E TRADE GROUP INC
S-8, 1999-02-11
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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<PAGE>
 
   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 1999
                                              Registration No. 333-_____________

================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                            -----------------------
                                   FORM S-8
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     Under
                          The Securities Act of 1933
                            -----------------------
                              E*TRADE GROUP, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware                             94-284416
     (State or other jurisdiction        (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation or organization)
                            FOUR EMBARCADERO PLACE
                 2400 Geng Road, Palo Alto, California  94303
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
                           ------------------------
           OPTIONS GRANTED UNDER NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                           (Full title of the Plan)
                            -----------------------
                             Christos M. Cotsakos
                     President and Chief Executive Officer
                              E*TRADE Group, Inc.
                            FOUR EMBARCADERO PLACE
                                2400 Geng Road
                             Palo Alto, CA  94303
                                (650) 842-2500
  (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
                          code, of agent for service)

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================
                                                        Proposed      Proposed                
      Title of                                          Maximum       Maximum                 
     Securities                      Amount             Offering     Aggregate       Amount of   
       to be                          to be              Price        Offering      Registration 
     Registered                   Registered(1)       per Share(2)     Price            Fee      
- ---------------                   ------------        ------------     -----            ---       
<S>                               <C>                 <C>            <C>            <C>
 
Common Stock, $0.01 par value      250,000 shares          $8.50      $2,125,000         $591
</TABLE>
======================================

(1)       This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
          Common Stock which become issuable under the Nonstatutory Stock Option
          Agreement by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
          recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the
          Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in
          the number of the outstanding shares of Registrant's Common Stock.

(2)       Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of
          the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
                                        
              Information Required in the Registration Statement


Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference
          ---------------------------------------

          E*TRADE Group, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
     reference into this Registration Statement the following documents
     previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):


          (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
          ended September 30, 1998, filed with the SEC on December 29, 1998; and

          (b)  The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-111921 on Form 8-A
          filed with the SEC on July 12, 1996 pursuant to Section 12 of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), in which
          there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
          Registrant's outstanding Common Stock.

          All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.


Item 4.   Description of Securities
          -------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
          --------------------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers
          -----------------------------------------

          Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "Delaware Law") empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any persons
who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or
completed legal action, suit or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than action by or in the right of such
corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was an officer or director
of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as
a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The
indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such officer or
director acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the corporation's best interests, and, for criminal proceedings,
had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was illegal.  A Delaware
corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right
of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is
permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be
liable to the corporation in the performance of his duty.  Where an officer or
director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action
referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which
such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred.
<PAGE>
 
          In accordance with the Delaware Law, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Registrant contains a provision to limit the personal
liability of the directors of the Registrant for violations of their fiduciary
duty.  This provision eliminates each director's liability to the Registrant or
its stockholders for monetary damages except (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts
or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a
knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware Law providing
for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock
purchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which a director
derived an improper personal benefit.  The effect of this provision is to
eliminate the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions
involving a breach of their fiduciary duty of care, including any such actions
involving gross negligence.

          Article 5 of the Restated Bylaws of the Registrant provide for
indemnification of the officers and directors of the Registrant to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law.

          In connection with the incorporation of the Registrant into the State
of Delaware, the Registrant entered into indemnification agreements with each
director and certain officers.  The Indemnification Agreements provide
indemnification to such directors and officers under certain circumstances for
acts or omissions which may not be covered by directors' and officers' liability
insurance.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed
          -----------------------------------

Not Applicable.

Item 8.   Exhibits
          --------

     Number         Exhibit
     ------         -------

        4           Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is
                    made to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-111921 on
                    Form 8-A, including exhibits thereto, which is incorporated
                    herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(c).
        5.1         Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
       23.1         Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors.
       23.2         Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                    Exhibit 5.1.
       24           Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this
                    Registration Statement.
       99.1         Form of Notice of Grant for Nonstatutory Stock Option
       99.2         Form of Stock Option Agreement for Nonstatutory Stock Option

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 of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), (ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of this 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 this Registration Statement and (iii) to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses
                                            --------
(1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall not apply if the information required to be included in
a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act
that are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that
for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 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; and (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 Option
Plans.

          B.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this 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
1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions in Item 6, or

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 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 connection 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
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 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, as
amended, 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 Palo Alto, State of California on this
10th day of February, 1999.

                                  E*TRADE GROUP, INC.


                                  By:  /s/Christos M. Cotsakos
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Christos M. Cotsakos
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------
                                        
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

               That the undersigned officers and directors of , E*TRADE Group,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Christos M.
Cotsakos, and Leonard C. Purkis and each of them, the lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and
to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, and any one
of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said
corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules
or regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
connection with this Registration Statement.  Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and
authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the
capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all
amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this
Registration Statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as
part of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or
supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms
that all said attorneys and agents, or any one of them, shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.  This Power of Attorney may be signed in several
counterparts.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this
Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.

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

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Signature                         Title                                   Date
- ---------                         -----                                   ----
<S>                               <C>                                     <C> 

/s/William A. Porter              Chairman of the Board                   February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
William A. Porter


/s/Christos M. Cotsakos           President and Chief Executive           February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------     Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Christos M. Cotsakos        


/s/Leonard C. Purkis              Executive Vice President, Finance       February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------     and Administration, Chief
Leonard C. Purkis                 Financial Officer and Treasurer
                                  (Principal Financial and
                                  Accounting Officer)
</TABLE> 

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Signature                         Title                    Date
- ---------                         -----                    ----
<S>                               <C>                      <C> 

/s/Richard S. Braddock            Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
Richard S. Braddock



/s/William E. Ford                Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
William E. Ford



/s/George Hayter                  Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
George Hayter



/s/Masayoshi Son                  Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
Masayoshi Son



/s/Lewis E. Randall               Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
Lewis E. Randall



/s/Lester C. Thurow               Director                 February 10, 1999
- -----------------------------
Lester C. Thurow
</TABLE> 

                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------
 
Number         Exhibit
- ------         -------

  4            Instruments Defining Rights of Stockholders. Reference is made to
               Registrant's Registration Statement No. 00-111921 on Form 8-A,
               including exhibits thereto, which is incorporated herein by
               reference pursuant to Item 3(c).
  5.1          Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
 23.1          Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors.
 23.2          Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
               Exhibit 5.
 24            Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-4 of this
               Registration Statement.
 99.1          Form of Notice of Grant for Nonstatutory Stock Option
 99.2          Form of Stock Option Agreement for Nonstatutory  Stock Option

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                [Letterhead of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP]
                                        


                               February 10, 1999
                                        
E*TRADE Group, Inc.
Four Embarcadero Plaza
2400 Geng Road
Palo Alto, CA  94303

          Re:  Registration Statement for Offering of an Aggregate of 250,000
               Shares of Common Stock and Related Stock Options
               --------------------------------------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We refer to your registration on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 250,000 shares of
the Common Stock of E*TRADE Group, Inc. (the "Company") issuable under the
Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement (the "Option") between the Company and the
optionee named therein. We advise you that, in our opinion, when such shares
have been issued and sold pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Option,
and in accordance with the Registration Statement, such shares will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of the Company's
Common Stock.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  /s/ Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
                                  BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1


             Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
E*TRADE Group, Inc. on Form S-8 of our report dated November 23, 1998, appearing
in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of E*TRADE Group, Inc. for the year ended
September 30, 1998.



/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
February 10, 1999

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                              E*TRADE GROUP, INC.
                        NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION
                        -------------------------------


          Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option") to
purchase shares of the Common Stock of E*TRADE Group, Inc. (the "Corporation"):

          Optionee:_______________________________________________________
          -------- 
          Grant Date:_____________________________________________________
          ---------- 
          Vesting Commencement Date:______________________________________
          ------------------------- 
          Exercise Price: $___________________________________________ per share
          --------------                            
          Number of Option Shares:___________________________________ shares
          -----------------------                    
          Expiration Date:________________________________________________
          --------------- 
          Type of Option:  Non-Statutory
          --------------   -----------------------------------------------
          Exercise Schedule:  The Option shall become immediately exercisable
          -----------------                                                  
          with respect to all of the Option Shares.

          Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted subject to
and in accordance with the terms of the Stock Option Agreement with Optionee.
Optionee further agrees to be bound by the terms of the Option as set forth in
the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.

          No Employment or Service Contract.  Nothing in this Notice or in the
          ---------------------------------                                   
attached Stock Option Agreement shall confer upon Optionee any right to
continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or
otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) or of Optionee, which rights are
hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate Optionee's Service at any time
for any reason, with or without cause.

          Definitions.  All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the
          -----------                                                      
meaning assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Stock Option
Agreement.

________________________, 1998
         Date


                                       E*TRADE GROUP, INC.
 
 
                                       By:________________________________
 
                                       Title:_____________________________
 
                                       ___________________________________
                                       OPTIONEE
 
                                       Address:___________________________
 
                                       ___________________________________

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2


                              E*TRADE GROUP, INC.
                     NON STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                     ------------------------------------


RECITALS
- --------

          A.   This Agreement is executed in connection with the Corporation's
grant of an option to Optionee.

          B.   All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the attached Appendix.

          NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

          1.   Grant of Option.  The Corporation hereby grants to Optionee, as 
               ---------------   
of the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to the number of Option Shares
specified in the Grant Notice.  The Option Shares shall be purchasable from time
to time during the option term specified in Paragraph 2 at the Exercise Price.

          2.   Option Term.  This option shall have a term of five (5) years
               -----------                                                  
measured from the Grant Date and shall accordingly expire at the close of
business on the Expiration Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with
Paragraph 5.

          3.   Limited Transferability.  This option shall be neither
               -----------------------                               
transferable nor assignable by Optionee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution following Optionee's death and may be exercised, during
Optionee's lifetime, only by Optionee.  However, if this option is designated a
Non-Statutory Option in the Grant Notice, then this option may, in connection
with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in part during
Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's immediate family or
to a trust established for the exclusive benefit of one or more such family
members.  The assigned portion shall be exercisable only by the person or
persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to such
assignment.  The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as
those in effect for this option immediately prior to such assignment and shall
be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator
may deem appropriate.

          4.   Dates of Exercise.  This option is immediately exercisable for
               -----------------                                               
all of the Option Shares.

          5.   Earlier Termination.  The option term specified in Paragraph 2
               -------------------                                           
shall terminate (and this option shall cease to be outstanding) prior to the
Expiration Date should the following provision become applicable:

               Should Optionee die while this option is outstanding, then
     the personal representative of Optionee's estate or the person or persons
     to whom the option is transferred pursuant to Optionee's will or in
     accordance with the laws of descent and distribution shall have the right
     to exercise this option.  Such right shall lapse, and this option shall
     cease to be outstanding, upon the earlier of (A) the expiration of the
                                       -------                             
     twelve (12)- month period measured from the date of Optionee's death or (B)
     the Expiration Date.
<PAGE>
 

          6.   Adjustment in Option Shares.  Should any change be made to the
               ---------------------------                                   
Common Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the total number
and/or class of securities subject to this option and (ii) the Exercise Price in
order to reflect such change and thereby preclude a dilution or enlargement of
benefits hereunder.

          7.   Stockholder Rights.  The holder of this option shall not have any
               ------------------                                               
stockholder rights with respect to the Option Shares until such person shall
have exercised the option, paid the Exercise Price and become a holder of record
of the purchased shares.

          8.   Manner of Exercising Option.
               --------------------------- 

          (a)  In order to exercise this option with respect to all or any part
of the Option Shares for which this option is at the time exercisable, Optionee
(or any other person or persons exercising the option) must take the following
actions:

               (i)    Execute and deliver to the Corporation a Notice of
     Exercise for the Option Shares for which the option is exercised.

               (ii)   Pay the aggregate Exercise Price for the purchased shares
     in one or more of the following forms:

                    (A)  cash or check made payable to the Corporation;

                    (B)  a promissory note payable to the Corporation, but only
          to the extent authorized by the Plan Administrator in accordance with
          Paragraph 13;

                    (C)  shares of Common Stock held by Optionee (or any other
          person or persons exercising the option) for the requisite period
          necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for
          financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the
          Exercise Date; or

                    (D)  to the extent the option is exercised for vested Option
          Shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to
          which Optionee (or any other person or persons exercising the option)
          shall concurrently provide irrevocable written instructions (I) to a
          Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of
          the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale
          proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover
          the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the purchased shares plus all
          applicable Federal, state and local income and employment taxes
          required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such exercise
          and (II) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the
          purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete
          the sale transaction.

               Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is
          utilized in connection with the option exercise, payment of the
          Exercise Price must accompany the Notice of Exercise delivered to the
          Corporation in connection with the option exercise.
<PAGE>
 
               (iii)  Furnish to the Corporation appropriate documentation that
     the person or persons exercising the option (if other than Optionee) have
     the right to exercise this option.

               (iv)   Make appropriate arrangements with the Corporation (or
     Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction
     of all Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding
     requirements applicable to the option exercise.

          (b)  As soon as practical after the Exercise Date, the Corporation
shall issue to or on behalf of Optionee (or any other person or persons
exercising this option) a certificate for the purchased Option Shares, with the
appropriate legends affixed thereto.

          (c)  In no event may this option be exercised for any fractional
shares.

          9.   Compliance with Laws and Regulations.
               ------------------------------------ 

               (a)  The exercise of this option and the issuance of the Option
Shares upon such exercise shall be subject to compliance by the Corporation and
Optionee with all applicable requirements of law relating thereto and with all
applicable regulations of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if
applicable) on which the Common Stock may be listed for trading at the time of
such exercise and issuance.

               (b)  The inability of the Corporation to obtain approval from any
regulatory body having authority deemed by the Corporation to be necessary to
the lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock pursuant to this option shall
relieve the Corporation of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or
sale of the Common Stock as to which such approval shall not have been obtained.
The Corporation, however, shall use its best efforts to obtain all such
approvals.

               (c)  The Corporation agrees to file a registration statement 
covering the Option Shares with the Securities Exchange Commission within one 
year from the date of grant.

          10.  Successors and Assigns.  Except to the extent otherwise provided
               ----------------------                                          
in Paragraphs 3 and 6, the provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of, and be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors and assigns
and Optionee, Optionee's assigns and the legal representatives, heirs and
legatees of Optionee's estate.

          11.  Notices.  Any notice required to be given or delivered to the
               -------                                                      
Corporation under the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and addressed
to the Corporation at its principal corporate offices.  Any notice required to
be given or delivered to Optionee shall be in writing and addressed to Optionee
at the address indicated below Optionee's signature line on the Grant Notice.
All notices shall be deemed effective upon personal delivery or upon deposit in
the U.S. mail, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be
notified.

          12.  Financing.  The Plan Administrator may, in its absolute
               ---------                                              
discretion and without any obligation to do so, permit Optionee to pay the
Exercise Price for the purchased Option Shares by delivering a promissory note
payable to the Corporation.  The terms of any such promissory note (including
the interest rate, the requirements for collateral and the terms of repayment)
shall be established by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion.

          13.  Construction.  This Agreement and the option evidenced hereby are
               ------------                                                     
made and granted pursuant to the Plan and are in all respects limited by and
subject to the terms of the Plan.  All decisions of the Plan Administrator with
respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Agreement shall
be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in this option.

          14.  Governing Law.  The interpretation, performance and enforcement
               -------------                                                  
of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California
without resort to that State's conflict of laws rules.
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT I
                              NOTICE OF EXERCISE
                                        

     I hereby notify E*TRADE Group, Inc. (the "Corporation") that I elect to
purchase ________ shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (the "Purchased
Shares") at the option exercise price of $_________ per share (the "Exercise
Price") pursuant to that certain option (the "Option") granted to me under a
Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement on ____________, 1998.

     Concurrently with the delivery of this Exercise Notice to the Corporation,
I shall hereby pay to the Corporation the Exercise Price for the Purchased
Shares in accordance with the provisions of my agreement with the Corporation
(or other documents) evidencing the Option and shall deliver whatever additional
documents may be required by such agreement as a condition for exercise.
Alternatively, I may utilize the special broker-dealer sale and remittance
procedure specified in my agreement to effect payment of the Exercise Price.


          , 1998
- ----------------
Date

                                       Optionee___________________________
                                       Address:___________________________

Print name in exact manner
it is to appear on the
stock certificate:                     ___________________________________

Address to which certificate
is to be sent, if different
from address above:                    ___________________________________

Social Security Number:                ___________________________________

Associate Number:                      ___________________________________
<PAGE>
 
                                   APPENDIX

          The following definitions shall be in effect under the Agreement:

          A.   Agreement shall mean this Stock Option Agreement.
               ---------                                        

          B.   Associate shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
               ---------                                                     
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.

          C.   Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
               -----                                                 

          D.   Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
               ----                                                          

          E.   Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
               ------------                                           

          F.   Corporation shall mean E*TRADE Group, Inc., a Delaware
               -----------                                           
corporation.

          G.   Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the option shall have
               -------------                                                   
been exercised in accordance with Paragraph 8 of the Agreement.

          H.   Exercise Price shall mean the exercise price per share as
               --------------                                           
specified in the Grant Notice.

          I.   Expiration Date shall mean the date on which the option expires 
               ---------------
as specified in the Grant Notice.

          J.   Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
               -----------------                                               
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:


          (i)  If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq National
          Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the high
          and low selling prices per share of Common Stock on the date in
          question, as the price is reported by the National Association of
          Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market or any successor
          system.  If there is no average of the high and low selling prices per
          share for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair
          Market Value shall be the average of the high and low selling prices
          per share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

          (ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange,
          then the Fair Market Value shall be the average of the high and low
          selling prices per share of Common Stock on the date in question on
          the Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the
          primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially
          quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange.  If
          there is no average of the high and low selling prices per share for
          the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value
          shall be the average of the high and low selling prices per share on
          the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
<PAGE>
 
          K.   Grant Date shall mean the date of grant of the option as 
               ---------- 
specified in the Grant Notice.

          L.   Grant Notice shall mean the Notice of Grant of Stock Option
               ------------                                               
accompanying the Agreement, pursuant to which Optionee has been informed of the
basic terms of the option evidenced hereby.

          M.   Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the
               ----------------                                         
requirements of Code Section 422.

          N.   Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
               ----------                                               
embezzlement or dishonesty by Optionee, any unauthorized use or disclosure by
Optionee of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by Optionee adversely
affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary) in a material manner.  The foregoing definition shall not be deemed
to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the dismissal or discharge of
Optionee or any other individual in the Service of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary).

           O.   Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to 
                -------------------- 
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.

          P.   Notice of Exercise shall mean the notice of exercise in the form
               ------------------                                              
attached hereto as Exhibit I.

          Q.   Option Shares shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock
               -------------                                                
subject to the option as specified in the Grant Notice.

          R.   Optionee shall mean the person to whom the option is granted as
               --------                                                       
specified in the Grant Notice.

          S.   Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
               ------                                                           
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.

          T.   Permanent Disability shall mean the inability of Optionee to
               --------------------                                        
engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to result in death
or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12)
months or more.

          U.   Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1996  Stock Incentive Plan.
               ----                                                         

          V.   Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or a committee of
               ------------------                                              
the Board acting in its administrative capacity under the Plan.

          W.   Service shall mean the Optionee's performance of services for the
               -------                                                          
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in the capacity of an Associate, a
non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent
advisor.

          X.   Stock Exchange shall mean the American Stock Exchange or the New
               --------------                                                  
York Stock Exchange.
<PAGE>
 
          Y.   Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the 
               ---------- 
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.
<PAGE>
 
                                   ADDENDUM
                                      TO
                            STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

          The following provisions are hereby incorporated into, and are hereby
made a part of, that certain Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement") by
and between E*TRADE Group, Inc. (the "Corporation") and ________ ("Optionee")
evidencing the stock option (the "Option") granted on October 22, 1998 ("Option
Grant Date") to Optionee, and such provisions shall be effective as of the
Option Grant Date.  All capitalized terms in this Addendum, to the extent not
otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Option
Agreement.

                       LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT

          1.   Optionee is hereby granted a limited stock appreciation right in
tandem with the Option, exercisable upon the terms set forth below:

               (i)    Should a Hostile Take-Over occur at any time after the
     Option has been outstanding for a period of at least six (6) months
     measured from the Effective Date of this Addendum indicated below, then
     Optionee shall have the unconditional right (exercisable during the thirty
     (30)-day period following such Hostile Take-Over) to surrender the Option
     to the Corporation, to the extent the Option is at the time exercisable for
     vested shares of Common Stock.  In return for the surrendered Option,
     Optionee shall receive a cash distribution from the Corporation in an
     amount equal to the excess of (A) the Take-Over Price of the shares of
     Common Stock which are at the time vested under the surrendered Option (or
     surrendered portion) over (B) the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such
     shares.

               (ii)   To exercise this limited stock appreciation right,
     Optionee must, during the applicable thirty (30)-day exercise period,
     provide the Corporation with written notice of the option surrender in
     which there is specified the number of Option Shares as to which the Option
     is being surrendered. Such notice must be accompanied by the return of
     Optionee's copy of the Option Agreement, together with any written
     amendments to such Agreement.  The cash distribution shall be paid to
     Optionee within five (5) days following such delivery date, and neither the
     approval of the Plan Administrator nor the consent of the Board shall be
     required in connection with such option surrender and cash distribution.
     Upon receipt of such cash distribution, the Option shall be cancelled with
     respect to the Option Shares for which the Option has been surrendered, and
     Optionee shall cease to have any further right to acquire those Option
     Shares under the Option Agreement.  The Option shall, however, remain
     outstanding and exercisable for the balance of the Option Shares (if any)
     in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement, and the Corporation
     shall issue a new stock option agreement (substantially in the same form of
     the surrendered Option Agreement) for those remaining Option Shares.

               (iii)  In no event may this limited stock appreciation right be
     exercised when there is not a positive spread between the Fair Market Value
     of the Option Shares and the aggregate Exercise Price payable for such
     shares.  This limited stock appreciation right shall in all events
     terminate upon the expiration or sooner termination of the option term and
     may not be assigned or transferred by Optionee.

          2.   For purposes of this Addendum, the following definitions shall be
in effect:

               (iv)   A Hostile Take-Over shall be deemed to occur in the event
     (A) any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a
     person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
     common control with, the Corporation) directly or indirectly acquires
     beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of securities possessing more than fifty
     percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
     outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly
     to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not recommend such
     stockholders to accept, and (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the
     securities so 
<PAGE>
 
     acquired in such tender or exchange offer are accepted from holders other
     than the officers and directors of the Corporation subject to the short-
     swing profit restrictions of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
     1934, as amended.

               (v)   The Take-Over Price per share shall be deemed to be equal
     to the greater of (A) the Fair Market Value per Option Share on the option
            -------                                                            
     surrender date or (B) the highest reported price per share of Common Stock
     paid by the tender offeror in effecting the Hostile Take-Over.  However, if
     the surrendered Option is designated as an Incentive Option in the Grant
     Notice, then the Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (A) price per
     share.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, E*TRADE Group, Inc. has caused this Addendum to be
executed by its duly-authorized officer, and Optionee has executed this
Addendum, all effective as of the  Option Grant Date.

                                  E*TRADE GROUP, INC.

                                  By:_____________________________________

                                  Title:__________________________________


                                  ________________________________________
                                  Optionee



OPTION GRANT DATE:  October 22, 1998


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