ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC
S-8, 1997-10-31
PERFUMES, COSMETICS & OTHER TOILET PREPARATIONS
Previous: VENTURE SEISMIC LTD, POS AM, 1997-10-31
Next: SAVILLE SYSTEMS PLC, S-8, 1997-10-31



    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 31, 1997
                                                  Registration No. ___________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)




        DELAWARE                                         11-2408943
(State or Other Jurisdiction of 
 Incorporation or Organization)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                767 FIFTH AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153
                                 (212) 572-4200
               (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
        including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                                  SASSABY, INC.
                      AMENDED AND RESTATED 1995 STOCK PLAN
                                       AND
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full Title of Plan)

                              SAUL H. MAGRAM, ESQ.
                                 GENERAL COUNSEL
                         THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.
                                767 FIFTH AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153
                                 (212) 572-4200
                     (Name and Address, Including Zip Code,
        and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                   Copies to:
                            JEFFREY J. WEINBERG, ESQ.
                             WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
                                767 FIFTH AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10153
                                 (212) 310-8000

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

====================================================================================================================================
                                                          Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum
  Title of Each Class of Securities to    Amount to be   Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering     Amount of
              be Registered               Registered(1)       Share(2)               Price(2)       Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>               <C>                     <C>                 <C>              
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01                     
per share                                    111,544           $41.125                $4,587,247           $1,391.00
================================================================================
<FN>
(1)  Plus such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant
as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock dividends, stock
splits or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities
Act of 1933. (2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration
fee pursuant to Rule 457 of the Securities Act of 1933.
================================================================================
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

                  On October 31, 1997, Jungle Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
(the "Company"), was merged (the "Merger") with and into Sassaby, Inc., a
Delaware Corporation ("Sassaby"). As a result of such Merger, Sassaby has become
a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement,
certain of the outstanding options issued under each of the Sassaby, Inc.
Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Plan and the Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated
1997 Stock Option Plan were assumed by the Company. Consequently, such options
are no longer exercisable for shares of Sassaby Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, but, instead, constitute options to acquire shares of the Company's Class
A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.



                                       I-1
<PAGE>

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.

                  The documents containing the information specified in Part I
of this Registration Statement will be sent or given to employees as specified
by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents are not required to be and are not filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this
Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to
Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken
together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

Item 2.

                  Upon written or oral request, any of the documents
incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement
(which documents are incorporated by reference in this Section 10(a)
Prospectus), other documents required to be delivered to eligible employees
pursuant to Rule 428(b) or additional information about either the Sassaby, Inc.
1995 Stock Plan or the Sassaby, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan and their
administrators are available without charge by contacting:

                         The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
                                767 Fifth Avenue
                            New York, New York 10153
                                 (212) 572-4200

                           Attention: James Pavlakis,
                           Human Resources Department



                                       I-2
<PAGE>

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  The following documents filed with the Commission by The Estee
Lauder Companies Inc. (the "Company") are incorporated herein by reference:

                  (a) The Company's Annual Report on 10-K for the year ended 
June 30, 1997; and

                  (b) The description of the Company's Class A Common Stock
contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), on November 8, 1995, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

                  All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Generally, Section 145 of the General Corporate Law of the
State of Delaware (the "GCL") permits a corporation to indemnify certain persons
made a party to an action, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at
the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation or enterprise. To the extent that person has been successful
in any such matter, that person shall be indemnified against expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him. In the case of an action by or in the right of
the corporation, no indemnification may be made in respect of any matter as to
which that person was adjudged liable unless and only to the extent that the
Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action was brought
determines that despite the adjudication of liability that person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnify for proper expenses.

                  Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL enables a Delaware corporation to
include a provision in its certificate of incorporation limiting a director's
liability to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breaches of fiduciary duty as a director. The Company has adopted a provision in
its Certificate of Incorporation that provides for such limitation to the full
extent permitted under Delaware law.

                  The Company's Bylaws provide for indemnification of its
directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.




                                      II-1
<PAGE>

                  The directors and officers of the Company are covered by
insurance policies indemnifying against certain liabilities, including certain
liabilities arising under the Securities Act which might be incurred by them in
such capacities and against which they cannot be indemnified by the Company.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

               4(a)    -       Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation 
                               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of 
                               Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration
                               Statement on Form S-1, dated as of November 13,
                               1995 ("Amendment No. 3")).

               4(b)     -      Form of Amended & Restated By-Laws (incorporated
                               by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 3).

               4(c)     -      Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Stock 
                               Plan.

               4(d)     -      Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock
                               Option Plan.

               5        -      Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

               23(a)    -      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

               23(b)    -      Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (included in
                               Exhibit 5).

               24       -      Power of Attorney (included as part of the 
                               signature page to this Registration Statement 
                               and incorporated herein by reference).

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1)      To file, during any period in which offers or sales
                           are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
                           Registration Statement;

                           (i)      To include any prospectus required by 
                                    Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                           (ii)     To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
                                    events arising after the effective date of
                                    the Registration Statement (or the most
                                    recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                                    which, individually or in the aggregate,
                                    represent a fundamental change in the
                                    information set forth in the Registration
                                    Statement;

                           (iii)    To include any material information with
                                    respect to the plan of distribution not
                                    previously disclosed in the Registration
                                    Statement or any material change to such
                                    information in the Registration Statement;

                  provided, however, that paragraph (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
                  not apply if the information required to be included in a
                  post-effective amendment by the foregoing paragraphs is
                  contained in periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant to
                  Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.



                                      II-2
<PAGE>

                  (2)      That, for the purpose of determining any liability
                           under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
                           amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration
                           Statement relating to the securities offered therein,
                           and the offering of such securities at that time
                           shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
                           thereof.

                  (3)      To remove from registration by means of a
                           post-effective amendment any of the securities being
                           registered which remain unsold at the termination of
                           the offering.

         (b)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
                  purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
                  Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to
                  Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall
                  be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the
                  securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                  fide offering thereof.

         (c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
                  Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
                  controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
                  foregoing provi- sions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
                  advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
                  Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
                  expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
                  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
                  against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
                  registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
                  or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
                  defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
                  director, officer or controlling person in connec- tion with
                  the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
                  in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
                  controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate juris-
                  diction the question whether such indemnification by it is
                  against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
                  will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in the City of New York, State of New York, on this 31st day of
October, 1997.

                                       THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.


                                       By:  /s/  Robert J. Bigler
                                            -----------------------------
                                            Name: Robert J. Bigler
                                            Title: Senior Vice President
                                                   and Chief Financial Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Robert J. Bigler,
Andrew Cavanaugh and Saul H. Magram acting individually, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and
agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Signature                      Title                                        Date
- ---------                      -----                                        ----

<S>                         <C>                                          <C> 
/s/ Leonard A. Lauder          Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief   October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
Leonard A. Lauder              Executive Officer and Director
                               (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Ronald S. Lauder           Director                                    October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
Ronald S. Lauder


/s/ William P. Lauder          Director                                    October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
William P. Lauder


/s/ Fred H. Langhammer         Director                                    October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
Fred H. Langhammer

</TABLE>

                                      II-4
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Signature                          Title                                   Date
- ---------                          -----                                   ----

<S>                            <C>                                       <C> 
/s/ Marshall Rose                  Director                                October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------
Marshall Rose


/s/ P. Roy Vagelos                 Director                                October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
P. Roy Vagelos


/s/ Faye Wattleton                 Director                                October 31, 1997
- --------------------------------
Faye Wattleton


/s/ Robert J. Bigler               Senior Vice President and               October 31, 1997
- -------------------------------                                            
Robert J. Bigler                   Chief Financial Officer
                                   (Principal Financial and
                                   Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>

                                      II-5

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


    EXHIBIT NO.                 DESCRIPTION                            PAGE NO.
    ----------                  -----------                            -------

         4(a)       -    Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
                         (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of
                         Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration
                         Statement on Form S-1, dated as of November 13, 1995
                         ("Amendment No. 3")).

         4(b)       -    Form of Amended & Restated By-Laws (incorporated by
                         reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 3).

         4(c)       -    Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Plan.

         4(d)       -    Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option
                         Plan.

         5          -    Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

         23(a)      -    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

         23(b)      -    Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (included in
                         Exhibit 5).

         24         -    Power of Attorney (included as part of the
                         signature page to this Registration Statement and
                         incorporated herein by reference).


                                      II-6

                                                                 Exhibit 4 (c)

                                  SASSABY, INC.
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                 1995 STOCK PLAN

                           Amended on October 31, 1997


         1.        PURPOSES.
                   --------

                  (a) The purpose of the 1995 Stock Plan (the "Plan"), is to
provide a means by which Employees and Directors of and Consultants to the
Company, and its Affiliates, may be given an opportunity to benefit from
increases in value of the stock of the Company through the granting of (i)
Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses
and (iv) rights to purchase restricted stock, all as defined below.

                  (b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the
services of persons who are now Employees or Directors of or Consultants to the
Company, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors and
Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts
for the success of the Company.

                  (c) The Company intends that the Stock Awards issued under the
Plan shall, in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which
responsibility for administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to
subsection 3(c), be either (i) Options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof,
including Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options, or (ii) stock
bonuses or rights to purchase restricted stock granted pursuant to Section 7
hereof. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and in such form as issued
pursuant to section 6, and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued
for shares purchased on exercise of each type of Option.

         2.        DEFINITIONS.
                   -----------

                  (a) "Affiliate" means any parent corporation or subsidiary
corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f) respectively, of the Code.

                  (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

                  (d) "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board in
accordance with subsection 3(c) of the Plan.

<PAGE>

                  (e) "Company" means Sassaby, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

                  (f) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor,
engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render services and who is compensated
for such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include
Directors who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not
compensated by the Company for their services as Directors.

                  (g) "Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant"
means the employment or relationship as a Director or Consultant is not
interrupted or terminated by the Company or any Affiliate. The Board, in its
sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any
leave of absence approved by the Board, including sick leave, military leave, or
any other personal leave; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive
Stock Options, any such leave may not exceed ninety (90) days, unless
reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract
(including certain Company policies) or statute; or (ii) transfers between
locations of the Company or between the Company, Affiliates or its successor.

                  (h)       "Director" means a member of the Board.

                  (i)       "Disability"  means total and permanent  disability
as defined in  Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

                  (j) "Disinterested Person" means a Director: (i) who was not
during the one year prior to service as an administrator of the Plan granted or
awarded equity securities pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company
or any of its affiliates entitling the participants therein to acquire equity
securities of the Company or any of its affiliates except as permitted by Rule
16b-3(c)(2)(i) under the Exchange Act; or (ii) who is otherwise considered to be
a "disinterested person" in accordance with Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) under the
Exchange Act, or any other applicable rules, regulations or interpretations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  (k) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and
Directors, employed by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither
service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be
sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.

                  (l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                                       2
<PAGE>

                  (m) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the fair market
value of the common stock of the Company determined by the Board pursuant to
Rule 260.140.50 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

                  (n) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to
qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (o) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended
to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

                  (p) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (q) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.

                  (r) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the
Company and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual
Option grant. The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.

                  (s) "Optionee" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who
holds an outstanding Option.

                  (t) "Plan" means this 1995 Stock Plan.

                  (u) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any
successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with
respect to the Plan.

                  (v) "Stock Award" means any right granted under the Plan,
including any Option, any stock bonus and any right to purchase restricted
stock.

                  (w) "Stock Award Agreement" means a written agreement between
the Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of
an individual Stock Award grant. The Stock Award Agreement is subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.

         3.        ADMINISTRATION.
                   --------------

                  (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and
until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in
subsection 3(c).

                  (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                                       3
<PAGE>

                           (1) To determine  from time to time which of the
persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how
Stock Awards shall be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an Incentive Stock
Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase
restricted stock, or a combination of the foregoing; the provisions of each
Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times
when a person shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and
the number of shares with respect to which Stock Awards shall be granted to each
such person.

                           (2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock
Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and
regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power,
may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock
Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or
expedient to make the Plan fully effective.

                           (3) To amend the Plan as provided in Section 13.

                           (4) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform
such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best
interests of the Company.

                  (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a
committee composed of not fewer than two (2) members (the "Committee"), all of
the members of which Committee shall be Disinterested Persons, if required and
as defined by the provisions of subsection 3(d). If administration is delegated
to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration
of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board (and references in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee), subject, however,
to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be
adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at
any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. Additionally,
prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the Company
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to any person
or persons and the term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom
such authority has been delegated.

                  (d) Any requirement that an administrator of the Plan be a
Disinterested Person shall not apply (i) prior to the date of the first
registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, or (ii) if the Board or the Committee expressly declares that such
requirement shall not apply. Any Disinterested Person shall otherwise comply
with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.
                                       4

<PAGE>
         4.        SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
                   --------------------------

                  (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to
Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate one million three hundred
thirty-seven thousand five hundred twenty-one (1,337,521) shares of the
Company's common stock. If any Stock Award shall for any reason expire or
otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, the stock not
purchased under such Stock Award shall again become available for the Plan.

                  (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or
reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

         5.        ELIGIBILITY.
                   -----------

                  (a) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
Employees, Directors or Consultants.

                  (b) A Director shall in no event be eligible for the benefits
of the Plan unless at the time discretion is exercised in the selection of the
Director as a person to whom Stock Awards may be granted, or in the
determination of the number of shares which may be covered by Stock Awards
granted to the Director: (i) the Board has delegated its discretionary authority
over the Plan to a Committee which consists solely of Disinterested Persons; or
(ii) the Plan otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. The Board
shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. This subsection 5(b)
shall not apply (i) prior to the date of the first registration of an equity
security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) if the
Board or Committee expressly declares that it shall not apply.

                  (c) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Option if,
at the time of grant, such person owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section
424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its
Affiliates unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten
percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant and
the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the
date of grant.

         6.        OPTION PROVISIONS.
                   -----------------

         Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:

                                       5

<PAGE>

                  (a) Term. No Option shall be  exercisable  after the  
expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

                  (b) Price. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option
shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of
the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. The exercise
price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the
date the Option is granted.

                  (c) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired
pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable
statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the option is
exercised, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, either at
the time of the grant or exercise of the Option, (A) by delivery to the Company
of other common stock of the Company, (B) according to a deferred payment or
other arrangement (which may include, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the use of other common stock of the Company) with the person to whom
the Option is granted or to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to
subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of legal consideration that may be
acceptable to the Board.

         In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
payable at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest
necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of
the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the
deferred payment arrangement.

                  (d) Transferability. An Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only
by such person.

                  (e) Vesting. The total number of shares of stock subject to an
Option may, but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but
need not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time
during each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable
("vest") with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and
may be exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such
period and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not
fully exercised. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary, subject
to the requirements of applicable law. During the remainder of the term of the
Option (if its term extends beyond the end of the installment periods), the
option may be exercised from time to time with respect to any shares then
remaining subject to the Option. The provisions of this subsection 6(e) are
subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares as to
which an Option may be exercised.

                                       6
<PAGE>


                  (f) Securities Law Compliance. The Company may require any
Optionee, or any person to whom an Option is transferred under subsection 6(d),
as a condition of exercising any such Option, (1) to give written assurances
satisfactory to the Company if any, that are necessary to ensure compliance with
federal securities laws. These requirements, and any assurances given pursuant
to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares
upon the exercise of the Option has been registered under a then currently
effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a
determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not
be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws.

                  (g) Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or
Consultant. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or
Disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but only within such
period of time as is determined by the Board (which period shall not be less
than thirty (30) days from the date of such termination), and only to the extent
that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of termination (but in
no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in
the Option Agreement). If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not
entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after
termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time
specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate, and the shares
covered by such Option shall revert to the Plan.

                  (h) Disability of Optionee. In the event an Optionee's
Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result
of the Optionee's Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, but
only within such period of time as is determined by the Board (which period
shall not be less than six (6) months from the date of such termination), and
only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of
such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). If, at the date of termination,
the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If,
after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by
such Option shall revert to the Plan.

                  (i) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an
Optionee, the Option may be exercised, at any time within such period as is
determined by the Board (which period shall not be less than six (6) months
following the date of death) by the Optionee's estate or by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, and only to
the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death
(but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set

                                       7
<PAGE>

forth in the Option Agreement). If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan. If, after death,
the Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance does not exercise the Option within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall
revert to the Plan.

                  (j) Withholding. To the extent provided by the terms of an
Option Agreement, the Optionee may satisfy any federal, state or local tax
withholding obligation relating to the exercise of such Option by any of the
following means or by a combination of such means: (1) tendering a cash payment;
(2) authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the common
stock otherwise issuable to the participant as a result of the exercise of the
Option; or (3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the
common stock of the Company.

                  (k) Re-Load Options. Without in any way limiting the authority
of the Board or Committee to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder,
the Board or Committee shall have the authority (but not an obligation) to
include as part of any Option Agreement a provision entitling the Optionee to a
further Option (a "Re-Load Option") in the event the Optionee exercises the
Option evidenced by the Option Agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering
other shares of Common Stock in accordance with this Plan and the terms and
conditions of the Option Agreement. Any such Re-Load Option (i) shall be for a
number of shares equal to the number of shares surrendered as part or all of the
exercise price of such Option; (ii) shall have an expiration date which is the
same as the expiration date of the Option the exercise of which gave rise to
such Re-Load Option; and (iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to
one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject
to the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option or, in the
case of a Re-Load Option which is granted to a ten percent (10%) shareholder (as
described in subparagraph 5(c)), shall have an exercise price which is equal to
one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to
the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option.

         Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or Committee may designate at the time
of the grant of the original Option, provided, however, that the designation of
any Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability of
Incentive Stock Options described in subsection 11(e) of the Plan and in Section
422(d) of the Code. There shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any
such Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of sufficient shares
under subparagraph 4(a) and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions
as the Board or Committee may determine.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  (l) Post-Employment Exercises. The exercise of any Option
after termination of employment shall be subject to satisfaction of the
conditions precedent that the Optionee neither (i) competes with, or takes other
employment with or renders services to a competitor of, the Company, its
subsidiaries or affiliates without the written consent of the Company, nor (ii)
conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

         7.        TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.
                   --------------------------------------------------------

         Each stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the
Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms
and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock
bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise)
the substance of each of the following provisions as appropriate:

                  (a) Purchase Price. The purchase price under each stock
purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board or Committee shall
determine and designate in such agreement (which purchase price shall in any
event be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the
stock on the date such award is made), provided that the purchase price shall be
one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market value of the stock on the date
such award is made, in the case of any person who owns stock possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Applicant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the
Committee may determine that eligible participants in the Plan may be awarded
stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services
actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit.

                  (b) Transferability. No rights under a stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable except by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution.

                  (c) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired
pursuant to a stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the
time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee,
according to a deferred payment or other arrangement with the person to whom the
stock is sold; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be
acceptable to the Board or the Committee in their discretion. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board or the Committee to which administration of the Plan
has been delegated may award stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in
consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or for its
benefit.

                                       9
<PAGE>
                  (d) Vesting. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan
may, but need not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the
Committee.

                  (e) Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or
Consultant. In the event a Participant's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise
reacquire any or all of the shares of stock held by that person which have not
vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreement between the Company and such person.

         8.        CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.
                   ------------------------------------

         The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any
time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected holders of Options,
(i) the repricing of any outstanding Options under the Plan and/or (ii) the
cancellation of any outstanding Options under the Plan and the grant in
substitution therefor of new Options under the Plan covering the same or
different numbers of shares of stock, but having an exercise price per share not
less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value (one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Option or, in the case
of a ten percent (10%) shareholder (as described in subparagraph 5(c)), not less
than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value) per share of stock
on the new grant date.

         9.        COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
                   ------------------------

                  (a) During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall
keep available at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy
such Stock Awards up to the number of shares of stock authorized under the Plan.

                  (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory
commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be
required to issue and sell shares of stock under the Stock Awards; provided,
however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under
the Securities Act either the Plan, any Stock Award or any stock issued or
issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the
Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the
authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance
and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any
liability for failure to issue and sell stock under such Stock Awards unless and
until such authority is obtained.

                                       10
<PAGE>

         10.       USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
                   --------------------------

         Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.

         11.       MISCELLANEOUS.
                   -------------

                  (a) Neither an Optionee nor any person to whom an Option is
transferred under subsection 6(d) shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to
have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such
Option unless and until such person has satisfied all requirements for exercise
of the Option pursuant to its terms.

                  (b) Throughout the term of any Option granted pursuant to the
Plan, the Company shall make available to the holder of such Option, not later
than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of each of the Company's
fiscal years during the Option term, upon request, such financial and other
information regarding the Company as comprises the annual report to the
shareholders of the Company provided for in the bylaws of the Company.

                  (c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock
Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director,
Consultant, Optionee, or other holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in
the employ of the Company or any Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director
or Consultant) or shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to
terminate the employment of any Employee, or the relationship as a Director or
Consultant of any Director or Consultant with or without cause.

                  (d) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined at the time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options granted after 1986 are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee
during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates
exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof
which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted)
shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

         12.       ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
                   ---------------------------------

                  (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or
subject to any Stock Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure or otherwise), the Plan and outstanding Stock Awards will
be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of shares subject
to the Plan and the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock
subject to outstanding Stock Awards.

                                       11
<PAGE>

                  (b) In the event of: (1) a merger or consolidation in which
the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (2) a reverse merger in which
the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's common
stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of
the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise, then, at the sole discretion of the Board and to the extent permitted
by applicable law: (i) any surviving corporation shall assume any Stock Awards
outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar Stock Awards for those
outstanding under the Plan or (ii) such Stock Awards shall continue in full
force and effect. In the event any surviving corporation refuses to assume or
continue such Stock Awards, or to substitute similar awards for any of those
outstanding under the Plan, then upon such event each such unassumed Stock Award
outstanding under the Plan shall be cancelled, whether or not vested or
exercisable, and in settlement thereof, each holder shall be entitled to receive
an amount equal to the excess of (x) the product obtained by multiplying (A) the
number of shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon the exercise of
such Stock Awards held by such holder by (B) the amount of per share
consideration to be paid to each holder of the Company's common stock in
connection with such event over (y) the aggregate exercise price of all Stock
Awards held by such holder.

         13.       AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
                   ---------------------

                  (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend
the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 13 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the
adoption of the amendment, where the amendment will:

                                    (i)   Increase  the number of shares 
reserved for Stock Awards under the Plan;

                                    (ii)  Modify the  requirements  as to 
eligibility for participation in the Plan to the extent such modification
requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements
of Section 422 of the Code; or

                                    (iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if
such modification requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy
the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or to comply with the requirements
of Rule 16b-3.

                                       12
<PAGE>

                  (b) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the
Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide Optionees
with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock
Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it
into compliance therewith.

                  (c) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted
before amendment of the Plan shall not be altered or impaired by any amendment
of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom
the Stock Award was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.

         14.       TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
                   -------------------------------------

                  (a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.
Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on March 15, 2005. No Stock
Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.

                  (b) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while
the Plan is in effect shall not be altered or impaired by suspension or
termination of the Plan, except with the consent of the person to whom the Stock
Award was granted.

         15.       EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
                   ----------------------

         The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall be exercisable unless and until the
Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, and, if required, an
appropriate permit has been issued by the Commissioner of Corporations of the
State of California.

                                       13

                                                                     Exhbit 4(d)
                                  SASSABY, INC.

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                             ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF
                          DIRECTORS AS OF MAY 30, 1997

                          APPROVED BY THE SHAREHOLDERS
                               AS OF JULY 24, 1997

                           AMENDED ON OCTOBER 31, 1997

1.       PURPOSES.
         
         (a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected
Employees, Directors of and Consultants to the Company, and its Affiliates, may
be given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company.

         (b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
persons who are now Employees or Directors of or Consultants to the Company or
its Affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors
and Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum
efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

         (c) The Company intends that the Options issued under the Plan shall,
in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which responsibility for
administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c), be
either Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options. All Options shall
be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options
at the time of grant, and in such form as issued pursuant to Section 6, and a
separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on
exercise of each type of Option.

<PAGE>

 2. DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f) respectively, of the Code.

         (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with subsection 3(c) of the Plan.

         (e) "COMPANY" means Sassaby, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         (f) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or an Affiliate to render consulting services and who is compensated for
such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors
who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not compensated by
the Company for their services as Directors.

         (g) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means
that the service of an individual to the Company, whether as an Employee,
Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Board or the
President of the Company may determine, in that party's sole discretion, whether
Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be considered
interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board or
the President of the Company, including sick leave, military leave, or any other
personal leave; or (ii) transfers between the Company, Affiliates or their
successors.

                                       2
<PAGE>

         (h) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.

         (i) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a
Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to
constitute "employment" by the Company.

         (j) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the value of the common stock as
determined in good faith by the Board and in a manner consistent with Section
260.140.50 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

         (l) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (m) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not
receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is
not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required
under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a
"non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         (n) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.

         (o) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         (p) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (q) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.

         (r) "OPTIONEE" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to
the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

         (s) "PLAN" means this 1997 Stock Option Plan.

         (t) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor
to Rule 16b-3, as in effect with respect to the Company at the time discretion
is being exercised regarding the Plan.

         (u) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       4
<PAGE>

3.       ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the
Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c).

         (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                  (1) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Options; when and how each Option shall
be granted; whether an Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option; the provisions of each Option granted (which need not
be identical), including the time or times such Option may be exercised in whole
or in part; and the number of shares for which an Option shall be granted to
each such person.

                  (2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Options granted
under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its
administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option Agreement, in a
manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan
fully effective.

                  (3) To amend the Plan or an Option as provided in Section 11.

                  (4) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company. (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a
committee of the Board composed of not fewer than two (2) members (the
"Committee"), all of the members of which Committee may be, in the discretion of
the Board, Non-Employee Directors. If administration is delegated to a
Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of
the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to
delegate to a subcommittee of two (2) or more Non-Employee Directors any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in

                                       5
<PAGE>

this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or such a
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the
contrary, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more
members of the Board the authority to grant Options to eligible persons who are
not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act

4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 10 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to Options shall not
exceed in the aggregate one million three hundred ninety-eight thousand
(1,398,000) shares of the Company's common stock. If any Option shall for any
reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been
exercised in full, the stock not purchased under such Option shall revert to and
again become available for issuance under the Plan.

                                       6
<PAGE>

         (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

5.       ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted only to Employees, Directors or
Consultants.

         (b) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Option if, at the
time of grant, such person owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d)
of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates
unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent
(110%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant and the
Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date
of grant. 

6. OPTION PROVISIONS.

         Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:

         (a) TERM.  No Option shall be  exercisable  after the  expiration  of
ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

         (b) PRICE. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be
not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock
subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%)
of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an
exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such
Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option
in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

                                       7
<PAGE>

         (c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the grant of the
Option, (A) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (B)
according to a deferred payment arrangement, except that payment of the common
stock's "par value" (as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law) shall
not be made by deferred payment, or other arrangement (which may include,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock
of the Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the
Option is transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of
legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.

         In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of
interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable
provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest
under the deferred payment arrangement.

                                       8
<PAGE>
         (d) TRANSFERABILITY. An Option shall not be transferable except by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the
lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only by such person. The
person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written notice to the
Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in
the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise
the Option.

         (e) VESTING. The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option
may, but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but need
not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during
each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest")
with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be
exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period
and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not fully
exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the
time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or
other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of
individual Options may vary, subject to the requirements of applicable law.

                                       9
<PAGE>

         (f) SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company may require any Optionee, or
any person to whom an Option is transferred under subsection 6(d), as a
condition of exercising any such Option, (1) to give written assurances
satisfactory to the Company as to the Optionee's knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative
reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in
financial and business matters, and that he or she is capable of evaluating,
alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of
exercising the Option; and (2) to give written assurances satisfactory to the
Company stating that such person is acquiring the stock subject to the Option
for such person's own account and not with any present intention of selling or
otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances
given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of
the shares upon the exercise of the Option has been registered under a then
currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) as
to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the
Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the
then applicable securities laws. The Company may require the Optionee to provide
such other representations, written assurances or information which the Company
shall determine is necessary, desirable or appropriate to comply with applicable
securities and other laws as a condition of granting an Option to such Optionee
or permitting the Optionee to exercise such Option. The Company may, upon advice
of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the
Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with
applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting
the transfer of the stock.

                                       10
<PAGE>
         (g) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3)
months following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant, or such longer or shorter period, (which shall
not be less than thirty (30) days, specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii)
the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement.
If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or
her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option
shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If,
after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate, and the
shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for
issuance under the Plan.

                                       11
<PAGE>
         (h) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the
Optionee's disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the
extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of
termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i)
the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or
shorter period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified
in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee
is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again
become available for issuance under the Plan.
 
        (i) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee during,
or within a period specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of,
the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the
Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the
Option as of the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a
person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to
subsection 6(d), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the
date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter
period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified in the
Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by
such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan.


                                       12
<PAGE>

         (j) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or
Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to
the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so
purchased shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company, with
the repurchase price to be equal to the original purchase price of the stock, or
to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate; provided,
however, that (i) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall
lapse at a minimum rate of twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years
from the date the Option was granted, and (ii) such right shall be exercisable
only within (A) the ninety (90) day period following the termination of
employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer
period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for
purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code
(regarding "qualified small business stock")), and (iii) such right shall be
exercisable only for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the
shares. Should the right of repurchase be assigned by the Company, the assignee
shall pay the Company cash equal to the difference between the original purchase
price and the stock's Fair Market Value if the original purchase price is less
than the stock's Fair Market Value.

                                       13
<PAGE>

         (k) RIGHT OF REPURCHASE. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to
repurchase all or any part of the vested shares exercised pursuant to the
Option; provided, however, that (i) such repurchase right shall be exercisable
only within (A) the ninety (90) day period following the termination of
employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer
period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for
purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code
(regarding "qualified small business stock")), (ii) such repurchase right shall
be exercisable for less than all of the vested shares only with the Optionee's
consent, and (iii) such right shall be exercisable only for cash or cancellation
of purchase money indebtedness for the shares at a repurchase price equal to the
greater of (A) the stock's Fair Market Value at the time of such termination, or
(B) the original purchase price paid for such shares by the Optionee. Should the
right of repurchase be assigned by the Company, the assignee shall pay the
Company cash equal to the difference between the original purchase price and the
stock's Fair Market Value if the original purchase price is less than the
stock's Fair Market Value.

                                       14

<PAGE>

         (l) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to exercise
a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from the Optionee of the
intent to transfer all or any part of the shares exercised pursuant to the
Option.

         (m) WITHHOLDING. To the extent provided by the terms of an Option
Agreement, the Optionee may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding
obligation relating to the exercise of such Option by any of the following means
or by a combination of such means: (1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing
the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise
issuable to the Optionee as a result of the exercise of the Option; or (3)
delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock of
the Company.

         (n) POST-EMPLOYMENT EXERCISES. The exercise of any Option after
termination of employment shall be subject to satisfaction of the conditions
precedent that the Optionee neither (i) competes with, or takes other employment
with or renders services to a competitor of, the Company, its subsidiaries or
affiliates without the written consent of the Company, nor (ii) conducts himself
or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

7.       COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         (a) During the terms of the Options, the Company shall keep available
at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy such Options.

                                       15

<PAGE>

         (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Options; provided, however,
that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the
Securities Act either the Plan, any Option or any stock issued or issuable
pursuant to any such Option. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable
to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which
counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of
stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for
failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such Options unless and until
such authority is obtained.

8. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

         Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Options shall constitute
general funds of the Company.

9. MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a) Subject to any applicable provisions of the California Corporate
Securities Law of 1968 and related regulations relied upon as a condition of
issuing securities pursuant to the Plan, the Board shall have the power to
accelerate the time at which an Option may first be exercised or the time during
which an Option or any part thereof will vest pursuant to subsection 6(e),
notwithstanding the provisions in the Option stating the time at which it may
first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

                                       16

<PAGE>

        (b) Neither an Optionee nor any person to whom an Option is transferred
under subsection 6(d) shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the
rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such Option unless and
until such person has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Option
pursuant to its terms.

         (c) Throughout the term of any Option, the Company shall deliver to the
holder of such Option, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the
close of each of the Company's fiscal years during the Option term, a balance
sheet and an income statement. This section shall not apply (i) after the
Listing Date, or (ii) when issuance is limited to key employees whose duties in
connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

        (d) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Option granted
pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director, Consultant or
Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate (or
to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall affect the right of the
Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any Employee, with or
without cause, to remove any Director as provided in the Company's By-Laws and
the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or to
terminate the relationship of any Consultant subject to the terms of that
Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate to which such Consultant is
providing services.

         (e) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at
the time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under
all plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according
to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options.


                                       17
<PAGE>
         (f) The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options
under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of the affected holders of Options,
the cancellation of any outstanding Options and the grant in substitution
therefor of new Options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of
shares of common stock, but having an exercise price per share not less than
eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value (one hundred percent (100%)
of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option or, in the
case of a ten percent (10%) stockholder (as defined in subsection 5(b)), not
less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value) per share
of common stock on the new grant date. 

10. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

         (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any Option (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate
structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the
Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s) and maximum
number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a), and the
outstanding Options will be appropriately adjusted in the type(s) and number of
securities and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Options.
Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or Committee, the determination of
which shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving
the receipt of consideration by the Company.")


                                       18

<PAGE>

         (b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation, or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise; then: (i) any surviving or acquiring corporation shall assume
any Options outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar options
(including an option to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders
in the transaction described in this Section 10(b)) for those outstanding under
the Plan, or (ii) in the event any surviving or acquiring corporation refuses to
assume any such Options, or to substitute similar options for any of those
outstanding under the Plan, then upon such event each such unassumed Option
outstanding under the Plan shall be cancelled, whether or not vested or
exercisable, and in settlement thereof, each holder shall be entitled to receive
an amount equal to the excess of (x) the product obtained by multiplying (A) the
number of shares of Company's common stock issuable upon the exercise of such
Options held by such holder by (B) the amount of per share consideration to be
paid to each holder of the Company's common stock in connection with such event
over (y) the aggregate exercise price of all Options held by such holder.

                                       19
<PAGE>


11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND OPTIONS.

         (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in Section 10 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of
the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the
amendment, where the amendment will:

                  (1) Increase the number of shares reserved for Options under
the Plan;

                  (2) Modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan (to the extent such modification requires stockholder
approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code); or

                  (3) Modify the Plan in any other way if such modification
requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements
of Section 422 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

         (b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment to
the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to
the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder regarding the exclusion of
performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of
compensation paid to certain executive officers.

                                       20

<PAGE>

         (c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide Optionees with the
maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options
and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into
compliance therewith.

         (d) Rights and obligations under any Option granted before amendment of
the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted and
(ii) such person consents in writing.

         (e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms
of any one or more Options; provided, however, that the rights and obligations
under any Option shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted and
(ii) such person consents in writing.

12. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless
sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on May 28, 2007, which shall be
within ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved
by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Options may be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.


                                       21

<PAGE>

         (b) Rights  and  obligations  under any  Option  granted  while  
the Plan is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the
Plan, except with the written consent of the person to whom the Option was
granted.

13.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

         The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Options granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has
been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within
twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

                                       22


                           WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
       A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations
                                767 Fifth Avenue
                               New York, NY 10153
                                 (212) 310-8000
                               Fax: (212) 310-8007
                                                                     Exhibit 5


                                                 October 31, 1997


The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have acted as counsel to The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement of the Company on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement")
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date
hereof with respect to 111,544 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company being registered in connection
with the Sassaby, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Plan, and the Sassaby,
Inc. Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan, (collectively, the "Plans"),
filed as Exhibits 4(c) and 4(d) to the Registration Statement.

                  In so acting, we have examined originals or copies, certified
or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement and
such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and such
certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and
representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of such officers
and representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the
opinion hereinafter set forth.

                  In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all questions of
fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we
have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and
representatives of the Company.

                  Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications
stated herein, we are of the opinion that the 111,544 shares of Common Stock to
be issued upon the exercise of any stock

<PAGE>

The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
October 31, 1997
Page 2


options (the "Options") duly granted under the Plans have been duly authorized
and, when issued, paid for and delivered upon the exercise of such Options in
accordance with the Plans, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  We hereby consent to the filing a copy of this opinion with
the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

                  The opinion expressed herein is limited to the corporate laws
of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States, and we
express no opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the
laws of any other jurisdiction.

                  The opinion expressed herein is rendered solely for your
benefit in connection with the transactions described herein. This opinion may
not be used or relied upon by any other person, nor may this letter or any
copies thereof be furnished to a third party, filed with a governmental agency,
quoted, cited or otherwise referred to without our prior written consent.


                                                               Very truly yours,

                                               /s/ WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP






NYFS11...:\90\44090\0017\1989\OPN107U.06A

    
                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


                    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our
report dated August 12, 1997 included in The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.'s Form
10-K for the year ended June 30, 1997 and to all references to our firm included
in this registration statement.

                                                   /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

New York, New York
October 31, 1997
                               



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