STAC SOFTWARE INC
10-K405/A, 1999-01-28
PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE
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<PAGE>   1
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                ----------------

                                   FORM 10-K/A
                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1

    [X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
          SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
                                       OR
    [ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
          EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
                  FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM______TO_____

                           COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-20095
                               STAC SOFTWARE, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                DELAWARE                                          95-3825313
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                          IDENTIFICATION NO.)

   12636 HIGH BLUFF, DRIVE, 4TH FLOOR
       SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA                                     92130-2093
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                         (ZIP CODE)

       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (619) 794-4300
           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
                                      NONE

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                (TITLE OF CLASS)

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein,
and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K [X].

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the Registrant as of December 18, 1998 was $20,483,000.*

     The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock was
23,673,170 as of December 18, 1998.

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

*     Excludes the Common Stock held by executive officers, directors and
      stockholders whose ownership exceeds 5% of the Common Stock outstanding at
      December 18, 1998. Exclusion of such shares should not be construed to
      indicate that any such person possesses the power, direct or indirect, to
      direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the
      Registrant or that such person is controlled by or under common control
      with the Registrant.

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
                                    PART III

PART III IS REPLACED IN ITS ENTIRETY AS FOLLOWS:

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

           The Company currently has eight (8) directors. Two (2) of the current
directors, Mr. Gaylord and Dr. Whiting, will not stand for reelection to the
Board of Directors at the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("Annual
Meeting") for personal reasons. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, provides that the number of directors which shall constitute the whole
Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted
from time to time by the Board of Directors. In accordance with the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Board of Directors has resolved
that effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting, there will be authorized
six (6) Board positions. Accordingly, there are six (6) nominees for the six (6)
Board positions to be filled as of the Annual Meeting. Each director to be
elected will hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until
his successor is elected and has qualified, or until such director's earlier
death, resignation or removal. Each nominee is currently a director of the
Company, three (3) directors having been elected by the stockholders, and three
(3) directors, Peter D. Schleider, Corey M. Smith, and John T. Ticer, having
been elected by the Board in January 1999. Each nominee's background is outlined
below.

           The names of the nominees and certain biographical information about
them are set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION/
                     NAME                       AGE           POSITION HELD WITH THE COMPANY
                     ----                       ---           ------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>        <C>
Gary W. Clow............................        44         Chairman of the Board of Directors
Robert W. Johnson, Ph.D.................        49         Director
Antonio Perez...........................        53         Director
Peter D. Schleider......................        41         Director
Corey M. Smith..........................        42         Director
John T. Ticer...........................        40         President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
</TABLE>

           Mr. Clow has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since March 1992
and a director since 1983. Mr. Clow also served as Chief Executive Officer of
the Company from 1992 until January 1999 and as President of the Company from
1986 through 1996. Mr. Clow previously was a Vice President at Dynamic
Instruments, a measurement systems company for the defense industry, and a
Senior Software Engineer at the Portable Products Division of the Communications
Sector at Motorola, Inc. Mr. Clow received an M.A.S. in Computer Systems from
Florida Atlantic University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the
California Institute of Technology.

           Dr. Johnson has served as a director since 1983. He has been a
private investor since July 1988. From 1983 to July 1988, he was first a
principal and subsequently a general partner of Southern California Ventures, a
private venture capital firm. He is a director of Hi/fn, Inc., a publicly-held
semiconductor company, and ViaSat, Inc., a publicly-held communications
equipment company. Dr. Johnson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from
Stanford University and Harvard University.

           Mr. Perez has served as a director since 1997. Mr. Perez has served
as a Vice President of Hewlett-Packard Company and General Manager of its Inkjet
Products Group since 1995. From 1991 to 1995 Mr. Perez held General Manager
positions within Hewlett-Packard. He joined Hewlett-Packard in 1975. Mr. Perez
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Madrid
University in Spain, and International Business and Marketing Diplomas from
Institut European D'Administration des Affaires (Insead) in France.

           Mr. Schleider has served as a director since January 1999. Mr.
Schleider has been the General Partner of RKB Capital, L.P., a private
investment partnership, since August 1998. From January 1998 to September 1998
Mr. Schleider was a partner in Matrix Capital Management, an investment
partnership. From 1987 through 1997 Mr. Schleider held positions with Wessels,
Arnold & Henderson, an investment bank headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
most recently as a securities research analyst for enterprise and systems level
software stocks. Mr. Schleider graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor
of Arts degree in History/Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.



                                       2
<PAGE>   3

           Mr. Smith has served as a Director of the Company since January 1999.
From September 1996 to January 1999, Mr. Smith was President of Xcellenet, Inc.,
a remote systems management software company. From August 1995 to September
1996, Mr. Smith was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Decision Point
Data, an employment screening software and service bureau company, and from
December 1993 to August 1995 Mr. Smith was the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Creative Multimedia, a consumer CD-ROM publisher. From October 1988
to April 1992, Mr. Smith was the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Central Point Software, a desk-top utility software company. Mr. Smith received
a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Oregon State
University.

           Mr. Ticer has served as a director of the Company since January 1999.
He has been President of the Company since February 1997 and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since January 1999 and was Chief Operating Officer of the
Company from February 1997 until January 1999. From February 1996 to January
1997 he was Director of Business Alliances for Tivoli Systems, a subsidiary of
IBM Corporation, and from August 1995 to January 1996 was Director of Strategic
Investments at IBM. From April 1995 to August 1995 Mr. Ticer was Director of
Corporate Development at Legent Corporation. Mr. Ticer held various director
level positions at Landmark Systems Corporation from December 1992 to April
1995. Mr. Ticer holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree in
Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business
Administration from Dartmouth College.

           BACKGROUND OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS NOT DESCRIBED ABOVE

           Douglas L. Whiting, Ph.D., age 42 is a director of the Company who
will be retiring from the Board as of the date of the Annual Meeting. Dr.
Whiting has served as a director since 1983. Since January 1999, Dr. Whiting has
served as Chief Technologist of the Company. He was Vice President of Technology
of the Company from 1985 until January 1999 and was President of the Company
from 1984 to 1986. He is a director of Hi/fn, Inc., a publicly held
semiconductor company. Dr. Whiting received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the
California Institute of Technology.

           Charles H. Gaylord, Jr., age 53, is a director of the Company who
will be resigning from the Board as of the date of the Annual Meeting. Mr.
Gaylord has served as a director since April 1995. He is currently a private
technology investor and a director of HNC Software Inc., a publicly held
computer software company. From December 1993 to September 1994, Mr. Gaylord
served as Executive Vice President of Intuit Inc., a personal and small business
finance software company, following the acquisition of ChipSoft, Inc., a tax
preparation company, by Intuit. Prior to that acquisition, from June 1990 to
December 1993, he served first as President and Chief Executive Officer and a
director of ChipSoft and then as its Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gaylord holds Bachelor of Science and Master of
Science degrees in aerospace engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology
and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University.

           James T. Nicol, age 46, has been the Company's Vice President of
Product Operations since October 1998 and was Vice President of Development from
July 1996 through September 1998. From August 1995 to July 1996, he was on
assignment to Lotus Corporation as a director-level development manager tasked
with the transition of the groupware capability from IBM to Lotus. From December
1983 to August 1995, he held a variety of system software development positions
in IBM, from system software engineer to Senior Product Manager in the areas of
database, application development, and groupware.

           Mr. Clifford L. Flowers, age 40, has served as Vice President of
Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since January 1999. He was
the Company's Corporate Controller from June 1994 until January 1999. From June
1988 to June 1994, Mr. Flowers held various positions with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, most recently as an
Audit Manager. Mr. Flowers is a certified public accountant and received a
Bachelor of Science in accounting from San Diego State University.



                                       3
<PAGE>   4
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

           Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own
more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company's equity securities,
to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") initial
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and
other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten
percent stockholders are required by Commission regulation to furnish the
Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

           To the best of the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of
the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations
that no other reports were required, during the fiscal year ended September 30,
1998, Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors
and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

           Non-Employee Directors are compensated for their services on the
Board in accordance with the following policy: each Non-Employee Director is
paid an annual retainer of $4,000 plus an additional sum of $1,000 for each
meeting of the Board attended in person (other than by telephone) by such
director. In addition, each Non-Employee Director that is a member of one or
more committees of the Board is paid an additional amount equal to $500 for each
such committee meeting attended in person (other than by telephone) by such
director where such meeting is held on a date other than the date of any meeting
of the Board. In the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, the total
compensation paid to Non-Employee Directors was $32,000.

           The members of the Board of Directors are eligible for reimbursement
for their expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board meetings in
accordance with Company policy.

     Non-Employee Directors are eligible to receive grants under the Company's
1992 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended (the "Directors'
Plan"). Under the Directors' Plan, each person who is elected for the first time
by the Board or stockholders of the Company to serve as a Non-Employee Director
and who has not previously served as a member of the Board will, upon the date
of such election, be granted an option (on the terms and conditions set forth in
the Directors' Plan) to purchase twenty-five thousand (25,000) shares of the
Company's Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as an "Initial Election
Option"). In addition, each person who is re-elected by the Board or
stockholders of the Company to serve as a Non-Employee Director will, upon the
date of each such re-election be granted an option (on the terms and conditions
set forth in the Directors' Plan) to purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of
the Company's Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as a "Re-Election Option").
The Board is considering whether to amend the Directors' Plan to increase the
number of shares subject to Initial Election Options and Re-Election Options as
a result of the Hi/fn Spin-Off to numbers not more than two (2) times their
current levels. All options granted under the Directors' Plan are intended by
the Company not to qualify as incentive stock options under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended. The exercise price of options granted under the
Directors' Plan will be equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common
Stock on the date of grant.

           Options granted under the Directors' Plan are subject to vesting as
follows: Initial Election Options will vest in five equal installments of 5,000
shares each, with the first such installment vesting immediately prior to the
first Annual Meeting of Stockholders after the date of grant and each additional
installment vesting immediately prior to the date of each subsequent Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, so long as the optionee has, during the
entire year prior to such vesting date, continuously served as a Non-Employee
Director of the Company or any affiliate of the Company. Re-Election Options
will vest in four equal installments of 2,500 shares each, with the first such
installment vesting immediately prior to the date of each Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company following the date of grant, so long as the optionee
has, during the entire year prior to such vesting date, continuously served as a
Non-Employee Director of the Company or any affiliate of the Company.



                                       4
<PAGE>   5

           On December 16, 1998, the exercises price and the number of
outstanding options to purchase Common Stock held by directors of the Company
were adjusted as a result of the Company's spin-off of its semiconductor
subsidiary, Hi/fn, Inc. (the "Hi/fn Spin-Off"). See "-Effect of Hi/fn Spin-Off
on Company's Common Stock Options."

           During the last fiscal year, the Company granted options covering
42,210 shares to each Non-Employee Director of the Company (for a total of
126,630 shares) at an exercise price per share of $1.18 (as adjusted for the
Hi/fn Spin-Off), the fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date
of grant. As of September 30, 1998, options to purchase 548,730 shares (as
adjusted for the Hi/fn Spin-Off) have been granted and are outstanding under the
Directors' Plan, net of cancellations, and options to purchase 5,000 shares have
been exercised under the Directors' Plan.

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

           The following table shows, for the fiscal years ended September 30,
1998, September 30, 1997 and September 30, 1996, compensation awarded or paid
to, or earned by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and its other four most
highly compensated executive officers at September 30, 1998 (the "Named
Executive Officers"). All options listed below reflect the Hi/fn Spin-Off.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       LONG-TERM
                                                                                                      COMPENSATION
                                                                    ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1)               AWARDS
                                                             ----------------------------------       ------------
                                                                                                       SECURITIES
                                                                                                       UNDERLYING
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                                  YEAR         SALARY         BONUS         OPTIONS(2)
- ---------------------------                                  ----        --------       -------       ------------
<S>                                                          <C>         <C>            <C>            <C>
Gary W. Clow(3)..........................................    1998        $185,500       $29,355                -
Chief Executive Officer                                      1997        $175,000       $16,188        1,181,880
                                                             1996        $175,000       $ 6,563                -

John T. Ticer(4).........................................    1998        $210,000       $54,653                -
President and Chief Operating Officer                        1997        $126,923       $34,654          844,200
                                                             1996               -             -                -

James T. Nicol(5)........................................    1998        $148,400       $56,131                -
Vice President of Products                                   1997        $140,000       $15,920          422,100
                                                             1996        $ 20,833             -                -

James M. Priest(6).......................................    1998        $140,400       $39,065                -
Vice President of Sales and Marketing                        1997          92,500       $10,135          337,680
                                                             1996               -             -                -

John R. Witzel(7)........................................    1998        $145,600       $26,681                -
Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial                   1997        $140,000       $ 4,063          506,520
   Officer and Secretary                                     1996        $125,000       $ 1,032                -
</TABLE>


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

(1)        As permitted by rules established by the Commission, no amounts are
           shown with respect to certain "perquisites" where such amounts do not
           exceed the lesser of 10% of bonus plan salary or $50,000.

(2)        Options of Messrs. Ticer, Nicol and Priest were repriced in fiscal
           1997 and are treated as new grants. Previously granted options were
           cancelled concurrently with the repricing. The Company has not issued
           any stock appreciation rights (SARs).

(3)        Mr. Clow resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in
           January 1999.



                                       5
<PAGE>   6

(4)        Mr. Ticer joined the Company in February 1997. He was also paid
           $79,972 in relocation expenses and associated income taxes in fiscal
           1997. Mr. Ticer resigned as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed
           Chief Executive Officer of the Company in January 1999.

(5)        Mr. Nicol joined the Company in August 1996. He was also paid $83,875
           in relocation expenses and associated income taxes in fiscal 1996.

(6)        Mr. Priest joined the Company in December 1996. He was also paid
           $92,338 in relocation expenses and associated income taxes in fiscal
           1996. Mr. Priest resigned as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in
           December 1998.

(7)        Mr. Witzel resigned as Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial
           Officer and Secretary of the Company in January 1999.

                        STOCK OPTION GRANTS AND EXERCISES

           From time to time the Company grants options to its executive
officers under its 1992 Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 1998, options to
purchase a total of 9,088,978 shares had been granted and were outstanding under
the 1992 Plan, options to purchase 1,021,455 shares had been exercised under the
1992 Plan and 1,545,269 shares remained available for future option grants under
the 1992 Plan, as adjusted for the Hi/fn Spin-Off. See "Effect of Hi/fn Spin-Off
on Company's Stock Options."

           For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, no options were granted
to any Named Executive Officers. The following table shows certain information
regarding options exercised by, and held at year end by, the Named Executive
Officers.

                   AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1998
                     AND 1998 FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           NUMBER OF SHARES UNDERLYING                VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                           UNEXERCISED OPTIONS HELD AT              IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                       SHARES                                 SEPTEMBER 30, 1998(2)                  SEPTEMBER 30, 1998(3)
                     ACQUIRED ON         VALUE         ----------------------------------    -------------------------------------
NAME                 EXERCISE(#)     REALIZED($)(1)    EXERCISABLE(#)    UNEXERCISABLE(#)    EXERCISABLE($)       UNEXERCISABLE($)
- ----                 -----------     --------------    --------------    ----------------    --------------       ----------------
<S>                  <C>             <C>               <C>               <C>                 <C>                  <C>
Gary W. Clow               --                --           1,160,773            590,943             33,750                  --
James T. Nicol             --                --             175,873            246,227                 --                  --
John T. Ticer              --                --             327,127            517,073                 --                  --
James M. Priest            --                --             133,663            204,017                 --                  --
John R. Witzel        113,000           456,375             675,358            253,262             25,000                  --
</TABLE>

- --------

(1)        Represents the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date
           of exercise less the exercise price. For purposes of this table,
           "fair market value" is determined based on the average of the highest
           and lowest selling prices on the applicable date as reported on the
           Nasdaq National Market System. Shares acquired are adjusted to
           reflect the Hi/fn Spin-Off.

(2)        Includes both "in-the-money" and "out-of-the-money" options.
           Exercisable and Unexercisable options reflect the Hi/fn Spin-Off.

(3)        Represents the fair market value per share of the underlying shares
           on the last day of the fiscal year ($3.00), less the exercise or base
           price, based on actual exercisable and unexercisable options, prior
           to the Hi/fn Spin-Off.

AGREEMENTS WITH EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

           The Company has entered into agreements with certain of the Company's
officers (each hereinafter referred to as "Executive"), including its Named
Executive Officers, in order to ensure Executive has an opportunity to acquire
and/or maintain an equity interest in the Company as an incentive for Executive
to participate actively in the affairs and maximize the value of the Company,
without distraction arising from the possibility of a change in control of Stac.
The terms of the agreements provide that, in the event of a Change in Control
(as 



                                       6
<PAGE>   7

defined in the agreements), and the Involuntary Termination (as defined in the
agreements) of Executive's employment at any time during the period beginning
sixty (60) days prior to such Change in Control and ending thirteen (13) months
following such Change of Control, (i) fifty percent (50%) of those unvested
options or other rights to purchase shares of the Company's capital stock then
held by Executive shall automatically become fully vested and (ii) the Company's
repurchase right automatically lapses with respect to fifty percent (50%) of the
shares of the Company's stock then held by Executive which are subject to the
repurchase right.

EFFECT OF HI/FN SPIN-OFF ON COMPANY'S STOCK OPTIONS

           The Company completed the Hi/fn Spin-Off on December 16, 1998. In
connection with the Hi/fn Spin-Off, holders of the Company's Common Stock
received a dividend of one share of Common Stock of Hi/fn for every 3.9455
shares of Common Stock of the Company held by them as of that date. As a result
of the Hi/fn Spin-Off, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise prices
of, the then outstanding options to purchase Common Stock of the Company held by
each current and former director, employee and consultant of the Company on the
effective date of the Hi/fn Spin-Off (the "Company Options"), were adjusted in a
manner designed to preserve the economic value of the Company Options
outstanding prior to the Hi/fn Spin-Off. References and calculations herein
related to shares subject to outstanding options and relevant exercise prices
reflect the Hi/fn Spin-Off. Additional information regarding the Hi/fn Spin-Off
is set forth in the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed by Hi/fn with the
Commission in connection with the Hi/fn Spin-Off.

                   REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE
                 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION(1)

OVERVIEW AND PHILOSOPHY

           Stac's Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee") is currently composed of two (2) outside directors, Messrs. Gaylord
and Perez. As of the date of the Annual Meeting, Mr. Clow and Mr. Smith will
replace Mr. Gaylord and Mr. Perez on the Committee. Among other things, the
Committee reviews and approves annual executive officer compensation; provided,
however, with respect to the Company Chief Executive Officer, the Committee
makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive
Officer's compensation is approved by the Board of Directors. In general, the
compensation policies adopted by the Committee are designed to (i) attract and
retain executives capable of leading the Company to meet its business objectives
and (ii) motivate the Company's executives to enhance long-term stockholder
value.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

           The Company's executive officer compensation program is comprised of
base salary, annual cash incentive compensation in the form of a bonus and
long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock option grants.

      BASE SALARY

           In establishing base salaries, the Committee first considers a number
of surveys and compensation levels at comparably sized companies in comparable
industries, including companies in the software industries. Each survey is
weighted based on the Committee's determination of the comparability to Stac of
the companies within the survey. The companies included in the surveys are not
necessarily the same as the companies included in the market indices included in
the performance graph in this Annual Report. Although the compensation surveys
referred to above and the market indices included in the performance graph are
broad and include companies in related industries, the surveys and indices were
created for difference purposes and accordingly are not compatible.

           Based on the data generated in the surveys, the Committee then
subjectively sets a target base salary level applicable to all executive
officers. The Committee then subjectively considers the level of responsibility,
experience and contributions of each 

- ------------
(1)        The material in this report is not "soliciting material," is not
           deemed filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference
           in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933 as
           amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether
           made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general
           incorporation language in any such filing.



                                       7


<PAGE>   8
executive officer. The Committee then sets each officer's base salary taking
into account the target salary and the Committee's evaluation of individual
performance. For fiscal 1998, executive officer base salaries were generally
below the median base salary levels determined through the surveys.

      ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE BONUS

           The Company pays bonuses to its executive officers based primarily on
the achievement of revenue goals and meeting specific management objectives
established by the Committee prior to each fiscal quarter. In considering the
establishment revenue goals and management objectives for fiscal 1998, the
Committee considered, among other things, the Company's revenue growth and
profitability as compared to internal targets, comparable companies and data
regarding non-salary cash compensation obtained from the surveys referred to
above. In total, bonuses paid to executive officers during fiscal 1998 were
below the median bonus levels paid by comparable companies as determined through
the surveys referred to above.

      STOCK OPTION GRANTS

           The Company grants stock options to its executive officers in order
to provide long-term incentives and align executive officers and stockholder
long-term interests by creating a direct link between executive compensation and
stockholder return. Stock options are granted at an option price equal to the
fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of the grant. In
order to facilitate long-term incentives through the option grants, options are
generally subject to ratable vesting over three to five years and are
exercisable for ten years.

           Executive officer awards are subjectively determined by the Committee
after considering stock option grant data taken from the compensation surveys
referred to above, as well as the level of responsibility, experience and
contributions of each executive officer. In determining the size of individual
grants, the Committee also considers the number of shares subject to the options
previously granted to each executive officer, including the number of such
shares that have vested and remain exercisable and shares that remain unvested.

           Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") limits the
Company to a deduction for federal income tax purposes of no more than $1
million of compensation paid to certain Named Executive Officers in a taxable
year. Compensation above $1 million may be deducted if it is "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of the Code. The Compensation Committee has
determined that stock options granted under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan
with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Company's
common stock on the date of grant shall be treated as "performance-based
compensation."

           CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SALARY

           The Committee considers with particular care the compensation of the
Company's Chief Executive Officer, and recommends for Board approval, the amount
of such compensation. For fiscal 1998, the Company's Chief Executive Officer was
Gary W. Clow. Mr. Clow's compensation for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1998 was determined based on the factors discussed above, including the
completion of the Hi/fn Spin-Off and was set at $185,000, which was an increase
of 6% from his salary for the previous year. As described above, he was paid a
bonus of $29,355 compared to a bonus of $16,188 paid in the prior year.



                                       COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

                                       Charles H. Gaylord, Jr.
                                       Antonio Perez



                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                       PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT COMPARISON

           The following graph compares total stockholder returns of the Company
for the five years since September 30, 1993 to two indices: The Nasdaq CRSP
Total Return Index for the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. companies) (the
"Nasdaq-US") and the Nasdaq CRSP Total Return Index for Computer Software Stocks
(SIC 737) (the "Nasdaq-Industry"). The total return for the Company's stock and
for each index assumes the reinvestment of dividends, although dividends have
never been declared on the Company's stock, and is based on the returns of the
component companies weighted according to their capitalization as of the end of
each quarterly period. The Nasdaq-US tracks the aggregate price performance of
all equity securities of U.S. companies traded on the Nasdaq National Market
(the "NNM") and the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The Nasdaq-Industry tracks the
aggregate price performance of equity securities of computer software companies
traded on the NNM. The Company's Common Stock is traded on the NNM and is a
component of both the Nasdaq-US and the Nasdaq-Industry.(2)



           COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT SINCE
                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1993


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           
                                                 NASDAQ U.S.                  NASDAQ Ind. 
                          Stac                   Cos. Index                 Index (SIC 737)
                        -------                  -----------                ---------------
<S>                     <C>                      <C>                        <C>    
        9/30/93         $100.00                    $100.00                       $100.00
       12/31/93         $130.43                    $101.97                       $100.51
        3/31/94         $200.00                    $ 97.68                       $101.93
        6/30/94         $230.43                    $ 93.11                       $ 99.75
        9/30/94         $184.78                    $100.83                       $111.06
       12/30/94         $178.26                    $ 99.67                       $122.06
        3/31/95         $200.00                    $108.67                       $137.40
        6/30/95         $256.52                    $124.31                       $162.85
        9/29/95         $326.09                    $139.28                       $177.89
       12/29/95         $500.00                    $140.97                       $185.87
        3/29/96         $365.22                    $147.54                       $194.58
        6/28/96         $391.30                    $159.59                       $216.29
        9/30/96         $278.26                    $165.24                       $220.62
       12/31/96         $230.43                    $173.36                       $229.41
        3/31/97         $165.22                    $163.95                       $212.94
        6/30/97         $123.93                    $194.01                       $273.05
        9/30/97         $165.22                    $226.81                       $298.61
       12/31/97         $160.87                    $212.69                       $281.82
        3/31/98         $167.41                    $248.80                       $372.30
        6/30/98         $150.02                    $255.98                       $413.17
        9/30/98         $104.35                    $231.74                       $389.47
</TABLE>


           Stac's closing stock price on September 30, 1998, which was prior to
the Hi/fn Spin-Off and adjustment to the Common Stock per share price as a
result thereof, was $3.00 per share. The last sales price for the Company's
Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq on December 31, 1998 was $1.375, which was
following the Hi/fn Spin-Off. Historical stock price performance is not
necessarily indicative of future price performance, particularly in light of the
Hi/fn Spin-Off.



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

(2) The material in this report is not "soliciting material," is not deemed
    filed with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing
    of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
    Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after
    the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in
    any such filing.


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

           The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of December 31, 1998 by: (i) each
nominee for director and each other current director of the Company, (ii) each
of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table below under
the heading "Executive Compensation;" (iii) all executive officers and directors
of the Company as a group; and (iv) all those known by the Company to be
beneficial owners of more than five percent of its Common Stock.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  NUMBER OF          PERCENTAGE
                                                                   SHARES        BENEFICIALLY OWNED(1)
                                                                  ---------      ---------------------
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>  
Microsoft Corporation..........................................   2,458,746             10.4%
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA  98052-6399
Gary W. Clow(2)................................................                         11.0%
Robert W. Johnson(3)...........................................   1,872,523              7.9%
Douglas L. Whiting(4)..........................................   1,599,167              6.7%
John R. Witzel(5)..............................................     915,016              3.8%
Peter D. Schleider(6)..........................................     460,600              1.9%
John T. Ticer(7)...............................................     404,681              1.7%
Antonio Perez(8)...............................................      57,762              *
Corey M. Smith.................................................      74,000              *
Charles H. Gaylord, Jr.(9) ....................................     172,733              *
James T. Nicol(10) ............................................     211,988              *
James M. Priest(11)............................................      84,893              *
All directors and officers as a group (12 persons) ............   8,721,006             32.5%
</TABLE>

- ----------
*       Less than one percent.

(1)     This table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and
        principal stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G, if any, filed with the
        Commission. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table
        and subject to community property and marital property laws where
        applicable, each of the stockholders named in this table has sole voting
        and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as
        beneficially owned and has a business address of Stac Software, Inc.,
        12636 High Bluff Drive, 4th Floor, San Diego, California 92130-2093.
        Applicable percentages are based on 23,673,170 shares outstanding on
        December 31, 1998, adjusted as required by rules promulgated by the
        Commission; and also reflect an adjustment to Company options
        outstanding as of December 16, 1998 held by optionees to account for the
        Hi/fn Spin-Off. See "Executive Compensation - Effect of Spin-Off of
        Hi/fn on Company's Stock Options.



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

(2)     Includes 100,100 shares held by the Cristina Clow Trust and 100,000
        shares held by the Andrew Clow Trust, of which Mr. Clow is a co-trustee
        and of which Mr. Clow disclaims beneficial ownership, and 1,234,641
        shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Clow that are
        exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.

(3)     Includes 1,759,000 shares held by the Robert W. Johnson Revocable Trust,
        of which Dr. Johnson is Trustee and 105,523 shares issuable upon
        exercise of options held by Mr. Johnson that are exercisable within 60
        days of December 31, 1998.

(4)     Includes 1,382,500 shares held by the Whiting Family Trust, of which Dr.
        Whiting serves as Trustee and 216,667 shares issuable upon exercise of
        options held by Dr. Whiting that are exercisable within 60 days of
        December 31, 1998.

(5)     Includes 707,016 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
        Witzel that are exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998. Mr.
        Witzel resigned from the Company, effective the close of business on
        January 4, 1999.

(6)     Includes 460,600 shares held of record by the RKB Capital, L.P., of
        which Mr. Schleider is the general partner.

(7)     Includes 404,681 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
        Ticer that are exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.

(8)     Includes 52,762 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
        Perez that are exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.

(9)     Includes 25,000 shares held of record by the Gaylord Family Trust UTD
        12/30/93, of which Mr. Gaylord serves as co-trustee and 147,733 shares
        issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Gaylord that are
        exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.

(10)    Includes 211,048 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
        Nicol that are exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.

(11)    Includes 84,418 shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr.
        Priest that are exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998. Mr.
        Priest resigned from the Company, effective the close of business on
        December 31, 1998.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

           The Company's policy is that it will not make loans or enter into
other transactions with directors, officers, or affiliates unless such loans or
transactions are approved by a majority of the Company's disinterested directors
and may reasonably be expected to benefit the Company.

           The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its
directors and may indemnify its officers, employees, and other agents to the
fullest extent permitted by law. The Company believes that indemnification under
its Bylaws covers at least negligence and gross negligence by indemnified
parties, and may require the Company to advance litigation expenses in the case
of stockholder derivative actions or other actions, against an undertaking by
the indemnified party to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that
the indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification.

           In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company's directors will
not be liable for monetary damages for breach of the directors' fiduciary duty
of care to the Company and its stockholders. This provision in the Certificate
of Incorporation does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate
circumstances equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of
non-monetary relief would remain available under Delaware law. Each director
will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Company, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving
intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, for acts or omissions that
the director believes to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or its
stockholders, for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit, for acts or omissions involving a reckless disregard for the
director's duty to the Company or its stockholders when the director was aware
or should have been aware of a risk of serious injury to the Company or its
stockholders, for acts or omissions that constitute an unexcused pattern of
inattention that amounts to an abdication of the director's duty to the Company
or its stockholders, for improper transactions between the director and the
Company, and for improper distributions to 



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

stockholders and loans to directors and officers. This provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

           The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with certain
officers and directors which provide, among other things, that the Company will
indemnify such officer or director, under the circumstances and to the extent
provided for therein, for expenses, damages, judgments, fines and settlements he
may be required to pay in actions or proceedings which he is or may be made a
party by reason of his position as a director, officer or other agent of the
Company, and otherwise to the full extent permitted under Delaware law and the
Company's Bylaws.

           The Company maintains insurance policies covering officers and
directors under which the insurers agree to pay, subject to certain exclusions,
including certain violations of securities laws, for any claim made against the
directors and officers of the Company for a wrongful act that they may become
legally obligated to pay or for which the Company is required to indemnify the
officers or directors. The Company believes that its Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaw provisions, indemnification agreements and such
insurance policies are necessary to attract and retain qualified person as
directors and officers.

           At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a
director, officer, employee or other agent of the Company to which
indemnification is being sought nor is the Company aware of any threatened
litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director,
officer, employee or other agent.

           The Company has entered into agreements with certain of the Company's
officers (each hereinafter referred to as "Executive"), including its Named
Executive Officers, in order to ensure Executive has an opportunity to acquire
and/or maintain an equity interest in the Company as an incentive for Executive
to participate actively in the affairs and maximize the value of the Company,
without distraction arising from the possibility of a change in control of Stac.
The terms of the agreements provide that, in the event of a Change in Control
(as defined in the agreements), and the Involuntary Termination (as defined in
the agreements) of Executive's employment at any time during the period
beginning sixty (60) days prior to such Change in Control and ending thirteen
(13) months following such Change of Control, (i) fifty percent (50%) of those
unvested options or other rights to purchase shares of the Company's capital
stock then held by Executive shall automatically become fully vested and (ii)
the Company's repurchase right automatically lapses with respect to fifty
percent % (50%) of the shares of the Company's stock then held by Executive
which are subject to the repurchase right.

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(c) Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT      
  NUMBER       DESCRIPTION
<S>           <C>
     10.1      Form of Change in Control Agreement.    
     23.1      Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Auditors.
</TABLE>




                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                       STAC SOFTWARE, INC.

                                       By:      /s/ JOHN T. TICER
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                    John T. Ticer
                                            Chief Executive Officer, President
                                                    and Director
Date: January 28, 1999


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURES                                   TITLE                             DATE
             ----------                                   -----                             ----
<S>                                          <C>                                      <C> 
        /s/ JOHN T. TICER                    Chief Executive Officer, President       January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------       and Director
           (John T. Ticer)                   (Principal Executive Officer)

        /s/ CLIFFORD L. FLOWERS              Executive Vice President of Finance,     January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------       and Chief Financial Officer
         (Clifford L. Flowers)               (Principal Financial Officer)
                                             

        /s/ GARY W. CLOW                     Chairman of the Board of Directors       January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------
           (Gary W. Clow)

                *                            Director                                 January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------
       (Douglas L. Whiting)

                *                            Director                                 January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------
     (Charles H. Gaylord, Jr.)

                *                            Director                                 January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------
       (Robert W. Johnson)

                *                            Director                                 January 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------
        (Antonio Perez)

                                             Director            
- --------------------------------------
        (Peter D. Schleider)

                                             Director            
- --------------------------------------
        (Corey M. Smith)

         /s/ GARY W. CLOW
- --------------------------------------
          (Gary W. Clow)
        Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>



                                       13

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                           CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT


        THIS CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of
__________, 1998, between STAC, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and _____________ ("Executive").

        WHEREAS Executive is an Executive of the Company, and currently holds
(i) shares of the Company's capital stock ("Shares") and/or (ii) options or
other rights to purchase shares of the Company's capital stock ("Options")
(Shares and Options are hereinafter collectively referred to as "Securities")
which are subject to certain vesting restrictions and rights of repurchase in
favor of the Company; and

        WHEREAS in order to ensure Executive has an opportunity to acquire
and/or maintain an equity interest in the Company as an incentive for Executive
to participate actively in the affairs and maximize the value of the Company,
the Company is willing to provide Executive with an accelerated vesting schedule
for those Securities currently held or hereafter acquired by Executive according
to the terms and conditions contained herein.

        NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the Executive and the Company (each, a "Party,"
and collectively, the "Parties") agree as follows:

1.      ACCELERATED VESTING OF THE SECURITIES.

        (a) In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in Section 1(b)(i)
below) of the Company and if Executive's employment with the surviving company
is Involuntarily Terminated (as defined in Section 1(b)(ii) below) during the
period beginning sixty (60) days prior to such Change of Control and ending
thirteen (13) months following such Change of Control, (i) fifty percent (50%)
of those unvested Securities then held by Executive which are Options, if any,
shall automatically be accelerated such that Executive shall have the right to
exercise in accordance with their terms all or any portion of such Securities
and (ii) the Company's repurchase right shall automatically lapse with respect
to fifty percent (50%) of the Shares then held by Executive which are subject to
such repurchase right.

        (b) (i) A "Change of Control" shall, for purposes of the foregoing,
mean: (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company; (2) any sale or transfer
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (3) any merger or
consolidation in which the holders of the Company's outstanding voting
securities immediately prior to such transaction do not hold, immediately
following such transaction, securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more
of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the surviving
entity; or (4) the acquisition by any person (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 


                                       1.


<PAGE>   2
securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power
of the then-outstanding securities of the Company.

               (ii) An "Involuntary Termination" shall mean (1) a termination
initiated by the surviving company, other than a termination due to material
acts of dishonesty, conviction of a felony or willful misconduct by Executive or
(2) a termination initiated by Executive as a result of a material diminution in
salary, a material change in responsibility or a change in work location of more
than 30 miles from the then current job location.

        (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Change in Control
prior to the second anniversary of the adoption of this Agreement by the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board") that would otherwise be eligible to be
accounted for as a "pooling of interests" accounting transaction, if: (A) either
the adoption of this Agreement by the Board or the execution, delivery or any
provision of this Agreement would by itself result in such a Change in Control
becoming ineligible for such accounting treatment; and (B) the potential
acquiror of the Company in such transaction desires to account for such Change
in Control as a "pooling of interests" transaction, then the provisions of
Section 1(a) of this Agreement shall not apply with respect to such Change in
Control. Additionally, in the event that the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence by themselves would result in a contemplated Change in
Control to become ineligible to be accounted for as a "pooling of interests"
transaction, then such provisions shall be deemed inoperative. Accounting issues
shall be determined by the Company's independent public accountants applying
generally accepted accounting principles.

2.      ADJUSTMENT FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STOCK. All references to the number of
Securities in this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted by the Company to
reflect any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or other change in
the Shares which may be made by the Company after the date of this Agreement.

3.      GOLDEN PARACHUTE TAXES. In the event that any payment or distribution by
the Company, or the grant of any benefit by the Company, to or for the benefit
of Executive (whether paid or payable, distributed or distributable or granted
or to be granted pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise)
(collectively, "Benefits") would be nondeductible by the Company for federal
income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code") and/or would cause Executive to be liable for an excise tax pursuant to
Section 4999 of the Code, then the Benefits paid, distributed or granted to
Executive under this Agreement shall equal (i) the full amount of such Benefits
or (ii) the Reduced Amount (as defined below), whichever of the foregoing
amounts is determined by the Company to result, on an after-tax basis, in the
receipt by Executive of the greatest amount of such Benefits, notwithstanding
that all or some portion of the Benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of
the Code. In making its determination pursuant to the preceding sentence, the
Company shall take into account all applicable Federal, state, and local
employment and income taxes, as well as the excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code. For purposes of this Section 3, the "Reduced Amount" shall be the
maximum amount payable to Executive that would result in no portion of the
Benefits being (i) nondeductible by the Company under Section 280G of the Code
or (ii) subject to an excise tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision contained herein, in the
event (as a result of Benefits to be received under this Agreement or any other
plan or arrangement between the Executive and the 


                                       2.


<PAGE>   3
Company) of any required reduction, as a result of Section 4999 of the Code, of
Benefits to be received by Executive, reduction shall be made from such other
plan or arrangement prior to any reduction relating to Benefits to be received
by Executive under this Agreement.

4.      GENERAL PROVISIONS.

        (a) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California (without regard to principles of conflict of laws).

        (b) Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given by
either the Company or Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally or deposited in
the U.S. mail, First Class with postage prepaid, and addressed to the parties at
such addresses as have been previously furnished by the Parties or such other
address as a Party may request by notifying the other in writing.

        (c) The rights and obligations of Executive under this Agreement may not
be transferred or assigned without the prior written consent of the Company.

        (d) This Agreement is meant to supplement the terms of the restricted
stock purchase agreement, stock option agreement or other agreement pursuant to
which Executive acquired the Securities. To the extent that the terms and
conditions of this Agreement are inconsistent with those found in the restricted
stock purchase agreement, stock option agreement or other agreement, the terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall be controlling.

        (e) Any Party's failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this
Agreement shall not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or
provisions, nor prevent any Party from thereafter enforcing each and every other
provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the Parties herein are
cumulative and shall not constitute a waiver of any Party's right to assert all
other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

        (f) Executive agrees upon request to execute any further documents or
instruments necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes or intent of this
Agreement.

        (g) In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

        (h) This Agreement, in whole or in part, may be modified, waived or
amended upon the written consent of the Company and Executive.

        (i) By Executive's signature below, Executive represents that he is
familiar with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and hereby accepts
this Agreement subject to all of the terms and provisions set forth herein.
Executive has reviewed this Agreement in its entirety, has had an opportunity to
obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement and fully
understands all provisions of this Agreement. Executive agrees to accept as
binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Board of
Directors of the Company upon any questions arising under this Agreement.


                                       3.


<PAGE>   4
        This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one
instrument.

EXECUTIVE    STAC, INC.



_______________________________         _______________________________
Signature                               By



_______________________________         _______________________________
Print Name                                      Title


                                       4.


<PAGE>   5
                                    EXHIBIT A

                                CONSENT OF SPOUSE


I, ______________, spouse of Executive, have read and approve the foregoing
Agreement. In consideration of granting to my spouse the rights and benefits,
subject to the obligations, set forth in this Agreement, I hereby consent to
this Agreement, appoint my spouse as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the
exercise of any rights under this Agreement and agree to be bound by the
provisions of the Agreement insofar as I may have any rights in said Agreement
and/or the Securities covered thereunder under any community property laws or
similar laws relating to marital property.

Dated:_________________



                                        __________________________________


                                       1.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration 
Statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 33-47733, 33-50038 and 33-55462) of Stac, Inc. of 
our report dated October 23, 1998, except as to Note 12, which is as of 
December 16, 1998, appearing on page F-1 of this Form 10-K/A.


/S/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Diego, California
January 27, 1999


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