-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Fqq8rkAN5gAfXIVf0e1mvQtkBR+XaaVaeorU3xRc92dVZxUkv0k5njNkv2Lz5S80 8fq1g+UKSc95Tdube44+JQ== 0000859360-98-000002.txt : 19980325 0000859360-98-000002.hdr.sgml : 19980325 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000859360-98-000002 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: PRE 14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19971231 FILED AS OF DATE: 19980324 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LEGATO SYSTEMS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000859360 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372] IRS NUMBER: 943077394 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: PRE 14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-26130 FILM NUMBER: 98571819 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3210 PORTER DR CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94304 BUSINESS PHONE: 4158126000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3210 PORTER DRIVE CITY: PALO ALTO STATE: CA ZIP: 94304 PRE 14A 1 PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. 3210 Porter Drive Palo Alto, California 94304 April 6, 1998 TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. Dear Stockholder: You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Legato Systems, Inc. (the "Company"), which will be held at the Cabana Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California, on Thursday, May 14, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. Details of the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are given in the attached Proxy Statement and Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. Returning the proxy does NOT deprive you of your right to attend the Annual Meeting. If you decide to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so automatically by voting in person at the meeting. On March 16, 1998, the Company announced a two-for-one stock split of its Common Stock (which will be effected in the form of a stock dividend) to be effective on April 17, 1998. This stock split is more fully described in the attached Proxy Statement. It is important to note that, except as otherwise indicated in the Proxy Statement, all share numbers and stock values in the Proxy Statement have been adjusted to reflect this two-for-one stock split. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation for your continued interest in the affairs of the Company. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting. Sincerely, Louis C. Cole Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC 3210 Porter Drive Palo Alto, California 94304 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To be held May 14, 1998 The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Legato Systems, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the Cabana Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California, on Thursday, May 14, 1998, at 9:00 a.m. for the following purposes: 1. To elect five directors of the Board of Directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified; 2. To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000; 3. To approve an amendment to the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, including an increase to the number of shares available for issuance thereunder, as set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement; 4. To ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998; and 5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the attached Proxy Statement. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 1998 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof. A list of such stockholders will be available for inspection at the Company's headquarters located at 3210 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California, during ordinary business hours for the ten-day period prior to the Annual Meeting. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Robert V. Gunderson, Jr. Secretary Palo Alto, California April 6, 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PROXY VOTE, YOU MAY DO SO AUTOMATICALLY BY VOTING IN PERSON AT THE MEETING. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. 3210 Porter Drive Palo Alto, California 94304 PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To be held May 14, 1998 These proxy materials are furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Legato Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the Cabana Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California, on Thursday, May 14, 1998, at 9:00 a.m., and at any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. These proxy materials were first mailed to stockholders on or about April 6, 1998. PURPOSE OF MEETING The specific proposals to be considered and acted upon at the Annual Meeting are summarized in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Each proposal is described in more detail in this Proxy Statement. VOTING RIGHTS AND SOLICITATION OF PROXIES The Company's Common Stock is the only type of security entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On April 1, 1998, the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, there were _____________ shares of Common Stock outstanding. All share numbers in this Proxy Statement (including the number of shares outstanding on the record date for the Annual Meeting) have been adjusted to reflect the following: (i) the two-for-one stock split effected by the Company on July 5, 1996 (the "1996 Stock Split") and (ii) the 1998 Stock Split (as such term is defined in the following paragraph). Each stockholder of record on April 1, 1998 is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held by such stockholder on April 1, 1998. Shares of Common Stock may not be voted cumulatively. All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes, abstentions and broker non-votes. On March 16, 1998, the Company announced a two-for-one stock split of its Common Stock to be effective as of April 17, 1998 (the "1998 Stock Split"). The 1998 Stock Split will be effected in the form of a 100% stock dividend to be issued to each stockholder of record as of April 3, 1998. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED HEREIN, ALL SHARE NUMBERS AND STOCK VALUES IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE 1998 STOCK SPLIT. Quorum Required The Company's bylaws provide that the holders of a majority of the Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. Votes Required Proposal 1. Directors are elected by a plurality of the affirmative votes cast by those shares present in person, or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The five nominees for director receiving the highest number of affirmative votes will be elected. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted toward a nominee's total. Stockholders may not cumulate votes in the election of directors. Proposal 2. Approval of the adoption of the amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company's Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not affirmative votes and, therefore, will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Proposal 3. Approval of the adoption of the amendment to the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan requires the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares present in person or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions are not affirmative votes and, therefore, will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Broker non-votes will not be treated as entitled to vote on the matter and thus, will not affect the outcome of the voting on the proposal. Proposal 4. Ratification of the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares present in person, or represented by proxy, and cast either affirmatively or negatively at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as having been voted on the proposal. Proxies Whether or not you are able to attend the Company's Annual Meeting, you are urged to complete and return the enclosed proxy, which is solicited by the Company's Board of Directors and which will be voted as you direct on your proxy when properly completed. In the event no directions are specified, such proxies will be voted FOR the Nominees of the Board of Directors (as set forth in Proposal No. 1), FOR Proposal Nos. 2, 3, and 4, and in the discretion of the proxy holders as to other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. You may also revoke or change your proxy at any time before the Annual Meeting. To do this, send a written notice of revocation or another signed proxy with a later date to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal executive offices before the beginning of the Annual Meeting. You may also automatically revoke your proxy by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. All shares represented by a valid proxy received prior to the Annual Meeting will be voted. Solicitation of Proxies The Company will bear the entire cost of solicitation, including the preparation, assembly, printing, and mailing of this Proxy Statement, the proxy, and any additional soliciting material furnished to stockholders. Copies of solicitation material will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries, and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they may forward this solicitation material to such beneficial owners. In addition, the Company may reimburse such persons for their costs of forwarding the solicitation material to such beneficial owners. The original solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by solicitation by telephone, telegram, or other means by directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company. No additional compensation will be paid to these individuals for any such services. The Company has also retained Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. ("Beacon Hill") to assist in the solicitation of proxies. Beacon Hill will receive a fee for such services of approximately $5,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses, which will be paid by the Company. Except as described above, the Company does not presently intend to solicit proxies other than by mail. PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The directors who are being nominated for reelection to the Board of Directors (the "Nominees"), their ages as of April 1, 1998, their positions and offices held with the Company and certain biographical information are set forth below. The proxy holders intend to vote all proxies received by them in the accompanying form FOR the Nominees listed below unless otherwise instructed. In the event any Nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who may be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the vacancy. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors is not aware of any Nominee who is unable or will decline to serve as a director. The five (5) nominees receiving the highest number of affirmative votes of the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be elected directors of the Company to serve until the next Annual Meeting or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Nominees Age Positions and Offices Held with the Company - --------------------------- ------- ------------------------------------------------------------ Louis C. Cole (1) 54 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Eric A. Benhamou 42 Director Kevin A. Fong (2)(3) 44 Director David N. Strohm (3) 49 Director Phillip E. White(2) 55 Director (1) Member of Stock Option Committee (2) Member of Audit Committee (3) Member of Compensation Committee
Mr. Cole joined the Company as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director in June 1989. Since April 1995, Mr. Cole has also served as Chairman of the Board. Before joining the Company, from March 1987 until July 1988, Mr. Cole served as Executive Vice President responsible for all operating divisions of Novell, Inc., a publicly held manufacturer of computer networking and software products. Mr. Cole currently serves as a director of Qualix Group, Inc. and Rogue Wave Software, Inc. both publicly held software companies. Mr. Cole holds a B.S. in mathematics and education from Pennsylvania State University at Edinboro. Mr. Benhamou has been a Director of the Company since March 1993. Mr. Benhamou has been President and Chief Executive Officer of 3Com Corporation ("3Com"), a publicly held computer network products company, since September 1990, and has been Chairman of the Board of 3Com since July 1994. From April 1990 until September 1990, Mr. Benhamou served as Chief Operating Officer of 3Com. Mr. Benhamou currently serves as a director of Cypress Semiconductor, a publicly held semiconductor company, and Netscape Communications, a publicly held Internet software company. Mr. Benhamou holds a Diplome d'Ingenieur from Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers in Paris, France, and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Mr. Fong has been a Director of the Company since December 1988. Mr. Fong joined Mayfield Fund ("Mayfield"), a venture capital firm, in 1988 and has been a general partner of several venture capital funds affiliated with Mayfield since 1990. Mr. Fong currently serves as a director of Prism Solutions, Inc., a publicly held data warehousing company, as well as several privately held companies. Mr. Fong holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and an M.S. in electrical engineering and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. Mr. Strohm has been a Director of the Company since December 1988. Mr. Strohm joined Greylock Management Corporation ("Greylock"), a venture capital management company, in 1980 and is a general partner of several venture capital funds affiliated with Greylock. Mr. Strohm currently serves as a director of Banyan Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of networking software products, and DoubleClick, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive Internet advertising solutions, both publicly held, as well as several privately held technology companies. Mr. Strohm holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Mr. White has been a Director of the Company since May 1995. Since August 1997, Mr. White has been providing marketing consulting services within the high-tech industry. From January 1989 to August 1997, Mr. White served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Informix Corporation, a publicly held database software company. From March 1986 to December 1988, Mr. White served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Wyse Technology, Inc., a publicly held personal computer manufacturing company. Mr. White currently serves as a director of Adaptec, Inc., a publicly held manufacturer and retailer of peripheral adapters. In addition, Mr. White is a member of the Board of Trustees of Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. White holds a B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois, Urbana. Board of Directors Meetings and Committees During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Board of Directors held six (6) meetings. For the fiscal year, each of the directors during the term of their tenure attended or participated in at least 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings or actions by written consent of the Board of Directors and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which each such director served. The Board of Directors has three (3) standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Stock Option Committee. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors held one (1) meeting. The Audit Committee reviews, acts on and reports to the Board of Directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters, including the selection of the Company's accountants, the scope of the annual audits, fees to be paid to the Company's accountants, the performance of the Company's accountants and the accounting practices of the Company. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Fong and White. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors held five (5) meetings and acted by written consent in lieu of a meeting on two (2) occasions. The Compensation Committee reviews the performance of the executive officers of the Company and reviews the compensation programs for other key employees, including salary and cash bonus levels and option grants under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan. The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Fong and Strohm. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, the Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors acted by written consent in lieu of a meeting on forty-four (44) occasions. The Stock Option Committee approves stock option grants to employees and consultants of the Company who are not officers up to a maximum number of shares set by the Board of Directors. Mr. Cole was the sole member of the Stock Option Committee during 1997. Director Compensation Except for grants of stock options, directors of the Company generally do not receive compensation for services provided as a director. The Company also does not pay compensation for committee participation or special assignments of the Board of Directors. Non-employee Board members are eligible for option grants pursuant to the provisions of the Automatic Option Grant Program under the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan. Under the Automatic Option Grant Program, each individual who first becomes a non-employee Board member after the date of the Company's initial public offering will be granted an option to purchase 48,000 shares on the date such individual joins the Board, provided such individual has not been in the prior employ of the Company. In addition, at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders, each individual who has served as a non-employee Board member for at least six months prior to such Annual Meeting will receive an additional option grant to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock, whether or not such individual has been in the prior employ of the Company. The option price for each option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program will be equal to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the automatic grant date and each automatic option grant will be immediately exercisable for all of the option shares. The shares purchasable under the option will be subject to repurchase at the original exercise price in the event the optionee's Board service should cease prior to vesting. With respect to each initial grant, the repurchase right shall lapse and the optionee shall vest in four (4) equal annual installments from the grant date. Each annual grant shall vest in two equal and successive annual installments. See Proposal No. 3, "Amendment of 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan." Pursuant to the Automatic Option Grant Program, Messrs. Benhamou, Fong, Strohm and White were each granted options to purchase 48,000 shares of Common Stock on July 5, 1995 at an exercise price of $4.75 per share, 12,000 shares on May 16, 1996 at an exercise price of $10.9375 per share, and 12,000 shares on May 15, 1997 at an exercise price of $8.9375 per share. Pursuant to the Automatic Option Grant Program, each of Messrs. Benhamou, Fong, Strohm and White will be granted options to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock on May 14, 1998. Directors who are also employees of the Company are eligible to receive options and be issued shares of Common Stock directly under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan and are also eligible to participate in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and, if an executive officer of the Company, the Executive Bonus Plan. Recommendation of the Board of Directors THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN. STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth, as of February 28, 1998, certain information with respect to shares beneficially owned (as adjusted to reflect the 1996 Stock Split and the 1998 Stock Split) by (i) each person who is known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's directors and the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and (iii) all current directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Under this rule, certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example, persons share the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has the right to acquire shares (for example, upon exercise of an option or warrant) within sixty (60) days of the date as of which the information is provided; in computing the percentage ownership of any person, the amount of shares is deemed to include the amount of shares beneficially owned by such person (and only such person) by reason of such acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in the following table does not necessarily reflect the person's actual voting power at any particular date.
Shares Beneficially Owned as of February 28, 1998 (1) (2) ------------------------------------------------------------ Beneficial Owner Number of Shares Percentage of Class - -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- Pilgrim Baxter & Associates.................... 3,307,400 9.1% 1255 Drummers Lane, Suite 300 Wayne, PA 19087 TCW Group, Inc................................. 2,281,000 6.3% 865 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90017 Louis C. Cole (3) ............................. 1,925,066 5.3% 3210 Porter Drive Palo Alto, CA 94304 Nora M. Denzel (4)............................. 24,712 * Kent D. Smith (5) ............................. 345,424 * Stephen C. Wise (6)............................ 38,172 * Eric A. Benhamou (7) .......................... 188,000 * Kevin A. Fong (8) ............................. 105,496 * David N. Strohm (8) ........................... 331,868 * Phillip E. White (9) .......................... 112,000 * All current directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons) (10) ................... 3,070,738 8.2% _______________________ *Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. (1) Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock. To the Company's knowledge, the entities named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them. (2) The number of shares of Common Stock deemed outstanding includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options that may be exercised within sixty (60) days after February 28, 1998. (3) Includes options exercisable into 404,700 shares of Common Stock and 1,519,992 shares held by The Louis and Jolene Cole 1988 Revocable Trust, dated November 7, 1988 (the "Cole Trust"), of which Mr. Cole is a trustee. (4) Includes options exercisable into 14,080 shares of Common Stock. (5) Includes options exercisable into 325,524 shares of Common Stock. (6) Includes options exercisable into 18,126 shares of Common Stock. (7) Includes options exercisable into 172,000 shares of Common Stock. (8) Includes options exercisable into 72,000 shares of Common Stock. (9) Includes options exercisable into 112,000 shares of Common Stock. (10) Includes options exercisable into 1,190,430 shares of Common Stock.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Compensation Committee" or the "Committee") has the exclusive authority to establish the level of base salary payable to the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and certain other executive officers of the Company and to administer the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In addition, the Committee has the responsibility for approving the individual bonus programs to be in effect for the CEO and certain other executive officers and other key employees each fiscal year. For the 1997 fiscal year, the process utilized by the Committee in determining executive officer compensation levels was based on the subjective judgment of the Committee. Among the factors considered by the Committee were the recommendations of the CEO with respect to the compensation of the Company's key executive officers. However, the Committee made the final compensation decisions concerning such officers. General Compensation Policy. The Committee's fundamental policy is to offer the Company's executive officers competitive compensation opportunities based upon overall Company performance, their individual contribution to the financial success of the Company and their personal performance. It is the Committee's objective to have a substantial portion of each officer's compensation contingent upon the Company's performance, as well as upon his or her own level of performance. Accordingly, each executive officer's compensation package consists of: (i) base salary, (ii) cash bonus awards and (iii) long-term stock-based incentive awards. Base Salary. The base salary for each executive officer is set on the basis of general market levels and personal performance. Each individual's base pay is positioned relative to the total compensation package, including cash incentives and long-term incentives. In preparing the performance graph for this Proxy Statement, the Company has selected the Hambrecht & Quist Software Sector Index. The companies included in the Company's informal survey are not necessarily those included in the Hambrecht & Quist Software Sector Index, because they were determined not to be competitive with the Company for executive talent or because compensation information was not available. Annual Cash Bonuses. Each executive officer has an established cash bonus target. The annual pool of bonuses for executive officers is distributed on the basis of the Company's achievement of the financial performance targets established at the start of the fiscal year and personal objectives established for each executive. Actual bonuses paid reflect an individual's accomplishment of both corporate and functional objectives. Long-Term Incentive Compensation. During fiscal 1997, the Committee, in its discretion, made option grants to Messrs. Cole, Smith, Wise, and Ms. Denzel under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan. Generally, a significant grant is made in the year that an officer commences employment and no grant is made in the second year. Thereafter, option grants may be made at varying times and in varying amounts in the discretion of the Committee. Generally, the size of each grant is set at a level that the Committee deems appropriate to create a meaningful opportunity for stock ownership based upon the individual's position with the Company, the individual's potential for future responsibility and promotion, the individual's performance in the recent period and the number of unvested options held by the individual at the time of the new grant. The relative weight given to each of these factors will vary from individual to individual at the Committee's discretion. Applying these principles, a significant grant was made to Ms. Denzel in connection with her commencement of employment. In addition, a significant grant was made to Mr. Wise in 1996 in connection with his commencement of employment. The Company adopted an option repricing program, for which Mr. Wise was eligible, and which resulted in the cancellation of the 1996 option grant and the grant of a new option in 1997 for the same number of shares but with a more restrictive vesting schedule. See the "Report on Option Repricing." The grants made to Messrs. Cole and Smith were made in recognition of their years of service with the Company and to place a significant portion of their total compensation at risk. Each grant allows the officer to acquire shares of the Company's common stock at a fixed price per share (the market price on the grant date) over a specified period of time. The option vests in periodic installments over a two to four year period, contingent upon the executive officer's continued employment with the Company. The vesting schedule and the number of shares granted are established to ensure a meaningful incentive in each year following the year of grant. Accordingly, the option will provide a return to the executive officer only if he or she remains in the Company's employ, and then only if the market price of the Company's Common Stock appreciates over the option term. CEO Compensation. The annual base salary for Mr. Cole, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, was established by the Committee on January 27, 1997. The Committee's decision was made primarily on the basis of Mr. Cole's personal performance of his duties. The remaining components of the Chief Executive Officer's 1997 fiscal year incentive compensation were entirely dependent upon the Company's financial performance and provided no dollar guarantees. The bonus paid to the Chief Executive Officer for the fiscal year was based on the same incentive plan for all other officers. Specifically, a target incentive was established at the beginning of the year using an agreed-upon formula based on Company revenue and profit. Each year, the annual incentive plan is reevaluated with a new achievement threshold and new targets for revenue and profit. The option grant made to the Chief Executive Officer during the 1997 fiscal year was intended to reflect his years of service with the Company and to place a significant portion of Mr. Cole's total compensation at risk, because the bonus will provide little or no compensation unless Company performance achieves agreed-upon thresholds and the options will have no value unless there is appreciation in the value of the Company's common stock over the option term. Tax Limitation. Under the Federal tax laws, a publicly-held company such as the Company will not be allowed a federal income tax deduction for compensation paid to certain executive officers to the extent that compensation exceeds $1 million per officer in any year. To qualify for an exemption from the $1 million deduction limitation, the stockholders were asked to approve a limitation under the Company's 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which any one participant may be granted stock options per calendar year. Because this limitation was adopted, any compensation deemed paid to an executive officer when he exercises an outstanding option under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date will qualify as performance-based compensation that will not be subject to the $1 million limitation. Since it is not expected that the cash compensation to be paid to the Company's executive officers for the 1997 fiscal year will exceed the $1 million limit per officer, the Committee will defer any decision on whether to limit the dollar amount of all other compensation payable to the Company's executive officers to the $1 million cap. Compensation Committee Kevin A. Fong David N. Strohm COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors was formed in September 1992, and the members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Fong and Strohm. Neither of these individuals was at any time during 1997, or at any other time, an officer or employee of the Company. No executive officer of the Company serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH The graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's Common Stock between July 6, 1995 (the date the Company's Common Stock commenced public trading) and December 31, 1997 with the cumulative total return of (i) the CRSP Total Return Index for the Nasdaq Stock Market (U.S. Companies) (the "Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S. Index") and (ii) the Hambrecht & Quist Software Sector Index (the "H&Q Software Sector Index"), over the same period. This graph assumes the investment of $100.00 on July 6, 1995 in the Company's Common Stock, the Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S. Index and the H&Q Software Sector Index, and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any. The comparisons shown in the graph below are based upon historical data. The Company cautions that the stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of, nor intended to forecast, the potential future performance of the Company's Common Stock. Information used in the graph was obtained from Hambrecht & Quist LLC, a source believed to be reliable, but the Company is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such information. Comparison of Cumulative Total Return Among Legato Systems, Inc., the Nasdaq Stock Market-U.S. Index and the H&Q Software Sector Index --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7/6/95 12/31/95 6/30/96 12/31/96 6/30/97 12/31/97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legato Systems, Inc. $100.00 $114.81 $203.70 $241.67 $137.04 $325.93 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nasdaq Stock $100.00 $112.48 $127.35 $138.36 $154.83 $169.77 Market-U.S. Index --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H&Q Software Sector $100.00 $107.75 $128.21 $130.97 $141.98 $158.39 Index ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Company effected its initial public offering of Common Stock on July 5, 1995 at a price of $4.75 per share (as adjusted to reflect the 1996 Stock Split and the 1998 Stock Split). The graph above, however, commences with the closing price of $6.75 per share (as adjusted to reflect the 1996 Stock Split and the 1998 Stock Split) on July 6, 1995 - the date the Company's Common Stock commenced public trading. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of the Company's previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that might incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings made by the Company under those statutes, the Compensation Committee Report and Stock Performance Graph shall not be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of those prior filings or into any future filings made by the Company under those statutes. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND RELATED INFORMATION The following Summary Compensation Table sets forth the compensation earned by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as such at the end of 1997 (collectively, the "Named Officers"), each of whose aggregate compensation for 1997 exceeded $100,000 for services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries for that fiscal year. Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term Compensation Number of Securities Annual Compensation Underlying All Other ---------------------------------- Name and Principal Position Year Salary(1) Bonus Options Compensation(2) Louis C. Cole 1997 $218,334 $107,625 100,000 $1,440 Chairman of the Board, President 1996 $200,004 $100,520 100,000 $2,864 and Chief Executive Officer 1995 $197,504 $137,264 400,000 $2,022 Nora Denzel 1997 $146,666(3) $ 84,000 300,000 $ 303 Senior Vice President Product Operations 1996 - $ - - $ - Chief Technical Officer 1995 - $ - - $ - Kent D. Smith 1997 $198,300 $ 86,721 50,000 $ 870 Executive Vice President, 1996 $162,000 $ 73,301 40,000 $ 1,907 Chief Operations Officer 1995 $122,123(4) $ 79,990 400,000 $ 954 Stephen C. Wise 1997 $165,831 $ 56,470 250,000(6) $ 558 Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief 1996 $ 41,231(5) $ 13,000 200,000(6) $ 128 Financial Officer, Asst Secretary 1995 - $ - - $ - (1) Salary includes amounts deferred under the Company's 401(k) Plan. (2) Represents life insurance premiums paid by the Company. (3) Ms. Denzel commenced employment on January 21, 1997. (4) Mr. Smith commenced employment on March 31, 1995. (5) Mr. Wise commenced employment on September 27, 1996. (6) The option for 200,000 shares granted to Mr. Wise in 1996 was canceled and subsequently regranted on January 27, 1997.
The following table contains information concerning the stock option grants made to each of the Named Officers for 1997. No stock appreciation rights were granted to these individuals during such year. Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
Individual Grants(1) Potential Realizable ------------------------------------------------------ Number of % of Total Value at Assumed Securities Options Annual Rates of Stock Underlying Granted to Exercise Price Appreciation Options Employees Price Expiration for Option Term(2) Name Granted in 1997 Per Share Date 5% 10% Louis C. Cole......... 100,000 4.10% $11.875 1/27/07 $ 746,812 $1,892,569 Nora Denzel........... 200,000 8.20% $11.875 1/27/07 $1,493,625 $3,785,138 100,000 4.10% $16.4375 10/6/07 $1,033,746 $2,619,714 Kent D. Smith......... 50,000 2.05% $11.875 1/27/07 $ 373,406 $ 946,285 Stephen C. Wise....... 200,000(3) 8.20% $11.875 1/27/07 $1,493,625 $3,785,138 50,000 2.05% $16.4375 10/6/07 $ 516,873 $1,309,857 (1) The options disclosed in the table were granted on January 27, 1997 and the second option, if any, was granted on October 6, 1997. The exercise price for each option may be paid in cash, in shares of Common Stock valued at fair market value on the exercise date or through a cashless exercise procedure involving a same-day sale of the purchased shares. The Company may also finance the option exercise by loaning the optionee sufficient funds to pay the exercise price for the purchased shares, together with any federal and state income tax liability incurred by the optionee in connection with such exercise. The plan administrator has the discretionary authority to reprice the options through the cancellation of those options and the grant of replacement options with an exercise price based on the fair market value of the option shares on the regrant date. The options have a maximum term of 10 years measured from the option grant date, subject to earlier termination in the event of the optionee's cessation of service with the Company. Except as otherwise noted, the options listed in the table become exercisable for 25% of the shares after one year of service from the designated vesting date and in equal monthly installments over the next 3 years. Under each of the options, the option shares will vest upon an acquisition of the Company by merger or asset sale, unless the acquiring company assumes the options. Any options that are assumed or replaced in the transaction and do not otherwise accelerate at that time shall automatically accelerate (and any unvested option shares which do not otherwise vest at that time shall automatically vest) in the event the optionee's service terminates by reason of an involuntary or constructive termination within 18 months following the transaction. (2) The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compounded stock price appreciation are mandated by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance provided to any executive officer or any other holder of the Company's securities that the actual stock price appreciation over the 10-year option term will be at the assumed 5% and 10% levels or at any other defined level. Unless the market price of the Common Stock appreciates over the option term, no value will be realized from the option grants made to the executive officers. (3) The option becomes exercisable for 25% of the shares after 15 months of service from the designated vesting date and in equal monthly installments over the next 3 years.
The following table sets forth information concerning option exercises in 1997 and option holdings as of the end of the 1997 fiscal year with respect to each of the Named Officers. No stock appreciation rights were outstanding at the end of that year. Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
Number of Value Realized Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised Shares (Market Price at Unexercised Options in-the-Money Options Acquired on Exercise Less at FY-End at FY-End (1) Name Exercise Exercise Price) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable Louis C. Cole...... 100,000 $1,199,800 135,116 392,084 $2,552,543 $6,754,907 Nora Denzel........ -- -- -- 300,000 -- $2,581,250 Kent D. Smith...... 50,000 $888,750 196,166 195,834 $3,925,588 $3,395,907 Stephen C. Wise.... -- -- 50,000 200,000 $506,250 $1,796,875 (1) Based on the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock at year end ($22.00) per share less the exercise price payable for such shares.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPRICING REPORT On January 27, 1997, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved a plan pursuant to which one officer and certain employees were allowed to exchange options with exercise prices in excess of the then current fair market value for new options having exercise prices equal to $11.875, the then current fair market value of the Common Stock. Certain employees and Mr. Wise exchanged their options for an aggregate of 315,100 shares. Recipients of the repriced options were required to satisfy a 15 month vesting cliff before any portion of the repriced option became exercisable. Any employee whose employment terminated prior to the date that was 15 months from his/her hire date lost his/her option. None of the other executive officers participated in the January 1997 repricing exchange. Stock options are intended to provide incentives to the Company's officers and employees. The Compensation Committee believes that such equity incentives are a significant factor in the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees who are critical to the Company's long-term success. The Compensation Committee further believes that, at their original exercise prices, the disparity between the exercise price of these options and the then market prices for the Common Stock did not provide meaningful incentives to the employees holding the options. A review of other companies in the software industry indicates that some of these companies have been confronted with this problem and have made similar adjustments in option prices to motivate their employees. The Compensation Committee approved the repricing of options as a means of ensuring that optionees will continue to have meaningful equity incentives to work toward the Company's success. The adjustment was deemed by the Compensation Committee to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Compensation Committee Kevin A. Fong David N. Strohm Ten-Year Option Repricings
Length of original Securities option term underlying number Market price of remaining at of options/SARs stock at time Exercise price at date of repriced or amended of repricing or time of repricing New exercise repricing or Name Date (#) amendment ($) or amendment ($) price ($) amendment Stephen C. Wise 1/27/97 200,000 $11.875 $22.25 $11.875 116 mos.
Bonus Plan. In 1996, the Company instituted an executive bonus program pursuant to which bonuses will be paid to executive officers based on individual and Company performance targets. In addition, certain non-executive employees will receive year-end bonuses if the Company meets its performance targets. EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS None of the Company's executive officers have employment or severance agreements with the Company, and their employment may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors, except that Mr. Ferraro, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales, received an offer letter from the Company that provides that he will receive six months of salary if his employment is involuntarily terminated within the first 366 days of his employment. The Compensation Committee has the authority under the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan to accelerate the exercisability of outstanding options, or to accelerate the vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options, held by the Chief Executive Officer and the Company's other executive officers. Such acceleration may be conditioned on the optionee's termination of employment (whether involuntarily or through a forced resignation) and may be conditioned upon the occurrence of a merger, reorganization or consolidation or upon a hostile take-over of the Company effected through a tender offer or through a change in the majority of the Board as a result of one or more contested elections for Board membership. PROPOSAL NO. 2 AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION The Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company from 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has unanimously approved the proposed Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Certificate of Amendment"), and hereby solicits the approval of the Company's stockholders of the Certificate of Amendment. If the stockholders approve the Certificate of Amendment, the Board of Directors currently intends to file the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as soon as practicable following such stockholder approval. If the Certificate of Amendment is not approved by the stockholders, the existing Certificate of Incorporation will continue in effect. The objectives of the increase in the authorized number of shares of Common Stock are to ensure that the Company has sufficient shares available for future issuances. The Board of Directors believes that it is prudent to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock to the proposed levels in order to provide a reserve of shares available for issuance to meet business needs as they arise. Such future activities may include, without limitation, financings, establishing strategic relationships with corporate partners, providing equity incentives to employees, officers or directors, or effecting stock splits or dividends. The additional shares of Common Stock authorized may also be used to acquire or invest in complementary businesses or products or to obtain the right to use complementary technologies. Although the Company has no present obligation to issue additional shares of Common Stock (except pursuant to employee stock incentive plans), the Company may continue to evaluate potential acquisitions of or investments with third parties. Possible Effects of the Proposed Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation If the stockholders approve the proposed Certificate of Amendment, the Board of Directors may cause the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock without further vote of the stockholders of the Company, except as provided under Delaware corporate law or under the rules of any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock of the Company are then listed. Current holders of Common Stock have no preemptive or similar rights, which means that current stockholders do not have a prior right to purchase any new issue of Common Stock of the Company in order to maintain their appropriate ownership thereof. The issuance of additional shares of Common Stock would decrease the proportionate equity interest of the Company's current stockholders and, depending upon the price paid for such additional shares, could result in dilution to the Company's current stockholders. Recommendation of the Board of Directors THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. PROPOSAL NO. 3 AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN The stockholders are being asked to approve an amendment to the Legato Systems, Inc. 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "Option Plan"). The Board of Directors "Board") amended the Option Plan on March 13, 1998 to increase the share reserve by 2,000,000 shares to an aggregate of 12,450,982 shares and to impose a limit on the number of shares by which the pool would increase each year, as discussed below. The Board believes that option grants and the stock issuances under the Option Plan play an important role in the Company's efforts to attract, employ and retain employees, directors and consultants of outstanding ability. The Company established the Option Plan on May 2, 1995 as a successor to the 1989 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan ("Predecessor Plan") to provide a means whereby eligible individuals may be given an opportunity to purchase shares of Common Stock. The Option Plan was approved by the stockholders on June 9, 1995. The principal terms and provisions of the Option Plan are summarized below. The summary, however, is not intended to be a complete description of all the terms of the Option Plan. A copy of the Option Plan will be furnished by the Company to any stockholder upon written request to the Corporate Secretary at the executive offices in Palo Alto, California. Structure. The Option Plan is divided into three separate components: (i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program, under which eligible individuals may, at the discretion of the plan administrator, be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock at an exercise price not less than 85% of their fair market value on the grant date, (ii) the Stock Issuance Program, under which such persons may, in the plan administrator's discretion, be issued shares of Common Stock directly through the purchase of such shares at a price not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of their fair market value at the time of their issuance or as a bonus tied to the performance of services and (iii) the Automatic Option Grant Program, under which option grants will automatically be made at periodic intervals to eligible non-employee Board members to purchase shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to their fair market value on the grant date. Administration. The Compensation Committee of the Board, which is comprised of two (2) or more Board members, administers the Option Plan. Committee members serve for such period of time as the Board may determine. No Board member may serve on the Committee if he or she has received an option grant or stock award under the Option Plan or under any other stock plan of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporations within the twelve (12) month period preceding his or her appointment to the Committee, other than grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program. The Option Plan may also be administered with respect to optionees who are not executive officers subject to the short-swing profit rules of the federal securities laws by the Board or a secondary committee comprised of one or more Board members. The amendment that is the subject of this Proposal No. 3 also amends the Option Plan to permit the Board to administer the Option Plan with respect to all eligible persons. The Committee (or Board or secondary committee to the extent acting as plan administrator) has full authority (subject to the express provisions of the Option Plan) to determine the eligible individuals who are to receive grants under the Option Plan, the number of shares to be covered by each granted option, the date or dates on which the option is to become exercisable, the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding, whether the granted option will be an incentive stock option ("Incentive Option") that satisfies the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") or a non-statutory option not intended to meet such requirements and the remaining provisions of the option grant. Eligibility. Employees (including officers), consultants and independent contractors who render services to the Company or its subsidiary corporations (whether now existing or subsequently established) are eligible to receive option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and share issuances under the Stock Issuance Program. A non-employee member of the Board or of the board of directors of any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company is also eligible for option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and the Stock Issuance Program, providing he or she is not a member of the Committee. A non-employee member of the Board is also eligible for option grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program. As of February 28, 1998, approximately 500 persons (including 5 executive officers) were eligible to participate in the Option Plan. Securities Subject to Option Plan. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued over the term of the Option Plan shall not exceed 12,450,982 shares, assuming approval of this Proposal No. 3. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Option Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of each calendar year during the term of the Option Plan, beginning January 1, 1997, by an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year, not to exceed 1,500,000 shares in any calendar year. Accordingly, the pool was increased by 1,016,302 shares effective January 1, 1997 and by 1,066,448 shares effective January 1, 1998. Prior to the amendment which is the subject of this Proposal No. 3, there was no limit on the number of shares by which the pool could increase each year pursuant to the 3% annual increase and therefore no Incentive Options could be granted under the Option Plan on the basis of such annual increases. No one person participating in the Option Plan may receive options and direct stock issuances for more than 400,000 shares of Common Stock per calendar year, beginning with the 1995 calendar year; provided that for the calendar year in which such person first commences services, the limit shall be 800,000 shares. Should an option expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full, including options incorporated from the Predecessor Plan, the shares subject to the portion of the option not so exercised will be available for subsequent option grants under the Option Plan. Discretionary Option Grant Program Price and Exercisability. The option exercise price per share in the case of an Incentive Option may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the grant date and, in the case of a non-statutory option, eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the grant date. Options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program become exercisable at such time or times and during such period as the Committee may determine and set forth in the instrument evidencing the option grant. The exercise price may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock. Options may also be exercised through a same-day sale program, pursuant to which a designated brokerage firm is to effect the immediate sale of the shares purchased under the option and pay over to the Company, out of the sale proceeds on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the exercise price for the purchased shares plus all applicable withholding taxes. The Committee may also assist any optionee (including an officer or director) in the exercise of his or her outstanding options by (a) authorizing a Company loan to the optionee or (b) permitting the optionee to pay the exercise price in installments over a period of years. The terms and conditions of any such loan or installment payment will be established by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee has the discretionary authority to reprice options through the cancellation of those options and the grant of replacement options with an exercise price based on the fair market value of the option shares on the regrant date. No optionee is to have any stockholder rights with respect to the option shares until the optionee has exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a holder of record of the shares. Options are not assignable or transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the optionee's lifetime, the option may be exercised only by the optionee. Termination of Service. Any option held by the optionee at the time of cessation of service will not remain exercisable beyond the designated post-service exercise period. Under no circumstances, however, may any option be exercised after the specified expiration date of the option term. Each such option will normally, during such limited period, be exercisable only to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock in which the optionee is vested at the time of cessation of service. The Committee has complete discretion to extend the period following the optionee's cessation of service during which his or her outstanding options may be exercised and/or to accelerate the exercisability of such options in whole or in part. Such discretion may be exercised at any time while the options remain outstanding, whether before or after the optionee's actual cessation of service. The shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of one or more options may be subject to repurchase by the Company at the original exercise price paid per share upon the optionee's cessation of service prior to vesting in such shares. The Committee has complete discretion in establishing the vesting schedule to be in effect for any such unvested shares and may cancel the Company's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to those shares at any time, thereby accelerating the vesting of the shares subject to the canceled rights. Incentive Options. Incentive Options may only be granted to individuals who are employees of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation. During any calendar year, the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the grant date(s)) of the Common Stock for which one or more options granted to any employee under the Option Plan (or any other option plan of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporations) may for the first time become exercisable as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code shall not exceed $100,000. Limited Stock Appreciation Rights. One or more officers of the Company subject to the short-swing profit restrictions of the federal securities laws may, at the discretion of the Committee, be granted limited stock appreciation rights in connection with their option grants under the Option Plan. Any option with such a limited stock appreciation right in effect for at least six (6) months will automatically be canceled, to the extent exercisable for one or more vested option shares, upon the successful completion of a hostile tender offer for more than 50% of the Company's outstanding voting stock. In return, the officer will be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in an amount per canceled option share equal to the excess of (i) the highest price per share of Common Stock paid in the tender offer over (ii) the option exercise price. Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to issue tandem stock appreciation rights in connection with option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Tandem stock appreciation rights provide the holders with the right to surrender their options for an appreciation distribution from the Company equal in amount to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the vested shares of Common Stock subject to the surrendered option over (b) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such appreciation distribution may, at the discretion of the Committee, be made in cash or in shares of Common Stock. Automatic Option Grant Program Under the Automatic Option Grant Program, non-employee Board members will receive option grants at specified intervals over their period of Board service. These special grants may be summarized as follows: o Each individual who was a non-employee Board member on the date of the initial public offering and each individual who becomes a non-employee Board member after such date, whether through election by the stockholders or appointment by the Board, will automatically be granted, at the time of the offering, or if later, at the time of such initial election or appointment, a non-statutory stock option to purchase 48,000 shares of Common Stock. o On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting beginning with the 1996 Annual Meeting, each individual who is reelected as a non-employee Board member will receive an additional grant of a non-statutory stock option under the Option Plan to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock, provided such individual has been a member of the Board for at least six months. Each option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program will be subject to the following terms and conditions: 1. The option price per share will be equal to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the automatic grant date and each option is to have a maximum term of ten years from the grant date. 2. Each automatic option grant will be immediately exercisable for all of the option shares; the shares purchasable under the option shall be subject to repurchase at the original exercise price in the event the optionee's Board service should cease prior to vesting. With respect to each initial grant, the repurchase right shall lapse and the optionee vest in four (4) equal annual installments from the grant date. Each annual grant shall vest in two equal and successive annual installments. 3. The option will remain exercisable for a 12-month period following the optionee's termination of service as a Board member for any reason and may be exercised following the Board members death by the personal representatives of the optionee's estate or the person to whom the grant is transferred by the optionee's will or the laws of inheritance. In no event, however, may the option be exercised after the expiration date of the option term. During the applicable exercise period, the option may not be exercised for more than the number of shares (if any) for which it is exercisable at the time of the optionee's cessation of Board service. 4. The option shares will become fully vested in the event of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below) or a Change in Control (as defined below). The option shares will become fully vested in the event of the optionee's cessation of Board service by reason of death or permanent disability. 5. Upon the occurrence of a hostile tender offer, the optionee shall have a thirty (30) day period in which to surrender to the Company each automatic option that has been in effect for at least six (6) months and the optionee will in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Company in an amount per canceled option share (whether or not the optionee is otherwise vested in those shares) equal to the excess of (i) the highest reported price per share of Common Stock paid in the tender offer over (ii) the option exercise price payable per share. 6. Option grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program will be made in strict compliance with the express provisions of that program. The remaining terms and conditions of the option will in general conform to the terms described below for option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and will be incorporated into the option agreement evidencing the automatic grant. Stock Issuance Program Shares may be sold under the Stock Issuance Program at a price per share not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of fair market value, payable in cash or through a promissory note payable to the Company. Shares may also be issued solely as a bonus for past services. The issued shares may either be immediately vested upon issuance or subject to a vesting schedule tied to the performance of service or the attainment of performance goals. The Committee will, however, have the discretionary authority at any time to accelerate the vesting of any and all unvested shares outstanding under the Option Plan. General Provisions Acceleration of Options/Termination of Repurchase Rights. Upon the occurrence of either of the following transactions (a "Corporate Transaction"): (i) the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (ii) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from the persons holding those immediately prior to such transaction, each outstanding option under the Option Plan will, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of the shares at the time subject to such option. However, an outstanding option shall not accelerate if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent) or to be replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent), (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation that preserves the spread existing on the unvested option shares at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to such option or (iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Committee at the time of the option grant. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options will terminate and cease to be exercisable, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation. Also upon a Corporate Transaction, the Company's outstanding repurchase rights applicable to options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program will terminate automatically unless assigned to the successor corporation. Any options that are assumed or replaced in the Corporate Transaction and do not otherwise accelerate at that time shall automatically accelerate (and any of the Company's outstanding repurchase rights that do not otherwise terminate at the time of the Corporate Transaction shall automatically terminate and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full) in the event the optionee's service should subsequently terminate by reason of an involuntary termination within eighteen (18) months following the effective date of such Corporate Transaction. Any options so accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1)-year period measured from the effective date of the involuntary termination Upon the occurrence of the following transactions("Change in Control"): (i) any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) acquires beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Company's outstanding voting stock without the Board's recommendation, or (ii) there is a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members ceases by reason of a proxy contest, to be comprised of individuals who (a) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (b) have been elected or nominated for selection as Board members by a majority of the continuing Board members, then the Committee has the discretion to accelerate outstanding options and terminate the Company's outstanding repurchase rights. The Committee also has the discretion to accelerate outstanding options and/or terminate the Company's outstanding repurchase rights upon a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control, which acceleration or termination may or may not be conditioned upon the subsequent termination of the optionee's service within a specified period following the transaction. The acceleration of options in the event of a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control may be seen as an anti-takeover provision and may have the effect of discouraging a merger proposal, a takeover attempt, or other efforts to gain control of the Company. Valuation. For purposes of establishing the option price and for all other valuation purposes under the Option Plan, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on any relevant date will be the closing price per share of Common Stock on that date, as such price is reported on the Nasdaq National Market. The market value of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market as of February 27, 1998 was $24.50 per share. Changes in Capitalization. In the event any change is made to the Common Stock issuable under the Option Plan by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Company's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments will be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Option Plan, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be granted options and direct stock issuances per calendar year, (iii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for which the share reserve is to increase automatically each year, (iv) the number and/or class of securities for which automatic option grants are to be subsequently made per director under the Automatic Option Grant Program and (v) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding option (including any option incorporated from the Predecessor Plan) in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder. Each outstanding option that is assumed in connection with a Corporate Transaction will be appropriately adjusted to apply and pertain to the number and class of securities that would otherwise have been issued, in consummation of such Corporate Transaction, to the option holder had the option been exercised immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments will also be made to the option price payable per share and to the class and number of securities available for future issuance under the Option Plan on both an aggregate and a per-participant basis. Option Plan Amendments. The Board may amend or modify the Option Plan in any and all respects whatsoever. The approval of the Company's stockholders will be obtained to the extent required by applicable law. Prior to the amendment that is the subject of this Proposal No. 3, the Board could not amend the Option Plan without stockholder approval if such amendment would (i) materially increase the maximum number of shares issuable under the Option Plan, (ii) materially modify the eligibility requirements for option grants, or (iii) increase materially the benefits accruing to participants under the Option Plan. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Option Plan will in all events terminate on April 30, 2005. Any options outstanding at the time of such termination will remain in force in accordance with the provisions of the instruments evidencing such grants. As of February 28, 1998, options covering 5,820,638 shares were outstanding under the Option Plan, 736,134 shares remained available for future option grant, without giving effect to the increase which is the subject of this Proposal no. 3, and 3,894,210 shares have been issued under the Option Plan. The expiration dates for all such options range from December 6, 2001 to February 23, 2008. New Plan Benefits and Option Grant Table Because the Option Plan is discretionary, benefits to be received by individual optionees are not determinable. However, each of Messrs. Benhamou, Fong, Strohm, and White will receive an option grant to purchase 12,000 shares under the Automatic Option Grant Program on the date of the Annual Meeting with an exercise price per share equal to the closing price per share of Common Stock on the date of the Annual Meeting. The table below shows, as to each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and the various indicated groups, (i) the number of shares of Common Stock for which options have been granted under the Option Plan (including options granted under the Predecessor Plan), for the one (1)-year period ending December 31, 1997 plus the period through February 28, 1998 and (ii) the weighted average exercise price per share. No direct stock issuances have been made under the Option Plan to date.
Weighted Average Exercise Number Of Option Price Of Name And Position Shares Granted Options Louis C. Cole...................................................... 300,000 $18.98 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Nora Denzel........................................................ 300,000 $13.395 Senior Vice President of Product Development, Chief Technical Officer Kent D. Smith...................................................... 150,000 $18.98 Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Stephen C. Wise.................................................... 250,000 $12.79 Senior Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer All current executive officers as a group (5 persons).............. 1,260,000 $16.015 All current directors (other than executive officers) as a 48,000 $8.94 group (4 persons) ............................................ All employees, including current officers who are not 2,355,300 $16.74 executive officers, as a group (500 persons) .................
Federal Income Tax Consequences of Options Granted under the Option Plan Options granted under the Option Plan may be either incentive stock options that satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or non-statutory options that are not intended to meet such requirements. The federal income tax treatment for the two types of options differs as follows: Incentive Stock Options. No taxable income is recognized by the optionee at the time of the option grant, and no taxable income is generally recognized at the time the option is exercised. However, the excess of the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over the exercise price paid for the shares generally is includable in alternative minimum taxable income. The optionee will recognize taxable income in the year in which the purchased shares are sold or otherwise made the subject of disposition. For federal tax purposes, dispositions are divided into two categories: (i) qualifying and (ii) disqualifying. The optionee will make a qualifying disposition of the purchased shares if the sale or other disposition of such shares is made after the optionee has held the shares for more than two (2) years after the grant date of the option and more than one (1) year after the exercise date. If the optionee fails to satisfy either of these two holding periods prior to the sale or other disposition of the purchased shares, then a disqualifying disposition will result. Upon a qualifying disposition of the shares, the optionee will recognize long-term capital gain in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount realized upon the sale or other disposition of the purchased shares over (ii) the exercise price paid for such shares. If there is a disqualifying disposition of the shares, then the excess of (i) the fair market value of those shares on the date the option was exercised over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares will be taxable as ordinary income. Any additional gain recognized upon the disposition will be a capital gain. If the optionee makes a disqualifying disposition of the purchased shares, then the Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction for the taxable year in which such disposition occurs equal to the excess of (i) the fair market value of such shares on the date the option was exercised over (ii) the exercise price paid for the shares. In no other instance will the Company be allowed a deduction with respect to the optionee's disposition of the purchased shares. The Company anticipates that any compensation deemed paid by the Company upon one or more disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock option shares by the Company's executive officers will remain deductible by the Company and will not have to be taken into account for purposes of the $1 million limitation per covered individual on the deductibility of the compensation paid to certain executive officers of the Company. Non-Statutory Options. No taxable income is recognized by an optionee upon the grant of a non-statutory option. The optionee will in general recognize ordinary income in the year in which the option is exercised equal to the excess of the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date over the exercise price paid for the shares, and the optionee will be required to satisfy the tax withholding requirements applicable to such income. Special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code apply to the acquisition of Common Stock under a non-statutory option if the purchased shares are subject to repurchase by the Company. These special provisions may be summarized as follows: (i) If the shares acquired upon exercise of the non-statutory option are subject to repurchase by the Company at the original exercise price in the event of the optionee's termination of service prior to vesting in such shares, the optionee will not recognize any taxable income at the time of exercise but will have to report as ordinary income, as and when the Company's repurchase right lapses, an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the shares on the date such repurchase right lapses with respect to such shares over (b) the exercise price paid for the shares. (ii) The optionee may, however, elect under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to include as ordinary income in the year of exercise of the non-statutory option an amount equal to the excess of (a) the fair market value of the purchased shares on the exercise date (determined as if the shares were not subject to the Company's repurchase right) over (b) the exercise price paid for such shares. If the Section 83(b) election is made, the optionee will not recognize any additional income as and when the repurchase right lapses. The Company will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the optionee with respect to the exercised non-statutory option. The deduction will in general be allowed for the taxable year of the Company in which such ordinary income is recognized by the optionee. The Company anticipates that the compensation deemed paid by the Company upon the exercise of non-statutory options with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the option shares on the grant date will remain deductible by the Company and will not have to be taken into account for purposes of the $1 million limitation per covered individual on the deductibility of the compensation paid to certain executive officers of the Company. Stock Appreciation Rights. An optionee who is granted a stock appreciation right will recognize ordinary income in the year of exercise equal to the amount of the appreciation distribution. The Company will be entitled to a business expense deduction equal to the appreciation distribution for the taxable year of the Company in which the ordinary income is recognized by the optionee. Stock Issuances. The tax principles applicable to direct stock issuances under the Option Plan will be substantially the same as those summarized above for the exercise of non-statutory option grants. Recommendation of the Board of Directors THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE 1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN. PROPOSAL NO. 4 RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS The Company is asking the stockholders to ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the Company's independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares present or represented by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the appointment of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. In the event the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment, the Board of Directors will reconsider its selection. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if the Board of Directors feels that such a change would be in the Company's and its stockholders' best interests. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. has audited the Company's financial statements since 1989. Its representatives are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. Recommendation of the Board of Directors THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P. TO SERVE AS THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1998. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of its directors for monetary damages arising from a breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent otherwise required by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Such limitation of liability does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including in circumstances in which indemnification is otherwise discretionary under Delaware law. The Company has also entered into indemnification agreements with its officers and directors containing provisions that may require the Company, among other things, to indemnify such officers and directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT The members of the Board of Directors, the executive officers of the Company and persons who hold more than 10% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which require them to file reports with respect to their ownership of the Company's Common Stock and their transactions in such Common Stock. Based upon (i) the copies of Section 16(a) reports that the Company received from such persons for their 1997 fiscal year transactions in the Common Stock and their Common Stock holdings and (ii) the written representations received from one or more of such persons that no annual Form 5 reports were required to be filed by them for the 1997 fiscal year, the Company believes that all reporting requirements under Section 16(a) for such fiscal year were met in a timely manner by its executive officers, Board members and greater than ten-percent stockholders, except that John Ferraro filed a Form 3 late. FORM 10-K THE COMPANY WILL MAIL WITHOUT CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, A COPY OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULE AND LIST OF EXHIBITS. REQUESTS SHOULD BE SENT TO LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC., 3210 PORTER DRIVE, PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304, ATTN: EDMOND MOK, CORPORATE FINANCE. STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999 ANNUAL MEETING Stockholder proposals that are intended to be presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting that are eligible for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and related proxy materials for that meeting under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission must be received by the Company not later than December 7, 1998, in order to be included. Such stockholder proposals should be addressed to Legato Systems, Inc., 3210 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, California 94304, Attn: Edmond Mok, Corporate Finance. OTHER MATTERS The Board knows of no other matters to be presented for stockholder action at the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof, the Board intends that the persons named in the proxies will vote upon such matters in accordance with their best judgment. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Robert V. Gunderson, Jr. Secretary Palo Alto, California April 6, 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WISH TO CHANGE YOUR PROXY VOTE, YOU MAY DO SO AUTOMATICALLY BY VOTING IN PERSON AT THE MEETING. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE WILL GREATLY FACILITATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING. EXHIBIT A CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. Legato Systems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY: FIRST: That the Board of Directors adopted a resolution setting forth a proposed amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of said Corporation and declaring said amendment advisable and directing that said amendment be submitted to the stockholders of said Corporation entitled to vote in respect thereof for their approval. The resolution setting forth said amendment is as follows: "RESOLVED, that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation be amended by replacing the first paragraph of Article IV thereof so that such paragraph shall be and read as follows: "This corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated common stock ("Common Stock") and preferred stock "Preferred Stock"). The number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is One Hundred Million (100,000,000), par value $0.0001 per share, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is Five Million (5,000,000), par value $0.0001 per share." SECOND: That thereafter said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law by obtaining a majority vote of the Common Stock in favor of said amendment in the manner set forth in Section 222 of the General Corporation Law. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed by the President and the Secretary of the Corporation this ____ day of May, 1998. LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. By:________________________________ Louis C. Cole, President ATTEST: By: ___________________________________ Robert V. Gunderson, Jr., Secretary PROXY LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. PROXY 3210 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304 This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of Legato Systems, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 14, 1998 The undersigned holder of Common Stock, par value $.0001, of Legato Systems, Inc. (the "Company") hereby appoints Louis C. Cole and Stephen C. Wise, or either of them, proxies for the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to represent and to vote as specified in this Proxy all Common Stock of the Company that the undersigned stockholder would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on Thursday May 14th, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. local time, at the Cabana Hotel, 4290 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California, and at any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. The undersigned stockholder hereby revokes any proxy or proxies heretofore executed for such matters. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner as directed herein by the undersigned stockholder. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS, FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4, AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. The undersigned stockholder may revoke this proxy at any time before it is voted by delivering to the Corporate Secretary of the Company either a written revocation of the proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by appearing at the Annual Meeting and voting in person. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE ELECTION OF THE DIRECTORS AND "FOR" PROPOSALS 2, 3 AND 4. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE. If you receive more than one proxy card, please sign and return ALL cards in the enclosed envelope. (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE) (Reverse) LEGATO SYSTEMS, INC. Please mark votes as in this example 1. To elect the following directors to serve for a term 2. To approve the amendment to FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN ending upon the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders the Company's Certificate of or until their successors are elected and qualified: Incorporation as set forth in the accompanying Proxy Nominees: Louis C. Cole, Eric A. Benhamou, Kevin A. Statement. Fong, David N. Strohm and Phillip E. White FOR WITHHELD For all nominees, 3. To approve the amendment to FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN except for the Company's 1995 Stock nominees written below. Option/Stock Issuance Plan, including an increase to the number of shares available as set forth in the accompanying Proxy Statement. _______________________ Nominee exception(s). 4. To ratify the appointment of FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., as the Company's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.
The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement. Signature: Signature (if held jointly): Date: , 1998 Please date and sign exactly as your name(s) is (are) shown on the share certificate(s) to which the Proxy applies. When shares are held as joint-tenants, both should sign. When signing as an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, attorney-in fact or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. When signing as a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. When signing as a partnership, please sign in partnership name by an authorized person. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----