AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS INC
S-8, 1998-02-19
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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  As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 1998

                                                        Registration No.
                                                                        -------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

       California                                     33-0061928
(State or other jurisdiction of                (I.R.S. Employer 
 incorporation or organization)                 Identification Number)

                          10350 North Torrey Pines Road
                           La Jolla, California 92037
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

          AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                              (Full title of plan)

                                  PETER JOHNSON
                          Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                          10350 North Torrey Pines Road
                           La Jolla, California 92037
                                  (619) 622-3000
           (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


                         Calculation of Registration Fee

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                    <C>                  <C>                  <C>                 <C>

   Title of             Amount to be          Proposed             Proposed
securities to          registered(1)          Maximum              Maximum              Amount of
be registered                                 offering            Aggregate           Registration
                                             price per             Offering                Fee
                                              unit(2)              Price(2)

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

 Common Stock            1,000,000            $38.0625           $38,062,500         $11,534.09
 No par Value              Shares

  Options to
   Purchase              1,000,000              N/A                   N/A                  N/A
 Common Stock
</TABLE>



(1)   In addition, this Registration Statement also covers any additional shares
      of Common Stock which become  issuable under the Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,
      Inc.  1998  Employee  Stock  Option Plan by reason of any stock  dividend,
      stock  split,  recapitalization  or  other  similar  transaction  effected
      without the receipt of  consideration  which results in an increase in the
      number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(2)   Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
      solely for the purpose of calculating the registration  fee. The price per
      share and aggregate  offering price are based upon the average of the high
      and low  prices of  Registrant's  Common  Stock on  February  13,  1998 as
      reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market.




<PAGE>



                                     Part II

               Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The following  documents  filed by AGOURON  PHARMACEUTICALS,  INC. (the
"Company"  or  "Registrant")   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission
("Commission") are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

         (1) The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1997.

         (2)      The  Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
                  ended  September  30, 1997 and December 31, 1997.

         (3)      The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
                  Company's  Form 8-A  Registration  Statement  filed  April 17,
                  1987,  including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
                  of updating such description, together with the Company's Form
                  8-A Registration Statement filed on November 7, 1996, in which
                  there is described the terms, rights and provisions applicable
                  to the  Company's  outstanding  Common  Stock under the Rights
                  Agreement  dated as of November  7, 1996,  between the Company
                  and ChaseMellon  Shareholder Services,  L.L.C.,  including any
                  amendment  or report  filed for the purpose of  updating  such
                  description.

         In addition,  all documents  subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that all
securities  offered  have been sold or which  deregisters  all  securities  then
remaining  unsold,  shall be  deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  in this
Registration  Statement  and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Gary E. Friedman,  Esq., who has provided the opinion to the Registrant
on the validity of the securities  being registered which is attached as Exhibit
5 to this Registration Statement,  is Corporate Vice President,  General Counsel
and Secretary of the Registrant.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section 317 of the California  General  Corporation Law generally  provides
indemnification  to officers  and  directors  of the Company  against  expenses,
judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement  under certain  conditions  and
subject to certain limitations.

     Article VII of the articles of  incorporation  of the Company provides that
liability  of the  directors  of the  Company  for  monetary  damages  shall  be
eliminated to the fullest extent  permissible  under  California  law.  Further,
Article VIII of the articles of incorporation  authorizes the Company to provide
indemnification  of agents (as defined in Section 317) for breach of duty to the
Company and its shareholders through bylaw provisions or through agreements with
such agents, or both, in excess of the  indemnification  otherwise  permitted by
Section 317, subject to the limits on such excess  indemnification  set forth in
Section 317.
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
     Section  3.15 of the  bylaws  of the  Company  authorizes  the  Company  to
indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party,
to any  proceeding  (other  than  actions  by or in the right of the  Company to
procure a judgment  in its  favor) by reason of the fact that such  person is or
was an agent of the Company, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and
other  amounts  actually  and  reasonably   incurred  in  connection  with  such
proceeding  if such  person  acted in good  faith  and in a manner  such  person
reasonably  believed to be in the best  interests of the  Company.  Section 3.15
also authorizes the Company to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is
threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action by
or in the right of the  Company to procure a judgment  in its favor by reason of
the fact that such person is or was an agent of the  Company,  against  expenses
actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection  with the defense
or settlement of such action if such person acted in good faith.

     Any indemnification under Section 3.15 is to be made by the Company only if
authorized in the specific case upon determination  that  indemnification of the
agent is proper in the  circumstances  because the agent has met the  applicable
standard of conduct required by Paragraphs 3.15.2 or 3.15.3 of the bylaws.

     Pursuant to authorization  provided under the articles of incorporation and
the bylaws, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of
its present directors. The Company has also entered into similar agreements with
certain  of the  Company's  officers  who  are  not  directors.  Generally,  the
indemnification  agreements attempt to provide the maximum protection  permitted
by California  law as such law may be amended from time to time.  Moreover,  the
indemnification agreements provide for certain additional indemnification. Under
such  additional  indemnification  provisions,  however,  an individual will not
receive  indemnification for judgments,  settlements or expenses if he or she is
found liable to the Company (except to the extent the court determines he or she
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses) for settlements not
approved by the Company or for settlements and expenses if the settlement is not
approved by the court. The indemnification agreements provide for the Company to
advance to the individual any and all reasonable  expenses (including legal fees
and expenses)  incurred in investigating  or defending any such action,  suit or
proceeding.  In order to receive an advance of  expenses,  the  individual  must
submit  to the  Company  copies  of  invoices  presented  to him or her for such
expenses.  Also, the  individual  must repay such advances upon a final judicial
decision that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.

     Section  3.15  of  the  bylaws  also  provides  that,  in  the  event  of a
determination by the Board of Directors of the Company to purchase insurance for
certain of its agents,  the Company  shall  purchase and  maintain  insurance on
behalf of any such agent against  liability  asserted against or incurred by the
agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status,  whether or not the
Company would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability under
the provisions of Section 3.15.

     The  Company  has in  effect  liability  insurance  policies  which  insure
directors and officers of the Company. Although the Company intends to renew the
policies on or before their  expiration date, there can be no assurance that the
policies will be renewed on terms acceptable to the Company. Under the policies,
the directors and officers of the Company are insured  against loss arising from
claims made against them due to wrongful  acts while acting in their  individual
and  collective  capacities  as  directors  and  officers,  subject  to  certain
exclusions.  In addition,  the policies  insure the Company  against  losses for
which its  directors  and officers are entitled to  indemnification,  subject to
certain  retentions  payable by the  Company.  The  policies  are "claims  made"
policies and provide  coverage only for losses  arising out of claims first made
against the Company and reported to the insurer during the policy period.

                                    II-2
<PAGE>


Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not Applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         4.1      Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  dated  October 20, 1990,
                  incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Form 10-Q for the
                  quarter ended December 31, 1992.

         4.2      Rights  Agreement  dated as of November  7, 1996,  between the
                  Company and ChaseMellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C., which
                  includes  the  Certificate  of  Designation,  Preferences  and
                  Rights of Series B Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A,
                  the Form of Rights  Certificate  as  Exhibit B and the Form of
                  Summary of Rights as Exhibit C,  incorporated  by reference to
                  Exhibit 4.4 of the Company's  current report on Form 8-K dated
                  November 7, 1996.

         5        Opinion of Gary E. Friedman, Esq.

         23.1     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.

         23.2     Consent of Gary E. Friedman, Esq.(included in his opinion 
                  filed as Exhibit 5).

         24       Power of Attorney  (contained on signature page of this 
                  Registration Statement).

         99.1     Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan.

         99.2     Form of Notice of Grant.

         99.3     Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.1998 Employee Non-Statutory Stock
                  Option Agreement.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

                           (i)  to include any  prospectus  required by Section
                           10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                           (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                           arising after the effective date of this Registration
                           Statement   (or  the   most   recent   post-effective
                           amendment  hereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the
                           aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental  change  in the
                           information set forth in this Registration Statement.
                           Notwithstanding   the  foregoing,   any  increase  or
                           decrease  in volume  of  securities  offered  (if the
                           total dollar value of  securities  offered  would not
                           exceed that which was  registered)  and any deviation
                           from  the low or high  end of the  estimated  maximum
                           offering  range  may  be  reflected  in the  form  of
                           prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                           424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the  changes in volume
                           and price  represent no more than a 20% change in the
                           maximum  aggregate  offering  price  set forth in the
                           "Calculation  of  Registration   Fee"  table  in  the
                           effective registration statement;

                                              II-3
<PAGE>
                           (iii)  to  include  any  material   information  with
                           respect to the plan of  distribution  not  previously
                           disclosed  in  this  Registration  Statement  or  any
                           material   change   to  such   information   in  this
                           Registration Statement;

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(l)(i) and (a)(l)(ii) do
                  not apply if the  Registration  Statement is on Form S-3, Form
                  S-8 or Form F-3, and the  information  required to be included
                  in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained
                  in periodic  reports filed with or furnished to the Commission
                  by the  Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
                  the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are  incorporated by
                  reference in this Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
                  the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
                  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
                  the  securities  offered  therein,  and the  offering  of such
                  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                  fide offering thereof.

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

         (b) The undersigned  Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (and each  filing of the annual  report of the
Plan pursuant to Section 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934) that is
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 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 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 Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4
<PAGE>



                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on February 18, 1998.

                                    AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

February 18, 1998       By      /s/ Peter Johnson
                                -------------------------------------
                                Peter Johnson
                                President, Principal Executive Officer


February 18, 1998       By      /s/ Steven S. Cowell
                                -----------------------------------
                                Steven S. Cowell
                                Corporate Vice  President,  Finance,
                                Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting
                                Officer

                                     II-5
<PAGE>



                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW  ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Peter Johnson and Gary E. Friedman,  or
any of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him/her and in his/her  name,  place and
stead,  in any  and  all  capacities,  to  sign  any or all  amendments  to this
Registration  Statement,  and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and
under  documents  in  connection  therewith  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission,  granting  unto said  attorney-in-fact  and  agents  full  power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the  premises,  as fully and to all intents and purposes
as he/she might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents or their  substitute  or  substitutes,  may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

Signature                                 Title                                       Date

/s/ Peter Johnson                         President, Principal Executive Officer,     February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------      and Director
Peter Johnson

/s/ Steven S. Cowell                      Corporate Vice President, Finance, Chief    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------      Financial Officer and Principal
Steven S. Cowell                          Accounting Officer

/s/ Gary E. Friedman                      Corporate Vice President, General           February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------      Counsel, Secretary and Director
Gary E. Friedman

/s/ John N. Abelson                       Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
John N. Abelson

/s/ Patricia M. Cloherty                  Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ---------------------------
Patricia M. Cloherty

/s/ A.E. Cohen                            Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
A.E. Cohen

/s/ Michael E. Herman                     Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
Michael E. Herman

/s/ Irving S. Johnson                     Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
Irving S. Johnson

/s/Antonie T. Knoppers                    Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
Antonie T. Knoppers

/s/ Melvin I. Simon                       Director                                    February 18, 1998
- ------------------------------------
Melvin I. Simon


                                          II-6
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



                                              EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      <S>                                                                                                  <C>


      EXHIBIT                                                                                         Page

         4.1      Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  dated  October 20, 1990,
                  incorporated  by reference to the Company's  Form 10-Q for the
                  quarter ended December 31, 1992.

         4.2      Rights Agreement dated as of November 7, 1996, between
                  the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
                  L.L.C., which includes the Certificate of Designation,
                  Preferences and Rights of Series B Participating Preferred
                  Stock as Exhibit A, the Form of Rights Certificate as
                  Exhibit B and the Form of Summary of Rights as Exhibit C,
                  incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company's
                  current report on Form 8-K dated November 7, 1996.

         5        Opinion of Gary E. Friedman, Esq.

         23.1     Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP.

         23.2     Consent of Gary E.  Friedman,  Esq.  (included in his opinion filed as
                  Exhibit 5).

         24       Power  of  Attorney  (contained  on  signature  page  of  this
                  Registration Statement).

         99.1     Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan.

         99.2     Form of Notice of Grant.

         99.3     Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.  1998  Employee  Non-Statutory  Stock
                  Option Agreement.
</TABLE>



                                        E-1



                                                                      Exhibit 5




February 18, 1998





AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
10350 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California  92037

Gentlemen:

In connection with your registration on Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement")
under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  of 1,000,000  shares of Common
Stock of Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company"), I advise you that, in my
opinion,  when such shares have been issued and sold pursuant to the  provisions
of the Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. 1998 Employee  Stock Option Plan,  and in
accordance with the Registration Statement, such shares will be duly authorized,
validly issued,  fully paid and  non-assessable  shares of the Company's  Common
Stock.

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

Sincerely,

/s/ Gary E. Friedman, Esq.


Gary E. Friedman, Esq.
Corporate Vice President and General Counsel

GEF:cbc

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1





                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated July 30, 1997 appearing on page F-1 of
Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.'s  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 1997.






PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP


San Diego, California
February 17,  1998



                                                                   Exhibit 99.1
                          AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                         1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
              (Adopted by the Board of Directors February 12, 1998)


1.       Purpose.

         This 1998  Employee  Stock Option Plan is intended to  encourage  stock
ownership  in Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. by  non-officer  employees  of the
Company and its  Affiliates in order to promote their interest in the success of
the Company and to encourage  their continued  affiliation.  All options granted
under this 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan shall be Non-Statutory Stock Options.

2.       Definitions.

         As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

         "Act" shall mean the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time.

         "Affiliate"   shall   mean  any   corporation   defined  as  a  "parent
corporation"  or a  "subsidiary  corporation"  by Code  Section  424(e) and (f),
respectively.

         "Agreement"  shall  mean a 1998  Employee  Non-Statutory  Stock  Option
Agreement,  embodying  the terms of the  agreement  between  the Company and the
Optionee with respect to Optionee's Option.

         "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from
time to time.

         "Company" shall mean Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a California
         corporation.

         "Disability" or "Disabled" shall mean the condition of being "disabled"
within the meaning of Section 422(c)(6) of the Code or any successor provision.

         "Director" shall mean an individual member of the Board.

         "Employee" shall mean any employee of the Company or its Affiliates who
is not an officer of the Company or its Affiliates on the date of grant.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act or the
rules thereunder, as amended from time to time.

         "Fair  Market  Value" of Stock on a given date shall mean an amount per
share as determined by the Board (or its  delegates) by applying any  reasonable
valuation  method  determined  without regard to any  restriction,  other than a
restriction that, by its terms, will never lapse. Notwithstanding the preceding,
if the Stock is traded upon an established stock exchange, then the "Fair Market
Value" of Stock on a given date per share  shall be deemed to be the  average of
the highest  and lowest  selling  price per share of the Stock on the  principal
stock exchange on which the Stock is then trading or, if there was no trading of
the  Stock on that  day,  on the next  preceding  day on  which  there  was such
trading;  if the Stock is not traded upon an  established  stock exchange but is
quoted on a quotation  system,  the "Fair Market Value" of Stock on a given date
shall be deemed to be the mean  between  the  closing  representative  "bid" and
"ask"  prices per share of the Stock on such date as reported by such  quotation
system  or,  if
<PAGE>
there  was no  trading  of the  Stock on that  day,  on the next preceding day
on which there was such trading.

         "Non-Statutory Stock Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant
to the Plan which is not an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code
or any successor provision.

         "Option" shall refer to a Non-Statutory Stock Option, as the context
shall indicate.

         "Optionee" shall mean the recipient of a Non-Statutory Stock Option.

         "Option  Price"  shall  mean the price per share of Stock to be paid by
the Optionee upon exercise of the Option.

         "Option  Stock"  shall  mean the  total  number  of shares of Stock the
Optionee shall be entitled to purchase pursuant to the Agreement.

         "Plan" shall mean this Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  1998  Employee
Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time.

         "Reporting  Person"  shall mean an  Optionee  who is  required  to file
statements  relating to his or her  beneficial  ownership  of Stock with the SEC
pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act.

         "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Stock" shall mean the no par Common Stock of the Company.

3.       Administration.

         The Plan shall be administered by the Board;  provided,  however,  that
the Board may delegate all or any part of its authority to  administer  the Plan
in its entirety  or, with respect to any group or groups of persons  eligible to
receive  Options  hereunder,  to such persons or committee as the Board shall in
its sole discretion determine.  The Board and its delegates may adopt, amend and
rescind such rules and  regulations  for carrying out the Plan and  implementing
agreements  and  take  such  act  as  it  deems  proper.   The   interpretation,
construction  and application by the Board (or any individuals who are delegated
authority by the Board to administer  the Plan) or any of the  provisions of the
Plan or any Option granted thereunder shall be final and binding on the Company,
all Optionees,  their legal  representatives,  and any person who may acquire an
Option directly from an Optionee by permitted transfer,  bequest or inheritance.
Whether or not the Board has delegated administrative authority, the Board shall
have the final power to determine all questions of policy or expediency that may
arise in administration of the Plan.

4.       Eligibility.

         Only Employees of the Company or its Affiliates are eligible to receive
Non-Statutory Stock Options under the Plan.

         No person shall be eligible to receive an Option for a larger number of
shares than is recommended for him or her by the Board (or its  delegates).  Any
Optionee may hold more than one Option, but only on the terms and conditions and
subject to the restrictions set forth herein.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>
5.       Stock Subject to the Plan.

         Options  granted  under the Plan shall be for  shares of the  Company's
authorized but unissued or re-acquired  Stock. The aggregate number of shares of
Stock that may be subject to Options  pursuant  to the Plan shall not exceed one
million  (1,000,000) shares. The number of shares available shall be adjusted as
provided in Paragraph 6(j) below. Stock issued under other stock option plans of
the Company shall not be counted  against the maximum  number of shares that can
be issued under the Plan.

         In the event that any  outstanding  Option expires or is terminated for
any reason,  the shares of Stock  allocable to the  unexercised  portion of such
Option may again be subject to an Option under the Plan.

         If an  Optionee  pays all or part of any Option  Price  with  shares of
Stock,  the number of shares  deemed to be issued to the  Optionee  (and counted
against the maximum number of shares that can be issued under the Plan) shall be
the number of shares transferred to the Optionee by the Company, less the number
of shares transferred by the Optionee to the Company as payment. Stock issued on
the exercise of an Option that is forfeited in  accordance  with the  conditions
contained in the grant by the Optionee  after  issuance  shall be deemed to have
never been issued under the Plan and, accordingly,  shall not be counted against
the maximum number of shares that can be issued under the Plan.

6.       Terms and Conditions of Options.

         The  Board (or its  delegates)  shall  authorize  the  granting  of all
Options under the Plan with such Options to be evidenced by Non-Statutory  Stock
Option Agreements. Each Agreement shall be in such form as the Board may approve
from time to time.  Each  Agreement  shall  comply  with and be  subject  to the
following terms and conditions:

         (a) Number of Shares.  Each particular Option Agreement shall state the
         number of shares to which the Option pertains.

         (b) Option Price.  Each  particular  Option  Agreement  shall state the
         Option Price as determined by the Board (or its delegates).

         (c) Certificate  Legends.  Certificates  for shares of Stock issued and
         delivered  to  Employees  who  are  Reporting  Persons  on the  date of
         exercise may be legended, as the Board deems appropriate.

         (d) Medium and Time of Payment.  The  aggregate  Option  Price shall be
         payable  upon  the  exercise  of the  Option  and  shall be paid in any
         combination of:

                  (i)      United States cash currency;

                  (ii)     a cashier's or certified check to the order of the
                  Company;

                  (iii)    a personal check acceptable to the Company;

                  (iv) to the extent permitted by the Board,  shares of Stock of
                  the  Company  (including   previously  owned  Stock  or  Stock
                  issuable in  connection  with the Option  exercise),  properly
                  endorsed to the  Company,  whose Fair Market Value on the date
                  of exercise  equals the  aggregate  Option Price of the Option
                  being exercised; or

                  (v) to the  extent  permitted  by the  Board,  the  Optionee's
                  entering into an agreement with the Company, whereby a portion
                  of  the  Optionee's  Options  are
                                            -3-
<PAGE>
                 terminated and where the "built-in gain" on any Options that
                 are terminated as part of such agreement  equals the aggregate
                 Option Price of the Option being exercised.  "Built-in  gain" 
                 means the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of any
                 Stock  otherwise  issuable on exercise of a terminated  Option,
                 over the aggregate Option Price otherwise due the Company on
                 such exercise. 

         The Board (or its delegates) may permit deemed or constructive transfer
         of  shares  in  lieu  of  actual  transfer  and  physical  delivery  of
         certificates.  Except to the extent  prohibited by applicable  law, the
         Board (or its delegates) may take any necessary or appropriate steps in
         order to  facilitate  the  payment of any such  Option  Price.  Without
         limiting  the  foregoing,  the Board (or its  delegates)  may cause the
         Company to loan the Option Price to the  Optionee or to guarantee  that
         any Stock to be issued will be delivered to a broker or lender in order
         to allow the  Optionee  to borrow the Option  Price.  The Board (or its
         delegates),   in  its  sole  and  exclusive  discretion,   may  require
         satisfaction  of any rules or conditions in connection  with payment of
         the Option Price at any  particular  time, in any  particular  form, or
         with the Company's assistance. If Stock used to pay any Option Price is
         subject to any prior  restrictions  imposed in connection with any plan
         of the Company  (including this Plan), an equal number of the shares of
         Stock  acquired  on  exercise  shall  be made  subject  to  such  prior
         restrictions  in addition to any further  restrictions  imposed on such
         Stock by the terms of the Optionee's Agreement or by the Plan.

         (e) Duration of Options.  Each particular  Option Agreement shall state
         the term of the Option.  Non-Statutory  Stock  Options shall expire and
         not be  exercisable  after the date set by the Board (or its delegates)
         in the particular Option  Agreement,  or on any later date subsequently
         approved by the Board (or its delegates).

         (f)      Exercise of Options.

                  (i) Each  particular  Option  Agreement  shall  state when the
                  Optionee's right to purchase Stock pursuant to the terms of an
                  Option  is  exercisable  in whole or in part.  Subject  to the
                  earlier  termination  of the right to exercise  the Options as
                  provided  under this Plan,  Options  shall be  exercisable  in
                  whole or in part as the Board (or its delegates),  in its sole
                  and exclusive discretion, may provide in the particular Option
                  Agreement, as amended. The Board (or its delegates) may at any
                  time   increase   the   percentage   an  Option  is  otherwise
                  exercisable  under the terms of a particular Option Agreement.
                  The  Board  (or its  delegates),  in its  sole  and  exclusive
                  discretion,  may permit the  issuance of Stock  underlying  an
                  Option prior to the date the Option is otherwise  exercisable,
                  provided  such  Stock is  subject to  repurchase  rights  that
                  expire  pro rata as the Option  would  otherwise  have  become
                  exercisable.

                  (ii) If the  Optionee  does not  exercise  in any one (1) year
                  period  the full  number  of shares to which he or she is then
                  entitled to exercise,  the Optionee may exercise  those shares
                  in any subsequent year during the term of the Option.

         (g)  Transfer of Options.  An  attempted  non-permitted  transfer of an
         Option shall be void.

         (h) Death of Optionee.  If the Optionee dies while in the employ of the
         Company or its  Affiliates or within a period of three (3) months after
         termination of such employment and before he or she has fully exercised
         an Option,  the Option may be exercised,  regardless of the  expiration
         date stated in the particular  Option Agreement (to the extent that the
         Option was exercisable on the date of death and had not previously been
         exercised),  for one (1) year after the date of the  Optionee's  death.
         Such exercise may be made by a personal  representative of the Optionee
         or by any person or persons who shall have acquired the Option directly
         from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance.

                                          -4-
<PAGE>

         (i)  Termination  of  Employment  Other  than  Death.  Subject  to  the
         provisions of Paragraph 6(h) above, in the event that an Optionee shall
         cease to be  employed  by the  Company  or its  Affiliates  prior to an
         Option's  expiration date, the exercise of such Option shall be subject
         to such  limitations on the periods of time during which the Option may
         be exercised as may be specified in the particular Option Agreement, as
         amended,  between the  Optionee and the  Company.  Notwithstanding  the
         foregoing (and subject to the  provisions of Paragraph 6(h) above),  an
         Optionee who is Disabled on the date of  termination  of employment may
         exercise  his  or her  Option,  to  the  extent  that  the  Option  was
         exercisable on the date of such termination and had not previously been
         exercised,  for one  (1)  year  from  the  date  of  such  termination;
         provided,  however,  that an  Option  may not be  exercised  after  the
         expiration  date  set  forth in the  particular  Option  Agreement,  as
         amended. Whether an authorized leave of absence or absence for military
         or governmental service shall constitute  termination of employment for
         purposes  of the  Plan  shall  be  determined  by  the  Board  (or  its
         delegates)  in its sole and exclusive  discretion.  No provision of the
         Plan  shall be  construed  so as to grant any  individual  the right to
         remain in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates for any period of
         specific duration.

         (j)      Recapitalization/Corporate Transactions.

                  (i) The  number  of  shares  issuable  under  the Plan and the
                  number and amount of the Option  Stock and the Option Price of
                  outstanding Options shall be proportionately  adjusted for any
                  increase or  decrease in the number of issued  shares of Stock
                  resulting from a subdivision or  consolidation  of shares,  or
                  for the payment of a stock dividend,  or any other increase or
                  decrease in the number of such shares affected without receipt
                  of  consideration  by the  Company  in order to  preclude  the
                  dilution or enlargement of benefits under the Plan.

                  (ii) The Board, in its sole and exclusive discretion, may make
                  such equitable adjustments to the Plan and outstanding Options
                  as it deems  appropriate  in order to preclude the dilution or
                  enlargement of benefits under the Plan upon exchange of all of
                  the outstanding  stock of the Company for a different class or
                  series of  capital  stock or the  separation  of assets of the
                  Company,  including a spin-off or other  distribution of stock
                  or property by the Company.

                  (iii) If the Company shall be the surviving corporation in any
                  merger or consolidation, each outstanding Option shall pertain
                  to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number
                  of  shares  of  Option  Stock  would  have  been  entitled.  A
                  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the Company,  a merger (other
                  than a merger the principal  purpose of which is to change the
                  state of the  Company's  incorporation)  or  consolidation  in
                  which the Company is not the surviving corporation,  a reverse
                  merger in which the Company is the surviving  corporation  but
                  the Company's Common Stock outstanding  immediately  preceding
                  the merger is  converted  by virtue of the  merger  into other
                  property,  or other capital  reorganization in which more than
                  fifty percent (50%) of the Company's Common Stock is exchanged
                  shall cause each  outstanding  Option to terminate;  provided,
                  however,  that  immediately  prior to the  occurrence  of such
                  event,  each Optionee  shall have the right to exercise his or
                  her  Option  in  whole  or  in  part,  unless  the  Option  in
                  connection  with such  event is either  to be  assumed  by the
                  successor  corporation  or parent  thereof,  or to be replaced
                  with a  comparable  option to  purchase  shares of the capital
                  stock of the successor  corporation or parent thereof,  or the
                  Option  is to  be  replaced  by a  comparable  cash  incentive
                  program of the successor corporation based on the value of the
                  Option  on  the  date  of  such  event.   Notwithstanding  the
                  preceding,  if,  within  one (1)  year  from  the date of such
                  event, an Employee's  employment is involuntarily  terminated,
                  then the Employee's 

                                             -5-
<PAGE>

                  outstanding Options, if any, shall become immediately 
                  exercisable  as of the  date  of  termination  of employment.

                  (iv) All  adjustments  required  by the  preceding  paragraphs
                  shall  be  made  by the  Board,  whose  determination  in that
                  respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                  (v) Except as expressly  provided in this  Paragraph  6(j), an
                  Optionee shall have no rights by reason of any  subdivision or
                  consolidation  of shares of stock of any class, or the payment
                  of any stock dividend,  or any other increase in the number of
                  shares of stock of any  class by  reason  of any  dissolution,
                  liquidation,   merger,   consolidation,   reorganization,   or
                  separation  of assets,  and any issue by the Company of shares
                  of stock of any class, or securities  convertible  into shares
                  of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment  by
                  reason  thereof  shall be made with  respect to, the number or
                  amount of the Option Stock or the Option Price of  outstanding
                  Options.

                  (vi) The grant or  existence  of an Option shall not affect in
                  any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
                  reclassifications,  reorganizations  or changes in its capital
                  or business  structure,  or to merge,  consolidate,  dissolve,
                  liquidate or sell, or transfer all or any part of its business
                  or assets.

         (k) Rights as a  Shareholder.  An  Optionee  shall not have rights as a
         shareholder  with respect to any shares  covered by an Option until the
         Option is  exercised  and  Optionee  has become a record  holder of the
         shares underlying the Option. No adjustment shall be made for dividends
         (ordinary  or  extraordinary,  whether  in  cash,  securities  or other
         property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is
         prior to the date of  issuance  of such  stock  certificate,  except as
         provided in Paragraph 6(j) above.

         (l)  Modification,  Extension  and Renewal of  Options.  Subject to the
         terms and  conditions  of the Plan,  the Board (or its  delegates)  may
         modify  (including   lowering  the  Option  Price),   extend  or  renew
         outstanding  Options granted under the Plan, or accept the surrender of
         outstanding  Options  under the Plan and/or other stock option plans of
         the Company (to the extent not previously  exercised) and authorize the
         granting of new Options in substitution  therefor.  Notwithstanding the
         foregoing,  no modification of an Option shall,  without the consent of
         the Optionee or as otherwise provided for in the Plan, adversely affect
         any rights or obligations under any Option previously granted under the
         Plan.

         (m) Investment Purpose.  Each Option under the Plan shall be granted on
         the  condition  that  the  purchase  of Stock  thereunder  shall be for
         investment  purposes for the Optionee's own account and not with a view
         to resale or  distribution.  In the  event  the Stock  subject  to such
         Option is registered  under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or
         in the event a resale of such Stock  without  such  registration  would
         otherwise be  permissible,  such condition  shall be inoperative if, in
         the opinion of counsel for the Company,  such condition is not required
         under  the  Securities  Act of  1933,  or  any  other  applicable  law,
         regulation or rule of any governmental agency.

         (n) Transfer and  Exercise of Options.  The Board may adopt,  amend and
         rescind such rules and  regulations as the Board (or its delegates) may
         deem appropriate  concerning the  transferability or assignability of a
         particular  Option by  Optionee  otherwise  than by will or the laws of
         descent and distribution.

         (o) Other  Provisions.  Each Option  Agreement  may contain  such other
         provisions,   including  without  limitation,   restrictions  upon  the
         exercise  or  transferability  of the  Option,  as the  Board  (or  its
         delegates) may deem advisable.

                                        -6-
<PAGE>

         (p) Withholding  Taxes.  When the Company  becomes  required to collect
         federal and state income and  employment  taxes in connection  with the
         exercise  of  an  Option  ("withholding  taxes"),  the  Optionee  shall
         promptly  pay to the Company  the amount of such taxes in cash,  unless
         the Board (or its delegates) permits or requires payment in another 
         form. Subject to such conditions as it may require,  the Board,
         in its sole discretion,  may allow an Optionee to reimburse the Company
         for payment of withholding taxes with shares of Stock.

7.       Term of Plan.

         Options may be granted  pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

8.       Amendment of Plan.

         With  respect to any shares at the time not  subject  to  Options,  the
Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue
the Plan or revise or amend the Plan in any  respect  whatsoever.  The Board may
amend the Plan  from time to time to the  extent  necessary  to comply  with any
applicable law, rule or other regulatory requirement.

9.       Application of Funds.

         The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Stock pursuant to
the exercise of an Option will be used for general corporate purposes.

10.      No Obligation to Exercise Option.

         The granting of an Option shall impose no obligation  upon the Optionee
to exercise such Option.

11.      Indemnification.

         In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as
Directors, Employees or agents of the Company, the Directors (or any individuals
who are  delegated  authority  by the Board to  administer  the  Plan)  shall be
indemnified by the Company  against:  (i) their reasonable  expenses,  including
attorneys' fees actually and necessarily 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 (ii)  against all amounts  paid by them in  settlement  thereof
(provided such settlement is approved by independent  legal counsel  selected by
the Company),  or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action,
suit or  proceeding,  except  in  actions  to  matters  as to  which it shall be
adjudged in such action,  suit or proceeding that such Director or individual is
liable for  negligence  or  misconduct in the  performance  of his duties;  this
indemnification  is expressly  conditioned  upon the indemnified  party,  within
ninety  (90) days after  institution  of any such  action,  suit or  proceeding,
offering the Company in writing the opportunity,  at its own expense,  to handle
and defend the same.

         Adopted by the Board of Directors on February 12, 1998.

AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.



By:

         --------------------------------
         Peter Johnson, President & CEO



Notice of Grant of Grant of Stock Option

                                                   Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                                                   10350 North Torrey Pines Road
                                                      La Jolla, California 92037
                                                                  (619) 622-8000

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

firstname name
address1
address2
address3
address4


You have been granted a  non-statutory  stock option  ("Option")  to buy Agouron
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Agouron") common stock as follows:

      Stock Option Grant Number:                                     grantnumber
      Date of Grant:                                                   grantdate
      Stock Option Agreement (Attachment 1):   1998 Employee Non-Statutory Stock
                                                                Option Agreement
      Option Price per Share:                                      $ optionprice
      Total Number of Shares Granted:                                     shares
      Expiration Date and Time:                       p1expiredate at 12:00 p.m.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    VESTING SCHEDULE

                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
<S>                   <C>                    <C>                              <C>    
                                                                              Cumulative Amount
                                                   Stock Available            of Stock Available
                           On or After              For Exercise                 For Exercise
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                            p1vestdate              p1shares                    p1shares
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                            p2vestdate              p2shares                    p2shares
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                            p3vestdate              p3shares                    p2shares
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
                            p4vestdate              p4shares                      TOTAL
                      ---------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------
</TABLE>

By your signature and Agouron's signature below, you and Agouron agree that this
Option is granted  under and governed by the terms and  conditions  of Agouron's
1998 Employee  Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement  (Attachment 1) and the 1998
Employee  Stock Option Plan  (Attachment  2), which are attached  hereto and are
made a part hereof by this reference.

Attachments:

1.       1998 Employee Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement (Form Dated 
         February 12, 1998).
2.       1998 Employee Stock Option Plan (Approved by the Board on
         February 12, 1998).
3.       Prospectus Information Memorandum (which describes, among other things,
         the federal income tax consequences of exercising your options).

Additionally, if you have not received a copy of Agouron's latest annual report,
please  contact  the  Investor  Relations  Department,  or you may  review  such
information over the Internet at Agouron's Web Site address:

                             http://www.agouron.com

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

AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.               OPTIONEE



By:
         Steven Cowell, Corporate V.P. & CFO         firstname name

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



                                                                   Exhibit 99.3

                          AGOURON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                           (a California Corporation)

               1998 EMPLOYEE NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         This Option Agreement is entered into between Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., a California corporation and the Optionee whose name appears on the Notice
of Grant of Stock Option to which this Agreement is an attachment.


1.       Recitals.

         1.01 The Board of  Directors of the Company (or its  delegates) 
authorized the granting of this Option to Optionee pursuant to the Agouron 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan.

         1.02 This Option  Agreement is intended to  constitute a  non-statutory
stock option,  meaning an option that is not an "incentive  stock option" within
the meaning of Section 422 of Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended  from
time to time.


2.       Definitions.

         In  addition  to those  words and  phrases  defined  above  and  unless
otherwise required by the context in which they appear, words and phrases having
their initial letters capitalized shall have the following meanings:

         2.01 Act.  "Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
 amended from time to time.
                  

         2.02 Affiliate.  "Affiliate"  shall mean any  corporation  defined as a
"parent  corporation"  or a "subsidiary  corporation" by Code Section 424(e) and
(f), respectively.

         2.03 Agreement. "Agreement" shall mean this 1998 Employee Non-Statutory
Stock Option  Agreement  (including  any  schedules,  attachments  and documents
incorporated by reference,  or modifications agreed to in writing by the Company
and  Optionee),  which sets forth the  Optionee's  and the Company's  rights and
obligations  with  respect to the Option  granted  Optionee by the Board (or its
delegates) as described on the Notice of Grant.

        2.04 Board. "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

        2.05 Code.  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
               
        2.06 Company.  "Company" shall mean Agouron Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a 
California corporation,  and any successors or assigns.

        2.07 Date of Grant.  "Date of Grant" shall mean the Date of Grant set
forth on the Notice of Grant.
                  
        2.08 Disability. "Disability" or "Disabled" shall mean the condition of
being  "disabled"  within the  meaning of Section  422(c)(6)  of the Code or any
successor provision.

        2.09 Employee.  "Employee"  shall mean any  employee  of the Company or
its  Affiliates  who is not an officer of the Company or its Affiliates on the
Date of Grant.
                                                                         1 of 7
<PAGE>
        2.10     Expiration  Date.  "Expiration Date" shall mean the Expiration
Date set forth on the Notice of Grant.

        2.11 Fair Market  Value.  "Fair Market  Value" of Stock on a given date
shall mean an amount per share, as determined by the Board (or its delegates) by
applying  any  reasonable  valuation  method  determined  without  regard to any
restriction,  other than a  restriction  that,  by its terms,  will never lapse.
Notwithstanding the preceding,  if the Stock is traded upon an established stock
exchange,  then the "Fair Market Value" of Stock on a given date shall be deemed
to be the average of the highest and lowest selling price per share of the Stock
on the principal  stock exchange on which the Stock is then trading or, if there
was no  trading  of the Stock on that day,  on the next  preceding  day on which
there was such  trading;  if the Stock is not traded upon an  established  stock
exchange but is quoted on a quotation  system,  the "Fair Market Value" of Stock
on  a  given  date  shall  be  deemed  to  be  the  mean   between  the  closing
representative  "bid"  and "ask"  prices  per share of the Stock on such date as
reported  by such  quotation  system or, if there was no trading of the Stock on
that day, on the next preceding day on which there was such trading.

        2.12 Notice of Grant of Stock Option. "Notice of Grant of Stock Option"
or "Notice of Grant" shall mean the Notice of Grant  executed by the Company and
the Optionee to which this Agreement is an attachment.

        2.13 Option.  "Option" shall mean the right of Optionee to purchase the
number of shares of Stock set forth on the  Notice of Grant in  accordance  with
the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

        2.14 Optionee.  "Optionee" shall mean the person whose name is set
forth on the Notice of Grant.
                

        2.15 Option  Price.  "Option  Price"  shall mean  the  price  per share
of  Stock to be paid by the Optionee upon exercise of the Option, which amount
is set forth on the Notice of Grant.

        2.16 Option Stock. "Option Stock" shall mean the total number of shares
of Stock the Optionee shall be entitled to purchase  pursuant to this Agreement,
which number of shares is set forth on the Notice of Grant.

        2.17 Plan.  "Plan" shall mean the Agouron  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. 1998
Employee  Stock Option Plan, as amended from time to time.

        2.18 Reporting  Person.  "Reporting  Person" shall mean an Optionee who
is required to file statements relating to his or her beneficial ownership of
Stock with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act.

        2.19 SEC.  "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        2.20 Stock.  "Stock" shall mean the no par common stock of the Company.

        2.21 Vesting.  "Vesting"  shall mean the  date(s) when all or a portion
of the Option  Stock  becomes available for exercise.

        2.22  Vesting  Schedule.  "Vesting  Schedule"  shall  mean the  Vesting
Schedule set forth on the Notice of Grant that  indicates on what dates all or a
portion of the Option Stock becomes available for exercise.


                                                                         2 of 7

<PAGE>


3.       Option.

         3.01 Grant. The Company hereby grants to Optionee an Option to purchase
all or any part of the  Option  Stock on the terms and  conditions  set forth in
this  Agreement.  The Date of Grant  shall be the Date of Grant set forth on the
Notice of Grant.

         3.02 Purchase  Price.  The purchase price per share of Stock to be paid
upon the  exercise  of this  Option  shall be the Option  Price set forth on the
Notice of Grant.

         3.03  Restrictions  on Transfer.  This Option may be  transferred  to a
trust for the benefit of the Optionee or members of his or her immediate family.
Upon any attempt to sell, assign,  encumber or otherwise transfer this Option in
violation  of this  Agreement,  or upon the levy of any  attachment  or  similar
process upon this Option, this Option shall immediately become null and void.

         3.04  Modifications  of Rights.  As set forth in Paragraph  6(l) of the
Plan, the Board (or its delegates)  may modify  (including,  lowering the Option
Price), extend or renew this Option (to the extent not previously exercised), or
accept the surrender of this Option (to the extent not previously exercised) and
authorize the granting of a new Stock option in substitution therefor; provided,
however,  that no modification of this Option shall,  without the consent of the
Optionee,  alter or impair any existing  rights or obligations of Optionee under
this Option.

         3.05  Changes  in  Company's  Equity  Structure;   Recapitalization  of
Company. Upon the occurrence of the capital and/or recapitalization transactions
described  in  Paragraph  6(j) of the  Plan,  this  Option  (to the  extent  not
previously  exercised)  shall be adjusted  or modified as provided in  Paragraph
6(j) of the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement,  the Company
reserves the right to:

                  (a)  make or enter into any adjustments, reclassifications,
                       reorganizations  or changes of its capital or business
                       structure;

                  (b)  merge or consolidate with other entities; or

                  (c)  dissolve,  liquidate or sell, or transfer all or any part
                       of its business or assets.

         3.06  Shareholder's  Rights.   Optionee  shall  have  no  rights  as  a
shareholder  with respect to any shares  Optionee is entitled to purchase  under
this  Option  until the Option is  exercised  and  Optionee  has become a record
holder of the shares  underlying  this Option.  No adjustment  shall be made for
dividends  (ordinary  or  extraordinary,  whether in cash,  securities  or other
property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to
the date of issuance of such  certificate,  except as provided in this Agreement
or in the Plan.


4.       Employment Conditions.

         4.01  Employment  Status.  Optionee  shall be  considered  to be in the
employment of the Company as long as Optionee remains an Employee of the Company
or its Affiliates. The Board (or its delegates) exclusively shall determine:

                  (a)      whether or when there has been a termination of 
                           Optionee's employment;

                  (b)      if there has been a failure to comply with Optionee's
                           covenant not to compete obligations; and

                  (c)      the cause of such termination,

which determination shall be final.
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<PAGE>
         4.02 Covenant Not to Compete.  Unless  otherwise  permitted in writing,
Optionee shall devote his or her entire time, energy and skill to the service of
the  Company  or its  Affiliates,  subject  to  vacation,  sick  leave and other
approved absences. Failure of Optionee to comply with his or her covenant not to
compete  obligations  within thirty (30) days of written  notice of such failure
shall  cause,  on the  thirtieth  (30th)  day after  such  written  notice,  the
cancellation  of  Optionee's  right to purchase  Option Stock (to the extent not
previously exercised) without further action by the Company.

         4.03 Termination for Cause. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Board (or
its delegates),  if Optionee's  employment is terminated for cause, the right of
Optionee to purchase  Option  Stock  shall only be  exercisable  for a period of
thirty (30) days after the date of such termination.


5.       Exercise.

         5.01 Exercise Amounts.  Subject to the earlier termination of the right
to exercise this Option as provided under this Agreement,  including  Paragraphs
4.02 and 4.03 above,  the Optionee  shall be entitled to exercise the amounts of
Option Stock,  in whole or in part, as set forth in the Vesting  Schedule on the
Notice of Grant.

         5.02  Additional  Adjustments.  Notwithstanding  the terms of Paragraph
5.01 of this  Agreement,  the Board (or its delegates) in its sole and exclusive
discretion may modify  (including  lowering the Option  Price),  extend or renew
this Option (to the extent not previously  exercised) and authorize the granting
of a new Option in substitution therefor;  provided, however, that the Board (or
its  delegates)  shall only make  modifications  that may  adversely  affect any
rights or obligations  under this Option as provided for in the Plan or with the
consent of Optionee.


         5.03 Cumulative  Exercise Rights.  If the Optionee does not exercise in
any one (1) year  period  the full  number  of shares to which he or she is then
entitled to exercise,  Optionee may exercise those shares in any subsequent year
prior to the Expiration Date of this Option as set forth on the Notice of Grant,
or such later date subsequently approved by the Board (or its delegates).

         5.04  Expiration  of  Exercise  Rights.  Subject to the  provisions  of
Paragraph  5.08,  in no  event  shall  this  Option  be  exercisable  after  the
Expiration  Date or such later date  subsequently  approved by the Board (or its
delegates).

         5.05  Fractional  Shares.  This Option shall not be exercisable with
respect to any fractional  shares of the Stock.

         5.06 Exercise  Procedure.  This Option shall be exercised by the giving
of written notice of exercise to the Company that specifies the number of shares
of Stock to be purchased,  accompanied by payment (in accordance  with the terms
of Paragraph  6(d) of the Plan) of the aggregate  Option Price for the shares of
Stock being purchased, such payment to be made in any combination of:

                (a)  United States cash currency;

                (b)  a cashier's or certified check to the order of the Company;

                (c)  a personal check acceptable to the Company;

                (d)  to the  extent  permitted  by the  Board,  shares  of Stock
                     (including previously  owned  Stock  or  Stock  issuable in
                     connection  with  the  Option exercise), 
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<PAGE>

                     properly endorsed to the Company, whose Fair Market Value 
                     on the date of exercise equals the aggregate Option Price
                     of the Option being exercised; or

                (e)  to the extent agreed to by the Board,  the Optionee's
                     entering into an agreement with the Company whereby a
                     portion of the Optionee's  Options are terminated and
                     where the  "built-in  gain" on any  Options  that are
                     terminated  as  part  of such  agreement  equals  the
                     aggregate Option Price of the Option being exercised.
                     "Built-in  gain"  means the  excess of the  aggregate
                     Fair Market Value of any Stock otherwise  issuable on
                     exercise of a terminated  Option,  over the aggregate
                     Option  Price  otherwise  due  the  Company  on  such
                     exercise.

In accordance  with the terms of Paragraph  6(d) of the Plan,  the Board (or its
delegates)  may  provide  such  assistance  to the  Optionee to  facilitate  the
exercise of this Option as it deems  appropriate;  provided,  however,  that the
Board (or its delegates),  as a prerequisite to providing such  assistance,  may
require satisfaction of any rules or conditions it deems appropriate.  Shares of
Stock used to pay the Option Price shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on
the  date  of  exercise.  The  Optionee's  notice  of  exercise  shall  also  be
accompanied  by payment (in  accordance  with the terms of Paragraph 6(p) of the
Plan) of the amount of federal and state  income and  employment  taxes that the
Company is  required to collect  from  Optionee  because of the  exercise of the
Option.

         5.07  Exercise  During Life.  Subject to the  provisions  of Paragraphs
4.02,  4.03  and  5.08,  during  Optionee's  lifetime,   this  Option  shall  be
exercisable only by Optionee either:

                  (a)      while Optionee is employed by the Company or its
                           Affiliates;

                  (b)      within  three  (3)  months  after  the  date on which
                           Optionee's  employment  terminates  for reasons other
                           than "termination for cause" as provided in Paragraph
                           4.03 of this Agreement; or

                  (c)      within  one (1) year  after  the  date on  which  the
                           Optionee's employment terminates due to a Disability;

provided,  however,  that in no event  shall the period of  exercise be extended
beyond the Expiration Date or such later date subsequently approved by the Board
(or its  delegates).  Unless the Board (or its delegates)  otherwise  agree,  if
Optionee  is  entitled to  purchase  shares of Stock  after the  termination  of
Optionee's  employment,  the number of shares of Stock  Optionee may so purchase
shall be limited  to the  number of shares of Stock  Optionee  was  entitled  to
purchase as of such date of termination.

         5.08  Exercise  After  Death.  If Optionee  dies while  employed by the
Company or its  Affiliates or within a period of three (3) months after the date
such  employment  terminates but prior to the complete  exercise of this Option,
the Option  may be  exercised  within  one (1) year from the date of  Optionee's
death but:

                  (a)      only by a personal  representative of Optionee, or by
                           any person or persons  who shall  have  acquired  the
                           Option  directly  from the  Optionee  by  bequest  or
                           inheritance; and

                  (b)      only  as to  the  number  of  shares  of  Stock  that
                           Optionee was  entitled to purchase  under this Option
                           on the date of Optionee's death .

         5.09 Exercise of Option Prior to Vesting. The Board (or its delegates),
in its sole and exclusive  discretion,  may permit the Optionee to exercise this
Option  prior to the date this Option is  otherwise  exercisable,  provided  the
Stock issued on such  exercise is subject to  repurchase  rights that expire pro
rata as the Option would otherwise have become exercisable.
                                                                        5 of 7
<PAGE>

         5.10  Non-Sequential  Exercise  Permitted.   Subject  to  the  exercise
limitations set forth herein,  this Option shall be exercisable  notwithstanding
the fact that there is an outstanding  incentive  stock option or  non-statutory
stock option for the  purchase of Stock of the Company  that was granted  before
this Option was granted,  and no  subsequently  granted  incentive  stock option
shall fail to be exercisable solely because this Option remains outstanding.

         5.11 Legends.  Certificates  for shares of Stock acquired upon exercise
of this Option may contain such legends and transfer restrictions as the Company
shall deem reasonably necessary or desirable to:

                  (a)      assure the  satisfaction  of any  liability  that the
                           Company may or will have incurred for  withholding of
                           any federal and state income and employment taxes;

                  (b)      facilitate compliance by the Company with any federal
                           or  state  laws or  regulations,  including,  without
                           limitation, legends restricting transfer of the Stock
                           until  there has been  compliance  with  federal  and
                           state securities laws;

                  (c)      assure  notice  of the  Company's  repurchase  rights
                           under Paragraph 5.09 of this Agreement; or

                  (d) assure notice of such other restrictions as may be imposed
                      on the Stock under the terms of this Agreement.

6.       Conflict Between Plan and Agreement.

         This Agreement,  including the Option and Optionee's  rights hereunder,
is subject to and  governed  by the Plan.  Any  conflict  between  the terms and
provisions of this  Agreement and the terms and  provisions of the Plan shall be
governed by the terms and provisions of the Plan.

7.    Investment Intent.

         This Option is granted on the  condition  that  Optionee's  purchase of
Stock shall be for investment purposes for Optionee's own account and not with a
view to resale or distribution. The Company shall not, upon the exercise of this
Option, be required to issue or deliver shares of Stock or certificates therefor
if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company,  such issuance or delivery  would
be in violation of, or would not comply with,  any  applicable  state or federal
securities law, regulation or rule.

8.    Notices.

         8.01 In Writing. All notices, demands, requests, declarations,  service
of process, or other  communications  permitted or required under this Agreement
or applicable law shall be in writing.

         8.02 Delivery.  All such communications may be served personally or may
be sent by registered  or certified  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage
prepaid  and  addressed  to either  Optionee  or the  Company  at the  addresses
appearing at the top of the Notice of Grant,  or at such other address as either
party shall have  communicated to the other pursuant to this Paragraph 8.02. All
such communications shall be deemed effectively  delivered upon personal service
or three (3) days after deposit in the United States Mail.
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<PAGE>
9.       Miscellaneous.

         9.01  Successors  and  Assigns.  Except as  otherwise  provided in this
Agreement,  this  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of only the  Company,
Optionee and their respective successors or assigns.

         9.02 Status.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as
giving Optionee any right to be retained as an Employee of the Company.

         9.03 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement are
adjudged to be, for any reason, unenforceable, illegal or void, the remainder of
the provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

         9.04 Integration.  This Agreement and the Notice of Grant to which this
Agreement is an attachment  constitute the entire  understanding  of the parties
concerning   this   Option.   Except  as   otherwise   provided,   any  changes,
modifications,  variations,  or subordinations  pertaining to this Agreement and
the Notice of Grant are  invalid,  unless  stated in writing and executed by the
Company and Optionee.

         9.05 Governing  Law.  This Agreement and the Option granted  hereby
shall be governed by the laws of the State of California.

         9.06 Attorneys'  Fees.  If either  party  brings an action or seeks to
enforce or  interpret  any of the terms or  provisions  of this  Agreement,  the
prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and
costs, in addition to any other remedy it may be awarded.

         9.07 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and
the counterparts shall constitute the whole instrument.

         9.08 Titles for Convenience;  Gender;  and Plurals.  Titles of articles
and  paragraph  headings  are for  convenience  only and  shall not  affect  the
construction  or  interpretation  of this  Agreement,  or any  portion  thereof.
Whenever  required by the context hereof,  the singular shall include the plural
and vice versa;  the masculine  gender shall include the feminine and neuter and
vice versa.




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