TRANSWITCH CORP /DE
10-Q, 1999-05-11
SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES
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<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 10 - Q

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

                  FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1999
                                       or
          [ ]    Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

          FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________ TO ____________

                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-25996


                             TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

             Delaware                                 06-1236189
     (State of Incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                              3 ENTERPRISE DRIVE
                          SHELTON, CONNECTICUT 06484
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                           Telephone (203) 929-8810

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

COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.001 PER SHARE, OUTSTANDING AT APRIL 30, 1999:
16,891,306 SHARES.

                              PAGE 1 OF 16
                                   -    --                               
<PAGE>
 
                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
                                     INDEX
                     For the quarter ended March 31, 1999


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                               PAGE
                                                                               ----
<S>                                                                            <C>  
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION


   Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)

                                                                                     
           Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1999  
            and December 31, 1998                                                3

           Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three  
            Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                                 4

           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three  
            Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                                 5

           Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                            6  

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


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

   Item 5.  Other Information                                                   15
                                                                                
   Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                    15
                                                                                
   Signatures                                                                   16
</TABLE> 

PAGE 2 OF 16
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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
(in thousands, except share data)                                                MARCH 31,          DECEMBER 31,
                                  ASSETS                                            1999                1998
                            -----------------                               ------------------   ------------------
CURRENT ASSETS:                                                                 (unaudited)
<S>                                                                         <C>                  <C>
 Cash and cash equivalents                                                            $ 73,645             $ 24,243
 Short term investments                                                                 21,114                2,953
 Accounts receivable, net                                                                9,515                7,624
 Inventories, net                                                                        6,149                5,476
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                               1,562                  917
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
  Total current assets                                                                 111,985               41,213
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET                                                              6,219                5,143
PRODUCT LICENSES, NET                                                                    1,048                1,142
OTHER ASSETS                                                                               535                  311
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
 
          TOTAL ASSETS                                                                $119,787             $ 47,809
          ============                                                      ==================   ==================    
          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
          ------------------------------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
 Accounts payable                                                                     $  3,150             $  2,858
 Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                  4,023                4,294
 Product license fee payable, current portion                                                -                  303
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
  Total current liabilities                                                              7,173                7,455
 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 Common Stock, $.001 par value; authorized 25,000,000 shares;
 issued and outstanding 16,829,727 shares at March 31, 1999;
 and 14,678,531 at shares December 31, 1998                                                 17                   15
 Additional paid in capital                                                            133,431               64,297
 Accumulated deficit                                                                   (20,834)             (23,958)
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
  Total Stockholders' Equity                                                           112,614               40,354
                                                                            ------------------   ------------------
 
          Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                  $119,787             $ 47,809
          ==========================================                        ==================   ==================
</TABLE> 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                  (Unaudited)
                     (in thousands, except per share data)
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                  THREE MONTHS                                       
                                                                      ENDED                                           
                                                                    MARCH 31,                                         
                                                                    --------- 
                                                             1999              1998                         
                                                             ----              ----                         
<S>                                                         <C>             <C>                             
NET REVENUES                                                $14,461           $ 8,606                
                                                                                                            
COST OF REVENUES                                              5,222             3,354                
                                                            -------           -------                       
GROSS PROFIT                                                  9,239             5,252                
                                                                                                            
OPERATING EXPENSES:                                                                                         
     Research and development                                 3,131             2,543                
     Marketing and sales                                      2,637             1,818                
     General and administrative                                 719               564                
                                                            -------           -------                
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                                      6,487             4,925                
                                                            -------           -------                       
OPERATING INCOME                                              2,752               327                
                                                                                                            
INTEREST INCOME, NET                                            532               234                
                                                            -------           -------                
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                  $ 3,284           $   561                
                                                                                                            
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                                      160                 -                
                                                            -------           -------                
                                                                                                            
NET INCOME                                                  $ 3,124           $   561                
                                                            =======           =======
                                                                                                            
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE                             $  0.19           $  0.04                
                                                                                                            
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF                                                                                  
     COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING                               16,068            13,270                
                                                            =======           =======                      
                                                                                                            
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE                           $  0.18           $  0.04                
                                                                                                            
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF                                                                                  
     COMMON SHARES AND EQUIVALENTS OUTSTANDING               17,265            14,610                
                                                            =======           =======                       
</TABLE> 

See accompaning notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
PAGE 4 OF 16 
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                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                  (Unaudited)
                                (in thousands)
                                                                     
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                                   MARCH 31,
                                                                                       ------------------------------------
                                                                                             1999               1998
                                                                                       ----------------     ---------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>                  <C> 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income                                                                                     $  3,124            $   561
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to
  net cash used in operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                                                                    656                551
   Stock compensation expense                                                                        33                181
   
Changes in assets and liabilities:
    (Increase) in accounts receivable                                                            (1,891)            (1,031)
    (Increase) decrease in prepaids and other current assets                                       (869)                72
    (Increase) in inventories                                                                      (673)              (624)

    Increase in accounts payable                                                                    292                766
    (Decrease) in accrued liabilities                                                              (271)              (857)
                                                                                       ----------------     --------------
     Total adjustments                                                                           (2,723)              (942)
                                                                                       ----------------     --------------
     Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities                                            401               (381)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 Capital expenditures and purchase of product licenses                                           (1,638)              (254)
 Purchase of short term investments                                                             (21,114)                 -
 Proceeds from maturities of short term investments                                               2,953                  -
                                                                                       ----------------     --------------
     Net cash (used in) investing activities                                                    (19,799)              (254)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants                                           922                239
 Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance cost                                68,181                  -
 Payments on product license obligations                                                           (303)              (208)
                                                                                       ----------------     --------------
     Net cash provided by financing activities                                                   68,800                 31
 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                 49,402               (604)
                                                                                       ----------------     --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                                 24,243             20,508
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                                     $ 73,645            $19,904
                                                                                       ================     ==============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
 Cash paid for interest                                                                        $     23            $    46
</TABLE> 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.
 
PAGE  5 OF  16
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<PAGE>
 
                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
             NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                     For the quarter ended March 31, 1999

Note 1.  Interim Financial Statements
- -------------------------------------

         The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements
have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, certain information
and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements are not included herein. The financial statements are
prepared on a consistent basis with and should be read in conjunction with the
statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 26, 1999.

         In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments,
consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair
presentation for such periods. The results of operations for any interim period
are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the
entire fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

Note 2.  Inventories
- --------------------

         Inventories are carried at the lower of cost (on a first in, first out
basis) or estimated net realizable value. Inventories are summarized as follows
(in thousands):

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                               March 31, 1999                 December 31, 1998
                               --------------                 -----------------
<S>                            <C>                            <C> 
Raw Materials                    $    1,059                     $        947
Work in Process                       1,208                              809
Finished Goods                        3,882                            3,720
                                      -----                            -----
   Total Inventories             $    6,149                     $      5,476         
                                 ==========                     ============
</TABLE> 

Note 3.  Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity
- -------------------------------------------------------

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<PAGE>
 
         (in thousands, except share data)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                                              Additional
                                                                         Common Stock           Paid-in      Accumulated
                                                                     Shares        Amount       Capital        Deficit        Total
                                                                     ------        ------       -------        -------        -----
<S>                                                                <C>             <C>        <C>            <C>             <C>   
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1998                                       14,678,531        $15        $64,297       ($23,958)      $40,354

Shares of common stock issued upon exercise of stock options          196,196         -             922                          922
                                                    
Common stock issued in follow on public offering                    1,955,000         2          68,179              -        68,181
                                                    
Compensation related to issuance of stock options                           -         -              33                           33

Net income                                                                  -         -               -          3,124         3,124
                                                                   ----------       ---        --------       --------      --------

BALANCE AT MARCH 31, 1999                                          16,829,727       $17        $133,431       $(20,834)     $112,614
=========================                                          ==========       ===        ========       ========      ========
</TABLE> 

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ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

GENERAL

         TranSwitch Corporation, a Delaware corporation established in April
1988 ("TranSwitch" or the "Company"), designs, develops, markets and supports
highly integrated digital and mixed-signal (analog and digital) semiconductor
solutions for the telecommunications and data communications markets. The
Company's customers are original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who serve three
communications market segments: worldwide public network infrastructure that
supports voice and data communications, internet infrastructure and corporate
wide area networks (WAN).

         The Company's products are Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI)
semiconductor devices that provide core functionality for communications network
equipment. The Company's VLSI solutions are programmable to provide high levels
of functionality for high-speed broadband communication networks. These products
are incorporated into OEM's networking equipment. TranSwitch's VLSI devices are
compliant with SONET/SDH (Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital
Hierarchy), asynchronous and ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) standards. The
Company's mixed-signal and digital design capability, together with its
telecommunications systems expertise, enables it to determine and implement
optimal combinations of design elements for enhanced functionality. The Company
believes that this approach allows its customers to achieve faster time to
market and to introduce systems that offer greater functionality, improved
performance, lower power dissipation, reduced system size and cost and greater
reliability relative to discreet solutions.

         The Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its financial
results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an
indication of future performance. In addition, the Company's results of
operations may fluctuate from period to period in the future.

THREE MONTH PERIODS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND 1998

REVENUE

         The Company derives its revenues from product sales. Total revenues for
the quarter ended March 31, 1999 were $14.5 million, representing a 68% increase
over the $8.6 million recorded in the prior year comparable period. The increase
in revenue in the quarter is attributable to the increase in the revenue across
all three of its product lines, SONET/SDH, Asynchronous and ATM.

GROSS PROFIT

         Gross profit was $9.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1999
compared to $5.3 million 

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in the corresponding period of the prior year. Gross margin was 63.9% for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to 61.0% for the quarter ended March 31,
1998. The increase in gross profit and margin is principally the result of lower
costs resulting from improved pricing from the Company's vendors achieved as
higher volumes of products were purchased by the Company.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

         Research and development expenses were 21.6% of total revenues for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to 29.5% of total revenues for the
quarter ended March 31, 1998; total spending increased 23.1% to $3.1 million for
the quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to $2.5 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 1998. The increases in period-over-period expense were the result of
the Company's continued investment in research and development activities. The
decrease as a percentage of total revenues in the quarter was attributable to
the growth in revenues from the comparable period in the prior year.

MARKETING AND SALES

         Marketing and sales expenses were 18.2% of total revenues for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999 compared to 21.1% for the quarter ended March 31,
1998. Marketing and sales expenses increased 45.0% to $2.6 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to $1.8 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 1998. The increases in spending were primarily the result of the
increase in marketing and sales personnel, expansion of the Company's
distribution network as part of the Company's continued investment in its
marketing and sales infrastructure and increased commissions paid to
manufacturer's representatives attributed to the higher sales volumes. The
decrease as a percentage of total revenues in the quarter was attributable to
the growth in revenues in the comparable period in the prior year.

GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE

         General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31,
1999 increased to $719 thousand from $564 thousand for the same quarter in the
prior year, and as a percentage of total revenues decreased to 5.0% for the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to 6.6% for the quarter ended March 31,
1998. The increases in period-over-period expense were the result of the
Company's continued investment in the general and administrative area. The
decrease as a percentage of total revenues in the quarter was attributable to
the growth in revenues from the comparable period in the prior year.

INTEREST INCOME, NET

         Interest income, net of interest expense, was $532 thousand in the
quarter ended March 31, 1999, compared to $234 thousand in the corresponding
period in 1998. The increase in interest income, net of interest expense was
primarily the result of the increase in cash balances between the two periods,
mainly due to the follow on public offering of the Company's common stock that
was 

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<PAGE>
 
completed in February and March 1999.

INCOME TAXES

         The Company has existing net operating loss carry forwards that offset
federal taxes and accordingly, the Company's effective tax rate of 4.9 percent
in the first three months of 1999, reflects estimated federal alternative
minimum tax and states taxes to be payable.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

         The Company has financed its operations and met its capital
requirements since it was incorporated in 1988 primarily through private
placements of preferred stock (all such shares had been converted into shares of
Common Stock as of September 30, 1998), the borrowings from a working capital
line and equipment financing from Silicon Valley Bank, public offerings of its
common stock and cash generated from its operations. On February 9, 1999 and
March 16, 1999, the Company completed a follow-on public offering and raised
$68.2 million, net of commissions, and issued 1,955,000 shares of its common
stock.

         The Company's principal sources of liquidity as of March 31, 1999
consisted of $94.8 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
and $10.0 million available under the Company's working capital line of credit
and equipment line of credit provided by Silicon Valley Bank. As of March 31,
1999, the Company had no outstanding balance under these lines of credit.
Pursuant to the working capital and equipment financing agreements with Silicon
Valley Bank, the Company is restricted from further pledging its assets or
granting additional security interests in such assets.

         In the first three months of 1999, the Company generated $401 thousand
of cash from its operating activities, the result of a net income of $3.1
million adjusted for non-cash items of $689 thousand, offset by a net increase
in working capital of $3.4 million. Capital expenditures during this period
totaled $1.6 million, including purchases of computer equipment and software.

         The Company believes that its existing cash resources and cash
generated from operations, will fund necessary purchases of capital equipment
and provide adequate working capital through the end of 1999. However, there can
be no assurance that events in the future will not require the Company to seek
additional capital sooner or, if so required, that such capital will be
available on terms favorable or acceptable to the Company, if at all.


YEAR 2000

         Many currently installed computer systems and software products are
dependent upon internal calendars coded to accept only two digit entries in the
date code field. These date code fields 

PAGE 10 OF 16
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will need to accept four digit entries to distinguish 21st century dates from
20th century dates. As a result, computer systems and software used by many
companies may need to be upgraded to comply with such "Year 2000" requirements.

         None of TranSwitch's current products utilize internal calendars that
are dependent upon the input of a specific date. As a result, all of
TranSwitch's current products are inherently Year 2000 compliant.

         In the fourth quarter of 1997, TranSwitch established a Year 2000
Committee (the "Committee"), chaired by the Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, to assess the effects of the Year 2000 issue on operations
and to remediate such effects as necessary. The Committee focuses on the Year
2000 readiness of both internal systems and key outside suppliers, financial
institutions and other business partners.

         To assess TranSwitch's internal readiness, the Committee has examined
and tested the Company's current hardware and software to identify systems with
inherent Year 2000 problems. No hardware performing critical functions have been
found to have such problems. Although isolated hardware performing non-critical
functions has been found to have Year 2000 problems, these problems were not
judged likely to have a material impact on operations. As a result, such
non-critical hardware will not be replaced.

         Moreover, the Committee has obtained certificates from its software
vendors to the effect that all of TranSwitch's key software systems, including
its MRP, order entry and customer services systems, are free of Year 2000
problems. The Committee has tested certain key software systems independently
for Year 2000 functionality as well.

         To assess the Year 2000 readiness of TranSwitch's key outside
suppliers, financial institutions and other business partners, the Committee has
requested certification from each that it has resolved any Year 2000 issues that
might have a material impact on operations. To date, 100% of its semiconductor
foundries and financial institutions and over half of all other such parties
have so certified.

         Currently, the Committee estimates that total expenditures to assess
and remedy Year 2000 issues will be less than $75,000, plus staff time. All
expenditures will be expensed when they occur and are not expected to have a
material impact on results of operations. The Committee does not believe that
other information technology projects will be delayed or otherwise materially
affected by our Year 2000 efforts.

         Based on the Committee's assessment to date, TranSwitch believes that
it will not experience any material disruption in its operations as a result of
Year 2000 issues. However, if certain critical vendors, service providers and
business partners, such as public utilities providing electricity, water or
telephone service, or financial institutions with which the Company maintains
accounts, or key suppliers of parts and materials to the Company, fail to
provide needed services to the Company or 

PAGE 11 OF 16
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<PAGE>
 
to its key outside suppliers or customers, customer orders could decline or the
Company's operations could shut down for as long as the failure or failures
persist. The Committee has developed various contingency plans and will continue
to develop plans for contingencies as the needs are identified. Accordingly, the
Company cannot be certain the Year 2000 issues will not have a material adverse
effect on TranSwitch's business, results of operation or financial results.


CERTAIN FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

         From time to time, information provided by the Company, statements made
by its employees, or information included in its filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (including this Form 10-Q) may contain statements which are
not historical facts, so-called "forward-looking statements," which involve
risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to
the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The Company's actual future results may differ significantly
from those stated in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such
differences include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed below. Each
of these factors, and others, are discussed from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Potential Fluctuations in Operating Results. The Company's quarterly and annual
operating revenues, expenses and operating results may fluctuate due to a number
of factors including:

         -the timing and cancellation of customer orders;

         -market acceptance of the Company's and customers' products;

         -competitive pressures on selling prices; and

         -general economic conditions.

Management of Growth and Dependence on Key Personnel. TranSwitch must attract
and retain highly qualified and well-trained personnel, including senior
managers. Competition for such employees is intense, and it may become
increasingly difficult for the Company to hire and retain such personnel.

TranSwitch Depends on a Few Outside Fabrication Facilities. The Company does not
own or operate a Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuit fabrication
facility, and depends upon four foundries for most of its semiconductor device
requirements. The Company cannot be certain that it will be able to renew or
maintain contracts with these foundries on terms as favorable as current
contract terms. There are other significant risks associated with reliance on a
few outside foundries, including:

         -the lack of assured semiconductor wafer supply and control over
         delivery schedules;

PAGE 12 OF 16
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<PAGE>
 
         -the unavailability of, or delays in obtaining access to, key process
         technologies; and

         -limited control over quality assurance, manufacturing yields and
         production costs.

Dependence on Telecommunications, Internet and Data Communications Markets. The
Company derives virtually all of its product revenues from sales of products for
the telecommunications, Internet and data communications markets, which are
characterized by intense competition, rapid technological change and short
product life cycles. Although the telecommunications, Internet and data
communications equipment markets have grown rapidly in the last few years, they
may not continue to grow, or a significant slowdown in these markets may occur.

Dependence on New Products; Risk of Product Development Delays. The development
of new VLSI devices is highly complex, and from time to time, the Company has
experienced delays in completing the development of new products.

Customer Concentration. Historically, a relatively small number of customers
have accounted for a significant portion of the Company's total revenues in any
particular period and probably will continue to do so.

TranSwitch's Success Depends on Intellectual Property. The Company's success
depends in part on its ability to obtain patents and licenses and to preserve
other intellectual property rights covering its products and development and
testing tools. The Company cannot ensure that:

         -patents be will issued from currently pending or future applications;

         -its existing patents or any new patents will be sufficient in scope or
         strength to provide meaningful protection or any commercial advantage;

         -foreign intellectual property laws will protect the Company's
         intellectual property rights; or

         -others will not independently develop similar products, duplicate the
         Company's products or design around any patents issued to the Company.

         In addition, the Company may be unknowingly infringing on the
proprietary rights of others and may be liable for that infringement, which
could result in significant liability.

Competition. The semiconductor industry is intensely competitive and is
characterized by factors likely to result in pricing pressures on the Company's
products.

Foreign Sales. TranSwitch expects foreign sales to continue to account for a
significant percentage of revenues. A significant portion of total revenues
therefore will be subject to risks associated with foreign sales. In particular,
sales to Pacific Rim countries may be impacted by the current financial

PAGE 13 OF 16
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instability plaguing these nations.

The Semiconductor Industry. TranSwitch provides semiconductor devices to
telecommunications and data communications OEMs. The semiconductor industry is
highly cyclical and has been subject to significant economic downturns at
various times.

PAGE 14 OF 16
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Item 5. Other Information.

         The Company's By-Laws establish an advance notice procedure with regard
         to certain matters, including nominations of persons for election to
         the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by
         the stockholders entitled to vote at the next annual meeting of
         stockholders. In general for the annual meeting to be held in 2000,
         notice must be received, in writing, at the Company's principal
         executive offices not later than December 21, 1999 and not before
         November 21, 1999. Notice should be sent to the attention of the
         Secretary of the Company and must contain specified information
         concerning the matters to be brought before such meeting and concerning
         the stockholder proposing such matters. In order to curtail any
         controversy as to the date on which notice was received by the Company,
         it is suggested that proponents submit their notice by Certified Mail,
         Return Receipt Requested.


Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a) Exhibits

                  Exhibit 10, Underwriting Agreement by and between the company
                  and BancBoston Robertson Stephens, Inc., NationsBanc
                  Montgomery Securities LLC and Advest, Inc. as representatives
                  of the several underwriters, dated as of February 7,1999

                  Exhibit 11, Statement re: computation of per share earnings.

                  Exhibit 27, Financial Data Schedule

         (b) Reports on Form 8-K

                  On January 21, 1999 the Company filed a Form 8-K, as amended
                  by Form 8-KA filed on January 28, 1999 reporting its unaudited
                  financial results for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year
                  ended December 31, 1998.

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<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES



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





                                 TranSwitch Corporation
                                 (Registrant)



Date: May 11, 1999                     /s/ Dr. Santanu Das              
                                 ------------------------------------------
                                 Dr. Santanu Das
                                 Chairman of the Board,
                                 President and Chief Executive Officer
                                 (Principal Executive Officer)



                                        /s/ Michael F. Stauff            
                                 ------------------------------------------
                                 Michael F. Stauff
                                 Senior Vice President and Chief
                                 Financial Officer and Treasurer
                                 (Principal Financial Officer and
                                 Principal Accounting Officer)

PAGE 16 OF 16
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<PAGE>
                                                                      EXHIBIT 10

TRANSWITCH CORPORATION

Common Stock


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
- ----------------------

    February 8, 1999


BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC
ADVEST, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.
555 California Street
Suite 2600
San Francisco, California  94104

Ladies/Gentlemen:

     TranSwitch Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), addresses
you as the Representatives of each of the persons, firms and corporations listed
in Schedule A hereto (herein collectively called the "Underwriters") and hereby
confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters as follows:

     1.  Description of Shares.  The Company proposes to issue and sell
         ---------------------                                         
1,700,000 shares of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, $.001 par value
per share (the "Firm Shares"), to the several Underwriters. The Company also
proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 255,000
additional shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (the
"Option Shares"), as provided in Section 7 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
the term "Shares" shall include the Firm Shares and the Option Shares. All
shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Company to be
outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby, including the
Shares, are hereinafter referred to as "Common Stock."

     2.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company.
         --------------------------------------------------------- 

     The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Underwriter
that:

         (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-69005) with
respect to the Shares, including a prospectus subject to completion, has been
prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the applicable rules and regulations
(the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Act and has been filed with the Commission; such
amendments to such registration statement, such amended prospectuses subject to
completion and such abbreviated registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b)
of the Rules and Regulations as may have been required prior to the date hereof
have been similarly prepared and filed with the Commission; and the Company will
file such additional amendments to such registration statement, such amended
prospectuses subject to completion and such abbreviated registration statements
as may hereafter be required. Copies of such registration statement and
amendments, of each related prospectus subject to completion (the "Preliminary
Prospectuses"), including all documents incorporated by reference therein, and
of any abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules
and Regulations have been delivered to you. The Company and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for using Form S-3 under
the Act.

         If the registration statement relating to the Shares has been declared
effective under the Act by the Commission, the Company will prepare and promptly
file with the Commission the information omitted from the 
<PAGE>
 
registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A(a) or, if BancBoston Robertson
Stephens Inc., on behalf of the several Underwriters, shall agree to the
utilization of Rule 434 of the Rules and Regulations, the information required
to be included in any term sheet filed pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c), as
applicable, of the Rules and Regulations pursuant to subparagraph (1), (4) or
(7) of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or as part of a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement (including a final form of prospectus).
If the registration statement relating to the Shares has not been declared
effective under the Act by the Commission, the Company will prepare and promptly
file an amendment to the registration statement, including a final form of
prospectus, or, if BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., on behalf of the several
Underwriters, shall agree to the utilization of Rule 434 of the Rules and
Regulations, the information required to be included in any term sheet filed
pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c), as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations. The
term "Registration Statement" as used in this Agreement shall mean such
registration statement, including financial statements, schedules and exhibits,
in the form in which it became or becomes, as the case may be, effective
(including, if the Company omitted information from the registration statement
pursuant to Rule 430A(a) or files a term sheet pursuant to Rule 434 of the Rules
and Regulations, the information deemed to be a part of the registration
statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) or Rule
434(d) of the Rules and Regulations) and, in the event of any amendment thereto
or the filing of any abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b)
of the Rules and Regulations relating thereto after the effective date of such
registration statement, shall also mean (from and after the effectiveness of
such amendment or the filing of such abbreviated registration statement) such
registration statement as so amended, together with any such abbreviated
registration statement. The term "Prospectus" as used in this Agreement shall
mean the prospectus relating to the Shares as included in such Registration
Statement at the time it becomes effective (including, if the Company omitted
information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(a) of the
Rules and Regulations, the information deemed to be a part of the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the Rules
and Regulations); provided, however, that if in reliance on Rule 434 of the 
                  -------- -------                                           
Rules and Regulations and with the consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens
Inc., on behalf of the several Underwriters, the Company shall have provided to
the Underwriters a term sheet pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c), as applicable,
prior to the time that a confirmation is sent or given for purposes of Section
2(10)(a) of the Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the "prospectus subject to
completion" (as defined in Rule 434(g) of the Rules and Regulations) last
provided to the Underwriters by the Company and circulated by the Underwriters
to all prospective purchasers of the Shares (including the information deemed to
be a part of the Registration Statement at the time it became effective pursuant
to Rule 434(d) of the Rules and Regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
any revised prospectus shall be provided to the Underwriters by the Company for
use in connection with the offering of the Shares that differs from the
prospectus referred to in the immediately preceding sentence (whether or not
such revised prospectus is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to
such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the
Underwriters for such use. If in reliance on Rule 434 of the Rules and
Regulations and with the consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., on
behalf of the several Underwriters, the Company shall have provided to the
Underwriters a term sheet pursuant to Rule 434(b) or (c), as applicable, prior
to the time that a confirmation is sent or given for purposes of Section
2(10)(a) of the Act, the Prospectus and the term sheet, together, will not be
materially different from the prospectus in the Registration Statement. Any
reference to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to
Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which, upon filing, are
incorporated by reference therein, as required by paragraph (b) of Item 12 of
Form S-3. As used in this Agreement, the term "Incorporated Documents" means the
documents which at the time are incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

         (b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending
the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or instituted proceedings for that
purpose, and each such Preliminary Prospectus has conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and, as of
its date, has not included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and at the time
the Registration Statement became or becomes, as the case may be, effective and
at all times subsequent thereto up to and on the 
<PAGE>
 
Closing Date (hereinafter defined) and on any later date on which Option Shares
are to be purchased, (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, contained and will contain all material
information required to be included therein by the Act and the Rules and
Regulations and will in all material respects conform to the requirements of the
Act and the Rules and Regulations, (ii) the Registration Statement, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, did not and will not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
(iii) the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, did not and
will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
                                                          --------  -------    
that none of the representations and warranties contained in this subparagraph
(b) shall apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.

         The Incorporated Documents heretofore filed, when they were filed (or,
if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such
amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
any further Incorporated Documents so filed will, when they are filed, conform
in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder; no such document when it was filed
(or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such
amendment was filed), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading; and no such further amendment will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.

         (c) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation with full power and authority (corporate and
other) to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus; the Company owns all of the outstanding capital
stock of its subsidiaries free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, claim or equitable interest; each of the Company and its
subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of its
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except
where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise; to the best of the Company's knowledge, no
proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction, revoking, limiting or
curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority or
qualification; each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in possession of and
operating in compliance with all authorizations, licenses, certificates,
consents, orders and permits from state, federal and other regulatory
authorities which are material to the conduct of its business, all of which are
valid and in full force and effect; neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or bylaws or in default
in the performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant
or condition contained in any material bond, debenture, note or other evidence
of indebtedness, or in any material lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
its subsidiaries or their respective properties may be bound; and neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in material violation of any law, order,
rule, regulation, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court, government
or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or over their respective properties of
which it has knowledge. The Company does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than TranSwitch
Europe N.V./S.A. and TranSwitch India Private Limited, neither of which is a
"significant subsidiary" (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of 
Regulation S-X).

         (d) The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby.  This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is
a valid and binding agreement on the part of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its 
<PAGE>
 
terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles; the performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated will not result in a material breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
(i) any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or under any
lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint
venture or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its subsidiaries or their
respective properties may be bound, (ii) the charter or bylaws of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or (iii) to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
law, order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court,
government or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or over their
respective properties. No consent, approval, authorization or order of or
qualification with any court, government or governmental agency or body,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or over their respective properties is required for the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of the transactions herein contemplated, except such as may be
required under the Act, the Exchange Act, or under state or other securities or
Blue Sky laws, all of which requirements have been satisfied in all material
respects.

         (e) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there is not any pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
threatened action, suit, claim or proceeding against the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or any of their respective
properties, assets or rights before any court, government or governmental agency
or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or over their respective officers or properties or otherwise which
(i) might result in any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or might materially and
adversely affect their properties, assets or rights, (ii) might prevent
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (iii) is required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus and is not so disclosed;
and there are no agreements, contracts, leases or documents of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries of a character required to be described or referred to
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Incorporated Document or to
be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any Incorporated
Document by the Act or the Rules and Regulations or by the Exchange Act or the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder which have not been
accurately described in all material respects in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any Incorporated Document or filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document.

         (f) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, have
been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, were not
issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities, and the authorized and outstanding capital
stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Capitalization" and conforms in all material respects to the statements
relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
any Incorporated Document (and such statements correctly state the substance of
the instruments defining the capitalization of the Company); the Firm Shares and
the Option Shares to be purchased from the Company hereunder have been duly
authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement
and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and nonassessable, and will be sold free and clear of any pledge,
lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable interest; and no
preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right (other than registration
rights of holders of Common Stock eligible for sale pursuant to paragraph (k) of
Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations), right of first refusal or other similar
right of shareholders exists with respect to any of the Firm Shares or Option
Shares to be purchased from the Company hereunder or the issuance and sale
thereof other than those that have been expressly waived prior to the date
hereof and those that will automatically expire upon and will not apply to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated on the Closing Date.  No further
approval or authorization of any shareholder, the Board of Directors of the
Company or others is required for the issuance and sale or transfer of the
Shares except as may be required under the Act, the Exchange Act or under state
or other securities or Blue Sky law.  All issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully 
<PAGE>
 
paid and nonassessable, and were not issued in violation of or subject to any
preemptive right, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase shares and are
owned by the Company free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, claim or equitable interest. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus
and the financial statements of the Company, and the related notes thereto,
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor
any subsidiary has outstanding any options to purchase, or any preemptive rights
or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities or obligations
convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of
its capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or
obligations. The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and
other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted and
exercised thereunder, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect
to such plans, arrangements, options and rights in all material respects.

         (g) KPMG LLP, which has audited the consolidated financial statements
of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes, as of December
31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the years in the three (3) years ended
December 31, 1997 filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement, which are included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, are, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations of the Commission; the audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company, together with the related schedules and notes, and the unaudited
consolidated financial information, forming part of the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, fairly present the financial position and the results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries at the respective dates and for
the respective periods to which they apply; and all audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and
notes, and the unaudited consolidated financial information, filed with the
Commission as part of or incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved except as may be
otherwise stated therein.  The selected and summary financial and statistical
data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present
fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
consistent with the audited financial statements presented therein.  No other
financial statements or schedules are required to be included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.

         (h) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (i) any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, (ii) any transaction that is material to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, except transactions
entered into in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or
contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) any change in the capital
stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
(v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the
capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (vi) any loss or
damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise.

         (i) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and any Incorporated Document, (i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all material properties and assets described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and any Incorporated Document as owned by
it, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or
equitable interest, other than such as would not have a material adverse effect
on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, (ii) the agreements to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any
Incorporated Document are valid agreements, enforceable by the Company and its
subsidiaries (as applicable), except as the enforcement thereof may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, the other
contracting party or parties thereto are not in material breach or 
<PAGE>
 
material default under any of such agreements, and (iii) each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has valid and enforceable leases for all properties described
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any Incorporated Document as
leased by it, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and
any Incorporated Document, the Company owns or leases all such properties as are
necessary to its operations as now conducted or as proposed to be conducted.

         (j) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal,
state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes shown
thereon as due, and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, there is no tax
deficiency that has been or might be asserted against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries that might have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects
of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and all tax
liabilities are adequately provided for on the books of the Company and its
subsidiaries.

         (k) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain insurance with insurers
of recognized financial responsibility of the types and in the amounts generally
deemed adequate for their respective businesses and consistent with insurance
coverage maintained by similar companies in similar businesses, including, but
not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by
the Company or its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of
vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which
insurance is in full force and effect; neither the Company nor any such
subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and
neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it
will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such
coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be
necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not materially and
adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise.

         (l) To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor disturbance by the
employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is imminent. No
collective bargaining agreement exists with any of the Company's employees and,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such agreement is imminent.

         (m) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate
rights to use all material patents, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus and any Incorporated Document; except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not received any
notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of the Company by others with respect to any patent, patent
rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade
names or copyrights; and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, the Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge
of, any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks,
service marks, trade names or copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, might have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise.

         (n) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is listed on The Nasdaq National Market, and the Company has
taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the
registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common
Stock from The Nasdaq National Market, nor has the Company received any
notification that the Commission or the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") is contemplating terminating such registration or
listing.

         (o) There are no issues related to the Company's, or any of its
subsidiaries', preparedness for the Year 2000 that (i) are of a character
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any Incorporated Document by the Act or the Rules and Regulations
or by the Exchange Act or the 
<PAGE>
 
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder which have not been
accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
Incorporated Document or (ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise or that might materially affect their properties,
assets or rights. To the best of the Company's knowledge, all internal computer
systems and each Constituent Component (as defined below) of those systems and
all computer-related products and each Constituent Component (as defined below)
of those products of the Company and each of its subsidiaries comply with the
Year 2000 Qualification Requirements in all material respects. "Year 2000
Qualification Requirements" means that the internal computer systems and each
Constituent Component (as defined below) of those systems and all computer-
related products and each Constituent Component (as defined below) of those
products of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) have been reviewed to
confirm that they store, process (including sorting and performing mathematical
operations, calculations and computations), input and output data containing
date and information correctly regardless of whether the date contains dates and
times before, on or after January 1, 2000, (ii) have been designated to ensure
date and time entry recognition, calculations that accommodate same century and
multi-century formulas and date values, leap year recognition and calculations,
and date data interface values that reflect the century, (iii) accurately manage
and manipulate data involving dates and times, including single century formulas
and multi-century formulas, and will not cause an abnormal ending scenario
within the application or generate incorrect values or invalid results involving
such dates, (iv) accurately process any date rollover, and (v) accept and
respond to two-digit year date input in a manner that resolves any ambiguities
as to the century. "Constituent Component" means all software (including
operating systems, programs, packages and utilities), firmware, hardware,
networking components, and peripherals provided as part of the configuration.

         (p) The Company has been advised concerning the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder,
and has in the past conducted, and intends in the future to conduct, its affairs
in such a manner as to ensure that it will not become an "investment company" or
a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the 1940
Act and such rules and regulations.

         (q) The Company has not distributed and will not distribute prior to
the later of (i) the Closing Date, or any date on which Option Shares are to be
purchased, as the case may be, and (ii) completion of the distribution of the
Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement and other materials, if any, permitted by the Act.

         (r) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has at any time
during the last five (5) years (i) made any unlawful contribution to any
candidate for foreign office or failed to disclose fully any contribution in
violation of law, or (ii) made any payment to any federal or state governmental
officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public
duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United
States or any jurisdiction thereof.

         (s) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause
or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

          (t) Each director of the Company and each individual listed in
Schedule B hereto has agreed in writing that such person will not, for a period
of 90 days from the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission (the "Lock-up Period"), offer to sell, contract to sell, or
otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now
owned or hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which
such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) to any trust, the
beneficiaries of which are exclusively such person or the immediate family of
such person, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound by the
terms of this restriction and provided further that any such transfer shall not
involve a disposition for value (for purposes of the foregoing, "immediate
family" shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more
remote than first cousin) 
<PAGE>
 
or (iv) with the prior written consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. The
foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the
Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed
to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities
during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed of by
someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions
would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not against the
box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation,
any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with respect to any
security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes,
relates to or derives any significant part of its value from Securities.
Furthermore, such person has also agreed and consented to the entry of stop
transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the transfer of
the Securities held by such person except in compliance with this restriction.
The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate
list of all securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities
held by each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the
Underwriters true, accurate and complete copies of all of the agreements
pursuant to which its officers, directors and shareholders have agreed to such
or similar restrictions (the "Lock-up Agreements") presently in effect or
effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it will not
release any of its officers, directors or other shareholders from any Lock-up
Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior written
consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.

         (u) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and any Incorporated Document, (i) the Company is in compliance in all material
respects with all rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment,
storage and disposal of toxic substances and protection of health or the
environment ("Environmental Laws") which are applicable to its business, 
(ii) the Company has received no notice from any governmental authority or third
party of an asserted claim under Environmental Laws, which claim is required to
be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
Incorporated Document, (iii) the Company will not be required to make future
material capital expenditures to comply with Environmental Laws and (iv) no
property which is owned, leased or occupied by the Company has been designated
as a Superfund site pursuant to the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. (S) 9601, et seq.), or otherwise
                                                       -- ----               
designated as a contaminated site under applicable state or local law.

         (v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.

         (w) There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances
for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of
indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or
directors of the Company or any of the members of the families of any of them,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
Incorporated Document.

         (x) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or with
any person or affiliate located in Cuba.

     3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.  On the basis of the
         -------------------------------------                                
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $35.01 per share, the
respective number of Firm Shares as hereinafter set forth. The obligation of
each Underwriter to the Company shall be to purchase from the Company that
number of Firm Shares which is set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter
in Schedule A hereto (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10).

     Delivery of definitive certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased by
the Underwriters pursuant to this Section 3 shall be made against payment of the
purchase price therefor by the several Underwriters by wire transfer or other
delivery of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by
the Company, at the offices of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, High Street
Tower, 125 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (or 
<PAGE>
 
at such other place as may be agreed upon among the Representatives and the
Company), at 7:00 A.M., San Francisco time (a) on the third (3rd) full business
day following the first day that Shares are traded, (b) if this Agreement is
executed and delivered after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the fourth (4th)
full business day following the day that this Agreement is executed and
delivered or (c) at such other time and date not later than seven (7) full
business days following the first day that Shares are traded as the
Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and date to which
payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section 10 hereof),
such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to the
       --------  -------                                                   
Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in 
Section 4(d) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion, postpone
the Closing Date until no later than two (2) full business days following
delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives. The certificates
for the Firm Shares to be so delivered will be made available to you at such
office or such other location including, without limitation, in New York City,
as you may reasonably request for checking at least one (1) full business day
prior to the Closing Date and will be in such names and denominations as you may
request, such request to be made at least two (2) full business days prior to
the Closing Date. If the Representatives so elect, delivery of the Firm Shares
may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The
Depository Trust Company designated by the Representatives.

     It is understood that you, individually, and not as the Representatives of
the several Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of
the purchase price on behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters whose check or
checks shall not have been received by you prior to the Closing Date for the
Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters. Any such
payment by you shall not relieve any such Underwriter or Underwriters of any of
its or their obligations hereunder.

     After the Registration Statement becomes effective, the several
Underwriters intend to make an initial public offering (as such term is
described in Section 11 hereof) of the Firm Shares at an initial public offering
price of $37.00 per share. After the initial public offering, the several
Underwriters may, in their discretion, vary the public offering price.

     The information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page
(insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters) and under the table of
underwriters and the second, seventh, eighth and ninth paragraphs under the
caption "Underwriting" in any Preliminary Prospectus and in the Prospectus
constitutes the only information furnished by the Underwriters to the Company
for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document, and you, on behalf of the respective
Underwriters, represent and warrant to the Company that the statements made
therein do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.

     4.  Further Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with the
         ---------------------------------                              
several Underwriters that:

         (a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereof, if not effective at the time and date that
this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, to become
effective as promptly as possible; the Company will use its best efforts to
cause any abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the
Rules and Regulations as may be required subsequent to the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective to become effective as promptly as possible; the
Company will notify you, promptly after it shall receive notice thereof, of the
time when the Registration Statement, any subsequent amendment to the
Registration Statement or any abbreviated registration statement has become
effective or any supplement to the Prospectus has been filed; if the Company
omitted information from the Registration Statement at the time it was
originally declared effective in reliance upon Rule 430A(a) of the Rules and
Regulations, the Company will provide evidence satisfactory to you that the
Prospectus contains such information and has been filed, within the time period
prescribed, with the Commission pursuant to subparagraph (1) or (4) of Rule
424(b) of the Rules and Regulations or as part of a post-effective amendment to
such Registration Statement as originally declared effective which is declared
effective by the Commission; if the Company files a term sheet pursuant to Rule
434 of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will provide evidence satisfactory
to you that the Prospectus and term sheet meeting the requirements of Rule
434(b) or (c), as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations, have 
<PAGE>
 
been filed, within the time period prescribed, with the Commission pursuant to
subparagraph (7) of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations; if for any reason
the filing of the final form of Prospectus is required under Rule 424(b)(3) of
the Rules and Regulations, it will provide evidence satisfactory to you that the
Prospectus contains such information and has been filed with the Commission
within the time period prescribed; it will notify you promptly of any request by
the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus or for additional information; promptly upon your request, it
will prepare and file with the Commission any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus which, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
for the several Underwriters ("Underwriters' Counsel"), may be necessary or
advisable in connection with the distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;
it will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, and promptly notify you
of the filing of, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus which may be necessary to correct any statements or omissions, if, at
any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered
under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus
or any other prospectus relating to the Shares as then in effect would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; in case any Underwriter is required
to deliver a prospectus nine (9) months or more after the effective date of the
Registration Statement in connection with the sale of the Shares, it will
prepare promptly upon request, but at the expense of such Underwriter, such
amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and such prospectus or
prospectuses as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of
Section 10(a)(3) of the Act; and it will file no amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or the Incorporated Documents, or, prior to
the end of the period of time in which a prospectus relating to the Shares is
required to be delivered under the Act, file any document which upon filing
becomes an Incorporated Document, which shall not previously have been submitted
to you a reasonable time prior to the proposed filing thereof or to which you
shall reasonably object in writing, subject, however, to compliance with the Act
and the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder and the provisions of this Agreement.

         (b) The Company will advise you, promptly after it shall receive notice
or obtain knowledge, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the initiation
or threat of any proceeding for that purpose; and it will promptly use its best
efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at
the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued.

         (c) The Company will use its best efforts to qualify the Shares for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may
designate and to continue such qualifications in effect for so long as may be
reasonably required for purposes of the distribution of the Shares, except that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereof to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to
service of process in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise required to
be so qualified or to so execute a general consent to service of process. In
each jurisdiction in which the Shares shall have been qualified as above
provided, the Company will make and file such statements and reports in each
year as are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction so as to
continue such qualifications in effect for as long a period as you may
reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.

         (d) The Company will furnish to you, as soon as available, and, in the
case of the Prospectus and any term sheet or abbreviated term sheet under 
Rule 434, in no event later than the first (1st) full business day following the
first day that Shares are traded, copies of the Registration Statement (three of
which will be signed and which will include all exhibits), each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to such documents,
including any prospectus prepared to permit compliance with Section 10(a)(3) of
the Act, and the Incorporated Documents (three of which will include all
exhibits,) all in such quantities as you may from time to time reasonably
request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.,
on behalf of the several Underwriters, shall agree to the utilization of Rule
434 of the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall provide to you copies of a
Preliminary Prospectus updated in all respects through the date specified by you
in such quantities as you may from time to time reasonably request.

         (e) The Company will make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as practicable, but in any event not later than the forty-fifth (45th) day
following the end of the fiscal quarter first occurring after the first
<PAGE>
 
anniversary of the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earnings
statement (which will be in reasonable detail but need not be audited) complying
with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and covering a twelve (12) month
period beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

         (f) During a period of five (5) years after the date hereof, the
Company will furnish to its shareholders as soon as practicable after the end of
each respective period, annual reports (including financial statements audited
by independent certified public accountants) and unaudited quarterly reports of
operations for each of the first three quarters of the fiscal year, and will
furnish to you and the other several Underwriters hereunder, upon request 
(i) concurrently with furnishing such reports to its shareholders, statements of
operations of the Company for each of the first three (3) quarters in the form
furnished to the Company's shareholders, (ii) concurrently with furnishing to
its shareholders, a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal
year, together with statements of operations, of shareholders' equity, and of
cash flows of the Company for such fiscal year, accompanied by a copy of the
certificate or report thereon of independent certified public accountants, 
(iii) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports (financial or other)
mailed to shareholders, (iv) as soon as they are available, copies of all
reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission, any
securities exchange or the NASD, (v) every material press release and every
material news item or article in respect of the Company or its affairs which was
generally released to shareholders or prepared by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, and (vi) any additional information of a public nature concerning
the Company or its subsidiaries, or its business which you may reasonably
request. During such five (5) year period, if the Company shall have active
subsidiaries, the foregoing financial statements shall be on a consolidated
basis to the extent that the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are
consolidated, and shall be accompanied by similar financial statements for any
significant subsidiary which is not so consolidated.

         (g) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares
being sold by it in the manner set forth under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in
the Prospectus.

         (h) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under
the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar (which may be the
same entity as the transfer agent) for its Common Stock.

         (i) If the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated by
reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to
perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder or to fulfill any
condition of the Underwriters' obligations hereunder, or if the Company shall
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, or if the
Underwriters shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(b)(i), the
Company will reimburse the several Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses (including fees and disbursements of Underwriters' Counsel) incurred by
the Underwriters in investigating or preparing to market or marketing the
Shares.

         (j) If at any time during the ninety (90) day period after the
Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor, publication or event
relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which in your
opinion the market price of the Common Stock has been or is likely to be
materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event
necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will,
after written notice from you advising the Company to the effect set forth
above, forthwith prepare, consult with you concerning the substance of and
disseminate a press release or other public statement, reasonably satisfactory
to you, responding to or commenting on such rumor, publication or event.

         (k) During the Lock-up Period, the Company will not, without the prior
written consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., effect the Disposition
of, directly or indirectly, any Securities other than the sale of the Firm
Shares and the Option Shares to be sold by the Company hereunder and the
Company's issuance of options or Common Stock under the Company's presently
authorized and 1989 Stock Option Plan, Second Amended and Restated 1995 Stock
Plan, 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and 1995 Non-Employee Director Stock
Option Plan (collectively, the "Option Plans").
<PAGE>
 
         (l) During a period of ninety (90) days from the effective date of the
Registration Statement, the Company will not file a registration statement
registering shares under the Option Plans or other employee benefit plan.

     5.  Expenses.
         -------- 

         (a) The Company agrees with each Underwriter that:

     (i) The Company will pay and bear all costs and expenses in connection
with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement
(including financial statements, schedules and exhibits), Preliminary
Prospectuses and the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents and any
amendments or supplements thereto; the printing of this Agreement, the Agreement
Among Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreement, the Preliminary Blue Sky
Survey and any Supplemental Blue Sky Survey, the Underwriters' Questionnaire and
Power of Attorney, and any instruments related to any of the foregoing; the
issuance and delivery of the Shares hereunder to the several Underwriters,
including transfer taxes, if any, the cost of all certificates representing the
Shares and transfer agents' and registrars' fees; the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company; all fees and other charges of the Company's independent
certified public accountants; the cost of furnishing to the several Underwriters
copies of the Registration Statement (including appropriate exhibits),
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, and
any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing; NASD filing fees and the
cost of qualifying the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as you may
reasonably designate (including filing fees and fees and disbursements of
Underwriters' Counsel in connection with such NASD filings and Blue Sky
qualifications); and all other expenses directly incurred by the Company in
connection with the performance of their obligations hereunder.

     (ii) In addition to its other obligations under Section 8(a) hereof, the
Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding described in Section 8(a)
hereof, it will reimburse the Underwriters on a monthly basis for all reasonable
legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding,
notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and
enforceability of the Company's obligation to reimburse the Underwriters for
such expenses and the possibility that such payments might later be held to have
been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such
interim reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the Underwriters
shall promptly return such payment to the Company together with interest,
compounded daily, determined on the basis of the prime rate (or other commercial
lending rate for borrowers of the highest credit standing) listed from time to
time in The Wall Street Journal which represents the base rate on corporate
loans posted by a substantial majority of the nation's thirty (30) largest banks
(the "Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made
to the Underwriters within thirty (30) days of a request for reimbursement shall
bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of such request.

         (b) In addition to their other obligations under Section 8(b) hereof,
the Underwriters severally and not jointly agree that, as an interim measure
during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other
proceeding described in Section 8(b) hereof, they will reimburse the Company on
a monthly basis for all reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in
connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a
judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the
Underwriters' obligation to reimburse the Company for such expenses and the
possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a
court of competent jurisdiction.  To the extent that any such interim
reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the Company shall
promptly return such payment to the Underwriters together with interest,
compounded daily, determined on the basis of the Prime Rate.  Any such interim
reimbursement payments which are not made to the Company within thirty (30) days
of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the
date of such request.

         (c) It is agreed that any controversy arising out of the operation of
the interim reimbursement arrangements set forth in Sections 5(a)(ii) and 5(b)
hereof, including the amounts of any requested reimbursement payments, the
method of determining such amounts and the basis on which such amounts shall be
apportioned among the reimbursing parties, shall be settled by arbitration
conducted under the provisions of the Constitution and 
<PAGE>
 
Rules of the Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or pursuant
to the Code of Arbitration Procedure of the NASD. Any such arbitration must be
commenced by service of a written demand for arbitration or a written notice of
intention to arbitrate, therein electing the arbitration tribunal. In the event
the party demanding arbitration does not make such designation of an arbitration
tribunal in such demand or notice, then the party responding to said demand or
notice is authorized to do so. Any such arbitration will be limited to the
operation of the interim reimbursement provisions contained in Sections 5(a)(ii)
and 5(b) hereof and will not resolve the ultimate propriety or enforceability of
the obligation to indemnify for expenses which is created by the provisions of
Sections 8(a) and 8(b) hereof or the obligation to contribute to expenses which
is created by the provisions of Section 8(d) hereof.

     6.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of the
         ---------------------------------------                               
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as provided herein shall
be subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and the Closing Date and any
later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, of
the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by
the Company of their respective obligations hereunder and to the following
additional conditions:

         (a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
than 2:00 P.M., San Francisco time, on the date following the date of this
Agreement, or such later date as shall be consented to in writing by you; and no
stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of
the Company or any Underwriter, threatened by the Commission, and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any Incorporated Document or otherwise) shall
have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel.

         (b) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters in connection
with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
the registration, authorization, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares, shall
have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, and such counsel
shall have been furnished with such papers and information as they may
reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon the matters referred to in
this Section.

         (c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date, or any later date on which Option Shares are to be
purchased, as the case may be,

     (i) there shall not have been any change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your reasonable judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your reasonable judgment,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares
as contemplated by the Prospectus; and

     (ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice
have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a
possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in
the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined for
purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.

         (d) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, the following
opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date or such later date on
which Option Shares are to be purchased addressed to the Underwriters and with
reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters,
to the effect that:

     (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation;

     (ii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus;
<PAGE>
 
     (iii) The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation
and is in good standing in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and North
Carolina. To such counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
TranSwitch Europe, N.V./S.A. and TranSwitch India Private Limited;

     (iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is
as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" as of the
dates stated therein, the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge, will not have been issued in
violation of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration
right, right of first refusal or other similar right;

     (v) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be issued
by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been duly authorized
and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the
terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable,
and will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
right, co-sale right, registration right (other than registration rights of
holders of Common Stock eligible for sale pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144
of the Rules and Regulations), right of first refusal or other similar right.

     (vi) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be
issued and sold by it hereunder;

     (vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company;

     (viii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and,
to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;

     (ix) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or
supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including supporting
schedules) and financial data derived therefrom, information relating to the
Underwriters and information relating to the method of distribution of the
Shares by the Underwriters, as to which such counsel need express no opinion),
as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, complied as to form in
all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable Rules
and Regulations; and each of the Incorporated Documents (other than the
financial statements (including supporting schedules) and the financial data
derived therefrom as to which such counsel need express no opinion) complied
when filed pursuant to the Exchange Act as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Exchange Act
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

     (x) The terms and provisions of the capital stock of the Company conform in
all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus under the heading "Description of Capital Stock;"

     (xi) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of
Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or legal
conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair summary of such
matters and conclusions in all material respects; and the form of certificate
evidencing the Common Stock complies with Delaware law;

     (xii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of
the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be presented by the Act and the applicable
Rules and Regulations;

     (xiii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements, contracts,
leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a character required to
be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus 
<PAGE>
 
or any Incorporated Document or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement or any Incorporated Document which are not described or referred to
therein or filed as required;

     (xiv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the Company's
indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no opinion need be
expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the Company's charter or
bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any material
bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or any material lease,
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or
other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a
party or by which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute, rule or
regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any order,
writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or over any of its properties or operations;

     (xv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification with
any court, government or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over
the Company or over any of its properties or operations is necessary in
connection with the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein
contemplated, except such as have been obtained under the Act or such as may be
required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters;

     (xvi) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company of a character required to
be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any Incorporated
Document by the Act or the Rules and Regulations or by the Exchange Act or the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, other than those
described therein;

     (xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and any Incorporated Document, no holders of Common
Stock (other than holders of Common Stock eligible for sale pursuant to
paragraph (k) of Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations) or other securities of
the Company have registration rights with respect to securities of the Company
and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, all
holders of securities of the Company (other than holders of Common Stock
eligible for sale pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144 of the Rules and
Regulations) having rights known to such counsel to registration of such shares
of Common Stock or other securities, because of the filing of the Registration
Statement by the Company have, with respect to the offering contemplated
thereby, waived such rights or such rights have expired by reason of lapse of
time following notification of the Company's intent to file the Registration
Statement or have included securities in the Registration Statement pursuant to
the exercise of and in full satisfaction of such rights.

     In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officials and other representatives of the Company, the
Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the contents of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and
although such counsel has not verified the accuracy or completeness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus nor has
such counsel passed upon nor assumed any responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which leads it
to believe that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at
all times subsequent thereto up to and on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, the Registration Statement and any
amendment or supplement thereto and any Incorporated Document, when such
documents became effective or were filed with the Commission (other than the
financial statements including supporting schedules and other financial and
statistical information derived therefrom, information relating to the
Underwriters and information relating to the method of distribution of the
Shares by the Underwriters, as to which such counsel need express no comment)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or at the Closing Date or any later date on which the Option
Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) and any
Incorporated Document (other than the financial statements including supporting
schedules and other financial and statistical information derived therefrom as
to 
<PAGE>
 
which such counsel need express no comment) contained any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. Such counsel shall also state that the conditions for the
use of Form S-3 set forth in the General Instructions thereto have been
satisfied.

         Counsel rendering the foregoing opinion may rely as to questions of law
not involving the laws of the United States or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and State of Delaware upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of
fact upon representations or certificates of officers of the Company, and of
government officials, in which case their opinion is to state that they are so
relying and that they have no knowledge of any material misstatement or
inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate. Copies of any
opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you,
as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.

         (e) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, the following
opinion of David P. Gordon, Esq., patent counsel for the Company, dated the
Closing Date or such later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased,
addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed counterparts
thereof for each of the Underwriters, to the effect that:

             (i) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, in the sections of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus titled "Risk Factors -- Our Success
Depends on Intellectual Property" and "Business -- Patents and Licenses" the
descriptions of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings, contracts and
other documents relating to the Company's patents, patent rights, inventions,
trade secrets, know-how, proprietary techniques, trademarks, service marks,
trade names and copyrights ("Intellectual Property") to the extent that they
relate to the Company's business do not contain any material misstatement;

             (ii) The Company has duly and properly filed the U.S. patent
applications, listed in the Prospectus under the caption "Business -- Patents
and Licenses," and has duly and properly informed and instructed foreign patent
attorneys and/or agents to duly and properly file the foreign patent
applications listed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus under the
caption "Business -- Patents and Licenses," and to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, said foreign patent attorneys and/or agents have duly and properly
filed the foreign patent applications listed in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus under the caption "Business -- Patents and Licenses," and except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company duly holds the U.S. patents listed in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus under the caption "Business -- Patents
and Licenses," and to the best of such counsel's knowledge, duly hold the
foreign patents listed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus under the
caption "Business -- Patents and Licenses;"

             (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company has not
received any notice from any other person pertaining to or challenging the right
of the Company to use any patents owned or used by or licensed to the Company;

             (iv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, except as disclosed
in the Prospectus, the Company has conducted its business without claim of
infringement of any United States or foreign patents of others;

             (v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, other than pending
patent and trademark applications, there is not pending or threatened any
action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party, before or by any
court or governmental agency or body, relating to patents or patent rights or
patent applications for the Company's products; and

             (vi) Such counsel has reviewed the sections of the Registration
Statement and Prospectus titled "Risk Factors -- Our Success Depends on
Intellectual Property" and "Business -- Patents and Licenses," which have been
delivered to such counsel in connection with such counsel's opinion, and any
further amendments or supplements thereto made by the Company prior to the
Closing Date and brought to such counsel's attention, and insofar as they
concern trademarks, patents or patent rights, or patent applications pertaining
to the Company's business or products, such counsel has no reason to believe
that any such section included in any part of the 
<PAGE>
 
Registration Statement, when such Registration Statement became effective, or
the Prospectus contained any material misstatement or omission.

         Such counsel may advise you that, in rendering their opinion, they have
relied on certain factual representations of the Company and that they have not
independently verified the accuracy and completeness of such representations.

         (f) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, an opinion of
Hale and Dorr LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to you, with respect to
the sufficiency of all such corporate proceedings and other legal matters
relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as you may
reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such
documents as they may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon such matters.

         (g) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, a letter from
KPMG LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date or such later
date on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, confirming
that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and the related Rules and Regulations of
the Commission and based upon the procedures described in such letter delivered
to you concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the
"Original Letter"), but carried out to a date not more than five (5) business
days prior to the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Shares are to
be purchased, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to the extent true, that the
statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of
the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Shares are to be purchased,
as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the
statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter which are necessary
to reflect any changes in the facts described in the Original Letter since the
date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of more recent financial
statements, data or information.  The letter shall not disclose any change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it,
in your reasonable judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus.  The Original
Letter from KPMG LLP shall be addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to
the extent true, that they are independent certified public accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the related Rules and
Regulations of the Commission, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to
their audit of the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31,
1997 and related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1997, (iii) state
that KPMG LLP has performed the procedures set out in Statement on Auditing
Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a review of interim financial information and
providing the report of KPMG LLP has described in SAS 71 on the financial
statements for each of the quarters in the three-quarter period ended September
30, 1998 (the "Quarterly Financial Statements"), (iv) state that in the course
of such review, nothing came to their attention that leads them to believe that
any material modifications need to be made to any of the Quarterly Financial
Statements in order for them to be in compliance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied across the periods presented, and 
(v) address other matters agreed upon by KPMG LLP and you. In addition, you
shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter addressed to the Company and made
available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating that their review of
the Company's system of internal accounting controls, to the extent they deemed
necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of the Company's
consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997, did not disclose any
weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be material weaknesses.

         (h) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, a certificate of
the Company, dated the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Shares
are to be purchased, as the case may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect that, and you shall be
satisfied that:

     (i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or any later date on
which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to
be performed or 
<PAGE>
 
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date or any later date on which Option
Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be;

     (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or, to their knowledge, are pending or threatened under the Act;

     (iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto and the
Incorporated Documents, when such Incorporated Documents became effective or
were filed with the Commission, contained all material information required to
be included therein by the Act and the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the
case may be, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements of the
Act and the Rules and Regulations or the Exchange Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, the
Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, did not and
does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto,
did not and does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, since the
effective date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event
required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not
been so set forth; and

     (iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, except transactions entered into in
the ordinary course of business, (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business, (d) any change in the capital stock or outstanding
indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (e) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not
insured) to the property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has
been sustained or will have been sustained which has a material adverse effect
on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise.

         (i) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement
from each director of the Company and each individual listed in Schedule B
hereto in writing prior to the date hereof that such person will not, during the
Lock-up Period, effect the Disposition of any Securities now owned or hereafter
acquired directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or
hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide
gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound
by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to limited partners or shareholders
of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be
bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) to any trust, the beneficiaries of
which are exclusively such person or the immediate family of such person,
provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound by the terms of this
restriction and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a
disposition for value (for purposes of the foregoing, "immediate family" shall
mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first
cousin) or (iv) with the prior written consent of BancBoston Robertson Stephens
Inc.  The foregoing restriction shall have been expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of
Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed
of by someone other than the such holder.  Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would including, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not
against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from
Securities. Furthermore, such person will have 
<PAGE>
 
also agreed and consented to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the
Company's transfer agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such
person except in compliance with this restriction.

         (j) The Company shall have furnished to you such further certificates
and documents as you shall reasonably request (including certificates of
officers of the Company as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
of the Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and as to the other conditions concurrent and precedent to the
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder).

         All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be in
compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory
to Underwriters' Counsel. The Company will furnish you with such number of
conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as you
shall reasonably request.

     7.  Option Shares.
         ------------- 

         (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements
herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters, for the purpose of covering
over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares
only, a nontransferable option to purchase up to an aggregate of 255,000 Option
Shares at the purchase price per share for the Firm Shares set forth in Section
3 hereof.  Such option may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf of the
several Underwriters on one (1) or more occasions in whole or in part during the
period of thirty (30) days after the date on which the Firm Shares are initially
offered to the public, by giving written notice to the Company.  The number of
Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter upon the exercise of such
option shall be the same proportion of the total number of Option Shares to be
purchased by the several Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of such option as
the number of Firm Shares purchased by such Underwriter (set forth in Schedule A
hereto) bears to the total number of Firm Shares purchased by the several
Underwriters (set forth in Schedule A hereto), adjusted by the Representatives
in such manner as to avoid fractional shares.

         Delivery of definitive certificates for the Option Shares to be
purchased by the several Underwriters pursuant to the exercise of the option
granted by this Section 7 shall be made against payment of the purchase price
therefor by the several Underwriters by wire transfer or other delivery of
immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company.
In the event of any breach of the foregoing, the Company shall reimburse the
Underwriters for the interest lost and any other expenses borne by them by
reason of such breach. Such delivery and payment shall take place at the offices
of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP, High Street Tower, 125 High Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110 or at such other place as may be agreed upon among the
Representatives and the Company (i) on the Closing Date, if written notice of
the exercise of such option is received by the Company at least two (2) full
business days prior to the Closing Date, or (ii) on a date which shall not be
later than the third (3rd) full business day following the date the Company
receives written notice of the exercise of such option, if such notice is
received by the Company less than two (2) full business days prior to the
Closing Date.

         The certificates for the Option Shares to be so delivered will be made
available to you at such office or such other location including, without
limitation, in New York City, as you may reasonably request for checking at
least one (1) full business day prior to the date of payment and delivery and
will be in such names and denominations as you may request, such request to be
made at least two (2) full business days prior to such date of payment and
delivery.  If the Representatives so elect, delivery of the Option Shares may be
made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository
Trust Company designated by the Representatives.

         It is understood that you, individually, and not as the
Representatives of the several Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)
make payment of the purchase price on behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters
whose check or checks shall not have been received by you prior to the date of
payment and delivery for the Option Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter
or Underwriters.  Any such payment by you shall not relieve any such Underwriter
or Underwriters of any of its or their obligations hereunder.

         (b) Upon exercise of any option provided for in Section 7(a) hereof,
the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase such Option Shares will
be subject (as of the date hereof and as of the date of payment and 
<PAGE>
 
delivery for such Option Shares) to the accuracy of and compliance with the
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein, to the
accuracy of the statements of the Company, and officers of the Company made
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, to the conditions set forth in Section 6 hereof, and to
the condition that all proceedings taken at or prior to the payment date in
connection with the sale and transfer of such Option Shares shall be
satisfactory in form and substance to you and to Underwriters' Counsel, and you
shall have been furnished with all such documents, certificates and opinions as
you may request in order to evidence the accuracy and completeness of any of the
representations, warranties or statements, the performance of any of the
covenants or agreements of the Company or the satisfaction of any of the
conditions herein contained.

     8.  Indemnification and Contribution.
         -------------------------------- 

         (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject (including, without limitation, in its
capacity as an Underwriter or as a "qualified independent underwriter" within
the meaning of Schedule E of the Bylaws of the NASD), under the Act, the
Exchange Act or otherwise, specifically including, but not limited to, losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or
based upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant
of the Company herein contained, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto, including any Incorporated Document, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
(iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and agrees to reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
                                                   --------  -------          
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or
any such amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity
with, written information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company
by such Underwriter, directly or through you, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof and, provided further, that the indemnity agreement provided
                         -------- -------                                       
in this Section 8(a) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure
to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact purchased Shares, if a copy of the Prospectus in
which such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was corrected had not been sent or given to such person within the time
required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations, unless such failure is the
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 4(d) hereof.

         The indemnity agreement in this Section 8(a) shall extend upon the same
terms and conditions to, and shall inure to the benefit of, each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act.
This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any liabilities which the
Company may otherwise have.

         (b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company may become subject under the
Act or otherwise, specifically including, but not limited to, losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based
upon (i) any breach of any representation, warranty, agreement or covenant of
such Underwriter herein contained, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto, including any Incorporated Document, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
(iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, 
<PAGE>
 
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in
the case of subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this Section 8(b) to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter, directly or
through you, specifically for use in the preparation thereof, and agrees to
reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action.

         The indemnity agreement in this Section 8(b) shall extend upon the same
terms and conditions to, and shall inure to the benefit of, each officer of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company,
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act
or the Exchange Act. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liabilities which each Underwriter may otherwise have.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8
of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this
Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof,
provided that the omission to so promptly notify the indemnifying party (i) will
not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party unless such failure to provide prompt notice has prejudiced
the defense of the litigation and (ii) will not relieve the indemnifying party
from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under this Section 8. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent
that it shall elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action
                   --------  -------                                           
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal
defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified
party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such
legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on
behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party's
election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified
party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified
party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the
indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the
proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (together with appropriate local counsel) approved by the
indemnifying party representing all the indemnified parties under Section 8(a)
or 8(b) hereof who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party
shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the
employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the
indemnifying party. In no event shall any indemnifying party be liable in
respect of any amounts paid in settlement of any action unless the indemnifying
party shall have approved the terms of such settlement; provided that such
                                                        --------               
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No indemnifying party shall, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by
such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release
of such indemnified party from all liability on all claims that are the subject
matter of such proceeding.

         (d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any
action in which a claim for indemnification is made pursuant to this Section 8
but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a
court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the
denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 8 provides for
indemnification in such case, all the parties hereto shall contribute to the
aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject
(after contribution from others) in such proportion so that the Underwriters
severally and not jointly are responsible pro rata for the portion represented
by the percentage that the underwriting discount bears to the initial public
offering price, and the Company is responsible for the remaining 
<PAGE>
 
portion, provided, however, that (i) no Underwriter shall be required to
         --------  -------                                                     
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the underwriting discount
applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter exceeds the amount of
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise required to pay and (ii) no person
guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who is not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The contribution agreement in this Section
8(d) shall extend upon the same terms and conditions to, and shall inure to the
benefit of, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter, the Company
within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act and each officer of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company.

         (e) The parties to this Agreement hereby acknowledge that they are
sophisticated business persons who were represented by counsel during the
negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including, without limitation, the
provisions of this Section 8, and are fully informed regarding said provisions.
They further acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 8 fairly allocate
the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company and
its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure is made in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by the Act and the Exchange
Act.

     9.  Representations, Warranties, Covenants and Agreements to Survive
         ----------------------------------------------------------------
Delivery.  All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the
- --------                                                                   
Company and the Underwriters herein or in certificates delivered pursuant
hereto, and the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 8
hereof shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, or by or on
behalf of the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons
within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, and shall survive the
delivery of the Shares to the several Underwriters hereunder or termination of
this Agreement.

     10. Substitution of Underwriters.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters
         ----------------------------                                     
shall fail to take up and pay for the number of Firm Shares agreed by such
Underwriter or Underwriters to be purchased hereunder upon tender of such Firm
Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, and if the aggregate number of Firm
Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares, the remaining Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally in proportion to their respective commitments
hereunder, to take up and pay for the Firm Shares of such defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters.

         If any Underwriter or Underwriters so defaults and the aggregate
number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed to take up and pay for exceeds 10% of the Firm Shares, the remaining
Underwriters shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to take up and
pay for (in such proportions as may be agreed upon among them) the Firm Shares
which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so agreed but failed to
purchase.  If such remaining Underwriters do not, at the Closing Date, take up
and pay for the Firm Shares which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so
agreed but failed to purchase, the Closing Date shall be postponed for twenty-
four (24) hours to allow the several Underwriters the privilege of substituting
within twenty-four (24) hours (including non-business hours) another underwriter
or underwriters (which may include any nondefaulting Underwriter) satisfactory
to the Company.  If no such underwriter or underwriters shall have been
substituted as aforesaid by such postponed Closing Date, the Closing Date may,
at the option of the Company, be postponed for a further twenty-four (24) hours,
if necessary, to allow the Company the privilege of finding another underwriter
or underwriters, satisfactory to you, to purchase the Firm Shares which the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters so agreed but failed to purchase.  If it
shall be arranged for the remaining Underwriters or substituted underwriter or
underwriters to take up the Firm Shares of the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters as provided in this Section 10, (i) the Company shall have the
right to postpone the time of delivery for a period of not more than seven (7)
full business days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made
necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other
documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees promptly to file any
amendments to the Registration Statement, supplements to the Prospectus or other
such documents which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective
number of Firm Shares to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters and
substituted underwriter or underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their
underwriting obligation.  If the remaining Underwriters shall not take up and
pay for all such Firm Shares so agreed to be purchased by the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters or substitute another underwriter or underwriters as
aforesaid and the 
<PAGE>
 
Company shall not find or shall not elect to seek another underwriter or
underwriters for such Firm Shares as aforesaid, then this Agreement shall
terminate.

         In the event of any termination of this Agreement pursuant to the
preceding paragraph of this Section 10, the Company shall not be liable to any
Underwriter (except as provided in Sections 4(i), 5 and 8 hereof) nor shall any
Underwriter (other than an Underwriter who shall have failed, otherwise than for
some reason permitted under this Agreement, to purchase the number of Firm
Shares agreed by such Underwriter to be purchased hereunder, which Underwriter
shall remain liable to the Company, and the other Underwriters for damages, if
any, resulting from such default) be liable to the Company (except to the extent
provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof).

         The term "Underwriter" in this Agreement shall include any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

     11. Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination.
         ------------------------------------------------ 

         (a) This Agreement shall become effective at the earlier of 
(i) 6:30 A.M., San Francisco time, on the first full business day following the
effective date of the Registration Statement, or (ii) the time of the initial
public offering of any of the Shares by the Underwriters after the Registration
Statement becomes effective. The time of the initial public offering shall mean
the time of the release by you, for publication, of the first newspaper
advertisement relating to the Shares, or the time at which the Shares are first
generally offered by the Underwriters to the public by letter, telephone,
telegram or telecopy, whichever shall first occur. By giving notice as set forth
in Section 12 before the time this Agreement becomes effective, you, as
Representatives of the several Underwriters, or the Company, may prevent this
Agreement from becoming effective without liability of any party to any other
party, except as provided in Sections 4(i), 5 and 8 hereof.

         (b) You, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice as hereinafter specified at
any time on or prior to the Closing Date or on or prior to any later date on
which Option Shares are to be purchased, as the case may be, (i) if the Company
shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part
to be performed, or because any other condition of the Underwriters' obligations
hereunder required to be fulfilled is not fulfilled, including, without
limitation, any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse, or 
(ii) if additional material governmental restrictions, not in force and effect
on the date hereof, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally
or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on the New
York Stock Exchange or on the American Stock Exchange or in the over the counter
market by the NASD, or trading in securities generally shall have been suspended
on either such exchange or in the over the counter market by the NASD, or if a
banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal, New York or California
authorities, or (iii) if the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike,
fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as to
interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the
Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured, or 
(iv) if there shall have been a material adverse change in the general political
or economic conditions or financial markets in the United States as in your
reasonable judgment makes it inadvisable or impracticable to proceed with the
offering, sale and delivery of the Shares, or (v) if there shall have been an
outbreak or escalation of hostilities or of any other insurrection or armed
conflict or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency which,
in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by
the Prospectus. In the event of termination pursuant to subparagraph (i) above,
the Company shall remain obligated to pay costs and expenses pursuant to
Sections 4(i), 5 and 8 hereof. Any termination pursuant to any of subparagraphs
(ii) through (v) above shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Sections 5 and 8 hereof.

         If you elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective or to
terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11, you shall promptly
notify the Company by telephone, telecopy or telegram, in each case confirmed by
letter.  If the Company shall elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming
effective, the Company shall promptly notify you by telephone, telecopy or
telegram, in each case, confirmed by letter.
<PAGE>
 
     12.  Notices.  All notices or communications hereunder, except as herein
          -------                                                     
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and if sent to you shall be
mailed, delivered, telegraphed (and confirmed by letter) or telecopied (and
confirmed by letter) to you c/o BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc., 555
California Street, Suite 2600, San Francisco, California 94104, telecopier
number (415) 781-0278, Attention: General Counsel; if sent to the Company, such
notice shall be mailed, delivered, telegraphed (and confirmed by letter) or
telecopied (and confirmed by letter) to TranSwitch Corporation, Three Enterprise
Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484, telecopier number (203) 929-8810, Attention:
Dr. Santanu Das, Chief Executive Officer.

     13.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
          -------                                                      
upon the several Underwriters and the Company and their respective executors,
administrators, successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person or entity, other
than the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators,
successors and assigns, and the controlling persons within the meaning of the
Act or the Exchange Act, officers and directors referred to in Section 8 hereof,
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in respect of this Agreement or
any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators,
successors and assigns and said controlling persons and said officers and
directors, and for the benefit of no other person or entity. No purchaser of any
of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be construed a successor or assign by
reason merely of such purchase.

         In all dealings with the Company under this Agreement, you shall act on
behalf of each of the several Underwriters, and the Company shall be entitled to
act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement made or given by
you jointly or by BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. on behalf of you.

     14.  Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
          --------------                                           
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

     15.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in several counterparts,
          ------------                                                   
each of which will constitute an original.
<PAGE>
 
     If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company
and the several Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below for
that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among
the Company and the several Underwriters.

                            Very truly yours,

                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION


                            By   /s/ Dr. Santanu Das
                                ------------------------------------
                                Dr. Santanu Das
                                Chairman of the Board, President and
                                Chief Executive Officer

Accepted as of the date first above written:

BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.
NATIONSBANC MONTGOMERY SECURITIES LLC
ADVEST, INC.
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the
several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.


By BANCBOSTON ROBERTSON STEPHENS INC.



By   /s/ Andrew Page                                   
    -----------------------------------
         Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
 
SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Number of
                                           Firm Shares
                                           To Be
Underwriters                               Purchased
- ------------                               -----------
<S>                                        <C>
BancBoston Robertson Stephens Inc.            570,000
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC.        342,000
Advest, Inc.                                  228,000
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC                       100,000
Needham & Company, Inc.                       100,000
Pacific Growth Equities, Inc.                 100,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC            100,000
Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.                   80,000
May, Davis Group Inc.                          80,000
 
 Total                                      1,700,000
 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
SCHEDULE B


William G. Bartholomay
Watson S. Coverdale, Jr.
Jeorge S. Hurtarte
Moshe Mazin
Michael McCoy
Francisco A. Middleton
Robert G. Pico
Terrence S. Rogers
Michael F. Stauff
Daniel C. Upp
Jitender K. Vij
Joseph Vithayathil

<PAGE>
 
EXHIBIT 11:

                            TRANSWITCH CORPORATION
                     COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE (1)
                                  (Unaudited)
                     (in thousands, except per share data)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                    MARCH 31,
                                                                                    ---------
                                                                                 1999              1998
                                                                                 ----              ----
<S>                                                                           <C>                <C>                
Basic earnings per share:
  Net income                                                                  $   3,124          $     561
                                                                              =========          =========
  Weighted average number of common shares
   outstanding during the period                                                 16,068             13,270
 
  Basic earnings per share                                                    $    0.19          $    0.04
                                                                              =========          =========
 
Diluted earnings per share:
  Net income                                                                  $   3,124          $     561
                                                                              =========          =========
  Weighted average number of common shares
   outstanding during the period                                                 16,068             13,270
 
  Common stock issuable with respect to:
      Stock options and warrants                                                  1,218                607
      Convertible preferred stock                                                     -                733
                                                                              ---------          ---------
 
  Adjusted weighted average number of shares                                     17,286             14,610
   outstanding during the period

  Diluted earnings per share                                                  $    0.18          $    0.04 (2)
                                                                              =========          =========
</TABLE> 

___________
(1)  This exhibit should be read in connection with "Consolidated Statement of
     Stockholders' Equity" in Note 4 of the unaudited notes to consolidated
     financial statements.

(2)  Diluted per share amount is the same as basic for the three months ended
     March 31, 1998.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          73,645
<SECURITIES>                                    21,114
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,776
<ALLOWANCES>                                       261
<INVENTORY>                                      6,149
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               111,985
<PP&E>                                          13,480
<DEPRECIATION>                                   7,261
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 119,787
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            7,173
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            17
<OTHER-SE>                                     112,597
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   119,787
<SALES>                                         14,461
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                14,461
<CGS>                                            5,222
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    6,487
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,284
<INCOME-TAX>                                       160
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              3,124
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,124
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.18
        

</TABLE>


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