NEWS RELEASE

                      ADAPTEC COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF DPT


         MILPITAS, Calif. - December 23, 1999 - Adaptec, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPT)
announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Distributed Processing
Technology (DPT) for approximately $236 million. The purchase price includes
cash for the outstanding shares of DPT plus the fair value of the assumed DPT
stock options. DPT, a privately-held company based in Maitland, Florida, is a
leading supplier of high-performance storage solutions.

         This acquisition strengthens Adaptec's efforts to broaden its solutions
in the high-growth RAID market, and focuses Adaptec on building leadership in
all RAID segments. The demand for storage capacity continues to grow
explosively, and is fueled by the Internet and user demands for on-line access
to information. RAID provides high performance and enhanced data protection for
storage, and is important in a non-stop computing world.

         Adaptec will account for this acquisition under the purchase method of
accounting. Adaptec will evaluate the allocation of the purchase price to the
assets acquired, which may include in-process technology that will be written
off in the quarter ending December 31, 1999, and goodwill and other intangible
assets that will be amortized over the benefit period.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

         This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the
company's RAID market share, global RAID position, and opportunities for
product sales. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from these projections
due to various factors including, but not limited to, the risks associated with
integrating the operations of acquired companies, new product introductions by
competitors, rapidly changing RAID product preferences by customers, and
general economic conditions. For a more detailed discussion of the




factors that affect the company's operating results, interested parties should
review the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1999.

ABOUT ADAPTEC

         Adaptec makes storage work with products and solutions that move,
transfer, manage, and protect valuable data that is the heart of Internet and
e-business computing. Adaptec's hardware and software products are found in
high-performance servers and workstations from the world's leading
manufacturers, and are sold through distribution channels to enterprises, medium
and small businesses, and consumers. With a range of host I/O, RAID, and CD
recording software products, Adaptec is a market leader in storage solutions,
and a powerful enabler of today's information age. Adaptec is an S&P 500 and a
NASDAQ 100 member. More information is available at http://www.adaptec.com.

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EDITORIAL CONTACT:                          INVESTOR CONTACT:
Eric Brown                                  Sandra O'Halloran
(408) 957-1758                              (408) 957-2505
ebrown@corp.adaptec.com                     sandyoh@corp.adaptec.com