PREMISYS COMMUNICATIONS INC
DEF 14A, 1997-10-24
TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS
Previous: GENERAL ACCEPTANCE CORP /IN/, 8-K, 1997-10-24
Next: OPPENHEIMER ENTERPRISE FUND, NSAR-B, 1997-10-24



                        SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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


Filed by the Registrant    [X]

Filed by a party other than the Registrant   [ ]

Check the appropriate box:

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

                         PREMISYS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                ------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


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


Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

(4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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

(5)  Total fee paid:

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

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

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

(1)  Amount previously paid:

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

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

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

(3)  Filing party:

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

(4)  Date filed:

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



<PAGE>


                              [Premisys Letterhead]


                                November 7, 1997


To Our Stockholders:

     You are cordially invited to attend the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Premisys  Communications,  Inc. to be held at 48664 Milmont  Drive,  Fremont,
California 94538 on Wednesday, December 10, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. P.S.T.

     The  matters  expected to be acted upon at the  meeting  are  described  in
detail in the  following  Notice of Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  and Proxy
Statement.

     It is important  that you use this  opportunity to take part in the affairs
of your Company by voting on the business to come before this  meeting.  WHETHER
OR NOT YOU  EXPECT  TO ATTEND  THE  MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  DATE,  SIGN AND
PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE SO
THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. Returning the Proxy does not
deprive  you of your  right to attend  the  meeting  and to vote your  shares in
person.

     We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.


                                             Sincerely,

                                             /s/ Riley R. Willcox
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Riley R. Willcox
                                             Senior Vice President, Finance and
                                             Administration, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Secretary



<PAGE>


                          Premisys Communications, Inc.
                               48664 Milmont Drive
                            Fremont, California 94538

                                   -----------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                   -----------

To Our Stockholders:

     NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders of Premisys
Communications,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  will be held at  48664  Milmont  Drive,
Fremont, California 94538, on Wednesday,  December 10, 1997, at 1:00 p.m. P.S.T.
for the following purposes:

     1.  To elect directors of the Company,  each to serve until the next Annual
         Meeting of  Stockholders  and until his  successor has been elected and
         qualified or until his earlier  resignation  or removal.  The Company's
         Board of  Directors  intends  to present  the  following  nominees  for
         election as directors:

                    Boris J. Auerbuch            Gary J. Morgenthaler
                    Robert C. Hawk               Marino R. Polestra
                    Edward A. Keible, Jr.        Lip-Bu Tan
                    Raymond C. Lin

     2.  To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend the Company's  1994 Stock
         Option Plan to increase the number of shares of Common  Stock  reserved
         for issuance thereunder from 4,000,000 to 5,200,000.

     3.  To  ratify  the  selection  of  Price  Waterhouse  LLP  as  independent
         accountants for the Company for the current fiscal year.

     4.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
         or any adjournment thereof.

     The  foregoing  items of  business  are more fully  described  in the Proxy
Statement accompanying this Notice.

     Only  stockholders  of record at the close of  business on October 14, 1997
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.



                                             By Order of the Board of Directors

                                             /s/ Riley R. Willcox
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Riley R. Willcox
                                             Senior Vice President, Finance and
                                             Administration, Chief Financial 
                                             Officer and Secretary

Fremont, California
November 7, 1997

WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND
PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED  POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE SO
THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.



<PAGE>


                          PREMISYS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                               48664 Milmont Drive
                            Fremont, California 94538

                                   -----------

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                                   -----------


                                November 7, 1997

     The accompanying  proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of
Premisys Communications,  Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  for use
at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at 48664 Milmont
Drive, Fremont,  California 94538, on December 10, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. P.S.T. (the
"Meeting").  All  proxies  will be voted  in  accordance  with the  instructions
contained  therein and, if no choice is specified,  the proxies will be voted in
favor of the nominees and the proposals set forth in the accompanying  Notice of
Meeting and this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form
of proxy were first  mailed to  stockholders  on or about  November 7, 1997.  An
annual  report for the fiscal  year ended June 27,  1997 is  enclosed  with this
Proxy Statement.


                    VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

     Only  holders  of  record  of the  Company's  Common  Stock at the close of
business on October 14,  1997 will be  entitled to vote at the  Meeting.  At the
close of business  on October 14,  1997,  the Company had  25,374,406  shares of
Common  Stock  outstanding  and  entitled  to vote.  A  majority  of the  shares
outstanding on the record date will  constitute a quorum for the  transaction of
business.  Holders of the  Company's  Common  Stock are entitled to one vote for
each share held as of the foregoing record date.  Shares of Common Stock may not
be voted cumulatively.

     Directors  will be  elected  by a  plurality  of the votes of the shares of
Common  Stock  present  in person or  represented  by proxy at the  Meeting  and
entitled to vote on the election of directors. Proposals No. 2 and 3 require for
approval  the  affirmative  vote of a  majority  of the  shares of Common  Stock
present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote on
the  proposal.  All  votes  will be  tabulated  by the  inspector  of  elections
appointed  for the  Meeting who will  separately  tabulate,  for each  proposal,
affirmative and negative votes,  abstentions and broker  non-votes.  Abstentions
will be counted  toward the  tabulation of votes cast on proposals  presented to
the  stockholders  and will  have the same  effect  as  negative  votes.  Broker
non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of
a quorum for the  transaction  of business  but are not  considered  present and
entitled to vote with respect to that matter.

     In the  event  that  sufficient  votes in favor  of the  proposals  are not
received by the date of the  Meeting,  the persons  named as proxies may propose
one or more  adjournments  of the  Meeting to permit  further  solicitations  of
proxies. Any such adjournment would require the affirmative vote of the majority
of the  outstanding  shares  present  in person or  represented  by proxy at the
Meeting.

     The expenses of soliciting  proxies to be voted at the Meeting will be paid
by the  Company.  Following  the  original  mailing  of the  proxies  and  other
soliciting materials,  the Company and/or its agents may also solicit proxies by
mail,  telephone,  telegraph  or in person.  The  Company  has  retained a proxy
solicitation  firm,  Corporate Investor  Communications,  Inc., to aid it in the
solicitation  process and will pay a fee of  approximately  $7,500 to such firm.
Following the original  mailing of the proxies and



<PAGE>


other soliciting materials,  the Company will request that brokers,  custodians,
nominees and other record  holders of the Company's  Common Stock forward copies
of the proxy and other soliciting materials to persons for whom they hold shares
of Common  Stock and request  authority  for the  exercise  of proxies.  In such
cases, the Company,  upon the request of the record holders, will reimburse such
holders for their reasonable expenses.


                             REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES

     Any person signing a proxy in the form  accompanying  this Proxy  Statement
has the power to revoke it prior to the Meeting or at the  Meeting  prior to the
vote  pursuant  to the proxy.  A proxy may be  revoked  by a written  instrument
delivered  to the Company  stating  that the proxy is revoked,  by a  subsequent
proxy that is signed by the person who signed the earlier proxy and is presented
at the Meeting or by  attendance  at the  Meeting  and voting in person.  Please
note,  however,  that if a stockholder's  shares are held of record by a broker,
bank or other nominee and that  stockholder  wishes to vote at the Meeting,  the
stockholder  must bring to the Meeting a letter  from the broker,  bank or other
nominee confirming that stockholder's beneficial ownership of the shares.

                                       2

<PAGE>


                     PROPOSAL NO. 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     At the Meeting,  stockholders will elect directors to hold office until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their  respective  successors have
been  elected and  qualified or until such  directors'  earlier  resignation  or
removal. The size of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") is currently
set at seven members. Accordingly, seven nominees will be elected at the Meeting
to be the seven  directors of the Company.  In the election of  directors,  each
stockholder  is entitled to one vote for each share of Common  Stock held.  Each
share  represented by the  accompanying  proxy will be voted for the election of
the seven nominees recommended by the Board unless the proxy is marked in such a
manner as to withhold  authority  so to vote.  Shares of Common Stock may not be
voted  cumulatively.  If any nominee  for any reason is unable to serve,  or for
good  cause,  will not serve as a  director,  the  proxies may be voted for such
substitute  nominee as the proxy holder may determine.  The Company is not aware
of any  nominee  who will be unable to or, for good  cause,  will not serve as a
director.

<TABLE>
Directors/Nominees

     The names of the nominees, and certain information about them as of October
14, 1997, are set forth below:

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      Director
     Name of Nominee                Age                    Principal Occupation                         Since
<S>                                 <C>    <C>                                                          <C>
     Boris J. Auerbuch              51     Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of         1990
                                           the Company

     Robert C. Hawk                 58     Consultant                                                   1995

     Edward A. Keible, Jr.          54     President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of           1994
                                           Endgate Technology Corporation

     Raymond C. Lin                 43     Chief Executive Officer of the Company                       1990

     Gary J. Morgenthaler (1)(2)    49     General Partner of Morgenthaler Management Corporation       1992

     Marino R. Polestra (1)         40     General Partner of Alta Partners                             1992

     Lip-Bu Tan (2)                 38     General Partner of Walden Group                              1990

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

     Mr. Auerbuch has been Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer and
a Director of the  Company  since  co-founding  the Company in July 1990 and was
Senior Vice  President,  Engineering of the Company  between  September 1993 and
October  1996.  From  August  1979  to May  1990,  he held  various  engineering
positions with Telco Systems,  Inc. ("Telco"),  most recently as Vice President,
Engineering  between 1987 and May 1990.  Mr.  Auerbuch holds Bachelor of Science
and  Master  of  Science  degrees  in  electrical  engineering  from the  Moscow
Institute of Information and Technology, Russia.

     Mr.  Hawk has been a director of the  Company  since March 1995.  Since his
retirement  in April  1997,  Mr.  Hawk has  served as a  consultant  to  various
telecommunications  companies. From May 1996 until his retirement in April 1997,
Mr. Hawk served as President and Chief  Executive  Officer of US West Multimedia
Communications,  Inc., a telephony/cable  enterprise. From January 1988 to April
1996, he served as President of the Carrier Division of US WEST  Communications,
a division of US WEST. From April 1986 to December 1987, Mr. Hawk served as Vice
President  of Marketing at Mountain  Bell.

                                       3

<PAGE>


From August 1983 to March 1986,  Mr. Hawk served as Vice  President of Marketing
and Strategic Planning for the CXC Corporation,  a start-up  manufacturer of PBX
systems.  Mr. Hawk also serves as a director of PairGain  Technologies,  Inc., a
telecommunications  manufacturing  company,  and Xylan Corp, a  manufacturer  of
high-end  data  switches.  Mr. Hawk holds a Bachelor of Business  Administration
degree  from the  University  of Iowa and a Master  of  Business  Administration
degree from the University of San Francisco.

     Mr. Keible has been a director of the Company since  November  1994.  Since
January 1994, he has been President,  Chief Executive  Officer and a director of
Endgate Corporation, a telecommunications  equipment manufacturer.  From 1973 to
June  1993,  Mr.  Keible  held  various  positions  at Raychem  Corporation,  an
electronics  manufacturer,  most  recently as Senior Vice  President and General
Manager,  International  Sector.  Mr.  Keible holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
engineering science, a Bachelor of Engineering degree in materials science and a
Master of Engineering degree in materials  science,  all from Dartmouth College,
and a Master in Business  Administration  degree from  Harvard  University.  Mr.
Keible is also a director of the American Electronics  Association,  an industry
trade association.

     Mr. Lin has been Chief  Executive  Officer  and a director  of the  Company
since  co-founding the Company in July 1990. From April 1988 to May 1990, he was
Senior Vice President of Telco, a telecommunications  manufacturer,  and General
Manager of Telco Systems Network Access Corporation,  a wholly-owned  subsidiary
of Telco. Mr. Lin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil  engineering and a
Master of Science  degree in  geotechnical  engineering  from the  University of
California, Berkeley.

     Mr. Morgenthaler has been a director of the Company since March 1992. Since
November  1989,  he has  been  a  General  Partner  of  Morgenthaler  Management
Corporation,  a venture  capital firm. From 1984 to 1988, he was Chief Executive
Officer of INGRES Corporation, a relational database management systems company,
of which he was a founder.  Mr.  Morgenthaler holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
government from Harvard University.

     Mr.  Polestra  has been a director of the Company  since March 1992.  Since
February  1996,  Mr.  Polestra has been a General  Partner of Alta  Partners,  a
venture  capital  firm.  From  February  1989 to  February  1996,  he was a Vice
President of Burr,  Egan,  Deleage & Co., a venture  capital firm. Mr.  Polestra
holds a Bachelor  of  Science  degree in  mechanical  engineering  from  Cornell
University  and  a  Master  in  Business   Administration  degree  from  Indiana
University.  Mr. Polestra is also a director of Individual  Inc., an information
services  company,  and  Security  Dynamics  Technologies,  Inc., a designer and
developer of security products.

     Mr. Tan has been a director  of the  Company  since its  inception  in July
1990.  Since  1984,  he has been a General  Partner of Walden  Group,  a venture
capital firm. Mr. Tan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Nanyang
University,  Singapore,  a Master of Science degree in nuclear  engineering from
the   Massachusetts   Institute   of   Technology   and  a  Master  in  Business
Administration  degree from the  University of San  Francisco.  Mr. Tan has also
served as a director of Creative Technology Ltd., a multimedia products company,
Integrated Silicon Solutions, Inc., a semiconductor company, and JTS Corporation
since 1990, 1990 and 1995, respectively.

Board of Directors' Meetings and Committees

     The Board met twelve times,  including telephone conference  meetings,  and
acted by  unanimous  written  consent  once,  during  fiscal  1997.  No director
attended  fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the
Board (held during the period for which he was a director)  and the total number
of meetings held by all  committees  of the Board on which such director  served
(during the period that such director served).

                                       4

<PAGE>


     Standing  committees  of  the  Board  include  an  Audit  Committee  and  a
Compensation  Committee.  The Board does not have a  nominating  committee  or a
committee performing similar functions.

     Messrs.  Morgenthaler  and  Polestra  are the current  members of the Audit
Committee.  The Audit  Committee met seven times during  fiscal 1997.  The Audit
Committee  meets  with the  Company's  independent  accountants  to  review  the
adequacy of the  Company's  internal  control  systems and  financial  reporting
procedures; reviews the general scope of the Company's annual audit and the fees
charged by the independent accountants;  reviews and monitors the performance of
non-audit  services  by the  Company's  auditors;  reviews  the  fairness of any
proposed  transaction  between any officer,  director or other  affiliate of the
Company and the Company,  and after such review,  makes  recommendations  to the
full Board; and performs such further  functions as may be required by any stock
exchange or over-the-counter market upon which the Company's Common Stock may be
listed.

     Messrs.  Morgenthaler  and Tan are the current members of the  Compensation
Committee  which met three times and acted by  unanimous  written  consent  four
times during fiscal 1997. The Compensation Committee recommends compensation for
executive  officers and certain other  employees of the Company,  grants options
and stock awards under the Company's  employee  benefit plans (other than grants
to non-executive officers of options to purchase no more than 20,000 shares in a
fiscal year, pursuant to guidelines  established by the Compensation  Committee,
which may be made by Raymond Lin, a director and President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of the Company) and reviews and recommends adoption of and amendments to
certain stock option and employee benefit plans.

<TABLE>
Director Compensation

     Directors  of the  Company  do not  receive  cash  compensation  for  their
services but are reimbursed for their reasonable  expenses in attending meetings
of the Board of  Directors.  All members of the Board of  Directors  who are not
also  employees of the Company,  or of a parent,  subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company,  are eligible to receive  options under the 1995 Directors Stock Option
Plan (the "Directors Plan"). Each non-employee  director who was a member of the
Board on the effective  date (the  "Effective  Date") of the  Company's  initial
public  offering  of its  Common  Stock was  automatically  granted an option to
purchase 24,000 shares of Common Stock (as adjusted for the Company's 100% stock
dividend  effected in  December  1995) under the  Directors  Plan (the  "Initial
Grant"),  provided that such  directors had not previously  received  options by
virtue of being a member of the Board of  Directors.  On each  anniversary  of a
director's  Initial Grant (or the anniversary of the director's  election to the
Board in the case of  directors  who  received  options  prior to the  Effective
Date),  each  non-employee  director will be automatically  granted an option to
purchase  6,000 shares of Common Stock under the Directors  Plan.  During fiscal
1997,  the following  stock options to purchase  shares of the Company's  Common
Stock were granted under the Directors Plan:

<CAPTION>
     Optionee                                                      No. of Options      Option Exercise Price     Date of Grant
     --------                                                      --------------      ---------------------     -------------
<S>                                                                     <C>                 <C>                  <C>
     Edward Keible ......................................               6,000               $   51.00            Nov. 25, 1996

     Robert Hawk ........................................               6,000               $    8.06            March 17, 1997

     Gary Morgenthaler ..................................               6,000               $   10.25            April 7, 1997

     Marino Polestra ....................................               6,000               $   10.25            April 7, 1997

     Lip-Bu Tan .........................................               6,000               $   10.25            April 7, 1997

                                         THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF
                                                 EACH OF THE NOMINATED DIRECTORS
</TABLE>

                                                               5

<PAGE>


                  PROPOSAL NO. 2 - APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO THE
                             1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN


     Stockholders  are being asked to approve an amendment to the Company's 1994
Stock  Option Plan (the "1994  Plan") to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock reserved for issuance thereunder from 4,000,000 shares to 5,200,000 shares
(an increase of 1,200,000  shares).  The purpose of this  amendment is to secure
sufficient  additional  shares  under  the  1994  Plan so that the  Company  can
maintain a  competitive  equity  compensation  program.  The granting of options
under the 1994 Plan plays an important role in the Company's  efforts to attract
and retain  employees  of  outstanding  ability.  The Board of  Directors of the
Company (the "Board")  believes  that this increase of the shares  available for
future  equity  awards is  necessary  to ensure that the Company can continue to
meet its goals.

     The Board approved the proposed amendment to the 1994 Plan on September 18,
1997 to be  effective  on  stockholder  approval.  Stockholder  approval  of the
amendment  requires the affirmative vote of a majority of shares of Common Stock
of the Company that are present in person or  represented  by proxy and entitled
to vote at the Meeting.

     Below is a summary of the principal  provisions of the 1994 Plan,  assuming
approval of the above amendment.  This summary is not necessarily complete,  and
reference is made to the full text of the 1994 Plan.


                             1994 Stock Option Plan

Stock Option Plan History

     The Board  adopted the 1994 Plan in November  1994,  and it was approved by
stockholders  in  February  1995.  The  purpose of the 1994 Plan is to  attract,
retain and  provide  equity  incentives  to  selected  persons  to  promote  the
financial success of the Company through awards of stock options.  The 1994 Plan
was  amended by the Board in  September  1995 to  increase  the number of shares
reserved for issuance thereunder from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 shares (as adjusted
for the Company's 100% stock dividend  effected in December 1995.) The Company's
stockholders  approved this amendment in December 1995. As indicated  above, the
Board  approved a proposed  amendment to increase the number of shares  reserved
for issuance  thereunder to 5,200,000  shares in September  1997. The Board also
approved  certain  amendments  to the 1994 Plan on October  13,  1997 to reflect
certain  amendments  adopted to Section 16 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act, of
1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange  Act") since the initial  adoption of the 1994
Plan.

Shares Subject to the 1994 Plan

     An  aggregate  of  5,200,000  shares  (assuming  approval  of the  proposed
amendment)  of the Common Stock of the Company  have been  reserved by the Board
for issuance  under the 1994 Plan.  If any option  granted  pursuant to the 1994
Plan expires or terminates for any reason without being exercised in whole or in
part, the shares released from such option will again become available for grant
and purchase under the 1994 Plan.

     As of October 14, 1997,  479,855  options to purchase shares under the 1994
Plan have been  canceled or become  unexercisable  (excluding  options that were
amended  to effect  repricing).  Pursuant  to the terms of the 1994  Plan,  such
options  upon  cancellation  were  returned to the shares  reserved for issuance
under the 1994 Plan.

                                       6

<PAGE>


Administration

     The  1994  Plan  is  administered  by  the   Compensation   Committee  (the
"Committee"),  the members of which are  appointed by the Board.  The  Committee
currently  consists of Gary J.  Morgenthaler  and Lip-Bu  Tan,  both of whom are
"non-employee  directors",  as that term is defined  in the  Exchange  Act,  and
"outside  directors",  as that term is defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

     Subject to the terms of the 1994 Plan, the Committee determines the persons
who are to receive options, the number of shares subject to each such option and
the terms and  conditions  of each  such  option.  However,  Raymond  C. Lin,  a
director and  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Company,  is also
authorized  to make grants to  non-officer  employees  of options to purchase no
more than 20,000 shares in a fiscal year pursuant to guidelines  established  by
the Committee.  The Committee has the authority to construe and interpret any of
the  provisions  of the  1994  Plan or any  options  granted  thereunder,  which
interpretation is final and conclusive.

Eligibility

     Options  may be  granted  under  the  1994  Plan  to  employees,  officers,
directors, consultants and advisors of the Company, or any parent, subsidiary or
affiliate of the Company whom the  Committee  determines  have the  potential to
contribute to the future success of the Company (the  "Optionees").  The maximum
number of shares that may be issued to any one  Optionee  under the 1994 Plan is
1,000,000  shares.  As of October  14,  1997,  approximately  245  persons  were
eligible to receive options under the 1994 Plan,  305,599 shares had been issued
upon  exercise  of options and  3,423,111  shares  were  subject to  outstanding
options.  As of that date,  1,471,291  shares were  available  for future option
grants,  after taking into account the proposed  increase.  The closing price of
the  Company's  Common Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market as of that date was
$28.5625  per share.  The Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Company and the four
other most highly  compensated  executive  officers of the Company during fiscal
1997 (the "Named  Executive  Officers") have been granted options under the 1994
Plan to purchase  shares of Common  Stock as  follows:  Raymond C. Lin - 330,000
shares,  Riley R. Willcox - 160,000  shares,  Boris J. Auerbuch - 254,000 shares
and Antonio  Flores - 111,000 shares over the term of the 1994 Plan through June
27, 1997. In addition,  Nicholas  Williams,  the  Company's  President and Chief
Operating Officer,  and Andrew Aczel, Senior Vice President,  Engineering,  have
been granted options to purchase 300,000 and 230,000 shares, respectively,  over
the same period.  During that same time period,  the Company's current executive
officers  as a group have been  granted  options to  purchase  an  aggregate  of
1,610,859 shares, and all employees as a group,  other than executive  officers,
have been granted options to purchase an aggregate of 3,216,388 shares under the
1994 Plan.  During that same time period,  the  Company's  current  non-employee
directors as a group,  other than executive  officers,  have been granted 62,500
options under the 1994 Plan.  These shares  represent a grant made to one of the
Company's  directors  prior to its initial  public  offering.  As the  Company's
executive  officers and directors are eligible to  participate in the 1994 Plan,
they may have an interest in the  proposed  amendment  to increase the number of
shares authorized for issuance thereunder.

Stock Options

     Options granted under the 1994 Plan may be incentive stock options ("ISOs")
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code,  or  nonqualified  stock  options
("NQSOs");  however, only employees of the Company, or of a parent or subsidiary
of the Company,  may be granted ISOs. Options under the 1994 Plan have a maximum
term of ten (10) years after the date of grant for holders of 10% or less of the
outstanding  capital stock of the Company,  or any parent or  subsidiary's.  The
option  term is limited  to five (5) years for  holders of more than 10% of such
stock.

                                       7

<PAGE>


     The option  exercise price of an ISO granted under the 1994 Plan may not be
less than the fair  market  value (as  defined  in the 1994  Plan) of the Common
Stock of the Company on the date of grant,  except that for an option granted to
a person holding more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of capital  stock of the Company or of any parent or  subsidiary of the Company,
the  exercise  price must be not less than 110% of such fair market  value.  The
exercise  price of an NQSO granted  under the 1994 Plan may not be less than 85%
of the fair  market  value of the  Common  Stock of the  Company  on the date of
grant.  To date, the Company has not granted options under the 1994 Plan at less
than fair market value.

     The exercise of options  granted under the 1994 Plan,  plus any  applicable
income tax withholding,  may be paid (1) in cash (by check);  or where permitted
by law and approved by the  Committee,  in its sole  discretion,  at the time of
grant (2) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Optionee; (3) by
surrender of shares of the  Company's  Common Stock owned by the Optionee for at
least six months and having a fair market value on the date of  surrender  equal
to the aggregate  exercise price of the option; (4) by tender of a full recourse
promissory note; (5) by waiver of compensation due to or accrued by the Optionee
for services rendered; (6) by a "same-day sale" commitment from the Optionee and
a  broker-dealer  that is a member of the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers (a "NASD Dealer");  (8) by a "margin" commitment from the Optionee and a
NASD Dealer; or (9) by any combination of the foregoing.

Mergers, Consolidations, Change of Control

     In the event of a merger, consolidation,  dissolution or liquidation of the
Company,  the sale of  substantially  all the assets of the Company or any other
similar corporate transaction,  the successor corporation may assume, replace or
substitute  equivalent options in exchange for those granted under the 1994 Plan
or provide substantially similar consideration, shares or other property subject
to repurchase  restrictions  no less favorable to Optionees under the 1994 Plan.
In the  event  that  the  successor  corporation,  if any,  does not  assume  or
substitute the options, the options shall expire on such transaction at the time
and upon the conditions as the Committee determines.

Amendment of the 1994 Plan

     The Committee  may at any time amend or terminate the 1994 Plan,  including
amendment of any form of grant,  exercise agreement or instrument to be executed
pursuant to the 1994 Plan. However, the Committee may not amend the 1994 Plan in
any manner that  requires  stockholder  approval  pursuant  to the Code,  or the
regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  the  Exchange  Act or Rule  16b-3 (or its
successor) promulgated thereunder without obtaining such stockholder approval.

Term of the 1994 Plan

     The 1994 Plan will terminate in November 2004, ten (10) years from the date
the 1994 Plan was adopted by the Board.

Federal Income Tax Information

     THE FOLLOWING IS A GENERAL  SUMMARY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROXY  STATEMENT
OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX  CONSEQUENCES TO THE COMPANY AND OPTIONEES  ASSOCIATED
WITH STOCK OPTIONS  GRANTED UNDER THE 1994 PLAN. THE FEDERAL TAX LAWS MAY CHANGE
AND THE FEDERAL,  STATE AND LOCAL TAX  CONSEQUENCES FOR ANY OPTIONEE WILL DEPEND
UPON HIS OR HER  INDIVIDUAL  CIRCUMSTANCES.  EACH  OPTIONEE  HAS  BEEN,  AND IS,
ENCOURAGED  TO SEEK THE

                                       8

<PAGE>


ADVICE  OF  A  QUALIFIED  TAX  ADVISOR   REGARDING  THE  TAX   CONSEQUENCES   OF
PARTICIPATION IN THE 1994 PLAN.

     Incentive Stock Options.  The Optionee will not recognize income upon grant
of an ISO and will not incur tax on its exercise (unless the Optionee is subject
to the alternative minimum tax described below). If the Optionee holds the stock
acquired upon exercise of an ISO (the "ISO Shares") for more than one year after
the date the option was exercised and for more than two years after the date the
option was granted,  the Optionee  generally will realize long-term capital gain
or loss  (rather  than  ordinary  income or loss)  upon  disposition  of the ISO
Shares.  This gain or loss will be equal to the  difference  between  the amount
realized upon such disposition and the amount paid for the ISO shares.

     If the Optionee  disposes of ISO Shares prior to the  expiration  of either
required holding period described above (a  "disqualifying  disposition"),  then
gain realized upon such disqualifying disposition,  up to the difference between
the fair market  value of the ISO Shares on the date of  exercise  (or, if less,
the amount  realized on a sale of such  shares) and the option  exercise  price,
will be treated as ordinary income to the Optionee.  Any additional gain will be
capital gain,  taxed at a rate  dependent upon the amount of time the ISO Shares
were held by the Optionee.

     Alternative  Minimum Tax. The  difference  between the fair market value of
the ISO Shares on the date of exercise and the exercise  price is an  adjustment
to income for  purposes  of the  alternative  minimum tax (the  "AMT").  The AMT
(imposed to the extent it exceeds the  taxpayer's  regular income tax) is 26% of
an individual taxpayer's  alternative minimum taxable income (28% in the case of
alternative  minimum  taxable  income in excess of $175,000).  A maximum 20% AMT
rate applies to the portion of  alternative  minimum  taxable  income that would
normally be taxed as net capital gain.  Alternative  minimum  taxable  income is
determined by adjusting  regular  taxable income for certain  items,  increasing
that income by certain tax preference  items  (including the difference  between
the fair market value of the ISO Shares on the date of exercise and the exercise
price) and reducing this amount by the applicable  exemption  amount ($45,000 in
the case of a joint return,  subject to reduction under certain  circumstances).
If a  disqualifying  disposition  of the ISO Shares  occurs in the same calendar
year as exercise of the ISO,  there is no AMT  adjustment  with respect to those
ISO  Shares.  Also,  upon  a sale  of ISO  Shares  that  is not a  disqualifying
disposition,  alternative  minimum taxable income is reduced in the year of sale
by the excess of fair market value of the ISO shares at exercise over the amount
paid for the ISO Shares.

     Nonqualified  Stock  Options.  An Optionee  will not  recognize any taxable
income at the time a NQSO is granted.  However,  upon  exercise  of a NQSO,  the
Optionee generally must include in income as compensation an amount equal to the
difference  between the fair market value of the shares purchased on the date of
exercise and the Optionee's  exercise price. The included amount will be treated
as  ordinary  income by the  Optionee  and may be subject to income tax and FICA
withholding by the Company  (either by payment in cash or withholding out of the
Optionee's  salary).  Upon  resale  of the  NQSO  shares  by the  Optionee,  any
subsequent  appreciation  or  depreciation  in the value of the  shares  will be
treated as capital gain or loss.

     Maximum Tax Rates.  The maximum tax rate  applicable to ordinary  income is
39.6%.  Long-term  capital  gain  will be taxed at a  maximum  of 20%.  For this
purpose,  in order to receive long-term capital gain treatment,  the shares must
be held for more than eighteen months. Mid-term capital gains will be taxed at a
maximum of 28%. For this  purpose,  in order to receive  mid-term  capital gains
treatment, the shares must be held between one year and eighteen months. Capital
gains may be offset by capital  losses and up to $3,000 of capital losses may be
offset annually against ordinary income.

                                       9

<PAGE>


     Tax Treatment of the Company

     The Company will  generally be entitled to a deduction in  connection  with
the exercise of a NQSO by a domestic employee or director to the extent that the
Optionee  recognizes  ordinary income and the Company withholds tax. The Company
will be entitled to a deduction in connection with the disposition of ISO Shares
only  to  the  extent  that  the  Optionee   recognizes  ordinary  income  on  a
disqualifying disposition of the ISO Shares.

     ERISA

     The 1994  Plan is not  subject  to any of the  provisions  of the  Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA").


                    THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR APPROVAL
                 OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                        PROPOSAL NO. 3 - RATIFICATION OF
                           OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     The  Company  has  selected  Price   Waterhouse  LLP  as  its   independent
accountants  to perform  the audit of the  Company's  financial  statements  for
fiscal  1998,  and the  stockholders  are being asked to ratify such  selection.
Representatives  of Price  Waterhouse  LLP are  expected  to be  present  at the
Meeting,  will have the  opportunity  to make a statement at the Meeting if they
desire to do so and are  expected  to be  available  to respond  to  appropriate
questions.


                THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION
                    OF THE SELECTION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

                                       10

<PAGE>


         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

<TABLE>
     The following table sets forth certain information, as of October 14, 1997,
with respect to the  beneficial  ownership of the Company's  Common Stock by (i)
each stockholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of the Company's Common Stock,  (ii) each director and nominee,  (iii) the Chief
Executive  Officer of the  Company  and each of the  Company's  four most highly
compensated executive officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) who were
serving as executive  officers at the end of fiscal 1997  (together,  the "Named
Executive  Officers") and (iv) all current directors and executive officers as a
group.

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                     Percent of
                                                                                              Amount of             Outstanding
      Name of Beneficial Owner                                                         Beneficial Ownership(1)     Common Stock(1)
      ------------------------                                                         -----------------------     ---------------
<S>                                                                                             <C>                       <C>  
Amerindo Investment Advisors Inc.
Amerindo Investment Advisors, Inc. (Panama)
Amerindo Investment Advisors Inc. Profit Sharing Trust
Alberto W. Vilar
Gary A. Tanaka (2) .....................................................................        2,967,272                 11.7%

Putnam Investments Inc.
The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc.
Putnam Investment Management, Inc.(3) ..................................................        2,952,400                 11.6

Wisconsin Investment Board(4) ..........................................................        2,335,000                  9.2

Lip-Bu Tan
Pacven Investment Ltd.
Seed Ventures Limited (5) ..............................................................          720,730                  2.8

Raymond C. Lin (6) .....................................................................          661,279                  2.6

Boris J. Auerbuch (7) ..................................................................          365,296                  1.4

William J. Smith (8) ...................................................................          141,799                   *

Riley R. Willcox (9) ...................................................................           86,880                   *

Gary J. Morgenthaler (10) ..............................................................           54,815

Antonio Flores (11) ....................................................................           40,519                   *

Robert C. Hawk (12) ....................................................................           26,574                   *

Edward A. Keible, Jr. (13) .............................................................           26,314                   *

Marino R. Polestra (14) ................................................................            8,500                   *

All current executive officers and directors
 as a group (14) persons) (15) .........................................................        2,150,566                  8.5

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

(1)  Unless  otherwise  indicated  below,  the persons and entities named in the
     table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares
     beneficially  owned,  subject to community  property laws where applicable.
     Shares of Common Stock subject to options that are  currently  exercisable,
     or  exercisable  within  60 days of  October  14,  1997,  are  deemed to be
     outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding such options
     for the purpose of computing  the  percentage  ownership of such person but
     are not treated as outstanding  for the purpose of computing the percentage
     ownership of any other person.

(2)  Represents  2,764,994 shares held of record by Amerindo Investment Advisors
     Inc., an institutional  investment advisor ("Amerindo USA"), 200,278 shares
     held of record by Amerindo Investment Advisors,  Inc., a Panama corporation
     and institutional  investment  advisor ("Amerindo Panama" and collectively,
     with Amerindo USA, "Amerindo Investment"),  and 2,000 shares held of record
     by  the  Amerindo  Investment  Advisors  Inc.  Profit  Sharing  Trust  (the
     "Trust").  The address of

                                       11

<PAGE>


     Amerindo USA is One  Embarcadero,  Suite 2300,  San  Francisco,  California
     94111.  The address of Amerindo  Panama is Edificio  Sucre,  Calle 48 Este,
     Bella Vista,  Apartado  6277,  Panama 5. The address of the Trust is Gables
     International  Plaza, 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 524, Coral Gables,  Florida
     33134.  Messrs.  Alberto  Vilar and Gary Tanaka are directors and executive
     officers of  Amerindo  USA and  Amerindo  Panama and share  investment  and
     voting power over all shares owned by such entities.  Mr.  Villar,  as sole
     trustee of the Trust,  has sole investment and voting power over all shares
     owned by the Trust. The  aforementioned  entities filed a Form 13D with the
     Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 1997 with respect to the
     shares set forth herein and upon which the  information  included herein is
     based. Amerindo Investment and Messrs. Vilar and Tanaka disclaim beneficial
     ownership of the shares held by Amerindo  Investment.  Mr. Vilar  disclaims
     beneficial  ownership  of the shares held by the Trust except to the extent
     of his pecuniary interest therein.

(3)  Represents 2,290,900 shares held of record by Putnam Investment Management,
     Inc.  ("PIM")  and  661,500  shares  held of record by The Putnam  Advisory
     Company, Inc. ("PAC"). PIM and PAC are registered investment advisers under
     the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and are both wholly-owned  subsidiaries
     of Putnam Investments,  Inc. ("PI"). PI shares voting and dispositive power
     over shares held by PIM and PAC.  The address of each of PI, PIM and PAC is
     One Post Office Square,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02109. The  aforementioned
     entities filed a Form 13G/A with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on
     September  9, 1997 with  respect to the  shares  set forth  herein and upon
     which the information  included  herein is based.  PI disclaims  beneficial
     ownership of the shares held by PIM and PAC.

(4)  The address of the Wisconsin  Investment  Board is 121 East Wilson  Street,
     Madison, Wisconsin 53702. The Wisconsin Investment Board filed a Form 13F-E
     with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  July  31,  1997 as an
     institutional  investment  manager  with  respect  to the  shares set forth
     herein and upon which the information included herein is based.

(5)  Includes   565,116  shares  held  of  record  by  Pacven   Investment  Ltd.
     ("Pacven"),  114,404  shares  held  of  record  by  Seed  Ventures  Limited
     ("Seed"),  26,210 shares held by the Lip-Bu Tan and Ysa Loo Trust Agreement
     (the  "Trust"),  1,500 shares held by managed  retirement  accounts for the
     benefit  of Mr. Tan and 13,500  shares  subject to options  held by Mr. Tan
     which are  exercisable  within 60 days of  October  14,  1997.  Mr.  Tan is
     Chairman of Pacven and Seed and a trustee and beneficiary of the Trust. Mr.
     Tan disclaims  beneficial  ownership of all shares held by Pacven and Seed,
     except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in such entities. Mr. Tan is
     a director of the Company.

(6)  Includes  233,559 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14,  1997.  Mr. Lin is  President,  Chief  Executive  Officer and a
     director of the Company.

(7)  Includes  99,467 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14, 1997.  Mr. Boris Auerbuch is the Senior Vice  President,  Chief
     Technical Officer and a director of the Company.

(8)  Represents  82,791 shares held by William J. Smith,  785 shares held by Mr.
     Smith's wife,  and 58,223 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60
     days of October 14, 1997 held by Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith served as Senior Vice
     President,  Sales and  Marketing of the Company  until  October 1997 and is
     currently a sales and marketing advisor to the Company.

(9)  Includes  82,188 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October  14,  1997.  Mr.  Willcox is Senior  Vice  President,  Finance  and
     Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company.

                                       12

<PAGE>


(10) Represents 33,023 shares held by Gary M. Morgenthaler, 5,800 shares held by
     the  Morgenthaler  Management  Corporation  401(k)  Retirement Plan for the
     account of Mr. Morgenthaler,  2,492 shares representing Mr.  Morgenthaler's
     proportionate   interest  in  shares  held  by  the   Morgenthaler   family
     partnership  and 13,500 shares subject to options held by Mr.  Morgenthaler
     exercisable  with  60 days of  October  22,  1997.  Mr.  Morgenthaler  is a
     director of the Company.

(11) Represents 40,519 shares subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14, 1997.  Mr. Flores is Senior Vice  President,  Operations of the
     Company.

(12) Includes  25,574 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14, 1997. Mr. Hawk is a director of the Company.

(13) Includes  26,184 shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14, 1997. Mr. Keible is a director of the Company.

(14) Includes  7,500  shares  subject to options  exercisable  within 60 days of
     October 14, 1997. Mr. Polestra is a director of the Company.

(15) Includes the shares referenced in footnotes (5) through (7) and (9) through
     (14),  20,628  additional  shares and 139,031  additional shares subject to
     options exercisable within 60 days of October 14, 1997.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                       13

<PAGE>


                               EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The  executive  officers of the  Company,  and their ages as of October 14,
1997, are as follows:


     Name                        Age    Position
     ----                        ---    --------
     Raymond C. Lin              43     Chief Executive Officer and Director

     Nicholas J. Williams        50     President and Chief Operating Officer

     Andrew Aczel                46     Senior Vice President, Engineering

     Boris J. Auerbuch           51     Senior Vice President, Chief Technical 
                                        Officer and Director

     Antonio Flores              37     Senior Vice President, Operations

     Riley R. Willcox            57     Senior Vice President, Finance and
                                        Administration, Chief Financial Officer
                                        and Secretary

     Robert W. Dilfer            53     Vice President and Controller

     Robert A. Fyffe             43     Vice President, North America Sales

     Joseph L. Lias              40     Vice President, Marketing


     For  information  regarding the positions and offices with the Company held
by Messrs. Lin and Auerbuch,  please refer to the discussion  regarding nominees
for election as directors in "Directors/Nominees" under Proposal No. 1 above.

     Mr. Williams became the Company's  President and Chief Operating Officer in
April 1997.  Prior to joining the Company,  Mr.  Williams was Vice President and
General Manager,  International of Tellabs, Inc., a telecommunications equipment
manufacturing  company  ("Tellabs").  Before  joining  Tellabs in 1993,  he held
positions  as Vice  President  and General  Manager of the  Advanced  Technology
Division from 1992 to 1993 and Vice  President of North  American  Sales at AT&T
Paradyne Corporation (now Paradyne  Corporation) from 1984 to 1992. Mr. Williams
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Analysis from the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis.

     Mr.  Aczel  became the  Company's  Senior Vice  President,  Engineering  in
October 1996. Prior to joining the Company,  Mr. Aczel was the Chief Engineer of
the  Signaling  Server Group of Northern  Telecom,  Inc.,  a  telecommunications
company ("Nortel"), from October 1995 through October 1996, was Technology Prime
of another  business unit of Nortel from July 1993 through October 1995, and was
Director  of Product  Management  of the  Transmission  Division  of Nortel from
August  1991  through  July 1993.  Mr.  Aczel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Anthropology  from the  University  of  Toronto  and a Bachelor  of  Engineering
Sciences degree from the University of Western Ontario.

     Mr. Flores has been Senior Vice President,  Operations of the Company since
October 1997 and was its Vice  President,  Operations  from July 1991 to October
1997. From April 1989 to June 1991, he was Director of  Manufacturing  of Telco,
where he directed  both  domestic and offshore  production.  Mr.  Flores holds a
certificate  of  management  from  Mission  College and an  Associate of Science
degree in electronics from Monterey Peninsula College.

     Mr.  Willcox has been Senior Vice  President,  Finance and  Administration,
Chief  Financial  Officer and  Secretary of the Company  since April 1994.  From
October 1990 to March 1994,  he was Vice  President,  Finance,  Chief  Financial
Officer and Secretary of Network  General  Corporation,  a LAN  trouble-shooting
software  company,  and, from February 1985 to June 1990, he was Vice President,
Finance,  Chief  Financial  Officer and  Secretary of Cygnet  Systems,  Inc., an
optical  memory  subsystems  corporation.   Mr.  Willcox  holds  a  Bachelor  of
Industrial  Engineering  degree from the Georgia  Institute of Technology  and a
Master in Business Administration degree from Harvard University.

                                       14

<PAGE>


     Mr. Dilfer has been Vice President and Controller of the Company since July
1992.  From July 1980 to June 1992,  he held  various  controller  positions  at
Signetics  Corporation,  a semiconductor company. Mr. Dilfer holds a Bachelor of
Science  degree  in  industrial  engineering,  a Master  of  Science  degree  in
industrial engineering and a Master of Business  Administration degree, all from
Stanford University.

     Mr. Fyffe became the  Company's  Vice  President,  North  America  Sales in
October 1997 and was the Company's  Vice  President,  U.S.  Sales from July 1996
until  September  1997.  From  September  1990 to July  1993,  he was Area  Vice
President  of Sales of Telco.  Mr.  Fyffe holds a Bachelor  of Computer  Science
degree from ITT Technical Institute.

     Mr. Lias became the Company's  Vice  President,  Marketing in October 1997,
was the Company's Vice  President,  Business  Development  from April 1996 until
September  1997, and was the Company's  Director of Product Line Management from
March 1994 to April  1996.  Mr.  Lias  earned  his  Master of Science  degree in
Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, his Bachelor of
Science  degree  in  Electrical   Engineering  from  North  Carolina  A&T  State
University and his Master of Business  Administration  degree from Georgia State
University.


                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

<TABLE>
     The following  table sets forth  compensation  awarded to or earned or paid
for services  rendered in all  capacities to the Company by the Company's  Named
Executive Officers during fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997. This information  includes
the  dollar  values of base  salaries  and bonus  awards,  the  number of shares
subject to stock options granted and certain other compensation, whether paid or
deferred.

<CAPTION>
                                                     Summary Compensation Table

                                                                                                          Long-Term
                                                                                                         Compensation
                                                                              Annual Compensation           Awards
                                                                              -------------------           ------
                                                                                                          Securities      All Other
                                                                                                          Underlying    Compensation
Name and Principal Position                                     Year        Salary ($)    Bonus ($)(1)   Options(#)(2)    ($) (3)
- ---------------------------                                     ----        ----------    ------------   -------------   -----------
<S>                                                             <C>         <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>     
Raymond C. Lin .........................................        1997        $275,000        $110,213         230,000        $    800
Chief Executive Officer                                         1996         200,000         200,000         200,000           1,200
                                                                1995         160,000         102,976            --                 0

Riley R. Willcox .......................................        1997         185,000          37,072         120,000             800
Senior Vice President, Finance and                              1996         154,000         107,800          50,000           1,200
Administration and Chief Financial                              1995         140,000          67,578            --                 0
Officer

Boris J. Auerbuch ......................................        1997         180,000          35,082         110,000             800
Senior Vice President and Chief                                 1996         150,000          89,782         184,000           1,200
Technology Officer                                              1995         136,620          55,778            --                 0

William J. Smith (4) ...................................        1997         170,000          41,214         110,000             800
Former Senior Vice President, Sales and                         1996         143,000         121,237          90,000           1,200
Marketing                                                       1995         130,000          79,183            --                 0

Antonio Flores .........................................        1997         150,000          29,235          95,000             800
Senior Vice President, Operations                               1996         125,000          55,715          31,000           1,200
                                                                1995         100,450          33,264            --                 0

<FN>
- ------------------
(1)  Bonus  amounts in respect of the  fiscal  years  indicated  are paid in two
     installments  in the month of January of the  relevant  fiscal year and the
     month of July  following  the end of such fiscal year.  The Company did not
     pay a bonus in July 1997 for the second half of fiscal 1997.

(2)  Adjusted to reflect the 100% stock dividend effected in December 1995.

(3)  Represents the Company's 401(k) Plan matching contributions.

                                       15

<PAGE>


(4)  Mr.  Smith  resigned  as the  Company's  Senior Vice  President,  Sales and
     Marketing in October  1997 and  currently  serves as a sales and  marketing
     advisor to the Company.  The bonus amounts for Mr. Smith also include sales
     commissions earned during each of the indicated fiscal years.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     During fiscal 1997, the Company hired Nicholas J. Williams as its President
and Chief  Operating  Officer  and Andrew  Aczel as its Senior  Vice  President,
Engineering.   See   "Employment   Agreements"  for  a  description  of  certain
compensation arrangements between the Company and such executive officers.


                          Option Grants in Fiscal 1997

<TABLE>
     The following table sets forth information regarding option grants to Named
Executive  Officers  in  fiscal  1997.  In  accordance  with  the  rules  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission,  the table sets forth the hypothetical gains
or  "option  spreads"  that  would  exist  for the  options  at the end of their
ten-year term.  These gains are based on assumed rates of annual  compound stock
price  appreciation  of 5% and 10% from the date the options were granted to the
end of the option terms.

<CAPTION>
                                              Option Grants in Fiscal 1997

                                                   Individual Grants
                             ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Potential Realizable Value
                              Number of    Percent of Total                                 at Assumed Annual Rates of
                              Securities       Options                                     Stock Price Appreciation for
                              Underlying      Granted to                                         Option Term($)(2)
                               Options       Employees in  Exercise Price    Expiration      -----------------------
    Name                     Granted(#)(1)   Fiscal 1997(%)   Per Share         Date             5%              10%
    ----                     -------------   --------------   ---------         ----             --              ---
<S>                             <C>              <C>          <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>       
Raymond C. Lin........          160,000          6.82         $32.0000        8/21/2006      $3,219,940      $8,159,961
                                 70,000          2.98           8.1875        4/24/2007         360,435         913,414
William J. Smith......           80,000          3.41          32.0000        8/21/2006       1,609,970       4,079,981
                                 30,000          1.28           8.1875        4/24/2007         154,472         391,463
Riley R. Willcox......           80,000          3.41          32.0000        8/21/2006       1,609,970       4,079,981
                                 40,000          1.70           8.1875        4/24/2007         205,963         521,951
Boris J. Auerbuch.....           80,000          3.41          32.0000        8/21/2006       1,609,970       4,079,981
                                 30,000          1.28           8.1875        4/24/2007         154,472         391,463
Antonio Flores........           50,000          2.13          32.0000        8/21/2006       1,006,231       2,549,988
                                 45,000          1.92           8.1875        4/24/2007         231,708         587,195
<FN>
- -----------
(1)  The options shown in the table were granted at fair market value and become
     exercisable  with  respect to 2.083% of the shares for each full month that
     the optionee  renders  services to the Company after the date of grant. The
     options  shown in the table  will  expire ten years from the date of grant,
     subject to earlier termination upon termination of employment.

(2)  The assumed annual compound rates of stock price  appreciation  referred to
     in the foregoing  sentence are mandated by the rules of the  Securities and
     Exchange  Commission  and  do  not  represent  the  Company's  estimate  or
     projection of future stock prices.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     As indicated  above,  during  fiscal 1997,  the Company  hired  Nicholas J.
Williams as its  President and Chief  Operating  Officer and Andrew Aczel as its
Senior Vice  President,  Engineering.  The Company  granted  options to purchase
shares of Common Stock to both Mr.  Williams  and Mr. Aczel during  fiscal 1997.
The  details of these  grants are  discussed  in the report of the  Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors under the title "Stock Options."

                                       16

<PAGE>


      Aggregate Option Exercises in Fiscal 1997 and Fiscal Year-End Values

<TABLE>
     The following table sets forth certain information  concerning the exercise
of options by each of the Named Executive Officers during fiscal 1997, including
the aggregate  amount of gains on the date of exercise.  In addition,  the table
includes  the number of shares  covered by both  exercisable  and  unexercisable
stock options as of June 27, 1997.  Also  reported are values of  "in-the-money"
options that  represent  the positive  spread  between the  respective  exercise
prices of outstanding stock options and $15.75 per share,  which was the closing
price of the Company's Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
June 27,  1997.

<CAPTION>
                                                                          Number of Securities             Value of Unexercised
                                                                         Underlying Unexercised            In-the-Money Options
                                         Shares                        Options at Fiscal Year-End(#)       at Fiscal Year-End($)
                                       Acquired on        Value        -----------------------------       ---------------------
 Name                                  Exercise(#)    Realized($)(1)    Exercisable   Unexercisable     Exercisable    Unexercisable
 ----                                  -----------    --------------    -----------   -------------     -----------    -------------
<S>                                      <C>            <C>               <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>       
 Raymond C. Lin .................        221,354        $3,497,619        173,253        285,393        $1,735,539       $1,658,552

 Riley R. Willcox ...............         37,200         1,279,708         57,203        165,597           610,938        1,164,537

 William J. Smith ...............           --                --           83,539        137,155           941,952          802,788

 Boris J. Auerbuch ..............        123,412           859,137         67,802        165,908           541,374        1,027,766

 Antonio Flores .................         10,250           494,850         22,708         97,930           157,389          519,353
<FN>
- ----------
(1)  "Value  Realized"  represents the fair market value of the shares of Common
     Stock  underlying  the option on the date of  exercise  less the  aggregate
     exercise price of the option.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

     On  March  12,  1992,  Premisys  Holdings  Communications  Inc.  ("Premisys
Holdings")  entered into a Founders  Agreement  with Raymond C. Lin and Boris J.
Auerbuch,  which replaced  earlier  agreements  dated September 10, 1990 between
Messrs.  Lin and  Auerbuch  and  Premisys  Communications,  Inc.,  a  California
corporation.  This Founders Agreement  established  salaries for Messrs. Lin and
Auerbuch as officers  of the  Company  and  provided  for a bonus pool for those
founders and other key employees  through  fiscal 1995. In connection  with this
Founders Agreement, Premisys Holdings granted options to each of Messrs. Lin and
Boris Auerbuch to purchase  525,000 shares,  each with an exercise price of $.10
per share.  Vesting for the options  commenced on the officers' initial dates of
employment  with the  Company.  Such  options  are  fully  vested  and have been
exercised in full.  Finally,  the Founders  Agreement provides for three months'
severance pay at full salary except in limited  instances and prohibits them for
three years following termination of employment from interfering with any of the
Company's supply  relationships and from soliciting any employees of the Company
to leave.

     In  February  1994,  the  Company  hired  Riley R.  Willcox as Senior  Vice
President,  Finance,  Chief  Financial  Officer and  Secretary  of the  Company,
commencing on April 11, 1994. Mr. Willcox's  employment  agreement  provided for
the payment of an annual base salary through fiscal 1995,  participation  in the
management  incentive  bonus  program  commencing  in fiscal  1995 at 30% of his
salary,  and  comprehensive  medical,  dental,  life,  accident  and  disability
insurance  for him and his family.  In  addition,  it provided  for the grant of
certain  stock  options  that  vested 25% after his first  year of  service  and
monthly  thereafter  until fully vested after four years. The Company has agreed
to provide Mr.  Willcox with a nine month  salary  extension  and to  accelerate
vesting of his stock  options in the event his  employment  with the  Company is
terminated  due to an  acquisition  unless such  acceleration  is  precluded  by
certain accounting requirements.

                                       17

<PAGE>


     In September 1996, the Company hired Andrew Aczel as Senior Vice President,
Engineering  of the  Company,  commencing  on  October  21,  1996.  Mr.  Aczel's
employment  agreement  provided  for the  payment  of an annual  base  salary of
$160,000   through  fiscal  1997,   payment  of  a  signing  bonus  of  $25,000,
participation  in the management  incentive  bonus program  commencing in fiscal
1997 at 40% of his salary  contingent  upon the Company  meeting its fiscal 1997
objectives  and Mr. Aczel  meeting his  individual  goals.  With respect to this
bonus program  participation,  $32,000 of the bonus was  guaranteed  and paid in
January 1997. Mr. Aczel's employment  agreement also included payment of various
expenses  associated  with his  relocation to California,  including  $75,000 in
mortgage assistance to Mr. Aczel over three years. Mr. Aczel is also entitled to
participate in the other employee benefit  programs offered by the Company.  The
Company has agreed to provide Mr.  Aczel with a nine month  salary  extension in
the event his  employment  with the  Company is  terminated  without  cause.  In
connection with his initial employment, Mr. Aczel was also granted certain stock
options, as contemplated by the agreement.

     In April 1997,  the Company  hired  Nicholas J.  Williams as President  and
Chief  Operating  Officer of the  Company,  commencing  on April 21,  1997.  Mr.
William's employment agreement provided for the payment of an annual base salary
of $225,000 through fiscal 1997 and  participation  in the management  incentive
bonus  program  commencing  in fiscal 1998 at 40% of his base salary  contingent
upon the Company  achieving its goals for fiscal 1998. Mr. Williams'  employment
agreement  also  included  payment  of  various  expenses  associated  with  his
relocation to California,  including  $162,500 of mortgage  assistance over four
years.  Mr.  Williams is also  entitled  to  participate  in the other  employee
benefit programs offered by the Company. In addition,  the Company has agreed to
pay Mr.  Williams a total of  $1,300,000  on a  quarterly  basis over four years
($81,250 per quarter) as compensation for  relinquishing  certain unvested stock
options  granted to Mr.  Williams  by his prior  employer  so long as he remains
employed  with the  Company.  In  connection  with his initial  employment,  Mr.
Williams  was  also  granted  certain  stock  options,  as  contemplated  by the
agreement.

     In  September  1997,  the  Company  entered  into  a  part-time  employment
agreement  with  William  J. Smith in  connection  with his  resignation  as the
Company's  Senior Vice President,  Sales and Marketing.  The agreement  provides
that Mr.  Smith  will work  part-time  as a sales and  marketing  advisor to the
Company  beginning  November 1, 1997 for an annual salary of $42,500 and will be
entitled to a pro rated portion of the bonus and  commissions  earned during the
first half of fiscal 1998 during which he was fully employed by the Company. The
agreement provides that Mr. Smith remains entitled to certain employee benefits,
including the continued vesting of his outstanding stock options.  The agreement
restricts Mr. Smith from taking  consulting  arrangements with or serving on the
Board of Directors of competitors of the Company.


           COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs.  Morgenthaler and Tan. For a
description of transactions  between the Company and members of the Compensation
Committee and entities  affiliated with such members,  see the discussion  under
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" below.

                                       18

<PAGE>


                        REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     This Report of the Compensation Committee is required by the Securities and
Exchange  Commission and shall not be deemed to be  incorporated by reference by
any general  statement  incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any
filing under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  or under the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  except  to the  extent  that  the  Company
specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise
be deemed soliciting material or filed under such Acts.

     Final decisions regarding executive compensation and stock option grants to
executives are made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Committee").   The  Committee  is  composed  of  two  independent  non-employee
directors, neither of whom have any interlocking relationships as defined by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.  Although Mr. Lin and Mr. Willcox attend the
meetings of the Committee,  they do not participate in deliberations that relate
to their own compensation.

General Compensation Policy

     The  Committee  acts on  behalf  of the  Board  to  establish  the  general
compensation  policy  of the  Company  for all  employees  of the  Company.  The
Committee  typically reviews base salary levels and target bonuses for the Chief
Executive Officer ("CEO"),  other executive officers and certain other employees
of the Company at or about the  beginning  of each fiscal  year.  The  Committee
administers the Company's  incentive and equity plans,  including the 1992 Stock
Option Plan,  the 1994 Stock Option Plan,  the  Management  Incentive  Plan (the
"Incentive  Plan"), the Profit Sharing Plan and the 1995 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan. The Company no longer grants options under the 1992 Stock Option Plan.

     The Committee's  philosophy in compensating  executive officers,  including
the CEO, is to relate compensation directly to corporate performance.  Thus, the
Company's compensation policy, which applies to executive officers and other key
employees  of  the  Company,  relates  a  portion  of  each  individual's  total
compensation  to the Company profit  objectives  and  individual  objectives set
forth at the  beginning  of the  Company's  fiscal  year.  Consistent  with this
policy, a designated  portion of the  compensation of the executive  officers of
the Company is contingent on corporate  performance  and, in the case of certain
executive  officers,  is also based on the individual  officer's  performance as
measured against individual objectives  established under the Incentive Plan, as
determined by the Committee in its discretion.  Long-term equity  incentives for
executive  officers are effected through the granting of stock options under the
1994 Stock Option Plan.  Stock options have value for the executive  only if the
price of the Company's  stock increases above the fair market value on the grant
date and the executive  remains in the Company's  employ for the period required
for the shares to vest.

     The base salaries,  incentive  compensation  and stock option grants of the
executive  officers are  determined in part by the Committee  reviewing  data on
prevailing  compensation practices in technology companies with whom the Company
competes  for  executive  talent and by their  evaluating  such  information  in
connection  with the  Company's  corporate  goals.  To this end,  the  Committee
attempts to compare the  compensation of the Company's  executive  officers with
the  compensation  practices of comparable  companies to determine  base salary,
target  bonuses and target  total cash  compensation.  In addition to their base
salaries, the Company's executive officers, including the CEO, are each eligible
to receive cash bonuses under the Incentive  Plan and to participate in the 1994
Stock Option Plan.

     In preparing the performance  graph for this Proxy  Statement,  the Company
used the H&Q  Technology  Index ("H&Q Index") as its published  line of business
index as the Company  believes  that the H&Q Index is a good  indicator of stock
price  performance with respect to the Company's  industry.  The Company further
believes  that  the  data  reviewed  on  prevailing  compensation  practices  of

                                       19

<PAGE>


comparable  companies,  which include  certain  companies on the H&Q Index, is a
good benchmark with respect to executive compensation practices in the Company's
industry.

Fiscal 1997 Executive Compensation

     Base  Compensation.   The  Committee  reviewed  the   recommendations   and
performance  and market data outlined above and  established a base salary level
to be effective July 1, 1996 for each executive officer, including the CEO.

     Incentive Compensation.  Under the Incentive Plan, cash bonuses are awarded
to the  extent  that an  executive  officer  achieved  predetermined  individual
objectives and the Company met predetermined  profit objectives set by the Board
at the  beginning  of the year.  The CEO's  subjective  judgment of  executives'
performance  (other than his own) is taken into account in  determining  whether
those objectives have been satisfied. Cash bonuses to individuals are limited to
twice the amount of the relevant individual's target cash bonus.  Performance is
measured  at the end of the first half and the second  half of the fiscal  year.
For fiscal 1997,  the bases of  incentive  compensation  were Company  operating
profits,  which  represented  between  33% and  100% of an  individual's  target
incentive   compensation,   with  the  balance,  if  any,  based  on  individual
objectives,  depending on the individual executive. The targets and actual bonus
payments are determined by the Committee,  in its discretion.  Bonuses were paid
to the  Company's  officers  for the  first  half of  fiscal  1997 as  corporate
operating profit objectives were attained. However, no bonuses were paid for the
second  half of fiscal  1997 as Company  operating  profit  objectives  were not
achieved.

     Stock  Options.  Stock  options  typically  have been  granted to executive
officers  when the  executive  first joins the  Company,  in  connection  with a
significant  change  in  responsibilities,  to  provide  greater  incentives  to
continue their  employment  with the Company and to strive to increase the value
of the Company's Common Stock and, occasionally, to achieve equity within a peer
group. The Committee may, however,  grant additional stock options to executives
for other reasons.  The number of shares subject to each stock option granted is
within  the  discretion  of the  Committee  and is based on  anticipated  future
contribution and ability to impact corporate and/or business unit results,  past
performance or consistency  within the executive's peer group. The stock options
generally  become  exercisable  over a four-year  period,  with  initial  grants
vesting 25% after the first year and monthly thereafter.  Subsequent grants vest
monthly  for 48 months  beginning  one month from the date of the  grant.  Stock
options are generally  granted at a price that is equal to the fair market value
of the Company's  Common Stock on the date of grant. All options granted to date
have been granted pursuant to the above guidelines.

         In early fiscal 1997,  the Company  granted  stock options to executive
officers based largely upon targeted stock option grants for the satisfaction of
fiscal 1996 objectives. The Committee considered the factors described above, as
well as the number of options held by such executive  officers that would remain
unvested  at the end of fiscal  1997,  in  determining  the  targeted  number of
options  to grant,  and the  actual  number of  options  granted,  to  executive
officers upon achievement of corporate and individual performance objectives for
fiscal  1996.  The Company  also  granted  stock  options to its then  executive
officers  (other than Mr. Aczel and Mr.  Williams) in April 1997 after a decline
in the fair market  value of the  Company's  Common  Stock due to a  significant
revenue  shortfall  in the  third  quarter  of fiscal  1997.  As a result of the
decline in the Company's stock price, the options which had been granted earlier
in  fiscal  1997  to  the  Company's  executive  officers  had  exercise  prices
significantly  in excess of the Company's stock price at that time. In addition,
none of the options held by executive  officers had been repriced.  As a result,
the  options  which had been  granted  earlier in fiscal  1997 to the  Company's
executive  officers were not providing the  meaningful  incentives for continued
employment  with the Company or motivation  toward  increasing  the value of the
Company's  Common Stock which the  Compensation  Committee had intended when the
grants  were made.  The grant of options in April 1997 was  designed  to provide
this incentive and motivation.  In the cases of Messrs. Lin, Smith,  Willcox and

                                       20

<PAGE>


Auerbuch,  the  number of  options  granted in April 1997 were half or less than
half of the number of options  granted earlier in fiscal 1997 in connection with
the  satisfaction  of fiscal  1996  objectives.  The  shares  subject to options
granted to  Messrs.  Flores and Dilfer  were  approximately  the same  number of
shares  subject to  options as had been  granted  earlier in fiscal  1997.  Such
greater  number of options  was due in large part to the lower  level of options
remaining unvested held by such executive officers at such time. In addition, in
connection with their commencement of employment, initial grants of options were
made to Andy Aczel, the Company's Senior Vice President, Engineering, in October
1996 (80,000  shares at $51.00 per share) and Nicholas  Williams,  the Company's
President and Chief Operating  Officer,  in April 1997 (300,000 shares at $8.875
per share).  Mr. Aczel was also granted an option to purchase  150,000 shares on
March 31, 1997 at $8.00 per share.  This option  grant was made to Mr.  Aczel in
part because the Committee determined that, given the significant decline in the
price of the Company's  Common Stock since October 1996,  the options  initially
granted to Mr.  Aczel at such time did not provide a  meaningful  incentive  for
continued  employment with the Company or motivation toward increasing the value
of the Company's  Common  Stock.  This  subsequent  option grant was designed to
provide such incentive and motivation.  In addition,  this option grant was made
to recognize the significant  responsibilities assumed by Mr. Aczel with respect
to the Company's research and development efforts.

     Company  Performance  and CEO  Compensation.  Mr.  Lin's  base  salary  was
increased  from  $200,000 to $275,000  commencing  July 1, 1996.  The  Committee
recommended this increase to better align Mr. Lin's  compensation with that paid
by companies  comparable to Premisys,  based upon the Committee's review of data
on  the   compensation   practices  of  such  companies,   as  discussed  above.
Notwithstanding  such increase,  Mr. Lin's salary  remained in the last third of
the companies  reviewed by the Committee.  Based upon the criteria set forth for
fiscal 1997 under the discussion of Incentive  Compensation above, the Committee
awarded Mr. Lin incentive  compensation  of $110,213 for fiscal 1997. All of Mr.
Lin's incentive compensation was based upon attaining corporate operating profit
objectives for the first half of the 1997 fiscal year. No incentive compensation
was  awarded to Mr. Lin for the second  half of the 1997  fiscal year as Company
profit objectives were not achieved.  Mr. Lin's targeted incentive  compensation
was also based upon the  Committee's  review of the  compensation  practices  of
comparable  companies,  as discussed  above.  The Committee also granted Mr. Lin
options to purchase  160,000 shares of Common Stock in August 1996 in connection
in large  part with the  satisfaction  of fiscal  1996  objectives.  As with the
Company's  other executive  officers,  Mr. Lin was granted an option to purchase
70,000 shares of Common Stock in April 1997. As indicated above, this option was
granted to respond to the  decline in the  Company's  stock  price,  whereby the
options  which had been  granted  earlier in fiscal 1997 to Mr. Lin had exercise
prices  significantly  in excess of the  Company's  stock price at that time. In
addition,  none of the options held by Mr. Lin had been  repriced.  As a result,
the options  which had been  granted  earlier in fiscal 1997 to Mr. Lin were not
providing the meaningful incentives for continued employment with the Company or
motivation  toward  increasing the value of the Company's Common Stock which the
Compensation  Committee  had  intended  when the grants were made.  The grant of
options to Mr. Lin in April 1997 was  designed  to provide  this  incentive  and
motivation.

     Compliance  with Section  162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986. The
Company  intends  to  comply  with the  requirements  of  Section  162(m) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986 for  fiscal  1998.  The 1994 Plan is  already in
compliance  with  Section  162(m) by limiting  stock  awards to named  executive
officers. The Company does not expect cash compensation for 1998 to be in excess
of $1,000,000 or consequently affected by the requirements of Section 162(m).

     Stock Option  Repricing.  In April 1997, the Board of Directors  offered to
all  employees  (except  the  then  executive   officers  of  the  Company)  the
opportunity to amend  outstanding  options granted under the 1994 Plan to adjust
the exercise price of such options to the closing price of the Company's  Common
Stock on April 22, 1997  ($8.1875  per share) and to restart the vesting of such
options as of April 23, 1997, with vesting  thereafter at the rate of 1/48th per
month. The options  remained  otherwise  unchanged.

                                       21

<PAGE>



The option amendment was an  acknowledgment  of the importance to the Company of
providing  adequate  equity  incentives  to its  employees.  Stock options whose
exercise  prices are  significantly  above the trading  prices of the  Company's
Common  Stock do not  provide any  particular  compensatory  incentive  if a key
employee  is  considering  alternative  employment  opportunities.  The  renewed
vesting  period  included  in the  option  amendment  was  viewed  as a means of
retaining the services of valued  employees for a longer period of time and as a
way for the Company to receive  something in exchange  for the  repricing of the
options.

                                                       COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
                                                       Gary J. Morgenthaler
                                                       Lip-Bu Tan

                                       22

<PAGE>


                         COMPANY STOCK PRICE PERFORMANCE

     The stock price  performance  graph below is required by the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")  and shall not be  deemed  to be  incorporated  by
reference  by any  general  statement  incorporating  by  reference  this  Proxy
Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  except to the extent that the
Company specifically  incorporates this information by reference,  and shall not
otherwise be deemed soliciting material or filed under such Acts.

<TABLE>
     The graph below compares the  cumulative  total  stockholder  return on the
Common Stock of the Company on the effective date of the Company's  Registration
Statement with respect to the Company's  initial public offering (April 5, 1995)
to June 30,  1995,  June 28,  1996 and June 27, 1997 with the  cumulative  total
return on the Nasdaq Stock  Market and the  Hambrecht & Quist  Technology  Index
(assuming the  investment  of $100 in the Company's  Common Stock and in each of
the indexes on the date of the Company's  initial public offering,  reinvestment
of all  dividends and  adjustment  for the 100% stock  dividend  effected by the
Company in December 1995).

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

<CAPTION>

                   Premisys Communications, Inc.     Nasdaq Stock Market - US Index            H&Q Technology Index
                   -----------------------------     ------------------------------            --------------------
                  Market Price   Investment Value         Index    Investment Value         Index     Investment Value
                  ------------   ----------------         -----    ----------------         -----     ----------------
<S>                 <C>             <C>                  <C>          <C>                 <C>            <C>       
4/5/95              $  8.00       $ 100.00               261.644      $ 100.00              569.95       $ 100.00
6/30/95             $ 32.28       $ 403.52               299.244      $ 114.37              696.94       $ 122.28
6/28/96             $ 61.00       $ 762.50               391.360      $ 149.58              826.80       $ 145.06
6/27/97             $ 15.75       $ 196.88               462.031      $ 182.00            1,141.24       $ 200.23
</TABLE>

                                       23

<PAGE>


                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

     Since July 1, 1995,  there has not been, nor is there  currently  proposed,
any  transaction or series of  transactions  to which the Company (or any of its
predecessor  corporations)  was or is to be a party in which the amount involved
exceeds $60,000 and in which any director,  executive officer, or holder of more
than 5% of the  Company's  Common  Stock had or will  have a direct or  indirect
material  interest  other  than  normal  compensation  arrangements,  which  are
described under "Executive  Compensation" and "Employment  Agreements" above and
the transactions described below.


                  STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND REPORT ON FORM 10-K

     Proposals of  Stockholders  intended to be presented at the Company's  1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders  must be received by the Company at its principal
executive  offices no later than July 11,  1998 in order to be  included  in the
Company's Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to the meeting.

     The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission for the year ended June 27, 1997 is available without charge
by writing to or calling the Company's headquarters. Requests should be directed
to the Company's Investor Relations Department at 48664 Milmont Drive,  Fremont,
California 94538.


             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the
Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of
the Company's  Common Stock, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership with the SEC and the Nasdaq National  Market.  Such persons
are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section
16(a) forms that they file.

     Based  solely on its review of the copies of such  forms  furnished  to the
Company and written  representations  from the executive officers and directors,
the Company believes that all Section 16(a) filing requirements were met.


                                 OTHER BUSINESS

     The Board does not presently  intend to bring any other business before the
Meeting,  and,  so far as is known to the Board,  no  matters  are to be brought
before the Meeting  except as specified in the Notice of the Meeting.  As to any
business that may properly come before the Meeting, however, it is intended that
proxies,  in the form enclosed,  will be voted in respect  thereof in accordance
with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.


        WHETHEROR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE,
          DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE
            ENCLOSED POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE SO THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE
                          REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.

                                       24

<PAGE>


                                                                      Appendix A

                          PREMISYS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                             1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                          As Adopted November 16, 1994
                          As Amended September 13, 1995
                           As Amended October 13, 1997

     1. PURPOSE.  This 1994 Stock Option Plan (this "Plan") is  established as a
compensatory  plan to attract,  retain and provide equity incentives to selected
persons to promote the  financial  success of Premisys  Communications,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation, (the "Company").  Capitalized terms not previously defined
herein are defined in Section 21 of this Plan.

     2. TYPES OF  OPTIONS  AND  SHARES.  Options  granted  under this  Plan (the
"Options") may be either (a) incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning
of Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Revenue
Code"), or (b) nonqualified stock options  ("NQSOs"),  as designated at the time
of grant.  The shares of stock that may be  purchased  upon  exercise of Options
granted  under this Plan (the  "Shares")  are shares of the common  stock of the
Company $0.01 par value per share.

     3. NUMBER OF SHARES.  The  aggregate  number of Shares  that may  be issued
pursuant to Options  granted under this Plan is 5,200,000.*  Shares,  subject to
adjustment  as provided  in this Plan.  If any Option  expires or is  terminated
without being  exercised in whole or in part, the unexercised or released Shares
from such Options  shall be available  for future grant and purchase  under this
Plan.  At all times during the term of this Plan,  the Company shall reserve and
keep  available  such  number of  Shares as shall be  required  to  satisfy  the
requirements of outstanding Options under this Plan.

     4. ELIGIBILITY.  Options may be granted to employees,  officers, directors,
consultants  and advisers  (provided such  consultants  and advisers render bona
fide  services  not in  connection  with the offer and sale of  securities  in a
capital-raising  transaction)  of the  Company  or  any  Parent,  Subsidiary  or
Affiliate  of the  Company.  ISOs may be granted  only to  employees  (including
officers and  directors  who are also  employees)  of the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.  The Committee (as defined in Section 16) in its sole
discretion shall select the recipients of Options ("Optionees"). An Optionee may
be granted more than one Option under this Plan.  No Optionee  shall be eligible
to receive more than 1,000,000** Shares at any time during the term of this Plan
pursuant to the grant of Options  hereunder.  The Company may also, from time to
time,  assume  outstanding  options  granted  by  another  company,  whether  in
connection with an acquisition of such other company or otherwise, by either (i)
granting an Option under this Plan in  replacement  of the option assumed by the
Company,  or (ii)  treating the assumed  option as if it had been granted  under
this Plan if the terms of such  assumed  option  could be  applied  to an Option
granted under this Plan. Such  assumption  shall be permissible if the holder of
the assumed option would have been eligible to be granted an Option hereunder if
the other company had applied the rules of this Plan to such grant.

     5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.  The Committee shall determine  whether
each  Option is to be an ISO or an NQSO,  the  number of Shares  subject  to the
Option, the exercise price of the


- -----------------------
*    On March 13, 1995 a one-for-four reverse split of the Company's outstanding
     Common Stock (the  "Reverse  Split") was  effected,  reducing the number of
     shares reserved for issuance under the Plan to 1,000,000.  On September 13,
     1995, the Board  approved an increase in the number of shares  reserved for
     issuance under the Plan to 2,000,000,  which increase was later approved by
     the Company's stockholders. On December 12, 1995, a two-for-one stock split
     in the form of a 100% stock dividend was paid to the Company's stockholders
     of record as of November 22, 1995, increasing the number of shares reserved
     for issuance  under the Plan to 4,000,000.  On October 13, 1997,  the Board
     approved an increase in the number of shares  reserved for  issuance  under
     the Plan to 5,200,000.

**   Due to the  one-for-four  Reverse  Split and the 100% Stock  Dividend,  the
     number of shares an  Optionee  shall be eligible to receive is no more than
     1,000,000.


<PAGE>


Option, the period during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms
and conditions of the Option, subject to the following:

         (a) Form of Option Grant.  Each Option granted under this Plan shall be
evidenced by a written Stock Option Grant (the "Grant") in such form (which need
not be the same for each  Optionee)  as the  Committee  shall  from time to time
approve,  which  Grant  shall  comply  with  and be  subject  to the  terms  and
conditions of this Plan.

         (b) Date of Grant.  The date of grant of an Option shall be the date on
which  the  Committee  makes  the  determination  to grant  such  Option  unless
otherwise specified by the Committee.  The Grant representing the Option will be
delivered to each  Optionee  with a copy of this Plan within a  reasonable  time
after the granting of the Option.

         (c) Exercise  Price.  The  exercise  price of an NQSO shall be not less
than 85% of the  Fair  Market  Value of the  Shares  on the date the  Option  is
granted.  The  exercise  price of an ISO shall be not less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is granted. The exercise price
of any Option  granted to a person  owning  more than l0% of the total  combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or  Subsidiary
of the Company  ("Ten Percent  Stockholder")  shall not be less than 110% of the
Fair   Market   Value  of  the  Shares  on  the  date  the  Option  is  granted.
Notwithstanding  any section of this Plan, the exercise price of an Option shall
not be less than the par value of the Shares.

         (d) Exercise Period.  Options shall be exercisable  within the times or
upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Grant; provided,
however,  that no Option shall be  exercisable  after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date the Option is granted,  and provided  further that no Option
granted to a Ten Percent  Stockholder  shall be exercisable after the expiration
of five (5) years from the date the Option is granted.  The  Committee  also may
provide for the  exercise of Options to become  exercisable  at one time or from
time to time,  periodically  or  otherwise,  in such number or percentage as the
Committee determines.

         (e) Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as
of the time an  Option is  granted)  of stock  with  respect  to which  ISOs are
exercisable  for the first time by an Optionee  during any calendar  year (under
this Plan or under any other  incentive  stock option plan of the Company or any
Parent or  Subsidiary  of the Company)  shall not exceed  $100,000.  If the Fair
Market Value of Shares with respect to which ISOs are  exercisable for the first
time by an Optionee during any calendar year exceeds  $100,000,  the Options for
the first $100,000  worth of Shares to become  exercisable in such year shall be
ISOs  and the  Options  for the  amount  in  excess  of  $100,000  that  becomes
exercisable  in that year shall be NQSOs.  In the event that the Revenue Code or
the regulations  promulgated  thereunder are amended after the effective date of
this Plan to provide  for a different  limit on the Fair Market  Value of Shares
permitted  to be subject to ISOs,  such  different  limit shall be  incorporated
herein and shall apply to any Options  granted after the effective  date of such
amendment.

         (f) Options Non-Transferable.  Options granted under this Plan, and any
interest therein,  shall not be transferable or assignable by Optionee,  and may
not be made subject to execution,  attachment or similar process, otherwise than
by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution,  or as consistent  with the
specific Plan and Grant provisions relating thereto.  During the lifetime of the
Optionee an Option shall be exercisable  only by Optionee and any elections with
respect to an Option, may be made only by the Optionee.

         (g) Assumed Options. In the event the Company assumes an option granted
by  another  company,  the terms and  conditions  of such  option  shall  remain
unchanged  (except  the  exercise  price  and the  number  and  nature of shares
issuable upon exercise, which will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section
424(c) of the  Revenue  Code).  In the event the  Company  elects to grant a new
option rather than assuming an existing option (as specified in Section 4), such
new option need not be granted at Fair Market Value on the date of grant and may
instead be granted with a similarly adjusted exercise price.

     6. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

         (a) Notice. Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of
a written stock option exercise  agreement (the "Exercise  Agreement") in a form
approved  by the  Committee  (which  need not be the

                                     - 2 -

<PAGE>


same for each  Optionee),  stating  the number of Shares  being  purchased,  the
restrictions  imposed  on the  Shares,  if any,  and  such  representations  and
agreements regarding Optionee's investment intent and access to information,  if
any, as may be required  by the  Company to comply  with  applicable  securities
laws,  together  with  payment in full of the  exercise  price for the number of
Shares being purchased.

         (b) Payment.  Payment for the Shares may be made in cash (by check) or,
where approved by the Committee in its sole  discretion at the time of grant and
where  permitted by law: (i) by  cancellation  of indebtedness of the Company to
the Optionee;  (ii) by surrender of shares of common stock of the Company having
a Fair Market Value equal to the applicable exercise price of the Options,  that
have been owned by  Optionee  for more than six (6) months  (and which have been
paid for within the meaning of the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC")
Rule 144 and,  if such  shares  were  purchased  from  the  Company  by use of a
promissory note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares),  or
were obtained by Optionee in the open public  market;  (iii) by tender of a full
recourse  promissory  note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee
and bearing  interest at a rate  sufficient to avoid  imputation of income under
Sections 483 and 1274 of the Revenue Code; provided, however, that Optionees who
are not employees of the Company shall not be entitled to purchase Shares with a
promissory note unless the note is adequately  secured by collateral  other than
the Shares;  provided,  further, that the portion of the Purchase Price equal to
the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash; (iv) by waiver of compensation
due or accrued to Optionee for  services  rendered;  (v) provided  that a public
market for the Company's stock exists, through a "same day sale" commitment from
Optionee and a  broker-dealer  that is a member of the National  Association  of
Securities  Dealers (an "NASD Dealer")  whereby Optionee  irrevocably  elects to
exercise  the Option and to sell a portion of the Shares so purchased to pay for
the exercise price and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably  commits upon receipt
of such Shares to forward the  exercise  price  directly  to the  Company;  (vi)
provided that a public market for the Company's stock exists, through a "margin"
commitment from Optionee and an NASD Dealer whereby Optionee  irrevocably elects
to exercise  the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer
in a margin account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of
the exercise price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt
of such Shares to forward the exercise price  directly to the Company;  or (vii)
by any  combination  of the  foregoing.  Optionees  who  are  not  employees  or
directors  of the  Company  shall not be  entitled  to  purchase  Shares  with a
promissory note unless the note is adequately  secured by collateral  other than
the Shares.

         (c) Withholding Taxes. Prior to issuance of the Shares upon exercise of
an Option,  Optionee  shall pay or make  adequate  provision  for any federal or
state withholding  obligations of the Company, if applicable.  Where approved by
the  Committee  in its sole  discretion,  Optionee  may  provide  for payment of
withholding  taxes upon  exercise of the Option by  requesting  that the Company
retain  Shares  with a Fair Market  Value  equal to the minimum  amount of taxes
required to be withheld. In such case, the Company shall issue the net number of
Shares to Optionee by deducting the Shares  retained from the Shares  exercised.
The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld  shall be  determined  on the
date that the amount of tax to be withheld  is to be  determined  in  accordance
with Section 83 of the Revenue Code (the "Tax Date"). All elections by Optionees
to have  Shares  withheld  for this  purpose  shall be made in writing in a form
acceptable to the Committee.

         (d) Limitations on Exercise.  Notwithstanding  the exercise periods set
forth in the  Grant,  exercise  of an  Option  shall  always be  subject  to the
following:

             (i) If  Optionee  is  Terminated  for any  reason  except  death or
permanent,   partial  or  total  disability,  as  determined  by  the  Committee
("Disability"), Optionee may exercise such Optionee's Options to the extent (and
only to the  extent)  that such  Options  would have been  exercisable  upon the
Termination  Date,  within three (3) months after the Termination  Date (or such
shorter time period as may be specified in the Grant), but in any event no later
than the expiration date of the Options.

             (ii) If Optionee is Terminated  because of the death of Optionee or
Disability  of Optionee  (or the  Optionee  dies within three (3) months of such
Termination),  then Optionee's  Options may be exercised to the extent (and only
to the extent) that such Options would have been  exercisable by Optionee on the
Termination Date, by Optionee (or Optionee's legal representative) within twelve
(12) months  after the  Termination  Date (or such shorter time period as may be
specified in the Grant),  but in any event no later than the expiration  date of
the  Options;  provided,  however,  that  in the  event  of  Termination  due to
Disability  other than as defined in 

                                     - 3 -

<PAGE>


Section 22(e)(3) of the Revenue Code, any ISO, or portion thereof,  that remains
exercisable after three (3) months after the Termination Date shall be deemed an
NQSO.

             (iii) The  Committee  shall have  discretion  to determine  whether
Optionee has ceased to be employed by the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary  or
Affiliate  of the  Company  and the  effective  date on  which  such  employment
terminated.

             (iv) In the  case of an  Optionee  who is a  director,  independent
consultant,  contractor or adviser,  the Committee  will have the  discretion to
determine whether Optionee is "employed by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary
or Affiliate of the Company" pursuant to the foregoing Sections.

             (v) The Committee may specify a reasonable minimum number of Shares
that may be purchased on any exercise of an Option,  provided  that such minimum
number will not prevent Optionee from exercising the full number of Shares as to
which the Option is then exercisable.

             (vi) An Option shall not be exercisable  unless such exercise is in
compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),
all applicable  state securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange
or national market system upon which the Shares may then be listed,  as they are
in effect  on the date of grant or on the date of  exercise  or other  issuance.
Notwithstanding  any other  provision  in the Plan,  the  Company  shall have no
obligation to issue or deliver  certificates  for Shares under the Plan prior to
(a)  obtaining  any  approvals  from  governmental  agencies  that  the  Company
determines are necessary or advisable, and/or (b) completion of any registration
or other  qualification  of such shares under any state or federal law or ruling
of any  governmental  body  that  the  Company  determines  to be  necessary  or
advisable.  The Company shall be under no obligation to register the Shares with
the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration,  qualification or listing
requirements  of any state  securities  laws,  stock exchange or national market
system,  and the Company shall have no liability for any inability or failure to
do so.

     7. CERTIFICATES.  All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered
under the Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders, legends and other
restrictions  as the  Committee  may  deem  necessary  or  advisable,  including
restrictions under any applicable  federal,  state or foreign securities law, or
any rules,  regulations and other  requirements of the SEC or any stock exchange
or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be listed.

     8. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES. At the discretion of the Committee,  the Company
may reserve to itself and/or its  assignee(s) in the Grant a right to repurchase
a portion of or all Shares that are not  "vested" (as defined in the Grant) held
by an Optionee  following such Optionee's  Termination at any time within ninety
(90) days after the later of Optionee's  Termination  Date and the date Optionee
purchases  Shares under the Plan,  for cash or  cancellation  of purchase  money
indebtedness, at the Optionee's original purchase price.

     9. ESCROW;  PLEDGE OF SHARES.  To enforce any restrictions on an Optionee's
Shares,  the  Committee  may  require the  Optionee to deposit all  certificates
representing Shares, together with stock powers or other instruments of transfer
approved by the Committee,  appropriately endorsed in blank, with the Company or
an agent  designated  by the Company to hold in escrow  until such  restrictions
have  lapsed or  terminated,  and the  Committee  may cause a legend or  legends
referencing such restrictions to be placed on the certificates. Any Optionee who
is permitted to execute a promissory note as partial or full  consideration  for
the  purchase  of Shares  under the Plan shall be required to pledge and deposit
with the Company all or part of the Shares so purchased as  collateral to secure
the payment of Optionee's  obligation to the Company under the promissory  note;
provided,  however, that the Committee may require or accept other or additional
forms of collateral to secure the payment of such  obligation and, in any event,
the Company shall have full recourse  against the Optionee  under the promissory
note notwithstanding any pledge of the Optionee's Shares or other collateral. In
connection with any pledge of the Shares,  Optionee shall be required to execute
and deliver a written pledge  agreement in such form as the Committee shall from
time to time  approve.  The Shares  purchased  with the  promissory  note may be
released from the pledge on a prorata basis as the promissory note is paid.

     10.  MODIFICATION,  EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF OPTIONS.  The Committee  shall
have the power to modify,  extend or renew outstanding  Options and to authorize
the grant of new Options in

                                     - 4 -

<PAGE>


substitution  therefor,  provided  that any such  action  may not,  without  the
written  consent of  Optionee,  impair any  rights  under any Option  previously
granted.  Any outstanding ISO that is modified,  extended,  renewed or otherwise
altered shall be treated in accordance  with Section 424(h) of the Revenue Code.
The Committee  shall have the power to reduce the exercise  price of outstanding
Options  without the consent of Optionees by a written  notice to the  Optionees
affected;  provided,  however,  that the  exercise  price  per  Share may not be
reduced below the minimum  exercise price that would be permitted  under Section
5(c) of this Plan for Options  granted on the date the action is taken to reduce
the exercise price.

     11. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. No Optionee shall have any of the rights
of a  stockholder  with  respect to any Shares  subject to an Option  until such
Option is  properly  exercised.  After  Shares are issued to the  Optionee,  the
Optionee  shall be a stockholder  and have all the rights of a stockholder  with
respect to such Shares,  including  the rights to vote and receive all dividends
made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that the Optionee shall have
no right to retain such stock dividends on stock  distributions  with respect to
Shares that are repurchased at the Optionee's  original  Purchase Price pursuant
to Section 8. No  adjustment  shall be made for  dividends or  distributions  or
other rights for which the record date is prior to such date of exercise, except
as provided in this Plan.  The Company  shall provide to each Optionee a copy of
the annual  financial  statements of the Company at such time after the close of
each fiscal year of the Company as such  statements  are released by the Company
to its common stockholders generally.

     12. NO  OBLIGATION  TO EMPLOY.  Nothing in this Plan or any Option  granted
under this Plan shall confer on any Optionee any right to continue in the employ
of, or other  relationship  with,  the  Company  or any  Parent,  Subsidiary  or
Affiliate  of the  Company  or limit in any way the right of the  Company or any
Parent,   Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  of  the  Company  to  terminate  Optionee's
employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.

     13.  ADJUSTMENT  OF  OPTION  SHARES.  In  the  event  that  the  number  of
outstanding  shares  of  common  stock  of the  Company  is  changed  by a stock
dividend,  stock split,  reverse stock split,  combination,  reclassification or
similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration, or
if a substantial  portion of the assets of the Company are distributed,  without
consideration in a spin-off or similar  transaction,  to the stockholders of the
Company, the number of Shares available under this Plan and the number of Shares
subject to outstanding  Options and the exercise price per Share of such Options
shall be proportionately  adjusted,  subject to any required action by the Board
of  Directors of the Company (the  "Board") or  stockholders  of the Company and
compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that a fractional
share shall not be issued upon  exercise  of any Option and any  fractions  of a
Share that would have  resulted  shall either be cashed out at Fair Market Value
or the number of Shares  issuable  under the  Option  shall be rounded up to the
nearest whole number, as determined by the Committee;  and provided further that
the exercise price may not be decreased to below the par value for the Shares.

     14. ASSUMPTION OF OPTIONS BY SUCCESSORS.

         (a) In the event of (i) a merger or  consolidation in which the Company
is not the surviving  corporation  (other than a merger or consolidation  with a
wholly owned subsidiary, a reincorporation,  or other transaction in which there
is no substantial  change in the stockholders of the corporation and the Options
granted  under  this  Plan  are  assumed  by the  successor  corporation,  which
assumption shall be binding on all Optionees), (ii) a dissolution or liquidation
of the  Company,  (iii)  the  sale of  substantially  all of the  assets  of the
Company,  or  (iv)  any  other  transaction  which  qualifies  as  a  "corporate
transaction"  under Section 424(a) of the Revenue Code wherein the  stockholders
of the Company give up all of their equity  interest in the Company  (except for
the acquisition of all or  substantially  all of the  outstanding  shares of the
Company),  any or  all  outstanding  Options  may be  assumed  by the  successor
corporation,  which  assumption  shall  be  binding  on  all  Optionees.  In the
alternative,  the successor  corporation may substitute an equivalent  option or
provide  substantially  similar  consideration  to  Optionees as was provided to
stockholders  (after  taking into account the existing  provisions of Optionee's
options,  such as the exercise  price and the vesting  schedule).  The successor
corporation may also issue,  in place of outstanding  shares of the Company held
by  Optionee  as a result  of the  exercise  of an  Option  that is  subject  to
repurchase,  substantially  similar shares or other property  subject to similar
repurchase restrictions no less favorable to Optionee.

                                     - 5 -

<PAGE>


         (b) In the event such successor corporation,  if any, refuses to assume
or substitute Options, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in
Subsections   14(a)(ii),   (iii)  or  (iv)  above,  or  there  is  no  successor
corporation,  and if the  Company is  ceasing  to exist as a separate  corporate
entity,  the Options  shall,  notwithstanding  any contrary  terms in the Grant,
expire on a date at least twenty (20) days after the Board gives written  notice
to Optionees specifying the terms and conditions of such termination.

         (c) In the  event  such  successor  corporation  refuses  to  assume or
substitute  Options, as provided above,  pursuant to a transaction  described in
Subsection 14(a)(i) above, such Options shall expire on (and, if the Company has
reserved to itself a right to repurchase Shares issued on exercise of Options at
the original purchase price of such Shares,  such right shall terminate on), the
consummation  of such  transaction  at such time and on such  conditions  as the
Board shall determine.

         (d) Subject the  foregoing  provisions of this Section 14, in the event
of the occurrence of any transaction described in Section 14(a), any outstanding
Option  shall be treated as  provided  in the  applicable  agreement  or plan of
merger,  consolidation,  dissolution,  liquidation,  sale  of  assets  or  other
"corporate  transaction,"  provided that under no  circumstances  shall unvested
options be accelerated.

     15. ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.  This Plan shall become effective on
the date that it is  adopted by the Board.  This Plan shall be  approved  by the
stockholders  of the Company,  in any manner  permitted by applicable  corporate
law,  within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by
the Board.  Upon the  effective  date of the Plan,  the Board may grant  Options
pursuant to this Plan; provided that, in the event that stockholder  approval is
not  obtained  within the time  period  provided  herein,  all  Options  granted
hereunder shall terminate.  No Option that is issued as a result of any increase
in the  number  of  shares  authorized  to be issued  under  this Plan  shall be
exercised prior to the time such increase has been approved by the  stockholders
of the Company and all such  Options  granted  pursuant to such  increase  shall
similarly terminate if such stockholder approval is not obtained.

     16.  ADMINISTRATION.  This  Plan  may be  administered  by the  Board  or a
committee  appointed  by the  Board  (the  "Committee").  As used in this  Plan,
references to the "Committee"  shall mean either the committee  appointed by the
Board to administer this Plan or the Board if no committee has been established.
If, at the time the Company registers under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as  amended,  two or more  members  of the  Board  are  Outside  Directors,  the
Committee  shall be comprised of at least two members of the Board,  all of whom
are  Outside  Directors.  The  interpretation  by  the  Committee  of any of the
provisions of this Plan or any Option granted under this Plan shall be final and
binding upon the Company and all persons having an interest in any Option or any
Shares purchased  pursuant to an Option.  The Committee may delegate to officers
of the Company the  authority to grant  Options under this Plan to Optionees who
are not Insiders of the Company.

     17. TERM OF PLAN. Options may be granted pursuant to this Plan from time to
time  within a period  of ten (10)  years  from the date on which  this  Plan is
adopted by the Board.

     18.  AMENDMENT  OR  TERMINATION  OF  PLAN.  The  Committee  may at any time
terminate  or amend this Plan in any  respect  including  (but not  limited  to)
amendment of any form of Grant,  Exercise Agreement or instrument to be executed
pursuant to this Plan; provided,  however, that the Committee shall not, without
the approval of the  stockholders of the Company,  amend this Plan in any manner
that  requires  such  stockholder  approval  pursuant to the Revenue Code or the
regulations promulgated thereunder as such provisions apply to ISO plans.

     19.  NONEXCLUSIVITY  OF THE PLAN.  Neither the  adoption of the Plan by the
Board,  the  submission  of the  Plan to the  stockholders  of the  Company  for
approval,  nor any  provision  of the Plan shall be  construed  as creating  any
limitations  on the power of the  Board to adopt  such  additional  compensation
arrangements  as it may  deem  desirable,  including,  without  limitation,  the
granting of stock options and bonuses  otherwise  than under the Plan,  and such
arrangements may be either  generally  applicable or applicable only in specific
cases.

     20.  GOVERNING LAW. The Plan and all agreements,  documents and instruments
entered  into  pursuant  to the  Plan  shall be  governed  by and  construed  in
accordance  with the internal laws of the State of  California,  excluding  that
body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.

                                     - 6 -

<PAGE>


     21. CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Plan, the following  terms shall
have the following meanings:

         (a)  "Parent"  means any  corporation  (other  than the  Company) in an
unbroken  chain of  corporations  ending with the Company if, at the time of the
granting of the Option,  each of such  corporations  other than the Company owns
stock  possessing 50% or more of the total combined  voting power of all classes
of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

         (b) "Subsidiary"  means any corporation  (other than the Company) in an
unbroken  chain of  corporations  beginning  with the Company if, at the time of
granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation
in the unbroken  chain owns stock  possessing  50% or more of the total combined
voting  power of all classes of stock in one of the other  corporations  in such
chain.

         (c)  "Affiliate"  means any  corporation  that directly,  or indirectly
through one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is controlled  by, or is under
common control with, another  corporation,  where "control" (including the terms
"controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, direct or
indirect,  of the power to cause the direction of the management and policies of
the corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise.

         (d) "Fair Market  Value" shall mean the fair market value of the Shares
as  determined  by the  Committee  from time to time in good faith.  If a public
market exists for the Shares,  the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the
last  reported  bid and asked prices for common stock of the Company on the last
trading day prior to the date of  determination  (or the average  closing  price
over the number of consecutive  working days preceding the date of determination
as the Committee  shall deem  appropriate)  or, in the event the common stock of
the Company is listed on a stock exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market,  the
Fair  Market  Value  shall be the closing  price on such  exchange or  quotation
system  on the last  trading  day  prior to the  date of  determination  (or the
average closing price over the number of consecutive  working days preceding the
date of determination as the Committee shall deem appropriate).

         (e) "Outside Director" shall mean any director who is not (i) a current
employee of the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary  or Affiliate of the Company,
(ii) a former employee of the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary or Affiliate of
the  Company  who is  receiving  compensation  for prior  services  (other  than
benefits under a tax-qualified  pension plan), (iii) a current or former officer
of the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  of the Company or (iv)
currently  receiving  compensation for personal services in any capacity,  other
than as a director,  from the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary or Affiliate of
the  Company;  provided,  however,  that  at  such  time  as the  term  "Outside
Director",  as used in  Section  162(m)  of the  Revenue  Code,  is  defined  in
regulations  promulgated under Section 162(m), "Outside Director" shall have the
meaning  set  forth in such  regulations,  as  amended  from time to time and as
interpreted by the Internal Revenue Service.

         (f) "Termination" or "Terminated"  shall mean, for purposes of the Plan
with respect to an Optionee,  that the Optionee ceased to provide services as an
employee,  officer, director,  consultant,  independent contractor or adviser to
the Company or a Parent,  Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company,  except in the
case of sick leave,  military leave,  or any other leave of absence  approved by
the Committee, provided, that such leave is for a period of not more than ninety
(90) days, or  reinstatement  upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by
contract or statute.  The Committee  shall have the sole discretion to determine
whether an Optionee  has ceased to provide  services and the  effective  date on
which the Optionee ceased to provide services (the "Termination Date").

                                     - 7 -

<PAGE>


                                                                      Appendix B

                          PREMISYS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
                    PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                December 10, 1997

       THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
                                    COMPANY.

The undersigned  hereby appoints Raymond C. Lin and Riley R. Willcox,  or either
of them, as proxies, each with full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated  below, all shares of Common Stock,
$0.01 par value,  of Premisys  Communications,  Inc.  (the  "Company"),  held of
record by the  undersigned  on  October  14,  1997,  at the  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders  of the  Company  to be  held  at  48664  Milmont  Drive,  Fremont,
California 94538, on Wednesday, December 10, 1997, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard
Time, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.


1.   ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.

     [ ]    FOR all nominees listed            [ ]    WITHHOLDING AUTHORITY
            below (except as indicated                to vote for all nominees
            to the contrary below)                    listed below

Nominees:      Boris J. Auerbuch, Robert C. Hawk, Edward A. Keible, Jr., Raymond
               C. Lin, Gary J. Morgenthaler, Marino R. Polestra and Lip-Bu Tan.

Instruction:   To withhold authority to vote for any individual  nominee,  write
               that nominee's name in the space provided below.

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

2.   TO APPROVE THE  AMENDMENT TO THE PREMISYS  COMMUNICATIONS,  INC. 1994 STOCK
     OPTION  PLAN TO  INCREASE  THE  NUMBER OF SHARES  AUTHORIZED  FOR  ISSUANCE
     THEREUNDER TO 5,200,000

         [   ]    FOR               [   ]   AGAINST           [   ]    ABSTAIN

3.   TO  RATIFY  THE  SELECTION  OF  PRICE   WATERHOUSE  LLP  AS  THE  COMPANY'S
     INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

         [   ]    FOR               [   ]   AGAINST           [   ]    ABSTAIN

4.   The  transaction  of such other  business as may  properly  come before the
     meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the Meeting.

     The Board of  Directors  recommends  that you vote FOR the  election of all
     nominees listed in Proposal 1 and FOR Proposals 2 and 3.


(Continued and to be signed on reverse side)


<PAGE>


(Continued from other side)

     THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED  ABOVE.  WHEN NO CHOICE IS  INDICATED,
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL  NOMINEES  LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1
and FOR PROPOSALS 2 and 3. In their discretion, the proxy holders are authorized
to vote upon such other  business as may properly come before the meeting or any
adjournments or postponements  thereof to the extent authorized by Rule 14a-4(c)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     (Print Stockholder(s) name)


                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     (Signature(s) of Stockholder or Authorized
                                      Signatory)


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


                                     Dated:  __________, 1997


Please sign exactly as your  name(s)  appear(s)  on your stock  certificate.  If
shares of stock  stand of record in the names of two or more  persons  or in the
name of husband and wife, whether as joint tenants or otherwise,  both or all of
such persons  should sign the proxy.  If shares of stock are held of record by a
corporation, the proxy should be executed by the president or vice president and
the  secretary  or  assistant  secretary.  Executors,  administrators  or  other
fiduciaries who execute the above proxy for a deceased  stockholder  should give
their full title. Please date the proxy.


    WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, YOU ARE URGED TO
    COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND PROMPTLY MAIL THIS PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN
         ENVELOPE SO THAT YOUR SHARES MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.




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