NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES INC
10-Q, 1996-05-28
COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC
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<PAGE>

This document consists of 16 pages, of which this is page number 1.  The index
to exhibits is located at page 15.


                                    UNITED STATES
                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                               WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

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

                                      FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

    [x]  Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934.

                    For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1996

                                          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 number: 0-20124


                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         California                                             77-0177255
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                             Identification No.)

              350 North Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043
                (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                    Registrant's telephone number:  (415) 694-0650


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      No  X
                                       ----    ----



The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par
value, was 16,420,434 at April 30, 1996.

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                                        INDEX




         DESCRIPTION                                            PAGE NUMBER
- - ----------------------------------------------                  -----------

Cover Page                                                            1

Index                                                                 2

Part I:  Financial Information

    Item 1:   Financial Statements

         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31,
              1996 and December 31, 1995                              3
         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
              Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995       4
         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
              Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 1996 and 1995       5
         Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements         6

    Item 2:   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                   Condition and Results of Operations                8

Part II: Other Information

    Item 1:   Legal Proceedings                                      15

    Item 6:   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                       15

Signature                                                            16


                                          2

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                            Part I:  Financial Information
                            Item 1.  Financial Statements

                         CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    (in thousands)

                                        ASSETS
                                                     March 31,     December 31,
                                                       1996           1995
                                                    ----------     ------------
                                                    (unaudited)
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                           $ 16,865      $  13,364
  Short-term investments                                16,684         22,786
  Accounts receivable, net                              26,555         28,591
  Inventories                                           19,702         14,398
  Prepaid expenses and other                             8,065          6,863
                                                    ----------     ----------
Total current assets                                    87,871         86,002

Property and equipment, net                              6,673          6,749
Other assets                                             4,487          4,786
                                                    ----------     ----------
Total assets                                          $ 99,031      $  97,537
                                                    ----------     ----------
                                                    ----------     ----------


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


Current liabilities:

  Accounts payable                                    $ 15,513      $  13,893
  Accrued expenses                                       7,076          7,429
  Current portion of capital lease obligations           1,108          1,246
  Income taxes payable                                   2,268          2,666
  Deferred revenue                                       3,465          3,298
                                                    ----------     ----------
Total current liabilities                               29,430         28,532

Long-term portion of capital lease obligations             756            991

Shareholders' equity:
  Undesignated preferred stock                              -              -
  Common stock                                          64,658         63,543
  Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities           7             31
  Retained earnings                                      4,180          4,440
                                                    ----------     ----------
Total shareholders' equity                              68,845         68,014
                                                    ----------     ----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity            $ 99,031      $  97,537
                                                    ----------     ----------
                                                    ----------     ----------


                             See accompanying notes.


                                          3

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (unaudited -- in thousands, except per share amounts)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                      1996           1995  
                                                    -------        ------- 
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>     
Net revenues:
  Systems                                           $26,628        $32,599 
  Software                                            3,811          4,929 
                                                    -------        ------- 
Total net revenues                                   30,439         37,528 
Cost of revenues:
  Systems                                            21,266         22,802 
  Software                                              834            584 
                                                    -------        ------- 
Total cost of revenues                               22,100         23,386 
                                                    -------        ------- 
Gross profit                                          8,339         14,142 
Operating expenses:
  Research and development                            4,120          3,019 
  Marketing and selling                               9,557          8,946 
  General and administrative                          2,509          1,982 
                                                    -------        ------- 
Total operating expenses                             16,186         13,947 
                                                    -------        ------- 

Operating income (loss)                              (7,847)           195 
Other income, net                                       439            272
Gain on sale of product line                          6,959            -- 
                                                    -------        ------- 
Income (loss) before income taxes                      (449)           467 
Provision for income taxes (income tax benefit)        (189)           163 
                                                    -------        ------- 

Net income (loss)                                   $  (260)       $   304
                                                    -------        ------- 
                                                    -------        -------

Net income (loss) per share:
  Primary                                           $ (0.02)       $  0.02
                                                    -------        ------- 
                                                    -------        -------
  Fully diluted                                     $ (0.02)       $ (0.06)
                                                    -------        ------- 
                                                    -------        -------

Shares used in per share computations:
  Primary                                            16,260         16,575
                                                    -------        ------- 
                                                    -------        -------
  Fully diluted                                      16,260         17,079
                                                    -------        ------- 
                                                    -------        -------


</TABLE>

                               See accompanying notes.

                                          4

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC

                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                              (unaudited - in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                     ----------------------------
                                                                          1996           1995
                                                                     ----------     ----------
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>
Cash flows from operations:
  Net income (loss)                                                    $   (260)      $    304
  Reconciliation to cash provided (used) by operations:
     Depreciation and amortization                                        1,090            681
     Gain on sale of product line                                        (6,959)            --
     Changes in:
        Accounts receivable, net                                          2,036          4,666
        Inventories                                                      (5,304)         2,226
        Prepaid expenses and other                                       (1,202)        (1,452)
        Accounts payable                                                  1,620         (3,806)
        Income taxes payable                                               (398)           118
        Accrued expenses                                                   (454)          (339)
        Deferred revenue                                                    167          2,906
                                                                     ----------     ----------
     Cash provided (used) by operations                                  (9,664)         5,304
     Cash flows from investing activities:
        Short-term investment, net                                        6,078         (2,143)
        Proceeds from sale of product line                                7,300             --
        Changes in other assets                                             109            119
        Property and equipment purchases                                 (1,064)          (835)
                                                                     ----------     ----------
     Cash provided (used) by investing activities                        12,423         (2,859)
     Cash flows from financing activities:
        Principal payments on capital lease obligations                    (373)          (317)
        Repurchases of stock                                                (80)          (564)
        Proceeds from issuance of stock, net of issuance costs            1,195             91
                                                                     ----------     ----------
     Cash provided (used) by financing activities                           742           (790)
     Increase in cash and equivalents                                     3,501          1,655
     Cash and equivalents:
        Beginning of period                                              13,364          7,407
                                                                     ----------     ----------
        End of period                                                  $ 16,865       $  9,062
                                                                     ----------     ----------
                                                                     ----------     ----------

     Noncash investing and financing activities:
       Property and equipment acquired under capital leases            $     --       $     59
                                                                     ----------     ----------
                                                                     ----------     ----------

</TABLE>

                               See accompanying notes.


                                          5

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of Network Computing
Devices, Inc. (the Company) furnished herein reflects all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of
management are necessary to fairly state the Company's consolidated financial
position, the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's
1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The consolidated results of operations for the
three-month period ended March 31, 1996 are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for any subsequent quarter or for the entire year ending
December 31, 1996.  Certain financial statement amounts from 1995 have been
reclassified to conform with current year methods of presentation.

PER SHARE INFORMATION

Per share information is computed using the weighted average number of common 
and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding.  For primary and fully 
diluted earnings per share, common equivalent shares consist of the 
incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of dilutive stock 
options (using the treasury stock method).  For the first quarter of 1995, 
common equivalent shares were adjusted to assume that all financial 
performance objectives had been achieved, the maximum number of contingently 
issuable shares had been issued, and the maximum amount of cash contingently 
payable had been paid in connection with the Z-Code acquisition.  In the 
second quarter of 1995, the Company determined that none of such shares or 
cash payments are issuable or payable. The effect of common equivalent shares 
is not included in earnings per share calculations during periods in which 
such effect would be antidilutive.

INVENTORIES

Inventories, stated at the lower of standard cost, which approximates actual
cost on a first-in, first-out basis, or market, consisted of (in thousands):


                                                   March 31,    December 31,
                                                     1996           1995
                                                  ---------      ---------

    Purchased components and sub-assemblies         $15,004        $ 9,548
    Work in process                                   1,419          1,814
    Finished goods                                    3,279          3,036
                                                  ---------      ---------
                                                    $19,702       $ 14,398
                                                  ---------      ---------
                                                  ---------      ---------



BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING

In the third quarter of 1995, the Company determined that it was appropriate to
undertake a strategic restructuring plan to realign and consolidate its software
businesses and reduce operating expenses, and intended to improve the operating
performance of its X-Terminal, or "Systems," operations in reaction to intense
competition and slowness in the X terminal market.  The Company began
implementing this plan during the third quarter of 1995, and has streamlined its
Systems operations as a result, including the termination of approximately fifty
employees associated with such operations.


                                          6

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The plan's major components include:

    -    modifying the method of manufacturing and materials management to a
         "build-to-order" paradigm in order to increase the efficiency with
         which the Company receives product orders and manufactures and
         delivers products to its customers;
    -    phasing out X-Terminal products that were currently yielding, or were
         anticipated to yield, profit margins that did not meet certain minimum
         requirements of the Company;
    -    reducing and consolidating facilities devoted to the conduct of the
         Systems business through a combination of sublease activities or
         negotiating early exits to existing lease agreements; and
    -    reducing the number of employees engaged in Systems business
         activities to a level deemed to be essential to reengineer the
         business for improved operating performance.

A description of the types and amounts (in thousands) of accruals made for
restructuring costs in 1995, and the cumulative amounts charged against such 
accruals, is presented below.

                                    Initial                         March 31,
                                    Amounts      Asset      Cash     1996
                                    Accrued   Write-offs  Payments  Balance
                                    -------   ----------  --------  ---------
  Reserve for the write-down of
     phase-out inventories          $2,706     ($2,706)   $     -   $     -
  Employee termination benefits      1,580           -     (1,009)      571
  Exiting facilities-related
     obligations                     2,256           -       (985)    1,271
  Asset impairment & other             996        (815)         -       181
                                   ----------------------------------------

  Total                             $7,538     ($3,521)   ($1,994)   $2,023
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   ----------------------------------------



It is anticipated that the restructuring plan will continue through 1996.

INTEREST AND TAX PAYMENTS

Interest payments, primarily related to interest on capital lease 
liabilities, were $24,000 and $67,000 for the first three months of 1996 and 
1995, respectively.  Income tax payments were $34,000 for the first three 
months of 1995. There were no income tax payments for the first quarter of 
1996.

                                          7

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
THIS DISCUSSION INCLUDES FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO STATEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY'S FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE,
OPERATING RESULTS, PLANS AND OBJECTIVES, AND ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED DEPENDING UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED BELOW UNDER THE SUB-HEADING, "FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND
RISK FACTORS."
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
condensed consolidated interim financial statements and notes thereto included
in Part I -- Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and the audited consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto and Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended December 31,
1995 contained in the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
The Company designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware and software
products that provide information access to networks of heterogeneous computers.
During 1995, the Company took various actions to reorganize the two basic
components of its business into two separate business units: the Systems
business, consisting of the Company's network computers and related software;
and the Software business, consisting of its lines of PC connectivity software,
electronic messaging software and, initially, its Mariner Internet access
software. In addition, the Company took steps to consolidate the management and
sales organizations of the geographically separated segments of its Software
business and reoriented its software sales strategy toward the increased use of
distributors, value added resellers ("VARs") and other resellers.
During the third quarter of 1995, the Company began implementing a plan to
restructure its Systems business to improve its operating performance.  The plan
included substantial modifications to the Company's manufacturing processes,
phasing out lower margin products, a reduction in the amount of leased space
devoted to the conduct of the Systems business, and a reduction in the number of
employees engaged in Systems business activities.  During the third quarter of
1995, the Company recognized charges totaling $7.5 million for the
implementation of this plan, which will continue into 1996.  Included in these
restructuring charges were amounts related to the severance of personnel, phase-
out of certain products, and costs associated with the termination of lease
obligations.
In 1994, the Company began the development of Mariner, an Internet access and
navigation tool which it intended to market to large enterprises, as well as to
original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") and VARs. In January 1995, the Company
entered into a software development and licensing agreement with AT&T to develop
a custom version of Mariner for AT&T (the "AT&T Agreement").The AT&T Agreement
provided for total minimum royalties of $15 million through 1998, and
contemplated the development of additional Internet access products by NCD for
license to AT&T.  In September 1995, the AT&T Agreement was amended to provide
that the additional products would not be developed and that NCD would be paid
fees totaling $9 million through 1996 for development work completed at the time
of the amendment and for a license to evaluate the Mariner product. In 1995, the
Company recognized license fees totaling $6.8 million under the AT&T Agreement
and received $500,000 in fees for non-recurring engineering costs that offset
research and development expenses. In 1995, the Company also recognized revenues
of $300,000 from customers other than AT&T related to the Mariner product line.
The Company anticipates that approximately $1.7 million in additional revenues
associated with the AT&T Agreement will be recognized in 1996. In light of the
Company's inability to develop a long-term relationship with AT&T, as well as
other changes in the Internet market, including the development of intense price
competition among vendors of Internet access products, the Company in late 1995
determined to sell the Mariner product line and focus its attention on its core
business of providing desktop information access solutions for network computing
environments. In February 1996, the Company sold the Mariner product line to FTP
Software, Inc. ("FTP") for $9.8 million. NCD paid FTP a one-time license fee of
$2.5 million for the right to incorporate Mariner technology into future
versions of NCD's hardware and software products.  The net gain recognized on
this transaction was $7.0 million.
In February 1994, the Company acquired all the outstanding stock of Z-Code
Software Corp., a developer of electronic mail and messaging application
products for open system environments.  The Company's Z-mail electronic
messaging product line is currently part of the Company's Software business
unit.  In light of disappointing recent operating results, intensifying
competition in this market and other factors, the Company is evaluating various
options including the sale or discontinuation of the Z-Mail product line.


                                          8

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

TOTAL NET REVENUES

Total net revenues for the first quarter of 1996 were $30.4 million,
representing a decrease of 19% when compared with $37.5 million for the same
period of 1995.  The proportion of international revenues to total net revenues
has remained relatively comparable for the periods presented.
Sales to Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola"), which is deemed to be a related party due
to its ownership of approximately 9% of the Company's common stock, accounted
for 6% and 7% of the Company's total net revenues in the first quarters of 1996
and 1995, respectively.  Motorola is the Company's largest OEM customer and also
purchases the Company's products as an end user customer.  The Company does not
have a long-term sales contract with Motorola, which purchases products on as
as-needed basis to satisfy the requirements of its own customers as well as its
internal requirements.  The Company believes that sales to Motorola may decline
further during 1996, but is unable to predict future levels of sales to Motorola
over the longer term.  Substantial reductions in such sales levels could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operating results in future periods.

SYSTEMS REVENUES

Systems revenues consist primarily of revenues from the sale of  network
computers, or X terminals, and to a lesser extent, revenues from the licensing
of related network computing system software and the sale of customer support
services.  Systems revenues were $26.6 million for the first quarter of 1996,
compared to $32.6 for the first quarter of 1995, and $26.5 million for the 
fourth quarter of 1995.  The decline in Systems revenues from the first quarter 
of 1995 to the first quarter of 1996 was due to a combination of factors, 
including a decline in the overall market demand for network computer products 
during 1995, a decline in the average selling prices ("ASPs") of the Company's 
Systems products due to intense price competition, the introduction of 
lower-priced EXPLORA-Registered Trademark- network computers, and new product 
introductions by certain of the Company's competitors.  The slight increase in 
Systems revenues between the fourth quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 
1996 was related to volume.  However, the volume increases were substantially 
offset by lower ASPs due to changes in product mix reflecting increased sales 
of lower-priced Explora network computers.  The ASPs of these product are 
significantly lower than the ASPs of the Company's other Systems products, and 
the proportion of EXPLORA  units shipped to total units shipped increased 
significantly from the fourth quarter of 1995.  The Company believes that this 
trend may continue in the future.

SOFTWARE REVENUES

Software revenues consisted primarily of revenues from the licensing of PC
connectivity software and electronic mail and messaging software.  Prior to the
first quarter of 1996, Software revenues also included revenues from the
development and licensing of the Company's Mariner Internet connectivity
software  (which product line was sold in the first quarter of 1996).  Software
revenues were $3.8 million for the first quarter of 1996, a decrease of 23%
compared to the first quarter of 1995, and a decrease of  36% compared to the
fourth quarter of 1995.  The decline in software revenues between the first
quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 1996 was due to significant declines in
shipments across all Software product lines.  First quarter 1996 net revenues
included $426,000 associated with the AT&T Agreement, while no revenues related
to the AT&T Agreement were recognized during the first quarter of 1995.  The
Company anticipates that approximately $1.3 million in revenues associated with
the AT&T Agreement will be recognized throughout the remainder of 1996.
Although unit shipments of Software products increased from the fourth quarter
of 1995 to the first quarter of 1996, first quarter Software revenues declined
due to a larger proportion of sales to OEMs, which generally carry lower ASPs.
Revenues related to the Z-Mail electronic messaging product line, which the
Company is contemplating selling or discontinuing, were $572,000 in the first
quarter of 1996, a 51% decrease from the comparable quarter of 1995 and a 48%
decrease from the fourth quarter of 1995.  Exclusive of revenues related to the
AT&T Agreement and the Mariner and Z-mail product lines, Software revenues would
have declined by 25% compared to the first quarter of 1995 and increased by 36%
compared to the fourth quarter of 1995.

GROSS MARGIN ON SYSTEMS REVENUES

The Company's gross profit margin on Systems revenues was 20%, 30% and 30% 
for the first quarter of 1996, and the first and fourth quarters of 1995, 
respectively.  The decline in Systems gross margin was primarily due to 
heavier price discounting as a result of intense price competition, the 
increased sale of lower priced, lower-margin EXPLORA network computers, and 
increases in certain component costs.  The Company expects Systems gross 
margins to continue to be affected by these factors during the balance of 
1996.

                                          9

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

GROSS MARGIN ON SOFTWARE REVENUES

The Company's gross profit margin on Software revenues was 78% for the first
quarter of 1996, compared to 88% for the first quarter of 1995 and 87% for the
fourth quarter of 1995, reflecting lower revenues taken over proportionately
greater costs, primarily related to the amortization of capitalized software
development costs.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $4.1 million and $3.0 million for
the first quarters of 1996 and 1995, respectively.  The increase represented
increases in personnel and facilities costs for the Company's Software business
units.  Fourth quarter 1995 R&D expenses were $3.6 million.  The increase from
the fourth quarter of 1995 to the first quarter of 1996 was attributable to
increases in the engineering staff for all Software product lines.
Approximately $525,000 of such expenses related to the Company's former Internet
connectivity business unit that was sold during the first quarter of 1996, and
the expenses incurred related to this business unit will not continue in the
future.  As a percentage of net revenues, R&D expenses increased to 14% for the
first quarter of 1996 from 8% for the first quarter of 1995, reflecting the
combined impact of increased spending and lower net revenues.  The Company plans
to continue investing in research and development in order to improve its
competitive position in the market.  However, the amount of such expenses may
fluctuate in future periods.

MARKETING AND SELLING

Marketing and selling expenses were $9.6 million, $8.9 million, and $8.7 million
for the first quarters of 1996 and 1995, and the fourth quarter of 1995,
respectively.  The increases in the first quarter of 1996 were primarily related
to higher staffing costs associated with increased personnel and higher
promotional costs.  As a percentage of total net revenues, marketing and selling
expenses were 31%, 24%, and 27% for the first quarters of 1996 and 1995, and the
fourth quarter of 1995, respectively, reflecting the combined impact of
increased spending and lower net revenues.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses were $2.5 million and $2.0 million
for the first quarters of 1996 and 1995, respectively, and $2.4 million for the
fourth quarter of 1995.  The increase from the fourth quarter of 1995 to the
first quarter of 1996 were primarily related to the write-off in the first
quarter of 1996 of a note receivable from a customer for approximately $450,000,
which was partially offset by reductions in the use of outside consultants and a
reduction in staffing costs.  When compared to the first quarter of 1995, the
increase in first quarter 1996 expenses was due primarily to the aforementioned
write-off of a customer note receivable.  As a percentage of net revenues, G&A
expenses increased to 8% in the first quarter of 1996 from 5% in the first
quarter of 1995, and 7% in the fourth quarter of 1995, and resulted from the
combined impact of increased expenses and lower revenues.

OTHER INCOME

Other income includes interest income, net of interest expense.  The increase in
first quarter 1996 interest income, net, over first quarter 1995 was due
primarily to lower interest expense incurred on declining capital lease
obligation balances.

GAIN ON SALE OF PRODUCT LINE

The gain on the sale of the product line for the first quarter of 1996
represents the net gain recognized on the Company's sale of the Mariner product
line.

INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded an income tax benefit during the first quarter of 1996 
of $189,000 due to a loss incurred during that quarter. This compares to an 
income tax provision of $163,000 during the first quarter of 1995.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Total assets as of March 31, 1996 increased by $1.5 million, or two percent, 
from December 31, 1995.  The change in total assets principally reflects an 
increase in inventories of $5.3 million.  The increase in inventories was 
partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $2.0 million, and 
decreases in the combined balances of cash and short-term investments used for 
inventory purchases.  Cash balances were positively affected by $7.3 million 
related to the sale of the Company's Mariner product line.

                                          10

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

Total liabilities as of March 31, 1996 increased by $0.7 million, or two
percent, from December 31, 1995.  The increase was primarily associated with
higher accounts payable balances related to increased inventories, partially
offset by slight decreases in accrued expenses and capital lease obligations.

LIQUIDITY

At March 31, 1996, the Company's primary sources of liquidity consisted of
combined cash and equivalents and short-term investments totalling $33.5
million.  The Company has a $7.0 million bank line of credit;  however, as a
result of its loss for the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company is in
default under certain financial covenants in its agreement as of
March 31, 1996, and accordingly, its line of credit was unavailable.
The Company believes that its existing sources of liquidity are sufficient to
meet operating cash requirements and capital lease repayment obligations at
least through the next twelve months.

FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND RISK FACTORS

THE COMPANY'S FUTURE BUSINESS, OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION ARE
SUBJECT TO VARIOUS RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED BELOW.

EVOLVING NETWORK COMPUTING MARKET

The Company derives a majority of its revenues from the sale of network computer
products, or X terminals, and related software. During the past several years,
the Company and other manufacturers of network computing systems and products
have experienced intense competition from alternative desktop computing
products, particularly personal computers, which has slowed the growth and
development of the network computing market. Until recently, the absence of X
protocol support from Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft"), combined with the
proliferation of off-the-shelf Windows-based application software, constituted
an obstacle to the expansion of the network computing model into Windows-based
environments. The introduction of the Company's WinCenter Pro multi-user Windows
application server software and new, lower-priced network computers have allowed
the Company to offer network computing systems that provide users with access to
Windows applications, although sales of these new products have been limited to
date. The Company's future success will depend in substantial part upon
increased acceptance of the network computing model and the successful marketing
of the Company's new network computing products. There can be no assurance that
the Company's new network computing products will compete successfully with
alternative desktop solutions or that the network computing model will be widely
adopted in the rapidly evolving desktop computer market. The failure of new
markets to develop for the Company's network computing products would have a
material, adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition. See "Item 1. Business - Industry Background" and "Business
- - - Markets and Applications" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1995.

COMPETITION

The desktop computer and information access markets are characterized by rapidly
changing technology and evolving industry standards. The Company experiences
significant competition from other network computer manufacturers, suppliers of
personal computers and workstations and software developers. Competition within
the network computing market has intensified over the past several years,
resulting in price reductions, reduced profit margins and the loss of the
Company's leading market share position in the X terminal market. This
competition has adversely affected the Company's operating results. In addition,
intense competition from alternative desktop computing products, particularly
personal computers, has resulted in a reduction in demand for X terminal
products. The Company expects this intense competition to continue and there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to compete
successfully against current and future competitors as the desktop computer
market evolves and competition increases. The Company's software products also
face substantial competition from software vendors that offer similar products,
including several large software companies. See "ltem 1. Business - Competition"
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1995.


                                          11

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS

The Company's operating results have varied significantly, particularly on a
quarterly basis, as a result of a number of factors, including general economic
conditions affecting industry demand for computer products, the timing and
market acceptance of new product introductions by the Company and its
competitors, the timing of significant orders from and shipments to large
customers, periodic changes in product pricing and discounting due to
competitive factors, and the availability and pricing of key components, such as
video monitors, integrated circuits and electronic sub-assemblies, some of which
require substantial order lead times. The Company's operating results may
fluctuate in the future as a result of these and other factors, including the
Company's success in developing and introducing new products, its product and
customer mix, the level of competition which it experiences and its ability to
develop and maintain strategic business alliances. In addition, the Company
operates with a relatively small backlog. Revenues and operating results
therefore generally depend on the volume and timing of orders received which are
difficult to forecast and which may occur disproportionately during any given
quarter or year. The Company's expense levels are based in part on its forecast
of future revenues. If revenues are below expectations, the Company's operating
results may be adversely affected. The Company has experienced an increasingly
disproportionate amount of shipments occurring in the last month of its fiscal
quarters. This trend increases the risk of material quarter-to-quarter
fluctuations in the Company's revenues and operating results. In the past, the
Company has experienced reduced orders during the first and third quarters due
to buying patterns common in the computer industry. In addition, sales in Europe
have been adversely affected in the third calendar quarter, when many European
customers reduce their business activities.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND TIMELY INTRODUCTION OF NEW AND ENHANCED PRODUCTS

The markets for the Company's products are characterized by rapidly changing
technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions
and short product life cycles. The Company's future results will depend to a
considerable extent on its ability to continuously develop, introduce and
deliver in quantity new hardware and software products that offer its customers
enhanced performance at competitive prices. The development and introduction of
new products is a complex and uncertain process requiring substantial financial
resources and high levels of innovation, accurate anticipation of technological
and market trends and the successful and timely completion of product
development. Once a hardware product is developed, the Company must rapidly
bring it into volume production, a process that requires accurate forecasting of
customer requirements in order to achieve acceptable manufacturing costs. The
introduction of new or enhanced products also requires the Company to manage the
transition from older, displaced products in order to minimize disruption to
customer ordering patterns, avoid excessive levels of older product inventories
and insure that adequate supplies of new products can be delivered to meet
customer demand. As the Company is continuously engaged in this product
development and transition process, its operating results may be subject to
considerable fluctuation, particularly when measured on a quarterly basis. The
inability to finance important research and development projects, delays in the
introduction of new and enhanced products, the failure of such products to gain
market acceptance, or problems associated with new product transitions could
adversely affect the Company's operating results. See "Item 1. Business -
Industry Background" and "Business - Research and Development" in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

RELIANCE ON INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTORS AND RESELLERS

 The Company relies substantially on independent distributors and resellers for
the marketing and distribution of its products, particularly its Software
products. During 1995, the Company consolidated its Software sales operations by
creating a single organization devoted to the sale of the Company's PC
connectivity and messaging software and re-oriented its Software sales strategy
toward the increased use of distributors, VARs and other resellers. In late 1995
and early 1996, the Company has experienced significant returns of its Software
products from its distributors. There can be no assurance that the Company will
not continue to experience similar problems. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the Company's distributors and resellers will continue their
current relationships with the Company or that they will not give higher
priority to the sale of other products, which could include products of the
Company's competitors. A reduction in sales effort or discontinuance of sales of
the Company's products by its distributors and resellers could lead to reduced
sales and could adversely affect the Company's operating results. In addition,
there can be no assurance as to the continued viability or the financial
stability of the Company's distributors and resellers, the Company's ability to
retain its existing distributors and resellers or the Company's ability to add
distributors and resellers in the future. See "Item 1. Business - Marketing and
Sales" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1995.


                                          12

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

RELIANCE ON INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

The Company relies on independent contractors for virtually all of the sub-
assembly of the Company's network computer products. The Company's reliance
on these independent contractors limits its control over delivery schedules,
quality assurance and product costs. In addition, a number of the Company's
independent suppliers are located abroad. The Company's reliance on these
foreign suppliers subjects the Company to risks such as the imposition of
unfavorable governmental controls or other trade restrictions, changes in
tariffs and political instability. The Company currently obtains all of the sub-
assemblies used for its network computer products (consisting of all major
components except monitors and cables) from a single supplier located in
Thailand. Any significant interruption in the supply of sub-assemblies from this
contractor would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
operating results. Disruptions in the provision of components by the Company's
other suppliers, or other events that would require the Company to seek
alternate sources of supply, could also lead to supply constraints or delays in
delivery of the Company's products and adversely affect its operating results.
The operations of certain of the Company's foreign suppliers were briefly
disrupted during 1992 due to political instability in Thailand. See "Item. 1.
Business - Manufacturing and Supplies" in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

INTERNATIONAL SALES

A majority of the Company's international sales are denominated in U.S. dollars,
and an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies
could make the Company's products less competitive in those markets. Over the
past two years, a significant portion of international revenues have been
derived from sales to a customer in the United Kingdom that have been
denominated in pound sterling and sales denominated in foreign currencies may
increase in the future. These sales are subject to exchange rate fluctuations
which could affect the Company's operating results negatively or positively,
depending on the value of the U.S. dollar against the other currency. Where the
Company believes foreign currency-denominated sales could pose significant
exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, the Company acquires forward exchange
contracts in an effort to reduce such exposure. International sales and
operations may also be subject to risks such as the imposition of governmental
controls, export license requirements, restrictions on the export of technology,
political instability, trade restrictions, changes in tariffs and difficulties
in staffing and managing international operations and managing accounts
receivable. In addition, the laws of certain countries do not protect the
Company's products and intellectual property rights to the same extent as the
laws of the United States. There can be no assurance that these factors will not
have an adverse effect on the Company's future international sales and,
consequently, on the Company's operating results.

DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

The Company's success depends to a significant degree upon the continuing
contributions of its senior management and other key employees. Recently, Robert
G. Gilbertson was appointed to the position of President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.  Moreover, partially as a consequence of the
restructuring of its business in 1995, the Company has experienced significant
turnover of management personnel, particularly in its finance, procurement,
manufacturing, and sales organizations. The Company believes that its future
success will also depend in large part on its ability to attract and retain
highly-skilled engineering, managerial, sales and marketing personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that
the Company will be successful in attracting, integrating and retaining such
personnel. Failure to attract and retain key personnel could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results or financial
condition.


                                          13

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE

The market price of the Company's common stock has fluctuated significantly over
the past several years and is subject to material fluctuations in the future in
response to announcements concerning the Company or its competitors or
customers, quarterly variations in operating results, announcements of
technological innovations, the introduction of new products or changes in
product pricing policies by the Company or its competitors, general conditions
in the computer industry, developments in the financial markets and other
factors. In particular, shortfalls in the Company's quarterly operating results
from historical levels or from levels forecast by securities analysts could have
an adverse effect on the trading price of the common stock. The Company may not
be able to quantify such a quarterly shortfall until the end of the quarter,
which could result in an immediate and adverse effect on the common stock price.
In addition, the stock market has, from time to time, experienced extreme price
and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices for
technology companies and which have been unrelated to the operating performance
of the affected companies. Broad market fluctuations of this type may adversely
affect the future market price of the Company's common stock.


                                          14

<PAGE>


                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                             PART II - OTHER INFORMATION



ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Reference is made to "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" in the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 for a description of
litigation pending against the Company and certain of its officers and
directors.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) The following exhibits are filed herewith:

    Exhibit 10.41  Asset Purchase Agreement dated February 20, 1996 by and
                   between the Registrant and FTP Software, Inc.

    Exhibit 11.1   Statement Regarding Computation of Shares Used in Earnings
                   per Share Computations.

    Exhibit 27     Financial Data Schedule

(b) The Company filed no reports on Form 8-K during the three-month period
ended March 31, 1996.


                                          15

<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                                      SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.



                             Network Computing Devices, Inc.
                                     (Registrant)

Date:  May 28, 1996

                             By:


                                   /s/ JACK A. BRADLEY
                             ---------------------------------------------
                             Jack A. Bradley
                             Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial
                             Officer (Duly Authorized and Principal Financial
                             and Accounting Officer)


                                          16

<PAGE>
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                     AMONG

                       NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.,

                     NCD SOFTWARE CORPORATION, AS SELLERS

                                      AND

                             FTP SOFTWARE, INC.,
                                  AS BUYER


                         Dated as of February 20, 1996


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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


ARTICLE 1.  DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                                                                             
     1.1  Cross Reference Table. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
     1.2  Other Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.3  Knowledge of a Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     1.4  Rules of Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                                                                             
ARTICLE 2.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
                                                                             
     2.1  Transfer of Assets to Buyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     2.2  Excluded Assets.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     2.3  Assumption of Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     2.4  Purchase Price; Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
                                                                             
ARTICLE 3.  THE CLOSING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
                                                                             
     3.1  Time and Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     3.2  Sellers' Obligations at Closing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     3.3  Buyer's Obligations at Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
                                                                             
ARTICLE 4.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS. . . . . . . . . . . .  12
                                                                             
     4.1  Organization; Power and Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     4.2  Authorization and Enforceability.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     4.3  Effect of Agreement; Consents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     4.4  The Assets.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     4.5  Contracts, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
     4.6  Intellectual Property Rights.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     4.7  Software.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
     4.8  Financial Information and Customer Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
     4.9  Compliance with Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     4.10 Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     4.11 Environmental Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     4.12 Employee Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
     4.13 Employee Benefits Plans, Etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
     4.14 AT&T Agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     4.15 Restrictive Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     4.16 Relationships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     4.17 No Broker's or Finder's Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     4.18 Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
     4.19  Books and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22

<PAGE>

     4.20 Affiliated Transactions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     4.21 No Insolvency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     4.22 Representations Complete.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     4.23 Accrued Vacation Liabilities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
     4.24 Governmental Permits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
                                                                             
ARTICLE 5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER. . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
                                                                             
     5.1  Organization; Power and Standing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     5.2  Authorization and Enforceability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     5.3  Conflicts, etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     5.4  Consents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
     5.5  No Broker's or Finder's Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
                                                                             
ARTICLE 6.  CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
                                                                             
     6.1  Payment of Taxes and Other Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     6.2  Allocation of Purchase Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     6.3  Employee Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
     6.4  Assertion of Other Sellers' Patents Against Buyer. . . . . . . . .  25
     6.5  Support Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
     6.6  Cross-Guarantee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
                                                                             
ARTICLE 7.  CONFIDENTIALITY; NONCOMPETITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
                                                                             
     7.1  Confidentiality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
     7.2  Residuals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
     7.3  Noncompetition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
     7.4  Enforcement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
                                                                             
ARTICLE 8.  CONDITIONS TO CLOSING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
                                                                             
     8.1  Conditions to Buyer's Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
     8.2  Conditions to Sellers' Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
                                                                             
ARTICLE 9.  INDEMNIFICATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
                                                                             
     9.1  Indemnification by Sellers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
     9.2  Indemnification by Buyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
     9.3  Survival of Representations and Warranties.. . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     9.4  Notification of Claims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
     9.5  Limitations on Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33

                                      ii


<PAGE>

ARTICLE 10.  MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34

     10.1   Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     10.2   Notices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
     10.3   Choice of Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     10.4   Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     10.5   Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     10.6   Binding Effect; Third Parties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     10.7   Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
     10.8   Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     10.9   Publicity; Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     10.10  Amendments; Waivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
     10.11  Further Assurances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36

                                     iii
 

<PAGE>

                          ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is entered into as of
February 20, 1996, by and among Network Computing Devices, Inc., a California
corporation ("NCD"), NCD Software Corporation, a California corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of NCD ("NCD SOFTWARE") (NCD and NCD Software are
sometimes collectively referred to herein as "SELLERS"), and FTP Software, Inc.,
a Massachusetts corporation ("BUYER").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Sellers are engaged, among other things, in the business of the
development and sale of the Mariner software product (the "MARINER BUSINESS");

     WHEREAS, Sellers desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase
from Sellers, the Assets (as hereinafter defined), on the terms and subject to
the conditions hereinafter set forth;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.

                                  DEFINITIONS

     1.1  CROSS REFERENCE TABLE.  The following terms are defined elsewhere in
this Agreement in the Sections set forth below and shall have the respective
meanings specified therein:

"ACCRUED EMPLOYEE LIABILITIES"       Section 2.3
"ACCRUED VACATION LIABILITIES"       Section 6.3(b)
"AGREEMENT"                          Preamble
"ASSETS"                             Section 2.1
"ASSUMED LIABILITIES"                Section 2.3
"AT&T AGREEMENTS"                    Section 4.14
"BUYER"                              Preamble
"BUYER EMPLOYEES"                    Section 6.3
"CLOSING"                            Section 3.1
"CLOSING DATE"                       Section 3.1 
"CONTRACTS"                          Section 2.1(e)

                                     
<PAGE>

"COPYRIGHTS"                         Section 2.1(a)
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES"               Article 4
"GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS"               Section 4.24
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"                  Section 9.4
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY"                 Section 9.4
"LICENSE AGREEMENT"                  Section 8.1(i)
"MARINER BUSINESS"                   Recitals 
"MARINER EMPLOYEES"                  Section 4.12
"NCD"                                Preamble
"NCD SOFTWARE"                       Preamble
"NON-TRANSFERRED TANGIBLE PROPERTY"  Section 2.1(i)
"OTHER INFORMATION"                  Section 2.1(f)
"PATENT APPLICATION"                 Section 4.6(g)
"PATENT RIGHTS"                      Section 2.1(b)
"PLANS"                              Section 4.13(b)
"PROPRIETARY INFORMATION"            Section 7.1
"PURCHASE PRICE"                     Section 2.4
"RESIDUAL INFORMATION"               Section 7.2
"SELLERS"                            Preamble
"SOFTWARE"                           Section 4.7(a)
"TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY"         Section 2.1(i)
"TECHNICAL INFORMATION"              Section 2.1(c)
"TRADE RIGHTS"                       Section 2.1(d)
"TRANSFERABLE GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS"  Section 2.1(g)

     1.2  OTHER DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following respective meanings:  

     "ACTION"  shall mean any action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or
investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.

     "AFFILIATE"  shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control
with the specified Person.

     "ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS" shall mean all agreements, certificates and other
documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby excluding the Master Agreement and License
Agreement.

     "CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any
contract, agreement, purchase order, deed, mortgage, lease, license, other
instrument, commitment, undertaking, arrangement or understanding, written or
oral, or other document, including, without limitation, any document or
instrument evidencing 

                                       2

<PAGE>

indebtedness, to which or by which such Person is a party or otherwise subject 
or bound or to which or by which any property or right of such Person is 
subject or bound that relates in any material way to the Mariner Business.

     "DERIVATIVE WORK" shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 101
of the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, 17 U.S.C. Section 101.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean any and all applicable Legal Requirements
pertaining to the environment or occupational health and safety in effect on the
date of this Agreement or on the Closing Date, including, without limitation,
the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended ("CERCLA"), the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act, as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
as amended ("RCRA"), the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended, the Toxic
Substances Control Act, as amended, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as
amended ("OSHA"), the Pollution Prevention Act, the Endangered Species Act, the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Oil Pollution Act, comparable
foreign, state and local Legal Requirements and other similar environmental or
occupational health and safety protection Legal Requirements. 

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

     "EXCLUDED ASSETS" shall mean all properties and assets of Sellers that are
not included in the Assets, including, without limitation: (a) all cash and cash
equivalents, (b) all of Sellers' accounts and notes receivable, (c) the Non-
Transferred Tangible Property and (d) certain items listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(a).

     "EXCLUDED LIABILITIES" shall mean all obligations, indebtedness and
liabilities of Sellers that are not expressly assumed by Buyer pursuant to
Section 2.3(a), including without limitation the obligations and liabilities
listed in Section 2.3(b).

     "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" shall mean any domestic and foreign jurisdiction
in which NCD has developed or sold the Assets, any state, province, ken,
territory, county, city, municipality and any subdivision thereof, any court,
any administrative or regulatory agency, commission, department or body or other
governmental authority or instrumentality or any entity or Person exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.

     "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" shall mean any hazardous substance, hazardous or
solid waste, pollutant, contaminant or toxic chemical, as such terms are defined
in or regulated pursuant to CERCLA, RCRA or OSHA (each as defined in the
definition of Environmental Laws), or any applicable Legal Requirement having a
broader meaning.

                                       3

<PAGE>

     "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS" shall mean all Copyrights, Patent Rights,
Technical Information and Trade Rights.

     "LEGAL REQUIREMENT" shall mean any domestic and foreign jurisdiction in
which NCD has developed or sold the Assets, state, provincial or local law,
statute, standard, ordinance, code, order, rule, regulation, resolution or
promulgation, or any order, judgment or decree of any court, arbitrator,
tribunal or other Governmental Authority, or any license, franchise, permit or
similar right granted under any of the foregoing, or any similar provision
having the force and effect of law as in effect on or prior to the Closing Date.

     "LETTER OF INTENT" shall mean the letter agreement dated as of January 15,
1996 between Buyer and NCD.

     "LIEN" shall mean any encumbrance, mortgage, pledge, lien, claim, option,
charge or other security interest of any kind.

     "LOSSES" shall mean any and all liabilities, claims, damages, losses
(including without limitation any diminution in value), fines, penalties, fees,
obligations, payments (including, without limitation, those arising out of any
demand, assessment, settlement, judgment or compromise relating to any Action),
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and any
and all other expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing for or
defending any Action or threatened Action).

     Any event or matter specified or referred to in this Agreement shall be
considered "MATERIAL", or a standard of materiality achieved with respect
thereto, if the liability or obligation of the Person affected thereby does or
would exceed $5,000 or if the event or matter would affect the operations,
business, assets or prospects of such Person by more than $5,000.

     "ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS" shall mean (i) with respect to a Person that is
a corporation, the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of
association and bylaws or other organizational and governing documents of such
Person and (ii) with respect to a Person that is a partnership, joint venture or
other entity, the partnership agreement, joint venture agreement or other
organizational and governing documents of such Person.

     "PERSON" shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, joint
venture, association, trust, estate, unincorporated organization or entity, and
any Governmental Authority.

     "PRODUCTS" shall mean the Mariner software and accompanying documentation
described on SCHEDULE 1.2.

                                       4

<PAGE>

     "TECHNOLOGY" shall mean, with respect to each Product, all technical
information  whether tangible or intangible, including without limitation any:
data; designs; calculations; computer source codes (human readable format) and
executables and object codes (machine readable format); specifications; test and
installation, instructions; service and maintenance notes; technical, operating
and service and maintenance manuals; user documentation; training materials; and
other data, information and know-how; in each case which are in the possession
of, owned by or licensed to Sellers and are necessary or desirable to enhance,
develop, manufacture, assemble, service, maintain, install, operate, use or test
the Products.

     1.3  KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTY.  Whenever reference is made to the knowledge or
best knowledge of a party hereto, it is understood that (a) the party has made,
or caused to be made by personnel or representatives reasonably competent to
determine the accuracy thereof (and the results thereof reported to such party),
an inquiry that is reasonably appropriate to determine the accuracy of the
statement in question and (b) such term shall include the actual knowledge of
any director (other than the outside directors listed on SCHEDULE 1.3) or
officer of such party or any other management employee of such party with
substantial sole or shared operational responsibility relating to the subject
matter.  If such investigation has been made, the knowledge of any employee
(other than the employee(s) making the investigation and other than the persons
described in clause (b) of the immediately preceding sentence) of a party shall
not be imputed to the party.

     1.4  RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.  The following rules of construction shall be
applicable for all purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires.
     
               (a)  The terms "HEREBY", "HEREIN", "HEREOF", "HERETO",
     "HEREUNDEr" and any similar terms shall refer to this Agreement, and the
     term "HEREAFTER" shall mean after, and the term "HERETOFORE" shall mean
     before, the date of this Agreement.
     
               (b)  Words importing the singular number shall mean and include
     the plural number and vice versa.
     
               (c)  The terms "INCLUDE", "INCLUDING" and similar terms shall be
     construed as if followed by the phrase "WITHOUT BEING LIMITED TO", and the
     term "OR" shall be construed in the inclusive sense.
     
               (d)  All references in this Agreement to numbered Articles,
     Sections, Schedules and Exhibits are references to the Articles and
     Sections of this Agreement and the Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement
     (which are and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement).

                                       5

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 2.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF ASSETS

     2.1  TRANSFER OF ASSETS TO BUYER.  Upon the terms, subject to the
conditions and in reliance upon the representations, warranties and covenants
set forth in this Agreement, each Seller shall, at the Closing, sell, assign,
transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from such Seller
all of Sellers' right, title and interest in and to the following (collectively,
the "ASSETS"), free and clear of any and all Liens:

          (a)  COPYRIGHTS.  All of such Seller's worldwide rights and interests
existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing Date in and
to all copyrights (whether or not registered) which relate to the Products or
the Technology or are otherwise required, and all registrations, applications
for registration and licenses therefor, together with all ancillary rights
thereto, including the right to sue for damages by reason of past infringement
of any such rights (collectively, the "COPYRIGHTS"), and excluding only the
items listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(a).

          (b)  PATENTS.  All of such Seller's worldwide rights and interests, if
any, existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing Date in
and to the United States patent application entitled "Integrated Network Access
User Interface System and Method," Number 08/401-183, any foreign counterparts
of such application; any patents issuing on the foregoing application; any
divisions, substitutions, re-examinations, and continuations thereof; and all
reissues, renewals and extensions thereof and licenses therefor, together with
all ancillary rights thereto, including the right to sue for damages by reason
of past infringement of any such rights (collectively, the "PATENT RIGHTS"). 
Continuations-in-part of the foregoing application and patents issuing on such
continuations-in-part, patents of addition, and all reissues, renewals and
extensions of such patents and patents of addition, shall also be within the
Patent Rights, to the extent the same claim subject matter was disclosed in the
foregoing application or any foreign counterparts thereof.

          (c)  TECHNICAL INFORMATION.  All of such Seller's worldwide rights and
interests existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing
Date in and to all Technology and all other trade secrets and know-how which (x)
substantially relate to the Products and have ever been used by Sellers in the
Mariner Business and/or (y) are otherwise reasonably necessary for Buyer to
conduct the Mariner Business after the Closing in the manner presently conducted
by Sellers, together with all ancillary rights thereto, including the right to
sue for damages by reason of past infringement of any such rights (collectively,
the "TECHNICAL INFORMATION").  Sellers hereby grant to Buyer a worldwide,
perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully paid, royalty free, transferable,
assignable license, including the right to sublicense, to any 

                                       6

<PAGE>

Technical Information which tangentially relates to the Product or the Mariner 
Business but is not otherwise transferred to Buyer by this subsection 2.1(c).

          (d)  TRADEMARKS, ETC.  All of such Seller's worldwide rights and
interests existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing
Date in and to all trademarks, common law trademarks, trade names, service
marks, common law service marks, service names, slogans and any abbreviations or
variations thereof, which relate to or are used in connection with the Products
and all goodwill associated therewith, and all registrations, applications for
registration and licenses therefor, together with all ancillary rights thereto,
including the right to sue for damages by reason of past infringement of any
such rights (collectively, the "TRADE RIGHTS") except as set forth in SCHEDULE
2.1(d).  Seller hereby grants Buyer a non-exclusive, fully-paid, worldwide,
royalty free license, for six (6) months from the date of this Agreement to use
the Marathon icon as used in the Products; provided that Buyer agrees to provide
Sellers from time to time with samples of Buyer's use of such mark and to use
and reproduce such mark only in compliance with such reasonable quality
standards as Sellers may establish consistent with Sellers' current use.

          (e)  CONTRACTS.  All claims and rights of such Seller in respect of
the Products existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing
Date under its contracts with licensors, licensees, manufacturers, distributors,
dealers, sales representatives and other independent sales persons, identified
on SCHEDULE 2.1(e) (such contracts are collectively referred to herein as the
"CONTRACTS") and such other contracts of the nature described above as may be
entered into prior to the Closing and which Buyer shall either (i) agree to
assume in writing after such contract has been entered into or (ii) approve in
writing in advance of such Seller's entering into such contract.

          (f)  OTHER INFORMATION.  All of such Seller's lists of present and
former customers and suppliers, sales and marketing materials, research and
development records and tools, business plans, records and documents in any and
all formats existing on the date hereof or acquired on or prior to the Closing
Date which (x) substantially relate to the Products and have ever been used by
Sellers in the Mariner Business and/or (y) are otherwise reasonably necessary
for Buyer to conduct the Mariner Business after the Closing in the manner
presently conducted by Sellers (collectively, "OTHER INFORMATION"). 

          (g)  GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS.  All of such Seller's transferable
interests in and to the licenses, permits, filings, authorizations, approvals or
indicia of authority which are listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(g) (collectively,
"TRANSFERABLE GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS").

                                       7

<PAGE>

          (h)  SOFTWARE; DOCUMENTATION.  All software codebases, paper and
magnetic media embodying the Products (in source code and object code formats),
and all user, technical and maintenance documentation relating to any of the
Products that are in the possession of or under the control of such Seller or
any of such Seller's agents, contractors or employees.

          (i)  TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.  The equipment and other personal
property owned or held by such Seller and used or held for use by ten or more of
Sellers' employees in connection with the Mariner Business, and listed on
SCHEDULE 2.1(i)(a) (the "TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY"), excluding a proportionate
amount of such equipment and other personal property should fewer than ten of
Sellers' employees accept Buyer's offer of employment listed on SCHEDULE
2.1(i)(b) (the "NON-TRANSFERRED TANGIBLE PROPERTY").

          (j)  GOODWILL.  All goodwill associated with the Assets or the Mariner
Business.

          (k)  OTHER ASSETS.  All other tangible and intangible assets which (x)
substantially relate to the Products and have ever been used by Sellers in the
Mariner Business and/or (y) are otherwise reasonably necessary for Buyer to
conduct the Mariner Business after the Closing in the manner presently conducted
by Sellers which are not Excluded Assets; provided that third party software
contained on hard disk drives transferred to Buyers, if any, is provided "as-
is".  Sellers hereby grant to Buyer a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable,
non-exclusive, fully paid, royalty free, transferable, assignable license,
including the right to sublicense, to any other intangible assets which
tangentially relate to the Product or the Mariner Business but are not otherwise
transferred to Buyer by this subsection 2.1(k); provided that third party
software contained on hard disk drives transferred to Buyers, if any, is
provided "as-is".

     2.2  EXCLUDED ASSETS.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
Sellers shall retain all of their respective rights, title and interest in and
to, and Buyer shall acquire no interest in, the Excluded Assets except as set
forth in the License Agreement.

     2.3  ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES.

          (a)  Buyer shall assume from Sellers and agrees to pay, perform or
discharge, as appropriate, the following liabilities and obligations
(collectively, the "ASSUMED LIABILITIES"): (1) Sellers' obligations listed on
SCHEDULE 2.3(a)(1); (2) except as provided in Section 2.3(b)(1),  Sellers'
obligations arising or to be performed after the Closing under the Contracts and
the Transferable Governmental Permits, but only to the extent the Contracts and
the Transferable Governmental Permits are assigned to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement; and (3) all obligations of Sellers to the Buyer 

                                       8

<PAGE>

Employees for accrued sick pay, sabbaticals, bonuses and Accrued Vacation 
Liabilities, which amounts for each Buyer Employee are listed on SCHEDULE 
2.3(a)(2) (collectively, the "ACCRUED EMPLOYEE LIABILITIES"), provided that the 
aggregate amount of such Accrued Employee Liabilities as of the Closing Date 
shall be deducted from the purchase price for the Assets pursuant to Section 
2.4 hereof.
     
          (b)  Buyer shall assume and be subject to no liabilities or
obligations of Sellers except for the Assumed Liabilities to be assumed by Buyer
pursuant to Section 2.3(b).  Set forth below are certain liabilities or
obligations that, without limitation, are expressly not assumed by Buyer and are
included in the Excluded Liabilities:

          (1)  all liabilities or obligations arising from any breach or default
     outstanding at the Closing Date under any Contract or resulting from any
     event occurring before the Closing Date which, with the giving of notice or
     the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default under any
     Contract;

          (2)  all obligations, indebtedness and liabilities of Sellers to any
     shareholder of any Seller or any of such shareholder's Affiliates;

          (3)  all obligations, indebtedness and liabilities (other than the
     Accrued Employee Liabilities to be assumed by Buyer pursuant to Section
     2.3(a)) of Sellers to their current or former employees relating to their
     employment with Sellers or resulting from the termination of their
     employment with Sellers; 

          (4)  other than as set forth in Section 6.1, any liability or
     obligation of Sellers for income, franchise, transfer, sales, use and other
     taxes;

          (5)  other than as set forth in Section 6.1, any liability of Sellers
     for the unpaid taxes of any Person including taxes imposed on Sellers, as a
     transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise;

          (6)  any liability or obligation of Sellers for taxes relating to
     Seller's business, whether or not incurred prior to the Closing;

          (7)  any liability or obligation of Sellers to indemnify any Person
     (including any Seller) by reason of the fact that such Person was a
     director, officer, employee or agent of any Seller or was serving at the
     request of such entity as a partner, trustee, director, officer, employee,
     or agent of another entity;

          (8)  subject to the provisions of Article 9, any liability or
     obligation of Sellers arising as a result of any legal or equitable action
     or judicial or administrative proceeding initiated at any time in respect
     of anything done, 

                                       9

<PAGE>

     suffered to be done or omitted to be done by Sellers or any of their 
     directors, officers, employees or agents;

          (9)  any liability of Sellers for costs and expenses incurred by them
     in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
     

          (10) any liability or obligation of Sellers incurred by them in
     connection with the making or performance of this Agreement;

          (11) any liability or obligation of Sellers for products manufactured
     or services rendered by Sellers prior to the Closing Date other than
     obligations under the Contracts included in the Assumed Liabilities;

          (12) any liability or obligation of Sellers arising out of any Plan
     established or maintained by Sellers or to which any Seller contributes or
     any liability for the termination of any such Plan;

          (13) other than the Accrued Employee Liabilities, any liability or
     obligation of Sellers for making payments or providing benefits of any kind
     to their respective employees or former employees, including without
     limitation, (A) as a result of the sale of the Assets or as a result of the
     termination by either Seller of any employees, (B) any obligation to
     provide former employees of Sellers so-called COBRA continuation coverage,
     (C) any liability or obligation in respect of medical and other benefits
     for existing and future retirees, and (D) any liability or obligation in
     respect of work-related employee injuries or worker's compensation claims;

          (14) any liability of Sellers pertaining to their business and arising
     out of or resulting from noncompliance prior to the Closing Date with any
     Legal Requirement, including without limitation, Environmental Laws;

          (15) any liability or obligation of Sellers under any leases,
     contracts, or agreements not listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(e), including without
     limitation the AT&T Agreements; and

          (16) any liability or obligation of Sellers arising out of (a) any
     Hazardous Materials existing at any real property owned, leased, or used by
     the Sellers, at or prior to the Closing, or (b) the use, storage,
     manufacture, processing, emission, discharge, disposal, sale, or exposure
     of any person to a Hazardous Material in connection with Sellers' business
     (including without limitation, Sellers' hardware business) or real property
     owned or leased by either Seller, without limit as to point of time,
     knowledge or amount.

                                      10

<PAGE>

     2.4  PURCHASE PRICE; PAYMENT.  The aggregate purchase price for the Assets
shall be $9,850,000 minus the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of the Accrued
Employee Liabilities as of the Closing Date as set forth on the
SCHEDULE 2.3(a)(2), (b) $50,000 to be used by Buyer to fund bonuses to be
distributed to Buyer Employees as determined by Buyer in its sole discretion,
(c) the aggregate amount of the value of the Non-Transferred Tangible Property
as set forth on SCHEDULE 2.1(i)(b), and (d) the aggregate license fees of
$2,500,000 payable by Sellers under the License Agreement (the "PURCHASE
PRICE").  The Purchase Price shall be paid by Buyer to Sellers at the Closing by
bank or cashier's check made payable to NCD or, at NCD's option, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to such account as NCD shall have
designated to Buyer in writing at least two business days prior to the Closing
Date.

                                   ARTICLE 3.

                                  THE CLOSING

     3.1  TIME AND PLACE.  The closing of the transactions contemplated by
Article 2 of this Agreement (the "CLOSING") shall take place at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, on February 20, 1996 at the offices of Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich,
Professional Corporation, 400 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301, or
at such other time and place as the parties hereto may agree.  The date on which
the Closing actually takes place is sometimes referred to herein as the "CLOSING
DATE."

     3.2  SELLERS' OBLIGATIONS AT CLOSING.  At the Closing, each Seller shall:

          (a)  execute and deliver to Buyer (i) a bill of sale and conveyance,
in substantially the form of EXHIBIT A, (ii) an assignment and assumption
agreement, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT B, (iii) one or more assignments
of the Copyrights, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT C, (iv) one or more
assignments of the trademarks included in the Trade Rights and registrations
therefor, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT D, and (v) the assignments of the
patent application included in the Patent Rights and registrations therefor, if
any, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT E;
     
          (b)  execute and deliver to Buyer such other instruments of
conveyance, assignment and transfer, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer, as shall be effective to vest in Buyer all rights and
interests in, and good and marketable title to, the Assets including, without
limitation, assignments of Copyrights and Trade Rights and registrations
therefor and applications for registration thereof in countries other than the
United States and written assignments of the Contracts;
     
          (c)  deliver to Buyer all documents, opinions, certificates, consents,
undertakings and assignments required to be delivered to Buyer pursuant to
Section 8.1;

                                      11

<PAGE>

     
          (d)  deliver to Buyer physical possession of all copies (except as
licensed under the License Agreement) of all media embodying the Products and
Technology, including magnetic media embodying source code and object code
formats of the Software; and
     
          (e)  execute and deliver to Buyer a receipt for the Purchase Price.

     3.3  BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS AT CLOSING.  At the Closing:
     
          (a)  Buyer shall deliver to Sellers the Purchase Price;
     
          (b)  Buyer shall execute and deliver to Sellers an assignment and
assumption agreement, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT B; and
     
          (c)  Buyer shall deliver to Sellers all documents, opinions,
certificates, consents and undertakings required to be delivered to Sellers
pursuant to Section 8.2.

     
                                   ARTICLE 4.

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS

     In order to induce Buyer to purchase the Assets and assume the Assumed
Liabilities, Sellers, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant to
Buyer except as specifically set forth on the schedules corresponding to the
section number of such representation which schedules are provided to Buyer at
least five days prior to the Closing and which are updated as of the Closing
(collectively the schedules are referred to as the "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES") as
follows:

     4.1  ORGANIZATION; POWER AND STANDING.  Each of NCD and NCD Software is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of California.  NCD owns all of the outstanding shares of NCD
Software.  Each Seller has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver
and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to
which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, and each Seller has all requisite power and authority to own, lease or
otherwise use the Assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted. 
Each Seller is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character
of its business or assets makes such qualification necessary, except where the
failure to be so qualified or licensed would not have a material adverse effect
on the Assets or such Seller's ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

                                      12

<PAGE>

     4.2  AUTHORIZATION AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution, delivery and
performance by each Seller of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to
which it is a party and the consummation by each Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of such Seller and its shareholders.  This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Seller and constitutes
and, upon execution and delivery by each Seller of each Ancillary Document to
which it is a party, each such Ancillary Document shall constitute, a legal,
valid and binding obligation of each Seller, enforceable against each Seller in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

     4.3  EFFECT OF AGREEMENT; CONSENTS.

          (a)  CONFLICTS, ETC.  Neither the execution and delivery by either
Seller of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is a party nor
the consummation by either Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby does or will (i) conflict with or violate any provision of any
Organizational Document of either Seller, (ii) constitute, result in or give
rise to, nor has any other event occurred nor does any other condition exist
which, whether through the giving of notice or the lapse of time or otherwise,
does or will constitute, result in or give rise to, except where it would not
have a material adverse effect on the Assets or such Seller's ability to perform
its obligations hereunder,  (A) a breach of or a default under (1) any
Contractual Obligation or (2) any contract, agreement, purchase order, deed,
mortgage, lease, license, other instrument, commitment, undertaking, arrangement
or understanding to which it is a party, (B) any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration under any such Contractual Obligation, (C) the
imposition of any Lien upon or the forfeiture of, or the impairment of the value
or usefulness of, or the arising of any cause of action with respect to, any of
the Assets or (D) any other right or cause of action under any such Contractual
Obligation or (iii) violate or give rise to any violation or default, except
where it would not have a material adverse effect on the Assets or such Seller's
ability to perform its obligations hereunder, under any Legal Requirement.

          (b)  APPROVALS, CONSENTS, ETC.  Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3
and except where it would not have a material adverse effect on the Assets or
such Seller's ability to perform its obligations hereunder, no approval,
consent, waiver, authorization or other order of, and no notice to or
declaration, filing, registration, qualification or recording with, any
Governmental Authority or other Person is required to be obtained or made by or
on behalf of either Seller in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is a party
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

                                      13

<PAGE>

     4.4  THE ASSETS.

          (a)  TITLE TO THE ASSETS.  Sellers have and will deliver to Buyer, at
the Closing, good and marketable title to all of the Assets.  With respect to
the third party software located on personal computers being transferred to
Buyer, the Patent Rights and Trade Rights such representation is made to the
best knowledge of Sellers. The Assets are not subject to any Liens except as set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.4(a).  As of the Closing, all of the Assets will be located
at the premises listed on SCHEDULE 4.4(a) hereof.

          (b)  LIABILITIES.  The Assets are not subject to any liabilities or
other obligations, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, other than those
described in SCHEDULE 4.4(b).  After giving effect to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, the Assets will not be subject to, nor will
Buyer have, any liabilities or other obligations, absolute, accrued, contingent,
or otherwise, relating to the Assets other than (i) the Assumed Liabilities and
(ii) liabilities created by Buyer, if any.

          (c)  TAXES.  After giving effect to the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, the Assets will not be subject to, nor will
Buyer have, any liability in respect of any taxes under any Legal Requirement
arising from or relating to the ownership, possession, operation or use of the
Assets or the operation of the Mariner Business prior to the Closing.

     4.5  CONTRACTS, ETC.  SCHEDULE 4.5 contains a true and complete list of all
of the Contractual Obligations (including the Contracts listed on SCHEDULE
2.1(e)), to which either of the Sellers is a party that are in writing and a
description of all such oral Contractual Obligations.  Sellers have delivered to
Buyer a true and complete copy of each of the Contractual Obligations listed on
SCHEDULE 4.5 that are in writing, each as in effect on the date hereof and as it
will be in effect at the Closing, including without limitation all amendments
and supplements thereto and all waivers thereunder.  Each of the Contracts
listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(e) is valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with
its terms, and each Seller that is a party thereto and, to the best knowledge,
of Sellers, each other party thereto is in compliance therewith, and there is
not under any of the Contracts any existing default, event of default or event
which, with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default or
event of default, nor to the best knowledge of Sellers do there exist any other
facts or circumstances which Sellers, reasonably expect to result in a default
or event of default.  There has been no notice of termination or threatened
termination with respect to any of the Contracts, whether or not termination is
permitted by the terms thereof.

                                      14

<PAGE>

     4.6  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.

          (a)  COPYRIGHTS.  Sellers have delivered to Buyer true and complete
copies of all copyrighted material covered by all Copyrights as well as  the
certificates of registration for all such Copyrights which are registered, if
any.

          (b)  PATENT RIGHTS.  Sellers have delivered to Buyer true and complete
copies of the patent application embodying the Patent Rights.

          (c)  TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION.  Sellers have delivered to
Buyer true and complete copies of all such Technology and Technical Information
embodied in tangible media which is necessary to conduct the Mariner Business as
presently conducted by Sellers.

          (d)  TRADE RIGHTS.  Sellers have delivered to Buyer true and complete
copies of all registration applications evidencing those Trade Rights which
constitute trademarks and service marks.

          (e)  OTHER INFORMATION. Sellers have delivered to Buyer true and
complete copies of all such Other Information embodied in tangible media which
is necessary to conduct the Mariner Business as presently conducted by Sellers.

          (f)  INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.  Sellers have provided Buyer with
copies of documents and other materials embodied in tangible media containing or
in which are embodied all copyrights, patent rights, inventions, trade names,
trademarks and service marks related to the Products, none of which are
registered, and all applications therefor that are pending or in the process of
preparation and all licenses and other agreements allowing Sellers to use all
copyrights, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets,  trade names, trademarks
and service marks of other Persons in connection with the Products.

          (g)  OWNERSHIP AND TITLE.

               (i)  TRADE RIGHTS, COPYRIGHTS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION.  Except
          as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.6(g), Sellers are the sole and exclusive
          owners of all right, title and interest in the Trade Rights,
          Copyrights and Technical Information.  Sellers have not infringed, and
          are not now infringing, on any trade secret or copyright belonging to
          any other Person. To the best knowledge of Sellers, Sellers have not
          infringed, and are not now infringing, on any trade name, trademark or
          service mark belonging to any other Person.  Except as set forth in
          SCHEDULE 4.6(g), Sellers have not received any notice or other
          communication alleging, that Sellers have infringed, or are now
          infringing, on any trade name, trademark,

                                      15

<PAGE>

          service mark, trade secret or copyright belonging to any other 
          Person.  Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.6(g), neither Seller is a 
          party to any license, agreement or arrangement, whether as a 
          licensor, licensee or otherwise, with respect to any Trade Rights, 
          Technical Information or Copyrights, or any applications for any of 
          the foregoing.  Sellers own and hold adequate licenses, or other 
          rights to use, all Trade Rights, Technical Information and 
          Copyrights necessary for the Mariner Business as now conducted by 
          them and to the best knowledge of Sellers that use does not, and 
          will not, conflict with, infringe on or otherwise violate any rights 
          of third parties.

               (ii) PATENT RIGHTS.  Sellers are the sole owner of the U.S.
          patent application named Integrated Network Access User Interface
          System and Method, Serial No. 08/401,183 (the "PATENT APPLICATION"). 
          The Patent Application is awaiting action by the U.S. Patent Office. 
          Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.6(g), to the best knowledge of
          Sellers, the manufacture, use, importation or sale of the Products
          have not infringed and are not now infringing any patent or other
          right belonging to any Person. Sellers have not received any notice or
          other communication alleging, and Sellers have no reason to believe,
          (a) that the Patent Application is not valid and in full force or that
          it is subject to any filing, prosecution or other similar fees or
          actions falling due within one hundred twenty (120) days after the
          Closing Date; (b) that the manufacture, use, importation or sale of
          the Products violate or infringe on any patent or any proprietary or
          personal right of any Person.  Neither Seller is a party to any
          license, agreement or arrangement, whether as licensee, licensor or
          otherwise, with respect to the Patent Application.

               (iii)     TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

                    (A)  The specific location of Technical Information is set
                    forth in SCHEDULE 2.1(c).

                    (B)  Sellers are the sole owner of the Technical
                    Information, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances,
                    restrictions or legal or equitable claims of others. 
                    Sellers have taken all reasonable security measures to
                    protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of the
                    Technical Information and any of its employees and any other
                    Persons who, either alone or in concert with others,
                    developed, invented, discovered, derived, programmed or
                    designed these secrets, or who have knowledge of or access
                    to information relating to them, have entered into
                    agreements 

                                       16

<PAGE>

                    that these secrets are proprietary to Sellers and not to 
                    be divulged or misused.  Neither Seller has received any 
                    notice or other communication alleging, and neither has 
                    any reason to believe, (x) that either Seller does not 
                    have the right and authority to use the Technical 
                    Information or (y) that such use will conflict with, 
                    infringe on or violate any patent or other rights of any 
                    other Person.  Except as noted on SCHEDULE 2.1(C), neither 
                    Seller is a party to any license agreement or any other 
                    arrangement, whether as licensee, licensor or otherwise, 
                    with respect to any of the Technical Information.

                    (C)  To the best knowledge of Sellers, the Technical
                    Information is not part of the public knowledge, or
                    literature, nor has it been used, divulged or appropriated
                    for the benefit of any past or present employees or other
                    Persons, or to the detriment of Sellers.

     4.7  SOFTWARE.

          (a)  IDENTIFICATION.  SCHEDULE 4.7(a) lists the most current
embodiment of all the computer software which is incorporated in the Products or
otherwise used by Sellers in, and material to, the conduct of the Mariner
Business related to the Assets, excluding commercially available third-party
software (collectively, the "SOFTWARE"). Sellers have delivered to Buyer true
and complete copies of the most current embodiment of the source code and object
code formats of the Software and the most current revisions to all user and
technical documentation related to the Software.

          (b)  PERFORMANCE.  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN, THE SOFTWARE
IS PROVIDED AS IS, AND SELLERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS
PERFORMANCE, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.

          (c)  ENHANCEMENTS, NEW PRODUCTS.  Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE
4.7(c), neither of the Sellers nor any employee, contractor or agent of either
Seller has (i) developed or assisted in the development of enhancements of the
Software except for enhancements included in the Software as delivered to Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) assisted in the development by any other
Person of any computer program based on the Software or any part thereof.

          (d)  DEVELOPMENT.  No employee or subcontractor of either Seller is,
or to the best knowledge of Sellers, is now expected to be, in default under any
term of 

                                       17

<PAGE>

any employment contract, agreement or arrangement relating to the Products or 
any noncompetition agreement, contract or restrictive covenant relating to the 
Products or their development or exploitation.  Except as otherwise expressly 
disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.7(d): (x) each of the Products (i) was made by an 
employee of a Seller in the course of such employee's employment by such 
Seller, (ii) constitutes a "work made for hire" of Sellers within the meaning 
of the Copyright Act of 1976, as amended, or (iii) has been validly assigned to 
Sellers; and (y) all works of authorship contained within the Products were 
created within the United States. 

          (e)  TITLE.  Except as otherwise expressly disclosed in SCHEDULES
2.1(a), (c) or (d), all right, title and interest in and to the Software is
owned by Sellers, free and clear of all Liens, contingent or otherwise, and
Sellers' right, title and interest in and to the Software is fully transferable
to Buyer.  Neither of the Sellers has any obligation to compensate any Person
for the development, use, sale or exploitation of the Software.  Except as
described on SCHEDULE 2.1(e), neither of the Sellers has granted to any other
Person (i) any license, option or other rights to develop, use, sell or exploit
in any manner the Software, whether requiring the payment of royalties or not,
(ii) any license with respect to the source code(s) for any of the Software or
(iii) any paid-up license with respect to any of the Software or Products or
portions thereof.  SCHEDULE 2.1(e) contains a true and complete list of the
aggregate amount of prepaid royalties, if any, that have been paid to Sellers
under each Contract, on a Contract by Contract basis.

          (f)  PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY NATURE OF SOFTWARE.  Except as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 2.1(e) AND SCHEDULE 4.7(f), Sellers have kept secret and
have not disclosed the source code(s) for the Software owned by Sellers to any
Person other than certain employees and subcontractors of Sellers.  Sellers have
taken all reasonable and appropriate measures to protect the confidential and
proprietary nature of the Software, including, without limitation, the use of
confidentiality agreements with all of their employees and subcontractors having
access to the Software source code and all object code copies of the Software
distributed to third parties (other than employees and subcontractors) have been
subject to licenses consistent with reasonable industry practice, including
(except for an immaterial number of beta and demonstration copies) prohibitions
on decompilation and reverse engineering.  To the best knowledge of Sellers,
there have been no patents or copyrights applied for or registered for any part
of the Software other than as expressly disclosed in the Schedules.

     4.8  FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND CUSTOMER LISTS. 

          (a)  The gross revenue information for the Mariner Business for the
year ended December 31, 1995 and the period ended as of the Closing is attached
hereto as SCHEDULE 4.8(a), was prepared in accordance with the books and records
of 

                                       18

<PAGE>

Sellers on a basis consistent with Sellers' past practice and fairly represents 
in all material respects the sales data for the Mariner Business for the 
periods presented.

          (b)  The Customer List attached hereto as SCHEDULE 4.8(b) lists all
customers of the Mariner Business known to Sellers that have purchased Products
from either Seller for the year ended December 31, 1995 and the period ended as
of the Closing.

          (c)  SCHEDULE 4.8(C) is a schedule of backlog for the Products.

     4.9  COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. The conduct of the Mariner Business by Sellers
is in compliance in all material respects with, and the use, operation,
ownership and possession of the Assets as presently used, operated, owned and
possessed by Sellers, except where it would not have a material adverse effect
on the Assets or such Seller's ability to perform its obligations hereunder,
have not and do not violate any applicable Legal Requirement, nor has either
Seller received any notice that it is not in compliance with any such Legal
Requirement.

     4.10 LITIGATION.  Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.10, there is no Action
pending or, to the best knowledge of Sellers, threatened (nor, to the best
knowledge of Sellers, does any reasonable factual basis exist therefor) (a)
against either Seller or any of the Assets, (b) against any Affiliate of either
Seller and involving any of the Assets or (c) which seeks rescission of, seeks
to enjoin the consummation of or questions the validity of this Agreement or any
of the transactions contemplated hereby.  No judgment, decree or order of any
Governmental Authority or any arbitrator has been issued against (a) either
Seller or (b) to the best knowledge of Sellers, any Person other than Sellers
that, in the case of this clause (b), could have an adverse effect on any of the
Assets.

     4.11 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.  As a result of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the License Agreement, Buyer shall be subject to no
liability arising from Sellers' conduct, duty to act or failure to act at or
prior to the Closing under any Environmental Laws.

     4.12 EMPLOYEE MATTERS.  With respect to Sellers' employees who are or were
involved in the Mariner Business (the "MARINER EMPLOYEES"):

          (a)  Neither of the Sellers is a party to any collective bargaining
agreements.

          (b)  Sellers have withheld all amounts required by any Legal
Requirement, contract or agreement to be withheld from the wages of all current
and

                                       19

<PAGE>

former Mariner Employees and are not liable for any arrears of wages or any 
taxes or penalties for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

          (c)  There are no pending unfair labor practice charges or
discrimination complaints relating to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, religion, age, marital status, ancestry, disability, status as a
Vietnam-era or a special disabled veteran, or status in any group protected by
federal, state or local  law against any Seller before any Governmental
Authority nor, to the best knowledge of Sellers, does any basis therefor exist.

          (d)  SCHEDULE 4.12(d) sets forth the annual salary for each Mariner
Employee as of January 15, 1996.  Since such date, Sellers have not agreed to
increase the salary or other compensation payable to or to become payable to any
of its employees or, except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.12(d), declared, paid or
committed to pay any bonus or other additional salary or compensation to any
Person except for bonuses earned by such Mariner Employees in 1995 which were
paid by Sellers to such Mariner Employees no earlier than January 31, 1996 and
no later than the Closing Date.

          (e)  There are no disputes or controversies existing between either
Seller, on the one hand, and any of the Mariner Employees, on the other, which
has had or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect upon the
Assets or the Mariner Business nor, to the best knowledge of Sellers, does any
basis therefor exist.  None of the Mariner Employees is represented by a labor
union and, to the best knowledge of Sellers', there is no labor organizing
activity presently pending by or among any such Mariner Employees.

     4.13 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PLANS, ETC.   

          (a)  Sellers have not maintained or contributed to any "pension plan"
as defined in the Employment Pension Plans Act or any "employee pension plan" as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA.

          (b)  SCHEDULE 4.13 lists all (i) "employee benefit plans", as defined
in Section 3 of ERISA, maintained or contributed to by either Seller, (ii)
"employee welfare plans", as defined in Section 3 of ERISA, maintained or
contributed to by either Seller and (iii) all employment, compensation and
consulting contracts, and bonus, deferred compensation, excess benefits,
pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock bonus, stock option, stock purchase,
life and health insurance, hospitalization, savings, holiday, vacation,
severance pay, sick pay, sick leave, disability, dependent care assistance,
death benefit, tuition refund, service award, company car, scholarship,
relocation, patent awards, fringe benefits and other contracts or practices of
either Seller or any of its Affiliates providing employee or executive benefits
to any of the Mariner Employees 

                                       20

<PAGE>

of Sellers (the items described in the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) 
are collectively referred to herein as "PLANS").

          (c)  Buyer will not become liable for any past, present or future
benefit under or any other obligation under or otherwise with respect to any
Plan by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby, either under the terms
of any Plan or by operation of any applicable Legal Requirement.

          (d)  No facts exist which would give any Person the right under any
applicable Legal Requirement to assert a Lien upon any of the Assets to secure
liabilities in connection with any Plan.

     4.14 AT&T AGREEMENTS.  There exist no obligations required to be fulfilled
by Buyer to AT&T Corp. as of the Closing nor will any such obligations exist at
any time in the future under the Software License and Development Agreement
dated January 31, 1995 between AT&T Corp. and NCD or Amendment No. 1 dated
September 1, 1995 to such agreement (collectively referred to as the "AT&T
AGREEMENTS") and, except through any act or omission of Buyer, Buyer will not as
a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
otherwise, assume, or otherwise become subject to any liability under, the AT&T
Agreements.

     4.15 RESTRICTIVE DOCUMENTS.  Neither of the Sellers is subject to, or a
party to, any Lien, lease, license, sublicense, permit, agreement, contract,
instrument, judgment or decree, or any other restriction of any kind or
character, which materially adversely affects the Assets or the Mariner Business
as presently conducted by Sellers.

     4.16 RELATIONSHIPS.  Sellers' current relationships with the Mariner
Employees and the suppliers, distributors, dealers, sales representatives,
customers and others having business relationships with Sellers, related to the
Mariner Business, are good, and neither of Sellers has any knowledge,
information or belief of any actual, pending or threatened termination,
cancellation or limitation of, or any materially adverse modification or change
in, the business relationship of Sellers with any of such Persons including,
without limitation, as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     4.17 NO BROKER'S OR FINDER'S FEES.  No agent, broker, person or firm acting
on behalf either Seller or any Affiliate of either Seller is, or shall be,
entitled to any commission or broker's or finder's fees from either Seller or
from any Affiliate of either Seller in connection with any of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

     4.18 INSURANCE.  SCHEDULE 4.18 sets forth all existing insurance policies
held by either Seller specifically relating to the Mariner Business, Assets or
Mariner Employees.  Each such policy is in full force and effect, is with
responsible insurance carriers and is in an amount and scope customary for
Persons engaged in businesses 

                                       21

<PAGE>

and having assets similar to those of Sellers. All claims arising under such 
policies and all premiums that are due and payable thereunder have been paid in 
full.

     4.19  BOOKS AND RECORDS.  All of the books, records and accounts included
in the Assets are in all material respects accurate and complete and maintained
in accordance with good business practice.

     4.20 AFFILIATED TRANSACTIONS.  Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 4.20,
neither of the Sellers is party to or bound by any contract or agreement with
any of its shareholders or any of its Affiliates relating to the Mariner
Business.

     4.21 NO INSOLVENCY.  Neither Seller will be rendered insolvent by the sale,
transfer and assignment of the Assets pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

     4.22 REPRESENTATIONS COMPLETE.  None of the representations or warranties
made by Sellers (as modified by the Disclosure Schedule), nor any statement made
in any Exhibit or certificate furnished by either Seller pursuant to this
Agreement, contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or, to the best
knowledge of Sellers, omits any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which made not misleading.  There is no fact, circumstance or condition of any
kind or nature whatsoever known to either Seller which reasonably would be
expected to have a material adverse effect on either Seller or the Assets that
has not been set forth in this Agreement, except those facts concerning general
economic, legislative, regulatory or other matters such as may generally impact
all businesses of the type operated by Sellers.

     4.23 ACCRUED VACATION LIABILITIES.  SCHEDULE 2.3(a) sets forth a true and
complete list of all Accrued Vacation Liabilities as of the Closing Date.

     4.24 GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS.   SCHEDULE 4.24 is a complete list of all of the
licenses, permits, filings, authorizations, approvals or indicia of authority by
any Governmental Authority required for the Mariner Business as presently
conducted by the Sellers, including the Transferable Governmental Permits
(collectively, "GOVERNMENTAL PERMITS").


                                   ARTICLE 5.

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

     In order to induce Sellers to enter into and perform this Agreement and to
sell and transfer the Assets, Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Sellers as
follows:

                                      22

<PAGE>

     5.1  ORGANIZATION; POWER AND STANDING.  Buyer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Buyer has all requisite power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each
Ancillary Document to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby.

     5.2  AUTHORIZATION AND ENFORCEABILITY.  The execution, delivery and
performance by Buyer of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it
is a party and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of Buyer and its shareholders.  This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Buyer and constitutes, and, upon execution and delivery by Buyer of
each Ancillary Document to which it is party, such Ancillary Document shall
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against
Buyer in accordance with its terms except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.

     5.3  CONFLICTS, ETC.    Neither the execution and delivery by Buyer of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it is a party nor the consummation
by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby does or will (i)
conflict with or violate any provision of any Organizational Document of Buyer,
(ii) constitute, result in or give rise to, nor has any other event occurred nor
does any other condition exist which, whether through the giving of notice or
the lapse of time or otherwise, does or will constitute, result in or give rise
to, except where it would not have a material adverse effect on the Buyer's
ability to perform its obligations hereunder, a breach of or a default under any
material contract, agreement, deed, mortgage, lease, license, other instrument,
commitment, undertaking, arrangement or understanding to which Buyer is a party,
or (iii) violate or give rise to any violation or default, except where it would
not have a material adverse effect on the Buyer's ability to perform its
obligations hereunder, under any Legal Requirement applicable to Buyer.

     5.4  CONSENTS.  No approval, consent, waiver, authorization or other order
of, and no notice to or declaration, filing, registration, qualification or
recording with, any Governmental Authority or other Person is required to be
obtained or made by or on behalf of Buyer in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which it
is a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.

     5.5  NO BROKER'S OR FINDER'S FEES.  No agent, broker, person or firm acting
on behalf of Buyer or any of its Affiliates is, or shall be, entitled to any
commission or broker's or finder's fees from Buyer or from any of its Affiliates
in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                       23

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 6.

                        CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

     6.1  PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER EXPENSES.  Buyer shall pay any sales or use
taxes which may be imposed on the acquisition by Buyer of the Assets pursuant to
this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Sellers shall pay any sales or use taxes
which may be imposed on the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as a
result of any other transactions involving Sellers.  Each of Buyer and Sellers
shall prepare and file, and shall cooperate with the others with respect to the
preparation and filing of, any returns and other filings related to any such
taxes as may be required by applicable Legal Requirements.  Buyer and Sellers
shall pay all of their own expenses relating to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of their
respective attorneys, accountants, financial advisors or other representatives.

     6.2  ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE.  The Purchase Price shall be allocated
in its entirety among the Assets in accordance with the allocation set forth on
SCHEDULE 6.2, which SCHEDULE 6.2 shall be reasonably agreed upon by Sellers and
Buyer and attached to this Agreement within one month from the Closing Date. 
Buyer and Sellers shall file all information and tax returns (and any amendments
thereto) in a manner consistent with the allocation set forth in SCHEDULE 6.2. 
If, contrary to the intent of the parties as expressed in this Section 6.2, any
taxing authority makes or proposes an allocation different from that contained
in SCHEDULE 6.2, Buyer and Sellers shall cooperate with each other in good faith
to contest such taxing authority's allocation (or proposed allocation);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, after consultation with all parties adversely affected
by such allocation (or proposed allocation), any other party hereto may file
such protective claims or returns as may reasonably be required to protect its
interests.  Each party requesting cooperation shall reimburse the cooperating
party for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in rendering such
cooperation.

     6.3  EMPLOYEE MATTERS.  

          (a)  Buyer shall offer employment, commencing as of the Closing, to
certain of the Mariner Employees as it shall choose in its sole discretion. 
Buyer shall have no obligation whatsoever regarding any of the Mariner Employees
not chosen for employment by Buyers.  Offers to the Mariner Employees shall
include cash compensation packages substantially similar to the levels of cash
compensation currently received by such employees and such employees shall be
accorded benefits Buyer normally makes available to its employees (including
participation is Buyer's stock incentive plans), in all cases without credit for
service with Sellers.  Sellers shall render all reasonable assistance to
encourage such employees to accept such offers in accordance with their terms. 
The Mariner Employees to whom Buyer extends an offer 

                                       24

<PAGE>

of employment and who accept Buyer's employment offer are referred to as "BUYER 
EMPLOYEES."

          (b)  Prior to the Closing Date, Sellers and Buyer shall have offered
in writing to each of the Buyer Employees the option to either:

               (i)  be credited by Buyer, effective as of the Closing, with all
or a portion, as such employee elects in writing, of the actual number of days
of such employee's accrued and unused vacation time as of the Closing (not to
exceed a maximum of 10 days), in which case (A) NCD shall pay Buyer at the
Closing (pursuant to a reduction in the purchase price for the Assets under
Section 2.4 hereof) an aggregate amount sufficient to pay out each such employee
in full for the full amount of such employee's accrued vacation to be so
credited (determined based upon such Buyer Employee's salary with NCD or NCD
Software); (B) Buyer will credit such employee with such amount of accrued and
unused vacation ("ACCRUED VACATION LIABILITIES"); and (C) NCD shall pay such
employee in full for all of such employee's accrued and unused vacation time in
excess of 10 days; or

               (ii) accept a cash payment in lieu of carrying forward all or any
portion of such employee's accrued and unused vacation time, in which case NCD
shall pay such employee in full for all such accrued and unused vacation with
respect to which the employee elects to accept a cash payment.

          (c)  Each Buyer Employee must have delivered to Buyer and NCD written
notice of such employee's election with respect to the foregoing options
regarding accrued vacation time at least 5 business days before the Closing or
such employee will be deemed to have chosen the option set forth in
subparagraph 6.3(b)(ii) above.

          (d)  On or promptly after the Closing Date, NCD shall settle with or
pay to each Buyer Employee all salaries, commissions, bonuses and other amounts
that are or may become payable to or receivable by such Buyer Employee for all
periods prior to the Closing.

     6.4  ASSERTION OF OTHER SELLERS' PATENTS AGAINST BUYER.  Sellers agree that
as to any Sellers' patent or patent application based on technology contained in
or directly or indirectly related to the Products as of the date of Closing and
the items listed on SCHEDULE 2.1(a), neither Seller will assert such patent
against Buyer's manufacture, use, sale, or importation of the Technology.

     6.5  SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS.  After the Closing, Sellers agree to provide
third level technical support to Buyer as follows: (i) Sellers shall conduct one
training class conducted at Buyer's facilities in Andover, Massachusetts for up
to ten engineers (and 

                                       25

<PAGE>

Buyer shall pay the reasonable travel expenses of Seller's trainer in 
connection with the training session) and (ii) Sellers shall provide 
sufficient, knowledgeable technical staff to answer technical support questions 
about the Products for three months from the Closing Date.

     6.6  CROSS-GUARANTEE.  Except as may be limited by Article 9 hereof, NCD
and NCD Software jointly, severally and unconditionally guarantee all of the
obligations of the other under this Agreement, the License Agreement and the
Ancillary Documents to Buyer and shall promptly fulfill any obligation or pay
any amount that is required under the Agreement, the License or the Ancillary
Documents that is not fulfilled, paid or handled by the other for any reason,
subject to any defenses of the entity whose performance is guaranteed. 


                                   ARTICLE 7.

                         CONFIDENTIALITY; NONCOMPETITION
     
     Sellers acknowledge that, having sold to Buyer the Assets relating to the
Mariner Business and all of the goodwill associated therewith, the success of
Buyer in conducting the Mariner Business (after giving effect to the sale and
transfer to Buyer at the Closing of the Assets) depends upon both the absence of
competition from Sellers as specified herein and the continued preservation of
the confidentiality of certain information possessed by Sellers, that an absence
of such competition as specified herein and the preservation of the
confidentiality of such information is an essential premise of the bargain among
Sellers and Buyer, and that Buyer would be unwilling to enter into this
Agreement in the absence of this Article 7.  Accordingly, Sellers hereby agree
with Buyer as follows:

     7.1  CONFIDENTIALITY.  Sellers acknowledge that the Assets shall, upon the
Closing, become the exclusive property of Buyer.  Sellers hereby acknowledge and
agree that all proprietary and confidential information included within the
Assets (collectively, the "PROPRIETARY INFORMATION") shall, upon the Closing,
become confidential and proprietary trade secrets of Buyer which are of
substantial value to Buyer.  Each Seller agrees that it will not, and will use
its best efforts, consistent with industry practice, to assure that its
employees, contractors, agents or Affiliates do not, at any time from and after
the Closing, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Buyer,
disclose or use in any way any Proprietary Information, whether such information
is now existing or hereafter arising; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such information
shall not include any information known generally to the public (other than as a
result of disclosure in violation hereof by either Seller or any of their
employees, contractors, agents or Affiliates) made available by Buyer hereafter
to others without restriction on confidentiality, independently developed by
Sellers after the Closing 

                                       26

<PAGE>

without violation of the restriction in Section 7.3, or which constitutes 
Residual Information (as defined below); PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the provisions 
of this Section 7.1 shall not prohibit any disclosure required by law in 
connection with any final judicial or administrative order. Except as otherwise 
agreed to in writing by Buyer, Sellers shall not create or attempt to create or 
permit others to attempt to create, on Sellers' behalf, the Software or any 
part thereof.  Each Seller agrees to promptly notify Buyer if such party 
becomes aware of any unauthorized possession or use of any Proprietary 
Information.

     7.2  RESIDUALS.  Use by Sellers' engineers of information which relates to
the Mariner Business and which such engineers recall from memory (without any
special effort to memorize any such information) from their prior involvement
with the Mariner Business ("RESIDUAL INFORMATION") shall not be deemed a
misappropriation of trade secrets of Buyer so long as the individuals involved
have not had access, subsequent to the Closing, to materials containing Buyer
trade secrets including any engineering notebooks or other similar notes or
materials.

     7.3  NONCOMPETITION.  

          (a)  Sellers agree not to develop, take any steps toward developing,
or market for one year following the Closing Date, for any Microsoft Windows
platform, a stand-alone: (i) browser or (ii) single application that enables
more than four of the following functions: Telnet, mail, Gopher, FTP, chat and
browser; provided that Sellers may market third party products that fall within
clauses (i) or (ii) above, if necessary in Seller's reasonable judgment to meet
specific customer requirements not satisfied by the most current version of the
Product offered by Buyer.  Prior to any such marketing, however, Sellers shall
consult with Buyer to determine whether such customer requirements can be
satisfied with the current version of the Product offered by Buyer.  Sellers,
upon written notification to Buyer, may remove the restrictions set forth in
this Section 7.3(a); provided that Sellers' right to distribute and sell binary
code as set forth in Section 2.3 of the License Agreement and Sellers' right to
remove restrictions on use of source code set forth in Section 2.2 of the
License Agreement shall be terminated, effective as of such notification.

          (b)  Notwithstanding Sellers' right to remove the restrictions set
forth in Section 7.3(a), Sellers agree that, for a period of one year from the
Closing, such Seller will not cause its engineers who were involved in the
development of the Products to develop for Sellers or their Affiliates products
that fall within Section 7.3(a) above.

     7.4  ENFORCEMENT.  Each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that,
because the legal remedies of the other parties may be inadequate in the event
of a breach of, or other failure to perform, any of the covenants and
obligations set forth in this Article 7, any such other party may, in addition
to obtaining any other remedy or 

                                       27

<PAGE>

relief available to it (including, without limitation, consequential and other 
damages at law), enforce this Article 7 by injunction, specific performance and 
other equitable remedies.

                                   ARTICLE 8.

                             CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     8.1  CONDITIONS TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS.  Buyer and Sellers agree to
simultaneously execute the Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.  The obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by
Buyer, at or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

          (a)  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.  (i)  All
representations and warranties of Sellers contained in this Agreement shall be,
in all material respects, true and correct at and as of the Closing, and each
Seller shall have performed, in all material respects, all agreements and
covenants required hereby to be performed by such Person prior to or at the
Closing in accordance with this Agreement, and (ii)  Buyer shall have received
at the Closing, from each Seller, a certificate, dated the Closing Date and
signed by a senior executive officer of such Person, to the effect that the
conditions set forth in subsection (i) above have been satisfied.

          (b)  CONSENTS AND RELEASES.  All consents, approvals, waivers and
releases from all Governmental Authorities and other Persons necessary to permit
Sellers and Buyer to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall have been obtained and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Buyer and its counsel.

          (c)  CORPORATE ACTION.  Buyer shall have received from each Seller a
copy, certified as true and complete by its Secretary or comparable officer, of
all resolutions adopted by the board of directors of such party authorizing and
approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.

          (d)  AGREEMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES.  Buyer shall have entered into 
employment arrangements with such Mariner Employees as Buyer deems necessary,
upon terms satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel.

          (e)  NO LITIGATION OR INJUNCTIONS.  No action or proceeding shall have
been instituted or threatened before or by any Governmental Authority to
restrain or prohibit any of the transactions contemplated hereby, no preliminary
or permanent

                                       28

<PAGE>

injunction or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United 
States which prevents the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby 
or which adversely affects the right of Buyer to own the Assets or to operate 
the Mariner Business of Sellers, shall have been issued and remain in effect, 
and no Legal Requirement shall have been enacted by any Governmental Authority 
that makes the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal.

          (f)  PROCEEDINGS.  All proceedings taken at or prior to the Closing in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all
documents incident hereto, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Buyer
and its counsel, and Buyer shall have received copies of all such documents and
other evidences as it or its counsel may reasonably request in order to
establish the consummation of such transactions and the taking of all
proceedings in connection therewith.

          (g)  OPINION OF COUNSEL.  Sellers shall have furnished Buyer with
favorable opinions, dated the Closing Date, of their counsel in substantially
the form of EXHIBIT F.

          (h)  CERTIFICATES.  Buyer shall have received such other certificates
of the officers of Sellers and others to evidence compliance with the conditions
set forth in this Section 8.1 as may be reasonably requested by Buyer.

          (i)  LICENSE AGREEMENT.  Sellers shall have executed and delivered to
Buyer a License Agreement substantially in the form of EXHIBIT G (the "LICENSE
AGREEMENT").

     8.2  CONDITIONS TO SELLERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of Sellers to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction, or waiver by Sellers, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the
following conditions:

          (a)  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. (i)  All
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be, in
all material respects, true and correct at and as of the Closing, and Buyer
shall have performed, in all material respects, all agreements and covenants
required hereby to be performed by Buyer prior to or at the Closing in
accordance with this Agreement and (ii)  Sellers shall have received at the
Closing from Buyer a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a senior
executive officer of Buyer, to the effect that the conditions set forth in
subsection (i) above have been satisfied.

          (b)  CONSENTS AND RELEASES.  All consents, approvals, waivers and
releases from all Governmental Authorities and other Persons necessary to permit
Sellers and Buyer to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall have 

                                       29

<PAGE>

been obtained and shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to 
Sellers and their counsel.

          (c)  CORPORATE ACTION.  Sellers shall have received from Buyer a copy,
certified as true and complete by its Clerk, of all resolutions adopted by the
board of directors of Buyer authorizing and approving the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

          (d)  NO LITIGATION OR INJUNCTIONS.  No action or proceeding shall have
been instituted or threatened before or by any Governmental Authority to
restrain or prohibit any of the transactions contemplated hereby, no preliminary
or permanent injunction or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States which prevents the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been issued and remain in effect, and no Legal
Requirement shall have been enacted by any Governmental Authority that makes the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal.

          (e)  PROCEEDINGS.  All proceedings taken at or prior to the Closing in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and all
documents incident hereto, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to
Sellers and their counsel, and Sellers shall have received copies of all such
documents and other evidences as they or their counsel may reasonably request in
order to establish the consummation of such transactions and the taking of all
proceedings in connection therewith.

          (f)  OPINION OF COUNSEL.  Buyer shall have furnished Sellers with a 
favorable opinion, dated the Closing Date, of its General Counsel in
substantially the form of EXHIBIT H.

          (g)  CERTIFICATES.  Sellers shall have received such other
certificates of the officers of Buyer and others to evidence compliance with the
conditions set forth in this Section 8.2 as may be reasonably requested by
Sellers.

          (h)  LICENSE AGREEMENTS.  Buyer shall have executed and delivered to
Sellers the License Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE 9.

                                INDEMNIFICATION

     9.1  INDEMNIFICATION BY SELLERS.  Sellers, jointly and severally, hereby
agree to indemnify and hold Buyer and its Affiliates and the officers,
directors, employees, 

                                       30

<PAGE>

agents and representatives of Buyer and its Affiliates, and any person claiming 
by or through any of them, harmless from, against and in respect of the 
following:

          (a)  Losses arising from or related to the ownership or operation of
the Mariner Business associated with the Assets, or the ownership, possession,
operation or use of the Assets, by Sellers at or prior to the Closing, other
than Losses arising from or related to the Assumed Liabilities;
     
          (b)  the Excluded Liabilities and Losses arising from or related to
any of the Excluded Liabilities;
     
          (c)  Losses arising from or related to the ownership, possession,
operation or use of the Excluded Assets;
     
          (d)  Losses arising from or related to any breach of or inaccuracy in
any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of either Seller in this
Agreement or in any Ancillary Document, whether or not such breach or inaccuracy
was or should have been known by Buyer;
     
          (e)  Losses arising from or related to any breach or violation by
either Seller of any of its covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement
or in any Ancillary Document;
     
          (f)  Losses arising from or related to any of the matters described on
SCHEDULE 9.1.

     9.2  INDEMNIFICATION BY BUYER.  Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
Sellers and their Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives of each of Sellers and their Affiliates, and any person claiming
by or through any of them, harmless from, against and in respect of the
following:

          (a)  Losses arising from or related to the ownership, possession,
operation or use by Buyer of the Assets after the Closing;
     
          (b)  The Assumed Liabilities and Losses arising from or related to any
of the Assumed Liabilities;
     
          (c)  Losses arising from or related to any breach of or inaccuracy in
any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of Buyer in this Agreement
or in any Ancillary Document, whether or not such breach or inaccuracy was or
should have been known by Sellers; and

                                       31

<PAGE>
     
          (d)  Losses arising from or related to any breach or violation by
Buyer of any of its covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement or in
any Ancillary Document.

     9.3  SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

          (a)     The representations and warranties of each Seller contained
herein or in any Ancillary Document shall survive the Closing for a period of
two years from the Closing Date, except that: 

               (i)   all representations and warranties that relate to federal,
               state and local taxes, including, without limitation, the
               representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.4(c), shall
               survive until the expiration of the applicable statutes of
               limitations for such taxes (including any extensions thereof);
               and

               (ii)   all representations and warranties that relate to
               environmental matters, including, without limitation, the
               representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.11, shall
               be perpetual;
               
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that representations and warranties with respect to which a
claim is made within the applicable survival period shall survive until such
claim is finally determined and paid.

          (b)  The representations and warranties of Buyer made in this
Agreement or in any Ancillary Document shall survive the Closing for a period of
two years following the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that representations
and warranties with respect to which a claim is made within such period shall
survive until such claim is finally determined and paid.

          (c)  No claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this
Article 9 with respect to a representation or warranty after the expiration of
the applicable survival period, other than claims based on fraud.

     9.4  NOTIFICATION OF CLAIMS.  A party seeking indemnification under this
Article 9 (an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall, promptly after the receipt of notice
of the assertion of any claim or commencement of any Action (but in no event
later than 10 days prior to the date any response or answer is due in any
proceeding) in respect of which indemnity may be sought from a party against
whom an indemnity obligation is asserted pursuant to this Article 9 (an
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") on account of the indemnity agreement contained above,
notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of the receipt of such claim or the
commencement of such Action.  The omission of an Indemnified Party so to notify
an Indemnifying Party of any such claim or Action shall not relieve the

                                       32

<PAGE>

Indemnifying Party from any liability in respect of such claim or Action which
it may have to the Indemnified Party (except, however, that the Indemnifying
Party shall be relieved of liability to the extent that the failure so to notify
(a) shall have caused prejudice to the defense of such claim or Action or (b)
shall have increased the costs or liability of the Indemnifying Party by reason
of the inability or failure of the Indemnifying Party (because of the lack of
prompt notice from the Indemnified Party) to be involved in any investigations
or negotiations regarding any such claim or Action), nor shall it relieve the
Indemnifying Party from any other liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Party.  In case any such claim shall be asserted or Action commenced against an
Indemnified Party and it shall notify the Indemnifying Party thereof, the
Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in the negotiation or
administration thereof and, to the extent it may wish, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, and,
after notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, which notice shall be given within 30
days of its receipt of such notice from such Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party hereunder for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with
the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  If an
Indemnifying Party does not wish to assume the defense, conduct or settlement of
any claim or Action, the Indemnified Party shall not settle such claim or Action
without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

     9.5  LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION.  

          (a)  Except for claims made for breaches of Sellers' representations
and warranties set forth in Sections 4.4(a), 4.6(b), 4.6(g)(excluding Trade
Rights), 4.7(d), 4.7(e) and 4.11 for which there shall be no limit on
indemnification payments under this Article 9, Sellers shall not be liable for
indemnification payments to Buyer under this Article 9 to the extent such
aggregate indemnification payments by Sellers exceed the Purchase Price.  Buyer
shall not be liable for indemnification payments to Sellers to the extent such
aggregate indemnification payments by Buyer exceed $2,500,000.

          (b)  No Indemnifying Party shall be liable to any Indemnified Party
(i) in respect of any individual claim involving Losses of less than $25,000, or
(ii) until the aggregate amount of all Losses under all individual claims
aggregate $75,000 (the "Threshold Amount"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, when such Losses
reach the Threshold Amount the Indemnifying Party shall be liable to the
Indemnified Party for all Losses, including the Threshold Amount.

                                       33

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE 10.

MISCELLANEOUS

     10.1 ASSIGNMENT.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or
obligations hereunder may be assigned by any party hereto without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto, except that Buyer may assign any of
its rights hereunder to any of its Affiliates provided that Buyer guaranties the
obligations of such Affiliate(s) hereunder.

     10.2 NOTICES.  Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, request,
instruction or other document or communication to be given hereunder by any
party to the others shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered
personally or mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid (such
mailed notice to be effective on the date which is three business days after the
date of mailing), sent by telefax (such notice sent by telefax to be effective
when sent, if confirmed), or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier
(such notice to be effective on the next business day after the date when sent)
as follows:

          If to Sellers, addressed to:

               Network Computing Devices, Inc.
               350 North Bernardo Avenue
               Mountain View, California  94043-5007
               Fax No.:  (415) 961-7711
               Attention:  General Counsel

          Copy to:

               Dennis C. Sullivan, Esq.
               Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
               400 Hamilton Avenue
               Palo Alto, California 94301
               Fax No.: (415) 327-3699

          If to Buyer, addressed to:

               FTP Software, Inc.
               100 Brickstone Square, 5th Floor
               Andover, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  01810
               Fax No.:  (508) 684-6162
               Attention:  General Counsel

                                       34

<PAGE>

          Copy to:

               Allen L. Morgan, Esq.
               Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
               650 Page Mill Road
               Palo Alto, California  94304-1050
               Fax No.:  (415) 493-6811

or to such other address as any party hereto may designate as to itself by
written notice to the other parties hereto.

     10.3 CHOICE OF LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with domestic substantive laws of the State of California, without
regard for any choice or conflict of laws rule or principle that would result in
the application of the domestic substantive law of any other jurisdiction,
except that, with respect to matters of law concerning the internal corporate
affairs of any party to this Agreement, the laws of the jurisdiction of
formation of such party shall govern.

     10.4 ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement, the License Agreement and the
Master Agreement contain the entire agreement among the parties hereto
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements,
understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the
parties hereto with respect to such subject matter, including the Letter of
Intent, except for those certain nondisclosure agreements described in Section
10.9.

     10.5 COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     10.6 BINDING EFFECT; THIRD PARTIES.  This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties hereto
(including, without limitation, any employee or stockholder of Sellers) or, as
applicable, their respective successors and permitted assigns, any rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities (including, without limitation, any right
of employment), or otherwise constitute any other Person a third party
beneficiary, under or by reason of this Agreement.

     10.7 SEVERABILITY.  If any one or more of the provisions contained in this
Agreement or in any other agreement or instrument referred to herein shall, for
any reason, be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal
or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or other such agreement
or instrument.

                                       35

<PAGE>

     10.8 HEADINGS.  The Section headings are inserted for convenience of
reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     10.9 PUBLICITY; CONFIDENTIALITY.

          (a)  Each of the parties hereto shall consult with the others before
issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements with respect
to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not
issue any such press release or make any such public statement except as all of
the parties hereto may mutually agree or to the extent required by applicable
law or the applicable rules of any stock exchange or securities association.

          (b)  Each Seller agrees that all information obtained by it regarding
Buyer prior to the date hereof and from and after the date hereof is and shall
be subject to those certain nondisclosure agreements between Buyer and NCD
effective as of August 1, 1995, all of the provisions of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.

     10.10     AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.  This Agreement may not be amended or 
modified except by an instrument in writing signed by all of the parties 
hereto. Any of the provisions of this Agreement may be waived in writing by the 
party or parties entitled to the benefits thereof.  The waiver by any party 
hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be 
construed as a waiver by such party of any subsequent breach.  No waiver of any 
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a 
waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such 
waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

     10.11     FURTHER ASSURANCES.  At any time and from time to time, each
party hereto, without further consideration, shall take such further action and
execute and deliver such further instruments and documents as may be reasonably
requested by any other party or parties in order to carry out the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and to transfer possession of all rights and
interests in and title to the Assets, including, without limitation, by
executing one or more further assignments covering any of the Assets
constituting Intellectual Property Rights in form acceptable for recordation. 
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the remedy at law for any breach
of this Section 10.11 would be inadequate, and hereby agree that temporary and
permanent injunctive and other relief, including specific performance, may be
granted without proof of actual damage or inadequacy of legal remedy, and
without the need for posting any bond, in any proceedings which may be brought
to enforce any of the provisions of this Section 10.11.

                                       36

<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed on their behalf by their respective representatives, thereunto
duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

FTP SOFTWARE, INC.                     NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.



By:       /S/ DOUGLAS F. FLOOD         By:           /s/ JACK BRADLEY
   ---------------------------------       -------------------------------------

Name: Douglas F. Flood                 Name:       JACK BRADLEY
      ------------------------------         -----------------------------------

Title: Senior Vice President           Title:      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
       -----------------------------         -----------------------------------


                                       NCD SOFTWARE CORPORATION 


                                       By:            /s/ JACK BRADLEY
                                           -------------------------------------

                                       Name:      JACK BRADLEY
                                             -----------------------------------

                                       Title:     CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                              ----------------------------------

<PAGE>

EXHIBITS
- - --------

Exhibit A --   Form of Bill of Sale and Conveyance to Buyer

Exhibit B --   Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

Exhibit C --   Form of Assignment of Copyrights

Exhibit D --   Form of Assignment of Trademarks

Exhibit E --   Form of Assignment of Patent Rights

Exhibit F --   Form of Opinion of Counsel to Sellers 

Exhibit G --   Form of License Agreement

Exhibit H --   Form of Opinion of Counsel to Buyer


SCHEDULES
- - ---------

Schedule 1.2        --   Products

Schedule 1.3        --   Outside Directors

Schedule 2.1(a)     --   Certain Excluded Assets

Schedule 2.1(d)     --   Exceptions to Trade Rights

Schedule 2.1(e)     --   Contracts

Schedule 2.1(g)     --   Transferable Governmental Permits

Schedule 2.1(i)(a)  --   Tangible Personal Property

Schedule 2.1(i)(b)  --   Non-Transferred Tangible Personal Property

Schedule 2.3(a)(1)  --   Assumed Liabilities

Schedule 2.3(a)(2)  --   Accrued Employee Liabilities

Schedule 4.3        --   Sellers' Consents and Approvals


<PAGE>

Schedule 4.4(a)     --   Liens and Location of Assets

Schedule 4.4(b)     --   Certain Liabilities

Schedule 4.5        --   Contractual Obligations

Schedule 4.6(g)     --   Ownership and Title

Schedule 4.7(a)     --   Software

Schedule 4.7(c)     --   Certain Enhancements 

Schedule 4.7(d)     --   Certain Development Matters

Schedule 4.7(f)     --   Disclosure of Source Code(s)

Schedule 4.8(a)     --   Net Revenue Information

Schedule 4.8(b)     --   Customer Lists

Schedule 4.8(c)     --   Backlog

Schedule 4.10       --   Litigation

Schedule 4.12(d)    --   Current Annual Salary for Each Mariner
                         Employee of Sellers and Related Matters

Schedule 4.13       --   Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 4.18       --   Insurance Policies

Schedule 4.20       --   Affiliated Transactions

Schedule 4.24       --   Governmental Permits

Schedule 6.2        --   Allocation of Purchase Price 

Schedule 9.1        --   Certain Indemnification Obligations of Sellers





                                     2 

<PAGE>
                               LICENSE AGREEMENT


     THIS License Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of February 20, 1996 (the
"Effective Date") by and between FTP Software, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation
("FTP"), and Network Computing Device, Inc., a California corporation, and NCD
Software Corporation, a California corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Network Computing Devices, Inc. (collectively "NCD").

                                   BACKGROUND

     NCD has assigned certain rights in the Mariner Product Line to FTP pursuant
to a Asset Purchase Agreement between the parties.  Under this Agreement, FTP
licenses certain rights in the Mariner Product Line back to NCD, and NCD
licenses to FTP certain rights in certain modules contained in the Mariner
product that are derived from its Z-mail product.
     
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and premises
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:


I.     DEFINITIONS

     1.1  "AUTOPILOT PATENT APPLICATION" shall mean the patent application
          number 08/401-183, entitled "Integrated Network Access User Interface
          System and Method."

     1.2  "AUTOPILOT PATENT RIGHTS" shall mean any shall mean any and all rights
          in and to the AutoPilot Patent Application; any foreign counterparts
          of such application; any patents issuing on the foregoing application;
          any divisions, substitutions, re-examinations, and continuations
          thereof; and all reissues, renewals and extensions thereof. 
          Continuations-in-part of the foregoing application and patents issuing
          on such continuations-in-part, patents of addition, and all reissues,
          renewals and extensions of such patents and patents of addition, shall
          also be within the AutoPilot Patent Rights, to the extent the same
          claim subject matter that was disclosed in the foregoing application
          or any foreign counterparts thereof.

     1.3  "BINARY CODE" shall mean that form of computer software suitable for
          direct execution by a computer without intervening steps of assembly
          or compilation.

     1.4  "BINARY SOFTWARE" shall mean the Mariner Product in Binary Code form
          only.

     1.5  "MARINER PRODUCT" shall have the meaning set forth for Products in the
          Asset Purchase Agreement among Network Computing Devices, Inc., NCD
          Software Corporation and FTP Software, Inc. of even date herewith.

<PAGE>

     1.6  "SOURCE CODE" shall mean that form of computer software suitable to be
          read and written by programmers and which must be converted to Binary
          Software prior to execution by a computer.

     1.7   "SOURCE SOFTWARE" shall mean the Source Code for the Mariner Product
          as it exists on the Effective Date, including both the commercially
          released version and work-in-process.

     1.8  "TERMINALS" shall mean a hardware device that does not execute a user
          accessible operating system and is lacking any practical use (except
          for device configuration and diagnostic functions) unless connected to
          a local or wide area network, excluding devices capable of running
          application programs stored on customary removable media, rotating
          storage, and the like.

     1.9  "Z-MAIL MODULES" shall mean those modules that are part of NCD's Z-
          mail product and identified in Schedule 2.1(a) of the Asset Purchase
          Agreement.

II.    GRANT

     2.1  LICENSE TO FTP.  NCD grants to FTP a worldwide, royalty-free, non-
          exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable license, including the right to
          sublicense, to use, display, copy, modify, import, export, sell and
          distribute the Z-Mail Modules, and create derivative works based
          thereon.

     2.2  SOURCE CODE LICENSE TO NCD.  FTP grants to NCD, a royalty-free, non-
          exclusive, perpetual, non-transferable (except as set forth in Section
          8.1 below), non-assignable (except as set forth in Section 8.1 below),
          worldwide license to use, display and modify the Source Software, and
          sell, distribute and sublicense derivative works thereof in Binary
          Code format only; provided that NCD may only use such rights and
          licenses in the following manner:

          2.2.1     Subject to Section 8.1, NCD may use such rights and license
                    to develop derivative works of the Source Software and sell
                    and distribute such derivative works in binary form only,
                    and only if such software is bundled with a Terminal
                    manufactured by or for NCD, NCD's parent, or any entity
                    forty percent (40%) or more of which is owned by NCD
                    (collectively "NCD or Affiliate") under the brand name of
                    NCD or Affiliate or NCD's or Affiliate's customer, or any
                    other product as to which FTP consents, which consent shall
                    not be unreasonably withheld. 

          2.2.2     NCD may embed the Source Software or derivative works
                    thereof in other software applications developed by NCD,
                    provided that:

<PAGE>

                    (a)  NCD shall not distribute any application in which more
                         than twenty-five percent (25%) of the Source Software
                         (as measured in lines of Source Code) or derivative
                         works of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the
                         Source Software (as measured in lines of Source Code)
                         is embedded;

                    (b)  the Source Software or derivatives thereof comprises
                         less than fifteen percent (15%) of the lines of Source
                         Code in any application in which it is embedded; and 

                    (c)  NCD shall not use components of the Source Software
                         that perform functionality covered by claims of the
                         AutoPilot Patent Application.

          2.2.3     NCD may use the Source Software to create modified versions
                    of the Binary Software provided by FTP in the event such
                    Binary Software contains an error (as reasonably agreed by
                    the parties) and FTP, after written notification by NCD, is
                    unwilling to modify the Binary Code in a time frame
                    reasonably acceptable to NCD; provided that NCD shall
                    provide and assign the rights to all such modifications to
                    FTP as soon as reasonably practical after completion
                    thereof. 

          2.2.4     Any time after the first anniversary of the Effective Date,
                    and until the second anniversary of the Effective Date, NCD
                    may remove the restrictions set forth in Section 2.2.1,
                    2.2.2 and 2.2.3 above for a one time payment of two million
                    dollars ($2,000,000).

     2.3  BINARY CODE.  FTP grants to NCD a perpetual, non-exclusive, world-
          wide, fully paid, license to use, publicly perform, publicly display,
          copy, sell and distribute, the Binary Software; provided that NCD
          shall be allowed to sell and distribute the Binary Software only if
          the Binary Software is bundled with NCD software that has significant
          added value. For the purposes of this Section 2.3 "significant added
          value" shall mean software that has a list price of at least fifty
          percent (50%) of the list price of the Mariner Product.

          2.3.1     FTP and NCD will use commercially reasonable efforts to
                    reach agreement on specifications and a delivery schedule
                    for APIs for the Binary Software.  In the event the parties
                    are unable to reach a reasonable agreement on the
                    specifications or delivery schedule with respect to any
                    item, FTP will hire an independent contractor to complete
                    such work at FTP's offices.  Such independent contractor
                    shall promptly provide to NCD, at NCD's request, reports on
                    the status of the work, including but not limited to reports
                    on costs and expenses incurred to date, projections of costs
                    and expenses for future work and estimates of the percentage
                    of work completed.  NCD, in NCD's sole



<PAGE>

                    discretion, upon ten (10) days written notice to FTP may 
                    decline to contribute its share of costs for such 
                    contractor and FTP may then terminate the engagement of 
                    the contractor or fund the development itself, in which 
                    case NCD shall have no further obligation for costs 
                    incurred after such ten (10) day period and FTP shall have 
                    no further obligation to complete such work.  NCD shall be 
                    responsible for all costs and expenses related to such 
                    work; provided that FTP will reimburse NCD for fifty 
                    percent (50%) of such costs and expenses, up to a maximum 
                    of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).  In the event 
                    the parties reach agreement on the specifications and 
                    delivery schedule and FTP advises NCD that it will be 
                    unable to meet such specifications (unless it is 
                    unfeasible to meet such specifications, or, if George 
                    Cowsar and David Korn have not joined FTP (either as a 
                    consultant or employee) or are not at FTP six (6) months 
                    after the Effective Date, or will miss such delivery 
                    schedule by more than thirty (30) days, FTP will hire an 
                    independent contractor to complete such work and will be 
                    responsible for reasonable costs and expenses.

          2.3.2     FTP will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver
                    updated Binary Code to NCD in accordance with the
                    specifications and delivery schedule agreed to by the
                    parties in 2.3.1 above.  Upon delivery, such updates shall
                    become part of the Binary Software.

          2.3.3     During the 1996 calendar year, FTP will provide to NCD all
                    bug fixes, error corrections, and enhancements developed by
                    FTP, which FTP, in its sole discretion makes generally
                    available to its other customers, which will become part of
                    the Binary Software upon delivery, provided that FTP will in
                    its sole discretion either:

                    a)   Remove all segments of code that FTP does not have the
                    right to license to NCD; provided that nothing shall
                    obligate FTP to acquire such license for NCD; or

                    b)   License to NCD a product that contains some or all
                    third party technology licensed by FTP, at a reasonable
                    price to be determined by FTP in its sole discretion.  If
                    NCD chooses not to obtain such a license, FTP shall provide
                    an update as set forth in 2.3.3(b) above.

          2.3.4     During the 1996 calendar year, FTP will provide level three
                    technical support (as standardly provided by FTP to its
                    other OEM customers) to NCD for the Binary Software,
                    however, NCD shall be solely responsible for providing
                    customer support to its customers (at the level normally
                    provided by FTP's OEM customers). 

          2.3.5     NCD shall have no right to reverse assemble or decompile the
                    Binary Software or updates thereto.

<PAGE>

          2.3.6     FTP will offer technical support (at least at the level
                    described in 2.3.4 above) and upgrades to NCD after 1996 at
                    FTP's then current rates for so long as NCD purchases
                    technical support without interruption.

     2.4  AUTOPILOT PATENT RIGHTS

          2.4.1     After the first anniversary of the Effective Date, FTP will
                    grant to NCD a worldwide, fully-paid, royalty free,
                    perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive license, with no right
                    to sublicense, under the AutoPilot Patent Rights to use,
                    make, have made, import, sell and distribute, products that
                    are covered by a claim set forth in the AutoPilot Patent
                    Application.

          2.4.2     NCD agrees that it will not develop, distribute or sell any
                    software that is covered by a claim of the AutoPilot Patent
                    Application before the first anniversary of the Effective
                    Date, other than as permitted by the license granted under
                    Section 2.3 above.

          2.4.3     If FTP enters into an agreement with a third party, in which
                    FTP licenses the third party under the AutoPilot Patent
                    Rights, and where NCD has played a significant role in
                    bringing the third party business opportunity to FTP's
                    attention, then NCD shall be entitled to a fee equal to five
                    percent (5%) of FTP's net revenues from such transaction.

III. CONSIDERATION.

     3.1  SOURCE LICENSE.  In consideration of the rights and licenses granted
          to NCD in Section 2.2 above, NCD shall pay to FTP a license fee of one
          and one half million dollars ($1,500,000) on the Effective Date.

     3.2  BINARY LICENSE.  In consideration of the rights and licenses granted
          to NCD in Section 2.3 above, NCD shall pay to FTP a license fee of one
          million dollars ($1,000,000) on the Effective Date.

IV.  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND INDEMNIFICATION.

     4.1  NCD.  NCD represents and warrants that: (i) the Z-Mail Modules do not
          infringe the copyright or trade secrets of any third party; (ii) to
          the best knowledge of NCD, the Z-Mail Modules do not infringe any
          third party patent or trademark; (iii) NCD has the right and authority
          to enter into this Agreement and grant the rights and licenses
          hereunder; (iv) NCD has not granted, and neither will grant in the
          future, any rights in the Z-Mail Modules that are inconsistent with
          the rights and licenses granted to FTP herein; and (v) NCD will not
          assert against FTP's use, manufacture or sale of products derived from
          the Z-mail modules any rights in any patent or patent application, the

<PAGE>

          claims of which would cover the Z-Mail Modules and hereby licenses FTP
          the non-exclusive right under such patents to make, have made, use,
          import, export, distribute and sell such products but without any
          express, implied or statutory warranty of non-infringement.

     4.2  FTP.  FTP represents and warrants that: (i) software and code provided
          by FTP to NCD pursuant to this Agreement, including but not limited to
          updates, bug fixes, error corrections, and enhancements, do not
          infringe the copyright or trade secrets of any third party, except to
          the extent that such infringement arises out of or results from
          software or code provided by NCD to FTP pursuant to this Agreement or
          the Asset Purchase Agreement; (ii)  to the best knowledge of FTP,
          software and code provided by FTP to NCD pursuant to this Agreement,
          including but not limited to updates, bug fixes, error corrections,
          and enhancements, do not infringe any third party patent or trademark,
          except to the extent that such infringement arises out of or results
          from software or code provided by NCD to FTP pursuant to this
          Agreement or the Asset Purchase Agreement or specifications provided
          by NCD; (iii) it has the right and authority to enter into this
          Agreement and grant the rights and licenses hereunder; and (iv) FTP
          has not granted, and neither will grant in the future, any rights in
          the Source Software or Binary Software that are inconsistent with the
          rights and licenses granted to NCD herein.

     4.3  INDEMNIFICATION BY NCD.  NCD agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold FTP
          harmless against any loss, liability, and expense (including
          reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from any breach of the
          representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1 above.  FTP
          agrees to provide NCD with (i) prompt written notice of such claim or
          action, (ii) control and authority over the defense or settlement of
          such claim or action, and (iii) proper and full information and
          reasonable assistance to defend and/or settle any such claim or
          action.

     4.4  INDEMNIFICATION BY FTP.  FTP agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold NCD
          harmless against any loss, liability, and expense (including
          reasonable attorneys' fees arising from any breach of the
          representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.2 above.  NCD
          agrees to provide FTP with (i) prompt written notice of such claim or
          action, (ii) control and authority over the defense or settlement of
          such claim or action, and (iii) proper and full information and
          reasonable assistance to defend and/or settle any such claim or
          action.

     4.5  DISCLAIMER.  EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SOURCE CODE,
          BINARY CODE AND Z-MAIL MODULES ARE PROVIDED "AS-IS".  NEITHER PARTY
          MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THOSE EXPRESSLY
          STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND SPECIFICALLY, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH IN
          THIS SECTION 4, DISCLAIMS THE EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES
          OF

<PAGE>

          MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

V.     CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

     5.1  GENERAL.  The parties may, from time to time, in connection with this
          Agreement, disclose to each other Confidential Information. 
          "Confidential Information" shall mean any information disclosed in
          writing by a party to this Agreement to any of the other parties to
          this Agreement, and marked by the disclosing party with the legend
          "CONFIDENTIAL" or other similar legend sufficient to identify such
          information as confidential proprietary information of the disclosing
          party.  Neither party shall use any Confidential Information of the
          other party except as expressly authorized under this Agreement, and
          each party will use best efforts to prevent the disclosure of the
          other party's Confidential Information to third parties; provided that
          the parties may disclose Confidential Information, with similar
          protections in place, to the extent reasonably necessary to exploit
          the rights and license granted to such party hereunder (including the
          rights to grant and authorize sublicenses); and provided further that
          the recipient party's obligations under this Article V shall not apply
          to Confidential Information that:

          5.1.1     is disclosed orally; provided, however, that the recipient
                    party's obligations under this Article V shall apply to
                    information disclosed orally if such information is
                    confirmed in writing as "CONFIDENTIAL" by the disclosing
                    party within thirty (30) days after disclosure thereof;

          5.1.2     is in the recipient party's possession at the time of
                    disclosure thereof;

          5.1.3     is or later becomes part of the public domain through no
                    fault of the recipient party;

          5.1.4     is received from a third party having no obligations of
                    confidentiality to the disclosing party;

          5.1.5     is developed independently by the recipient party without
                    reliance upon or use of the disclosing party's Confidential
                    Information; or

          5.1.6     is required by law or regulation to be disclosed; provided,
                    however, that the party subject to such disclosure
                    requirement has provided written notice to the other party
                    promptly to enable such other party to seek a protective
                    order or otherwise prevent disclosure of such Confidential
                    Information.

     5.2  SECURITY.  NCD agrees to use the Source Software under carefully
          controlled conditions for the purposes set forth in this Agreement,
          and to inform all employees who are given access to the Source
          Software by NCD that such materials are confidential trade secrets of
          FTP and are licensed to NCD as such.  NCD shall restrict 

<PAGE>

          access to the Source Software to those employees and Contractors of 
          NCD who have agreed to be bound by a confidentiality obligation 
          which incorporates the protections and restrictions substantially as 
          set forth herein, and who have a need to know in order to carry out 
          the purposes of this Agreement.  NCD will either store the Source 
          Software in a locked room or otherwise restrict access to such 
          materials to persons specifically authorized by NCD and having a 
          specific need to access such Source Software to perform their 
          assigned tasks, provided that such safeguards shall in no event be 
          less than reasonable or less than the industry standard.  NCD agrees 
          to make a reasonable effort to log access to the Source Software.  
          Upon request by FTP, NCD shall provide FTP with the names of all 
          individuals who have accessed such materials, and shall take all 
          actions reasonably required to recover any such materials in the 
          event of loss or misappropriation, or to otherwise prevent their 
          unauthorized disclosure or use.  NCD shall be fully responsible for 
          the conduct of all its employees, Contractors, agents and 
          representatives who may in any way breach this Agreement. 

     5.3  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  Each party acknowledges that any breach of any of
          its obligations under this Article V is likely to cause or threaten
          irreparable harm to the other party, and, accordingly, each party
          agrees that in such event the non-breaching party shall be entitled to
          seek equitable relief to protect its interests, including but not
          limited to, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, as well as
          money damages.

VI.    TERM.  

     6.1  TERM.     This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and
          remain in effect in perpetuity unless terminated under Section 6.2
          below.

     6.2  TERMINATION.  FTP may terminate this Agreement in full or in part
          upon: (A) thirty (30) days notice in the event of any material default
          in, or material breach of, any of the terms and conditions of Sections
          2.2, 2.3 or 2.4 of this Agreement by NCD if such breach is not cured
          within such thirty (30) day period;  (B) the commencement of a
          voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization
          or other relief with respect to NCD of its debts under any bankruptcy,
          insolvency, corporation or other similar law now or hereafter in
          effect, that authorizes the reorganization or liquidation of NCD or
          its debt or the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
          custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of
          its property; (C) NCD's consent to any such relief or to the
          appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an
          involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it; or
          (D) NCD's making a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
          either party's becoming insolvent; or either party taking any
          corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing.

     6.3  SURVIVAL.  Sections 2.1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any
          termination of this Agreement.  Termination of NCD's rights shall not
          affect the rights of NCD's end user sublicenses rightfully sublicensed
          during the term hereof.

<PAGE>

VII. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY
     
     UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, OTHER THAN AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTIONS 4.3, 4.4 AND
5 ABOVE, SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY LOST DATA, LOST
PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (EVEN IF THAT PARTY HAS BEEN
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS
OF REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR LOST BUSINESS.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE
FOREGOING, THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF EITHER PARTY TO THE OTHER FOR DAMAGES, OTHER
THAN UNDER SECTIONS 4.3, 4.4  AND 5, FOR ANY AND ALL OTHER CAUSES WHATSOEVER,
REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, SHALL
BE LIMITED TO NET PURCHASE PRICE SET FORTH IN THE ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

VIII.       GENERAL

     8.1  ASSIGNMENT AND SUBLICENSING.  NCD's licenses with respect to the
          Source Software and Binary Software granted under Sections 2.2 and 2.3
          above may not be assigned or sublicensed to a third party except in
          connection with a merger, acquisition, sale of substantially all
          assets related to a product line, or other such similar transaction,
          provided that any such assignment during the first year after the
          Effective Date shall be subject to FTP's consent which shall not be
          unreasonably withheld.  This Section 8.1 shall not limit NCD's sale or
          sublicense of  NCD applications that contain less than five percent
          (5%) of the Source Software. 

     8.2  PATENT MARKING.  NCD agrees to mark permanently and legibly all
          products and associated documentation used or sold by NCD that are
          covered by the AutoPilot Patent Rights, with such patent notice as may
          be permitted or required under Title 35, United States Code.

     8.3  COMPLETE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement, the exhibits attached hereto, and
          the Asset Purchase Agreement, constitute the entire understanding and
          only agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter
          hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, representations,
          agreements, and understandings, written or oral, that the parties may
          have reached with respect to the subject matter hereof.  No agreements
          altering or supplementing the terms hereof may be made except by means
          of a written document signed by the duly authorized representatives of
          each of the parties hereto.

     8.4  FORCE MAJEURE.  In the event either party hereto is prevented from or
          delayed in the performance of any of its obligations hereunder by
          reason of acts of God, war, strikes, riots, storms, fires, or any
          other cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable control of

<PAGE>

          the party, the party so prevented or delayed shall be excused from 
          the performance of any such obligation to the extent and during the 
          period of such prevention or delay.

     8.5  NOTICES.  Any payment, notice or other communication this Agreement
          requires or permits either party to give must be in writing to the
          appropriate address given below, or to such other address as one party
          designates by written notice to the other party. The parties deem
          payment, notice or other communication to have been properly given and
          to be effective (a) on the date of delivery if delivered in person;
          (b) on the fourth day after mailing if mailed by first-class mail,
          postage paid; (c) on the second day after delivery to an overnight
          courier service such as Federal Express, if sent by such a service; or
          (d) upon confirmed transmission by facsimile.  The parties' addresses
          are as follows:

          To NCD:

          Network Computing Device, Inc.
          350 N. Bernado Avenue
          Mountain View, CA 94043
          Fax:  (415) 961-7711
          Attn:  General Counsel

          Copy to:   Dennis C. Sullivan, Esq.
                     Gray, Cary, Ware & Freidenrich
                     400 Hamilton Avenue
                     Palo Alto, CA  94301
                     Fax:  (415) 327-3699

          To FTP:
          
          FTP Software, Inc.
          100 Brickstone Square, 5th Floor
          Andover, MA  01810
          Fax:  (508) 659-6162
          Attn:  General Counsel

     8.6  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
          interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of California,
          without regard for any choice or conflict of laws rule or principle
          that would result in application of the domestic substantive law of
          any other jurisdiction, except that, with respect to matters of law
          concerning the internal corporate affairs of any party to this
          Agreement, the law of the jurisdiction of formation of such party
          shall govern; and provided further that all questions with respect to
          validity of any patents or patent applications shall be determined in
          accordance with the laws of the respective country in which such
          patents or patent applications shall have been granted or filed, as
          applicable.

<PAGE>

     8.7  NO WAIVER.  A waiver, express or implied, by either party of any right
          under this Agreement or of any failure to perform or breach hereof by
          the other party hereto shall not constitute or be deemed to be a
          waiver of any other right hereunder or of any other failure to perform
          or breach hereof by such other party, whether of a similar or
          dissimilar nature thereto.

     8.8  HEADINGS.  Headings included herein are for convenience only, do not
          form a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in any way to
          construe or interpret this Agreement.

     8.9  SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be found by a
          court of competent jurisdiction to be void, invalid or unenforceable,
          the same shall be reformed to comply with applicable law or stricken
          if not so reformable, so as not to affect the validity or
          enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement, provided that the
          reformation complies with the intent of the parties.

     8.10 COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
          which shall be deemed an original, but which together shall constitute
          one and the same instrument.

<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized
representatives to execute this Agreement.

Network Computing Devices, Inc. ("NCD")      FTP Software, Inc. ("FTP")


By:       /s/ JACK BRADLEY             By:     /S/ DOUGLAS F. FLOOD
   ----------------------------------     ----------------------------------

Name:    JACK BRADLEY                  Name:  DOUGLAS F. FLOOD
     --------------------------------       --------------------------------

Title:   CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER       Title: SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
      -------------------------------        -------------------------------


NCD Software Corporation

By:         /s/  JACK BRADLEY
   ----------------------------------

Name:     JACK BRADLEY
     --------------------------------

Title:    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
      -------------------------------


<PAGE>

                           NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.

                                    Exhibit 11.1

                      Statement Regarding Computation of Shares

                       Used in Earnings per Share Computations

                       (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                      1996           1995
                                                 -----------    -----------
Primary:
  Weighted average common shares
     outstanding during the period                   16,260         15,659
  Common share equivalents:
     Dilutive effect of stock options                   --             916
                                                  ----------     ----------

        Total                                        16,260         16,575
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------

  Net income (loss)                                $    (260)     $     304
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------

  Primary income (loss) per share                 $   (0.02)     $    0.02
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------

Fully Diluted:
  Weighted average common shares
     outstanding during the period                   16,260         15,659
  Common share equivalents:
     Dilutive effect of stock options, including
        contingently issuable performance shares        --          1,420
                                                  ----------     ----------

        Total                                        16,260         17,079
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------

  Net income (loss)                               $    (260)     $  (1,002)
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------

  Fully diluted income (loss) per share           $   (0.02)     $   (0.06)
                                                  ----------     ----------
                                                  ----------     ----------


Note:    The difference between net income used for primary and fully diluted
         earnings per share calculations for the three-month period ended March
         31, 1995, is a result of the assumption that all financial performance
         objectives have been achieved, the maximum number of the remaining
         Performance Shares have been issued, and the maximum amount of
         remaining cash contingently payable has been paid, with a significant
         portion of the cash and the value of the Performance Shares allocated
         to in-process research and development and charged to operations.


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                          16,865
<SECURITIES>                                    16,684
<RECEIVABLES>                                   30,726
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,993
<INVENTORY>                                     19,702
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                87,871
<PP&E>                                          24,546
<DEPRECIATION>                                  17,873
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  99,031
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           29,430
<BONDS>                                            756
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        64,658
<OTHER-SE>                                       4,187
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    99,031
<SALES>                                         30,439
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                           22,100
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,186
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               (439)
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  (449)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (189)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              (260)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     (260)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.02)
        

</TABLE>


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