ADVANCED POLYMER SYSTEMS INC /DE/
S-8, 1997-09-08
PLASTIC MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 1997
                                                  Registration No. 333-_________
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                         Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

         Delaware                                           94-2875566
         --------                                           ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                          Identification No.)

                3696 Haven Avenue, Redwood City, California 94063
             ------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                        1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                    -----------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                             Michael P.J. O'Connell
                             Chief Financial Officer
                         Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.
                                3696 Haven Avenue
                         Redwood City, California 94063
                    -----------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)

                                 (415) 366-2626
                    -----------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                    Copy to:
                             Richard A. Peers, Esq.
                         Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe
                              525 University Avenue
                        Palo Alto, California 94301-1908
                                 (415) 324-7000
                                 --------------

<TABLE>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
       Title of Securities            Amount to be     Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum         Amount of
        to be Registered               Registered       Offering Price      Aggregate Offering      Registration
                                                         per Share (1)             Price                 Fee

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>              <C>                   <C>                  <C>        
Common Stock, par value $0.01           400,000          $7.50                 $3,000,000           $909
====================================================================================================================
<FN>
(1)   Estimated  solely for the purpose of computing the amount of  registration
      fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, as amended, based on
      the average of the high and low prices of the  Registrant's  Common  Stock
      reported on the Nasdaq National Market on September 3, 1997.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

         The following  documents  filed or to be filed with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  by the Registrant are  incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement:

         (a) The  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year
ended December 31, 1996;

         (b) The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form 10-Q for the  fiscal
quarters ended June 30, 1997 and March 31, 1997;

         (c) The description of the  Registrant's  Common Stock contained in the
registration  statement on Form 8-A filed with the  Commission on August 7, 1987
pursuant to Section 12 of the  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange
Act"), and the description of the  Registrant's  Preferred Share Purchase Rights
contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on
September 6, 1996 pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act; and

         (d) All  documents  subsequently  filed by the  Registrant  pursuant to
Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a  post-effective  amendment which indicates that all securities  offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The  registrant  has the power to indemnify  its officers and directors
against  liability  for  certain  acts  pursuant  to Section  145 of the General
Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Delaware.  Section  B of  Article  VI of the
Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides:

         "(1) Right to  Indemnification.  Each person who was or is made a party
     or is threatened  to be made a party to or is involved in any action,  suit
     or proceeding,  whether civil,  criminal,  administrative  or investigative
     (hereinafter  a  "proceeding"),  by reason of the fact that he or she, or a
     person of whom he or she is the legal representative,  is or was a director
     or officer,  of the  Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
     Corporation,   as  a  director,  officer,  employee  or  agent  of  another
     corporation or of a partnership,  joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
     including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis
     of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director,
     officer,  employee  or agent or in any other  capacity  while  serving as a
     director,  officer,  employee  or  agent,  shall  be  indemnified  and held
     harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the General
     Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Delaware,  as the  same  exists  or may
     hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such  amendment,  only to the
     extent that such  amendment  permits  the  Corporation  to provide  broader
     indemnification  rights than said law permitted the  Corporation to provide
     prior  to  such  amendment),   against  all  expense,  liability  and  loss
     (including  attorneys'  fees,  judgments,  fines,  ERISA  excise  taxes  or
     penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred
     or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification
     shall  continue  as to a person who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,
     employee  or agent  and shall  inure to the  benefit  of his or her  heirs,
     executors and  administrators;  provided,  

                                      II-1

<PAGE>

     however,  that,  the  Corporation  shall  indemnify any such person seeking
     indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated
     by such person only if such  proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by
     the board of directors  of the  Corporation.  The right to  indemnification
     conferred in this Section B shall be a contract right and shall include the
     right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses  incurred in defending any
     such  proceeding in advance of its final  disposition;  provided,  however,
     that, if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires, the
     payment of such  expenses  incurred  by a director or officer in his or her
     capacity as a director or officer  (and not in any other  capacity in which
     service  was or is  rendered  by such  person  while a director or officer,
     including,  without  limitation,  service to an employee  benefit  plan) in
     advance of the final  disposition of a proceeding,  shall be made only upon
     delivery  to the  Corporation  of an  undertaking,  by or on behalf of such
     director  or  officer,  to  repay  all  amounts  so  advanced  if it  shall
     ultimately be  determined  that such director or officer is not entitled to
     be indemnified  under this Section or otherwise.  The  Corporation  may, by
     action of its Board of Directors,  provide indemnification to employees and
     agents of the  Corporation  with the same scope and effect as the foregoing
     indemnification of directors and officers.

         (2)  Non-Exclusivity of Rights.  The right to  indemnification  and the
     payment of expenses  incurred in defending a  proceeding  in advance of its
     final disposition conferred in this Section B shall not be exclusive of any
     other  rights  which any person  may have or  hereafter  acquire  under any
     statute, provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement,
     vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

         (3) Insurance.  The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense,
     to  protect  itself and any  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the
     Corporation or another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or
     other enterprise  against any such expense,  liability or loss,  whether or
     not the  Corporation  would have the power to indemnify such person against
     such expense, liability or loss under Delaware General Corporation Law."

         Registrant  maintains  directors' and officers'  liability insurance in
the amount of $5,000,000  which covers civil  liabilities.  Such insurance helps
the Registrant to attract qualified officers and directors, by providing a means
for the  Company  to pay the  costs and  expenses  involved  in the event  civil
litigation is brought against of one of the Registrant's officers or directors.

Item 8. Exhibits

 5          Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe

23.1        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

23.2        Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe
            (filed as part of Exhibit 5)

24.1        Power of Attorney (see page II-4)

99.1        1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

                                      II-2

<PAGE>

Item 9. Undertakings

     A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

            (i)   To include any prospectus  required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");

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

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

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

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

         (3) To remove from registration by means of 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  liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's
annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act that is
incorporated  by reference in the  Registration  Statement shall be deemed a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

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

                                      II-3

<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act, 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 Redwood City, State of California, on this  8th  day
of September, 1997.


                                                  ADVANCED POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC.


                                                  By:/s/ Michael P.J. O'Connell
                                                     --------------------------
                                                      Michael P.J. O'Connell
                                                      Chief Financial Officer


                      POWER OF ATTORNEY TO SIGN AMENDMENTS

         KNOW  ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature
appears below does hereby constitute and appoint John J. Meakem, Jr. and Michael
P.J.  O'Connell,  or  either  of them,  with full  power of  substitution,  such
person's  true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents for such person in such
person's name,  place and stead, in any and all  capacities,  to sign any or all
amendments (including post-effective  amendments) to this Registration Statement
on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting
unto said  attorneys-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 in order to effectuate the same as fully,  to all intents and
purposes, as he or such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act, this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities
and on the dates indicated.


/s/ John J. Meakem, Jr.          Chairman of the Board and     September 8, 1997
- ----------------------------     President (Principal 
John J. Meakem, Jr.              Executive Officer) 
                                

/s/ Michael P.J. O'Connell       Chief Financial Officer       September 8, 1997
- ----------------------------     (Principal Financial and                       
Michael P.J. O'Connell           Accounting Officer)                            
                                 

/s/ Carl Ehmann                  Director                      September 8, 1997
- ----------------------------    
Carl Ehmann

                                      II-4

<PAGE>
/s/ Jorge Heller                 Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
Jorge Heller                                                                    
                                                                                
/s/ Peter Riepenhausen           Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
Peter Riepenhausen                                                              
                                                                                
/s/ Toby Rosenblatt              Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
Toby Rosenblatt                                                                 
                                                                                
/s/ Gregory H. Turnbull          Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
Gregory H. Turnbull                                                             
                                                                                
/s/ C. Anthony Wainwright        Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
C. Anthony Wainwright                                                           
                                                                                
/s/ Dennis Winger                Director                     September 8,  1997
- ----------------------------                                                    
Dennis Winger                    

                                      II-5

<PAGE>


                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                  Sequentially
Item No.               Description of Item                       Numbered Page

 5          Opinion of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe .........

23.1        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP ...................

23.2        Consent of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe
            (filed as part of Exhibit 5) .......................

24.1        Power of Attorney (see page II-4) ..................

99.1        1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ..................

                                       6

                               September 8, 1997


                                                                      10008-0006

Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.
3696 Haven Avenue
Redwood City, California 94063


                       Registration Statement on Form S-8


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Advanced Polymer Systems,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation  (the "Company"),  in connection with the Registration  Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration  Statement") which the Company proposes to file with
the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on September 8, 1997 for the purpose of
registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  400,000 shares of its
Common Stock,  par value $.01 (the "Shares").  The Shares are issuable under the
Company's 1997 Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"}.

         We  have  assumed  the  authenticity  of  all  records,  documents  and
instruments submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal  capacity of natural  persons and the  conformity  to the originals of all
records, documents and instruments submitted to us as copies.

         In rendering  our opinion,  we have  examined  the  following  records,
documents and instruments:

         (a)  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,  certified by the
              Delaware Secretaty of State as of September 5, 1997, and certified
              to us by an officer of the Company as being  complete  and in full
              force as of the date of this opinion;

         (b)  The  Bylaws of the  Company  certified  to us by an officer of the
              Company as being  complete  and in full force and effect as of the
              date of this opinion;

         (c)  A certificate  of an officer of the Company (i) attaching  records
              certified  to us as  consituting  all records of  proceedings  and
              actions  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  including  any  committee
              thereof,  and  stockholders of the Company relating to the Shares,
              and the Registration  Ststement, and (ii) certifying as to certain
              factual matters;
<PAGE>
Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.
September 8, 1997                                                         Page 2


         (d)  The Registration Statement;

         (d)  The Plan; and

         (e)  A letter from Boston  Equiserve,  the  Company's  transfer  agent,
              dated  September  5,  1997,  as to the  number  of  shares  of the
              Company's Common Stock that were outstanding on September 4, 1997.

         This  opinion  is limited to the  federal  law of the United  States of
America  and the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Delaware,  and we
disclaim  any  opinion  as to the laws of any  other  jurisdiction.  We  further
disclaim any opinion as to any other statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, order
or  other  promulgation  of any  other  jurisdiction  or any  regional  or local
governmental body or as to any related judicial or administrative opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing and our  examination  of such questions of law
as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of this opinion,  and
assuming  that (i) the  Registration  Statement  becomes and  remains  effective
during  the  period  when the  Shares  are  offered  and  issued,  (ii) the full
consideration  stated  in the  Plan  is  paid  for  each  Share  and  that  such
consideration  in respect of each Share includes payment of cash or other lawful
consideration  at  least  equal  to the par  value  thereof,  (iii)  appropriate
certificates  evidencing  the Shares are executed and  delivered by the Company,
and (iv) all  applicable  securities  laws are complied  with, it is our opinion
that when issued and sold by the Company,  after payment therefore in the manner
provided in the Plan and the Registration Statement,  the Shares will be legally
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         This  opinion is rendered to you in  connection  with the  Registration
Statement and is solely for your benefit. This opinion may not be relied upon by
you for any other purpose, or relied upon by any other person, firm, corporation
or other entity for any purpose,  without our prior written consent. We disclaim
any  obligation to advise you of any change of law that occurs,  or any facts of
which we may become aware, after the date of this opinion.

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

                               Very truly yours,


                               /s/ HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE



The Board of Directors
Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc.:


We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference.


                                                KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


San Francisco, California
September 4, 1997



                         ADVANCED POLYMER SYSTEMS, INC. 

                        1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


         1.       PURPOSE.  This Advanced  Polymer  Systems,  Inc. 1997 Employee
Stock  Purchase Plan is designed to encourage  and assist  employees of Advanced
Polymer  Systems,  Inc.  and  participating  subsidiaries  to  acquire an equity
interest in the Company through the purchase of shares of Company common stock.

         2.       DEFINITIONS.  As used herein, the following  definitions shall
apply:

                  (a) "Administrator" shall mean the entity, either the Board or
the committee of the Board, responsible for administering this Plan, as provided
in Section 3.

                  (b) "Board"  shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company,
as constituted from time to time.

                  (c) "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

                  (d) "Company"  shall mean Advanced  Polymer  Systems,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and Participating Subsidiaries.

                  (e)  "Common  Stock"  shall  mean the Common  Stock,  $.01 par
value, of the Company.

                  (f) "Employee" shall mean any individual who is an employee of
the Company or a Participating  Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 3401(c)
of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

                  (g)  "Enrollment  Date"  shall have the  meaning  set forth in
Section 6.

                  (h) "Fair market  value"  means as of any given date:  (i) the
closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq  National  Market as reported in
the Wall Street Journal;  or (ii) if the Common Stock is no longer quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market, but is listed on an established stock exchange or quoted
on any other established interdealer quotation system, the closing price for the
Common Stock on such exchange or system, as reported in the Wall Street Journal;
or (iii) in the absence of an established  market for the Common Stock, the fair
market  value of the Common Stock as  determined  by the  Administrator  in good
faith.

                  (i) "Lower Price  Enrollment  Date" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 6.

                  (j)  "Option  Period"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 7(b).

<PAGE>

                  (k)  "Participating  Subsidiary" shall mean a Subsidiary which
has been designated by the Administrator as covered by the Plan.

                  (l) "Plan" shall mean this Advanced Polymer Systems, Inc. 1997
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.

                  (m)  "Purchase  Date"  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth in
Section 9(a).

                  (n) "Section" unless the context clearly indicates  otherwise,
shall refer to a Section of this Plan.

                  (o) "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary  corporation" of the
Company, whether now or hereafter existing, within the meaning of Section 424(f)
of the Code, but only for so long as it is a "subsidiary corporation."

                  (p)  "Trading  Day"  means  any day on which  regular  trading
occurs on any  established  stock  exchange or market system on which the Common
Stock is traded.

         3.       ADMINISTRATION.

                  (a) Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Board
or, upon  delegation by the Board,  by a committee of the Board (in either case,
the  "Administrator").  In connection with the  administration  of the Plan, the
Administrator  shall have the powers possessed by the Board.  The  Administrator
may act only by a  majority  of its  members.  The  Administrator  may  delegate
administrative  duties to such  employees of the Company as it deems proper,  so
long as such  delegation  is not  otherwise  prohibited  by Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable law. The Board
at any time may terminate the authority  delegated to any committee of the Board
pursuant to this Section 3(a) and revest in the Board the  administration of the
Plan.

                  (b) Administrator  Determinations  Binding.  The Administrator
may adopt,  alter and repeal  administrative  rules,  guidelines  and  practices
governing the Plan and the options  granted under it as it shall deem  advisable
from time to time,  may interpret  the terms and  provisions of the Plan and the
Options granted under it, may correct any defect,  omission or  inconsistency in
the Plan or in any Option; and may otherwise supervise the administration of the
Plan and the Options granted under it. The  Administrator  may establish,  under
guidelines from the Board, limits on the number of shares which may be purchased
by each  participant  on an annual or other  periodic  basis or on the number of
shares which may be purchased on any Purchase  Date.  All decisions  made by the
Administrator  under the Plan  shall be binding on all  persons,  including  the
Company and all participants in the Plan. No member of the Administrator shall

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

be liable  for any action  that he or she has in good  faith  taken or failed to
take with respect to this Plan.

         4.       NUMBER OF SHARES.

                  (a) The Company has  reserved  for sale under the Plan 400,000
shares of Common Stock. Shares sold under the Plan may be newly issued shares or
shares  reacquired in private  transactions  or open market  purchases,  but all
shares sold under the Plan,  regardless of source,  shall be counted against the
400,000 share  limitation.  If at any Purchase Date, the shares  available under
the Plan are less than the number all  participants  would otherwise be entitled
to  purchase  on such  date,  purchases  shall  be  reduced  proportionately  to
eliminate  the  deficit.  If, at any  Purchase  Date,  the  shares  which may be
purchased by a participant are restricted on account of a limit on the aggregate
shares which may be purchased per employee, purchases under each option shall be
reduced  proportionately.  Any funds that  cannot be applied to the  purchase of
shares due to such  reductions  shall be  refunded  to  participants  as soon as
administratively feasible.

                  (b) In the  event  of  any  reorganization,  recapitalization,
stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger,
consolidation,  offering  of  rights,  or other  similar  change in the  capital
structure  of the  Company,  the Board may make such  adjustment,  if any, as it
deems  appropriate  in the  number,  kind,  and  purchase  price  of the  shares
available  for  purchase  under  the Plan and in the  maximum  number  of shares
subject to any option under the Plan.

          5.      ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

                  (a) Each  Employee of the Company,  except those  described in
the  next  paragraph,  shall  become  eligible  to  participate  in the  Plan in
accordance  with  Section  6 on  the  first  Enrollment  Date  on  or  following
commencement of his or her employment by the Company or following such period of
employment  as  is  designated   by  the   Administrator   from  time  to  time.
Participation in the Plan is entirely voluntary.

                  (b) The following Employees are not eligible to participate in
the Plan:

                           (i) Employees who would,  immediately upon enrollment
in the Plan,  own directly or  indirectly,  or hold options or rights to acquire
stock  possessing,  five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power
or  value  of all  classes  of stock of the  Company  or any  subsidiary  of the
Company; and

                           (ii)  Employees who are  customarily  employed by the
Company  fewer than  twenty (20) hours per week or fewer than five (5) months in
any calendar year.


                                       -3-
<PAGE>

         6.       ENROLLMENT.  Any eligible  employee may enroll or re-enroll in
the Plan  each year as of the close of the  first  trading  day of:  (a) May and
November of each such year; or (b) such other days as may be  established by the
Board  from  time to time (the  "Enrollment  Dates");  provided,  that the first
Enrollment  Date  shall be  April 30,  1997.  In order to  enroll,  an  eligible
employee must complete,  sign, and submit to the Company an enrollment form. Any
enrollment  form received by the Company by the 20th day of the month  preceding
an Enrollment  Date (or by the  Enrollment  Date in the case of employees  hired
after such 20th day or in the case of the first Enrollment  Date), or such other
date  established by the  Administrator  from time to time, will be effective on
that Enrollment  Date. In addition,  the  Administrator  may re-enroll  existing
participants  in the Plan on any  Enrollment  Date (the "Lower Price  Enrollment
Date") on which the fair market value of the Common Stock is lower than the fair
market value on such participant's  existing  Enrollment Date. A participant may
elect not to  re-enroll  on a Lower  Price  Enrollment  Date by filing a written
statement  with the Company  declaring  such  election  prior to the Lower Price
Enrollment Date.

          7.      GRANT OF OPTION ENROLLMENT.

                  (a) Enrollment or  re-enrollment  by a participant in the Plan
on an  Enrollment  Date  will  constitute  the  grant  by  the  Company  to  the
participant  of an option to  purchase  shares of Common  Stock from the Company
under the Plan. Any  participant  whose option expires and who has not withdrawn
from the Plan will  automatically  be  re-enrolled in the Plan and granted a new
option on the Enrollment Date immediately following the date on which the option
expires.

                  (b) Except as provided  in Section  10,  each  option  granted
under the Plan shall have the following terms:

                           (i) the  option  will  have a term of not  more  than
twenty-four  (24) months or such shorter  option period as may be established by
the  Board  from  time  to  time  (the  "Option  Period").  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  however,  whether or not all shares have been purchased  thereunder,
the option  will expire on the  earlier to occur of: (A) the  completion  of the
purchase of shares on the last Purchase Date occurring  within  twenty-four (24)
months after the Enrollment Date for such option,  or such shorter option period
as may be established by the Board before an Enrollment  Date for all options to
be granted on such date; or (B) the date on which the  employee's  participation
in the Plan terminates for any reason;

                           (ii)  payment for shares  purchased  under the option
will be made only through payroll withholding in accordance with Section 8;

                           (iii)  purchase of shares upon exercise of the option
will be effected  only on the Purchase  Dates  established  in  accordance  with
Section 9;

                                       -4-
<PAGE>

                           (iv) the option,  if not altered,  amended or revoked
by the Company prior to the relevant  Purchase Date, may be accepted only by (x)
there having been withheld from the  compensation  of the employee in accordance
with the terms of the Plan  amounts  sufficient  to  purchase  the Common  Stock
intended to be purchased  under the option,  and (y) the employee being employed
by the Company and not having  withdrawn from the Plan on the relevant  Purchase
Date.

                           (v) the  price per share  under  the  option  will be
determined as provided in Section 9;

                           (vi) the  maximum  number  of  shares  available  for
purchase under an option for each one percent (1%) of compensation designated by
an employee in accordance with Section 8 will,  unless otherwise  established by
the Board before an Enrollment  Date for all options to be granted on such date,
be determined by dividing  $25,000 by the fair market value of a share of Common
Stock on the  Enrollment  Date,  dividing  the result by the  maximum  number of
percentage  points that an employee may  designate  under  Section 8 at the time
such option is  granted,  and  multiplying  the result by the number of calendar
years included in whole or in part in the period from grant to expiration of the
option;

                           (vii)  the  option  (taken  together  with all  other
options then  outstanding  under this and all other similar stock purchase plans
of the Company and any subsidiary of the Company,  collectively  "Options") will
in no event  give the  participant  the right to  purchase  shares at a rate per
calendar  year which  accrues in excess of $25,000 of fair market  value of such
shares,  less the fair market value of any shares accrued and already  purchased
during such year under Options which have expired or  terminated,  determined at
the applicable Enrollment Dates; and

                           (viii) the option will in all  respects be subject to
the terms and conditions of the Plan, as interpreted by the  Administrator  from
time to time.

          8.      PAYROLL AND TAX WITHHOLDING; USE BY COMPANY.

                  (a) Each participant shall elect to have amounts withheld from
his or her compensation  paid by the Company during the Option Period, at a rate
equal to any whole  percentage  up to a maximum of ten  percent  (10%),  or such
lesser  percentage  as the  Board  may  establish  from  time to time  before an
Enrollment  Date.  Compensation  includes  regular salary  payments,  annual and
quarterly  bonuses,  hire-on  bonuses,  cash  recognition  awards,  commissions,
overtime pay, shift premiums,  and elective  contributions by the participant to
qualified  employee  benefit plans,  but excludes all other payments  including,
without limitation,  long-term disability or workers compensation  payments, car
allowances,    employee   referral   bonuses,   relocation   payments,   expense
reimbursements (including but not limited to travel,  entertainment,  and moving
expenses), salary gross-up

                                       -5-
<PAGE>

payments,  and non-cash  recognition  awards.  The participant shall designate a
rate of withholding  in his or her enrollment  form and may elect to increase or
decrease  the rate of  contribution  effective  as of any  Enrollment  Date,  by
delivery to the  Company,  not later than ten (10) days  before such  Enrollment
Date, of a written notice indicating the revised withholding rate.

                  (b)  Payroll  withholdings  shall be  credited  to an  account
maintained  for purposes of the Plan on behalf of each  participant,  as soon as
administratively  feasible after the  withholding  occurs.  The Company shall be
entitled  to use the  withholdings  for any  corporate  purpose,  shall  have no
obligation to pay interest on withholdings to any participant,  and shall not be
obligated to segregate withholdings.

                  (c) Upon  disposition  of shares  acquired  by  exercise of an
option, the participant shall pay, or make provision adequate to the Company for
payment of, all federal,  state, and other tax (and similar)  withholdings  that
the Company determines, in its discretion,  are required due to the disposition,
including any such withholding that the Company  determines in its discretion is
necessary  to allow the  Company to claim tax  deductions  or other  benefits in
connection  with  the  disposition.   A  participant  shall  make  such  similar
provisions  for payment  that the Company  determines,  in its  discretion,  are
required  due to the exercise of an option,  including  such  provisions  as are
necessary  to allow the  Company to claim tax  deductions  or other  benefits in
connection with the exercise of the option.

          9.      PURCHASE OF SHARES.

                  (a)  On  the  last  Trading  Day   immediately   preceding  an
Enrollment Date (other than the first Enrollment Date), or on such other days as
may be  established  by the Board from time to time prior to an Enrollment  Date
for all options to be granted on such Enrollment Date (each a "Purchase  Date"),
the Company  shall apply the funds then credited to each  participant's  payroll
withholdings  account to the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock.  The cost
to the participant  for the shares  purchased under any option shall be not less
than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lower of:

                           (i) the fair market  value of the Common Stock on the
Enrollment Date for such option; or

                           (ii) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date such option is exercised.

                  (b) Any funds in an amount  less than the cost of one share of
Common Stock left in a participant's  payroll withholdings account on a Purchase
Date  shall be carried  forward  in such  account  for  application  on the next
Purchase Date.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding  the  terms  of  Section  9(a),  no funds
credited to any employee's payroll withholdings account

                                       -6-
<PAGE>

shall be used to  purchase  Common  Stock on any date prior to the date that the
Plan has been approved by the  stockholders of the Company,  as noted in Section
21. If such approval is not  forthcoming  within one year from the date that the
Plan was  approved  by the Board of  Directors,  all amounts  withheld  shall be
distributed to the participants as soon as administratively feasible.

         10.      WITHDRAWAL  FROM THE PLAN. A participant may withdraw from the
Plan in full  (but not in part) at any  time,  effective  after  written  notice
thereof is received by the Company.  Unless the Administrator elects to permit a
withdrawing  participant  to invest  funds  credited  to his or her  withholding
account on the Purchase Date  immediately  following  notice of withdrawal,  all
funds  credited  to  a  participant's  payroll  withholdings  account  shall  be
distributed to him or her without  interest  within sixty (60) days after notice
of  withdrawal  is  received  by the  Company.  Any  eligible  employee  who has
withdrawn  from  the  Plan  may  enroll  in the  Plan  again  on any  subsequent
Enrollment Date in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.

         11.      TERMINATION   OF   EMPLOYMENT.   Participation   in  the  Plan
terminates  immediately when a participant  ceases to be employed by the Company
for any reason  whatsoever  (including death or disability) or otherwise becomes
ineligible  to  participate  in the Plan. As soon as  administratively  feasible
after  termination,  the  Company  shall  pay to the  participant  or his or her
beneficiary or legal  representative,  all amounts credited to the participant's
payroll withholdings account; provided, however, that if a participant ceases to
be employed by the Company  because of the  commencement  of  employment  with a
Subsidiary  of the Company that is not a  Participating  Subsidiary,  funds then
credited to such participant's  payroll withholdings account shall be applied to
the purchase of whole shares of Common Stock at the next  Purchase  Date and any
funds remaining after such purchase shall be paid to the participant.

         12.      DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

                  (a) Each  participant may designate one or more  beneficiaries
in the  event of death  and may,  in his or her  sole  discretion,  change  such
designation at any time. Any such designation shall be effective upon receipt in
written form by the Company and shall  control over any  disposition  by will or
otherwise.

                  (b) As soon as administratively  feasible after the death of a
participant, amounts credited to his or her account shall be paid in cash to the
designated  beneficiaries or, in the absence of a designation,  to the executor,
administrator,  or other legal representative of the participant's  estate. Such
payment shall relieve the Company of further  liability with respect to the Plan
on  account  of the  deceased  participant.  If more  than  one  beneficiary  is
designated, each beneficiary shall

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

receive an equal portion of the account unless the participant has given express
contrary written instructions.

         13.      ASSIGNMENT.

                  (a) The  rights of a  participant  under the Plan shall not be
assignable by such participant, by operation of law or otherwise. No participant
may create a lien on any funds,  securities,  rights,  or other property held by
the  Company for the account of the  participant  under the Plan,  except to the
extent that there has been a designation of beneficiaries in accordance with the
Plan, and except to the extent permitted by the laws of descent and distribution
if beneficiaries have not been designated.

                  (b) A  participant's  right to purchase  shares under the Plan
shall be exercisable only during the  participant's  lifetime and only by him or
her,  except that a participant may direct the Company in the enrollment form to
issue share  certificates  to the participant and his or her spouse in community
property,  to the participant  jointly with one or more other persons with right
of survivorship, or to certain forms of trusts approved by the Administrator.

         14.      ADMINISTRATIVE   ASSISTANCE.   If  the  Administrator  in  its
discretion so elects,  it may retain a brokerage firm,  bank, or other financial
institution to assist in the purchase of shares,  delivery of reports,  or other
administrative  aspects  of the  Plan.  If the  Administrator  so  elects,  each
participant  shall  (unless  prohibited  by the laws of the nation of his or her
employment  or  residence)  be  deemed  upon  enrollment  in the  Plan  to  have
authorized  the  establishment  of an  account  on  his or her  behalf  at  such
institution.  Shares purchased by a participant  under the Plan shall be held in
the account in the name in which the share certificate would otherwise be issued
pursuant to Section 13(b).

         15.      COSTS. All costs and expenses  incurred in  administering  the
Plan shall be paid by the  Company,  except  that any stamp  duties or  transfer
taxes  applicable to  participation in the Plan may be charged to the account of
such  participant by the Company.  Any brokerage fees for the purchase of shares
by a participant shall be paid by the Company, but brokerage fees for the resale
of shares by a participant shall be borne by the participant.

         16.      EQUAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. All eligible employees shall have
equal rights and privileges  with respect to the Plan so that the Plan qualifies
as an "employee  stock  purchase  plan" within the meaning of Section 423 of the
Code and the related  Treasury  Regulations.  Any provision of the Plan which is
inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall without further act or amendment
by the  Company or the Board be  reformed  to comply  with the  requirements  of
Section 423. This Section 16 shall take precedence over all other  provisions of
the Plan.


                                       -8-
<PAGE>

         17.      APPLICABLE  LAW. The Plan shall be governed by the substantive
laws  (excluding  the  conflict of laws rules) of the State of California.

         18.      MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION.

                  (a) The Board may amend,  alter,  or terminate the Plan at any
time,  including  amendments to outstanding  options. No amendment shall require
stockholder approval, except:

                           (i) for an increase in the number of shares  reserved
for purchase under the Plan;

                           (ii) to the  extent  required  for the Plan to comply
with Section 423 of the Code;

                           (iii) to the  extent  required  by  other  applicable
laws, regulations or rules; or

                           (iv) to the extent the Board otherwise concludes that
stockholder approval is advisable.

                  (b) In the event the Plan is  terminated,  the Board may elect
to terminate all  outstanding  options either  immediately or upon completion of
the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to permit options
to expire in accordance with their terms (and  participation to continue through
such expiration  dates). If the options are terminated prior to expiration,  all
funds  contributed to the Plan that have not been used to purchase  shares shall
be returned to the participants as soon as administratively feasible.

                  (c) In the  event of the sale of all or  substantially  all of
the assets of the  Company,  or the merger of the Company  with or into  another
corporation,  or the  dissolution  or  liquidation  of the Company,  each option
outstanding  under  the  Plan  shall  be  assumed  by  any  purchaser  of all or
substantially  all of the assets of the Company or by a  successor  by merger to
the Company (or the parent company of such purchaser or successor) in compliance
with Section 424 of the Code, unless otherwise provided by the Board in its sole
discretion,  in which event, a Purchase Date shall occur immediately  before the
effective date of such event.

         19.      RIGHTS AS AN EMPLOYEE.  Nothing in the Plan shall be construed
to give any person the right to remain in the employ of the Company or to affect
the Company's  right to terminate the  employment of any person at any time with
or without cause.

         20.      RIGHTS AS A  SHAREHOLDER;  DELIVERY  OF  CERTIFICATES.  Unless
otherwise determined by the Board,  certificates  evidencing shares purchased on
any Purchase Date shall be delivered to a participant  only if he or she makes a
written  request  to the  Administrator.  Participants  shall be  treated as the
owners of their shares effective as of the Purchase Date.

                                       -9-
<PAGE>

         21.      BOARD AND SHAREHOLDER  APPROVAL.  The Plan was approved by the
Board of  Directors  on March 5,  1997,  and by the holders of a majority of the
votes cast at a duly held  shareholders'  meeting on June 18,  1997,  at which a
quorum of the voting power of the Company was represented in person or by proxy.


                                      -10-



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