordance with the procedures set forth in "Deadline for Receipt of Shareholder
Proposals for 1999 Annual  Meeting"  above and in the Company's  Bylaws.  In the
event that additional persons are nominated for election as directors, the proxy
holders  intend  to vote  all  proxies  received  by them in such a  manner  (in
accordance with cumulative voting) as will assure the election of as many of the
nominees listed below as possible,  and, in such event, the specific nominees to
be voted for will be  determined  by the proxy  holders.  The term of office for
each person elected as a director will continue until the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders or until a successor has been elected and qualified.

                                        2

<PAGE>


Vote Required

     If a quorum is present and voting,  the six nominees  receiving the highest
number  of  affirmative  votes  will  be  elected  to the  Board  of  Directors.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted in the election of directors.

Nominees

<TABLE>
     The names of the nominees and certain  information about them are set forth
below:


<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Director
       Name of Nominee        Age               Position(s) with the Company                  Since
- - ----------------------------- -----   ---------------------------------------------------   ----------
<S>                           <C>     <C>                                                     <C>
Brian R. Carlisle ...........  47     Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer       1983
Bruce E. Shimano ............  49     Vice President, Research and Development,               1983
                                      Secretary and Director
Ronald E. F. Codd(1) ........  43     Director                                                1998
Michael P. Kelly (1) ........  50     Director                                                1997
Cary R. Mock(2)  ............  55     Director                                                1990
John E. Pomeroy(2)  .........  57     Director                                                1994

<FN>
- - -----------------
(1)  Member of Audit Committee.
(2)  Member of Compensation Committee.
</FN>
</TABLE>


     There is no family  relationship  between any director or executive officer
of the Company.

     Brian R. Carlisle has served as the Company's Chief  Executive  Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors since he co-founded the Company in June 1983.
From June 1980 to June 1983,  he served as General  Manager of  Unimation,  Inc.
("Unimation"),  and from June 1977 to June 1980, he served as project manager of
the West Coast Division of Unimation. At Unimation, Mr. Carlisle was responsible
for new product  strategy  and  development  for  Unimation's  electric  robots,
control systems,  sensing systems and other robotics applications.  Mr. Carlisle
received  B.S.  and  M.S.  degrees  in  Mechanical   Engineering  from  Stanford
University.

     Bruce E. Shimano has served as the Company's Vice  President,  Research and
Development,  Secretary,  and as a director  since he co-founded  the Company in
June 1983.  Prior to that time,  he was  Director  of  Software  Development  at
Unimation.  Mr.  Shimano  received  B.S.,  M.S. and Ph.D.  degrees in Mechanical
Engineering from Stanford University.

     Ronald E. F. Codd has served as a director  of the Company  since  February
1998.  Mr. Codd joined  PeopleSoft,  Inc.  ("PeopleSoft")  in September 1991 has
served at PeopleSoft in various capacities, and currently serves as PeopleSoft's
Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary.  From March 1989 to September 1991, Mr. Codd was Corporate Controller
of  MIPS  Computer  Systems,  Inc.,  a  microprocessor   designer  and  computer
manufacturer.  Mr. Codd is also a director of  Information  Advantage,  Inc., an
on-line analytical  processing software company.  Mr. Codd is a Certified Public
Accountant, a Certified Managerial Accountant,  and holds a Certified Production
and  Inventory  Management  credential.  Mr.  Codd  received a B.S.  in Business
Administration from the University of California,  Berkeley and an M.M. from the
J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern University).

     Michael P. Kelly has served as a director of the Company  since April 1997.
Since 1994, Mr. Kelly has served as a managing director of Broadview Associates,
LLC, a corporate  finance  advisory firm. From 1993 to 1994, Mr. Kelly served as
the  president of Emerald  Partners,  a mergers and  acquisitions  firm and as a
managing director of Emerald Partners'  predecessor  Flemings from 1988 to 1993.
From 1985 to 1988,  Mr. Kelly was a partner at Touche Ross & Co., an independent
accounting  firm.  Mr.  Kelly  received  a B.A.  degree  from  Western  Illinois
University and an M.B.A. from St. Louis University.

     Cary R. Mock has served as a director of the Company since  December  1990.
Since January 1996, Mr. Mock has served as a financial  advisor  specializing in
acquisitions and related corporate development activities.  From October 1983 to
December 1995, Mr. Mock served as Director of Acquisitions and

                                        3

<PAGE>


Divestitures  for Westinghouse  Electric  Corporation  ("Westinghouse"),  having
served in other positions since joining  Westinghouse in 1964. Mr. Mock received
a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts  Institute of Technology
and an M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

     John E. Pomeroy has served as a director of the Company  since August 1994.
Since May 1987, Mr. Pomeroy has served as President and Chief Executive  Officer
of Dover  Technologies,  a subsidiary of Dover Corporation and a manufacturer of
production  equipment for printed circuit board assembly.  Mr. Pomeroy is also a
director of Dover  Corporation and HADCO  Corporation,  a supplier of electronic
interconnect  products and services.  Mr. Pomeroy  received a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering from Purdue University.

     The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote "FOR" all six  nominees  listed
above.

Board and Committee Meetings

     The Board of  Directors  of the Company held four  meetings  during  fiscal
1998.  Each incumbent  director  attended all meetings of the Board of Directors
during  the  period of fiscal  1998 in which he  served  as a  director  and all
meetings of the  committees  thereof,  if any, upon which such  director  served
during the period in which such  individual  was a director of the Company.  The
Board of Directors has an Audit  Committee  and a  Compensation  Committee.  The
Board of Directors has no nominating  committee or any committee performing such
functions.

     The Audit Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Codd and Kelly, is
responsible for overseeing actions taken by the Company's  independent  auditors
and reviewing the Company's internal financial  procedures and controls.  During
fiscal 1998,  the Audit  Committee  consisted of directors  Mock and Kelly.  The
Audit  Committee  met once in fiscal  1998.  Mr.  Mock  resigned  from the Audit
Committee when Mr. Codd was appointed to the Board and the Audit Committee.

     The Compensation Committee, which consisted of Messrs. Mock and Pomeroy, is
responsible for determining salaries, incentives and other forms of compensation
for  directors,  officers and other  employees of the Company and  administering
various incentive compensation and benefit plans. The Compensation Committee met
once during fiscal 1998.


                                  PROPOSAL TWO

                  ADOPTION OF 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

     At the Annual Meeting,  the shareholders are being asked to approve (i) the
adoption of the Company's  1998  Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan (the  "Purchase
Plan"), (ii) the initial reservation of 600,000 shares for sale thereunder,  and
(iii) an annual increase in the number of shares  reserved for sale  thereunder,
beginning July 1, 1999, in an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 300,000  shares,
(B) three percent (3%) of the Company's total  outstanding  capital stock on the
last day of the prior fiscal year or (C) such amount as may be determined by the
Company's Board of Directors.  The Board  established  the share  thresholds for
annual increases based on the Company's current forecast for share  requirements
under the Purchase Plan. The number of shares actually issued under the Purchase
Plan  will  depend  on a  number  of  factors  outside  the  Company's  control.
Accordingly,  the Board has retained  the right to fix the annual  increase at a
lesser number of shares than otherwise  established if, in its discretion,  such
increase is aggressive relative to the forecasts then available to the Company.

     The  Board  of  Directors   approved  the  Purchase  Plan,   contingent  on
shareholder approval at the Annual Meeting, in September 1998. In addition,  the
Board of Directors  also  terminated  the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "1995  Plan"),  effective  upon  shareholder  approval of the Purchase
Plan. If  shareholders  do not approve the Purchase Plan, the 1995 Plan will not
terminate.  Other than the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder and
the annual share reserve adjustment mechanism described herein, the terms of the
Purchase  Plan are  substantially  similar  to the  terms  of the  1995  Plan as
presently in effect.  The Board's  objective in adopting the Purchase Plan is to
avoid potential adverse accounting  consequences that could result if the number
of shares  reserved under an employee stock purchase plan proved,  at the end of
an offering period, insufficient to cover the then-outstanding rights under such
a  plan.  See  "--Recent  Accounting   Pronouncement;   Effect  on  Fiscal  1998
Operations."

                                        4

<PAGE>


Recent Accounting Pronouncement; Effect on Fiscal 1998 Operating Results

     In  September  1997,  the  Emerging  Issues  Task  Force  of the  Financial
Accounting  Standards  Board  issued a  consensus  interpretation  of  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  applicable to stock purchase  plans,  entitled
"Accounting  for Increased Share  Authorizations  in an IRS Section 423 Employee
Stock Purchase  Plan" (Issue No. 97-12) ("EITF  97-12").  Generally,  under EITF
97-12, an issuer would be required to record compensation  expense in situations
where (i) the shares reserved for issuance under an employee stock purchase plan
are, at the  beginning  of an offering  period under the plan,  insufficient  to
cover all shares  issuable  throughout  the offering  period,  (ii) the issuer's
shareholders  subsequently  approve  additional  shares allocable to an offering
period prior to the date of shareholder approval and (iii) the fair market value
of the shares  issuable  under the plan at the time of  shareholder  approval is
higher than the then-applicable purchase price under the plan.

     Under prior practice,  an issuer would typically seek shareholder  approval
to increase the share  reserve  under an employee  stock  purchase plan when the
shares remaining appeared insufficient for the ensuing offering period. The 1995
Plan, for example,  provides for 12 month offering periods consisting of two six
month purchase  periods,  with a new offering period beginning every six months.
Applied to this structure,  the treatment  specified by EITF 97-12 would require
that, in order to avoid compensation  charges, the number of shares reserved for
issuance  under  the 1995  Plan  never be  permitted  to  decline  below a level
required to maintain  projected  purchases  for at least two  offering  periods.
Because  EITF  97-12  was  adopted  at a  time  when  the  Company  was  seeking
shareholder  approval of an increase in the share reserve under the 1995 Plan by
500,000 shares, and because EITF 97-12 contained no grandfather  provision,  the
Company was required to recognize unanticipated compensation expense of $675,000
in fiscal 1998 in connection  with the over  subscription  of shares relative to
those available at the beginning of the offering periods then in effect.

     The Purchase  Plan, as compared to the 1995 Plan, is structured to mitigate
the  risk  that  the  Company  will  be  required  to  recognize   unanticipated
compensation  expense  as a result  of any  failure  to have  sufficient  shares
reserved for  issuance.  Like the 1995 Plan,  the Purchase  Plan provides for 12
month offering periods,  comprised of two six month purchase  periods,  but also
contains an automatic annual share reserve  increase  mechanism that is designed
to reduce the likelihood that the Purchase Plan will have an insufficient  share
reserve.  Specifically,  the Purchase Plan provides for an initial share reserve
of 600,000 shares with an annual automatic increase,  beginning July 1, 1999, in
an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 300,000 shares,  (ii) three percent (3%) of
the  outstanding  shares of the  Company's  capital stock on the last day of the
prior fiscal year or (iii) such amount as determined  by the Company's  Board of
Directors.

Purposes  of Employee Stock Purchase Plans; Board's Recommended Response to EITF
97-12

     Employee  stock  purchase  plans are  intended to provide  employees of the
Company with an  opportunity  to purchase its Common Stock  through  accumulated
payroll  deductions.  The Company  believes  that stock  ownership is one of the
prime methods of attracting  and  retaining  key personnel  responsible  for the
continued  development  and growth of the  Company's  business.  The shortage of
qualified  technical and management  personnel is particularly  acute in Silicon
Valley,  where the Company's primary development and operational  activities are
located. Attractive employee stock incentives, including employee stock purchase
plans,  are considered by employees to be an important  element of an employer's
compensation  package  and  by  employers,   including  the  Company,  to  be  a
competitive necessity.

     The Board of Directors has  recommended  approval of the Purchase Plan (and
resulting  termination  of the 1995  Plan) in order to insure  that the  Company
continues to offer competitive stock benefit programs while avoiding the adverse
accounting  implications of EITF 97-12.  In particular,  the Board believes that
the  automatic  share  increase  provision of the Purchase  Plan is necessary to
ensure the continued  availability  of an employee stock purchase plan given the
unpredictable  effects of the  application  of EITF 97-12.  The number of shares
purchased  under  an  employee  stock  purchase  plan are  influenced  by (i) an
issuer's hiring rates, which affects the number of employees participating,  and
(ii) the  volatility  of the issuer's  stock price,  which affects the number of
shares each participant purchases. For example, if an issuer's stock price falls
dramatically during an offering period, it could experience an

                                        5

<PAGE>


unanticipated  increase in the number of shares  purchased  during each purchase
period.  Under EITF  97-12,  however,  unless the issuer  reduced  the number of
shares participants could otherwise purchase based on a pro-rata allocation,  it
would be unable to avoid  recognizing a compensation  expense if, as a result of
increased  hiring  rates or a decline  in stock  price,  it  realized  after the
commencement  of the  offering  period  that it would have  insufficient  shares
available  for  issuance.  Many  issuers  would be  reluctant  to require such a
pro-rata allocation, however, because of its adverse effects on employee morale.

     The Board of Directors  believes that the automatic annual increase feature
of the Purchase Plan should reduce the risk of insufficient share reserves.  The
Purchase Plan provides for an annual increase equal to the lesser of (i) 300,000
shares,  (ii) that number of shares equal to three percent (3%) of the Company's
outstanding capital stock or (iii) such amount determined by the Company's Board
of Directors.  As a result,  the share reserve under the Purchase Plan cannot be
increased by more than 300,000  shares in any given year,  which  represents the
Company's  current  estimates  of its annual share  requirements  under the 1995
Plan.  In addition,  the Board of Directors  retains the  discretion  to fix the
annual  increase at a lesser  number of shares less than  otherwise  established
under the Purchase  Plan,  if it  determines,  at the time of such  increase and
based on forecasts then available to the Company,  then the increase established
under the  Purchase  Plan  would be  unnecessarily  aggressive  relative  to the
forecast.  At the Company's  1997 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders,  shareholders
approved  an  increase by 500,000  shares in the number of shares  reserved  for
issuance under the 1995 Plan. As of September 30, 1998,  328,187 shares remained
available for issuance under the 1995 Plan, but, as a result of the simultaneous
termination of the 1995 Plan, the shares  remaining  available after the October
31, 1998 purchases under the two open offering periods will not be issued if the
Purchase Plan is approved.

Vote Required

     The  affirmative  vote of a majority  of the Votes Cast will be required to
approve the adoption of the Purchase  Plan.  For this purpose,  the "Votes Cast"
are  defined to be the shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  represented  and
voting at the Annual Meeting. In addition, the affirmative votes must constitute
at least a majority of the  required  quorum,  which quorum is a majority of the
shares  outstanding at the Record Date. Votes that are cast against the proposal
will be counted for purposes of determining  both (i) the presence or absence of
a quorum and (ii) the total number of Votes Cast with  respect to the  proposal.
Abstentions  and broker  non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of
determining  the presence of a quorum for the  transaction  of business but will
not be treated as votes cast for purposes of the proposals presented herein.

     The Board Recommends a Vote "FOR" the Adoption of the Purchase Plan.

     The essential terms of the Purchase Plan are summarized as follows:

Summary of the Purchase Plan

     General.  The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide  employees with an
opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through payroll deductions.

     Administration.  The  Purchase  Plan may be  administered  by the  Board of
Directors or a committee  appointed by the Board of Directors.  All questions of
interpretation  or  application of the Purchase Plan are determined by the Board
of Directors or its appointed committee, and its decisions are final, conclusive
and binding upon all participants.

     Eligibility.  Each  employee of the  Company  (including  officers),  whose
customary  employment  with the  Company  is at least 20 hours per week and more
than two months in any calendar  year, is eligible to participate in an Offering
Period (as defined below); provided,  however, that no employee shall be granted
an option under the Purchase Plan (i) to the extent that,  immediately after the
grant,  such employee would own five percent of either the voting power or value
of the stock of the  Company,  or (ii) to the  extent  that his or her rights to
purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company accrues at
a rate which exceeds $25,000 worth of stock (determined at the fair market value
of

                                        6

<PAGE>


the shares at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year.  Eligible
employees become  participants in the Purchase Plan by filing with the Company a
subscription  agreement authorizing payroll deductions prior to the beginning of
each Offering Period unless a later time for filing the  subscription  agreement
has been set by the Board.

     Participation  in  an  Offering.   The  Purchase  Plan  is  implemented  by
consecutive  overlapping  offering  periods  lasting for 12 months (an "Offering
Period"),  with a new Offering Period commencing on May 1 and November 1 of each
year; provided,  however, that the first Offering Period under the Purchase Plan
shall commence on November 6, 1998 and end on October 31, 1999. Common Stock may
be  purchased  under the Purchase  Plan every six months (a "Purchase  Period"),
unless the participant withdraws or terminates employment earlier. To the extent
the fair market value of the Common  Stock on any  exercise  date in an Offering
Period is lower than the fair market  value of the Common Stock on the first day
of the Offering  Period,  then all  participants in such Offering Period will be
automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise
of their  options on such  exercise date and  automatically  re-enrolled  in the
immediately  following Offering Period as of the first day thereof. The Board of
Directors may change the duration of the Purchase  Periods or the length or date
of commencement of an Offering Period. To participate in the Purchase Plan, each
eligible  employee must authorize  payroll  deductions  pursuant to the Purchase
Plan.   Such  payroll   deductions  may  not  exceed  15%  of  a   participant's
compensation.  Compensation  is defined as base  straight  time gross  earnings,
sales commissions, bonuses, incentive compensation and payments for overtime and
shift premiums. Once an employee becomes a participant in the Purchase Plan, the
employee will automatically participate in each successive Offering Period until
such time as the employee  withdraws  from the Purchase  Plan or the  employee's
employment  with the  Company  terminates.  At the  beginning  of each  Offering
Period, each participant is automatically  granted options to purchase shares of
the Company's Common Stock. The option expires at the end of the Purchase Period
or upon termination of employment, whichever is earlier, but is exercised at the
end of each Purchase Period to the extent of the payroll deductions  accumulated
during such Purchase Period.  The number of shares subject to the option may not
exceed 3,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock in each Purchase Period.

     Purchase Price,  Shares Purchased.  Shares of Common Stock may be purchased
under the  Purchase  Plan at a price not less than 85% of the lesser of the fair
market value of the Common Stock on (i) the first day of the Offering  Period or
(ii) the last day of  Purchase  Period.  The "fair  market  value" of the Common
Stock on any  relevant  date will be the closing  price per share as reported on
The Nasdaq National Market (or the mean of the closing bid and asked prices,  if
no sales were  reported)  as quoted on such  exchange  or  reported  in The Wall
Street Journal. The number of shares of Common Stock a participant  purchases in
each  Purchase  Period is  determined  by dividing  the total amount of pay-roll
deductions  withheld from the  participant's  compensation  during that Purchase
Period by the Purchase  Price. To the extent  permitted by any applicable  laws,
regulations,  or stock  exchange rules if the fair market value on the last date
of any  purchase  period is lower than the fair market value on the first day of
the offering period, then all participants in the offering period then open will
be  automatically  withdrawn  from such offering  period  immediately  after the
purchase on that date and automatically re-enrolled in the immediately following
offering period.

     Termination of Employment.  Termination of a  participant's  employment for
any reason,  including disability or death, or the failure of the participant to
remain in the continuous  scheduled  employ of the Company for at least 20 hours
per week,  cancels  his or her option and  participation  in the  Purchase  Plan
immediately. In such event, the payroll deductions credited to the participant's
account  will be returned to him or her or, in the case of death,  to the person
or persons entitled thereto as provided in the Purchase Plan.

     Adjustment  Upon Change in  Capitalization.  In the event that the stock of
the Company is changed by reason of any stock split,  reverse stock split, stock
dividend, combination, reclassification or other change in the capital structure
of the  Company  effected  without  the  receipt of  consideration,  appropriate
proportional  adjustments  shall be made in the  number  and  class of shares of
stock subject to the Purchase

                                        7

<PAGE>


Plan,  the  number and class of shares of stock  subject to options  outstanding
under the Purchase Plan and the exercise price of any such outstanding  options.
Any such adjustment shall be made by the Board of Directors, whose determination
shall be conclusive.

     Dissolution  or  Liquidation.  In the event of a  proposed  dissolution  or
liquidation,  the Offering  Period then in progress  will be shortened and a new
exercise date will be set.

     Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a merger of the Company with or into
another corporation or a sale of substantially all of the Company's assets, each
outstanding  option may be assumed or substituted by the successor  corporation.
If the successor  corporation  refuses to assume or substitute  the  outstanding
options,  the  Offering  Period then in  progress  will be  shortened  and a new
exercise date will be set.

     Amendment and  Termination  of the Plan.  The Board of Directors may at any
time terminate or amend the Purchase Plan. An Offering  Period may be terminated
by the  Board  of  Directors  at the end of any  Purchase  Period  if the  Board
determines that termination of the Purchase Plan is in the best interests of the
Company and its  shareholders.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in the
Purchase  Plan,  the Board of  Directors  may in its sole  discretion  amend the
Purchase  Plan to the  extent  necessary  and  desirable  to  avoid  unfavorable
financial  accounting  consequences  by  altering  the  purchase  price  for any
offering period,  shortening any offering period or allocating  remaining shares
among the participants. No amendment shall be effective unless it is approved by
the  holders  of a  majority  of the  Votes  Cast at a duly  held  shareholders'
meeting, if such amendment would require shareholder approval in order to comply
with Section 423 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Purchase Plan will terminate in September 2008.

     Withdrawal.  Generally,  a participant may withdraw from an Offering Period
at any time without  affecting his or her  eligibility  to participate in future
Offering  Periods.  However,  once a  participant  withdraws  from a  particular
offering, that participant may not participate again in the same offering.

     Federal Tax Information for Purchase Plan. The Purchase Plan, and the right
of participants to make purchases  thereunder,  is intended to qualify under the
provisions  of  Sections  421 and 423 of the Code.  Under these  provisions,  no
income will be taxable to a  participant  until the shares  purchased  under the
Purchase Plan are sold or otherwise  disposed of. Upon sale or other disposition
of the shares,  the participant  will generally be subject to tax and the amount
of the tax will  depend  upon the  holding  period.  If the  shares  are sold or
otherwise  disposed  of more than two years  from the first day of the  Offering
Period  and more  than one year  from the date of  transfer  of the stock to the
participant, then the participant will recognize ordinary income measured as the
lesser of (i) the excess of the fair  market  value of the shares at the time of
such sale or disposition  over the Purchase Price or (ii) an amount equal to 15%
of the fair  market  value of the  shares as of the  first  day of the  Offering
Period.  Any additional  gain will be treated as long-term  capital gain. If the
shares are sold or otherwise  disposed of before the expiration of these holding
periods,  the participant will recognize  ordinary income generally  measured as
the  excess of the fair  market  value of the  shares on the date the shares are
purchased over the Purchase  Price.  Any additional gain or loss on such sale or
disposition will be long-term or short-term  capital gain or loss,  depending on
the holding period. The Company is not entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed
as ordinary  income or capital gain to a  participant  except to the extent that
ordinary  income is recognized by  participants  upon a sale or  disposition  of
shares prior to the expiration of the holding periods described above.

     The  foregoing is only a summary of the effect of federal  income  taxation
upon the participant and the Company with respect to the shares  purchased under
the Purchase Plan. Reference should be made to the applicable  provisions of the
Code.  In  addition,  the summary  does not discuss  the tax  consequences  of a
participant's  death or the income  tax laws of any state or foreign  country in
which the participant may reside.

Participation in the 1995 Plan and the Purchase Plan

     Participation  in the Purchase  Plan is voluntary  and is dependent on each
eligible  employee's  election to participate and his or her determination as to
the level of payroll deductions. Accordingly, future

                                        8

<PAGE>


purchases under the Purchase Plan are not  determinable.  Nonemployee  directors
are not eligible to  participate  in the Purchase  Plan and were not eligible to
participate in the 1995 Plan.

<TABLE>
     The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  regarding  shares
purchased  during the fiscal year ended June 30,  1998 by each of the  executive
officers named in the Summary  Compensation  Table below, all current  executive
officers  as a  group,  all  nonemployee  directors  as a group  and  all  other
employees who participated in the 1995 Plan as a group:

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Number of Shares      Dollar
          Name of Individual or Identity of Group and Position                           Purchased (#)    Value ($)(1)
          ----------------------------------------------------                           -------------    ------------
<S>                                                                                         <C>           <C>     
Brian R. Carlisle, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer ...................    3,677         $ 20,064

Charles S. Duncheon, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales ........................    3,175           24,207

Bruce E. Shimano, Vice President, Research and Development,
 Secretary and Director ................................................................    1,828           10,318

Richard J. Casler, Vice President, Engineering .........................................     --               --   

Betsy A. Lange, Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer ....................    1,787            8,773

All Current Executive Officers as a group (6 Persons) ..................................   10,467           63,363

Non-Employee Directors as a group ......................................................        *                *

All Other Employees as a group .........................................................  178,051          976,621


<FN>
- - -----------------
*    Not eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan or 1995 Plan.

(1)  Market value of shares on date of purchase  minus the purchase  price under
     the 1995 Plan.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                 PROPOSAL THREE

               RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The  Board  of  Directors  has  selected  Ernst  & Young  LLP,  independent
auditors, to audit the consolidated  financial statements of the Company for the
fiscal  year  ending June 30, 1999 and  recommends  that  shareholders  vote for
ratification of such appointment.  Notwithstanding  the selection,  the Board of
Directors,  in its  discretion,  may direct the  appointment of new  independent
auditors at any time during the year, if the Board of Directors  feels that such
a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.  In
the  event of a  negative  vote on  ratification,  the Board of  Directors  will
reconsider its selection.

     Ernst & Young LLP has audited the Company's  financial  statements annually
since 1984.  Representatives  of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to be present at
the meeting with the  opportunity to make a statement,  if they desire to do so,
and are expected to be available to respond to questions.

     The Board  recommends a vote "FOR" the  ratification  of the appointment of
Ernst & Young LLP as the  Company's  independent  auditors  for the fiscal  year
ending June 30, 1999.

                                        9

<PAGE>


         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership  of Common  Stock of the  Company as of the Record Date as to (i) each
person  who is known by the  Company  to own  beneficially  more  than 5% of the
outstanding  shares  of Common  Stock,  (ii) each  director,  (iii)  each of the
executive  officers named in the Summary  Compensation  Table below and (iv) all
directors and executive officers as a group.


                                           Common Stock
     Five Percent Shareholders,            Beneficially   Approximate Percentage
Directors and Certain Executive Officers      Owned              Owned (1)
- - ----------------------------------------   ------------   ----------------------
Kopp Investment Advisors Inc. (2) .......... 1,892,850            21.9%
   7701 France Avenue South, Suite 500
   Edina, Minnesota 55435

Brian R. Carlisle (3) ......................   333,221             3.9

Bruce E. Shimano (4) .......................   309,196             3.6

John E. Pomeroy (5) ........................    17,811              *

Cary R. Mock (6) ...........................    12,811              *

Michael P. Kelly (7) .......................     6,499              *

Ronald E. F. Codd (8) ......................      --                --

Charles S. Duncheon (9) ....................   164,558             1.9

Richard J. Casler, Jr. (10) ................    23,583              *

Betsy A. Lange (11) ........................    44,955              *

All directors and executive officers
 as a group (10 persons) (12) ..............   912,634            10.7%

- - -----------------
*    Less than 1%
(1)  Applicable  percentage  ownership  is based on  8,533,824  shares of Common
     Stock  outstanding as of the Record Date together with  applicable  options
     for the shareholder.  Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with
     the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting and
     investment power with respect to shares.  Shares of Common Stock subject to
     options  currently  exercisable  or  exercisable  within 60 days  after the
     Record Date are deemed  outstanding for computing the percentage  ownership
     of the  person  holding  the  options  but are not deemed  outstanding  for
     computing the percentage of any other person.

(2)  Reflects  ownership  as reported on Schedule  13G/A dated May 9, 1998 filed
     with the Commission by Kopp Investment Advisors, Inc. ("KIA"). As set forth
     in KIA's  filing,  represents  shares  beneficially  owned  by (i)  KIA,  a
     registered investment advisor, (ii) Kopp Holding Company ("Holding"), (iii)
     Kopp Funds, Inc. ("Funds"), a registered investment advisor, and (iv) LeRoy
     C. Kopp individually and through his ownership of a controlling interest in
     KIA and his control over Holdings and Funds. KIA has sole voting power over
     794,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,  sole dispositive  power over
     615,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock and shared  dispositive  power
     over 1,872,850 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Holding has beneficial
     ownership of 1,872,850  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock.  Funds has
     beneficial  ownership of 615,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock. Mr.
     Kopp has beneficial  ownership of 1,892,850  shares of the Company's Common
     Stock and sole  voting  and  dispositive  power over  20,000  shares of the
     Company's Common Stock.

(3)  Includes  65,623 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date. Mr. Carlisle is Chairman of the Board of
     Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

(4)  Includes  49,685 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date and 18,000 shares held by Mr.  Shimano as
     custodian for his children under the California Uniform Transfers to Minors
     Act. Mr. Shimano is Vice President, Research and Development, Secretary and
     a director of the Company.

                                       10

<PAGE>


(5)  Includes  17,811 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date.

(6)  Includes  12,811 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date.

(7)  Includes  6,499 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired  upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date.

(8)  Mr. Codd became a director of the Company in February 1998.

(9)  Includes  31,872 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date and 4,500  shares held by Mr.  Duncheon's
     wife.  Mr.  Duncheon is Senior Vice  President,  Marketing and Sales of the
     Company.

(10) Includes  13,333 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within  60 days of the  Record  Date.  Mr.  Casler  is the  Company's  Vice
     President, Engineering.

(11) Includes  16,395 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within  60 days  of the  Record  Date.  Ms.  Lange  is the  Company's  Vice
     President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

(12) Includes 214,029 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon exercise
     of stock options which are presently exercisable or will become exercisable
     within 60 days of the Record Date.

                                       11

<PAGE>


                    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS

Executive Compensation

     The following  Summary  Compensation  Table sets forth certain  information
regarding the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the
next four most highly compensated executive officers of the Company for services
rendered  in all  capacities  to the  Company for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1998.


<TABLE>
                                      SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE


<CAPTION>
                                                                     Long-Term
                                                                    Compensation
                                                                   -------------
                                                                      Awards
                                                                   -------------
                                                                     Number of
                                         Annual Compensation (1)     Securities
                              Fiscal     ------------------------    Underlying        All Other
 Name and Principal Position   Year       Salary      Bonus (2)       Options       Compensation($)
- - ----------------------------- --------   ----------   -----------   -------------   -----------------
<S>                            <C>       <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
Brian R. Carlisle ...........  1998      $262,117       $ 31,000        25,000        $ 12,377(4)
 Chairman of the Board and     1997       217,442             --       100,000          15,289(5)
 Chief Executive Officer       1996       209,245         25,000            --          20,305(6)
Charles S. Duncheon .........  1998       186,439         59,437        20,000          12,468(4)
 Senior Vice President,        1997       171,996         46,283        50,000          11,482(5)
 Marketing and Sales           1996       165,540         70,000            --          14,178(6)
Bruce E. Shimano ............  1998       178,555         13,000        20,000          11,488(4)
 Vice President, Research and  1997       166,346             --        75,000          11,366(5)
 Development, Secretary and    1996       159,742         15,000            --          15,507(6)
 Director
Richard J. Casler ...........  1998       159,744         18,053        10,000          10,245(4)
Vice President, Engineering    1997       140,825             --        10,000           9,915(5)
                               1996       135,565         14,000         6,250           9,606(6)
Betsy A. Lange (3) ..........  1998       121,947          8,000         7,000          10,685(4)
 Vice President, Finance and   1997       133,612             --        10,000          11,609(5)
 Chief Financial Officer       1996       135,547         11,133         8,750          10,036(6)

<FN>
- - -----------------
(1)  Other than salary,  bonus and all other compensation  described herein, the
     Company did not pay the persons named in the Summary Compensation Table any
     compensation, including incidental personal benefits, that in the aggregate
     constituted an excess of 10% of such executive officer's salary.

(2)  Bonus  compensation  for fiscal 1998 consists in part of (i) bonuses earned
     in fiscal 1998 but paid in fiscal 1999 of $31,000 for Mr. Carlisle, $13,000
     for Mr.  Shimano,  $18,053 for Mr. Casler and $8,000 for Ms. Lange and (ii)
     commission  income of $59,437  for Mr.  Duncheon.  Bonus  compensation  for
     fiscal 1997  consisted of  commission  income of $46,283 for Mr.  Duncheon.
     Bonus  compensation  for fiscal 1996 consists in part of (i) bonuses earned
     in fiscal 1996 and paid in fiscal 1997 of $25,000 for Mr. Carlisle,  $6,370
     for Mr.  Duncheon,  $15,000 for Mr.  Shimano,  $14,000  for Mr.  Casler and
     $11,133  for Ms.  Lange;  and (ii)  commission  income of  $63,630  for Mr.
     Duncheon.

(3)  The annual reductions in Ms. Lange's compensation  beginning in fiscal 1997
     reflect  the  Company's   agreement  between  Ms.  Lange  and  the  Company
     permitting her to work a reduced work week.

(4)  Other  compensation  for fiscal 1998 consists of (i) group term life excess
     premiums of $1,008 for Mr. Carlisle,  $1,116 for Mr. Duncheon, $686 for Mr.
     Shimano,  $601  for Mr.  Casler  and $362 for Ms.  Lange;  (ii)  automobile
     allowances of $8,736 for Mr. Carlisle,  $9,638 for Mr. Duncheon, $8,736 for
     Mr.  Shimano,  $8,736  for Mr.  Casler  and  $8,736  for Ms.  Lange;  (iii)
     supplemental life insurance premiums of $1,633 for Mr. Carlisle, $1,116 for
     Mr. Duncheon,  $1,066 for Mr. Shimano, $909 for Mr. Casler and $624 for Ms.
     Lange;  and (iv) matching  contributions of $1,000 by the Company under its
     401(k)  Plan for each of Messrs.  Carlisle,  Duncheon  and  Shimano and Ms.
     Lange.

                                       12

<PAGE>


(5)  Other  compensation for fiscal 1997 consisted of (i) group term life excess
     premiums  of $844 for Mr.  Carlisle,  $668 for Mr.  Duncheon,  $646 for Mr.
     Shimano,  $548  for Mr.  Casler  and $573 for Ms.  Lange;  (ii)  automobile
     allowances of $12,104 for Mr. Carlisle, $8,790 for Mr. Duncheon, $8,736 for
     Mr.  Shimano,  $8,736  for Mr.  Casler  and  $9,711  for Ms.  Lange;  (iii)
     supplemental life insurance premiums of $1,340 for Mr. Carlisle, $1,024 for
     Mr.  Duncheon,  $984 for Mr. Shimano,  $632 for Mr. Casler and $325 for Ms.
     Lange; and (iv) matching  contributions under its 401(k) Plan of $1,000 for
     each of Messrs. Carlisle, Duncheon and Shimano and Ms. Lange.

(6)  Other  compensation  for fiscal 1996 consists of (i) group term life excess
     premiums  of $755 for Mr.  Carlisle,  $592 for Mr.  Duncheon,  $953 for Mr.
     Shimano,  $435  for Mr.  Casler  and $414 for Ms.  Lange;  (ii)  automobile
     allowances of $13,894 for Mr. Carlisle,  $12,370 for Mr.  Duncheon,  $8,736
     for Mr.  Shimano,  $8,736 for Mr.  Casler and $8,736 for Ms.  Lange;  (iii)
     supplemental life insurance premiums of $755 for Mr. Carlisle, $592 for Mr.
     Duncheon, $935 for Mr. Shimano, $435 for Mr. Casler and $262 for Ms. Lange;
     (iv)  matching  contributions  of $624 by the Company under its 401(k) Plan
     for each of Messrs.  Carlisle,  Duncheon and Shimano and Ms. Lange; and (v)
     reimbursement  of accrued  interest on outstanding  note obligations to the
     Company  of $4,277  for each of  Messrs.  Carlisle  and  Shimano.  The note
     obligations  of Messrs.  Carlisle and Shimano were  incurred in  connection
     with the purchase of Common Stock of the Company and were repaid in January
     1996.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                        OPTION GRANTS IN FISCAL YEAR 1998

<TABLE>
     The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding the grant of
stock options to the persons named in the Summary  Compensation Table during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.

<CAPTION>
                                                       Individual Grants                            Potential Realizable
                                ---------------------------------------------------------------       Value at Assumed
                                                                                                        Annual Rates
                                 Number of      Percentage of                                          of Stock Price
                                 Securities     Total Options                                         Appreciation for
                                 Underlying      Granted to         Exercise                          Option Term (1)
                                  Options        Employees in      Price Per       Expiration     ------------------------
             Name               Granted (2)      Fiscal Year      Share (3)(4)        Date           5%           10%
- - ------------------------------- -------------   ---------------   --------------   ------------   ----------   -----------
<S>                                <C>               <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>      
Brian R. Carlisle .............    25,000            6.2%           $ 11.75        8/14/07       $184,738     $ 468,162
Charles S. Duncheon ...........    20,000            4.9              11.75        8/14/07        147,790       374,529
Bruce E. Shimano ..............    20,000            4.9              11.75        8/14/07        147,790       374,529
Richard J. Casler, Jr. ........    10,000            2.5              11.75        8/14/07         73,895       187,265
Betsy A. Lange (5) ............     7,000            1.7              11.75        8/14/07         51,727       131,085

<FN>
- - -----------------
*    Less than 1%.

(1)  Potential realizable value is based on the assumption that the Common Stock
     of the Company  appreciates at the annual rate shown (compounded  annually)
     from the date of grant until the  expiration  of the ten year option  term.
     These numbers are calculated based on the  requirements  promulgated by the
     Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and do  not  reflect  the  Company's
     estimates of future stock price growth.

(2)  Each of the options becomes exercisable as to 1|M/48th of the option shares
     each month with full  vesting  occurring on the fourth  anniversary  of the
     date of grant.

(3)  Options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
     the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant.

(4)  Exercise  price  may be paid in  cash,  promissory  note,  by  delivery  of
     already-owned  shares  subject  to certain  conditions,  or  pursuant  to a
     cashless exercise  procedure under which the optionee provides  irrevocable
     instructions to a brokerage firm to sell the purchased  shares and to remit
     to the Company,  out of the sale proceeds,  an amount equal to the exercise
     price plus all applicable withholding taxes.

(5)  Ms.  Lange  received  a lower  number of  shares in fiscal  1998 due to her
     reduced work week.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       13

<PAGE>


               AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                          FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
     The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding the exercise
of stock  options in the last fiscal  year by the  persons  named in the Summary
Compensation  Table and the value of options held by such individuals as of June
30, 1998.

<CAPTION>
                                                                   Number of Securities
                                                                  Underlying Unexercised             Value of Unexercised
                                 Shares                                 Options at                  In-the-Money Options at
                                Acquired                             June 30, 1998 (#)               June 30, 1998 ($)(1)
                                   on           Value         -------------------------------   -------------------------------
             Name               Exercise     Realized (2)     Exercisable     Unexercisable     Exercisable     Unexercisable
- - ------------------------------- ----------   --------------   -------------   ---------------   -------------   ---------------
<S>                              <C>           <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>               <C>    
Brian R. Carlisle  ............  62,500        $522,688         53,644           71,356          $ 50,935          $55,365
Charles S. Duncheon   .........      --              --         65,540           41,460           255,648           27,683
Bruce E. Shimano   ............  27,500         246,543         40,519           54,481            38,201           41,524
Richard J. Casler, Jr.   ......  17,750         202,800         13,019           14,481            10,435            6,417
Betsy A. Lange  ...............  13,000         151,775         16,082           12,168            14,547            6,417

<FN>
- - -----------------
(1)  Market  value of the  Company's  Common  Stock at June 30,  1998  minus the
     exercise price.

(2)  Market value of the  Company's  Common Stock at the exercise date minus the
     exercise price.
</FN>
</TABLE>


Employment Contracts and Change-In-Control Arrangements

     The Company currently has no employment contracts with any of the executive
officers listed in the Summary  Compensation  Table, and no compensatory plan or
arrangement with such executive  officers which are activated upon  resignation,
termination or retirement of any such executive officer upon a change in control
of the Company.

Compensation of Directors

     No director  currently  receives any cash  compensation  for  attendance at
Board or committee meetings, except that directors will be reimbursed for travel
and lodging  expenses  incurred in attending Board and committee  meetings.  The
Company's  1995  Director  Option Plan provides that options shall be granted to
non-employee directors of the Company pursuant to an automatic  nondiscretionary
grant  mechanism.  Upon joining the Board of  Directors,  each new  non-employee
director is granted an option  automatically  (the "Initial Grant") at the first
meeting  of the Board of  Directors  that  occurs  after such  person  becomes a
director.  Mr. Codd received an Initial  Grant to purchase  15,000 shares of the
Company's  Common Stock on February 12, 1998 at an exercise  price of $13.25 per
share. Each non-employee  director is granted an option to purchase 3,000 shares
of Common Stock  annually  (the "Annual  Grant") for so long as such  individual
remains a member of the Board at the  first  meeting  of the Board of  Directors
after the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  Messrs.  Kelly, Mock and Pomeroy each
received an Annual Grant of an option to purchase  3,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock on February 12, 1998 at an exercise price of $13.25 per share.  All
such  options  were  granted at the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of grant.  The Initial Grants to  non-employee  directors vest at a rate of
25% on the first anniversary date of grant and at a rate of 1/48th of the shares
per month  thereafter,  and the Annual  Grants become  exercisable  at a rate of
1/48th of the shares  subject to such options on the monthly  anniversary of the
date of grant.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     In fiscal 1998, the Compensation  Committee  consisted of Messrs.  Mock and
Pomeroy. There are no interlocking relationships, as described by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, between the Compensation Committee members.

                                       14

<PAGE>


Report of Compensation Committee

     This  Report  of the  Compensation  Committee  shall  not be  deemed  to be
"soliciting  material"  or  to be  "filed"  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  nor shall such  information be  incorporated  by reference into any
future  filing under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities
Act") or under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the  "Exchange
Act"),  except to the extent that the  Company  specifically  incorporates  this
information by reference into such filing.

     The following is the Report of the  Compensation  Committee  describing the
compensation  policies and  rationales  applicable  to the  Company's  executive
officers with respect to the  compensation  paid to such executive  officers for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.

     General.  The  responsibilities  of  the  Compensation   Committee  are  to
administer the Company's  various  incentive plans,  including the 1995 Plan and
the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan  (collectively,  the "Equity Plans") and to
set compensation  policies applicable to the Company's  executive officers.  The
Committee's  fundamental  policy is to offer the  Company's  executive  officers
competitive  compensation  opportunities based upon overall Company performance,
the individual  contribution of officers to the financial success of the Company
and market rates of compensation at similarly situated technology companies.  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 such
officer's  own  level of  performance.  Accordingly,  each  executive  officer's
compensation  package is comprised of three elements:  (i) base salary, which is
established  primarily  on  the  basis  of  individual  performance  and  market
considerations, (ii) annual variable performance awards payable in cash and tied
to the Company's  achievement of financial performance goals and the executive's
contribution and (iii) long-term  stock-based incentive awards that are intended
to strengthen the mutuality of interests between the executive  officers and the
shareholders.

     Base  Salary.  Individual  salaries  are  determined  based  on  individual
experience,  performance and breadth of responsibility  within the Company.  The
Compensation  Committee  reviews these factors for each  executive  officer each
year. In addition,  the Compensation  Committee  considers  executive  officers'
salaries for relative competitiveness with similarly situated companies.

     Commissions  and  Bonuses.  Incentive  cash  compensation  for  Charles  S.
Duncheon,  the Company's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales,  consists
of  commission  income.  Mr.  Duncheon  received  $59,437  in  fiscal  1999  for
commissions earned in fiscal 1998. The Company has also established a cash bonus
plan for its other executive  officers.  Brian R. Carlisle,  the Company's Chief
Executive  Officer,  was  awarded  a  bonus  of  $31,000  in  fiscal  1998  upon
achievement of certain  individual and corporate  goals.  Bruce E. Shimano,  the
Company's Vice President, Research and Development,  Richard J. Casler, its Vice
President,  Engineering,  and Betsy A. Lange,  its Vice  President,  Finance and
Chief  Financial  Officer,  were also  awarded  bonuses of $13,000,  $18,053 and
$8,000, respectively,  in fiscal 1998. The Compensation Committee sets new goals
for each  executive  and the Company as a whole each fiscal year on the basis of
past performance and objectives for the next fiscal year.

     Equity  Plans.  The  Equity  Plans are  long-term  incentive  plans for all
employees.  These plans are intended to align shareholder and employee interests
by  creating  a direct  link  between  long-term  rewards  and the  value of the
Company's  shares.  The  Compensation  Committee  believes that long-term  stock
ownership by  executive  officers  and all  employees is an important  factor in
retaining  valued  employees and in achieving growth in share value. The options
utilize  vesting  periods that encourage  employees to continue in the employ of
the Company.  Because the value of an option bears a direct  relationship to the
Company's stock price, the Compensation Committee believes that options motivate
executive  officers  and  employees to manage the Company in a manner which will
benefit all shareholders.

     The Equity  Plans  authorize  the  Compensation  Committee  to award  stock
options to employees at any time.  The size of stock option grants is determined
by a number of factors,  including  comparable grants to executive  officers and
employees of similarly situated  companies,  as well as the executive  officer's
relative  position  and  responsibilities   with  the  Company,  the  individual
performance  of the  executive  officer  over the  previous  fiscal year and the
anticipated  contribution  of the  executive  officer to the  attainment  of the
Company's long-term strategic performance goals. The exercise price per share of
each

                                       15

<PAGE>


stock option is generally equal to the prevailing market value of a share of the
Company's  Common Stock on the date such option is granted.  The Committee views
stock   option   grants   as  an   important   component   of   its   long-term,
performance-based compensation philosophy.

     CEO Compensation. The compensation of Mr. Carlisle consists of base salary,
bonuses  and stock  options.  The Board of  Directors  periodically  reviews Mr.
Carlisle's  base  salary and bonus and  revises  his  compensation  based on the
Board's  overall  evaluation of his  performance  toward the  achievement of the
Company's financial,  strategic and other goals, with consideration given to his
length of  service  and to  competitive  chief  executive  officer  compensation
information.  In fiscal 1998, Mr.  Carlisle  earned a base salary of $262,117 as
set by the  Compensation  Committee.  Based  upon  his  achievement  of  certain
individual and company-wide  performance goals, Mr. Carlisle was awarded a bonus
of $31,000 in fiscal 1998 that was paid in fiscal 1999. Mr. Carlisle was granted
stock options to purchase  25,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of
$11.75 per share in fiscal 1998. The Compensation Committee granted Mr. Carlisle
the option to purchase such shares  following  consideration  of Mr.  Carlisle's
unvested option position relative to industry norms for chief executive officers
of similarly situated companies.

Section 162(m)

     The Board has considered the potential  future effects of Section 162(m) of
the Internal  Revenue Code on the compensation  paid to the Company's  executive
officers.  Section  162(m)  disallows  a tax  deduction  for  any  publicly-held
corporation for individual compensation exceeding $1 million in any taxable year
for any of the  executive  officers  named in the proxy  statement,  unless such
compensation is performance-based.  The Company has adopted a policy that, where
reasonably   practicable,   the  Company  will  seek  to  qualify  the  variable
compensation  paid  to  its  executive   officers  for  an  exemption  from  the
deductibility limitations of Section 162(m).


                                         Respectfully submitted,


                                         The Compensation Committee:
                                         Cary R. Mock
                                         John E. Pomeroy

                                       16

<PAGE>


Performance Graph

     The  stock  price  performance  graph  set forth  below  under the  caption
"Performance  Graph"  shall not be deemed to be  "soliciting  material" or to be
"filed" with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  nor shall such information
be  incorporated  by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or under
the  Exchange  Act,   except  to  the  extent  that  the  Company   specifically
incorporates this information by reference into such filings.


                   COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
            ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC., THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET-US INDEX
                                AND A PEER GROUP


[The following  descriptive  data is supplied in accordance  with Rule 304(d) of
Regulation S-T]


                               12/15/95    06/01/96     06/01/97      06/01/98
                               --------    --------     --------      --------
Adept Technology, Inc.           100         147           92             80
Peer Group                       100          81          124             83
Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S)        100         116          141            186


     This graph  assumes  that $100 was  invested  on  December  15, 1995 in the
Company's  Common  Stock and in the Nasdaq  Stock  Market US Index and in a Peer
Group Index,  comprised of fourteen companies in the robotics and vision systems
industries, and that all dividends were reinvested.

     No dividends have been declared or paid on the Company's  Common Stock. The
Company intends to retain future earnings, if any, to fund its business and does
not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.  Shareholder
returns over the period indicated should not be considered  indicative of future
shareholder returns.

Certain Transactions

     In  connection  with the  hiring  of Marcy R.  Alstott  as Vice  President,
Operations, in March 1998, the Company loaned Ms. Alstott $300,000 pursuant to a
promissory note secured by Ms.  Alstott's  residence at an initial interest rate
of 5.64% to be  adjusted  annually  to the  applicable  short-term  rate then in
effect. The purpose of the loan was to provide Ms. Alstott relocation assistance
as she was moving from a lower-cost  housing market on the East Coast to Silicon
Valley,  where  housing  costs  are among the  highest  nationwide.  The loan is
evidenced by a promissory  note that provides for  forgiveness of principal at a
rate of $30,000 per year over ten years so long as Ms.  Alstott  continues as an
employee of the Company.  Ms.  Alstott's  loan  included an  obligation  for the
Company to  reimburse  Ms.  Alstott  for taxes  payable by her and for  interest
payable  each year on May 1. In the event  that Ms.  Alstott  ceases  employment
voluntarily within the first four years of her employment,  the loan will become
due and payable 180 days after the

                                       17

<PAGE>


effective date of such termination. If Ms. Alstott leaves the Company after four
years, the loan will be forgiven.  If Ms. Alstott's employment by the Company is
terminated  involuntarily  for any reason by the  Company or she dies or becomes
disabled,  the remaining  balance of principal and interest due on the loan will
be forgiven.

     All future  transactions,  including  loans,  between  the  Company and its
officers,  directors,  principal  shareholders  and  their  affiliates  will  be
approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists
of independent and disinterested  outside directors,  and will continue to be on
terms no less favorable to the Company than could be obtained from  unaffiliated
third parties.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's executive officers
and directors,  and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered  class
of the Company's equity securities,  to file reports of ownership and changes in
ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") and the National
Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  Executive  officers,  directors and
greater than ten percent  stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish
the Company  with copies of all Section  16(a) forms they file.  Based solely on
its  review  of  the  copies  of  such   forms   received   by  it,  or  written
representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that during
fiscal 1998 all executive  officers and  directors of the Company  complied with
all applicable filing  requirements other than one delinquent filing of a Form 4
for Richard J. Casler.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     The Company  knows of no other  matters to be submitted at the meeting.  If
any other matters  properly come before the meeting,  it is the intention of the
persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy to vote the shares they represent as
the Board of Directors may  recommend.  See "Deadline for Receipt of Shareholder
Proposals for 1999 Annual Meeting."


                       ADJOURNMENT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING

     In the event that there are not  sufficient  votes to approve any  proposal
incorporated  herein at the time of the Annual Meeting,  such proposal could not
be approved  unless the Annual Meeting were adjourned in order to permit further
solicitation of proxies from holders of the Company's Common Stock. Proxies that
are being solicited by the Company's Board grant discretionary authority to vote
for any such adjournment, if necessary. If it is necessary to adjourn the Annual
Meeting,  and the adjournment is for a period of less than 45 days, no notice of
the time and  place of the  adjourned  meeting  is  required  to be given to the
shareholders  other  than an  announcement  of such time and place at the Annual
Meeting.  A majority of the shares  represented and voting at the Annual Meeting
is required to approve such adjournment, regardless of whether there is a quorum
present at the Annual Meeting.


                                              THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Dated: October 5, 1998

                                       18

<PAGE>


                                                                      Appendix A

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY                        ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.                        PROXY


                       1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                November 5, 1998
           This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors


     The  undersigned  shareholder  of  ADEPT  TECHNOLOGY,  INC.,  a  California
corporation,  hereby  acknowledges  receipt of the  Notice of Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders  and Proxy  Statement,  each  dated  October  5,  1998,  and hereby
appoints  Brian R.  Carlisle and Betsy A. Lange,  and each of them,  proxies and
attorneys-in-fact, with full power to each of substitution, on behalf and in the
name of the undersigned, to represent the undersigned at the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders of ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC. to be held on November 5, 1998 at 9:00
a.m. local time, at the Santa Clara Marriott,  2700 Mission  College  Boulevard,
Santa Clara,  California  95054 and at any adjournment or adjournments  thereof,
and to vote all shares of Common Stock which the  undersigned  would be entitled
to vote if then and there personally present, on the matters set forth below:


                 (Continued, and to be signed on the other side)

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

                            ^ FOLD AND DETACH HERE ^

ATTENTION: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOX WILL NOT BE PRINTED. IT IS TO SHOW THE TEXT
           POSITION ON THE FRONT OF THIS PROXY CARD


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     [X] Please mark
                                                                                                                          your votes
                                                                                                                           as this
<S>                                                            <C> 
                                                                                                                FOR  AGAINST ABSTAIN
                                   WITHHOLD
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:    FOR   FOR ALL                     2.  Proposal to approve (i) the adoption of the  [ ]    [ ]     [ ]
   NOMINEES:                 [ ]     [ ]                           1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, (ii) the
                                                                   reservation  of  600,000  shares  of Common  
                                                                   Stock for issuance  thereunder and (iii) an
   Brian R. Carlisle,                                              annual  increase  beginning on July 1, 1999
   Bruce E. Shimano, Ronald E. F. Codd, Michael P. Kelly,          of the lesser of (A)  300,000  shares,  (B)
   Cary R. Mock, John E. Pomeroy                                   3.0% of outstanding  shares on the last day
                                                                   of the prior fiscal year or (C) such amount
   INSTRUCTION:  If  you  wish  to withhold authority to vote      as  may  be  determined  by  the  Board  of
   for any  individual nominee,  write that nominee's name in      Directors.
   the space provided below.
                                                               3.  Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst  [ ]    [ ]     [ ]
    _______________________________________________________        & Young LLP as the independent  auditors of
                                                                   the Company for the fiscal year ending June
                                                                   30, 1999.

                                                                   and, in their  discretion,  upon such other
                                                                   matter or matters  which may properly  come
                                                                   before the  meeting or any  adjournment  or
                                                                   adjournments thereof.

                                                                                          THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS  DIRECTED  OR,
                                                                                          IF NO  CONTRARY  DIRECTION  IS  INDICATED,
                                                                                          WILL  BE  VOTED   FOR  THE   ELECTION   OF
                                                                                          DIRECTORS,  FOR THE  ADOPTION  OF THE 1998
                                                                                          EMPLOYEE    STOCK    PURCHASE   PLAN   AND
                                                                                          RESERVATION OF SHARES THEREUNDER,  FOR THE
                                                                                          RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST &
                                                                                          YOUNG LLP AS  INDEPENDENT  AUDITORS AND AS
                                                                                          SAID PROXIES DEEM  ADVISABLE ON SUCH OTHER
                                                                                          MATTERS AS MAY  PROPERLY  COME  BEFORE THE
                                                                                          MEETING.


Signature(s) ___________________________________________________________________    Dated ____________________________________, 1998

(This Proxy  should be marked,  dated and signed by the  shareholder(s)  exactly as his or her name  appears  hereon,  and  returned
promptly in the enclosed envelope.  Persons signing in a fiduciary capacity should so indicate.  If shares are held by joint tenants
or as community property, both should sign.)

- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      ^ FOLD AND DETACH HERE ^

ATTENTION: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS BOX WILL NOT BE PRINTED. IT IS TO SHOW THE
           TEXT POSITION ON THE FRONT OF THIS PROXY CARD
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                                                      Appendix B

                             ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


         The following  constitute  the  provisions  of the 1998 Employee  Stock
Purchase Plan of Adept Technology, Inc.

         1.       Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide  employees  of
the Company and its  Designated  Subsidiaries  with an  opportunity  to purchase
Common Stock of the Company through accumulated  payroll  deductions.  It is the
intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "Employee Stock Purchase
Plan" under Section 423 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended.  The
provisions  of the Plan,  accordingly,  shall be  construed  so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section
of the Code.

         2.       Definitions.

                  (a)  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (b)  "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended.

                  (c)  "Common  Stock"  shall  mean  the  common  stock  of  the
Company.

                  (d)  "Company"  shall  mean  Adept  Technology,  Inc.  and any
Designated Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (e)  "Compensation"  shall mean all base  straight  time gross
earnings, commissions, and payments for overtime.

                  (f)  "Designated  Subsidiaries"  shall  mean the  Subsidiaries
which have been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion
as eligible to participate in the Plan.

                  (g) "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an employee of
the Company for tax purposes whose  customary  employment with the Company is at
least  twenty  (20) hours per week and more than two (2) months in any  calendar
year. For purposes of the Plan, the employment  relationship shall be treated as
continuing  intact  while  the  individual  is on sick  leave or other  leave of
absence  approved by the Company.  Where the period of leave exceeds 90 days and
the individual's right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by
contract,  the employment  relationship will be deemed to have terminated on the
91st day of such leave.

                  (h) "Enrollment Date" shall mean the first Trading Day of each
Offering Period.

                  (i)  "Exercise  Date" shall mean the last  Trading Day of each
Purchase Period.


<PAGE>

                  (j) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date,  the value
of Common Stock determined as follows:

                           (1)      If  the  Common   Stock  is  listed  on  any
established  stock  exchange  or a national  market  system,  including  without
limitation  the  Nasdaq  National  Market or The Nasdaq  SmallCap  Market of The
Nasdaq Stock  Market,  its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sale price for
the Common Stock (or the mean of the closing bid and asked  prices,  if no sales
were reported), as quoted on such exchange or system for the last market trading
day on the date of such determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

                           (2)      If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a
recognized  securities  dealer but  selling  prices are not  reported,  its Fair
Market  Value  shall be the mean of the  closing  bid and asked  prices  for the
Common Stock on the date of such  determination,  as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

                           (3)      In the absence of an established  market for
the Common  Stock,  the Fair Market Value  thereof  shall be  determined in good
faith by the Board.

                  (k) "Offering  Period" shall mean the period of  approximately
twelve (12) months  during which an option  granted  pursuant to the Plan may be
exercised,  commencing on the first Trading Day on or after May 1 and November 1
(beginning in 1998) of each year and  terminating on the last Trading Day in the
period ending twelve months later;  provided,  however,  that the first Offering
Period  under the Plan shall  commence  with the first  Trading  Day on or after
November 6, 1998,  and ending on the last  Trading Day on or before  October 31,
1999.  The  duration and timing of Offering  Periods may be changed  pursuant to
Section 4 of this Plan.

                  (l) "Plan" shall mean this 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

                  (m) "Purchase  Period" shall mean the  approximately six month
period  commencing  after one  Exercise  Date and ending with the next  Exercise
Date,  except  that the first  Purchase  Period  of any  Offering  Period  shall
commence on the Enrollment  Date and end with the next Exercise Date;  provided,
however,  that the first Purchase  Period under the Plan shall commence with the
first  Trading  Day on or after  November  6,  1998,  and  shall end on the last
Trading Day on or before April 30, 1999.

                  (n)  "Purchase  Price" shall mean 85% of the Fair Market Value
of a share of  Common  Stock on the  Enrollment  Date or on the  Exercise  Date,
whichever is lower; provided however, that the Purchase Price may be adjusted by
the Board pursuant to Section 20.

                  (o) "Reserves" shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by each option under the Plan which have not yet been  exercised and the
number of shares of Common Stock which have been  authorized  for issuance under
the Plan but not yet placed under option.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

                  (p)  "Subsidiary"  shall  mean  a  corporation,   domestic  or
foreign, of which not less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company
or a  Subsidiary,  whether or not such  corporation  now exists or is  hereafter
organized or acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary.

                  (q)  "Trading  Day" shall mean a day on which  national  stock
exchanges and the Nasdaq System are open for trading.

         3.       Eligibility.

                  (a) Any  Employee (as defined in Section  2(g)),  who shall be
employed  by the  Company  on a given  Enrollment  Date  shall  be  eligible  to
participate in the Plan.

                  (b)   Any   provisions   of   the   Plan   to   the   contrary
notwithstanding,  no Employee  shall be granted an option  under the Plan (i) to
the extent that, immediately after the grant, such Employee (or any other person
whose stock would be attributed to such Employee  pursuant to Section  424(d) of
the Code) would own capital stock of the Company and/or hold outstanding options
to  purchase  such  stock  possessing  five  percent  (5%) or more of the  total
combined  voting  power or  value of all  classes  of the  capital  stock of the
Company or of any  Subsidiary,  or (ii) to the extent  that his or her rights to
purchase  stock under all employee  stock  purchase plans of the Company and its
subsidiaries  accrues  at a rate  which  exceeds  Twenty-Five  Thousand  Dollars
($25,000)  worth of stock  (determined at the fair market value of the shares at
the time such option is granted) for each  calendar year in which such option is
outstanding at any time.

         4.       Offering   Periods.   The  Plan   shall  be   implemented   by
consecutive,  overlapping Offering Periods with a new Offering Period commencing
on the first  Trading Day on or after May 1 and  November 1 of each year,  or on
such other date as the Board shall  determine,  and continuing  thereafter until
terminated in accordance  with Section 20 hereof;  provided,  however,  that the
first  Offering  Period under the Plan shall commence with the first Trading Day
on or after  November 6, 1998,  and ending on the last  Trading Day on or before
October  31,  1999.  The Board  shall have the power to change the  duration  of
Offering  Periods  (including  the  commencement  dates thereof) with respect to
future offerings without shareholder  approval if such change is announced prior
to  the  scheduled  beginning  of  the  first  Offering  Period  to be  affected
thereafter.

         5.       Participation.

                  (a) An eligible  Employee may become a participant in the Plan
by completing a subscription  agreement  authorizing  payroll  deductions in the
form of Exhibit A to this Plan and filing it with the Company's  payroll  office
prior to the applicable Enrollment Date.

                  (b) Payroll deductions for a participant shall commence on the
first payroll following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in
the Offering Period to which such

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

authorization  is  applicable,  unless sooner  terminated by the  participant as
provided in Section 10 hereof.

         6.       Payroll Deductions.

                  (a) At the time a  participant  files his or her  subscription
agreement, he or she shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each pay day
during the Offering  Period in an amount not exceeding  fifteen percent (15%) of
the  Compensation  which he or she  receives on each pay day during the Offering
Period, provided, however, the aggregate of such payroll deductions under two or
more employee stock purchase plans of the Company that are  overlapping  may not
exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the participant's  Compensation  which he or she
receives on each pay day during the Offering Period.

                  (b) All payroll  deductions  made for a  participant  shall be
credited  to his or her  account  under the Plan and will be  withheld  in whole
percentages  only. A participant may not make any additional  payments into such
account.

                  (c) A participant may discontinue his or her  participation in
the Plan as provided in Section 10 hereof,  or may increase or decrease the rate
of his or her payroll  deductions  during the Offering  Period by  completing or
filing with the Company a new  subscription  agreement  authorizing  a change in
payroll  deduction rate. The Board may, in its  discretion,  limit the number of
participation  rate changes during any Offering Period. The change in rate shall
be effective with the first full payroll period following five (5) business days
after the Company's receipt of the new subscription agreement unless the Company
elects to process a given change in participation  more quickly. A participant's
subscription  agreement shall remain in effect for successive  Offering  Periods
unless terminated as provided in Section 10 hereof.

                  (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing,  to the extent necessary to
comply  with  Section   423(b)(8)  of  the  Code  and  Section  3(b)  hereof,  a
participant's  payroll  deductions  may be decreased to zero percent (0%) by the
participant  at any time  during a Purchase  Period.  Payroll  deductions  shall
recommence at the rate provided in such participant's  subscription agreement at
the  beginning  of the first  Purchase  Period  which is scheduled to end in the
following  calendar year,  unless  terminated by the  participant as provided in
Section 10 hereof.

                  (e) At the time the option is exercised,  in whole or in part,
or at the time some or all of the  Company's  Common Stock issued under the Plan
is disposed of, the participant  must make adequate  provision for the Company's
federal, state, or other tax withholding  obligations,  if any, which arise upon
the exercise of the option or the  disposition of the Common Stock. At any time,
the Company may, but will not be obligated to,  withhold from the  participant's
compensation the amount necessary for the Company to meet applicable withholding
obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company
any tax  deductions or benefits  attributable  to sale or early  disposition  of
Common Stock by the Employee.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

         7.       Grant  of  Option.  On the  Enrollment  Date of each  Offering
Period,  each eligible  Employee  participating in such Offering Period shall be
granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering  Period
(at the  applicable  Purchase  Price) up to a number of shares of the  Company's
Common  Stock  determined  by  dividing  such  Employee's   payroll   deductions
accumulated  prior to such  Exercise  Date  and  retained  in the  Participant's
account as of the Exercise Date by the applicable Purchase Price;  provided that
in no event shall an  Employee be  permitted  to purchase  during each  Purchase
Period more than 3,000  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  (subject to any
adjustment  pursuant to Section  19), and  provided  further that such  purchase
shall be subject to the  limitations  set forth in Sections  3(b) and 12 hereof.
The Board  may,  for future  Offering  Periods,  increase  or  decrease,  in its
absolute discretion,  the maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock
an Employee may purchase  during each Purchase  Period of such Offering  Period.
Exercise of the option  shall occur as provided in Section 8 hereof,  unless the
participant  has withdrawn  pursuant to Section 10 hereof,  and the option shall
expire on the last day of the Offering Period.

         8.       Exercise of Option.

                  (a) Unless a participant  withdraws  from the Plan as provided
in Section 10 hereof,  his or her  option  for the  purchase  of shares  will be
exercised  automatically  on the Exercise  Date,  and the maximum number of full
shares  subject  to  option  shall  be  purchased  for such  participant  at the
applicable  Purchase Price with the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
account.  No  fractional  shares  will  be  purchased;  any  payroll  deductions
accumulated  in a  participant's  account which are not sufficient to purchase a
full share  shall be retained in the  participant's  account for the  subsequent
Purchase  Period or  Offering  Period,  subject  to  earlier  withdrawal  by the
participant  as provided in Section 10 hereof.  Any other  monies left over in a
participant's  account  after  the  Exercise  Date  shall  be  returned  to  the
participant. During a participant's lifetime, a participant's option to purchase
shares hereunder is exercisable only by him or her.

                  (b) If the Board  determines  that, on a given  Exercise Date,
the number of shares  with  respect to which  options  are to be  exercised  may
exceed:

                           (i)   the number of shares of Common  Stock that were
available  for sale  under  the Plan on the  Enrollment  Date of the  applicable
Offering Period, or

                           (ii)  the number of shares  available  for sale under
the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Board may in its sole discretion

                                    (x)  provide  that the Company  shall make a
pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for purchase on such
Enrollment Date or Exercise Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall
be practicable  and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable
among all  participants  exercising  options to  purchase  Common  Stock on such
Exercise Date, and continue all Offering Periods then in effect, or

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



                                    (y)  provide  that the Company  shall make a
pro rata allocation of the shares available for purchase on such Enrollment Date
or Exercise Date, as applicable,  in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable
and as it shall  determine  in its sole  discretion  to be  equitable  among all
participants  exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date,
and terminate any or all Offering  Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20
hereof.

The  Company  may make a pro rata  allocation  of the  shares  available  on the
Enrollment  Date of any  applicable  Offering  Period  pursuant to the preceding
sentence,  notwithstanding  any  authorization of additional shares for issuance
under the Plan by the Company's shareholders subsequent to such Enrollment Date.

         9.       Delivery.  As promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date
on which a purchase of shares occurs,  the Company shall arrange the delivery to
each  participant,  as  appropriate,  of a certificate  representing  the shares
purchased upon exercise of his or her option.

         10.      Withdrawal.

                  (a) A  participant  may withdraw all but not less than all the
payroll  deductions  credited to his or her account and not yet used to exercise
his or her  option  under the Plan at any time by giving  written  notice to the
Company in the form of Exhibit B to this Plan. All of the participant's  payroll
deductions  credited  to his or her  account  will be  paid to such  participant
promptly after receipt of notice of withdrawal and such participant's option for
the Offering  Period will be  automatically  terminated,  and no further payroll
deductions for the purchase of shares will be made for such Offering Period.  If
a participant  withdraws from an Offering  Period,  payroll  deductions will not
resume at the beginning of the succeeding Offering Period unless the participant
delivers to the Company a new subscription agreement.

                  (b) A  participant's  withdrawal from an Offering Period shall
not have any effect upon his or her  eligibility  to  participate in any similar
plan which may  hereafter  be adopted by the Company or in  succeeding  Offering
Periods which commence after the  termination of the Offering  Period from which
the participant withdraws.

         11.      Termination of Employment.

                  Upon a participant's  ceasing to be an Employee (as defined in
Section 2(g) hereof),  for any reason,  he or she will be deemed to have elected
to  withdraw  from  the  Plan  and  the  payroll  deductions  credited  to  such
participant's  account  during the Offering  Period but not yet used to exercise
the option will be returned  to such  participant  or, in the case of his or her
death, to the person or persons  entitled  thereto under Section 15 hereof,  and
such  participant's  option  will be  automatically  terminated.  The  preceding
sentence  notwithstanding,  a participant who receives payment in lieu of notice
of termination of employment shall be treated as continuing to be an

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

Employee for the participant's  customary number of hours per week of employment
during the period in which the participant is subject to such payment in lieu of
notice.

         12.      Interest.  No interest shall accrue on the payroll  deductions
of a participant in the Plan.

         13.      Stock.

                  (a) Subject to adjustment  upon changes in  capitalization  of
the Company as provided  in Section 19 hereof,  the maximum  number of shares of
the Company's Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan
shall be 600,000 shares, plus an annual increase to be added on the first day of
the  Company's  fiscal  year  beginning  in July 1999 equal to the lesser of (i)
300,000  shares  or (ii) 3% of the  outstanding  shares  on such date or (iii) a
lesser amount determined by the Board.

                  (b) The  participant  will have no interest or voting right in
shares covered by his option until such option has been exercised.

                  (c) Shares to be  delivered  to a  participant  under the Plan
will  be  registered  in the  name  of the  participant  or in the  name  of the
participant and his or her spouse.

         14.      Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or
a committee  of members of the Board  appointed  by the Board.  The Board or its
committee  shall have full and  exclusive  discretionary  authority to construe,
interpret  and  apply the terms of the Plan,  to  determine  eligibility  and to
adjudicate all disputed claims filed under the Plan. Every finding, decision and
determination  made by the  Board or its  committee  shall,  to the full  extent
permitted by law, be final and binding upon all parties.

         15.      Designation of Beneficiary.

                  (a)  A  participant  may  file  a  written  designation  of  a
beneficiary   who  is  to  receive  any  shares  and  cash,  if  any,  from  the
participant's  account under the Plan in the event of such partici  pant's death
subsequent  to an Exercise  Date on which the option is  exercised  but prior to
delivery to such participant of such shares and cash. In addition, a participant
may file a written  designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from
the  participant's  account  under the Plan in the  event of such  participant's
death  prior to  exercise of the  option.  If a  participant  is married and the
designated  beneficiary is not the spouse, spousal consent shall be required for
such designation to be effective.

                  (b) Such  designation  of  beneficiary  may be  changed by the
participant  at any time by  written  notice.  In the  event  of the  death of a
participant  and in the absence of a beneficiary  validly  designated  under the
Plan who is living at the time of such  participant's  death,  the Company shall
deliver such shares and/or cash to the executor or  administrator  of the estate
of the participant,

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

or if no such executor or administrator  has been appointed (to the knowledge of
the Company),  the Company,  in its  discretion,  may deliver such shares and/or
cash  to the  spouse  or to any  one or  more  dependents  or  relatives  of the
participant,  or if no spouse,  dependent  or relative is known to the  Company,
then to such other person as the Company may designate.

         16.      Transferability.  Neither  payroll  deductions  credited  to a
participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to  receive  shares  under the Plan may be  assigned,  transferred,  pledged  or
otherwise  disposed of in any way (other  than by will,  the laws of descent and
distribution or as provided in Section 15 hereof) by the  participant.  Any such
attempt at assignment,  transfer,  pledge or other  disposition shall be without
effect,  except  that the  Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw
funds from an Offering Period in accordance with Section 10 hereof.

         17.      Use of Funds. All payroll  deductions  received or held by the
Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and
the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.

         18.      Reports.  Individual  accounts  will be  maintained  for  each
participant  in the Plan.  Statements of account will be given to  participating
Employees  at least  annually,  which  statements  will set forth the amounts of
payroll  deductions,  the Purchase Price, the number of shares purchased and the
remaining cash balance, if any.

         19.      Adjustments  Upon  Changes  in  Capitalization,   Dissolution,
                  Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.

                  (a) Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action
by the shareholders of the Company,  the Reserves,  the maximum number of shares
each  participant may purchase each Purchase Period  (pursuant to Section 7), as
well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock  covered by
each  option  under  the  Plan  which  has  not  yet  been  exercised  shall  be
proportionately  adjusted  for any  increase or decrease in the number of issued
shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split,  reverse stock split, stock
dividend,  combination  or  reclassification  of the Common Stock,  or any other
increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common  Stock  effected  without
receipt of consideration by the Company;  provided,  however, that conversion of
any  convertible  securities  of the  Company  shall  not be deemed to have been
"effected  without receipt of  consideration".  Such adjustment shall be made by
the Board,  whose  determination  in that  respect  shall be final,  binding and
conclusive.  Except as expressly  provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities  convertible into shares of stock of
any class,  shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an option.

                  (b) Dissolution or  Liquidation.  In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company,  the Offering Period then in progress
shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the "New Exercise Date"), and
shall terminate immediately prior to the

                                       -8-

<PAGE>

consummation  of such  proposed  dissolution  or  liquidation,  unless  provided
otherwise by the Board.  The New  Exercise  Date shall be before the date of the
Company's  proposed  dissolution  or  liquidation.  The Board shall  notify each
participant  in  writing,  at least  ten  (10)  business  days  prior to the New
Exercise  Date,  that the Exercise  Date for the  participant's  option has been
changed to the New  Exercise  Date and that the  participant's  option  shall be
exercised  automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the
participant  has  withdrawn  from the Offering  Period as provided in Section 10
hereof.

                  (c) Merger or Asset Sale.  In the event of a proposed  sale of
all or  substantially  all of the  assets of the  Company,  or the merger of the
Company  with or into  another  corporation,  each  outstanding  option shall be
assumed or an equivalent  option  substituted by the successor  corporation or a
Parent  or  Subsidiary  of the  successor  corporation.  In the  event  that the
successor  corporation  refuses  to assume or  substitute  for the  option,  any
Purchase  Periods then in progress  shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise
Date (the "New Exercise  Date") and any Offering  Periods then in progress shall
end on the New Exercise  Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of
the Company's  proposed sale or merger.  The Board shall notify each participant
in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that
the  Exercise  Date for the  participant's  option  has been  changed to the New
Exercise Date and that the participant's option shall be exercised automatically
on the New  Exercise  Date,  unless  prior  to such  date  the  participant  has
withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 10 hereof.

         20.      Amendment or Termination.

                  (a) The Board of  Directors of the Company may at any time and
for any reason  terminate  or amend the Plan.  Except as  provided in Section 19
hereof, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that
an Offering  Period may be  terminated by the Board of Directors on any Exercise
Date if the Board  determines that the termination of the Offering Period or the
Plan is in the best  interests  of the Company and its  shareholders.  Except as
provided in Section 19 and this  Section 20 hereof,  no  amendment  may make any
change in any option  theretofore  granted which adversely affects the rights of
any participant.  To the extent necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code
(or any successor rule or provision or any other  applicable law,  regulation or
stock exchange rule),  the Company shall obtain  shareholder  approval in such a
manner and to such a degree as required.

                  (b) Without  shareholder consent and without regard to whether
any participant rights may be considered to have been "adversely  affected," the
Board (or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods, limit
the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld during an Offering
Period,  establish  the  exchange  ratio  applicable  to amounts  withheld  in a
currency other than U.S.  dollars,  permit payroll  withholding in excess of the
amount  designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays or mistakes in
the Company's processing of properly completed withholding elections,  establish
reasonable  waiting and  adjustment  periods  and/or  accounting  and  crediting
procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of Common

                                       -9-

<PAGE>

Stock for each  participant  properly  correspond with amounts withheld from the
participant's  Compensation,  and establish such other limitations or procedures
as the Board (or its  committee)  determines  in its sole  discretion  advisable
which are consistent with the Plan.

                  (c) In  the  event  the  Board  determines  that  the  ongoing
operation  of  the  Plan  may  result  in   unfavorable   financial   accounting
consequences,  the Board may, in its discretion and, to the extent  necessary or
desirable,  modify  or amend the Plan to reduce  or  eliminate  such  accounting
consequence including, but not limited to:

                           (1)   altering  the  Purchase  Price for any Offering
Period  including  an  Offering  Period  underway  at the time of the  change in
Purchase Price;

                           (2)   shortening  any  Offering  Period  so that  the
Offering  Period ends on a new  Exercise  Date,  including  an  Offering  Period
underway at the time of the Board action; and

                           (3)   allocating  shares  pursuant  to  Section  8(b)
above.

                           Such  modifications  or amendments  shall not require
shareholder approval or the consent of any Plan participants.

         21.      Notices.  All notices or other communications by a participant
to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been
duly given when  received in the form  specified by the Company at the location,
or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

         22.      Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued
with  respect to an option  unless the  exercise of such option and the issuance
and delivery of such shares  pursuant  thereto shall comply with all  applicable
provisions  of law,  domestic or foreign,  including,  without  limitation,  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,  and the requirements
of any stock  exchange  upon which the  shares may then be listed,  and shall be
further  subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.

                  As a condition to the  exercise of an option,  the Company may
require the person  exercising  such option to represent and warrant at the time
of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased only for investment and
without  any  present  intention  to sell or  distribute  such shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company,  such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

         23.      Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier
to occur of its  adoption  by the  Board of  Directors  or its  approval  by the
shareholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

         24.      Automatic Transfer to Low Price Offering Period. To the extent
permitted by any applicable  laws,  regulations,  or stock exchange rules if the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on any Exercise Date in an Offering Period
is lower than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the  Enrollment  Date
of such Offering Period,  then all participants in such Offering Period shall be
automatically withdrawn from such Offering Period immediately after the exercise
of their  option on such  Exercise  Date and  automatically  re-enrolled  in the
immediately following Offering Period as of the first day thereof.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                             ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT



_____ Original Application                          Enrollment Date: ___________
_____ Change in Payroll Deduction Rate
_____ Change of Beneficiary(ies)


1.       ________________________________hereby  elects  to  participate  in the
         Adept Technology, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Employee
         Stock  Purchase  Plan")  and  subscribes  to  purchase  shares  of  the
         Company's Common Stock in accordance with this  Subscription  Agreement
         and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2.       I hereby authorize payroll  deductions from each paycheck in the amount
         of ____% of my  Compensation  on each  payday  (from 1 to 15% under all
         employee  stock  purchase  plans of the  Company)  during the  Offering
         Period in accordance  with the Employee Stock  Purchase  Plan.  (Please
         note that no fractional percentages are permitted.)

3.       I understand that said payroll  deductions shall be accumulated for the
         purchase of shares of Common  Stock at the  applicable  Purchase  Price
         determined  in  accordance  with the Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan. I
         understand  that if I do not  withdraw  from an  Offering  Period,  any
         accumulated  payroll deductions will be used to automatically  exercise
         my option.

4.       I have received a copy of the complete  Employee Stock Purchase Plan. I
         understand that my participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan is
         in all respects  subject to the terms of the Plan. I understand that my
         ability to exercise  the option  under this  Subscription  Agreement is
         subject to shareholder approval of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

5.       Shares  purchased for me under the Employee  Stock Purchase Plan should
         be issued in the name(s) of (Employee or Employee and spouse only):____
         ________________________.

6.       I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to
         the Plan within 2 years after the Enrollment Date (the first day of the
         Offering Period during which I purchased such shares) or one year after
         the Exercise Date, I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as
         having received  ordinary income at the time of such  disposition in an
         amount  equal to the excess of the fair  market  value of the shares at
         the time such shares were purchased by me


<PAGE>

         over the price  which I paid for the shares.  I hereby  agree to notify
         the Company in writing within 30 days after the date of any disposition
         of my shares and I will make adequate  provision for Federal,  state or
         other  tax  withholding  obligations,  if any,  which  arise  upon  the
         disposition  of the Common  Stock.  The  Company  may,  but will not be
         obligated to,  withhold from my  compensation  the amount  necessary to
         meet any applicable  withholding  obligation  including any withholding
         necessary  to make  available  to the  Company  any tax  deductions  or
         benefits  attributable to sale or early  disposition of Common Stock by
         me. If I dispose of such shares at any time after the expiration of the
         2-year and 1-year holding periods,  I understand that I will be treated
         for federal income tax purposes as having  received  income only at the
         time of such  disposition,  and  that  such  income  will be  taxed  as
         ordinary  income only to the extent of an amount equal to the lesser of
         (1) the  excess of the fair  market  value of the shares at the time of
         such  disposition  over the purchase price which I paid for the shares,
         or (2) 15% of the fair  market  value of the shares on the first day of
         the Offering Period.  The remainder of the gain, if any,  recognized on
         such disposition will be taxed as capital gain.

7.       I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Employee  Stock Purchase
         Plan. The  effectiveness  of this  Subscription  Agreement is dependent
         upon my eligibility to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

8.       In the  event of my  death,  I hereby  designate  the  following  as my
         beneficiary(ies)  to receive all  payments  and shares due me under the
         Employee Stock Purchase Plan:


NAME:  (Please print)______________________________________________
                        (First)        (Middle)           (Last)


______________________________________     _____________________________________
Relationship

                                           _____________________________________
                                           (Address)


                                       -2-

<PAGE>

Employee's Social
Security Number:                            ____________________________________



Employee's Address:                         ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________

                                            ____________________________________


I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUBSCRIPTION  AGREEMENT SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGHOUT
SUCCESSIVE OFFERING PERIODS UNLESS TERMINATED BY ME.



Dated:_________________________         ________________________________________
                                        Signature of Employee


                                        ________________________________________
                                        Spouse's Signature
                                        (If beneficiary other than spouse)

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT B


                             ADEPT TECHNOLOGY, INC.

                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL



         The  undersigned  participant  in the  Offering  Period  of  the  Adept
Technology,  Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan which began on ____________,
19____ (the "Enrollment Date") hereby notifies the Company that he or she hereby
withdraws from the Offering Period.  He or she hereby directs the Company to pay
to the  undersigned  as  promptly  as  practicable  all the  payroll  deductions
credited  to his or her  account  with  respect  to such  Offering  Period.  The
undersigned  understands  and agrees  that his or her  option for such  Offering
Period will be automatically  termi nated. The undersigned  understands  further
that no further  payroll  deductions  will be made for the purchase of shares in
the current Offering Period and the undersigned shall be eligible to participate
in  succeeding  Offering  Periods  only  by  delivering  to  the  Company  a new
Subscription Agreement.

                                                Name and Address of Participant:

                                                ________________________________


                                                ________________________________


                                                ________________________________


                                                Signature:


                                                ________________________________


                                                Date:___________________________






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