SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA INC
S-8, 1997-03-11
RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
Previous: RANGER OIL LTD, SC 13D/A, 1997-03-11
Next: SCUDDER INTERNATIONAL FUND INC, 497, 1997-03-11



<PAGE>
 
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 1997
                                                      Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    ------

                                   FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

              Georgia                                 58-0612397
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  Incorporation or Organization)

    One Technology Parkway, South                       30092
         Norcross, Georgia                           (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


              Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement with Employee
                           (Full Title of the Plan)


   James F. McDonald                           Please address a copy of all 
   Chief Executive Officer                     communications to: 
   Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.                    William E. Eason, Jr., Esq.
   One Technology Parkway, South               Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.   
   Norcross, Georgia 30092                     One Technology Parkway, South
   (Name and Address of Agent For Service)     Norcross, Georgia  30092    
                                               Telephone:  (770) 903-5000 
 
                                (770) 903-5000
         (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================
                                          Proposed             Proposed
 Title of                                 Maximum              Maximum
Securities           Amount               Offering             Aggregate              Amount of
  to be               to be                 Price              Offering             Registration
Registered          Registered           Per Share(1)           Price                   Fee
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>                   <C>                  <C>                  <C>    
Common
Stock, Par
Value $0.50         125,000 shares        $15.875              $1,984,375            $620.12
Per Share
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)      Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), based on an option exercise
         price of $15-7/8 per share as set forth in the Non-Qualified Stock
         Option Agreement.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART I

             INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  Plan Information*

Item 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information*

*        Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
         prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance
         with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I
         of Form S-8.


                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference

         The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

         (a)      The Registrant's annual report for the fiscal year ended June
                  28, 1996 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");

         (b)      All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
                  the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by
                  the Registrant's annual report referred to in (a) above; and

         (c)      The description of the Registrant's common stock, par value
                  $0.50 per share, which is contained in its registration
                  statement on Form 10 filed under Section 12 of the Exchange
                  Act, and the description of the rights to purchase Common
                  Stock, which is contained in its registration statement on
                  Form 8-A filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including
                  any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
                  such descriptions.

         All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which
indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which de-registers all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Mr. Eason, an executive officer of the Registrant, is also a partner at
the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, which firm performs legal
services for the Registrant. Mr. Eason receives a fixed salary from the firm for
work which he performs for clients of the firm other than the Registrant, but
has no interest in the firm's earnings and profits.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         Sections 14-2-850 through 14-2-859 of the Georgia Business Corporation
Code provide for the indemnification of officers and directors under certain
circumstances against reasonable expenses incurred in defending against a claim
and authorizes Georgia corporations to indemnify their officers and directors
under certain circumstances against reasonable expenses and liabilities incurred
in legal proceedings involving such persons because of their being or having
been an officer or director. The By-laws of the Registrant provide for
indemnification of its officers and directors to the full extent authorized by
such sections.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

         The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as
follows:


  Exhibit Number          Description of Exhibit
  --------------          ----------------------

         4                Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement between
                          Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. and Larry L. Enterline

         5                Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP as to
                          the legality of the securities being registered

         23.1             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

         23.2             Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP to
                          the filing and use of their opinion relating to the
                          legality of the securities (contained in opinion filed
                          as Exhibit 5)

         24               Power of Attorney authorizing James F. McDonald and
                          Harvey A. Wagner to sign amendments to this
                          Registration Statement on behalf of officers and
                          directors of the Registrant (contained on Signature
                          Page of Registration Statement)

Item 9.  Undertakings

         (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                     are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                     registration statement to include any material
                     information with respect to the plan of distribution
                     not previously disclosed in the registration
                     statement or any material change to such information
                     in the registration statement.

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


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

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

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


                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Gwinnett County, State of Georgia, on this 10th day of 
March, 1997.


                                        SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.


                                        By: /s/ James F. McDonald
                                           ------------------------------------

                                           James F. McDonald, President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints James F. McDonald and Harvey A. Wagner,
jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with power of
substitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with the exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said
attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

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



/s/ James F. McDonald                                   March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
James F. McDonald, President and Chief                  Date
Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ Harvey A. Wagner                                    March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Harvey A. Wagner, Senior Vice President - Finance,      Date
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer)



/s/ Julian W. Eidson                                    March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Julian W. Eidson                                        Date
Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)


                      [Signatures continued on next page]
<PAGE>
 
                  [Signatures continued from preceding page]


/s/ Marion H. Antonini                                  March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Marion H. Antonini                                      Date
Director



/s/ William E. Kassling                                 March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
William E. Kassling                                     Date
Director



/s/ Wilbur Branch King                                  March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Wilbur Branch King                                      Date
Director



/s/ Mylle Bell Mangum                                   March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Mylle Bell Mangum                                       Date
Director



/s/ Alonzo L. McDonald                                  March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Alonzo L. McDonald                                      Date
Director



/s/ David J. McLaughlin                                 March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
David J. McLaughlin                                     Date
Director



/s/ James V. Napier                                     March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
James V. Napier                                         Date
Director



/s/ Sam Nunn                                            March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Sam Nunn                                                Date
Director



/s/ Sidney Topol                                        March 10, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------      --------------
Sidney Topol                                            Date
Director
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibits
- --------

    4             Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement between Scientific-
                  Atlanta, Inc. and Larry L. Enterline
                  
    5             Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP as to the
                  legality of the securities being registered

  23.1            Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

  23.2            Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP to the filing
                  and use of their opinion relating to the legality of the
                  securities (contained in opinion filed as Exhibit 5)

   24             Power of Attorney authorizing James F. McDonald and Harvey A.
                  Wagner to sign amendments to this Registration Statement on
                  behalf of officers and directors of the Registrant (contained
                  on Signature Page of Registration Statement)

<PAGE>
 
                     NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT              Exhibit 4
                                                                       ---------

         This Option Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the 15th day of January, 1997, by and between Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., a
Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Larry L. Enterline (the "Optionee").

                               R E C I T A L S:

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant the Optionee an Option (as
defined below); and

         WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to set forth herein the terms and
conditions applicable to such Option;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

         1.     Definitions. Each capitalized term used herein which is not
                -----------
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Schedule 1 attached hereto.

         2.     Grant. The Company hereby grants to the Optionee an option (the
                -----
"Option") to purchase from the Company 125,000 shares of the $0.50 par value
common stock of the Company ("Common Stock") at an exercise price of $15 - 7/8
per share, which exercise price is subject to adjustment as provided in
Paragraph 11 hereof. The Option is intended to be treated as a non-qualified
stock option for all purposes and is not intended to qualify as an incentive
stock option for purposes of the Code.

         3.     Term. The term of the Option shall commence on January 15, 1997,
                ----
the date on which Optionee commenced employment with the Company ("Date of
Grant") and shall terminate and expire, to the extent not previously exercised,
on January 14, 2007.

         4.     Time for Exercise. The Optionee shall have the right to exercise
                -----------------
the Option in the following percentages, during the following periods:

         (a)    twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of shares covered
                by the Option immediately upon, and during the year following,
                the Date of Grant;

         (b)    fifty percent (50%) of the total number of shares covered by the
                Option on, and during the year following, the first anniversary
                of the Date of Grant;

         (c)    seventy-five percent (75%) of the total number of shares covered
                by the Option on, and during the year following, the second
                anniversary of the Date of Grant;

         (d)    one hundred percent (100%) of the total number of shares covered
                by the Option on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant and
                thereafter prior to the expiration of the Option.

         5.     Manner of Exercise of the Option. The Option may be exercised
                --------------------------------
from time to time, in whole or in part, by delivering a written notice of
exercise to the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Such notice is irrevocable
and must be accompanied by full payment of the purchase price (i) in cash, (ii)
by delivery of shares of Common Stock at the Fair Market Value of such shares
determined as of the exercise date, or a combination of (i) and (ii).

         6.     Cessation of Employment; etc. After the Optionee ceases to be an
                ----------------------------
employee, his rights to exercise any unexercised Option then held by him shall
be determined as provided in this Paragraph 6. The Option may not be exercised
after the term set forth in Paragraph 3 expires or after the Option is otherwise
cancelled.

         (a)    Retirement. If the Optionee ceases to be an employee because of
                ----------
                Retirement (and not on account of termination for "cause" (as
                hereinafter defined)), the Optionee shall have the right to
                exercise 
<PAGE>
 
                the Option immediately with respect to (i) the shares which he
                could have purchased at the time of Retirement and (ii) any
                shares which would have become available for purchase under the
                Option if the Optionee's employment had continued for one (1)
                year after the date of Retirement. To the extent unexercised,
                the Option shall expire two (2) years after the date of
                Retirement or the date of expiration of the term of the Option
                as set forth in Paragraph 3, whichever shall occur first.

         (b)    Death.  If the Human Resources and Compensation Committee (the 
                -----
                "Committee") does not determine otherwise with respect to the
                Option, upon the death of the Optionee, the Option shall be
                exercisable immediately (by the executor or the administrator of
                the deceased Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
                right to exercise the option by bequest or inheritance or by
                reason of such death) with respect to (i) the shares as to which
                the deceased Optionee had the right to exercise the Option at
                the time of his death and (ii) any shares which would have
                become available for purchase under the Option if the Optionee's
                employment had continued for one (1) year after the date of
                death. To the extent unexercised, the Option shall expire (i)
                one (1) year after the date of such death, or (ii) in the event
                of death following termination of employment by reason of
                Retirement as described in Paragraph 6(a) immediately above, the
                expiration date of the Option after Retirement, whichever occurs
                last. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in a
                special case, permit a longer period for exercise of an Option
                after the death of the Optionee, but in no event shall such
                period extend beyond the date of expiration of the Option as set
                forth in this Agreement.

         (c)    Disability. If the Optionee ceases active service as an employee
                ----------
                by reason of Disability, he shall have the right to exercise the
                Option at any time within one (1) year after such cessation of
                employment, but except as provided in this Agreement, only to
                the extent that, at the date of such cessation of employment,
                the Optionee's right to exercise such Option had accrued
                pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and had not previously
                been exercised.

         (d)    Termination for Cause. If the Optionee's employment is
                ---------------------
                terminated for "cause" (as hereinafter defined), this Option
                shall expire immediately upon the giving to him of the notice of
                such termination. "Cause," for purposes of this Paragraph 6(d),
                shall mean dishonest or fraudulent conduct which would normally
                be considered as sufficient basis for discharging an employee
                from a management and/or a supervisory position, or negligence,
                inaction or misconduct which constitutes failure by the Optionee
                to meet such Optionee's obligations and perform such Optionee's
                duties of employment.

         (e)    Other Reasons. If the Optionee ceases to be an employee for any
                -------------
                reason other than those mentioned above in Subparagraphs (a),
                (b), (c) or (d), the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
                the Option at any time within thirty (30) days following such
                cessation, discharge or termination, but, except as otherwise
                provided in this Agreement, only to the extent that, at the date
                of cessation, discharge or termination, the Optionee's right to
                exercise such Option had accrued pursuant to the terms of this
                Agreement and had not previously been exercised.

         (f)    Leave of Absence.  Optionee's employment with the Company shall 
                ----------------
                not be considered as having been terminated while the Optionee
                is on military or sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence
                (such as temporary employment by the U.S. government) if the
                period of such leave does not exceed ninety (90) days, or, if
                longer, so long as the Optionee's right to re-employment with
                the Company is guaranteed either by statute or by contract.
                Where the period of such leave exceeds ninety (90) days and
                where the Optionee's right to re-employment is not guaranteed
                either by statute or by contract, the Optionee's employment will
                be deemed to have terminated on the ninety-first (91st) day of
                such leave.

         7.     Exercise of Options upon a Change of Control of the Company. In
                -----------------------------------------------------------
the event of a Change of Control of the Company, this Option, whether or not
vested at such time, shall automatically vest and be immediately 
<PAGE>
 
exercisable in full, without regard to the years which have elapsed or events
which have occurred since the Date of Grant.

         8.     Termination of Employment Following Change in Control. If the
                -----------------------------------------------------
Optionee's employment terminates following a Change in Control other than for
"cause" (as defined in Paragraph 6(d)), the applicable provisions of Paragraph 6
of this Agreement shall apply, except that as of and after the date of the
Change in Control, neither the Committee nor the Board shall make any
determination or take any action in connection with the Optionee's termination
of employment which would cause the Option either (i) to not be exercisable in
full or (ii) to expire earlier than the latest date allowable under Paragraph 6
as applicable.

         9.     Amendment or Termination.
                ------------------------

         (a)    Paragraphs 7 and 8 of this Agreement shall not be amended or
                terminated at any time.
                
         (b)    Any amendment or termination of this Agreement prior to a Change
                in Control which (i) was at the request of a third party who has
                indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to
                effect a Change in Control, or (ii) otherwise arose in
                connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control, shall
                be null and void and shall have no effect whatsoever.

         (c)    Except as provided in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above, the Board
                shall have the authority and right to amend this Agreement at
                any time upon ten (10) days' prior written notice to Optionee,
                provided that such amendment does not adversely affect
                Optionee's rights under this Agreement.

         10.    Rights of a Shareholder; Non-Transferability. No one shall have
                --------------------------------------------
rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by this Option until
the date of issuance of a stock certificate for such shares. Nothing in this
Option confers on Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or
to continue to perform services for the Company or interferes in any way with
the right of the Company to terminate his services as an officer or other
employee at any time.

         Unless the Committee passes a resolution granting Optionee the right to
transfer the Option or a portion of the Option to others, no Option shall be
transferable by the Optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution and may only be exercised during his lifetime by the Optionee, or
by a guardian or legal representative.

         11.    Recapitalizations. In the event of any change in the outstanding
                -----------------
shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend or split,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, combination
or exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change, or other increase or
decrease in such shares without receipt or payment of consideration by the
Company, the Company will make such adjustments to the Option, to prevent
dilution or enlargement of the rights of Optionee, including any or all of the
following:

         (a)    adjustments in the aggregate number or kind of shares of Common
                Stock which may be issued upon exercise of the Option;

         (b)    adjustments in the purchase price of the Common Stock covered by
                the Options.
                
No such adjustments, however, may change materially the value of benefits
available to Optionee under the Option.

         12.    Taxes; Withholding. In the event the Company determines that it
                ------------------
is required to withhold state or federal taxes as a result of the exercise of an
Option, as a condition to the exercise thereof, the Optionee must make
arrangements satisfactory to the Corporate Secretary to enable the Company to
satisfy such withholding requirements. Payment of such withholding requirements
may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by delivery of shares registered in the name of
Optionee, which shares have a Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to
the amount to be withheld, (iii) by the Company withholding shares subject to
the Option, which shares have a Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal
to the amount to be withheld, or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii) and (iii)
above.
<PAGE>
 
         13.    Securities Law Requirements.
                ---------------------------

         (a)    Securities Act Requirements. No Option granted pursuant to this
                ---------------------------
                Agreement shall be exercisable in whole or in part, and the
                Company shall not be obligated to sell any shares subject to any
                such Option, if such exercise and sale would, in the opinion of
                the Corporate Secretary, violate the Securities Act of 1933 (or
                other federal or state statutes having similar requirements) as
                it may be in effect at that time.

                As a condition to the issuance of any shares upon exercise of an
                Option under this Agreement, the Corporate Secretary may require
                the Optionee to furnish a written representation that he is
                acquiring the shares for investment and not with a view to
                distribution to the public. Such representations shall be
                required in cases where, in the opinion of the Corporate
                Secretary, they are necessary to enable the Company to comply
                with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and any
                shareholder who gives such representation shall be released from
                it at such a time as the shares to which it applies are
                registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.

         (b)    Listing and Regulatory Requirements.  Each Option shall be 
                -----------------------------------
                subject to the further requirements that if at any time the
                Committee shall determine in its discretion that the listing or
                qualification of the shares of stock subject to such Option
                under any securities exchange requirements or under any
                applicable law, or the consent or approval of any governmental
                regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or
                in connection with, the granting of such Option or the issue of
                Shares thereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole or
                in part unless and until such listing, qualification, consent or
                approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any
                conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

         14.    Notices. Any notice, payment or communication required or
                -------
permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be delivered personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, addressed as follows: if to the Company at One Technology Parkway
South, Norcross, Georgia 30092, Attention: Corporate Secretary, if to Optionee,
at the address set forth on the signature page hereto. Each party may, from time
to time, by notice to the other party hereto, specify a new address for delivery
of notices to such party hereunder. Any such notice shall be deemed to be
delivered, given, and received for all purposes as of the date such notice is
received or properly mailed.

         15.    Binding Effect. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
                --------------
every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees,
legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns.

         16.    Headings. Section and other headings contained in this Agreement
                --------
are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret,
define or limit the scope, event or intent of this Agreement or any provision
hereof.

         17.    Severability. Every provision of this Agreement is intended to
                ------------
be severable. If any term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any
reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity
or legality of the remainder of this Agreement.

         18.    Governing Law. The laws of the state of Georgia shall govern the
                -------------
validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the
interpretation of the rights and duties of the parties hereto.
<PAGE>
 
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed as of the 15th day of
January, 1997.


                                COMPANY:
                                -------

                                SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA, INC.

                                By:  /s/ Brian C. Koenig
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                Its: Senior Vice President - Human Resources
                                     ----------------------------------------


                                OPTIONEE:
                                --------


                                /s/ Larry L. Enterline
                                ---------------------------------------------
                                Larry L. Enterline


                                OPTIONEE'S ADDRESS:

                                1095 Secret Cove Drive
                                Sugar Hill, Georgia  30518

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 5
                                                                       ---------


                                March 10, 1997



                                                                     17528.78869
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
One Technology Parkway, South
Norcross, Georgia 30092

Re:      Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement with
         Employee Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As counsel for Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "Company"),
you have requested our opinion in connection with the preparation and filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form
S-8 (the "Registration Statement") registering 125,000 shares of the Company's
common stock, $0.50 par value per share, for issuance upon the exercise of
options represented by that certain Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement dated
January 15, 1997, by and between the Company and Larry L. Enterline (the "Option
Agreement").

         We have examined such records and documents and made such examination
of law as we have deemed relevant in connection with this opinion. Based on the
foregoing, we are of the opinion that the 125,000 shares covered by said
Registration Statement, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Option
Agreement, will be legally issued, fully-paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.

                                Respectfully submitted,

                                /s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

                                Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

               [LETTERHEAD OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP APPEARS HERE]

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by 
reference in Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.'s Form S-8 Registration Statement of our 
report dated August 5, 1996 (except with respect to the matter discussed in 
Note 6, as to which the date is August 14, 1996), appearing on page 13 of 
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended June 28, 1996.

/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
- ------------------------

Atlanta, Georgia
March 10, 1997




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission