MYLAN LABORATORIES INC
DEF 14A, 1997-06-02
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
Previous: NATIONWIDE INVESTING FOUNDATION, 497, 1997-06-02
Next: NORTHEAST UTILITIES SYSTEM, 35-CERT, 1997-06-02



                           
                           MYLAN LABORATORIES INC.
                            1030 Century Building
                             130 Seventh Street
                        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

                   Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                                July 24, 1997



To The Shareholders of Mylan Laboratories Inc.

         An annual meeting of  shareholders of Mylan  Laboratories  Inc. will be
held at the Lakeview Resort & Conference Center,  Morgantown,  West Virginia, on
Thursday, July 24, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. for the following purposes:

         1. To elect seven  directors to serve until the next annual  meeting of
shareholders and until their  respective  successors shall have been elected and
shall have qualified.

         2. To adopt the Mylan  Laboratories  Inc. 1997  Incentive  Stock Option
Plan of the  Company  which  authorizes  the grant of  options to  purchase  the
Company's  Common  Stock to  executives,  directors,  employees  and  agents and
consultants  of the Company and its  subsidiaries  (see  "Proposed  Stock Option
Plan" in the Proxy Statement).

         3. To elect independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year 
ending March 31, 1998.

         4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the 
meeting.

         Shareholders of record at the close of  business on April 30, 1997 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

         All  shareholders,  whether or not they expect to be present in person,
are requested to sign,  date and return the enclosed  proxy in the  accompanying
envelope as promptly as possible.

         Shareholders  who plan to attend the Annual  Meeting are  requested  to
complete and return the enclosed reservation card by July 9, 1997.





                       By Order of the Board of Directors
                       Robert W. Smiley, Secretary




May 31, 1997
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


<PAGE>


                           MYLAN LABORATORIES INC.
                            1030 Century Building
                             130 Seventh Street
                        Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

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

                               PROXY STATEMENT

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


                 Annual Meeting of Shareholders July 24, 1997

         This proxy statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of Mylan  Laboratories Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation ("the Company"), for an annual meeting of shareholders to be held on
July 24, 1997. The approximate  date on which this proxy statement and proxy are
being sent to shareholders of the Company is June 4, 1997.

         The shares  represented by each properly  executed  proxy,  in the form
enclosed and  received by the Company will be voted as specified  thereon by the
shareholder.  If no  specification  is made,  such  shares will be voted FOR the
nominees named and proposals  described  below. Any proxy given by a shareholder
may be revoked in writing at any time prior to its exercise,  but the revocation
of the proxy shall not be effective  until notice  thereof has been  received by
the Secretary of the Company.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will be included
in determining  the number of shares present and entitled to vote at the meeting
but will not be considered to be voted for any proposal. Because the election of
directors is based on a plurality and the other proposals being  considered on a
majority of the votes cast, abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the
outcome of those matters.

         References herein to "fiscal 1997" mean the Company's fiscal year ended
March 31, 1997.


                       VOTING SECURITIES AND RECORD DATE

         Persons  who as of the  close of  business  on April  30,  1997 held of
record shares of the Company's  Common Stock,  par value $.50 per share ("Common
Stock"), are entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. As of such
date,  there were  122,068,079  shares of Common Stock  outstanding.  Holders of
Common  Stock are  entitled  to one vote per  share  and do not have  cumulative
voting rights in the election of directors.

         See "Security  Ownership"  herein for  information  with respect to the
share ownership of the directors of the Company.


                      ELECTION OF DIRECTORS [Proposal No. 1]

         Directors  are  elected  to serve  until  the next  annual  meeting  of
shareholders  and until their  respective  successors  are elected and  qualify.
Proxies received in the accompanying  form will be voted for the election to the
Board of Directors of the seven  nominees  listed below except in such  instance
that  authority to vote for any of the nominees is withheld.  The seven nominees
receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Each of the nominees has
consented  to  serve  as a  director  if  elected.  Information  concerning  the
nominees,  all of whom are presently  members of the Board of Directors,  is set
forth below.

                                         
<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>                                        <C>          <C>
                                                                                 Director
Name                        Principal Occupation                      Age          Since
- - -----------                 --------------------                      ----       ---------
Milan Puskar              Chairman of the Board, C.E.O.               62           1976
                          and President of the Company

Dana G. Barnett           Executive Vice President of the             56           1982
                          Company

Laurence S. Delynn        Retail Consultant                           72           1975

John C. Gaisford, M.D.    Director of Burn Research West              81           1993
                          Penn Hospital

Robert W. Smiley, Esq.    Senior Counsel to the law firm of           75           1972
                          Doepken Keevican & Weiss
                          Professional Corporation;
                          Secretary of the Company

Patricia A. Sunseri       Vice president of Investor and              57           1997
                          Public relations of the Company

C.B. Todd                 Senior Vice President of the                63           1993
                          Company
</TABLE>

         Mr. Puskar was employed by the manufacturing  subsidiary of the Company
from   1961   to   1972   and   served   in   various    positions,    including
Secretary-Treasurer,  Executive  Vice  President  and a member  of the  Board of
Directors.  From 1972 to 1975,  Mr. Puskar served as Vice  President and General
Manager of the Cincinnati division of ICN Pharmaceuticals  Inc. In addition,  he
has served as partner of several  pharmaceutical  firms in foreign countries and
is currently a director of VivoRx,  Inc., Santa Monica,  California and Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania. Mr. Puskar has served as President of the
Company  since 1976 and as Vice Chairman of the Board since 1980. He was elected
Chairman of the Board and C.E.O. on November 9, 1993.

         Mr. Barnett was employed by the Company in 1966. Since that time he has
held various  management  positions  with the  manufacturing  subsidiary  of the
Company.  His  responsibilities  have covered  production,  quality  control and
product  development.  Mr. Barnett  became Vice  President in 1974,  Senior Vice
President in 1978 and Executive Vice President in 1987. He was elected President
and Chief Executive Officer of Somerset  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a joint-venture
subsidiary of the Company in June 1991, and in August of 1995 he was elevated to
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

         Mrs.  Sunseri has served as a Director of the Company since April 1997,
as the Vice President of Investor and Public Relations of the Company since 1989
and as the Director of Investor  Relations of the Company from 1984 to 1989. She
also serves as a director of AW Computer  Systems,  Inc. ( computer hardware and
software).

         Mr. Todd has been employed by the Company since 1970. Prior to assuming
his  present position in October, 1987 as Senior Vice President, Mr.Todd served 
as  Vice President-Quality Control. He also serves as President of Mylan 
Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of the Company.

         Messrs. DeLynn and Gaisford have been engaged for more than the  past 
five years in the principal occupations set forth in the table above. Mr.  
Smiley joined the law firm of Doepken Keevican & Weiss Professional Corporation 
in October, 1992. Previously, he was a partner of Smiley, McGinty & Stegerfor 
more than the five previous years. Mr. DeLynn is currently a Director of One 
Valley Bank, Morgantown, West Virginia.

          The Board of Directors  has  established  an Executive  Committee,  an
Audit Committee, a Compensation  Committee, a Nominating Committee,  and certain
other committees.  The Executive Committee, which met formally and informally on
numerous occasions during fiscal 1997, is composed of Messrs.  Puskar,  Barnett,
Todd and Smiley of the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Audit  Committee,
which met twice during the fiscal year,  reviews the  preparations for and scope
of the annual audit of the Company's  financial  statements,  reviews  drafts of
such  statements,  makes  recommendations  as to the  retention  of  independent
auditors and as to their fees,  and performs  such other duties  relative to the
financial  statements of the Company and other matters as the Board of Directors
may assign from time to time. The Audit Committee is composed of Messrs.  DeLynn
and
                                      2
<PAGE>        
Gaisford. The Compensation Committee (which also serves as the Stock Option
Committee)  has  responsibility  for  establishing   compensation  policies  and
objectives,  determining the compensation payable to the Chief Executive Officer
and awarding stock options to employees.  The Compensation Committee,  which met
twice in fiscal 1997, is composed of Messrs.  DeLynn and Gaisford.  In May 1996,
the Board of Directors created a Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for
election to the Board at the annual shareholders' meeting or upon the occurrence
of any vacancy on the Board.  Milan  Puskar,  John C.  Gaisford  and Laurence S.
DeLynn  were  appointed  to serve as members of the  Nominating  Committee.  The
Nominating Committee met on two occasions during fiscal 1997.

       Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  the
Company's  directors and executive  officers to file reports of ownership of the
Company's  equity  securities  (and  derivative  securities) and changes in such
ownership  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission and the New York Stock
Exchange and to provide  copies of those  filings to the  Company.  Based solely
upon a review of such reports and certain written  representations,  the Company
believes that its directors and executive  officers are in compliance with their
respective Section 16(a) filing requirements.




       Compensation of Directors

         The  Company  presently  has  seven  directors,  four of whom  (Messrs.
Puskar,  Barnett,  Todd and Mrs. Sunseri) are executive  officers of the Company
and do not receive any additional  compensation  for serving as directors of the
Company.  The Company's  non-employee  directors (Messrs.  DeLynn,  Gaisford and
Smiley) earned director's fees of $24,000 in fiscal 1997 and Mr. Smiley received
an additional fee of $21,000 for serving on the Company's Executive Committee.


         Under  Service  Benefit  Agreements  entered  into with the  Company in
January  1995,  Messrs.  DeLynn,  Gaisford  and Smiley are  entitled  to receive
$18,000 annually,  payable in monthly installments for a 10 year period from the
date of their  termination  of service to the Company.  Upon the death or at the
election of the director,  the aggregate amount of any unpaid benefit is payable
in a lump sum, discounted to present value at the per annum rate of 7%.

                                   3

<PAGE>






                         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

       Report on Executive Compensation

Overview and Philosophy

         The  Company's   executive   compensation  policy  is  to  (i)  provide
compensation  to  employees at such levels as will enable the Company to attract
and retain  employees of the highest  caliber,  (ii)  compensate  employees in a
manner best calculated to recognize  individual,  group and Company performances
and (iii) seek to align the interests of the employees with the interests of the
Company's  shareholders.  Total compensation  includes base salary,  annual cash
bonuses, long-term incentives and employee benefits. The Company seeks to reward
outstanding executive performance contributing to superior operating results and
enhanced shareholder value.

         The  Compensation  Committee  is charged  with  responsibility  for (i)
establishing  the  objectives  and policies  governing the  compensation  of the
Company's  employees  generally;  (ii)  determining  the amount of  compensation
payable  annually  to the  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer and any other
executive  officer of the Company  whose annual  compensation  is subject to the
limitations of Section  162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
("the Code"); (iii) awarding stock options to employees of the Company; and (iv)
making  such  recommendations  to the  Board  from  time  to  time  as it  deems
appropriate  concerning the Company's compensation of employees and its award of
stock  options.  The actions of the  Compensation  Committee in  fulfilling  the
obligations  described in items (ii) and (iii) of the preceding  sentence do not
require the approval of the full Board to become effective.

         The Board and the Compensation Committee have taken actions designed to
increase the Company's  opportunity  to deduct all  compensation  paid to highly
compensated officers for Federal income tax purposes.  However, no assurance can
be given that such actions will ensure the  deductibility for Federal income tax
purposes of all executive compensation paid by the Company. Furthermore, neither
the  Board  nor the  Compensation  Committee  subscribes  to the  view  that any
executive's  compensation  should be limited to the  amount  deductible  if such
executive deserves compensation in excess of $1,000,000 and it is not reasonably
practicable  to  compensate  him or her in a manner  such that the  compensation
payable is fully deductible by the Company.

Executive Bonus Plan

         In  fiscal  1995,  the  Committee  reviewed  and  considered   numerous
proposals for  establishing  objective  performance-based  criteria to award the
Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company  and any other  executive
officers who, from time to time,  are determined by the Committee to be eligible
to receive a bonus based on such criteria.  Among the criteria considered by the
Committee in  establishing  an executive bonus plan ("the Executive Bonus Plan")
were (i)  earnings  per share above fixed  benchmarks,  (ii)  earnings per share
above prior year's  earnings  per share,  (iii) stock  prices  reaching  certain
benchmarks,  (iv) percentage increases in stock prices, (v) approval by the Food
and Drug Administration  ("FDA") of a fixed number of applications  submitted by
the  Company,  (vi) sales  above  fixed  benchmarks  and (vii) sales above prior
year's sales.

         The  Committee  believes  that using  earnings  per share  above  fixed
benchmarks  provides  the most  meaningful  objective  measure of the  Company's
performance  and provides an appropriate  vehicle for rewarding the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer and other executives participating in the Executive 
Bonus Plan. The other alternatives considered were dismissed by the Compensation
Committee for the following reasons:

          First,  as to earnings per share in excess of prior  year's  earnings,
factors  beyond  the  control  of  the  executives  (such  as  the  onset  of  a
recessionary  environment in the pharmaceutical industry or sharply higher costs
resulting  from  implementation  of new government  regulations  relating to the
approval  or  marketing  of drugs)  could make a  comparison  with prior  year's
earnings meaningless.  For example, the exemplary performance by an executive in
the face of  sharply  higher  costs  due to new  governmental  burdens  could go
unrewarded if a comparison with

                                    4
<PAGE>

prior year's  earnings were made.  Further,  the comparison of current  earnings
with those of a prior period could operate as a  disincentive  for the executive
to approve new ventures, to enter into new markets, to introduce new products or
to seek new merger,  acquisition or joint-venture  opportunities if the start-up
costs associated therewith would reduce earnings in the short term.

         Second,  as to stock prices,  the Compensation  Committee was concerned
that stock prices are subject to fluctuation  based on general economic factors,
interest rates, the national and international political climate, trade balances
and  other  factors  which  bear  no  relationship  to the  effectiveness  of an
executive or the  performance  of a particular  corporation.  Consequently,  the
Compensation  Committee  did not believe that use of stock prices alone would be
an appropriate way to create incentives for its executives.

         Third,  measuring  performance  through FDA  approvals  appeared to the
Compensation  Committee to be too imperfect a measure of performance in that the
groundwork for an approval  could precede the approval by a  considerable  time,
the timing of approvals is too uncertain,  and the number of expected  approvals
in any period of time is too small a class.

         Finally,  the Compensation  Committee felt that sales provided the best
method of measuring the Company's performance next to earnings. However, in that
a measure  based on sales alone does not provide an incentive to  executives  to
control costs, the Compensation Committee felt that this measure provided a less
satisfactory measure of performance than earnings.

         Accordingly,  the  Compensation  Committee  approved an executive bonus
plan ( "the Executive Bonus Plan"), subsequently approved by the shareholders at
the  Company's  June  1995  annual   meeting,   which  provides  for  awards  to
participating  executives of cash bonuses of an amount fixed by the Compensation
Committee  of up to  $100,000  per  $.01 by  which  earnings  per  share  exceed
benchmarks  fixed by the  Compensation  Committee.  Although  broad  latitude is
afforded to the  Compensation  Committee to fix the benchmarks and amount of the
award per $.01  increase,  the bonuses  payable to any  executive  cannot exceed
$1,500,000 per annum under the Executive Bonus Plan and the aggregate  amount of
bonuses payable  thereunder in any fiscal year to all  participating  executives
cannot exceed $2,500,000.

Compensation of Executive Officers

         The  salaries of executive  officers  other than the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer were determined by Milan Puskar.  Mr. Puskar's  determinations
were  based  upon  various  subjective  factors  such  as the  responsibilities,
positions, qualifications, individual performances and years of service with the
Company of such executives. In making such determination, the Chairman and Chief
Executive  Officer  did  not  undertake  a  formal  survey  or  analysis  of the
compensation  paid to executives in other companies.  Such salaries are not tied
to the Company's  performance.  The bonuses of executive officers other than the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer were awarded by Milan Puskar based upon his
perception of each officer's  contribution to the Company's  success.  The Board
neither  undertook to conduct a formal survey or analysis of the bonuses awarded
(or total compensation  packages offered) by other pharmaceutical  companies nor
established numerical goals or targets in determining these bonuses.

Compensation of Chief Executive Officer

          The  Compensation  Committee did not consider any  adjustments  to the
salary of Milan Puskar, the Company's  Chairman and Chief executive Officer,  in
fiscal 1997, which was continued at the fiscal 1996 level.  However, in order to
create a performance-based reward intended to be fully deductible by the Company
for Federal income tax purposes as well as serving as an incentive to Mr. Puskar
to seek to maximize  earnings for the balance of the fiscal year, in August 1996
the  Compensation  Committee  awarded to him a bonus  pursuant to the  Executive
Bonus Plan of $50,000 for each $.005 that  earnings  for the  second,  third and
fourth quarters of fiscal 1997 in the aggregate  exceeded $.33 per share, not to
exceed $500,000.  The Compensation  Committee reported that it had selected this
benchmark in light of numerous factors and considerations,  including identified

                                        5
<PAGE>

developments  in the  pharmaceutical  industry,  the status of the Company's own
efforts to obtain FDA approvals and its  negotiation  of business  arrangements.
Although this  benchmark was met, and Mr. Puskar was entitled to receive a bonus
of $500,000 for fiscal 1997, he advised the Board that he was not satisfied with
the Company's performance in fiscal 1997 and, therefore, declined to accept this
bonus.

Submission of Report

         This Report on  Executive  Compensation  is submitted by the members of
the Compensation Committee,  Laurence S. DeLynn and John C. Gaisford, except for
the matters described under  "Compensation of Other Executive  Officers," which,
as to the compensation of executive officers,  other than the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, is submitted by Milan Puskar.


      Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

         Robert W. Smiley, Laurence S. DeLynn and John C. Gaisford served as 
members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 1997.  Dr. Gaisford replaced
Mr. Smiley on the Committee following Mr. Smiley's resignation from the 
Committee in July 1996.  Mr. Smiley resigned from the Committee (prior to the 
time it took any formal action as to compensation in fiscal 1997) since, under 
newly adopted Federal income tax regulations, his positions as both a corporate 
officer of the Company (Secretary) and a member of the Compensation Committee 
could potentially have prevented the Company from utilizing certain Federal 
income tax deductions for compensation paid to executives.  Mr. Smiley serves as
Senior Counsel to the law firm of Doepken Keevican & Weiss Professional 
Corporation, which provides legal counsel to the Company.  There are no 
interlocking relationships, as defined in the regulations of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, involving members of the Board of Directors, or its 
Compensation Committee.

      Employment Contract and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control 
      Arrangements

         The Company  entered into an  employment  contract  with Mr.  Puskar on
April 28, 1983 which  specifies his respective  duties and provides for ordinary
insurance and health benefits as provided for the Company's salaried  employees.
This  employment  contract  originally  called for a term  expiring on March 31,
1988, and since this date has been continued on a year-to-year  basis subject to
termination  by either  the  Company or the  executive  at  anytime.  Salary and
bonuses under this employment  contract are determined by the Company's Board of
Directors.  Mr. Puskar's  employment contract provides for continued payments of
salary for a period of one year  following  any  termination  of his  employment
contract by the Company.  The Salary  Continuation Plan referred to in the notes
to the "Summary  Compensation Table" provides for the payment of post-retirement
compensation  pursuant to agreements  with key  employees,  including  executive
officers,  over a period not exceeding fifteen years, as more fully described in
such Note. The Company has no other compensatory plan or arrangements  resulting
from the resignation, retirement or other termination (including any termination
or change in  responsibility  following  a  change-in-control)  of an  executive
officer's employment with the Company or its subsidiaries.


                                    6

<PAGE>




Performance Graph

         Set forth below is a performance  graph comparing the cumulative  total
returns (assuming  reinvestment of dividends) for the five years ended March 31,
1997 of $100 invested March 31, 1992 in each of the Company's  Common Stock, the
Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Index and the Dow Jones Pharmaceutical Index.




Year        MYL         DJ Pharmaceuticals              S&P 500
- - ----     ---------      ------------------           ---------------
1992       100                100                         100
1993       154                 82                         115
1994        93                 76                         117
1995       171                110                         135
1996       179                171                         179
1997       122                219                         214

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

* $100 Invested on 03/31/92 in stock or index-
   including reinvestment of dividends.
   Fiscal year ending March 31.

                                    7

<PAGE>



                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

         The following table sets forth  information  regarding the compensation
paid by the Company and its  subsidiaries  in the past three fiscal years to the
Chief Executive Officer and its four most highly compensated  executive officers
other than the Chief Executive Officer:
<TABLE>
<S>                      <C>              <C>              <C>                   <C>                <C> 

                                                                                     Long-Term Compensation
                                             Annual Compensation                   Options/        All Other
 Name and               Fiscal Year        Salary            Bonus                 SARs(1)       Compensation(2)
Principal Position     Ended March 31        ($)             ($)                     #                  ($)
- - ------------------     --------------    ----------       -------------         ---------------     ----------

Milan Puskar,               1997         1,000,000            -0-                     -0-              65,000
Chairman of the Board,      1996         1,000,000            -0-                     -0-             513,600
C.E.O., President and       1995           700,000           800,000                  -0-             709,200
Director

Dana G. Barnett,            1997           200,000            -0-                     -0-              22,300 
Executive Vice President    1996           200,000            -0-                     -0-             290,000 
and Director (3)            1995           150,000            -0-                     -0-             848,600 
                                                                                                                
C.B. Todd,                  1997           200,000           250,000                  -0-              22,300 
Senior Vice President       1996           200,000           250,000                  -0-             290,000 
and Director                1995           150,000           300,000                  -0-             260,300 
                                                                                                                
Roderick P. Jackson,        1997           200,000           250,000                  -0-             255,300 
Senior Vice President       1996           200,000           250,000                  -0-             255,600 
                            1995           150,200           300,000                  -0-             153,000 
                                                                                                                
Louis J. DeBone,            1997           144,500           175,000                  -0-             255,300 
Vice President              1996           137,500           175,000                  -0-             255,600 
                            1995           100,000           225,000                  -0-             229,700 
                                                                                                                
Patricia A. Sunseri,        1997           144,500           175,000                  -0-             255,300 
Vice President and          1996           137,500           175,000                  -0-             255,600 
Director                    1995           100,000           225,000                  -0-             229,700 
- - ---------------------                                                                                    
</TABLE>

(1) The Company does not have an SAR program.

(2) This column includes (i) the Company's contributions to the Employees Profit
Sharing  Plan and (ii) the  amounts  accrued  by the  Company  under the  Salary
Continuation  Plan described  below.  During fiscal 1997,  contributions  to the
Employees  Profit  Sharing  Plan were made in the amount of $16,500  for each of
Messrs. Puskar, Barnett, Todd, Jackson and DeBone and Mrs. Sunseri; amounts were
accrued under the Salary Continuation Plan of $238,800 each for Messrs.  Jackson
and DeBone  and Mrs.  Sunseri.  Additionally,  $48,500,  $5,800,  $6,600 of life
insurance premiums were paid by the Company for Messrs. Puskar, Barnett and Todd
respectively  pursuant to split-dollar life insurance agreements with respective
trusts.  Neither the  executive  officers or their  respective  trusts,  has any
interest in the cash surrender value of the insurance  policies  subject to that
agreement.

          Pursuant  to a  Salary  Continuation  Plan  approved  by the  Board of
Directors  in  January  1995,  the  Company  entered  into  Retirement   Benefit
Agreements with various key employees,  including each of the executive officers
included in the Summary  Compensation  Table. These agreements provide for fixed
annual  payments  to these  executives  over a  15-year  period,  in the case of
Messrs.  Puskar,  Barnett and Todd,  and over a 10-year  period,  in the case of
Messrs.  Jackson and DeBone and Mrs. Sunseri,  commencing upon their termination
of employment with the Company.  Upon the death  following  retirement or at the
election of the executive, the aggregate amount of the unpaid benefit is payable
in a lump sum, discounted to present value at the per annum rate of 7%.

                                      8
<PAGE>

         The annual benefits awarded to the executive  officers  included in the
Summary Compensation Table are as follows:

                             Retirement Other than      Retirement Due to
                              Due to Disability            Disability
                            ----------------------      -------------------

Milan Puskar..........               $300,000              $500,000
Dana G. Barnett.......               $180,000              $300,000
C. B. Todd............               $180,000              $300,000
Roderick P. Jackson...      $70,000 to $100,000            $100,000*
Louis J. DeBone.......      $70,000 to $100,000            $100,000*
Patricia A. Sunseri...      $70,000 to $100,000            $100,000*
- - --------------
* Or retirement following a change of control of the Company.

         If any of these executives dies prior to retirement,  his beneficiaries
will receive (under life insurance  policies  purchased by the Company) lump sum
payments of $1,645,000,  in the case of Mr. Puskar,  $1,500,000,  in the case of
Messrs.  Barnett and Todd, and  $1,250,000,  in the case of Messrs.  Jackson and
DeBone  and  Mrs.  Sunseri.  In  addition,  if  Mr.  Puskar  dies  prior  to his
retirement,  the  Company  will  pay his  beneficiaries  the  additional  sum of
$1,600,000.

(3)      The amounts for Mr. Barnett exclude payments made by Somerset 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a non-consolidated subsidiary.

                                      
              AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FY-END OPTION/SAR OPTIONS (1)

         The following  table sets forth  information in respect of exercises by
the named  executive  officers  of stock  options  granted  to, and  unexercised
options held by, such officers at March 31, 1997.  All such options were granted
under the Company's 1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan, as amended.
<TABLE>
<S>                      <C>                  <C>                <C>                <C>

                                                                                    Value of
                                                                Number of          Unexercised
                                                               Unexercised         In-the-Money
                                                                Options at          Options at
                           Shares           Value            Fiscal Year Ended   Fiscal Year Ended
                          Acquired         Realized           March 31, 1997      March 31, 1997 (2)            
 Name                       (#)               ($)                    (#)               ($)
 ----                  --------------     --------------    --------------------   -----------------
Dana G. Barnett             -0-               -0-                150,000              431,250
C. B. Todd                  -0-               -0-                150,000              431,250
Roderick P. Jackson         -0-               -0-                150,000              431,250
Louis J. DeBone             -0-               -0-                 75,000              215,625
- - ----------
</TABLE>

(1)   The Company does not have an SAR program.

(2)   All options were exercisable at $12.00 per share. The closing price on 
      March 31, 1997 on the New York Stock Exchange was $14.875 per share.


                                         9

<PAGE>




                          SECURITY OWNERSHIP

        The  following  table  sets  forth  information  as of  April  30,  1997
regarding  the amount and nature of Common Stock  ownership by all directors and
named executive  officers,  and all directors and executive  officers as a group
and all  persons  known  by  management  to  beneficially  own 5% or more of the
Company's Common Stock.

                                    Shares
                                 Beneficially
                                   Owned (1)                 Percent
Name                                 (#)                     of Class
- - ------                          --------------              ----------
Milan Puskar                     2,450,000                    2.02
Dana G. Barnett                    227,571                     .19
Laurence S. Delynn                 345,000                     .28
John C. Gaisford, M.D.              47,715                     .04
Robert W. Smiley, Esq.             120,000                     .10
Patricia A. Sunseri                448,750                     .37
C.B. Todd                          527,316                     .44
Roderick P. Jackson                206,875                     .17
Louis J. DeBone                    105,000                     .09

All directors and executive                                   
officers as a group              4,649,327  (2)               3.84
- - ----------
Invesco Capital                                                          
Management, Inc.                11,938,675  (3)               9.84

(1)   In each case, the director or officer has sole or shared direct beneficial
      ownership of the shares. Amounts include unissued shares under option.

(2)   Includes 731,000 unissued shares under option.

(3)   Invesco Capital Management, Inc.
       11 Devonshire Square
       London, EC2M 4YR England



               PROPOSED STOCK OPTION PLAN  [Proposal No. 2]

     Background Information

         On January 23, 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the
Mylan  Laboratories  Inc. 1997  Incentive  Stock Option Plan ("the Plan" or "the
Option  Plan") which  authorizes  the grant of options to purchase the Company's
Common Stock to executives,  directors,  employees and agents of the Company and
its subsidiaries.

         The Plan,  if approved by the  shareholders,  is to be  effective as of
January 23, 1997. The approval and adoption of the Plan requires the affirmative
vote of the  holders of a majority  of the Common  Stock of the  Company who are
entitled to vote and are represented in person or by proxy at the annual meeting
(assuming a quorum exists). Approval of the Plan is necessary for the Company to
issue  incentive  stock  options  thereunder,  but the  Plan  can  otherwise  be
continued in effect on the basis of the Board's adoption. The Board of Directors
recommends  a vote FOR the  proposal  to adopt the  Option  Plan.  A copy of the
Option Plan in the form  proposed to be considered  by the  shareholders  is set
forth in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.


                                   10
<PAGE>

     Participation in the Plan

         All executive officers and other officers,  directors and employees who
are not part of collective  bargaining  units,  as well as  independent  agents,
consultants and attorneys,  of the Company and its  subsidiaries are eligible to
participate in the Plan. The Company estimates that nine executive officers, two
directors (who are not executive  officers),  approximately 1,800 other officers
and  employees  and less  than 10  agents,  consultants  and  attorneys  will be
eligible to participate in the Plan. Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee,
acting as the Stock Option Committee ("the  Committee"),  has authority to award
options to eligible  persons on the basis of the nature of their  duties,  their
present  and  potential  contributions  to the  success of the  Company and like
factors.  The Plan is intended to offer participants  substantial  incentives to
join or continue to serve the Company  and,  by aligning  their  interests  with
those of  stockholders,  to act in a manner  calculated to maximize  shareholder
value. To this end, the Committee may elect to award options to key employees in
full or partial  substitution  of or in addition to cash  bonuses.  Although the
Committee has neither  determined  the number of options to be awarded in fiscal
1998 nor the identity of the recipients,  it does not intend to award options to
purchase more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock in fiscal 1998.


     Summary of the Plan

         The following summary of the Plan is qualified by reference to the full
text of the Plan set forth in Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.

         Purpose.  The  purpose of this Plan is to provide a means  whereby  the
Company may, through the grant of options to purchase its Common Stock, attract,
retain and motivate officers, directors,  employees and nonemployee consultants,
agents and advisors to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its
subsidiaries.

          Administration. The Plan is administered by a Stock Option Committee (
"the  Committee")  consisting of at least two members of the Company's  Board of
Directors.  The  Compensation  Committee  currently  acts  as the  Stock  Option
Committee.  Each member of the Committee must be a  "non-employee  director" (as
defined under applicable  rules of the Securities and Exchange  Commission) when
the Committee is acting to grant options to participants  who are also directors
or  officers.  In  addition,  each member of the  Committee  must be an "outside
director"  within  the  meaning of  applicable  regulations  under the  Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986  when the  Committee  is acting  to grant  options  to the
Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer,  one of the four most  highly  compensated
officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) or any participant who, in the
judgment of the Board,  is  reasonably  likely to attain such status  within the
exercise period of any contemplated option.

         Exercise  Price of Options.  The option price per share of Common Stock
deliverable  upon the  exercise  of an  option is the  price  determined  by the
Committee  at the time the option is  granted,  but cannot be less than the fair
market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant.

         Term of Options.  Each option will have such term,  not in excess of 10
years,  as is determined by the Committee,  subject to immediate  termination in
the event of the voluntary or involuntary termination of any participant, except
in the event of a termination due to (i) death or permanent disability, in which
event the option shall continue to be exercisable  for a period of one year from
the date of termination of the participant's  employment (or earlier termination
of the option) or (ii) retirement or following indefinite layoff, in which event
the option shall  continue to be  exercisable  for a period of three months from
the date of termination of the participant's  employment (or earlier termination
of the option). No awards may be made under the Plan after January 23, 2007, the
tenth (10th)  anniversary of the original adoption date of the Plan by the Board
of  Directors.  However,  all awards made under the Plan prior to this date will
remain in  effect  until  such  awards  have been  satisfied  or  terminated  in
accordance with the Plan and the terms of such awards.


          Vesting of Options. Each option will become exercisable under the Plan
in increments of 25% on each of the second and third  anniversaries  of the date
of grant,  with the  balance  becoming  exercisable  on the fourth  anniversary,
subject  to  (i)  immediate  100%  vesting  if  a  participant's  employment  is
terminated due to death,

                                   11
<PAGE>

permanent  disability  or  retirement,  and (ii)  the  Committee's  reducing  or
eliminating the vesting requirements for any participant with at least two years
continuous service to the Company.

         Maximum Amount of Option Grants. The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock which may be issued under the Plan will be 10,000,000.  The aggregate fair
market  value  (determined  at the time the option is granted) of the stock with
respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a
participant during any calendar year cannot exceed $100,000,  and no participant
is  entitled  to receive  options in any  calendar  year to  purchase  more than
250,000  shares of Common Stock,  plus any amount of shares that were  available
within this limit in any prior year for which options were not granted.

         Amendment  of the  Plan.  The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has
authority  to amend,  suspend or  discontinue  the Plan,  except  that,  without
shareholder approval, the Board may not (i) permit the granting of options under
the Plan after January 23, 2007, (ii) without  shareholder  approval and subject
to appropriate  adjustments in the event of extraordinary corporate transactions
in accordance with the terms of the Plan, increase the number of shares reserved
for  issuance  upon the  exercise of options,  (iii)  permit the granting of any
option  at an option  price  less than the fair  market  value of the  Company's
Common Stock on the date of grant, (iv) permit the granting of options under the
Plan with terms in excess of 10 years,  (v)  materially  increase  the  benefits
accruing to participants in the Plan,  (vi) materially  modify the  requirements
for  eligibility  for  participation  in  the  Plan  or  (vii)  otherwise  cause
applicable  rules  under the Federal  securities  laws or the  requirements  for
incentive stock options to become inapplicable.

         Adoption  of the Plan.  The  effective  date of the Plan is January 23,
1997,  the date of adoption of the Board by the Plan of Directors,  except that,
if the  shareholders of the Company do not approve the Plan by January 22, 1998,
no options granted under the Plan will constitute incentive stock options.

     Certain Federal Income Tax Matters

          Under the Plan, the Committee may grant either incentive stock options
under  section  422 of the  Code or  non-qualified  stock  options  which do not
qualify for the tax treatment  afforded  incentive  stock  options.  Neither the
grant of an incentive stock option nor the grant of a non-qualified stock option
will be  treated as  compensation  to the  participant  for  Federal  income tax
purposes,  and  neither  will  result in a deduction  for tax  purposes  for the
Company.

         On exercise of an incentive  stock  option,  the  participant  will not
recognize  any  compensation  income,  and the Company will not be entitled to a
deduction for tax purposes,  although  exercise of an incentive stock option may
give rise to liability under the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code.
Generally,  if the  participant  disposes of shares acquired upon exercise of an
incentive  stock option within two years of the grant or one year of the date of
exercise,  the participant will recognize  compensation  income, and the Company
will be entitled to a deduction for tax purposes, in the amount of the excess of
the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise over
the option price (or the gain on sale, if less). Otherwise, the Company will not
be entitled to any deduction for tax purposes  upon  disposition  of such shares
and the entire gain for the  participant  will be treated as a capital  gain. On
exercise of a  non-qualified  stock option,  the amount by which the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise  exceeds the option price will
generally be taxable to the  participant as  compensation  income and deductible
for tax purposes by the Company.

                  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS [Proposal No. 3]

         The Board of Directors  has  recommended  that Deloitte & Touche LLP be
elected by the  shareholders  to act as  auditors of the Company for the current
fiscal year.  Proxies received in the accompanying  form will be so voted unless
other  specification is made. The affirmative  votes of a majority of the shares
of Common Stock present and voting (in person or by proxy) are required to adopt
the proposal.

         The  Company's  financial  statements  for fiscal 1997 were examined by
Deloitte & Touche LLP.  In  connection  with the  examination  of the  financial
statements,  Deloitte & Touche LLP also reviewed the Company's  annual report to
shareholders and its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                    12
<PAGE>
         It is expected that a  representative  of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be
present at the annual meeting with the  opportunity to make a statement if he or
she desires to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.


                    1998 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         To be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement for the
annual meeting to be held in 1998, shareholder proposals must be received by the
Company at its principal executive offices not later than January 20, 1998.



                   OTHER MATTERS [Proposal No. 4]

         The Board of Directors  does not know of any matters to be presented at
the annual  meeting other than those  discussed  above.  If other matters should
properly come before the meeting,  shares in respect of which properly  executed
proxies  are  received  will be voted on such  matters  in  accordance  with the
judgment of the persons named in such proxies.  The cost of the  solicitation of
proxies on behalf of the Board of  Directors  will be borne by the  Company.  In
addition to solicitation by mail,  regular  employees of the Company may solicit
proxies in person or by telephone.

         Upon  written  request to the  undersigned  Secretary  (at the  address
specified on page 1) by any  shareholder  whose proxy is solicited  hereby,  the
Company  will  furnish a copy of its  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 1997 as filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,
together with financial statements and schedules thereto,  without charge to the
shareholder requesting same.

                                           By Order of the Board of Directors,

                                               Robert W. Smiley, Secretary


                                        13

<PAGE>




                                                                 Appendix  A
                              MYLAN LABORATORIES INC.
                        1997 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                        --------------------------------


1.       PLAN NAME

         This Plan shall be known as the "MYLAN LABORATORIES INC. 1997 Incentive
Stock Option Plan" ( "the Plan").

2.       EFFECTIVE DATE

         The  effective  date of the Plan shall be January 23,  1997;  provided,
however,   that  if  the  shareholders  of  MYLAN   LABORATORIES   INC.  (  "the
Corporation")  do not  approve  the Plan by January  22,  1998,  no Options  (as
defined in paragraph 3) granted under the Plan shall constitute  Incentive Stock
Options (as defined in paragraph 5(c)).

3.       PURPOSE

         The purpose of this Plan is to provide a means whereby the  Corporation
may,  through the grant of options to purchase  Class A Common Stock,  par value
$.50 per share  ("Common  Stock") of the  Corporation  ("Options")  to employees
(including  officers  and  directors  who are also  employees)  and  nonemployee
consultants,  agents and advisors to attract,  retain and motivate these persons
to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Collectively, these persons are called "key employees."

4.       NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER PLAN

         Options  may be  granted  by the  Corporation  from time to time to key
employees of the  Corporation  and its  subsidiaries to purchase an aggregate of
Ten  Million  (10,000,000)  shares of Common  Stock of the  Corporation  and Ten
Million  (10,000,000)  shares of Common  Stock  shall be  reserved  for  Options
granted under the Plan  (subject to  adjustment as provided in paragraph  6(i)).
Shares issued upon exercise of Options  granted under the Plan may be authorized
and unissued  shares or shares held by the  Corporation in its treasury.  If any
Option granted under the Plan shall  terminate,  expire or be canceled as to any
shares,  new Options may  thereafter be granted  under the Plan  covering  those
shares, subject to the limitations imposed under paragraph 5(a)(2).

5.       ADMINISTRATION

          The Plan shall be administered under the terms of this Section 5.

          (a)  STOCK  OPTION  COMMITTEE.  Except  as  further  provided  in this
paragraph  5(a),  the Plan shall be  administered  by a Stock  Option  Committee
("Committee")  consisting  of at least two members of the Board of  Directors of
the  Corporation  who shall be  appointed  by, and serve at the pleasure of, the
Board of Directors.  The composition of the Committee shall be controlled by the
following provisions of this paragraph 5(a).

          (1) Each member of the  Committee  must be a  "non-employee  director"
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3,  as that Rule may be amended from time to time
("Rule 16b-3"),  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, when the
Committee  is  acting  to grant  Options  to those  key  employees  who are also
directors or officers.  Those actions which require a Committee of  non-employee
directors include:

               (i)  selecting  the  directors or officers to whom Options may be
granted;

               (ii) deciding or determining the timing,  price,  number or other
terms and  conditions  of, or  shares  subject  to,  each  Option  made to a key
employee who is also a director or officer; and


                                  A-1
<PAGE>

               (iii)  interpreting the Plan or Option  agreements with regard to
Options granted to a director or officer.

An officer or director  who also has an  employment  status  described in clause
(i),  (ii) or (iii) of  paragraph  5(a)(2),  shall  also be limited to a maximum
number of Options under the Plan as provided under paragraph 5(a)(3).

          (2) Each member of the Committee must be an "outside  director" within
the meaning of Regulation  ss.1.162-27(e)(3),  as that Regulation may be amended
from time to time (the  "Regulation"),  under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"),  when the Committee is acting to grant Options to those
key employees who have the following employment status with the Corporation:

               (i)  the  chief  executive  officer  of  the  corporation  or the
individual acting in that capacity;

               (ii) one of the four highest compensated officers (other than the
chief executive officer) of the Corporation; or

               (iii) in the  judgement  of the  Board of  Directors,  is  deemed
reasonably likely to become an employee  described in clause (i) or (ii) of this
paragraph 5(a)(2) within the exercise period of any contemplated option.

Those actions which  require a Committee of outside  directors  include the same
actions as is described in the immediately  preceding  paragraph except that the
employment  relationships  described  in  clauses  (i),  (ii) and  (iii) of this
paragraph  5(a)(2)  shall be  substituted  for the  references  to  director  or
officer. In addition, the provisions of paragraph 5(a)(3) shall apply.

         If an individual  who is being  considered for a grant of Options is an
officer or director and also has an employment  status  described in clause (i),
(ii) or (iii) of this  paragraph  5(a)(2),  the members of the  Committee  shall
consist  of  whichever  of  the  following  director   categories  is  the  more
restrictive, non-employee directors as defined in Section 5(a)(1), or of outside
directors as defined in this Section 5(a)(2).

          (3) In addition to any other limitation, the Committee shall not award
to  any  employee   described  in  clause  (i),   (ii)  or  (iii)  of  paragraph
5(a)(2)Options  in any calendar  year to purchase  more than  250,000  shares of
Common Stock, plus any amount of shares that were available within this limit in
any prior year for which Options were not granted.  Further, any Options awarded
to such an  employee  which are  thereafter  canceled  shall  continue  to count
against the maximum number of Options which may be awarded to that employee, and
any Option of such an employee which is later repriced shall be deemed to be the
cancellation  of the original  Option and the grant of a new Option for purposes
determining the number of Options awarded to that employee.

          (b) COMMITTEE ACTION. A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum,  and the action (1) of a majority of the members present at
a meeting  at which a quorum is  present  or (2)  authorized  in  writing by all
members,  shall be the  action of the  Committee.  A member  participating  in a
meeting by telephone or similar communications equipment shall be deemed present
for this purpose if the member or members who are present in person can hear him
and he can hear them.

          (c) AUTHORITY OF THE  COMMITTEE.  The Committee  shall have the power:
(1) to determine  and  designate in its  absolute  discretion  from time to time
those  employees  of the  Corporation,  its  subsidiaries,  independent  agents,
consultants  and attorneys  who by reason of the nature of their  duties,  their
present and potential  contributions to the success of the Corporation and other
factors,  who are eligible to participate in the Plan and to whom Options are to
be granted;  provided,  however,  no Option shall be granted  after  January 23,
2007, the tenth (10th)  anniversary  of the original  adoption date of the Plan;
(2) to authorize the granting of (i) Options  which  qualify as Incentive  Stock
Options  within the meaning of Code  Section  422  ("Incentive  Stock  Option");
provided that only employees of the Corporation  may be granted  Incentive Stock
Options, (ii) Options which do not qualify under Code Section 422 ("Nonqualified
Stock Option");  provided that only Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to
persons  who are not  employees,  but who are  otherwise  eligible  for grant of
options;  (3) to determine the number of shares subject to each Option,  subject
to paragraph  5(a);  (4) to determine the time or times and the manner when each
Option shall be exercisable and the duration of the exercise period.



                                      A-2
<PAGE>

                  The Committee may  interpret  the Plan,  prescribe,  amend and
rescind  any  rules  and   regulations   necessary   or   appropriate   for  the
administration of the Plan and make other  determinations  and take other action
as it deems  necessary or  advisable.  Without  limiting the  generality  of the
foregoing  sentence  the  Committee  may,  in its  discretion,  treat all or any
portion of any period  during  which an  Optionee  is on military or an approved
leave of absence from the  Corporation as a period of employment of the Optionee
by the  Corporation,  as the case may be,  for the  purpose of accrual of rights
under an Option. An interpretation,  determination or other action made or taken
by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         (d) INDEMNIFICATION OF COMMITTEE. In addition to other rights that they
may have as  Directors  or as  members  of the  Committee,  the  members  of the
Committee  shall  be  indemnified  by the  Corporation  against  the  reasonable
expenses,   including  attorney's  fees  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  in
connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding,  or in connection
with any appeal  therein,  to which they or any of them may be a party by reason
of any action  taken or failure to act under or in  connection  with the Plan or
any  Option  granted  thereunder,  and  against  all  amounts  paid  by  them in
settlement  thereof or paid by them in  satisfaction  of a judgment  in any such
action,  suit or proceeding,  except in relation to matters as to which it shall
be adjudged in the action, suit or proceeding that the Committee member's action
or failure to act constituted self-dealing,  willful misconduct or recklessness;
provided that within sixty (60) days after  institution  of any action,  suit or
proceeding  a  Committee  member  shall in  writing  offer the  Corporation  the
opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

6.       TERMS AND CONDITIONS

         Each Option  granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement,
in a form  approved by the  Committee,  which shall be subject to the  following
expressed terms and conditions and to other terms and conditions as the 
Committee may deem appropriate, including those imposed by Section 8 following 
amendment of the Plan requiring shareholder approval.

         (a) OPTION PERIOD.  Each Option  agreement shall specify the period for
which the Option  hereunder is granted  (which in no event shall exceed ten (10)
years  from the date of the  grant of the  Option)  and shall  provide  that the
Option shall expire at the end of that period.

         (b) OPTION PRICE. The Option price per share shall be determined by the
Committee at the time any Option is granted, and shall not be less than the fair
market  value  (but in no event  less than the par  value if any) of the  Common
Stock of the Corporation on the date the Option is granted, as determined by the
Committee.

         (c) AGGREGATE  OWNERSHIP AND EXERCISE  LIMITATIONS.  The aggregate fair
market  value  (determined  at the time the Option is granted) of the stock with
respect to which  Incentive  Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
an Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries and parents) shall not exceed $100,000.

         (d)  EXERCISE  OF  OPTION.  Subject in each case to the  provisions  of
paragraphs  (a),  (b),  (c),  (e),  and (f) of this Section 6, any Option may be
exercised,  to the extent  exercisable by its terms, at the time or times as may
be determined by the Committee at the time of grant;  subject,  however,  to the
following  limitations.  No portion of an Option  granted to an  employee of the
Corporation or its  subsidiaries  shall be  exercisable  unless the Optionee has
been  employed  by  the  Corporation  or  its  subsidiaries   until  the  second
anniversary  of the  date  of  the  grant  of the  Option.  Between  the  second
anniversary and the third anniversary of the date of the grant of the Option, if
the  Optionee is still  employed by the  Corporation  or its  subsidiaries,  the
Optionee may exercise up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option. Between the
third  anniversary  and the fourth  anniversary  of the date of the grant of the
Option,   if  the  Optionee  is  still  employed  by  the   Corporation  or  its
subsidiaries,  the Optionee may exercise  cumulatively up to fifty percent (50%)
of the Option.  On and after the fourth  anniversary of the date of the grant of
the Option (but in no event longer than the period provided in paragraph  6(a)),
if the Optionee is still employed by the  Corporation or its  subsidiaries,  the
Optionee  may  exercise  cumulatively  up to one hundred  percent  (100%) of the
Option. The Committee, in its sole discretion,  however, may reduce or eliminate
the limitations provided

                                  A-3
<PAGE>

in the preceding four sentences  ("Vesting  Limitations") for Options granted to
any  employee  having  at  least  two  years  of  continuous  service  with  the
Corporation or its subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding the Vesting Limitations, if an
Optionee's  employment  is terminated  due to death,  Permanent  Disability  (as
defined in paragraph 6(f)), or retirement as determined in the sole and absolute
discretion of the Committee  ("Retirement"),  one hundred  percent (100%) of the
Optionee's  Option  may be  exercised  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of
paragraph  6(f).  Vesting  provisions   substantially  similar  to  the  Vesting
Limitations may be imposed upon any Option granted to a nonemployee  Optionee at
the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee.

         (e) PAYMENT OF PURCHASE  PRICE AND TAXES UPON  EXERCISE.  The  purchase
price  of  Common  Stock  as to  which an  Option  shall  be  exercised  and any
employment taxes arising  therefrom shall be paid to the Corporation at the time
of  exercise in cash or, at the  discretion  of the  Committee,  in stock of the
Corporation;  payment in stock of the Corporation  shall include the right of an
Optionee to elect to receive the shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise
of an Option  reduced  by that  number of shares of Common  Stock  necessary  to
satisfy the purchase price and/or the minimum statutory withholding requirements
for employment taxes (hereinafter "Net Exercise").

         (f) EXERCISE IN THE EVENT OF DEATH OR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (1) If
any Optionee who is an employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries shall die
(i) while an  employee of the  Corporation  or its  subsidiaries  or (ii) within
three  (3)  months  after  termination  of the  Optionee's  employment  with the
Corporation or its subsidiaries  because the Optionee is permanently and totally
disabled (within the meaning of Code Section 22(e)(3)) ("Permanent  Disability")
or because of  Retirement,  any Option of the  Optionee  may be exercised by the
person or persons to whom the Optionee's rights under the Option pass by will or
applicable law or if no person has that right,  by the  Optionee's  executors or
administrators, at any time, or from time to time, within one (1) year after the
date of the death,  but in no event later than the expiration  date specified in
paragraph  (a) of  this  Section  6.  (2)  If an  Optionee's  employment  by the
Corporation or its subsidiaries shall terminate because of Permanent Disability,
the Optionee  may exercise any Option of the Optionee at any time,  or from time
to time,  within one (1) year of the date of the termination of employment,  but
in no event later than the  expiration  date  specified in paragraph (a) of this
Section  6.  (3)  If  an  Optionee's   employment  by  the  Corporation  or  its
subsidiaries  shall terminate  because of indefinite  lay-off,  the Optionee may
exercise  any Option of the  Optionee  to the extent  that the  Optionee  may be
entitled to do so at the date of the  indefinite  lay-off,  at any time, or from
time to  time,  within  three  (3)  months  of the  date of the  termination  of
employment,  but in no  event  later  than  the  expiration  date  specified  in
paragraph  (a) of  this  Section  6.  (4)  If an  Optionee's  employment  by the
Corporation or its  subsidiaries  shall  terminate  because of  Retirement,  any
Option of the Optionee  may be  exercised  by the Optionee at any time,  or from
time to  time,  within  three  (3)  months  of the  date of the  termination  of
employment,  but in no  event  later  than  the  expiration  date  specified  in
paragraph  (a) of this  Section 6. (5) Except as  provided by (1) through (4) of
this  paragraph  (f) of Section 6, if an  Optionee's  employment  shall cease by
reason of a voluntary or involuntary termination,  either with or without cause,
any Option of the Optionee shall  terminate  immediately.  (6) If an Optionee is
not an employee of the  Corporation  or its  subsidiaries  when the  Optionee is
granted an Option,  that Option shall  terminate  one (1) year after the date of
the Optionee's  death,  but in no event later than the expiration date specified
in paragraph (a) of this Section 6. If such an Optionee  dies, any Option of the
Optionee may be exercised by the person to whom the Optionee's  rights under the
Option pass by will or  applicable  law or if no person has that  right,  by the
Optionee's executors or administrators, at any time, or from time to time within
one (1)  year  after  the date of the  death,  but in no  event  later  than the
expiration date specified in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.

         (g) NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph,
no Option granted under the Plan shall be transferable  other than by will or by
the laws of descent and  distribution.  During the lifetime of the Optionee,  an
Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee, the Optionee's guardian, legal
representative or as otherwise provided by this paragraph.

                  Notwithstanding   any  other   provision  of  this  Plan,  the
Committee may direct, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, that all
or a portion of a Non-qualified  Stock Option is transferable to, or exercisable
by, an alternate payee (as defined by Code Section  414(p)(8) ). For purposes of
this paragraph,  a qualified domestic

                                   A-4
<PAGE>

relations  order  means a  domestic  relations  order  that  would  satisfy  the
requirements  of Code  Section  414(p)  but for  Code  Section  414(p)(9).  This
subparagraph  in its entirety,  however,  shall not apply to an Incentive  Stock
Option granted pursuant to Code Section 422.

         (h) INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION. Each Option agreement shall provide that
upon demand by the Committee, the Optionee (or any person acting under paragraph
6(f)) shall deliver a written representation to the Committee at the time of any
exercise of an Option that the shares to be acquired upon the exercise are to be
acquired for  investment  and not for resale or with a view to the  distribution
thereof.  Upon demand,  delivery of the representation  prior to the delivery of
any shares to be issued upon exercise of an  Option  and  prior to the  
expiration  of the  Option  period  shall be a condition precedent to the right 
of the Optionee or other person to purchase any shares.

         (i) ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event of any change in the Common Stock of the
Corporation by reason of any stock dividend,  recapitalization,  reorganization,
merger, consolidation,  split-up,  combination, or exchange of shares, or rights
offering to purchase  Common  Stock at a price  substantially  below fair market
value, or any similar change  affecting the Common Stock, the number and kind of
shares which  thereafter  may be optioned and sold under the Plan and the number
and kind of shares  subject to option in outstanding  Option  agreements and the
purchase price per share thereof shall be appropriately adjusted consistent with
the  change  in a  manner  as  the  Committee  may  deem  equitable  to  prevent
substantial  dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to, or available for,
participants in the Plan.

         (j) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.  Each Option  agreement which provides for
the grant of an Incentive  Stock Option to an employee  shall  contain terms and
provisions  as the Committee may determine to be necessary or desirable in order
to qualify the Option as an Incentive  Stock  Option  within the meaning of Code
Section 422, or successor thereto and to meet the requirement of Rule 16b-3.

         (k) NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDERS.  No Optionee shall have any rights as a 
shareholder with respect to any shares subject to an Option prior to the date of
issuance to the Optionee of a certificate or certificates for the shares.

         (l) NO RIGHTS TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. The Plan and any Option granted
under the Plan  shall not confer  upon any  Optionee  any right with  respect to
continuance  of  employment  by  the   Corporation  or  any  subsidiary  of  the
Corporation,  nor  shall  they  interfere  in any  way  with  the  right  of the
Corporation to terminate the Optionee's employment at any time.

7.       COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS

         The  Plan,  the grant  and  exercise  of  Options  thereunder,  and the
obligation of the Corporation to sell and deliver shares under Options, shall be
subject to all applicable  Federal and state laws,  rules and regulations and to
required approvals of any government or regulatory agency. The Corporation shall
not be required to issue or deliver any  certificates for shares of Common Stock
prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of the shares under
any Federal or state law, or any ruling or  regulation  of any  government  body
which the Corporation  shall, in its sole discretion,  determine to be necessary
or advisable.

8.       AMENDMENT AND DISCONTINUANCE

          The Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time amend,
suspend  or  discontinue  the  Plan;  provided,  however,  that  subject  to the
provisions of paragraph 6(i) or the approval of the  Corporation's  shareholders
no action of the Board of  Directors  or of the  Committee  may:  (a) extend the
period  during which Options may be granted as provided in paragraph  4(c);  (b)
increase the number of shares  reserved  for Options  pursuant to Section 4; (c)
permit the granting of any Option at an Option  price less than that  determined
in  accordance  with  paragraph  6(b);  (d) permit the granting of Options which
expire beyond the period provided for in paragraph 6(a); (e) materially increase
the benefits accruing to participants in the Plan; (f) materially modify


                                    A-5
<PAGE>


the requirements for eligibility for participation in the Plan; or (g) otherwise
cause Rule  16b-3 or the  requirements  for  Incentive  Stock  Options to become
inapplicable.  Without the  written  consent of an  Optionee,  no  amendment  or
suspension of the Plan shall diminish or impair any Option previously granted to
the Optionee under the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if
an   amendment  to  the  Plan   requires  the  approval  of  the   Corporation's
shareholders,  every Option granted after that amendment and before  approval of
the  shareholders  (and the Optionee's or other  person's  rights in every share
issued  upon an  exercise  of an  Option  granted  during  that  time)  shall be
conditional and contingent upon the approval of the Corporation's  shareholders.
Further,  those  Options (and shares  issued under those  options)  shall not be
subject to sale or transfer unless and until  shareholder  approval is obtained.
The Committee shall implement  procedures for compliance with these restrictions
when applicable.

                                    A - 6

<PAGE>




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