Document:

EXHIBIT 10.1
                                  AGREEMENT

This Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of October 10, 2000, is entered
into by and among President Casinos, Inc., PRC Holdings Corporation, PRC
Management, Inc., PRCX, Inc., President Riverboat Casino-Philadelphia, Inc.,
P.R.C. Louisiana, Inc., Vegas Vegas, Inc., President Riverboat Casino-New
York, Inc., President Mississippi Charter Corp., President Riverboat Casino-
Missouri, Inc., President Riverboat Casino-Mississippi, Inc., Broadwater
Hotel, Inc., President Riverboat Casino-Iowa, Inc., TCG Blackhawk, Inc.,
President Casino New Yorker, Inc., The Connelly Group, L.P., and President
Broadwater Hotel, LLC, (the "Company"), and each of the undersigned holders
(each, a "Consenting Noteholder") of the US $100,000,000 13% Senior Notes, due
September 15, 2001 issued pursuant to that certain indenture dated as of
August 26, 1994 by and between the Company and United States Trust Company of
New York, as trustee (the "13% Notes Indenture" and the "13% Notes Trustee"),
of which US $75,000,000 in principal amount is outstanding (the "13% Notes"),
and holders of the US $25,000,000 12% Notes, due September 15, 2001 issued
pursuant to that certain indenture dated as of December 3, 1998 (the "12%
Indenture" and together with the 13% Notes Indenture, the "Indentures"), by
and between the Company and U.S. Trust Company of Texas, N.A., as trustee
(together with the 13% Notes Trustee, the "Indenture Trustees"), (the "12%
Notes"), (the 13% Notes and the 12% Notes are collectively referred to as the
"Notes").

                                   RECITALS

WHEREAS the Company is in default on the Notes as a result of, among other
things, its failure to make payments due thereunder on March 15, 2000.

WHEREAS the Company and an unofficial committee comprised of certain of the
holders of the Notes (the "Committee") have engaged in good faith negotiations
and reached a mutually acceptable agreement concerning the restructuring of
the Notes (the "Restructuring") on the terms set forth in the term sheet
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Term Sheet") and incorporated into this
Agreement as if fully set forth herein.

WHEREAS the Restructuring contemplates a partial payment and restructuring, as
described in the Term Sheet, and is premised upon a sale of the Company's
Davenport Boat at a minimum price (the "Davenport Sale") with certain of the
proceeds to be used to pay interest payments due on the Notes and to purchase
certain of the Notes at par.

WHEREAS the Company and the Consenting Noteholders now desire to implement the
Restructuring and to expedite and ensure implementation of the Restructuring,
the Consenting Noteholders are prepared to commit, on the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement and applicable law, to consent to amendments
to the Indentures and to tender their  Notes when solicited to do so, and to
perform their other obligations hereunder.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, terms and
conditions set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the
undersigned agrees as follows:

<PAGE> 75
1.  Means for Effecting the Restructuring of the Notes.  The Company and the
Consenting Noteholders agree that the Restructuring of the Notes shall occur
by the sale of the Davenport Boat and the deposit of the net proceeds, as
defined in the Term sheet ("Net Proceeds"), in an escrow account until the
closing of the Repurchase (as defined below) or November 30, 2000.  The escrow
account shall be pledged as collateral for the Notes and the Net Proceed
applied to the Notes at the earlier of closing of the Repurchase (as defined
below) or November 30, 2000.  The Company shall also commence a joint consent
solicitation and tender offer (or redemption without premium, if any) to the
Noteholders to waive certain defaults, to amend the Indentures, to pay missed
interest payments and to purchase Notes, as set forth in the Term Sheet (the
"Repurchase").  The receipt of consents and waivers by holders of at least 98%
in aggregate principal amount of the 13% Notes will be a condition precedent
to the consummation of the Repurchase.

2.  Preparation of Restructuring Documents.  Promptly upon execution of this
Agreement, the Company shall instruct its counsel to prepare for the review
and approval of the parties hereto all documents needed to effectuate the
Restructuring as contemplated in this Agreement (collectively, the
"Restructuring Documents").  The Company and the Committee shall coordinate
with one another in the preparation of the Restructuring Documents and in the
negotiation and documentation of the Davenport Sale.  In addition, the
restructuring of the Company's indebtedness with Lehman Brothers Holdings,
Inc., shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Consenting Noteholders.
The parties shall abide by the time restrictions set forth in the Term Sheet
and in paragraph 3.

3.  Timetable.  The solicitation of the Repurchase shall commence before the
close of the Davenport Sale.  Within 5 business days of the regulatory
approval of the Davenport Sale, the Davenport Sale shall close, and the
Repurchase shall close as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; provided,
however, that the Davenport Sale and the Repurchase close prior to November
30, 2000.  As set forth in the Term Sheet, the Company shall sell the New
Yorker prior to December 31, 2000 and promptly apply any net proceeds to
repurchase the 12% Notes at par. If (i) the Repurchase does not close by
November 30, 2000, (ii) the Company receives the requisite votes to consummate
the Restructuring under a chapter 11 plan of reorganization, (iii) the
Noteholders have received the Net Proceeds, and (iv) this Agreement is not
otherwise terminated, the Company shall have until May 30, 2001 to cause the
Restructuring to close and become effective pursuant to a final order, of a
bankruptcy court with competent jurisdiction over the Company and its assets,
confirming a chapter 11 plan of reorganization that reflects the Term Sheet
for the Company, provided, from and after November 30, 2000, the Company is
taking all reasonable action, determined by the Noteholders in their sole
discretion, to obtain confirmation of a chapter 11 plan of reorganization,
that reflects the Term Sheet and implements the Restructuring by May 30, 2001.
The timetable dates in this paragraph and in the Term Sheet may be extended by
Consenting Noteholders holding two thirds in aggregate principal amount of the
Notes held by all Consenting Noteholders.

4.  Support of the Restructuring.  Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 6
below, the Consenting Noteholders shall consent to waivers and amendments to
the Indentures, tender their Notes and approve any other action or document

                                    2

<PAGE> 76
necessary to implement the Restructuring.  Subject to the provisions of
Paragraph 6 below, the Company and each of the Consenting Noteholders shall
not: (a) object to the Restructuring or otherwise commence any proceeding to
oppose the Restructuring or any of the Restructuring Documents so long as the
Company and the Consenting Noteholders have agreed on the form of the
Restructuring and the Restructuring Documents contain terms and conditions
consistent with those contained in this Agreement; (b) vote for, consent to,
support or participate in the formulation of any other out-of-court
restructuring, or a plan of reorganization or liquidation under applicable
bankruptcy or insolvency laws, in respect of the Company; (c) directly or
indirectly seek, solicit, support or encourage any other out-of-court
restructuring, plan, proposal or offer of dissolution, winding up,
liquidation, reorganization, merger or restructuring of the Company (other
than one agreed to in writing by the Company and the Consenting Noteholders)
that is inconsistent with this Agreement; (d) take any other action, including
but not limited to initiating any legal proceedings that is inconsistent with,
or that would delay consummation of the Restructuring.

5.  Acknowledgment.  This Agreement and the terms of the Restructuring are the
product of negotiations between the Company and the Committee.  This Agreement
is not and shall not be deemed to be a solicitation for consents to waivers
and amendments to the Indentures or a solicitation to tender the Notes.
Acceptance of the Restructuring will not be solicited from any holder of the
Notes until it has received the disclosures required under applicable law.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Consenting Noteholders shall be
under no requirement to consent to waivers and amendments to the Indentures or
to tender their Notes, if the Restructuring Documents presented to the
Consenting Noteholders provide for any terms that are materially inconsistent
with this Agreement.

6.  Termination of the Consenting Noteholders' Obligations.  Each of the
Consenting Noteholders may terminate its obligations hereunder and rescind its
acceptance of the Restructuring by giving written notice thereof to the other
Consenting Noteholders and the Company, if any of the following occur (each, a
"Noteholders Termination Event"): (a) the Restructuring Documents provide or
are modified to provide for any terms that are adverse to or materially
inconsistent with any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement; (b) the
Davenport Sale, the sale of the New Yorker, the Restructuring and other
related transactions or events are not completed, closed, fully executed or
approved in accordance with the time restrictions in the Term Sheet and this
Agreement, including but not limited to Paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Agreement;
or (c) the Company materially breaches this Agreement or fails to satisfy any
of the terms or conditions of the Term Sheet.  If the Restructuring is not
completed on or before May 30, 2001, this Agreement and the Term Sheet, shall
without notice or other act, automatically terminate.

7.  Termination of the Company's Obligations.  The Company shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement, by the giving of written notice thereof to
each of the Consenting Noteholders, only in the event of a material breach of
this Agreement by the Consenting Noteholders (a "Company Termination Event").

8.  Effects of Termination.  Subject to Paragraph 23 hereof, upon the
occurrence of a Noteholders Termination Event or a Company Termination Event,

                                    3

<PAGE> 77
in each case resulting in the termination of the Consenting Noteholders'
obligations or the Company's obligations (as the case may be) under the terms
of Paragraph 6 or Paragraph 7 above, this Agreement shall terminate and no
party hereto shall have any continuing liability or obligation to pay any
other party thereunder; provided, however, that no such termination shall
relieve any party from liability for its breach or non-performance of its
obligations hereunder prior to the date of such termination.

9.  Forbearance; Restrictions on Transfers.  So long as obligations of the
Consenting Noteholders have not been terminated: (a) the Consenting
Noteholders will (i) not file a notice of default or sale or take any other
action to collect on the Notes or foreclose on any collateral therefor,
including, without limitation, instructing the Indenture Trustees on how to
proceed in the exercise of any and all remedies, or (ii) give instructions to
the Indenture Trustees, if and when reasonably appropriate, to desist from
taking action that is inconsistent with this Agreement or the Restructuring;
and (b) each of the Consenting Noteholders will not, directly or indirectly,
sell, assign, transfer, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of (i) any Notes
beneficially owned by it or as to which it has investment authority or
discretion (including Notes acquired after the date hereof), (ii) any claim
(as that term is defined in section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code) arising
from, based on or related to the Notes, or (iii) any option, interest in, or
right to acquire any Notes or claim referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above,
unless the transferee is (x) an "accredited investor" within the meaning of
Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and (y) agrees in
writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

10.  The Company's Undertakings.  So long as this Agreement is in effect,
absent the prior written consent of the Consenting Noteholders, the Company
shall not take any action materially inconsistent with the Agreement.  If
required, the Company shall take all reasonable steps necessary and desirable
to obtain approval for the Repurchase expeditiously as possible under
applicable law, and use reasonable best efforts to obtain any and all
requisite regulatory and/or third party approvals for the Davenport Sale and
the Restructuring.

11.  Fees and Expenses.  Upon the execution of this Agreement by the
Consenting Noteholders, the Company shall, notwithstanding any agreement to
the contrary, pay in full the fees and costs of the professionals of the
Committee, and shall timely pay in the ordinary course of business any
additional bills submitted to the Company by such professionals through
consummation of the Restructuring.  In addition, if any party brings an action
against any other party based upon a breach by such other party of its
obligations hereunder, the prevailing party shall be entitled to all
reasonable expenses incurred, including reasonable attorneys', accountants'
and financial advisors' fees in connection with such action.

12.  Notices.  Notices given under this Agreement shall be to:

     For the Committee:

     Paul S. Aronzon, Esq.
     Matthew E. McDonald, Esq.

                                    4

<PAGE> 78
     Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
     601 South Figueroa Street, 30th Floor
     Los Angeles, California 90017
     Telephone:  (213) 892-4000
     Telecopy:  (213) 629-5063

     With a copy to:

     Kaye C. Handley
     AIG
     175 Water Street, 25th Floor
     New York, New 10038
     Telephone:  (212) 458-2172
     Telecopy:  (212) 458-2241

     Carney Hawks
     MacKay, Shields
     9 West 57th Street, 33rdd Floor
     New York, New York 10019
     Telephone:  (212) 230-3902
     Telecopy:  (212) 754-9187

     For the Company:

     John S. Aylsworth
     President Casinos, Inc.
     802 North First Street
     St. Louis Missouri  63102
     Telephone:  (314) 622-3000
     Telecopy:  (314) 622-3172

     With a copy to:

     David Lander, Esq.
     Gerard K. Sandweg, Jr., Esq.
     Thompson Coburn LLP
     One Firstar Plaza
     St. Louis, Missouri 63101
     Telephone:  (314) 552-6000
     Telecopy:   (314) 552-7104 or 7067

     For the Consenting Noteholders:

     At the addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the signature pages.

13.  Reservation of Rights.  This Agreement and the Restructuring are part of
a proposed settlement of a dispute among the parties hereto.  Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing herein is intended to, or does,
in any manner waive, limit, impair or restrict the ability of each Consenting
Noteholder and each of the Indenture Trustees to protect and preserve its
rights, remedies and interests, including without limitation, its claims
against the Company.  Nothing herein shall be deemed an admission of any kind
by the Noteholders.  Nothing contained herein effects a modification of the

                                    5

<PAGE> 79
Consenting Noteholders' or the Indenture Trustees' rights under the
Indentures, the Notes or other documents and agreements unless and until the
Restructuring becomes effective.  If the transactions contemplated herein are
not consummated, or if this Agreement is terminated for any reason, the
parties hereto fully reserve any and all of their rights.  Pursuant to Federal
Rule of Evidence 408, any applicable state rules of evidence and any other
applicable law, this Agreement and all negotiations relating thereto shall not
be admissible into evidence in any proceeding other than a proceeding to
enforce its terms.

14.  Good Faith Negotiations of Restructuring Documents.  The Company and each
of the Consenting Noteholders hereby further covenant and agree to negotiate
the definitive documents relating to the Restructuring, including, without
limitation, the Restructuring Documents, in good faith.

15.  Effectiveness; Amendments.  This Agreement shall not become effective and
binding on the parties hereto unless and until counterpart signature pages
hereto shall have been executed and delivered by the Company and the
Consenting Noteholders. This Agreement may be executed by one of more of the
parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original, but all such counterparts when taken together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.  Except as expressly provided for herein, no
modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the
Term Sheet shall be effective unless such modification, amendment or waiver is
in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that nothing contained
in this Paragraph shall be deemed to permit sales, assignments or transfers of
the Notes other than in accordance with Paragraph 9.

16.  Representations and Warranties.  Each Consenting Noteholder represents
and warrants to the Company and each other that it is an accredited investor
and owns the Notes that represent a beneficial interest in the total principal
amount (of record and/or beneficially) set forth next to its name on the
signature pages hereof, or as to which such holder or its Affiliates (as that
term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and over whom the Consenting Noteholder exercises sufficient control
to insure enforcement of the provisions of this Agreement) has investment
authority or discretion.  Each party hereunder represents and warrants that
the following statements are true, correct and complete as of the date hereof.

  (a)  Power, Authority and Authorization.  Execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such party has been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of such party, and the person executing
this Agreement on behalf of such party is duly authorized to do so;

  (b)  No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by such party does not and shall not (i) violate any provision of
law, rule or regulation applicable to it or any of its subsidiaries or its
organizational documents or those of any of its subsidiaries or (ii) except to
the extent previously disclosed in writing to the Committee, conflict with,
result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both)
a default under any material contractual obligations to which it or any of its

                                    6

<PAGE> 80
subsidiaries is a party or under its organizational documents;

  (c)  Governmental Consents.  The execution, delivery and performance by it
of this Agreement do not and shall not require any registration or filing with
consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any
federal, state or other governmental authority or regulatory body, except such
filing as may be necessary and/or required for disclosure by the Securities
and Exchange Commission; and

  (d)  Binding Obligation.  This Agreement is the legally valid and binding
obligation of each of the undersigned, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws, both foreign and
domestic, relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally or by equitable
principles relating to enforceability.

17.  Disclosure of Individual Holdings.  Unless required by applicable law or
regulation, the Company shall not disclose (i) the amount of a Consenting
Noteholder's holdings of Notes, or (ii) the terms of this Agreement, without
the prior written consent of such Consenting Noteholder; and if such
announcement or disclosure is so required by law or regulation, the Company
shall afford the Consenting Noteholders a reasonable opportunity to review and
comment upon any such announcement or disclosure prior to such announcement or
disclosure by the Company.  The foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from
disclosing the approximate aggregate holdings of Notes by the Consenting
Noteholders as a group.

18.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, including the Term Sheet and the
Restructuring Documents, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings of the parties in connection therewith.

19.  Representation by Counsel.  Each party hereto acknowledges that it has
been represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Accordingly any rule of law or
any legal decision that would provide any party hereto with a defense to the
enforcement of the terms of this Agreement against such party shall have no
application and is expressly waived.  The provisions of this Agreement shall
be interpreted in a reasonable manner to effect the intent of the parties
hereto.

20.  Consideration.  Each party hereto acknowledges the receipt and
sufficiency of good and valuable consideration in exchange for its agreement
to undertake its duties and obligations under this Agreement.

21.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction.  This Agreement is governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard
to any conflicts of law provision that would require the application of the
law of any other jurisdiction.  By its execution and delivery of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees for itself that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with
respect to any matter under or arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment rendered in any

                                    7

<PAGE> 81
such action, suit or proceeding, shall be brought in a federal court of
competent jurisdiction in the Southern District of New York.  By execution and
delivery of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
accepts and submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such court, generally
and unconditionally, with respect to any such action, suit or proceeding.

22.  Specific Performance.  It is understood and agreed by each of the parties
hereto that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of
this Agreement by any party (other than a breach by the Company of Paragraph
11 hereof) and each non-breaching party shall be entitled to specific
performance and injunctive or other equitable relief as a remedy of any such
breach.

23.  Survival.  Notwithstanding the sale of the Notes in accordance with
Paragraph 9 hereof or the termination of the Consenting Noteholders'
obligations hereunder in accordance with Paragraph 6 hereto, the Company's
obligations and agreements set forth in Paragraphs 11 (with respect to
expenses incurred through the date of such termination) and 17 (with respect
to disclosure of certain information) hereof shall survive such termination
and shall continue in full force and effect for the benefit of the Consenting
Noteholders in accordance with the terms hereof.

24.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to
the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs,
executors, administrators and representatives.  The agreements,
representations and obligations of the Consenting Noteholders under this
Agreement are, in all respects, several and not joint.

25.  No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Unless expressly stated herein, this
Agreement shall be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and no other
person or entity.

26.  Headings.  The headings of the sections, paragraphs and subsections of
this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the
interpretation thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties below have executed a counterpart of
this Agreement, the terms of which shall be effective upon execution by the
Company and the Consenting Noteholders.

Dated:  October 10, 2000            PRESIDENT CASINOS, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRC HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    8

<PAGE> 82
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRC MANAGEMENT, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRCX, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT RIVERBOAT CASINO-
                                    PHILADELPHIA, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    P.R.C. LOUISIANA, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    VEGAS VEGAS, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT RIVERBOAT CASINO-NEW YORK, INC.

                                    9

<PAGE> 83
                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT MISSISSIPPI CHARTER CORP.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT RIVERBOAT CASINO-MISSOURI, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT RIVERBOAT CASINO-
                                    MISSISSIPPI, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    BROADWATER HOTEL, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT RIVERBOAT CASINO-IOWA, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    10

<PAGE> 84
                                    TCG BLACKHAWK, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT CASINO NEW YORKER, INC.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    THE CONNELLY GROUP, L.P.

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

                                    PRESIDENT BROADWATER HOTEL, LLC

                                    By:     /s/ John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   John S. Aylsworth
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Title:  President and COO
                                          ------------------------------------

Dated:  October 10, 2000            SUNAMERICA INC.

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $7,440,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038

                                    11

<PAGE> 85
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    SUNAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $2,100,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes: $13,150,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    ANCHOR NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $1,000,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    FIRST SUNAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $150,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG

                                    12

<PAGE> 86
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    SUNAMERICA CBO

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes: $16,220,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    BANKERS TRUST, TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST
                                    AGREEMENT DATED, 3/31/97, BY AND AMONG
                                    SUNAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AS
                                    GRANTOR, JOHN ALDEN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                    AS BENEFICIARY, AND BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                                    AS TRUSTEE

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $2,000,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

                                    AIG GLOBAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION
                                    CBO-3 LTD

                                    By:     /s/ Rafael Fogel
                                          ------------------------------------
                                    Name:   Rafael Fogel
                                    Title:  Authorized Agent

                                    13

<PAGE> 87
                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $1,000,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Kaye C. Handley
                                    Director, High Yield Investments
                                    AIG
                                    175 Water Street, 25th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10038
                                    Tel:  (212) 458-2172
                                    Fax:  (212) 458-2241

Dated:  October 10, 2000            THE BROWN & WILLIAMSON MASTER
                                    RETIREMENT TRUST

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $403,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes:  $202,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903
                                    Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                    POLICE OFFICERS PENSION OF THE CITY
                                    OF HOUSTON

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $335,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes:  $179,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903

                                    14
<PAGE> 88
                                   Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                    THE MAINSTAY FUNDS, ON BEHALF OF ITS HIGH
                                    YIELD CORPORATE BOND FUND SERIES

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes: $21,698,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes: $10,097,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903
                                    Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                    THE MAINSTAY FUNDS, ON BEHALF OF ITS
                                    STRATEGIC INCOME FUND SERIES

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $94,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes:  $47,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903
                                    Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                    MAINSTAY VP SERIES FUND, INC., ON BEHALF
                                    OF ITS HIGH YIELD CORPORATE BOND PORTFOLIO

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    15

<PAGE> 89
                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $2,348,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes:  $1,180,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903
                                    Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                    VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY HIGH
                                    YIELD ACCOUNT

                                    By:  MACKAY SHIELDS LLC
                                    Title:  Investment Advisor
                                            By:     /s/ Robert A. Nisi
                                                ------------------------------
                                            Name:   Robert A. Nisi
                                            Title:  General Counsel

                                    Principal amount of 13% Notes:  $54,000
                                    Principal amount of 12% Notes:  $27,000

                                    Notice Contact:
                                    Carney Hawks
                                    MacKay Shields LLC
                                    9 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Tel:  (212) 230-3903
                                    Fax:  (212) 754-9187

                                [EXHIBIT Al]

                                 TERM SHEET

                                 Term Sheet
              for the restructuring of President Casinos, Inc.'s
         13% Senior Notes due September 15, 2001 (the 13% Notes), and
          President Casinos, Inc.'s 12% Notes due September 15, 2001
         (the 13% Notes and the 12% Notes, collectively, the "Notes")

                              October 10, 2000

The unofficial noteholders' committee comprised of certain holders of the 13%
Notes and the 12% Notes (the "Committee") would support a restructuring of the
Notes that incorporates, among other things, the terms herein.

This document does not create and is not intended to create a binding and
enforceable contract or commitment, and may not be relied upon by either party
as the basis for a contract by estoppel or otherwise. This term sheet is part
of a proposed settlement of a dispute.  Nothing herein is intended to, or
does, in any manner waive, limit, impair or restrict the ability of each

                                    16

<PAGE> 90
holder of the Notes (a "Noteholder") and each Trustee under the respective
Indentures governing the Notes, to protect and preserve its rights, remedies
and interests, including without limitation, its claims against President
Casinos, Inc., and its subsidiaries (the "Company").  Nothing herein shall be
deemed an admission of any kind.  Nothing contained herein effects a
modification of the Noteholders' or the  Trustee's rights under the Indenture,
the Notes or other documents and agreements. Pursuant to Federal Rule of
Evidence 408 and any applicable state rules of evidence, this Agreement and
all negotiations relating thereto shall not be admissible into evidence in any
proceeding other than a proceeding to enforce its terms.

PARTIAL PAYMENT & RESTRUCTURING:  The Company sells the President Riverboat in
Davenport, IA (the "Davenport Boat"), and such sale must equal a gross sale
price excluding cash of at least $58.2 million.  The net proceeds received by
the Company per the closing statement shall be applied first to pay the two
interest payments due Noteholders on March 15, 2000 and September 15, 2000, an
amount of approximately $2.0 million will be withheld to pay off the remaining
balance on the Biloxi Casino Barge, working capital will be made available to
the Company in an amount not to exceed $2 million and $4.9 million will be
placed in an escrow account (and pledged as collateral for the Notes) to be
applied to the interest payment due Noteholders on March 15, 2001 (the
"Interest Reserve").  The remainder shall be applied to purchase the Notes at
par, on a pro rata basis within the two issuances, as follows: 75% to the
holders of the 13% Notes and 25% to the holders of the 12% Notes.  If the sale
of the New Yorker does not close by December 31, 2000 (as provided below), the
funds in the Interest Reserve shall be immediately applied to pay down the
principal on both Notes on a pro rata basis.

Net proceeds is defined as gross sale price (excluding cash) minus the
following:

* All selling expenses

* Investment banker commissions

* Payment to minority 5% partner

* Payoff of Firstar note

*Any net working capital adjustment related to the current assets (excluding
cash) and current liabilities which pertain directly to the Davenport
operations as of the closing date.  The Noteholders are entitled to inspect
and review the books of the Company to verify the amount of the net working
capital adjustment.  If the buyer does not assume the current liabilities of
the Davenport operations it purchases, the Company shall retain an amount from
the proceeds necessary to pay such current liabilities.

12% NOTES RESTRUCTURING:  Noteholders' will extend the maturity of the 12%
Notes to September 15, 2003, if the Company meets an interest coverage ratio
of 1.3 for the 12% and 13% Notes during the first calendar half of 2001 after
accounting for fixed charges as identified on Schedule A hereto.

Noteholders' will agree to extend the September 2000 interest payment to the

                                    17

<PAGE> 91
latter of the close of the sale of the Davenport Boat or September 15, 2000.

The Company shall sell the New Yorker by December 31, 2000.  The holders of
12% Notes will cause their Trustee to release the lien on the New Yorker to
facilitate the sale.  Any net proceeds obtained will be used to repurchase the
12% Notes at par.

All escrow accounts shall also be pledged as collateral for the Notes.

All other terms shall remain the same.

13% NOTES RESTRUCTURING:  The 13% Notes Indenture shall be amended to provide
for a sinking fund payment of $15 million due July 31, 2001, in lieu of the
$25,000,000 redemption scheduled for September 15, 2000, assuming the Admiral
is relocated and open and the new slot product is operational by November 30,
2000.  For any delay due to river conditions or legislative changes that
delays the relocation or the slot product improvements, July 31, 2001 will be
extended to be 30 days from the month-end of the month that the relocation and
slot improvements actually occur up to and no later than January 31st at the
latest.  The sinking fund payment shall be excused if the St. Louis operations
meet a performance test based on EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization) for the calendar quarter ending in June 2001
and each quarter thereafter on a rolling basis as set forth in Schedule B
hereto (the "Performance Test").  If at any time the St. Louis operations fail
to meet the Performance Test, the sinking fund payment shall be due and
payable within 30 days of the close of such quarter.

The maturity date on the 13% Notes shall be extended to September 15, 2003, if
the Company meets an interest coverage ratio of 1.3 for the 12% and 13% Notes
during the first calendar half of 2001 after accounting for fixed charges as
identified on Schedule A hereto.

Noteholders' will agree to extend the September 2000 interest payment to the
latter of the close of the sale of the Davenport Boat or September 15, 2000.

To secure the 13% Notes, the Company, including its subsidiaries, shall:  (a)
grant a security interest second in priority to the 12% Notes in all assets
securing the 12% Notes; (b) grant a security interest in the Biloxi Casino
Barge of the highest seniority available and prior to any security interest
granted to Lehman but limited to secure a maximum of $4 million; (c) use best
efforts to grant a security interest behind Lehman in the Broadwater Property
in Biloxi, MS; (d) create and perfect a pledge of all Class A interests and
use its best efforts to obtain and perfect a pledge of all Class B interests
in President Broadwater Hotel, LLC; (e) reaffirm or deliver all pledges and
security documents that should have already been pledged or delivered to the
Trustees pursuant to the Indentures and their related security documents; and
(f) use its best efforts to grant a perfected security interest of the highest
seniority available in all of its remaining assets, except for gaming
equipment which would require approvals from the applicable gaming
commissions.  In addition all escrow accounts shall be pledged as collateral
for the Notes.

All other terms shall remain the same.

                                    18

<PAGE> 92
WARRANTS:  The restructuring of the Notes shall include the issuance by the
Company to the Noteholders, on a pro rata basis, warrants to purchase 10% of
the fully diluted, common stock of the Company as of the date of the signing
of this agreement at an exercise price of $2.625 per share.

The warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of their issuance.

Registration rights will be given to the holders of the warrants to the extent
necessary to confirm free transferability of the common stock after exercise.
The Company shall pay all expenses associated with any registrations.

The stock in which the warrants are exercisable into shall have the same
shareholder rights as all other common stock currently outstanding.

THIRD PARTY DEFAULTS:  There shall not exist any pending or existing defaults,
and the Noteholders shall be reasonably satisfied that there will not be
defaults in the future, on any other debt obligation of the Company, including
its subsidiaries.

DUE DILIGENCE:  The restructuring is conditioned upon the results of a
financial and legal due diligence review by the Noteholders.

MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE:  There shall be no material adverse change to the
assets, liabilities or business prospects of the Company or in the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations hereunder.

RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES:  The Company will pay all the expenses, including
professional fees and expenses, of the Committee in connection with the
restructuring.

DOCUMENTATION:  All the documents necessary or appropriate to facilitate the
restructuring of the Notes and the Company shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to the Committee and its counsel.

                                  SCHEDULE A

The following fixed charges shall be deducted from the funds available to meet
the interest coverage ratio for the Notes:

* corporate overhead, including without limitation legal, professional and
administrative expenses excluding legal fees of Milbank, Long Aldridge and
Thompson Coburn LLP related to the restructuring of the noteholders and the
Lehman debt

* lease payments for the Broadwater Property in Biloxi, MS

* maintenance capital expenditures (excluding capex to move and upgrade the
Admiral)

* net cost after income for the New Yorker boat until sold

* financing payments for the Biloxi Casino Barge if not paid off pursuant to
Davenport sale

                                    19

<PAGE> 93
                                  SCHEDULE B

The Performance Test shall be determined as follows:

EBITDA for the St. Louis operations must show at least a 75% rolling
improvement in 2001 over the same period in 2000.  For example, for the July
31, 2001 sinking fund payment to be excused, EBITDA for the St. Louis
operations must be at least 75% greater for the period from January 1, 2001 to
June 30, 2001 as compared to the period from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2000.
The St. Louis operations must continue to improve by at least 75% for the
period from January 1, 2001 to September 30, 2001 as compared to January 1,
2000 to September 30, 2000 and likewise improve 75% in 2001 from the
corresponding periods in 2000, otherwise the sinking fund payment will be due
30 days after the close of the period in which the 75% minimum increase does
not occur.  For the 3 month and 6 month periods in calendar 2002, EBITDA for
the St. Louis operations must not decline from the corresponding periods in
2001, otherwise the sinking fund payment will be due 30 days after the period
in which the EBITDA declines.<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                            SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        This SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered
into as of September 19, 2000, by and among Auspex Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on Schedule A attached
hereto (collectively, the "Purchasers" and individually, a "Purchaser").

        1. Authorization of Sale of the Shares.

        Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company has
authorized the sale of up to one hundred million dollars worth of shares (the
"Shares") of common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of
the Company.

        2. Agreement to Sell and Purchase the Shares.

             2.1 Purchase and Sale.

        Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser
severally agrees to purchase, and the Company agrees to sell and issue to each
Purchaser, at the Closing (as defined below) that number of Shares set forth
opposite such Purchaser's name on Schedule A attached hereto.

             2.2 Purchase Price.

        The purchase price of each Share (the "Per Share Price") shall be
$7.9625. In the event the Company shall, during the period ending ninety (90)
days after the Closing Date, sell any shares of Common Stock or any instruments
that can be converted into or otherwise exchanged for Common Stock (the
"Subsequent Sale") exercisable at a price per share (the "Subsequent Purchase
Price") of less than $7.9625 per share, the purchase price per Share hereunder
shall be adjusted to an amount equal to the Subsequent Purchase Price, such that
the Company shall, within ten (10) business days of the Subsequent Sale, pay to
the Purchaser an amount equal to the number of Shares times the difference
between $7.9625 and the Subsequent Purchase Price; provided that the Company
shall be permitted to (i) issue Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement, (ii)
issue options or any instruments that can be converted into or otherwise
exchanged for the Company's common stock already authorized pursuant to the
Company's existing plans, as amended to date and shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of any such options or instruments, (iii) issue options already
authorized outside the Company's existing plans, (iv) issue shares pursuant to
the exercise of Warrants to Purchase Common Stock between the Company and
certain buyers dated January 18, 2000, and (v) issue shares pursuant to
conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock, which Preferred Stock was issued
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain
buyers dated January 18, 2000.

<PAGE>   2

        3. Delivery of the Shares at the Closing.

                    (a) The completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares
(the "Closing") shall occur at the offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
counsel to the Company, at 650 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304 at 9:00 a.m.
local time on September 22, 2000 or such other time and date as may be agreed by
the parties (the "Closing Date").

                    (b) At the Closing, the Company shall authorize its transfer
agent (the "Transfer Agent") to issue to each Purchaser one or more stock
certificates registered in the name of such Purchaser, or in such nominee
name(s) as designated by such Purchaser in writing, representing the number of
Shares set forth in Schedule A and bearing an appropriate legend referring to
the fact that the Shares were sold in reliance upon the exemption from
registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), and Rule 506 under the Securities Act. Prior to the
Purchasers' delivery of payment for the Shares, the Company will deliver via
facsimile a copy of the form of the Certificates to be delivered upon Closing to
the office of the Purchasers (at the fax number indicated on the signature pages
attached hereto).

                    (c) The Company's obligation to complete the purchase and
sale of the Shares shall be subject to the following conditions, any one or more
of which may be waived by the Company:

                         (i) receipt by the Company of same-day funds in the
full amount of the purchase price for the Shares being purchased under this
Agreement;

                         (ii) the accuracy in all material respects of the
representations and warranties made by the Purchasers and the fulfillment in all
material respects of those undertakings of the Purchasers to be fulfilled before
the Closing;

                         (iii) the offer and sale of the Shares to the
Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement shall be exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, and the registration and/or qualification
requirements of all other applicable state securities laws;

                         (iv) Nasdaq Stock Market shall have confirmed in
writing that the sale of Shares will not require shareholder approval;

                         (v) all corporate and other proceedings in connection
with the transactions contemplated at the Closing hereby, and all documents and
instruments incident to such transactions, shall be reasonably satisfactory in
substance to the Company and its counsel; and

                         (vi) the Company shall have validly amended the
Stockholder Rights Plan, if in the opinion of the Company's counsel such
amendment is necessary to prevent the application of such Stockholder Rights
Plan with respect to the issuance of the Shares; and

<PAGE>   3

                         (vii) the Company's counsel shall have determined that
no antitrust filings pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act
of 1976 are required prior to the issuance of the Shares.

                    (d) The Purchasers' obligations to accept delivery of such
stock certificates and to pay for the Shares evidenced by the certificates shall
be subject to the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived
by a Purchaser with respect to such Purchaser's obligation:

                         (i) the representations and warranties made by the
Company in this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects and the
undertakings of the Company shall have been fulfilled in all material respects
on or before the Closing;

                         (ii) the Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers
a certificate executed by the chairman of the board or chief executive officer
and the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchasers, to the
effect that the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 4 hereof are true and correct in all material respects as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, and that the Company has complied
with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions in this Agreement on
its part to be performed or satisfied on or before the Closing Date;

                         (iii) the Company shall have delivered to Purchasers a
legal opinion in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;

                         (iv) all corporate and other proceedings in connection
with the transactions contemplated at the Closing hereby, and all documents and
instruments incident to such transactions, shall be reasonably satisfactory in
substance to the Purchasers and their counsel; and

                         (v) the Company shall have delivered into escrow the
Stock Certificates representing the Shares and shall have provided the
Purchasers via facsimile a copy of the Certificates.

        4. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company.

        Except as set forth on the Schedule of Exceptions attached hereto as
Exhibit B, the Company hereby represents and warrants, or covenants, as
applicable, to the Purchasers as follows (which representations and warranties
shall be deemed to apply, where appropriate, to each subsidiary of the Company):

             4.1 Organization and Qualification.

        The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The
Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as currently conducted and to enter into
and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified

<PAGE>   4

as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required whether by reason of the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings, assets or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole (a "Company Material Adverse Effect") and no proceeding has been
instituted in any such jurisdiction to revoke, limit or curtail any such power
or authority.

             4.2 Capitalization.

                    (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
120,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock.

                    (b) As of September 18, 2000, the issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company consists of 33,518,696 shares of Common Stock and
-0- shares of Preferred Stock. The shares of issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and have not been issued in violation of or are not
otherwise subject to any preemptive or other similar rights.

                    (c) The Company has reserved 13,430,133 shares of Common
Stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options granted or available for
future grant under the Company's 1988 Stock Option Plan, 1993 Directors' Stock
Option Plan, 1997 Stock Plan, and 1998 Non-Statutory Stock Plan.

                    (d) The Company has reserved 1,605,136 shares of Common
Stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common
Stock.

                    (e) The Company has reserved 2,100,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance or available for future grant under the Company's 1993
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

                    (f) The Company has reserved 3,600,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options which were not issued
pursuant to the aforementioned stock plans.

        With the exception of the foregoing, there are no outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, convertible or exchangeable securities or
other rights granted to or by the Company to purchase shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company and there are no commitments, plans or
arrangements to issue any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible
into or exchangeable for Common Stock.

             4.3 Issuance, Sale and Delivery of the Shares.

                    (a) The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and
sale to the Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration
set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable and free and clear of all pledges, liens, taxes, claims, charges

<PAGE>   5

and encumbrances. The certificates evidencing the Shares are in due and proper
form under Delaware law.

                    (b) The issuance of the Shares is not subject to preemptive
or other similar rights or antidilution rights. No further approval or authority
of the shareholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be required
for the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company as
contemplated in this Agreement.

                    (c) Subject to the accuracy of the Purchasers'
representations and warranties in Section 5 of this Agreement, the offer, sale,
and issuance of the Shares in conformity with the terms of this Agreement
constitute transactions exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5
of the Securities Act and from the registration or qualification requirements of
the laws of any applicable state or United States jurisdiction.

             4.4 Securities and Exchange Commission Filings; Financial
Statements.

                    (a) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") all reports, schedules, forms, registration statements
and other documents required to be filed by it as a registrant under the
Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). Except for matters otherwise corrected by the subsequent filing
with the SEC of an appropriate amendment prior to the date of this Agreement,
such reports, forms, and documents filed by the Company with the SEC prior to
the date of this Agreement (the "Company SEC Reports") (including any financial
statements filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference therein)
complied with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in all material respects
and did not, at the time they were filed (or if amended or superseded by a
filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing),
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated in such Company SEC Reports or necessary in order to make
the statements in such Company SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

                    (b) Each of the consolidated financial statements
(including, in each case, any related notes) of the Company contained in the
Company SEC Reports was prepared in accordance with the books of account and
other financial records of the Company and in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and relevant SEC rules regarding such financial
statements, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved
(except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the
case of unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act),
and fairly presented the consolidated financial position of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates, and the consolidated results of its operations and
cash flows for the periods, indicated, except that the unaudited interim
financial statements were subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments
which were not material in amount.

<PAGE>   6

             4.5 No Material Change.

        Since June 30, 2000,

                    (a) there has not been any change, event or development
having, or that could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect;

                    (b) there have been no transactions entered into by the
Company other than those in the ordinary course of business which are material
with respect to the Company;

                    (c) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock; and

                    (d) the Company has no new material contingent obligations.

             4.6 Due Execution, Delivery, and Performance.

                    (a) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                    (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, deed,
trust, note, lease, sublease, voting agreement, voting trust or other instrument
or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to
which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, and will not
trigger anti-dilution rights or other rights to acquire additional equity
securities of the Company, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any
applicable statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, decision, directive or
order.

             4.7 Use of Proceeds; Investment Company.

        The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Shares for
working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Company is not now,
and after the sale of the Shares under this Agreement and under all other
agreements and the application of the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares
described in the proceeding sentence will not be, an "investment company" within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

<PAGE>   7

             4.8 Governmental Consents.

        No registration, authorization, approval, qualification or consent of
any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement or the offering,
issuance or sale of the Shares under this Agreement.

             4.9 Transfer Taxes.

        The Company shall be liable for, and shall pay when due, any transfer,
gains, documentary, sales, use, registration, stamp, value added or other
similar taxes (other than income taxes) payable by reason of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or attributable to the initial sale to the
Purchasers of the Common Stock.

             4.10 Additional Information.

        The Company represents and warrants that the information contained in
the following documents (the "Company Documents"), which will be provided, upon
request, to Purchaser before the Closing, is or will be true and correct in all
material respects as of their respective final dates.

                    (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1999;

                    (b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarters ended December, 1999 and March, 2000;

                    (c) The Company's Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders;

                    (d) The Company's Proxy Statement for its 2000 Special
Meeting of Shareholders;

                    (e) All other documents, if any, filed by the Company with
the Commission since June 30, 2000 pursuant to the reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act; and

                    (f) All other documents, if any, distributed by the Company
to the holders of the Company's Common Stock.

             4.11 Miscellaneous

                    (a) The Company is eligible to file a Registration Statement
on Form S-3;

                    (b) There is no litigation, judgment, or statute prohibiting
the sale of the Shares as such sale is contemplated pursuant to the terms of the
Agreement;

<PAGE>   8

                    (c) The Company's Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq
National Market and the Company has not received a cease trading order from the
Nasdaq National Market with respect to its securities;

                    (d) The issuance of the Shares will not be integrated with
other issuances of securities, except to the extent discussed in Section
7.1.1(k); and

                    (e) The transfer agent has been instructed to issue Shares
pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.

        5. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Purchasers.

             5.1 Securities Law Representations and Warranties.

        Each Purchaser, severally and solely with respect to itself and its
purchase and not with respect to the other Purchasers, represents, warrants, and
covenants to the Company as follows:

                    (a) The Purchaser is knowledgeable, sophisticated and
experienced in making, and is qualified to make, decisions with respect to
investments in shares representing an investment decision like that involved in
the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the
Company, and has requested, received, reviewed and considered all information it
deems relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares.
(Notwithstanding any such due diligence, the Purchaser is not waiving its right
to rely on the representations, warranties, and covenants of Auspex.)

                    (b) The Purchaser is acquiring the number of Shares set
forth in Section 2 above in the ordinary course of its business and for its own
account for investment (as defined for purposes of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 and the regulations thereunder) only, and has
no present intention of distributing any of the Shares nor any arrangement or
understanding with any other persons regarding the distribution of such Shares
within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, other than as
contemplated in Section 7 of this Agreement. (Notwithstanding the Purchaser's
intention not to distribute the Shares, the Purchaser is not covenanting to hold
the Shares for a minimum period, except to the extent Purchaser transfers any
Shares pursuant to Rule 144, and Purchaser reserves the right to dispose of the
Shares in accordance with the Agreement.)

                    (c) The Purchaser will not, directly or indirectly, offer,
sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy,
purchase or otherwise acquire or take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in
compliance with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

                    (d) The Purchaser has completed or caused to be completed
the Stock Certificate Questionnaire and the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire
and Agreement for Beneficial Owners Regarding Securities to be Included in the
Auspex Systems, Inc. Registration Statement attached to this Agreement as
Appendices I, and II for use in preparation of the Registration Statement (as
defined in Section 7.3 below), and the answers to the Questionnaires are true
and correct, in all material respects, as of the date of this Agreement and will
be true and correct

<PAGE>   9

as of the effective date of the Registration Statement; provided that the
Purchasers shall be entitled to update such information by providing notice
thereof to the Company before the effective date of such Registration Statement.

                    (e) The Purchaser has, in connection with its decision to
purchase the number of Shares set forth in Section 2 above, relied solely upon
the Company SEC Reports and the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement.

                    (f) The Purchaser is an "accredited investor" within the
meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and has
completed and returned the Investor Questionnaire previously provided by the
Company.

                    (g) Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Shares must be held
indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an
exemption from such registration is available. Such Purchaser covenants that, in
the absence of an effective registration statement covering the stock in
question, such Purchaser will sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of the Shares
only in a manner consistent with such Investor's representations and covenants
set forth in this Section 5.

             5.2 Resales of Shares.

                 5.2.1 Restricted Shares.

                    (a) Restrictions. The Shares shall not be sold, assigned,
transferred or pledged, and the Company shall not recognize any such transfer,
except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement, which conditions are
intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. The
Purchasers will cause any proposed purchaser, assignee, transferee or pledgee of
the Shares held by such Purchaser to agree to take and hold such securities
subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding any restrictions with respect to the Shares contained in the
Agreement, such restrictions shall not apply to any securities of the Company
purchased in the public market by any of the Purchasers.

                    (b) Restrictive Legend. Each certificate representing (i)
the Shares, and (ii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities
upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section
5.2.1(c) below) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in the following
form:

                "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN
                ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
                UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT
                BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR PLEDGED IN THE ABSENCE OF
                SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION FROM THE
                REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF
                SAID ACT."

<PAGE>   10
                "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE
                TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN
                AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDER, A
                COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE
                COMPANY."

        In addition to the preceding legends, Purchasers who may be deemed to be
affiliates of the Company shall be given certificates representing (i) the
Shares, and (ii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities upon
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or
similar event, (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section 5.2.1(c)
below) which are stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in the following
form:

                "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE OWNED
                BY A PERSON OR PERSONS WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED AN
                AFFILIATE FOR PURPOSES OF RULE 144 UNDER THE
                SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT"). NO TRANSFER OF
                THESE SHARES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE MADE
                UNLESS THE ISSUER HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
                SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SHARES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT
                TO RULE 144 OR ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION UNDER THE
                ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER."

        The Purchasers consent to the Company making a notation on its records
and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Shares in order to
implement the restrictions on transfer established in this Section 5.2.1(b).

        Purchaser acknowledges that the Company shall remove the preceding
legends from each individual Share at such time as that individual Share has
been registered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, but that any Shares not registered
pursuant to Section 7 or any Shares which are sold by Purchasers pursuant to a
private placement exemption shall continue to bear such legends until the
Company's counsel has determined that such legends are no longer required for
compliance with the Securities laws.

                    (c) Notice of Proposed Transfers; Transfers. The holder of
each certificate representing the Shares, by acceptance thereof, agrees to
comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 5.2.1. Prior to any
proposed sale, assignment, transfer or pledge of any Shares, unless there is in
effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed
transfer, the holder thereof shall give written notice to the Company of such
holder's intention to effect such transfer, sale, assignment, or pledge. Each
such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed
transfer, sale, assignment or pledge in sufficient detail, and, if reasonably
requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such holder's expense by
either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion
shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to
the effect that the proposed transfer of the Shares may be effected without
registration under the Securities Act, or (ii) a "no action" letter from the
Commission to the effect that the transfer of such securities without
registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the Commission
that action be taken with respect thereto,

<PAGE>   11

or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to
the effect that the proposed transfer of the Shares may be effected without
registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the holder of such Shares shall
be entitled to transfer such Shares in accordance with the terms of the notice
delivered by the holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a
legal opinion or "no action" letter (a) in any transaction in compliance with
Rule 144 or (b) in any transaction in which such holder distributes Shares to
its constituent partners, majority-owned subsidiaries, or affiliates (each an
"Affiliate") for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in
writing to be subject to the terms of this Section 5.2.1. The Company may waive
compliance with this Section 5.2.1 in its sole discretion; the Company's failure
to object promptly in writing to a proposed transfer allegedly in violation of
this Section 5.2.1 shall be deemed to be such a waiver. Each certificate
evidencing the Shares transferred as above provided shall bear, except if such
transfer is made pursuant to Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set
forth in Section 5.2.1(b) above, except that such certificate shall not bear
such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such holder and the
Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any
provisions of the Securities Act.

                 5.2.2 Registered Shares.

                    (a) The Purchaser hereby covenants with the Company not to
make any sale of the Shares without satisfying the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, including, in the event of any
resale under the Registration Statement, the prospectus delivery requirements
under the Securities Act, and the Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that such
Shares are not transferable on the books of the Company pursuant to a resale
under the Registration Statement unless the certificate submitted to the
transfer agent evidencing the Shares is accompanied by a separate officer's
certificate

                         (i)   in the form of Appendix III to this Agreement;

                         (ii)  executed by an officer of, or other authorized
person designated by, the Purchaser; and

                         (iii) to the effect that (A) the Shares have been sold
in accordance with the Registration Statement and (B) the requirement of
delivering a current prospectus has been satisfied.

                    (b) The Purchaser acknowledges that there may occasionally
be times when the Company determines the use of the prospectus (the
"Prospectus," as further defined in Section 7.3.1 below) forming a part of the
Registration Statement (as defined in Section 7.1.1 below) should be suspended
until such time as an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus has been filed by the Company and any such amendment to the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, or until such
time as the Company has filed an appropriate report with the Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act. The Purchaser hereby covenants that it will not sell any
Shares pursuant to the Prospectus during the period commencing at the time at
which the Company gives the Purchaser written notice of the suspension of the
use of the Prospectus and ending at the time the Company gives the Purchaser
written notice that the Purchaser may thereafter effect sales pursuant to the
Prospectus. The Company may, upon

<PAGE>   12

written notice to the Purchasers, suspend the use of the Prospectus for up to
forty-five (45) days in any 365-day period based on the reasonable determination
of the Company's Board of Directors that there is a significant business purpose
for such determination, such as pending corporate developments, public filings
with the SEC or similar events. The Company shall in no event be required to
disclose the business purpose for which it has suspended the use of the
Prospectus if the Company determines in its good faith judgment that the
business purpose should remain confidential.

                    (c) The Purchaser further covenants to notify the Company
promptly of the sale of any of its Shares, other than sales pursuant to a
Registration Statement contemplated in Section 7 of this Agreement or sales upon
termination of the transfer restrictions pursuant to Section 7.4 of this
Agreement.

                    (d) Purchaser acknowledges that no Purchaser of Shares may
include any of its Shares in any Registration Statement pursuant to this
Agreement unless and until such Purchaser furnishes to the Company in writing,
within 20 Business Days after receipt of a request therefor, such information as
the Company may reasonably request for use in connection with any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus included therein, including
the completion of the Selling Stockholder Questionnaire and Agreement for
Beneficial Owners Regarding Securities to be Included in Auspex Systems, Inc.
Registration Statement. Purchaser acknowledges that no Purchaser of Shares shall
be entitled to Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 7.1.2 hereof unless and
until such Purchaser shall have used its best efforts to provide all such
reasonably requested information. Purchaser acknowledges that each Purchaser of
Shares as to which any Registration Statement is being effected must furnish
promptly to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to
make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Purchaser not
materially misleading.

             5.3 Due Execution, Delivery and Performance.

                    (a) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser,
enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                    (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Purchaser pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, deed,
trust, note, lease, sublease, voting agreement, voting trust or other instrument
or agreement to which the Purchaser is a party or by which it or any of them may
be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Purchaser is subject,
nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or
bylaws of the Purchaser or any applicable statute, law, rule, regulation,
ordinance, decision, directive or order.

<PAGE>   13

             5.4 Address.

             Such Purchaser's address indicated on SCHEDULE A sets forth, in the
case of individuals, the state in which such Investor resides or, in the case of
entities, the state of Purchaser's principal place of business.

        6. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

        Notwithstanding any investigation made by any party to this Agreement,
all covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Company
and the Purchasers in this Agreement and in the certificates for the Shares
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution of this
Agreement, the delivery to the Purchasers of the Shares being purchased and the
payment therefor.

        7. Form D Filing; Registration; Compliance with the Securities Act;
Covenants.

             7.1 Form D Filing; Registration of Shares.

                 7.1.1 Registration Statement; Expenses.

        The Company, which as of the date of Closing is eligible to use a Form
S-3 registration statement, shall:

                    (a) file in a timely manner a Form D relating to the sale of
the Shares under this Agreement, pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission
Regulation D and shall, upon request, furnish a copy of such Form D to the
Purchasers;

                    (b) as soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no
event later than the 30th day following the Closing Date, prepare and file with
the Commission a Registration Statement, which shall comply in all material
respects with the securities laws, on Form S-3 (or, if the Company is ineligible
to use Form S-3, then on Form S-1) relating to the sale of the Shares by the
Purchasers from time to time on the Nasdaq National Market, the NYSE or the AMEX
markets, or in privately negotiated transactions (the "Registration Statement");

                    (c) subject to receipt of necessary information from the
Purchasers, use its best efforts to cause the Commission to notify the Company
of the Commission's willingness to declare the Registration Statement effective
on or before 120 days after the Closing Date;

                    (d) notify Purchasers promptly upon the Registration
Statement being declared effective by the Commission;

                    (e) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as defined in
Section 7.3.1 below) and take such other action, if any, as may be necessary to
keep the Registration Statement effective until the earlier of (i) two years
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, (ii) the date on which
the Shares may be resold by the Purchasers without registration or without
regard to any

<PAGE>   14

volume limitations by reason of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or any
other rule of similar effect or (iii) all of the Shares have been sold pursuant
to the Registration Statement or Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or any
other rule of similar effect;

                    (f) promptly furnish to the Purchasers with respect to the
Shares registered under the Registration Statement such reasonable number of
copies of the Prospectus, including any supplements to or amendments of the
Prospectus, and, upon request, the Preliminary Prospectus, in order to
facilitate the public sale or other disposition of all or any of the Shares by
the Purchasers;

                    (g) during the period when copies of the Prospectus are
required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, will file
all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13,
14 or 15 of the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

                    (h) timely file documents required of the Company for
customary state level securities law clearance in all states requiring such
clearance;

                    (i) bear all expenses in connection with the procedures in
paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 7.1.1 and the registration of the
Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, including fees and expenses
(whether external or internal) of up to $15,000 of the Purchaser, but not
including any fees and expenses of any other advisers to the Purchasers or
brokerage fees and commissions incurred by the Purchasers;

                    (j) not allow any shareholders other than the Purchasers to
include their shares in the Registration Statement;

                    (k) not file another registration statement, or make any
other offers of securities which would cause the Shares to be integrated with
any other securities offering of the Company, except that the Company may file
any registration statement required pursuant to that certain Registration Rights
Agreement between the Company and certain buyers dated January 18, 2000 and may
issue shares pursuant to conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock;

                    (l) provide Purchasers with a copy of the Registration
Statement at least five (5) business days prior to filing such Registration
Statement and to allow Purchasers' counsel to comment on and to approve any
information in the Registration Statement relating to such Purchaser; provided,
however, that the 30 day deadline in Section 7.1.1(b), the 120 day deadline in
Section 7.1.1(c), and the 120 day deadline in Section 7.1.2 shall be extended
by the number of days past the fifth business day that the filing of such
Registration Statement is delayed due to the rights of Purchasers' counsel to
approve the aforementioned information in the Registration Statement.

                 7.1.2 Delay in Effectiveness of Registration Statement.

        In the event that the Registration Statement is not declared effective
by January 20, 2001, the Company shall pay to each Purchaser liquidated damages
in an amount equal to 0.25% of the total purchase price of the Shares purchased
by such Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement for each week after January 20,
2001 that the Registration Statement is not declared effective.

<PAGE>   15

             7.2 Transfer of Shares After Registration.

        Each Purchaser agrees that it will not effect any disposition of the
Shares or its right to purchase the Shares that would constitute a sale within
the meaning of the Securities Act, except as contemplated in the Registration
Statement referred to in Section 7.1 or as otherwise permitted by law, and that
it will promptly notify the Company of any changes in the information set forth
in the Registration Statement regarding the Purchaser or its plan of
distribution.

             7.3 Indemnification.

        For the purpose of this Section 7.3, the term "Registration Statement"
shall include any preliminary or final prospectus, exhibit, supplement or
amendment included in or relating to the Registration Statement referred to in
Section 7.1.

                 7.3.1 Indemnification by the Company.

        The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Purchasers
and each person, if any, who controls any Purchaser within the meaning of the
Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses,
joint or several, to which such Purchasers or such controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof as contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, financial statements and
schedules, and all other documents filed as a part thereof, as amended at the
time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof as of the time of effectiveness pursuant to
paragraph(b) of Rule 430A, or pursuant to Rule 434, of the Rules and
Regulations, or the Prospectus, in the form first filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations, or filed as part of the Registration
Statement at the time of effectiveness if no Rule 424(b) filing is required (the
"Prospectus"), or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state in any of them a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements in any of
them, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
or arise out of or are based in whole or in part on any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, or
any failure of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
under law, and will reimburse each Purchaser and each such controlling person
for any legal and other expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred by
such Purchaser or such controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Purchaser
expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or (ii) the
failure of such

<PAGE>   16

Purchaser to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in Sections 5.2
or 7.2 of this Agreement respecting resale of the Shares, or (iii) the
inaccuracy of any representations made by such Purchaser in this Agreement, or
(iv) any untrue statement or omission of a material fact required to make such
statement not misleading in any Prospectus that is corrected in any subsequent
Prospectus that was delivered to the Purchaser before the pertinent sale or
sales by the Purchaser.

                 7.3.2 Indemnification by the Purchaser.

        Each Purchaser will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses to which the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other federal or
state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of such Purchaser, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld)
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof as contemplated below) arise out of or are based upon (i) any
failure on the part of such Purchaser to comply with the covenants and
agreements contained in Sections 5.2 or 7.2 of this Agreement respecting the
sale of the Shares or (ii) the inaccuracy of any representation made by such
Purchaser in this Agreement or (iii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of
any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Purchaser expressly
for use therein; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be liable for
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of
which the Purchaser has delivered to the Company in writing a correction before
the occurrence of the transaction from which such loss was incurred, and the
Purchaser will reimburse the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signed the Registration Statement or controlling person for any
legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action.

                 7.3.3 Indemnification Procedure.

                    (a) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
this Section 7.3 of notice of the threat or commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an
indemnifying party under this Section 7.3, promptly notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the claim; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party for contribution or otherwise under the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 7.3 or to the extent it is not materially prejudiced
as a result of such failure.

<PAGE>   17

                    (b) In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity
from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with all other
indemnifying parties similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof,
including settlement functions, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict
between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in
conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses
available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or
additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party
or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal
defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of
such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such
action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party
will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7.3 for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof unless:

                         (i) the indemnified party shall have employed such
counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with
the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel, approved by such indemnifying party representing all of the
indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or

                         (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of
action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall
be at the expense of the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this Section 7.3, the Purchaser shall not be liable for any indemnification
obligation under this Agreement in excess of the amount of net proceeds received
by the Purchaser from the sale of the Shares.

                 7.3.4 Contribution.

        If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7.3 is required by
its terms but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under this Section 7.3 in
respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in
this Agreement, then each applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Agreement

                    (a) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and the Purchaser from the placement
of Common Stock or

                    (b) if the allocation provided by clause (a) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (a) above but the relative
fault of the Company and the Purchaser in connection

<PAGE>   18

with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties in this Agreement that resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

        The respective relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and each Purchaser on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as
the amount paid by such Purchaser to the Company pursuant to this Agreement for
the Shares purchased by such Purchaser that were sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement bears to the difference (the "Difference") between the
amount such Purchaser paid for the Shares that were sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement and the amount received by such Purchaser from such sale.
The relative fault of the Company and each Purchaser shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or
the inaccurate or the alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to
information supplied by the Company or by such Purchaser and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to
above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 7.3.3, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The
provisions set forth in Section 7.3.3 with respect to the notice of the threat
or commencement of any threat or action shall apply if a claim for contribution
is to be made under this Section 7.3.4; provided, however, that no additional
notice shall be required with respect to any threat or action for which notice
has been given under Section 7.3 for purposes of indemnification. The Company
and each Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7.3 were determined solely by pro rata allocation (even
if the Purchaser were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
7.3, no Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
amount by which the Difference exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Purchasers' obligations to contribute pursuant
to this Section 7.3 are several and not joint.

             7.4 Termination of Conditions and Obligations.

        The restrictions imposed by Section 5 or this Section 7 upon the
transferability of the Shares shall cease and terminate as to any particular
number of the Shares upon the passage of two years from the effective date of
the Registration Statement covering the Shares or at such time as an opinion of
counsel satisfactory in form and substance to the Company shall have been
rendered to the effect that such conditions are not necessary in order to comply
with the Securities Act.

<PAGE>   19

             7.5 Information Available.

        So long as the Registration Statement is effective covering the resale
of Shares owned by any Purchaser, the Company will furnish to such Purchaser:

                    (a) as soon as practicable after available (but in the case
of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders, within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Company), one copy of

                         (i) its Annual Report to Shareholders (which Annual
Report shall contain financial statements audited in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles by a national firm of certified public
accountants);

                         (ii) if not included in substance in the Annual Report
to Shareholders, its Annual Report on Form 10-K;

                         (iii) if not included in substance in its Quarterly
Reports to Shareholders, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; and

                         (iv) a full copy of the particular Registration
Statement covering the Shares (the foregoing, in each case, excluding exhibits
unless specifically requested);

                    (b) upon the request of the Purchaser, a reasonable number
of copies of the Prospectus to supply to any other party requiring the
Prospectus.

        8. Broker's Fee.

        The Purchasers acknowledge that the Company intends to pay to Halpern
Capital Advisors, the placement agent, a fee in respect of the sale of the
Shares to certain of the Purchasers. Each of the parties to this Agreement
hereby represents that, on the basis of any actions and agreements by it, there
are no other brokers or finders entitled to compensation in connection with the
sale of the Shares to the Purchasers. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Purchasers from and against all fees, commissions or other payments
owing by the Company to Halpern Capital Advisors or any other person or firm
acting on behalf of the Company hereunder.

        9. Notices.

        All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this
Agreement shall be in writing, shall be mailed by first-class registered or
certified airmail, confirmed facsimile or nationally recognized overnight
express courier postage prepaid, and shall be delivered as addressed as follows:

<PAGE>   20

                              (a)      if to the Company, to:

                                       Auspex Systems, Inc.
                                       2800 Scott Boulevard
                                       Santa Clara, California 95050
                                       Facsimile No.: (408)  566-2000
                                       Attn: Corporate Secretary

                                       with a copy to:

                                       Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                       650 Page Mill Road
                                       Palo Alto, California 94304
                                       Facsimile No.: (650)  461-5375
                                       Attn: Henry P. Massey, Jr., Esq.

or to such other person at such other place as the Company shall designate to
the Purchaser in writing; and

                    (b) if to a Purchaser, at its address as set forth on the
signature page to this Agreement, or at such other address or addresses as may
have been furnished to the Company in writing.

        Such notice shall be deemed effectively given upon confirmation of
receipt by facsimile, one business day after deposit with such overnight courier
or three days after deposit of such registered or certified airmail with the
U.S. Postal Service, as applicable.

        10. Modification; Amendment.

        This Agreement may not be modified or amended except pursuant to an
instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Purchasers of a majority of
the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement.

        11. Termination.

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement,
this Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated herein
abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:

                         (i) by mutual written consent of the Company and the
Purchasers;

                         (ii) by the Company or the Purchasers if the Closing
shall not have occurred by October 1, 2000; provided, however, that the right to
terminate this Agreement under this Section 11 shall not be available to any
party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement has been the
cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such
date; and further provided that if any Purchaser terminates its obligations
under this Agreement, such termination shall have no effect on the obligations
of any other Purchaser hereunder;

<PAGE>   21

                         (iii) by the Company or the Purchasers if a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have issued an order, decree or ruling permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become
final and non-appealable;

                         (iv) by the Company if (i) the representations or
warranties made by any Purchaser is not true and correct, in all material
respects, when made or at the Closing (except for any such representations or
warranties that speak as of a specific date, which must be true and correct in
all material respects as of such specific date), or (ii) any Purchaser fails to
comply in any material respect with any of its covenants or agreements contained
herein; or

                         (v) by the Purchasers if (i) the representations and
warranties made by the Company are not true and correct, in all material
respects, when made or at the Closing (except for any such representations or
warranties that speak as of a specific date, which must be true and correct in
all material respects as of such specific date), or (ii) the Company fails to
comply in any material respect with any of its covenants or agreements contained
herein.

                         (vi) by the Company or the Purchasers if the conditions
in Sections 3(c) and 3(d), respectively, cannot be satisfied and have not been
waived.

        The termination of this Agreement pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii),
(iv) and (v) above shall be without prejudice to the right of the non-breaching
party to pursue any and all remedies available to it (including the commencement
of any action or other proceeding or the assertion of any equitable right) as a
result of such breach.

        12. Expenses.

        Each party to this Agreement shall pay its own fees and expenses
incident to the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and
related documents (including legal and accounting fees and expenses).

        13. Headings.

        The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be part of
this Agreement.

        14. Severability.

        If any provision contained in this Agreement should be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained in this Agreement shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

        15. Governing Law.

        This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of
conflicts of laws thereof, and the federal law of the United States of America.

<PAGE>   22

        16. No Conflicts of Interest.

        The Company represents, warrants and covenants that, to the best of its
knowledge, no officer or employee of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board has
or will receive, directly or indirectly, a personal interest in the Company or
its property or anything of substantial economic value for his or her private
benefit from the Company, or anyone acting on its behalf, in connection with the
investment made pursuant to this Agreement.

        17. Counterparts.

        This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each party to this Agreement and delivered to
the other parties.

                            [Signature pages follow]

<PAGE>   23

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day
and year first above written.

                                AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.

                                By:   /s/ Peter R. Simpson
                                   --------------------------------------

                                Name: Peter R. Simpson
                                     ------------------------------------

                                Its:  CFO
                                    -------------------------------------

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   24

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day
and year first above written.

                                STATE OF WISCONSIN INVESTMENT BOARD

                                By:    /s/ John F. Nelson
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John F. Nelson
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Investment Director
                                      ------------------------------

                                21ST CENTURY DIGITAL INDUSTRIES FUND L. P.

                                By:    /s/ Richard B. Stewart, Jr.
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Richard B. Stewart, Jr.
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Managing Partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                CASTLEROCK PARTNERS, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Paul P. Tanico
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Paul P. Tanico
                                Title: Managing Member of the General
                                       Partner of CastleRock Partners, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Ellen H. Adams
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Ellen H. Adams
                                Title: Managing Member of the General
                                       Partner of CastleRock Partners, L.P.

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   25

                                CASTLEROCK FUND, LTD.

                                By:    /s/ Paul P. Tanico
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Paul P. Tanico
                                Title: Principal of the Investment Advisor of
                                       CastleRock Fund, Ltd.

                                By:    /s/ Ellen H. Adams
                                   ---------------------------------
                                Name:  Ellen H. Adams
                                Title: Principal of the Investment Advisor of
                                       CastleRock Fund, Ltd.

                                CASTLEROCK PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Paul P. Tanico
                                   ---------------------------------
                                Name:  Paul P. Tanico
                                Title: Managing Member of the General
                                       Partner of CastleRock Partners II, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Ellen H. Adams
                                   ---------------------------------
                                Name:  Ellen H. Adams
                                Title: Managing Member of the General
                                       Partner of CastleRock Partners II, L.P.

                                JAMES E. CRABBE REVOCABLE TRUST DATED 2/10/99

                                By:    /s/ James E. Crabbe, ttee
                                   ---------------------------------
                                       James E. Crabbe, Trustee

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   26

                                ANSCHUTZ LAND & LIVESTOCK CO. LLP
                                ANTELOPE COMPANY
                                ARKANSAS TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM
                                BELLSOUTH CORPORATION
                                CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
                                COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
                                BISKIND FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                EVE BISKIND KLOTHEN AND KENNETH KLOTHEN
                                ADVISORS FUND FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT TRUSTS
                                ADVISOR FUND FOR GRANTOR TRUSTS
                                HERZFELD FOUNDATION
                                KENYON COLLEGE ENDOWMENT
                                BOARD OF PENSION COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY
                                   OF LOS ANGELES
                                PGE-ENRON FOUNDATION
                                PORTLAND GENERAL HOLDINGS, INC. EMPLOYEES'
                                   BENEFIT TRUST, FUND IV
                                PORTLAND GENERAL HOLDINGS, INC. EMPLOYEES'
                                   BENEFIT TRUST, FUND II
                                PORTLAND GENERAL HOLDINGS, INC. PENSION PLAN
                                EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE PUERTO
                                   RICO ELECTRIC POWER AUTHORITY
                                SARCO & COMPANY LLP
                                STACKNER FAMILY FOUNDATION
                                TRUSTEES OF THE JOHN STACKNER  - PAUL TREIBER
                                   FAMILY TRUST
                                TRUSTEES OF THE JOHN STACKNER - JOHN TREIBER
                                   FAMILY TRUST
                                TRUSTEES OF THE JOHN STACKNER  - SUSAN
                                   ROBINSON FAMILY TRUST
                                TRUSTEES OF THE JOHN STACKNER  - NANCY LENZ
                                   FAMILY TRUST
                                OREGON INVESTMENT COUNCIL
                                STEVE AND BILLIE MOKSNES
                                W. ALTON JONES FOUNDATION, INC.
                                UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION
                                THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL
                                   HILL FOUNDATION INVESTMENT FUND, INC.
                                MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN ENDOWMENT VI
                                MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN WORKING
                                   CAPITAL
                                BY: DARUMA ASSET MANAGEMENT, AS
                                    ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

                                By:             /s/ Mariko O. Gordon
                                   ------------------------------------

                                Name:           Mariko O. Gordon
                                     ----------------------------------

                                Title:          President
                                      ---------------------------------

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   27

                                FRANKLIN STRATEGIC SERIES
                                ON BEHALF OF FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH FUND I

                                By:    /s/ Murray L. Simpson
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Murray L. Simpson
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------

                                FRANKLIN TEMPLETON VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS
                                TRUST ON BEHALF OF FRANKLIN SMALL CAP GROWTH
                                FUND

                                By:    /s/ Murray L. Simpson
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Murray L. Simpson
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Vice President
                                      ------------------------------

                                GRUBER & MCBAINE INTERNATIONAL

                                By:    /s/ Jon D. Gruber
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Jon D. Gruber
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: GMCM - managing member
                                       Attorney-in-fact
                                      ------------------------------

                                JON D. GRUBER

                                By:    /s/ Jon D. Gruber
                                   -----------------------------------
                                       Jon D. Gruber

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   28

                                LAGUNITAS PARTNERS L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Jon D. Gruber
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Jon D. Gruber
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: GMCM - managing member
                                       Lagunitas Partners LP-gen. partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                MAYER OFFMAN

                                By:    /s/ Mayer Offman
                                   ---------------------------------
                                       Mayer Offman

                                P.A.W. PARTNERS, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ John Ernenwein
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John Ernenwein
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Chief Op Officer of General Partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                P.A.W. OFFSHORE FUND, LTD.

                                By:    /s/ John Ernenwein
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John Ernenwein
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Chief Op Officer of Investment Advisor
                                      ------------------------------

                                FNY SECURITIES, LP

                                By:    /s/ John Ernenwein
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John Ernenwein
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Chief Op Officer of Investment Advisor
                                      ------------------------------

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   29

                                EDJ LIMITED

                                By:    /s/ Jeffrey H. Porter
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Jeffrey H. Porter
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Trading Advisor
                                      ------------------------------

                                PORTER PARTNERS, LP

                                By:    /s/ Jeffrey H. Porter
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Jeffrey H. Porter
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: General Partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                BEN JOSEPH PARTNERS, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Jeffrey H. Porter
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Jeffrey H. Porter
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: General Partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                PEQUOT SCOUT FUND, LP

                                By:    /s/ Kevin E. O'Brien
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Kevin E. O'Brien
                                       Pequot Capital Management, Inc.
                                       Investment Advisor
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Chief Operating Officer
                                      ------------------------------

                                RS DIVERSIFIED GROWTH FUND

                                By:    /s/ John L. Wallace
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John L. Wallace
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Mg Dir
                                      ------------------------------

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   30

                                THE PAISLEY FUND, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ John L. Wallace
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John L. Wallace
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Mg Dir
                                      ------------------------------

                                THE PAISLEY PACIFIC FUND

                                By:    /s/ John L. Wallace
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  John L. Wallace
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Mg Dir
                                      ------------------------------

                                TCM PARTNERS, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Scott J. Turkel
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Scott J. Turkel
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: General Partner
                                      ------------------------------

                                DONALD WRIGHT
                                BY: SCOTT J. TURKEL, AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT

                                By:    /s/ Scott J. Turkel
                                   ---------------------------------

                                SCOTT TURKEL

                                By:    /s/ Scott J. Turkel
                                   ---------------------------------
                                       Scott Turkel

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   31

                                CLARK FOUNDATION

                                By:    /s/ Kevin S. Moore
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Kevin S. Moore
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Treasurer
                                      ------------------------------

                                SCRIVEN FOUNDATION

                                By:    /s/ Kevin S. Moore
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Kevin S. Moore
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Treasurer
                                      ------------------------------

                                JANE FORBES CLARK
                                By: Kevin Moore, as Attorney-in-fact

                                By:    /s/ Kevin S. Moore
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Kevin S. Moore
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: Attorney-in-fact
                                      ------------------------------

                                LANCASTER INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.

                                By:    /s/ Robert A. Berlacher
                                   ---------------------------------

                                Name:  Robert A. Berlacher
                                     -------------------------------

                                Title: President, LIP Advisors Inc.
                                      ------------------------------

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                     SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE

<PAGE>   32

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                   PURCHASERS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
21st Century Digital Industries Fund, L.P                            125,600            $1,000,090.00
960 Pines Lake Drive West
Wayne, NJ 07470

CastleRock Partners, L.P.                                            326,531            $2,600,003.09
101 Park Avenue, 6th Floor
New York,, NY 10178

CastleRock Fund, Ltd.                                                145,683            $1,160,000.89
101 Park Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10178

CastleRock Partners II, L.P.                                          30,141            $  239,997.71
101 Park Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10178

James E. Crabbe, Trustee,                                          1,000,000            $7,962,500.00
James E. Crabbe Revocable Trust dated
2/10/99
1135 SW Myrtle Court
Portland, OR 97201

Norwest Bank FBO: Anschutz Land & Livestock Co. LLP                   11,100            $   88,383.75
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Norwest Bank FBO: Antelope Company                                    14,700            $  117,048.75
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   33

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
State Street Bank FBO: Arkansas Teacher Retirement System            289,600            $2,305,940.00
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

State Street Bank FBO: BellSouth Corporation                          30,300            $  241,263.75
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Nations/Bank America FBO: Biskind Family Limited                       3,900            $   31,053.75
Partnership
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Banc One FBO: Chicago Public Library Foundation
c/o Daruma Asset Management                                            3,000            $   23,887.50
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Norwest Bank FBO: Community Hospital of Central                       18,600            $  148,102.50
California
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Marshall & Isley Trust FBO: Medical College of Wisconsin              21,600            $  171,990.00
Endowment VI
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   34

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Northern Trust FBO: Advisors Fund for Employee Benefit                42,900            $  341,591.25
Trusts
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Advisor Fund for Grantor Trusts                   28,400            $  226,135.00
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Firstar Bank FBO: Herzfeld Foundation                                 47,400            $  377,422.50
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Kenyon College Endowment                          15,800               125,807.50
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

National City Bank FBO: Eve Biskind Klothen & Kenneth                  1,600            $   12,740.00
Klothen
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Bankers Trust FBO: Board of Pension Commissioners of the              82,700            $  658,498.75
City of Los Angeles
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   35

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Bankers Trust FBO: Board of Pension Commissioners of the              71,300            $  567,726.25
City of Los Angeles II
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Bankers Trust FBO: PGE-Enron Foundation                                4,400                35,035.00
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Portland General Holdings, Inc.                   10,200            $   81,217.50
Employees' Benefit Trust, Fund II
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Portland General Holdings, Inc.                    5,000            $   39,812.50
Employees' Benefit Trust, Fund IV
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Portland General Holdings, Inc.                   35,600            $  283,465.00
Pension Plan
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Citibank FBO: Employees' Retirement System of the Puerto              86,500            $  688,756.25
Rico Electric Power Authority
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   36

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Norwest Bank FBO: SARCO & Company LLP                                 33,800            $  269,133.50
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Marshall & Isley Trust FBO: Stackner Family Foundation                 5,100            $   40,608.75
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Firstar Bank FBO: Trustees of the John Stackner  - Paul                  800            $    6,370.00
Treiber Family Trust
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Firstar Bank FBO: Trustees of the John Stackner - John                   800            $    6,370.00
Treiber Family Trust
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: Oregon Investment Council                         72,000            $  573,300.00
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Firstar Bank FBO: Trustees of the John Stackner - Susan                  800            $    6,370.00
Robinson Family Trust
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   37

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Firstar Bank FBO: Trustees of the John Stackner - Nancy                  800            $    6,370.00
Lenz Family Trust
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Marshall & Isley Trust FBO: Steve and Billie Moksnes                   4,600            $   36,627.50
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Fiduciary Trust FBO: W. Alton Jones Foundation, Inc.                  36,500            $  290,631.25
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Mellon Bank FBO: University of Colorado Foundation                    62,200            $  495,267.50
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Northern Trust FBO: The University of North Carolina at               35,600            $  283,465.00
Chapel Hill Foundation Investment Fund, Inc.
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165

Marshall & Isley Trust FBO: Medical College of Wisconsin              19,500            $  155,268.75
Working Capital
c/o Daruma Asset Management
60 East 42nd Street
Suite 1111
New York, NY 10165
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   38

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Hare & Co. FBO: FSS- Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund I              1,255,887            $10,000,000.24
#4198
777 Mariners Island Blvd
San Mateo, CA 94404

Hare & Co. FBO: FSS- Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund #4842          1,255,887            $10,000,000.23
777 Mariners Island Blvd
San Mateo, CA 94404

Gruber & McBaine International                                        25,118            $  200,002.08
c/o Gruber & McBaine Capital Management
50 Osgood Place, Floor-PH
San Francisco, CA 94133

Jon D. Gruber                                                         12,559            $  100,001.04
c/o Gruber & McBaine Capital Management
50 Osgood Place, Floor-PH
San Francisco, CA 94133

Lagunitas Partners LP                                                 87,912            $  699,999.30
c/o Gruber & McBaine Capital Management
50 Osgood Place, Floor-PH
San Francisco, CA 94133

Mayer Offman                                                         251,178            $2,000,004.83
265 East 66th Street
Apartment 11C
New York, NY 10021

P.A.W. Partners, L.P.                                                400,000            $3,185,000.00
10 Glenville Street (side entrance)
Greenwich, CT 06831

P.A.W. Offshore Fund, Ltd                                            500,000            $3,981,250.00
10 Glenville Street (side entrance)
Greenwich, CT 06831

FNY Securities, L.P.                                                 100,000            $  796,250.00
10 Glenville Street (side entrance)
Greenwich, CT 06831

Pequot Scout Fund, LP                                                251,178            $2,000,004.83
500 Nyala Farm Road
Westport, CT 06880
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   39

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Porter Partners, LP                                                  100,000            $  796,250.00
100 Shoreline Highway
Suite 211B
Mill Valley, CA 94941

EDJ Limited                                                           50,000            $  398,125.00
c/o Deltec Trust
Deltec House/ Lyford Cay
P.O. Box N-3229
Nassau, Bahamas

RS Diversified Growth Fund                                           625,000            $4,976,562.50
c/o RS Investment Management
388 Market Street,
Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94111

The Paisley Fund, L.P.                                               115,000            $  915,687.50
c/o RS Investment Management
388 Market Street,
Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94111

The Paisley Pacific Fund                                             265,000            $2,110,062.50
c/o RS Investment Management
388 Market Street,
Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94111

State of Wisconsin                                                 2,200,000           $17,517,500.00
121 E. Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53702

State of Wisconsin                                                   550,000            $4,379,375.00
121 E. Wilson Street
Madison, WI 53702

TCM Partners, L.P.                                                    75,000            $  597,187.50
137 Rowayton Ave
2nd floor
Rowayton, CT 06853

Donald Wright                                                         20,000            $  159,250.00
c/o TCM Partners, L.P.
137 Rowayton Ave
2nd floor
Rowayton, CT 06853
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   40

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PURCHASER                                                      NUMBER OF SHARES      INVESTMENT AMOUNT
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Scott Turkel                                                           5,000            $   39,812.50
c/o TCM Partners, L.P.
137 Rowayton Ave
2nd floor
Rowayton, CT 06853

Clark Foundation                                                     125,589            $1,000,002.41
c/o Clark Estates
One Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 3100
New York, NY 10020

Scriven Foundation                                                    62,795            $  500,005.19
c/o Clark Estates
One Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 3100
New York, NY 10020

Jane Forbes Clark                                                     62,795            $  500,005.19
c/o Clark Estates
One Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 3100
New York, NY 10020

Lancaster Investment Partners
Park View Tower                                                      150,000            $1,194,375.00
1150 First Avenue
Suite 600
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Ben Joseph Partners, L.P.                                             50,000            $  398,125.00
100 Shoreline Highway
Suite 211B
Mill Valley, CA 94941

_________TOTAL                                                    11,320,953           $90,143,088.28
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   41

                                    EXHIBIT A

                               September 22, 2000

To the Purchasers of
Common Stock of Auspex Systems, Inc.
listed on Exhibit A attached hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel for Auspex Systems, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the issuance and sale to you of
11,320,953 shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Shares") pursuant to the
Share Purchase Agreement dated as of September 19, 2000 between the Company and
each of the Purchasers listed on Exhibit A hereto (the "Agreement"). We are
rendering this opinion pursuant to Section 3(d)(iii) of the Agreement. Except
as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined herein have
the respective meanings given to them in the Agreement.

        In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the
representations and warranties as to factual matters contained in and made
pursuant to the Agreement by the various parties and originals or copies
certified to our satisfaction, of such records, documents, certificates,
opinions, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or
appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. Where we render
an opinion "to the best of our knowledge" or concerning an item "known to us" or
our opinion otherwise refers to our knowledge, it is based solely upon (i) an
inquiry of attorneys within this firm who perform legal services for the
Company, (ii) receipt of a certificate executed by an officer of the Company
covering such matters, and (iii) such other investigation, if any, that we
specifically set forth herein.

        In rendering this opinion, we have assumed: the genuineness and
authenticity of all signatures on original documents; the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals; the conformity to originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies; the accuracy, completeness and authenticity
of certificates of public officials; and the due authorization, execution and
delivery of all documents (except the due authorization, execution and delivery
by the Company of the Agreement), where authorization, execution and delivery
are prerequisites to the effectiveness of such documents. We have also assumed:
that all individuals executing and delivering documents had the legal capacity
to so execute and deliver; that you have received all documents you were to
receive under the Agreement; that the Agreement is an obligation binding upon
you; and, that you have filed any required California franchise or income tax
returns and have paid any required California franchise or income taxes. In
rendering this opinion we have also assumed that there are no extrinsic
agreements or understandings among the parties to the Agreement that would
modify or interpret the terms of the Agreement or the respective rights or
obligations of the parties thereunder.

<PAGE>   42

To the Purchasers of
Common Stock of Auspex Systems, Inc.
September 22, 2000
Page 2

        Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the federal laws of the
United States of America, the laws of the State of California and the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion as to whether
the laws of any particular jurisdiction apply, and no opinion to the extent that
the laws of any jurisdiction other than those identified above are applicable to
the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance
with any antifraud law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the
sale or issuance thereof.

        On the basis of the foregoing, in reliance thereon and with the
foregoing qualifications, we are of the opinion that:

        1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in the State of
California. The Company has the requisite corporate power to own or lease its
property and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted.

        2. The Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered on
behalf of the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except (i)
as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement,
moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights, and (ii) as limited by equitable principles generally and
limitations on the availability of equitable remedies, whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

        3. The Shares have been duly authorized and when issued, delivered and
paid for in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and free of any pre-emptive or similar rights.

        4. Except as set forth in the Agreement (including the Schedule of
Exceptions thereto) or in the Company SEC Reports, to our knowledge there is no
action, proceeding or investigation pending or overtly threatened in writing
against the Company which could reasonably be anticipated to result, either
individually or in the aggregate, in any material adverse change in the assets,
financial condition or operations of the Company.

        5. Subject to the accuracy of the Purchasers' representations in Section
5 of the Agreement, we are of the opinion that the offer and sale of the Shares
by the Company to the Purchasers is exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, subject to timely filing of a Form D
pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation D.

        6. The execution and delivery of the Agreement by the Company and the
consummation of the sale of the Shares by the Company as contemplated therein do
not violate any provisions of the

<PAGE>   43

To the Purchasers of
Common Stock of Auspex Systems, Inc.
September 22, 2000
Page 3

Company's Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or any material agreements
that have been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and to which the Company is a party.

        7. All consents, approvals, authorizations, or orders of, and filings,
registrations and qualifications with, any regulatory authority or governmental
body in the United States required for the issuance by the Company of the Shares
as contemplated by the Agreements, have been made or obtained, except for (i)
the filing of a Form D pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation
D, and (ii) the filing of a Form D with the individual State Securities
Commissioners.

        This opinion is intended solely for your benefit and is not to be made
available to or be relied upon by any other person, firm, or entity without our
prior written consent.

                                       WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                       Professional Corporation

<PAGE>   44

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             SCHEDULE OF EXCEPTIONS

                               SEPTEMBER 19, 2000

        AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby
makes the following disclosure to the representations and warranties set forth
in Section 4 of the Share Purchase Agreement dated as of September 19, 2000
between the Company and the Purchasers thereunder (the "Agreement"). Except as
otherwise stated herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings given them in the Agreement. Items disclosed under any paragraph number
shall be deemed to be disclosed under other paragraphs if the description
contained in this Schedule of Exceptions indicates the applicability of such
disclosure to such other paragraph.

4.2 CAPITALIZATION.

        On January 18, 2000, the Company sold 25,000 shares of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock") and issued 1,605,136 common
stock purchase warrants (the "Warrants") to four institutional investors
(collectively, the "Investors") . Upon any equity financing, the Investors may
convert that number of shares of Preferred Stock representing a Conversion
Amount equal to the amount raised in the financing. The Conversion Amount of
each share of Preferred Stock is equal to $1,000 plus accrued interest plus any
penalty interest. An equity financing includes the sale of any Common Stock. In
addition, the issuance of warrants in connection with a financing would allow
the holders of the Preferred Stock to convert a number of shares equal to the
price received for such warrants.

        As of August 28, 2000 the Investors had converted fifty percent (50%) of
their Preferred Stock. On August 29, 2000, the Company sent a notice to the
Investors, which requires them to convert all of their remaining Preferred Stock
within 20 days, subject to certain restrictions.

4.3 ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF SHARES.

        The Investors were all granted registration rights pursuant to the
issuance of the Preferred Stock.

        The exercise price of the Warrants will be adjusted in the event of
certain dilutive issuances. If the Company issues any Common Stock, any security
convertible into Common Stock or any option to purchase Common Stock at price or
with a conversion price or exercise price below the price of the Warrants, the
exercise price of the Warrants will be reduced to such price, conversion price
or exercise price. No adjustment is made to the number of shares issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants.

<PAGE>   45

4.5 NO MATERIAL CHANGES.

        Each share of Preferred Stock accrues dividends at an annual rate of 7%
payable quarterly in cash or shares of the Company's Common Stock. No dividend
payments will be due if the Investors have converted all of their Preferred
Stock prior to the quarterly payment date.

4.6 DUE EXECUTION DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE.

        See Section 4.2 and 4.3 above.

<PAGE>   46

                                   APPENDIX I

                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.

                         STOCK CERTIFICATE QUESTIONNAIRE

        Pursuant to Section 3 of the Agreement, please provide us with the
following information:

1.      The exact name that your Shares are to be registered in (this is the
        name that will appear on your stock certificate(s)). You may use a
        nominee name if appropriate:

        __________________________________

2.      The relationship between the Purchaser of the Shares and the Registered
        Holder listed in response to item 1 above:
        _________________________________

3.      The mailing address of the Registered Holder listed in response to item
        1 above:

        __________________________________
        __________________________________
        __________________________________
        __________________________________

4.      The Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number of the
        Registered Holder listed in response to item 1 above:

        __________________________________

<PAGE>   47

                                   APPENDIX II
                              AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC.
                 SELLING STOCKHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE AND AGREEMENT
                              FOR BENEFICIAL OWNERS
                     REGARDING SECURITIES TO BE INCLUDED IN
                   AUSPEX SYSTEMS, INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT

        The following questionnaire and agreement (the "Questionnaire") elicits
information necessary to prepare a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") registering for resale certain shares of Common Stock
of Auspex Systems, Inc. (the "Company") (referred to as the "Shares"), to be
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in accordance with the rights granted to you and other holders of
the Shares under that certain Share Purchase Agreement dated September 19, 2000,
(the "Share Purchase Agreement") . The stockholders permitted to sell shares
under the Registration Statement are referred to collectively as the "Selling
Stockholders", and those Shares which are included in and may be resold under
the Registration Statement are referred to as the "Resale Shares".

        Because the information provided in this Questionnaire will be used in
connection with the preparation of documents to be filed with United States and
state agencies, it should be accurate, complete and true, and not omit any
material or important information.

        By execution of this Questionnaire, you agree to notify the Company's
legal counsel as promptly as practicable of any inaccuracy or change in
information previously furnished by you to the Company or the occurrence of any
event in either case as a result of which any Prospectus included in such
Registration Statement contains or would contain an untrue statement of a
material fact regarding you or your intended method of distribution of such
Resale Shares or omits to state any material fact regarding you or your intended
method of distribution of such Resale Shares necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, and you
agree promptly to furnish to the Company's legal counsel any additional
information required to correct and update any previously furnished information
so that such Prospectus shall not contain, with respect to you or the
distribution of Resale Shares held by you that are included in the Registration
Statement, an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
then existing, not misleading.

        Please complete and execute this Questionnaire and Agreement and return
it to Gina Christopher of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, 650 Page Mill Road,
Palo Alto, CA 94304, Tel: 650-565-3540, Fax: 650-461-5375 as quickly as possible
and in any event no later than October 1, 2000. By executing this Questionnaire,
you hereby consent to being named in the Registration Statement and to the
presentation of all information furnished herein which is required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement.

        UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO
INDEMNIFY THE COMPANY IF THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED HEREIN IS INACCURATE OR
MISLEADING. PLEASE NOTE THE REFERENCE IN SECTION

                                      -1-
<PAGE>   48

11 HEREOF TO YOUR INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SHARE PURCHASE
AGREEMENT.

        YOUR SHARES WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNLESS
YOU COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE, SIGN IT, AND DELIVER A COPY TO THE COMPANY'S
LEGAL COUNSEL IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED HEREIN AND PROMPTLY NOTIFY THE COMPANY'S
LEGAL COUNSEL OF ANY CHANGES TO THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.

        INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF QUESTIONNAIRE AND AGREEMENT:

        Please answer each question fully. Give the most exact and accurate
answers possible. IF YOUR RESPONSE TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS PRESENTED BELOW IS
NEGATIVE OR IF ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE, PLEASE SO STATE IN THE
SPACE PROVIDED. Please sign and date the Questionnaire and Agreement. Certain
terms marked with an asterisk (*) and used herein are defined in Appendix A
hereto, which should be referred to in completing this Questionnaire and
Agreement.

        1. General

        State your full name as it should appear in any filings made.

        NAME OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER(1): ________________________________________

        BUSINESS ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________

        RESIDENCE ADDRESS:______________________________________________________

        TELEPHONE NUMBER:_______________________________________________

        FAX NUMBER:_____________________________________________________

        If an entity, please indicate principal contact for questions:

        NAME:____________________________________________

        ADDRESS:________________________________________________________

        TELEPHONE NUMBER:_______________________________________________

        FAX NUMBER:_____________________________________________________

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

        (1) If this Questionnaire is being completed by or on behalf of a person
other than an individual, the entity on whose behalf the Questionnaire is being
completed should be stated.

<PAGE>   49

        2. Please state your current position, office or other relationship with
the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) and any position, office or
other relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during
the past three years.

        3. If you hold any or all of the Resale Shares on behalf of another
person or entity, please state the full name(s) and address(es) of such
person(s) or entity(ies) and the amount(s) so held.

        4. Please state the total number of shares (i.e. not just Resale Shares
or Shares, but any and all shares of the Company) beneficially owned by you (see
definition of "Beneficial Ownership" in Appendix A) .

        5. If any other person or entity shares voting or investment power with
you with respect to the shares listed in Section 4 above, please

        (a)  briefly identify the person or entity,

        (b)  give the principal amount or number subject to shared voting power
             or investment power, and

        (c)  summarize the arrangement*.

        6. Are any of the Resale Shares owned by you subject to any pledge or
other contractual arrangement*?

         No ______   Yes ______

        If yes, please explain such pledge or other contractual arrangement*.

        7. Please state the number of Resale Shares to be offered for your
account in the Registration Statement. (This can be no more than the number of
Shares you hold). If you do not want to register all of your Shares, please so
state.

        8. Have you entered into any agreement, arrangement* or understanding
with an underwriter or a broker or dealer, and/or is anyone to your knowledge
acting as an underwriter or coordinating broker, with respect to the offering of
the Resale Shares to be registered in the Registration Statement?

         No ______   Yes ______

        If yes, please set forth the terms of any such agreement, arrangement*
or understanding (including without limitation any volume limitations on sales,
parties to the agreement, arrangement* or understanding, and conditions under
which the agreement, arrangement* or understanding may be terminated) below:

<PAGE>   50

        9. Attached as Appendix B hereto is a description of a "plan of
distribution" that is intended to be used, in substantially the form of Appendix
B, in the Registration Statement. Please indicate whether anything stated in
Appendix B is inaccurate or misleading with respect to your plan to distribute
the Resale Shares owned by you or whether Appendix B omits to state any
information about your plan of distribution.

         No ______   Yes ______

        If yes, describe below specifically in what manner Appendix B is
inaccurate or misleading. Please also describe below any additional information
about your plan to distribute the Resale Shares that you own.

        10. Accuracy of Information. The information set forth above is supplied
by the undersigned in response to the request of the Company and may be used in
connection with the Registration Statement and any related Prospectus. The
undersigned hereby affirms that such information is correct as of the date
hereof. The undersigned will promptly notify the Company's legal counsel of any
changes in such information, whether such change occurred subsequent hereto and
prior to the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or after the
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective. The undersigned
understands and agrees that this Questionnaire and Agreement, as completed by
him or her, and any further communications by him or her regarding the matters
contemplated herein, will be relied upon by the Company and its legal counsel in
connection with filings related to the Registration Statement.

        The undersigned understands that material misstatements or the omission
of material facts in the Registration Statement may give rise to civil and
criminal liabilities for the Company, each officer and director of the Company
signing the Registration Statement and other persons signing such document.

        11. Indemnification. The Company and the Selling Stockholders have
agreed to indemnify each other, respectively, with respect to certain
liabilities, as set forth in the Share Purchase Agreement.

        12. Suspension of Sales. The undersigned understands and agrees that in
the event of (a) any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information relating thereto, (b) the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under
the Securities Act, or of the suspension by any state securities commission of
the qualification of the Resale Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (c) the
existence of any fact and the happening of any event known to the Company that
makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by
reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or
changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not misleading except in the case of this clause or (d) that,
in the judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or
Chief Financial Officer, it is advisable to suspend use of the Prospectus for a
discrete period of time due to pending corporate developments, public filings
with the Commission or similar events, the Company shall deliver a certificate
in writing to the Selling Stockholders to such effect and thereafter the use of
the Prospectus shall be suspended, and the Company shall thereafter not be
required to maintain the effectiveness or update the Registration Statement. The
Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may
be resumed as soon as practicable and, in the case of a pending development,
filing or event,

<PAGE>   51

as soon as, in the judgment of the Company's Board of Directors, Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer, disclosure of the material relating to such
pending development, filing or event would not have a materially adverse effect
on the Company.

        13. Prospectus Delivery Requirement. The undersigned understands that
the United States securities laws require that a copy of the Prospectus must be
delivered to any buyer of the Resale Shares prior to or concurrently with
delivery of the certificates representing the Resale Shares and agrees to make
such Prospectus delivery with respect to any sales of Resale Shares that he or
she may conduct.

        14. Regulation M. The undersigned understands that Regulation M, which
has been adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prohibits persons who are selling securities in
a distribution, or their affiliates, from directly or indirectly bidding for,
purchasing or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase the
security being distributed while the distribution is in progress. The
undersigned agrees to abide by the restrictions imposed by Regulation M.

         -----------------------------------
         (Signature)

         -----------------------------------
         (Name of Shareholder)

         -----------------------------------
         (Name and Title of Signatory if Shareholder is an Entity)

         Date:
              -----------------------------------

         RETURN COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2000 TO:

         GINA CHRISTOPHER
         WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
         650 PAGE MILL ROAD
         PALO ALTO, CA  94304
         TELEPHONE: 650-565-3540
         FAX: 650-461-5375

<PAGE>   52

                                   APPENDIX A

        1. Arrangement. Any plan, contract, arrangement or understanding,
whether or not set forth in a formal document.

        2. Associate. The term "associate" means:

        (a) Any corporation or organization, except the Company and its
majority-owned subsidiaries, of which you are an executive officer or partner or
of which you, together with other officers or directors of the Company, are,
directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of
equity securities.

        (b) Any trust or other estate in which you have a substantial beneficial
interest or as to which you serve as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity.

        (c) Any relative, your spouse or any relative of your spouse who resides
with you or who is a director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries.

        3. Beneficial Owner. A "beneficial owner" of securities is any person
who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship or otherwise has or shares:

        (a) Voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the
voting of, such security; and/or,

        (b) Investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the
disposition of, such security.

        Furthermore, a "beneficial owner" of a security includes any person who
has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security at any time
within sixty (60) days. The right to acquire beneficial ownership could (but
need not necessarily) be through (i) the exercise of any option, warrant or
right, (ii) the conversion of a security, (iii) a power to revoke or automatic
termination of a trust, discretionary account, or similar arrangement*, or (iv)
otherwise.

        A "beneficial owner" also includes any person who, directly or
indirectly, creates or uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling
arrangement or any other contract, arrangement, or device with the purpose or
effect of divesting such person of beneficial ownership of a security or
preventing the vesting of such beneficial ownership as part of a plan to evade
the reporting requirements of any federal or state securities act.

        Securities owned beneficially would include not only securities held by
you for your own benefit, whether in bearer form or registered in your own name
or otherwise, but would also include securities held by others for your benefit
or securities from which you obtain benefits substantially equivalent to those
of ownership (regardless of whether or how they are registered) , such as, for
example, securities held for you by banks or other custodians, brokers (whether
in your name, their name or in "street name") , executors, administrators, or
trustees (including trusts in which you have only a remainder interest) and
securities held for your account by pledgees, and securities owned by a
partnership in which you are a member, and securities owned by any corporation
in which you and your associates* own 10% or more of the stock. A person is
deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities beneficially owned by his
spouse, his minor children, or any relative sharing his home.

        "Indirectly", when used to refer to beneficial ownership of securities,
means ownership through another such as a controlled corporation, member of the
family, estate, trust, partnership or other entity.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   53

                                   APPENDIX B

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        RESALES BY SELLING STOCKHOLDERS:

        Auspex is registering the resale of the shares on behalf of the selling
stockholders. The selling stockholders may offer and resell the shares from time
to time, either in increments or in a single transaction. They may also decide
not to sell all the shares they are allowed to resell under this prospectus. The
selling stockholders will act independently of Auspex in making decisions with
respect to the timing, manner, and size of each sale.

        DONEES AND PLEDGEES:

        The term "selling stockholders" includes donees, i.e. persons who
receive shares from a selling stockholder after the date of this prospectus by
gift. The term also includes pledgees, i.e. persons who, upon contractual
default by a selling stockholder, may seize shares which the selling stockholder
pledged to such person. If a selling stockholder notifies Auspex that a donee or
pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares, Auspex will file a supplement to
this prospectus.

        COSTS AND COMMISSIONS:

        Auspex will pay all costs, expenses, and fees in connection with the
registration of the shares. The selling stockholders will pay all brokerage
commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of
shares.

        TYPES OF SALE TRANSACTIONS:

        The selling stockholders may sell the shares in one or more types of
transactions (which may include block transactions) :

        -    on the Nasdaq National Market,

        -    in the over-the-counter market,

        -    in negotiated transactions,

        -    through put or call option transactions,

        -    through short sales, or

        -    any combination of such methods of sale.

        The shares may be sold at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,
or at negotiated prices. Such transactions may or may not involve brokers or
dealers. The selling stockholders have informed Auspex that they have not
entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any
underwriters or broker- dealers regarding sale of the shares. They have also
informed Auspex no one is acting as underwriter or coordinating broker in
connection with the proposed sale of shares.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   54

        SALES TO OR THROUGH BROKER-DEALERS:

        The selling stockholders may conduct such transactions either by selling
shares directly to purchasers, or by selling shares to, or through,
broker-dealers. Such broker-dealers may act either as an agent of a selling
stockholder, or as a principal for the broker-dealer's own account. Such
broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions,
or commissions from the selling stockholders and/or the purchasers of shares.
This compensation may be received both if the broker-dealer acts as an agent or
as a principal. This compensation might also exceed customary commissions.

        DEEMED UNDERWRITING COMPENSATION:

        The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers that act in connection
with the sale of shares might be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of Section 2(a) (11) of the Securities Act. Any commissions received by such
broker-dealers, and any profit on the resale of shares sold by them while acting
as principals, could be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under
the Securities Act.

        INDEMNIFICATION:

        Auspex has agreed to indemnify each selling stockholder against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. The selling
stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving sales of shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

        PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS:

        Because they may be deemed underwriters, the selling stockholders must
deliver this prospectus and any supplements to this prospectus in the manner
required by the Securities Act. This might include delivery through the
facilities of the Nasdaq National Market in accordance with Rule 153 under the
Securities Act. Auspex has informed the selling stockholders that their sales in
the market may be subject to the antimanipulative provisions of Regulation M
under the Exchange Act.

        STATE REQUIREMENTS:

        Some states require that any shares sold in that state only be sold
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, some states
require that the shares have been registered or qualified for sale in that
state, or that there exist an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement and that the exemption has been complied with.

        SALES UNDER RULE 144:

        Selling stockholders may also resell all or a portion of the shares in
open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act. To
do so, they must meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of Rule 144.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   55

        DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENTS WITH BROKER-DEALERS:

        If a selling stockholder notifies Auspex that any material arrangement
has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through:

        -    a block trade,

        -    special offering,

        -    exchange distribution or secondary distribution, or

        -    a purchase by a broker or dealer,

        then Auspex will file, if required, a supplement to this prospectus
under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

        The supplement will disclose:

        -    the name of each such selling stockholder and of the participating
             broker-dealer(s),

        -    the number of shares involved,

        -    the price at which such shares were sold,

        -    the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
             broker-dealer(s), where applicable,

        -    that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to
             verify the information in this prospectus, and

        -    any other facts material to the transaction.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   56

                                  APPENDIX III

                   PURCHASER'S CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE

        The undersigned, an officer of, or other person duly authorized by

________________________________________________________________________________
              [fill in official name of individual or institution]

hereby certifies that he/she/it is the Purchaser of the shares evidenced by the
attached certificate, and as such, sold such shares on ________________, 200__
in accordance with Registration Statement number 333-________________, and
complied with the requirement of delivering a current prospectus in connection
with such sale.

PRINT OR TYPE:

Name of Purchaser (Individual or Institution) :

________________________________________________

Name of Individual representing Purchaser (if an Institution)

________________________________________________

Title of Individual representing Purchaser (if an Institution) :

________________________________________________

SIGNATURE:

Individual Purchaser or Individual representing Purchaser:

________________________________________________

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