ATMI INC
S-8, 1998-04-06
GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT, NEC
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 1998


                                                      Registration No. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 ______________

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


                                   ATMI, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                     Delaware                        06-1481060
        (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer
         incorporation or organization)           Identification No.)
                                 ______________

      7 Commerce Drive, Danbury, Connecticut             06810
     (Address of Principal Executive Offices)         (Zip Code)
                                 ______________

                                   ATMI, Inc.
                                 1997 Stock Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 ______________

                                Eugene G. Banucci
                             Chief Executive Officer
                                   ATMI, Inc.
                                7 Commerce Drive
                           Danbury, Connecticut 06810
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 ______________

                                 (203) 794-1100
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                 ______________

                                    Copy to:

                              Frank J. Marco, Esq.
                              Shipman & Goodwin LLP
                                One American Row
                           Hartford, Connecticut 06103
                                 (860) 251-5000


<TABLE>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Proposed               Proposed maximum
  Title of Securities             Amount to be           maximum offering          aggregate offering         Amount of
    to be registered               Registered            price per unit (1)              price (1)        registration fee
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>                        <C>                     <C>                    <C>
Common Stock, par value
$.01                                900,000                    $30.09                  $27,081,000            $7,988.90
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>

(1)     Estimated  solely for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee.  Pursuant to Rule  457(h),  the
        proposed  maximum  offering  price per share is based on the average of the high and low price per share of
        $30.09 on March 31, 1998, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.
</FN>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
                                      PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     The Section 10(a)  prospectus being delivered by ATMI, Inc. (the "Company")
to  participants in the Company's 1997 Stock Plan, as required by Rule 428 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), has been prepared
in accordance with the  requirements of Form S-8 and relates to shares of Common
Stock,  par value $.01 per share,  issued or reserved for  issuance  pursuant to
awards granted under the 1997 Stock Plan. The information with respect to awards
granted under the 1997 Stock Plan  required in the Section  10(a)  prospectus is
included in documents being  maintained and delivered by the Company as required
by Rule 428 under the Securities  Act. The Company shall provide to participants
a written  statement  advising them of the  availability  without  charge,  upon
written or oral request,  of documents  incorporated by reference  herein, as is
required by Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The  following  documents  are hereby  incorporated  by  reference  in this
registration statement:

     (a) The Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
31, 1997; and

     (b) The  description  of the  common  stock  of the  Company's  predecessor
registrant,  Advanced  Technology  Materials,  Inc. ("ATM"),  contained in ATM's
registration  statement on Form 8-A filed on October 29, 1993, which description
was amended on Form 8-A/A filed on  November  11,  1993,  and any  amendment  or
report filed for the purpose of further updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which  indicates that all securities  offered hereby have been sold or
which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold,  shall be deemed to
be  incorporated  by reference  in this  registration  statement  and to be part
thereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in a
document  incorporated  or  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  in  this
registration statement 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 other  subsequently  filed  document  which also is or 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.

     This Item is not applicable.

Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     As of  the  date  of  this  registration  statement,  7,714  shares  of the
Company's Common Stock are  beneficially  owned by lawyers employed at Shipman &
Goodwin LLP, counsel to the Company.

Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  provides  that the personal
liability of the directors of the Company shall be limited to the fullest extent
permitted  by the  provisions  of  Section  102(b)(7)  of the  Delaware  General
Corporation  Law,  as  amended  (the  "DGCL").  Section  102(b)(7)  of the  DGCL
generally provides that no director shall be liable personally to the Company or
its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages  for  breach  of  fiduciary  duty as a
director;  however,  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  does not eliminate the
liability of a director for (i)any breach of the director's  duty of loyalty to
the Company or its  stockholders;  (ii)acts or  omissions  not in good faith or
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii)acts or
omissions in respect of certain unlawful  dividend payments or stock redemptions
or  repurchases;  or  (iv)any  transaction  from  which such  director  derives
improper  personal  benefit.  The effect of this  provision is to eliminate  the
rights of the Company and its  stockholders  (through  stockholders'  derivative
suits on behalf of the Company) to recover  monetary  damages against a director
for  breach  of his or her  fiduciary  duty  of care  as a  director  (including
breaches  resulting from negligent or grossly negligent  behavior) except in the
situations  described  in  clauses  (i)  through  (iv)  above.  The  limitations
summarized  above,  however,  do not  affect the  ability of the  Company or its
stockholders to seek nonmonetary remedies,  such as an injunction or rescission,
against a director for breach of his or her fiduciary duty.

     In addition,  the Company's Certificate of Incorporation  provides that the
Company  shall,  to the  fullest  extent  permitted  by Section 145 of the DGCL,
indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 145 of the DGCL  permits a company to  indemnify  an officer or director
who was or is a party  or is  threatened  to be made a party  to any  proceeding
because of his or her position,  if the officer or director  acted in good faith
and in a manner he or she  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed to the
best  interests  of the Company  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may
be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling the Company pursuant
to the foregoing  provisions,  the Company has been informed 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.

     The Company maintains  insurance for officers and directors against certain
liabilities,  including liabilities under the Securities Act. The effect of this
insurance  is to  indemnify  any  officer or  director  of the  Company  against
expenses,  including, without limitation,  attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and
amounts  paid  in  settlement,  incurred  by  an  officer  or  director  upon  a
determination that such person acted in good faith.

Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

     This Item is not applicable.


<PAGE>
Item 8.    Exhibits.

Exhibit No.                         Description

4.1(a)         Certificate of  Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.01 to the
               Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed September 10,
               1997,   File  No.   333-35323   (the   "Form   S-4   Registration
               Statement")). (1)

4.1(b)         Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (Exhibit
               4.1(b)  to  the  Company's  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  1  to
               Registration  Statement  on Form S-8,  filed  October  10,  1997,
               Registration No. 33-77060). (1)

4.2            Bylaws of the Company  (Exhibit 3.02 to the Form S-4 Registration
               Statement). (1)

5.1            Opinion  of  Shipman  &  Goodwin  LLP as to the  legality  of the
               securities being registered. (2)

23.1           Consent of Shipman & Goodwin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). (2)

23.2           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. (2)

23.3           Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP. (2)

24.1           Power  of  Attorney  (included  in the  signature  page  of  this
               registration statement). (2)

99.1           The Company's 1997 Stock Plan. (2)

__________________________

(1)      Incorporated by reference.

(2)      Filed herewith.


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 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.

     (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 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 or  Section  15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  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  provisions,  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
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  Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to  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 Danbury, State of Connecticut, on April 6, 1998.

                       ATMI,  INC.

                       By:/s/ Eugene G. Banucci
                          Eugene G. Banucci, President, Chief Executive Officer
                          and Chairman of the Board

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know All  Persons  by These  Presents,  that each  person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes and appoints  Eugene G. Banucci,  Ph.D. and Daniel P.
Sharkey,  and each of them,  his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,
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
(including  post-effective  amendments) to this Registration  Statement,  and to
file  same,  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection
therewith,  with full power and  authority  to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite or 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  attorneys-in-fact  and agents or any of them, of
their 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 dates indicated.

     Signature                          Title                            Date


 /s/Eugene G. Banucci      President, Chief Executive Officer,   April 6, 1998
Eugene G. Banucci, Ph.D.      Chairman of the Board and
                              Director (principal executive
                              officer)

/s/Daniel P. Sharkey       Vice President, Treasurer and Chief   April 6, 1998
 Daniel P. Sharkey            Financial Officer (principal
                              financial and accounting officer)


/s/Mark A. Adley           Director                              April 6, 1998
Mark A. Adley


/s/John A. Armstrong       Director                              April 6, 1998
John A. Armstrong


/s/Lamonte H. Lawrence     Director                              April 6, 1998
Lamonte H. Lawrence


/s/Robert S. Hillas        Director                              April 6, 1998
Robert S. Hillas


/s/Stephen H. Mahle        Director                              April 6, 1998
Stephen H. Mahle


/s/Stephen H. Siegele      Director                              April 6, 1998
Stephen H. Siegele



36720_2C.DOC

<PAGE>
                                  Exhibit Index

                                                                   Sequentially
                                                                      Numbered
Exhibit No.                        Description                           Page

  4.1(a)       Certificate  of   Incorporation   of  the  Company
               (Exhibit  3.01  to  the   Company's   Registration
               Statement on Form S-4,  filed  September 10, 1997,
               File No.  333-35323  (the  "Form S-4  Registration
               Statement")). (1)

  4.1(b)       Certificate   of  Amendment  to   Certificate   of
               Incorporation  (Exhibit  4.1(b)  to the  Company's
               Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  1 to  Registration
               Statement  on Form S-8,  filed  October 10,  1997,
               Registration No. 33-77060). (1)

  4.2          Bylaws of the  Company  (Exhibit  3.02 to the Form
               S-4 Registration Statement). (1)

  5.1          Opinion  of  Shipman  &  Goodwin  LLP  as  to  the
               legality of the Securities being registered. (2)

  23.1         Consent  of  Shipman & Goodwin  LLP  (included  in
               Exhibit 5.1). (2)

  23.2         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP. (2)

  23.3         Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP. (2)

  24.1         Power of Attorney  (included in the signature page
               of this registration statement). (2)

  99.1         The Company's 1997 Stock Plan. (2)

______________________

(1)      Incorporated by reference.

(2)      Filed herewith.




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Exhibit 5.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------








                                                     April 6, 1998


Board of Directors
ATMI, Inc.
7 Commerce Drive
Danbury, CT  06810

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8
                  Relating to Shares of Common Stock of
                  ATMI, Inc. Issuable under its 1997 Stock Plan

Gentlemen:

     As counsel for ATMI, Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  we are
furnishing you with this opinion in connection with the issuance of a maximum of
900,000  shares of Common  Stock of the Company (the  "Shares")  pursuant to the
above-referenced  Plan (the "Plan"), to which the above-referenced  Registration
Statement relates.

     We have  examined  such  originals  or copies of  corporate  records of the
Company,  certificates  of public  officials  and of officers of the Company and
other documents, have obtained such assurances from officers and representatives
of the  Company,  have made such  other  factual  inquiries,  and have made such
examination  of law,  as we have  deemed  proper and  necessary  to enable us to
render this opinion.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Shares will, when issued
as contemplated by the Plan and said Registration  Statement, be duly authorized
and legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

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

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Shipman & Goodwin LLP


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Exhibit 23.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                         Consent of Independent Auditors


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
on  Form  S-8 of our  report  dated  February  11,  1998,  with  respect  to the
consolidated  financial  statements and schedule of ATMI,  Inc.  included in its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997,  filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                                     /s/ Ernst & Young LLP



Stamford, CT
March 31, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Exhibit 23.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       Consent of Independent Accountants

     We hereby consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of ATMI, Inc. of our report dated May 17, 1997, except for
the last paragraph of Note 3 which is as of July 29, 1997 and the last paragraph
of Note 6 which is as of December 18, 1997, pertaining to the combined financial
statement of Lawrence Semiconductor Laboratories, Inc. and Affiliate included in
ATMI, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. It
should be  noted,  however,  that such  financial  statements  are not  included
separately in the form 10-K. We also consent to the  application  of such report
to the Financial  Statement  Schedule for the two years ended  December 31, 1996
included  in the Form 10-K when such  schedule is read in  conjunction  with the
financial  statements  referred to in our report. The audits referred to in such
report also included this schedule.


/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
March 31, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Exhibit 99.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   ATMI, INC.

                                 1997 STOCK PLAN



SECTION 1.  Purpose

     The purpose of the 1997 Stock Plan (the "Plan") is to secure for ATMI, Inc.
(the  "Company"),  its  parent  (if any)  and any  subsidiaries  of the  Company
(collectively  the "Related  Companies") the benefits arising from capital stock
ownership and the receipt of capital stock-based  incentives by those employees,
directors, officers and consultants of the Company and any Related Companies who
will be responsible for the Company's future growth and continued success.

     The Plan will provide a means  whereby (a) employees of the Company and any
Related  Companies may purchase  stock in the Company  pursuant to options which
qualify as "incentive stock options"  ("Incentive  Stock Options") under Section
422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  of  1986,  as  amended  (the  "Code"),  (b)
directors,  employees and  consultants of the Company and any Related  Companies
may purchase stock in the Company pursuant to options granted hereunder which do
not qualify as Incentive Stock Options ("Non-Qualified Option" or "Non-Qualified
Options");  (c)  directors,  employees  and  consultants  of the Company and any
Related  Companies  may be  awarded  stock in the  Company  ("Awards");  and (d)
directors,  employees and  consultants of the Company and any Related  Companies
may receive stock appreciation rights ("SARs"). Both Incentive Stock Options and
Non-Qualified Options are referred to hereafter  individually as an "Option" and
collectively as "Options." As used herein,  the terms "parent" and  "subsidiary"
mean  "parent  corporation"  and  "subsidiary  corporation"  as those  terms are
defined in Section  424 of the Code.  Options,  Awards and SARs are  referred to
hereafter  individually as a "Plan Benefit" and collectively as "Plan Benefits."
Directors,  employees and  consultants of the Company and any Related  Companies
are referred to herein as "Participants."


SECTION 2.  Administration

     2.1 Board of Directors and the Committee.  The Plan will be administered by
the Board of Directors of the Company whose  construction and  interpretation of
the terms and provisions  hereof shall be final and conclusive.  Any director to
whom a Plan Benefit is awarded  shall be ineligible to vote upon his or her Plan
Benefit,  but Plan Benefits may be granted to any such director by a vote of the
remainder of the directors,  except as limited below. The Board of Directors may
in its sole  discretion  grant  Options,  issue  shares  upon  exercise  of such
Options,  grant Awards and grant SARs all as provided in the Plan.  The Board of
Directors shall have authority,  subject to the express  provisions of the Plan,
to construe the Plan and its related agreements, to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules  and  regulations  relating  to the  Plan,  to  determine  the  terms  and
provisions of the respective Option, Award and SAR agreements, which need not be
identical,  and to make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board of
Directors  necessary or desirable for the  administration of the Plan. The Board
of  Directors  may correct any defect or supply any  omission or  reconcile  any
inconsistency  in the Plan or in any related  agreement in the manner and to the
extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the
sole and final judge of such  expediency.  No  director  shall be liable for any
action or determination  made in good faith. The Board of Directors may delegate
any or all of its powers  under the Plan to a  Compensation  Committee  or other
Committee (the "Committee") appointed by the Board of Directors consisting of at
least two members of the Board of Directors. If Plan Benefits are to be approved
solely by a Committee,  the members of the Committee  shall at all times be: (i)
"outside  directors" as that term is defined in Treas. Reg.  S1.162-27(e)(3) (or
any successor regulation);  and (ii) "non-employee directors" within the meaning
of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the  "Exchange  Act"),  as such terms are  interpreted  from time to
time. If the Committee is so appointed, all references to the Board of Directors
herein  shall mean and relate to such  Committee,  unless the context  otherwise
requires.

     2.2 Compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code.  Section 162(m) of the Code
generally   limits  the  tax   deductibility   to  publicly  held  companies  of
compensation  in  excess  of  $1,000,000  paid to  certain  "covered  employees"
("Covered   Employees").   It  is  the  Company's   intention  to  preserve  the
deductibility  of such  compensation to the extent it is reasonably  practicable
and to the extent it is consistent with the Company's  compensation  objectives.
For  purposes of this Plan,  Covered  Employees  of the  Company  shall be those
employees of the Company described in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.


SECTION 3.  Eligibility

     3.1  Incentive  Stock  Options.  Participants  who are  employees  shall be
eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options pursuant to the Plan;  provided that
no person shall be granted any Incentive Stock Option under the Plan who, at the
time such Option is granted,  owns, directly or indirectly,  Common Stock of the
Company  possessing  more than 10% of the  total  combined  voting  power of all
classes  of  stock  of the  Company  or of its  Related  Companies,  unless  the
requirements of Section 6.6(b) hereof are satisfied. In determining whether this
10% threshold has been reached, the stock attribution rules of Section 424(d) of
the Code shall apply.  Directors who are not regular  employees are not eligible
to receive Incentive Stock Options.

     3.2 Non-Qualified Options,  Awards and SARs.  Non-Qualified Options, Awards
and SARs may be granted to any Participant.

     3.3  Generally.  The  Board of  Directors  may take  into  consideration  a
Participant's  individual  circumstances  in  determining  whether  to  grant an
Incentive Stock Option, a Non-Qualified  Option, an Award or an SAR. Granting of
any  Option,  Award  or SAR for  any  Participant  shall  neither  entitle  that
Participant to, nor disqualify that Participant from, participation in any other
grant of Plan Benefits.


SECTION 4.  Stock Subject to Plan

     Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 9 and 10 hereof, the stock to
be offered under the Plan shall consist of shares of the Company's Common Stock,
$.01 par value,  and the maximum  number of shares  which will be  reserved  for
issuance,  and in respect of which Plan Benefits may be granted  pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan, shall not exceed in the aggregate  900,000 shares.  Such
shares  may be  authorized  and  unissued  shares,  treasury  shares  or  shares
purchased on the open market. If an Option or SAR granted hereunder shall expire
or terminate  for any reason  without  having been  exercised in full, or if the
Company shall  reacquire  any unvested  shares  issued  pursuant to Awards,  the
unpurchased  shares subject thereto and any unvested shares so reacquired  shall
again be available for subsequent  grants of Plan Benefits under the Plan. Stock
issued  pursuant to the Plan may be subject to such  restrictions  on  transfer,
repurchase  rights or other  restrictions as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors.


SECTION 5.  Granting of Options, SARs and Awards

     Plan  Benefits may be granted  under the Plan at any time after October 10,
1997 (the date of approval of the Plan by the  stockholders  of the Company) and
prior to October 9, 2007; provided,  however,  that nothing in the Plan shall be
construed to obligate  the Company to grant Plan  Benefits to a  Participant  or
anyone  claiming  under  or  through  a  Participant.  The date of grant of Plan
Benefits  under the Plan will be the date specified by the Board of Directors at
the time the Board of Directors  grants such Plan Benefits;  provided,  however,
that  such date  shall not be prior to the date on which the Board of  Directors
takes such action. The Board of Directors shall have the right, with the consent
of a Participant, to convert an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan to
a  Non-Qualified  Option  pursuant to Section 6.7.  Plan Benefits may be granted
alone or in addition to other grants under the Plan.


SECTION 6.  Special Provisions Applicable to Options and SARs

     6.1 Purchase Price and Shares Subject to Options and SARs.

          (a) The purchase price per share of Common Stock  deliverable upon the
exercise of an Option shall be determined  by the Board of Directors;  provided,
however,  that (i) in the case of an Incentive Stock Option,  the exercise price
shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of such Common Stock on the
day the Option is granted  (except as modified in Section  6.6(b)  hereof),  and
(ii) in the case of a Non-Qualified Option, the exercise price shall not be less
than 50% of the fair market value on the day such Option is granted.

          (b) Options  granted under the Plan may provide for the payment of the
exercise  price by delivery  of (i) cash or a check  payable to the order of the
Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of such Options, (ii) shares of
Common Stock of the Company owned by the Participant  having a fair market value
equal in amount to the exercise price of the Options being  exercised,  or (iii)
any  combination  of (i) and (ii).  The fair  market  value of any shares of the
Company's  Common Stock which may be delivered  upon exercise of an Option shall
be determined by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may also permit
Participants,  either on a  selective  or  aggregate  basis,  to  simultaneously
exercise Options and sell the shares of Common Stock thereby acquired,  pursuant
to a  brokerage  or  similar  arrangement,  approved  in advance by the Board of
Directors,  and to use the  proceeds  from such sale as payment of the  purchase
price of such shares.

          (c) If, at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, the Company's
Common Stock is publicly  traded,  "fair market value" shall be determined as of
the last business day for which the prices or quotes  discussed in this sentence
are  available  prior to the date such  Option is  granted  (the  "Determination
Date") and shall mean (i) the  average (on the  Determination  Date) of the high
and low prices of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange
on which the Common  Stock is traded,  if such Common  Stock is then traded on a
national  securities  exchange;  (ii)  the  last  reported  sale  price  (on the
Determination Date) of the Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market if the Common
Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange; or (iii) the closing
bid price (or average of bid prices) last quoted (on the Determination  Date) by
an established quotation service for over-the-counter  securities, if the Common
Stock is not reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market.  However,  if the Common Stock
is not publicly  traded at the time an Option is granted  under the Plan,  "fair
market  value"  shall be  deemed  to be the fair  value of the  Common  Stock as
determined by the Board of Directors after taking into consideration all factors
which it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer
prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at arm's length.

          (d) The maximum number of shares with respect to which Options or SARs
may be granted to any  employee,  including  any  transactions  contemplated  by
Treas. Reg. S1.162(e)(2)(vi), shall be limited to 112,500 shares in any calendar
year.

     6.2 Duration of Options and SARs.  Subject to Section 6.6(b)  hereof,  each
Option and SAR and all rights  thereunder  shall be  expressed to expire on such
date as the Board of  Directors  may  determine,  but in no event later than ten
years from the day on which the Option or SAR is granted and shall be subject to
earlier termination as provided herein.

     6.3 Exercise of Options and SARs.

          (a)  Subject to Section  6.6(b)  hereof,  each  Option and SAR granted
under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times and during such period
as shall be set forth in the  instrument  evidencing  such Option or SAR. To the
extent that an Option or SAR is not exercised by a  Participant  when it becomes
initially  exercisable,  it shall not expire but shall be  carried  forward  and
shall be  exercisable,  on a  cumulative  basis,  until  the  expiration  of the
exercise  period.  No partial exercise may be for less than ten (10) full shares
of Common Stock (or its equivalent).

          (b) The Board of Directors shall have the right to accelerate the date
of exercise of any installments of any Option or SAR; provided that the Board of
Directors  shall not  accelerate  the exercise  date of any  installment  of any
Option granted to a Participant as an Incentive Stock Option (and not previously
converted  into  a  Non-Qualified  Option  pursuant  to  Section  6.7)  if  such
acceleration  would violate the annual vesting  limitation  contained in Section
422(d)(1) of the Code,  which provides  generally that the aggregate fair market
value  (determined  at the time the Option is granted) of the stock with respect
to which  Incentive Stock Options granted to any Participant are exercisable for
the first time by such Participant  during any calendar year (under all plans of
the Company and any Related Companies) shall not exceed $100,000.

     6.4  Nontransferability of Options and SARs. No Option or SAR granted under
the  Plan  shall  be  assignable  or  transferable  by the  Participant,  either
voluntarily  or by operation  of law,  except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution  or, with  respect to  Non-Qualified  Options and SARs,  unless the
Participant's  non-qualified  stock option agreement  granting such options (the
"Non-Qualified  Stock Option  Agreement")  or the  Participant's  SAR  agreement
granting such SARs (the "SAR Agreement")  provides  otherwise.  Unless otherwise
provided by the  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Agreement or the SAR Agreement,  as
applicable,  during  the life of the  Participant,  the  Option  or SAR shall be
exercisable  only by the  Participant.  If any  Participant  should  attempt  to
dispose  of or  encumber  the  Participant's  Options  or  SARs,  other  than in
accordance with the applicable  terms of a Non-Qualified  Stock Option Agreement
or SAR  Agreement,  the  Participant's  interest  in such  Options or SARs shall
terminate.

     6.5 Effect of Termination of Employment or Death on Options and SARs.

          (a) Except as otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Plan
Benefit,  if a  Participant  ceases to be  employed  by the Company or a Related
Company for any reason, including retirement but other than death, any Option or
SAR  granted to such  Participant  under the Plan shall  immediately  terminate;
provided,  however,  that,  except  as  otherwise  provided  in  the  instrument
evidencing  the Plan  Benefit,  any  portion  of such  Option  or SAR  which was
otherwise exercisable on the date of termination of the Participant's employment
may be exercised  within the three-month  period following the date on which the
Participant  ceased to be so employed,  but in no event after the  expiration of
the exercise period.  Except as otherwise provided in the instrument  evidencing
the Plan Benefit, any such exercise may be made only to the extent of the number
of shares subject to the Option or SAR which were  purchasable or exercisable on
the date of such termination of employment.  If the Participant dies during such
three-month  period, the Option or SAR shall be exercisable by the Participant's
personal  representatives,  heirs or  legatees to the same extent and during the
same period that the  Participant  could have exercised the Option or SAR on the
date  of his or her  death,  except  as  otherwise  provided  in the  instrument
evidencing the Plan Benefit.

          (b) Except as otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Plan
Benefit, if the Participant dies while an employee of the Company or any Related
Company,  any Option or SAR granted to such Participant  under the Plan shall be
exercisable by the Participant's  personal  representatives,  heirs or legatees,
for the  purchase  of or  exercise  relative to that number of shares and to the
same extent that the  Participant  could have exercised the Option or SAR on the
date  of his or her  death.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in the  instrument
evidencing  the Plan  Benefit,  the  Option  or SAR or any  unexercised  portion
thereof  shall  terminate  unless  so  exercised  prior  to the  earlier  of the
expiration  of six months from the date of such death or the  expiration  of the
exercise period.

     6.6  Designation of Incentive Stock Options;  Limitations.  Options granted
under the Plan which are intended to be Incentive Stock Options qualifying under
Section 422 of the Code shall be designated as Incentive Stock Options and shall
be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:

          (a) Dollar Limitation.  The aggregate fair market value (determined at
the time the option is granted) of the Common  Stock for which  Incentive  Stock
Options  are  exercisable  for the first time  during any  calendar  year by any
person under the Plan (and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company
and any Related Companies) shall not exceed $100,000.  In the event that Section
422(d)(1) of the Code is amended to alter the  limitation  set forth  therein so
that following such amendment such  limitation  shall differ from the limitation
set forth in this Section 6.6(a), the limitation of this Section 6.6(a) shall be
automatically adjusted accordingly.

          (b) 10%  Stockholder.  If any  Participant to whom an Incentive  Stock
Option is to be granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan is on the date of
grant the owner of stock  possessing  more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Companies,  then the
following  special  provisions shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Option
granted to such individual:

             (i) The option price per share of the Common Stock  subject to such
Incentive  Stock  Option shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of
one share of Common Stock on the date of grant; and

             (ii) The option  exercise  period  shall not exceed five years from
the date of grant.

          In determining  whether the 10% threshold has been reached,  the stock
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.

          (c) Except as modified by the  preceding  provisions  of this  Section
6.6, all of the  provisions of the Plan shall be  applicable to Incentive  Stock
Options granted hereunder.

     6.7  Conversion  of Incentive  Stock  Options into  Non-Qualified  Options;
Termination of Incentive Stock Options.  The Board of Directors,  at the written
request of any  Participant,  may in its discretion  take such actions as may be
necessary  to  convert  such  Participant's  Incentive  Stock  Options  (or  any
installments or portions of  installments  thereof) that have not been exercised
on the date of conversion  into  Non-Qualified  Options at any time prior to the
expiration  of  such  Incentive   Stock  Options,   regardless  of  whether  the
Participant  is an employee  of the Company or a Related  Company at the time of
such conversion.  Such actions may include, but not be limited to, extending the
exercise period or reducing the exercise price of the  appropriate  installments
of such Options.  At the time of such  conversion,  the Board of Directors (with
the consent of the  Participant)  may impose such  conditions on the exercise of
the resulting  Non-Qualified Options as the Board of Directors in its discretion
may determine,  provided that such conditions shall not be inconsistent with the
Plan.  Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any  Participant the right to
have such  Participant's  Incentive Stock Options  converted into  Non-Qualified
Options,  and no such  conversion  shall  occur  until and  unless  the Board of
Directors takes appropriate action. The Board of Directors,  with the consent of
the  Participant,  may also terminate any portion of any Incentive  Stock Option
that has not been exercised at the time of such termination.

     6.8 Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  An SAR is the right to  receive,  without
payment,  an amount  equal to the excess,  if any, of the fair market value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the grant price, which amount
will be  multiplied by the number of shares with respect to which the SARs shall
have been  exercised.  The grant of SARs  under the Plan shall be subject to the
following  terms and  conditions  and shall  contain such  additional  terms and
conditions, not inconsistent with the express terms of the Plan, as the Board of
Directors shall deem desirable:

          (a) Grant.  SARs may be  granted in tandem  with,  in  addition  to or
completely independent of any Plan Benefit.

          (b)  Grant  Price.  The grant  price of an SAR may be the fair  market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant or such other price as the
Board of Directors may determine.

          (c) Exercise.  An SAR may be exercised by a Participant  in accordance
with procedures  established by the Board of Directors or as otherwise  provided
in any agreement evidencing any SARs. The Board of Directors may provide that an
SAR shall be automatically exercised on one or more specified dates.

          (d) Form of Payment.  Payment  upon  exercise of an SAR may be made in
cash,  in shares of Common  Stock or any  combination  thereof,  as the Board of
Directors shall determine.

          (e) Fair Market  Value.  Fair  market  value  shall be  determined  in
accordance with Section 6.1(c) with the "Determination Date" being determined by
reference to the date of grant or the date of exercise of an SAR, as applicable.

     6.9  Rights  as a  Stockholder.  A  Participant  shall  have no rights as a
stockholder  with  respect to any  shares  covered by an Option or SAR until the
date of issue of a stock certificate to the Participant for such shares.  Except
as otherwise  expressly  provided in the Plan, no  adjustment  shall be made for
dividends  or other  rights for which the record  date is prior to the date such
stock certificate is issued.

     6.10  Special  Provisions  Applicable  to  Non-Qualified  Options  and SARs
Granted  to  Covered  Employees.  In order for the full  value of  Non-Qualified
Options and SARs granted to Covered  Employees to be  deductible  by the Company
for federal income tax purposes,  the Company may intend for such  Non-Qualified
Options and SARs to be treated as "qualified performance-based  compensation" as
described in Treas.  Reg.  S1.162-27(e) (or any successor  regulation).  In such
case,  Non-Qualified  Options  and SARs  granted to Covered  Employees  shall be
subject to the following additional requirements:

          (a) such options and rights  shall be granted  only by the  Committee;
and

          (b) the  exercise  price of such  Options  and the grant price of such
SARs granted  shall in no event be less than the fair market value of the Common
Stock as of the date of grant of such Options or SARs.


SECTION 7.  Special Provisions Applicable to Awards

     7.1 Grants of Awards.  The Board of Directors  may grant a  Participant  an
Award  subject  to such terms and  conditions  as the Board of  Directors  deems
appropriate,  including, without limitation, restrictions on the pledging, sale,
assignment,  transfer or other  disposition  of such shares and the  requirement
that the Participant forfeit all or a portion of such shares back to the Company
upon termination of employment.

     7.2  Conditions.  Approvals  of  Awards  may be  subject  to the  following
conditions:

          (a) Each Participant  receiving an Award shall enter into an agreement
(a "Stock Restriction  Agreement") with the Company, if required by the Board of
Directors,  in a form specified by the Board of Directors agreeing to such terms
and conditions of the Award as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

          (b) Shares  issued and  transferred  to a  Participant  pursuant to an
Award  may,  if  required  by the  Board of  Directors,  be  deposited  with the
Treasurer or other  officer of the Company  designated by the Board of Directors
to be held  until  the  lapse of the  restrictions  upon  such  shares,  and the
Participant  shall execute and deliver to the Company stock powers  enabling the
Company to exercise its rights hereunder.

          (c)  Certificates for shares issued pursuant to an Award shall, if the
Company  shall  deem it  advisable,  bear a legend to the  effect  that they are
issued subject to specified restrictions.

          (d)  Certificates  representing the shares issued pursuant to an Award
shall be  registered in the name of the  Participant  and shall be owned by such
Participant.  Such Participant  shall be the holder of record of such shares for
all  purposes,  including  voting and receipt of dividends  paid with respect to
such shares.

          (e) If required by the Board of Directors, no Participant receiving an
Award shall make, in connection  with such Award,  the election  permitted under
Section 83(b) of the Code.

     7.3 Nontransferability. Shares issued pursuant to an Award may not be sold,
assigned,  transferred,  alienated, commuted, anticipated, or otherwise disposed
of (except,  subject to the provisions of such  Participant's  Stock Restriction
Agreement,  by will or the laws of  descent  and  distribution),  or  pledged or
hypothecated  as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any
obligation,  or be  otherwise  encumbered,  and are not  subject to  attachment,
garnishment,  execution or other legal or equitable process,  prior to the lapse
of restrictions on such shares,  and any attempt at action in  contravention  of
this  Section  shall be null and void.  If any  Participant  should  attempt  to
dispose of or encumber  the  Participant's  shares  issued  pursuant to an Award
prior to the lapse of the restrictions imposed on such shares, the Participant's
interest in such shares shall terminate.

     7.4 Effect of  Termination  of  Employment  or Death on  Awards.  Except as
otherwise  provided in the instrument  evidencing  the Awards,  if, prior to the
lapse of  restrictions  applicable to Awards,  the  Participant  ceases to be an
employee of the Company or the Related Companies for any reason,  Awards to such
Participant, as to which restrictions have not lapsed, shall be forfeited to the
Company,  effective on the date of the Participant's  termination of employment.
The Board of Directors  shall have the sole power to decide in each case to what
extent leaves of absence shall be deemed a termination of employment.


SECTION 8.  Requirements of Law

     8.1  Violations  of Law.  No shares  shall be  issued  and  delivered  upon
exercise  of any  Option or the  making of any Award or the  payment  of any SAR
unless and until,  in the opinion of counsel  for the  Company,  any  applicable
registration  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, any applicable listing
requirements  of any  national  securities  exchange  on which stock of the same
class is then listed,  and any other  requirements  of law or of any  regulatory
bodies having  jurisdiction  over such  issuance and  delivery,  shall have been
fully  complied with.  Each  Participant  may, by accepting  Plan  Benefits,  be
required to represent  and agree in writing,  for himself or herself and for his
or her  transferees  by will or the laws of descent and  distribution,  that the
stock  acquired  by him,  her or them is  being  acquired  for  investment.  The
requirement for any such  representation  may be waived at any time by the Board
of Directors.

     8.2 Compliance  with Rule 16b-3.  The intent of this Plan is to qualify for
the  exemption  provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent any
provision of the Plan does not comply with the  requirements  of Rule 16b-3,  it
shall be deemed  inoperative to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable
by the Board of Directors  and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the
event Rule 16b-3 is revised or  replaced,  the Board of  Directors  may exercise
discretion  to  modify  this  Plan  in any  respect  necessary  to  satisfy  the
requirements of the revised exemption or its replacement.


SECTION 9.  Recapitalization

     In the event that  dividends  are payable in Common Stock of the Company or
in the event there are splits, sub-divisions or combinations of shares of Common
Stock of the  Company,  the number of shares  available  under the Plan shall be
increased  or decreased  proportionately,  as the case may be, and the number of
shares deliverable upon the exercise thereafter of any Option previously granted
shall be  increased or decreased  proportionately,  as the case may be,  without
change  in the  aggregate  purchase  price,  and the  number  of shares to which
granted SARs relate shall be increased or decreased proportionately, as the case
may be,  and the  grant  price of such  SARs  shall be  decreased  or  increased
proportionately, as the case may be.


SECTION 10.  Reorganization

     If the Company is merged,  consolidated  with another  corporation  and the
Company  is not the  Surviving  Corporation,  or the  property  or  stock of the
Company is acquired by any other  corporation or in the case of a reorganization
or  liquidation  of the Company,  the Board of Directors of the Company,  or the
board of directors of any  corporation  assuming the  obligations of the Company
hereunder,  shall,  as  to  outstanding  Plan  Benefits,  (i)  make  appropriate
provision  for the  protection  of any such  outstanding  Plan  Benefits  by the
substitution on an equitable basis of appropriate stock of the Company or of the
merged, consolidated or otherwise reorganized corporation which will be issuable
in respect of the shares of Common Stock of the Company;  provided only that the
excess of the  aggregate  fair  market  value of the shares  subject to the Plan
Benefits  immediately  after such  substitution over the purchase or grant price
thereof is not more than the excess of the  aggregate  fair market  value of the
shares subject to such Plan Benefits  immediately  before such substitution over
the  purchase  or  grant  price  thereof,   (ii)  upon  written  notice  to  the
Participants,  provide  that all  unexercised  Plan  Benefits  must be exercised
within a  specified  number  of days of the  date of such  notice  or such  Plan
Benefits will be terminated,  or (iii) upon written notice to the  Participants,
provide that the Company or the merged,  consolidated  or otherwise  reorganized
corporation  shall have the right,  upon the effective  date of any such merger,
consolidation,  sale of assets or reorganization,  to purchase all Plan Benefits
held by each  Participant  and unexercised as of that date at an amount equal to
the aggregate  fair market value on such date of the shares  subject to the Plan
Benefits held by such  Participant  over the  aggregate  purchase or grant price
therefor,  such  amount  to be  paid  in  cash  or,  if  stock  of  the  merged,
consolidated or otherwise reorganized  corporation is issuable in respect of the
shares of the Common Stock of the Company,  then, in the discretion of the Board
of Directors,  in stock of such merged,  consolidated  or otherwise  reorganized
corporation equal in fair market value to the aforesaid amount. In any such case
the Board of Directors  shall,  in good faith,  determine  fair market value and
may, in its discretion,  advance the lapse of any waiting or installment periods
and exercise dates.


SECTION 11.  No Special Employment Rights

     Nothing  contained in the Plan or in any Plan Benefit  documentation  shall
confer upon any Participant receiving a grant of any Plan Benefit any right with
respect to the  continuation  of his or her  employment  by the  Company (or any
Related  Company) or  interfere in any way with the right of the Company (or any
Related Company),  subject to the terms of any separate employment  agreement to
the  contrary,  at any time to  terminate  such  employment  or to  increase  or
decrease the  compensation of the Participant  from the rate in existence at the
time of the grant of any Plan Benefit. Whether an authorized leave of absence or
absence in  military or  government  service  shall  constitute  termination  of
employment shall be determined by the Board of Directors, in accordance with any
applicable laws.


SECTION 12.  Amendment of the Plan

     The Board of  Directors  may at any time and from time to time  suspend  or
terminate  all or any  portion  of the Plan or  modify  or amend the Plan in any
respect. The termination or any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not,
without the consent of a Participant,  affect the Participant's rights under any
Plan Benefit previously granted.  With the consent of the affected  Participant,
the Board of Directors  may amend  outstanding  agreements  relating to any Plan
Benefit  in a manner  not  inconsistent  with the Plan.  The Board of  Directors
hereby  reserves  the right to amend or modify the terms and  provisions  of the
Plan and of any  outstanding  Options to the extent  necessary to qualify any or
all  Options  under the Plan for such  favorable  federal  income tax  treatment
(including  deferral of taxation  upon  exercise)  as may be afforded  incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code, provided, however, that the consent
of a  Participant  is required if such  amendment  or  modification  would cause
unfavorable income tax treatment for such Participant.


SECTION 13.  Withholding

     The Company's  obligation  to deliver  shares of stock upon the exercise of
any Option or SAR or the granting of an Award and to make payment upon  exercise
of any SAR  shall be  subject  to the  satisfaction  by the  Participant  of all
applicable  federal,  state and local  income  and  employment  tax  withholding
requirements.


SECTION 14.  Effective Date and Duration of the Plan

     14.1 Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective as of October 10, 1997
(the date of approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company).

     14.2  Duration.  Unless sooner  terminated  in  accordance  with Section 10
hereof,  the Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the tenth  anniversary
of the  effective  date or (ii) the  date on  which  all  shares  available  for
issuance  under the Plan shall have been  issued  pursuant  to any Awards or the
exercise or cancellation of Options and SARs granted  hereunder.  If the date of
termination  is determined  under (i) above,  then Plan Benefits  outstanding on
such date  shall  continue  to have  force and  effect  in  accordance  with the
provisions of the instruments evidencing such Plan Benefits.


SECTION 15.  Governing Law

     The Plan and all actions taken  thereunder shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Delaware.


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