TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC
S-8, 1997-11-19
INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS
Previous: U S PAWN INC, 10QSB, 1997-11-19
Next: CELL ROBOTICS INTERNATIONAL INC, 10QSB, 1997-11-19





As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 1997
                                                     Registration No. 333-

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

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

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


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

             Delaware                                            74-2148293
     (State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
          (Address, including zip code, of Principal Executive Offices)



                            TETRA Technologies, Inc.

                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                   FOR NONEXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS

                            (Full title of the plan)


                              Bass C. Wallace, Jr.
                                 General Counsel
                                25025 I-45 North
                           The Woodlands, Texas 77380
                                 (713) 367-1983
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                                    copy to:

                                John F. Wombwell
                             Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.
                            4200 Texas Commerce Tower
                                   600 Travis
                              Houston, Texas 77002
                                 (713) 220-4200

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


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

Common Stock, Par Value $.01 Per Share              250,000            $25.44           $6,360,000           $1,928
=============================================== ===============  ==================  ================  ==================
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(h),  based upon the average of the high and low prices
     of a share of the  Company's  Common  Stock for  November  17,  1997 on the
     Nasdaq  National  Market as reported in The Wall Street Journal on November
     18, 1997.
                                      
================================================================================



                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The Company  incorporates herein by reference the following  documents,
or  portions  of  documents,  as of their  respective  dates  as filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission:

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

          (2)  The Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months
               ended March 31, 1997;

          (3)  The Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months
               ended June 30, 1997;

          (4)  The Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months
               ended September 30, 1997; and

          (5)  The description of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per
               share  (the  "Common   Stock"),   contained   in  the   Company's
               Registration  Statement on Form 8-A, dated October 6, 1997, filed
               pursuant to the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
               "Exchange Act") (No. 0-18335).

         All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this  Registration  Statement
and prior to the filing of a  post-effective  amendment which indicates that all
securities  offered  hereby  have  been  sold  or  which  deregisters  all  such
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 such documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         The  information   required  by  Item  4  is  not  applicable  to  this
Registration Statement since the class of securities to be offered is registered
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         The  information   required  by  Item  5  is  not  applicable  to  this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The  Company's  Certificate  of  Incorporation   contains  a  provision
permitted by Delaware law that generally  eliminates  the personal  liability of
directors for monetary  damages for breaches of their fiduciary duty,  including
breaches  involving  negligence or gross  negligence  in business  combinations,
unless the  director  has  breached  his duty of loyalty,  failed to act in good
faith,  engaged in intentional  misconduct or a knowing violation of law, paid a
dividend or approved a stock  repurchase  in violation  of the Delaware  General
Corporation Law or obtained an improper  personal  benefit.  This provision does
not alter a director's  liability under the federal  securities laws. Also, this
provision does not affect the  availability  of equitable  remedies,  such as an
injunction or rescission, for breach of fiduciary duty.

         The Company's  Bylaws also provide that directors and officers shall be
indemnified  against  liabilities  arising  from their  service as  directors or
officers to the fullest extent  permitted by law, which generally  requires that
the individual  act in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably  believes
to be in or not opposed to the Company's best interests.




                                      II-2

<PAGE>



ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         The  information   required  by  Item  7  is  not  applicable  to  this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
 Number            Description

   5.1             Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

  23.1             Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

  23.2             Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  24.1             Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration
                   Statement).

  99.1             TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for 
                   Nonexecutive Employees and Consultants.

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 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  the  registrant  shall  not  be  required  to  file a
post-effective  amendment  if  the  information  required  to be  included  in a
post-effective  amendment by the  foregoing  paragraphs is contained in periodic
reports filed by the  registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  that are  incorporated  by  reference  in the
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.


                                      II-3

<PAGE>

          (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 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934 that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the  Registration
Statement  shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the
securities  offered  therein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (h)  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

        The  Registrant.  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 The Woodlands,  State of Texas, on
  the 18th day of November, 1997.

                                                 TETRA Technologies, Inc.
                                            (Registrant)



                                           By:    /S/ Allen T. McInnes
                                                 ------------------------
                                                  Allen T. McInnes
                                                  President and Chief Executive 
                                                  Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that each of the  undersigned  officers
  and directors of TETRA  Technologies,  Inc. (the "Company") hereby constitutes
  and appoints Allen T. McInnes and Geoffery M. Hertel,  or either of them (with
  full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
  and agent,  with full power of substitution,  for him and on his behalf and in
  his name,  place and stead,  in any and all capacities,  to sign,  execute and
  file this Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
  and  any or all  amendments  (including,  without  limitation,  post-effective
  amendments),  with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed
  with respect  thereto,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or any
  regulatory  authority,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, and
  each of them,  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
  himself  might or could  do,  if  personally  present,  hereby  ratifying  and
  confirming  all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or any of them,  or
  their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
  registration  statement  has  been  signed  by the  following  persons  in the
  capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

  /S/ Allen T. McInnes                        President, Chief Executive Officer and Director     November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Allen T. McInnes                            (Principal Executive Office )

  /S/ J. Taft Symonds                         Chairman of the Board of Directors                  November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  J. Taft Symonds

  /S/ Geoffrey M. Hertel                      Executive Vice President--Finance and                November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Geoffrey M. Hertel                          Administration (Principal Financial Officer)
                                              and Director

  /S/ Bruce A. Cobb                           Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting          November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Bruce A. Cobb                               Officer)

  /S/ Paul D. Coombs                          Director                                            November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Paul D. Coombs

</TABLE>


                                      II-5

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>                                                <C>   


  /S/ Oscar S. Andras                         Director                                            November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Oscar S. Andras

  /S/ Tom H. Delimitros                       Director                                            November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Tom H. Delimitros

  /S/ Stephen T. Harcrow                      Director                                            November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Stephen T. Harcrow

  /S/ Kenneth P. Mitchell                     Director                                            November 18, 1997
  --------------------------------------
  Kenneth P. Mitchell

</TABLE>




                                      II-6

<PAGE>




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  Exhibit                                                                                              Location of
  Number                                                                                                 Exhibit
  ------                                                                                                 -------
<S>                 <C>                                                                                <C>    

  5.1               Opinion of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.

  23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

  24.1              Consent of Andrews & Kurth L.L.P (included in Exhibit 5.1).

  25.1              Power of Attorney (included in Part II of the Registration Statement).

  99.1              TETRA Technologies, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Nonexecutive
                    Employees and Consultants.

</TABLE>






                                      II-7







                                                            EXHIBIT 5.1




                                November 18, 1997



  Board of Directors
  TETRA Technologies, Inc.
  25025 I-45 North
  The Woodlands, Texas 77380

  Gentlemen:

                    We have acted as counsel to TETRA  Technologies,  Inc.  (the
  "Company") in connection with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
  (the  "Registration   Statement")  relating  to  the  registration  under  the
  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  of the issuance of 250,000  shares (the
  "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"),
  pursuant to the Company's  1996 Stock Option Plan for  Nonexecutive  Employees
  and Consultants (the "Plan").

                    In  connection  herewith,  we have  examined  copies of such
  statutes, regulations, corporate records and documents, certificates of public
  and  corporate  officials  and  other  agreements,  contracts,  documents  and
  instruments as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter
  expressed.  In  such  examination,  we have  assumed  the  genuineness  of all
  signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and
  the conformity with the original documents of all documents submitted to us as
  copies. We have also relied, to the extent we deem such reliance proper,  upon
  information  supplied by officers and employees of the Company with respect to
  various factual matters material to our opinion.

                    Based  upon the  foregoing  and  having  due regard for such
  legal  considerations  as we deem  relevant,  we are of the  opinion  that the
  Shares have been duly  authorized,  and that such Shares of Common Stock will,
  when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, be legally issued, fully
  paid and nonassessable.

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

                                                Very truly yours,



  1173/2325/2700                                /s/ Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.






                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.1




                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


         We  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in the  Registration
  Statement  (Form S-8) for the  registration  of 250,000 shares of Common Stock
  pertaining  to the 1996  Stock  Option  Plan for  Nonexecutive  Employees  and
  Consultants of TETRA Technologies,  Inc. of our report dated February 19, 1997
  with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements and schedule of TETRA
  Technologies,  Inc. and subsidiaries included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K)
  for the year ended  December 31, 1996 filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
  Commission.


                                                /S/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                                Ernst & Young LLP

  Houston, Texas
  November 14, 1997





                                                                EXHIBIT   99.1


                            TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                   FOR NONEXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS



<PAGE>
                                             TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                   FOR NONEXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS


                             I. Purpose of the Plan

         The TETRA  Technologies,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for  Nonexecutive
Employees  and  Consultants  (the "Plan") is intended to provide a means whereby
nonexecutive  employees and consultants of TETRA Technologies,  Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and its Affiliates (as defined below) may develop a
sense  of  proprietorship  and  personal  involvement  in  the  development  and
financial  success of the Company and its  Affiliates,  and to encourage them to
remain with and devote their best efforts to the business of the Company and its
Affiliates, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders.
Accordingly,  the Company may make awards  ("Awards")  to certain  employees and
consultants in the form of stock options  ("Options")  with respect to shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Stock"), and in the form
of stock  appreciation  rights  ("Rights").  Options shall be nonqualified stock
options ("Options") which are not intended to qualify as incentive stock options
under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
Rights may be granted either separately or in tandem with Options.  For purposes
of the  Plan,  an  "Affiliate"  shall be any  corporation  which is a parent  or
subsidiary  corporation  of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the
Code.


                               II. Administration

         The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") or such committee of members of the Board as the Board may appoint
(the  "Committee").  Committee  members  may  resign  at any time by  delivering
written notice to the Board.  Vacancies in the Committee,  however caused, shall
be filled by the Board.  The  Committee is  authorized to interpret the Plan and
may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations,  not  inconsistent  with
the  provisions of the Plan, as it may deem advisable to carry out the Plan. The
Committee shall act by a majority of its members in office and the Committee may
act either by vote at a telephonic  or other meeting or by a memorandum or other
written instrument signed by all of the members of the Committee.

         The Committee  shall have the sole authority to determine the terms and
provisions of the Option  agreements and Rights  agreements  (collectively,  the
"Agreements")  entered into in connection with Awards under the Plan; to prepare
and  distribute,  in such manner as the Committee  determines to be appropriate,
information  about  the  Plan;  and to  make  all  other  determinations  deemed
necessary or advisable  for the  administration  of the Plan.  The Committee may
vary the terms and provisions of the Agreements in its discretion.

         The  day-to-day  administration  of the Plan may be carried out by such
officers and employees of the Company as shall be  designated  from time to time
by the Committee.  Members of the Committee shall not receive  compensation  for
their  services as  members,  but all  expenses  and  liabilities  they incur in
connection  with the  administration  of the Plan shall be borne by the Company.
The  Committee  may  employ  attorneys,  consultants,  accountants,  appraisers,
brokers or other  persons,  and the  Committee,  the Board,  the Company and the
officers and employees of the Company shall be entitled to rely upon the advice,
opinions or valuations of any such persons.  The interpretation and construction
by the  Committee of any  provisions  of the Plan or of any Award under the Plan
and any  determination  by the Committee  under any provision of the Plan or any
such Award shall be final and conclusive for all purposes. Neither the Committee
nor any member  thereof shall be liable for any act,  omission,  interpretation,
construction  or  determination  made in connection with the Plan in good faith,
and the  members of the  Committee  shall be  entitled  to  indemnification  and
reimbursement  by the Company in respect of any claim,  loss,  damage or expense
(including  counsel fees) arising therefrom to the full extent permitted by law.
The members of the Committee  shall be named as insureds under any directors and
officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time.

         The Committee  shall have authority to grant Options,  to determine the
purchase price of the Stock covered by each Option (the "Exercise  Price"),  the
term of each Option, the nonexecutive employees and consultants to whom, and the
times at which, Options shall be granted, and the number of shares to be covered
by each Option; to determine which


<PAGE>



Options shall be accompanied by Rights; and to grant Rights without or in tandem
with  accompanying   Options,  to  determine  the  nonexecutive   employees  and
consultants  to  whom,  and the time or times at  which,  such  Rights  shall be
granted,  and the  Exercise  Price of,  the term of, and the number of shares of
Stock subject to a Right.  All decisions  made by the Committee in selecting the
persons to whom Awards shall be granted,  in  establishing  the number of shares
covered  by each  Award  and the  other  terms and  provisions  thereof,  and in
construing the provisions of the Plan and the Agreements shall be final.

         Only  nonexecutive  employees  and  consultants  of the Company and its
Affiliates  shall be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan; no person who is
subject to Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  shall
be  eligible  to  receive an Award  under  this  Plan.  In making an Award to an
employee  or  consultant,  the  Committee  shall  take  into  consideration  the
contribution  the employee or consultant  has made or may make to the success of
the Company or its  Affiliates  and such other  considerations  as the Committee
shall determine. The Committee shall also have the authority to consult with and
receive recommendations from officers and other employees and consultants of the
Company and its Affiliates  with regard to these matters.  In no event shall any
employee  or  consultant  or  his  legal   representatives,   heirs,   legatees,
distributees, or successors have any right to participate in the Plan, except to
such extent, if any, as the Committee shall determine.


                         III. Shares Subject to the Plan

         The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under Awards granted
under the Plan during any calendar year shall not exceed 500,000 shares of Stock
of the Company.  Such shares may consist of  authorized  but unissued  shares of
Stock or previously issued shares  reacquired by the Company.  Until termination
of the Plan and the expiration of all Awards granted under the Plan, the Company
shall at all times  make  available  a  sufficient  number of shares to meet the
requirements of the Plan and the  outstanding  Awards.  the aggregate  number of
shares which may be issued under Awards  granted under the Plan shall be subject
to adjustment as provided in Article V hereof.


                        IV. Grants of Options and Rights

                  A. Options.  Options  granted under the Plan shall be for such
         number of shares of Stock and  subject  to such  terms and  conditions,
         which may include without limitation the achievement of specific goals,
         as the Committee  shall  designate.  The Committee may grant Options at
         any time and from time to time through, but not after December 31, 2006
         to any optionee eligible to receive the same.

                  B. Rights. A Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive
         from the Company an amount  equal to the Market  Value Per Share on the
         exercise date, over the Exercise Price,  multiplied by the total number
         of shares of Stock for which the Right is exercised. The amount payable
         by the Company  upon the  exercise of a Right may be paid in cash or in
         shares of Stock or in any  combination  thereof as the Committee in its
         sole  discretion  shall  determine,  but no fractional  shares shall be
         issuable pursuant to any Right.  Rights may be granted by the Committee
         to any optionee  eligible to receive the same at any time and from time
         to time  through,  but not after,  December  31, 2006. A Right may, but
         need not,  relate to a specific  Option  granted  under this Plan. If a
         Right  relates  to  a  specific  Option,   it  may  be  granted  either
         concurrently  with the  Option  or at any time  prior to the  exercise,
         termination, cancellation or expiration of such Option.

                           The Committee may fix such waiting periods,  exercise
         dates or other limitations as it shall deem appropriate with respect to
         Rights  granted  under  the Plan  including,  without  limitation,  the
         achievement  of  specific  goals;  provided,  however,  that each Right
         granted  hereunder  shall  be  exercisable  only  upon  consent  of the
         Committee;  and  provided  further,  that and Right  that  relates to a
         specific  Option shall be exercisable  only when and to the extent that
         the Option to which it relates is exercisable.

                  C. Terms of Options  and Rights.  Options  and Rights  granted
         pursuant  to this Plan  shall be  evidenced  by  Agreements  that shall
         comply with and be subject to the following  terms and  conditions  and
         may contain such other  provisions,  consistent  with this Plan, as the
         Committee  shall  deem  advisable.  Rights  that  relate to a  specific
         Option,  however,  may be evidenced by the Agreement  setting forth the
         Option to which



<PAGE>



         such Rights relate,  or an amendment  thereto.  References herein to an
         Agreement shall include,  to the extent  applicable,  any amendments to
         such Agreement.

                           1. Payment of Option Exercise Price. Upon exercise of
                  an Option, the full Exercise Price for the shares with respect
                  to which the Option is being exercised shall be payable to the
                  Company (i) in cash or by check payable and  acceptable to the
                  Company,  (ii)  subject to the approval of the  Committee,  by
                  tendering to the Company shares of Stock owned by the optionee
                  having an  aggregate  Market Value Per Share as of the date of
                  exercise and tender that is not greater than the full Exercise
                  Price for the shares with respect to which the Option is being
                  exercised and by paying any  remaining  amount of the Exercise
                  Price as  provided  in (i)  above,  or (iii)  subject  to such
                  instructions  as the Committee may specify,  at the optionee's
                  written request the Company may deliver  certificates  for the
                  shares of Stock for which the Option is being  exercised  to a
                  broker for sale on behalf of the  optionee,  provided that the
                  optionee  has  irrevocably  instructed  such  broker  to remit
                  directly  to the  Company  on the  optionee's  behalf the full
                  amount of the Exercise Price and any required tax withholdings
                  from the proceeds of such sale. In the event that the optionee
                  elects to make payment as allowed under clause (ii) above, the
                  Committee  may,  upon  confirming  that the optionee  owns the
                  number of  additional  shares being  tendered,  authorize  the
                  issuance of a new  certificate  for the number of shares being
                  acquired  pursuant  to the  exercise  of the  Option  less the
                  number of shares being  tendered  upon the exercise and return
                  to the optionee (or not require  surrender of) the certificate
                  for the  shares  being  tendered  upon the  exercise.  Payment
                  instruments will be received subject to collection.

                           2.       Number of Shares.  Each Agreement shall 
                  state the total number of shares of Stock that are subject to
                  the Option and/or Right.

                           3. Exercise Price. The Exercise Price for each Option
                  and Right shall be fixed by the Committee at the Grant Date.

                           4.  Market  Value Per Share.  The  "Market  Value Per
                  Share" as of any  particular  date shall be  determined by any
                  fair and reasonable means  determined by the Committee,  which
                  may include,  if the Stock is listed for trading on a national
                  or regional stock  exchange,  the closing price quoted on such
                  exchange which is published in The Wall Street Journal reports
                  for the day of the  grant,  or if no trade of the Stock  shall
                  have been reported for such date,  the closing price quoted on
                  such  exchange  which is published in The Wall Street  Journal
                  reports for the next day prior thereto on which a trade of the
                  Stock was so  reported,  or if the shares are not so listed or
                  admitted to trading,  the average of the highest  reported bid
                  and lowest  reported asked prices as furnished by the National
                  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.,  through NASDAQ, or
                  through  a  similar   organization  if  NASDAQ  is  no  longer
                  reporting  such  information.  If  shares of the Stock are not
                  listed  or  admitted  to  trading  on any  exchange  or quoted
                  through NASDAQ or any similar organization,  the "Market Value
                  Per Share" shall be  determined by the Committee in good faith
                  using  any  fair  and   reasonable   means   selected  in  its
                  discretion.

                           5. Term.  The term of each Option  and/or Right shall
                  be determined  by the  Committee at the Grant Date;  provided,
                  however, that each Option and/or Right shall,  notwithstanding
                  anything in the Plan or an Agreement to the  contrary,  expire
                  not more than ten years  from the Grant  Date or, if  earlier,
                  the date specified in the Agreement.

                           6.  Date  of  Exercise.  In  the  discretion  of  the
                  Committee,   each   Agreement  may  contain  a  provision  not
                  inconsistent  with Article V.E. stating that the Option and/or
                  Right granted therein may not be exercised in whole or in part
                  for a period or periods of time  specified in such  Agreement,
                  subject to Article V.E.,  and except as so specified  therein,
                  any Option or Right may be  exercised  in whole at any time or
                  in part from time to time during its term.  The Committee may,
                  however,  at  any  time,  in its  sole  discretion  amend  any
                  outstanding  Option or Right to accelerate  the time that such
                  Option or Right shall be  exercisable  or to provide  that the
                  time for exercising  such Option or Right shall be accelerated
                  upon the occurrence of a specified event.



<PAGE>



                           7.  Termination of  Employment.  In the event that an
                  optionee's  employment  with the  Company  and its  Affiliates
                  shall terminate for reasons other than (i) retirement pursuant
                  to a retirement  plan of the Company or one of its  Affiliates
                  ("retirement"),  (ii) permanent disability or (iii) death, the
                  employee's  Options and/or Rights shall be exercisable by him,
                  subject to subsections 5 and 6 above, only within three months
                  after such  termination,  but only to the  extent the  Options
                  and/or  Rights  were  exercisable  immediately  prior  to such
                  termination  of  employment,  unless  the  Committee,  in  its
                  discretion  and on an  individual  basis,  provides  that  the
                  Options  and/or  Rights   granted  to  such  employee   remain
                  exercisable  following  termination of employment for the full
                  term of such Options and/or Rights.

                           If, however,  any termination of employment is due to
                  retirement or permanent  disability,  the optionee  shall have
                  the right,  subject to the  provisions of  subsections 5 and 6
                  above,  to  exercise  any Option  and/or any Right at any time
                  within the 12 months after such termination of employment, but
                  only  to  the  extent  that  the  Option   and/or   Right  was
                  exercisable   immediately   prior  to  such   termination   of
                  employment.

                           Whether  any  termination  of  employment  is  due to
                  retirement or permanent  disability  and whether an authorized
                  leave of absence or absence on military or government  service
                  or  for  other  reasons  shall  constitute  a  termination  of
                  employment for the purposes of the Plan shall be determined by
                  the Committee.

                           If an optionee  shall die while  entitled to exercise
                  an  Option  and/or  Right,  the  optionee's  estate,  personal
                  representative or beneficiary,  as the case may be, shall have
                  the right,  subject to the  provisions of  subsections 5 and 6
                  above,  to exercise the Option  and/or  Right,  if any, at any
                  time within 12 months from the date of the  optionee's  death,
                  to the extent that the  optionee  was entitled to exercise the
                  same on the day immediately prior to the optionee's death.

                           The Committee may, in its discretion,  accelerate the
                  exercisability  of all or part of an optionee's  Option and/or
                  Rights that are not  exercisable as of the date of retirement,
                  permanent disability or death.

                  D. The right of an  optionee  to  exercise  an Option or Right
         shall  terminate  to the extent that such Option or Right is  exercised
         and,  to the extent  that a Right  relates to a  specific  Option,  the
         exercise of the Right shall  terminate a  corresponding  portion of the
         related  Option  and,  conversely,  to the  extent  that such  optionee
         exercises the related  Option,  a  corresponding  portion of such Right
         shall terminate.

                  E. Options and Rights may be granted  under the Plan from time
         to time in substitution for stock options and stock appreciation rights
         held by  employees  of  corporations  who become key  employees  of the
         Company or of any Affiliate as a result of a merger or consolidation of
         the employer  corporation  with the Company or such  Affiliate,  or the
         acquisition  by the Company or an  Affiliate  of assets of the employer
         corporation or the  acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of stock
         of the  employer  corporation,  with  the  result  that  such  employer
         corporation becomes an Affiliate.


                      V. Recapitalization or Reorganization

                  A. The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted  hereunder
         shall  not  affect  in any way the  right or power of the  Board or the
         stockholders  of the  Company  to make  or  authorize  any  adjustment,
         recapitalization,  reorganization  or  other  change  in the  Company's
         capital  structure or its business,  any merger or consolidation of the
         Company, any issue of bonds, debentures,  preferred or prior preference
         stocks  ahead  of  or  affecting  Stock  or  the  rights  thereof,  the
         dissolution  or  liquidation  of the Company or any sale or transfer of
         all or any part of its assets or business,  or any other  corporate act
         or proceeding.

                  B. The shares with  respect to which Awards may be granted are
         shares of Stock as presently constituted,  but if, and whenever,  prior
         to  the  termination  of  the  Plan  or  the  expiration  of  an  Award
         theretofore



<PAGE>



         granted,  the Company shall effect a subdivision  or  consolidation  of
         shares of Stock or the  payment of a stock  dividend  on Stock  without
         receipt of consideration by the Company,  the remaining shares of Stock
         available under the Plan and the number of shares of Stock with respect
         to which such Award may  thereafter be exercised (i) in the event of an
         increase in the number of outstanding shares,  shall be proportionately
         increased  and the  Exercise  Price per share shall be  proportionately
         reduced,  and  (ii)  in the  event  of a  reduction  in the  number  of
         outstanding shares, shall be proportionately  reduced, and the Exercise
         Price per share shall be proportionately increased.

                  C. Except as may otherwise be expressly  provided in the Plan,
         the  issuance  by the  Company  of  shares  of  stock  of any  class or
         securities  convertible  into  shares of stock of any class,  for cash,
         property,  labor or services,  upon direct  sale,  upon the exercise of
         rights or warrants to subscribe therefor,  or upon conversion of shares
         or  obligations  of the Company  convertible  into such shares or other
         securities,  and in any case  whether or not for fair value,  shall not
         affect,  and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect
         to, the number of shares of Stock  available  under the Plan or subject
         to  Awards  theretofore  granted  or the  Exercise  Price  per share of
         outstanding Awards.

                  D. If the  Company  effects a  recapitalization  or  otherwise
         materially  changes its capital  structure  (both of the  foregoing are
         herein referred to as a "Fundamental Change"), then thereafter upon any
         exercise  of an  Option  theretofore  granted  the  optionee  shall  be
         entitled to purchase under such Option, in lieu of the number of shares
         of Stock as to which such Option shall then be exercisable,  the number
         and class of shares of stock and securities to which the optionee would
         have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Fundamental  Change if,
         immediately prior to such Fundamental Change, the optionee had been the
         holder  of record  of the  number  of shares of Stock as to which  such
         Option is then exercisable.

                  E. If a Corporate Change (as defined below) shall occur,  then
         as of its Effective Date (as defined  below) the  Committee,  acting in
         its sole  discretion  without the consent or approval of any  optionee,
         shall  effect one or more of the  following  Alternatives  (as  defined
         below) or a combination of Alternatives with respect to all outstanding
         Awards.

                  A "Corporate Change" shall have occurred if:

                           (i) the Company shall not be the surviving  entity in
                  any merger or consolidation  (or survives only as a subsidiary
                  of another entity),

                           (ii)  the  Company  sells,  exchanges,   disposes  or
                  otherwise  transfers all or substantially all of its assets to
                  any  other  person  or  entity  (other  than  a   wholly-owned
                  subsidiary),

                           (iii) any  person or entity  (including  a "group" as
                  contemplated  by Section  13(d)(3)  of the 1934 Act) after the
                  date  hereof   acquires  or  gains  ownership  or  control  of
                  (including,  without limitation,  power to vote) more than 50%
                  of the outstanding shares of Stock,

                           (iv) the Company is to be dissolved  and  liquidated,
                  or

                           (v) as a result of or in connection  with a contested
                  election of directors,  the persons who were  directors of the
                  Company  before  such  election  shall cease to  constitute  a
                  majority of the Board.

                  The  "Effective   Date"  shall  be  a  date  selected  by  the
         Committee,  which (a) in the  event of the  occurrence  of a  Corporate
         Change  specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) above,  shall be no later
         than a date  determined by the Committee to be far enough in advance of
         the date of such  Corporate  Change to permit each optionee to exercise
         such  optionee's  Options to purchase  shares of Stock and  participate
         therewith  in  such  Corporate  Change  or  (b)  in  the  event  of the
         occurrence  of a  Corporate  Change  specified  in Clause  (iii) or (v)
         above, shall be no later than thirty days after such Corporate Change.



<PAGE>



                  For purposes of the Corporate  Changes  described in (iii) and
         (v) above, the "Committee" shall be either the Committee as constituted
         prior to the  occurrence of such  Corporate  Change or, if no Committee
         had been appointed, the Board as constituted prior to the occurrence of
         such Corporate Change.

                  The "Alternatives" are:

                           (1) In the case of a Corporate  Change  specified  in
                  clauses (i), (ii) or (iv),  the Committee may  accelerate  the
                  time at which Awards then outstanding may be exercised so that
                  such Awards may be exercised  in full for a limited  period of
                  time on or before a  specified  date  fixed by the  Committee,
                  after  which  specified  date all  unexercised  Awards and all
                  rights of optionees thereunder shall terminate;

                           (2) The  Committee may  accelerate  the time at which
                  Awards then  outstanding  may be exercised so that such Awards
                  may be exercised in full for their then remaining term; or

                           (3) The Committee may require the mandatory surrender
                  to the Company of  outstanding  Awards held by such  optionees
                  (irrespective  of whether  such  Awards  are then  exercisable
                  under the provisions of the Plan) as of a date,  before or not
                  later than sixty days after such Corporate  Change,  specified
                  by the  Committee,  and in  such  event  the  Committee  shall
                  thereupon cancel such Awards and the Company shall pay to each
                  optionee  an amount of cash  equal to the excess of the Market
                  Value Per  Share  (determined  as of the date  such  Corporate
                  Change is effective) of the aggregate  shares of Stock subject
                  to such Award (whether or not then vested), over the aggregate
                  Exercise Price of such shares.

                  The  Alternatives may be made conditional on the occurrence of
         any of the Corporate Changes specified in clauses (i) through (v) above
         and may vary among individual optionees. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
         the Committee shall not select an Alternative  (unless  consented to be
         the optionee) such that, if an optionee exercised his accelerated Award
         pursuant to Alternative  (1) or (2) and  participated  in a transaction
         specified  in clause  (i),  (ii) or (iv) or received  cash  pursuant to
         Alternative  (3), the Alternative  would result in the optionee's owing
         any money by virtue of operation  of Section  16(b) of the 1934 Act. If
         all such Alternatives have such a result, the Committee shall take such
         action,  which is hereby authorized,  to put such optionees in as close
         to  the  same  position  as  such  optionee  would  have  been  in  had
         Alternative (1), (2) or (3) been selected but without  resulting in any
         payment by such optionee pursuant to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

                  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  (1) with the  consent of the
         optionee,  the  Committee  may in  lieu  of  the  foregoing  make  such
         provision with respect to any Corporate Change as it deems appropriate,
         and (2) in the event that a Corporate  Change described in Clauses (i),
         (ii) or (iii) occurs,  but such Corporate Change does not result in any
         effective change in ownership or control of the Company,  the Committee
         shall  make  such   adjustments  in  the   designation  and  number  of
         unpurchased  shares  subject to this Plan, the number of shares subject
         to Awards  outstanding under this Plan, the Exercise Price specified in
         Awards  outstanding under the Plan, and such other terms and provisions
         of  the  Awards  outstanding  under  this  Plan  as the  Committee  may
         determine to be appropriate and equitable.


                            VI. Optionee's Agreement

         If, at the time of the exercise of any Award, in the opinion of counsel
for the Company, it is necessary or desirable,  in order to comply with any then
applicable  laws or  regulations  relating  to the sale of  securities,  for the
optionee exercising the Award to agree to hold any shares issued to the optionee
for  investment  and without  intention to resell or distribute the same and for
the  optionee to agree to dispose of such shares  only in  compliance  with such
laws and  regulations,  the  optionee  will,  upon the  request of the  Company,
execute and deliver to the Company a further agreement to such effect.



<PAGE>



                           VII. Withholding for Taxes

         Any cash  payment  under  the  Plan  shall be  reduced  by any  amounts
required to be withheld or paid with respect thereto under all present or future
federal,  state and local  taxes and other laws and  regulations  that may be in
effect as of the date of each such  payment  ("Tax  Amounts").  Any  issuance of
Stock  pursuant  to the  exercise  of an Award  under the Plan shall not be made
until  appropriate  arrangements  have been made for the  payment of any amounts
that  may be  required  to be  withheld  or  paid  with  respect  thereto.  Such
arrangements  may, at the discretion of the Committee,  include any arrangements
similar to those permissible for payment of the Exercise Price of Awards.


                 VIII. Termination of Authority to Grant Awards


         No Awards will be made pursuant to this Plan after December 31, 2006.


                          IX. Amendment and Termination

         The Board may from time to time and at any time alter, amend,  suspend,
discontinue or terminate this Plan and any Awards hereunder;  provided,  that no
change in any Award  theretofore  granted  may be made  which  would  impair the
rights of the optionee, without the consent of such optionee.


                X. Preemption by Applicable Laws and Regulations

         Anything in the Plan or any Agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan
to the contrary notwithstanding, if, at any time specified herein or therein for
the making of any determination, the issuance or other distribution of shares of
Stock,  the payment of consideration to an employee or consultant as a result of
the  exercise  of any  Right,  as the  case  may  be,  any  law,  regulation  or
requirement of any governmental  authority  having  jurisdiction in the premises
shall require either Company or the employee or consultant (or the employee's or
consultant's beneficiary),  as the case may be, to take any action in connection
with any such  determination,  the shares then to be issued or  distributed,  or
such  payment,  the issue or  distribution  of such shares or the making of such
determination  or  payment,  as the case may be,  shall be  deferred  until such
action shall have been taken.


                                XI. Miscellaneous

                  A. No Employment or Consulting Contract.  Nothing contained in
         the Plan shall be  construed  as  conferring  upon (i) any employee the
         right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate or (ii)
         any consultant the right to continue  consulting for the Company or any
         Affiliate.

                  B. Employment with  Affiliates.  Employment by the Company for
         the purpose of this Plan shall be deemed to include  employment by, and
         to continue during any period in which an employee is in the employment
         of, any Affiliate.

                  C. No Rights  as a  Stockholder.  An  optionee  shall  have no
         rights  as a  stockholder  with  respect  to  shares  covered  by  such
         optionee's  Award  until  the date of the  issuance  of  shares  to the
         optionee pursuant thereto.  No adjustment will be made for dividends or
         other distributions or rights for which the record date is prior to the
         date of such issuance.

                  D. No Right to Corporate Assets. Nothing contained in the Plan
         shall  be   construed   as  giving  any   optionee,   such   optionee's
         beneficiaries  or any other person any equity or other  interest of any
         kind in any assets of the Company or any  Affiliate or creating a trust
         of any kind or a fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Company
         or an Affiliate and any such person.


<PAGE>

                  E. No Restriction on Corporate  Action.  Nothing  contained in
         the Plan shall be  construed  to prevent the  Company or any  Affiliate
         from taking any corporate  action that is deemed by the Company or such
         Affiliate to be  appropriate  or in its best  interest,  whether or not
         such action would have an adverse  effect on the Plan or any Award made
         under the Plan. No optionee, beneficiary or other person shall have any
         claim  against  the  Company or any  Affiliate  as a result of any such
         action.

                  F.  Non-assignability.  Neither an optionee nor an  optionee's
         beneficiary  shall have the power or right to sell,  exchange,  pledge,
         transfer, assign or otherwise encumber or dispose of such optionee's or
         beneficiary's  interest  arising  under the Plan or any Award  received
         under the Plan;  nor shall such  interest be subject to seizure for the
         payment of an optionee's or beneficiary's debts, judgments, alimony, or
         separate  maintenance  or be  transferable  by  operation of law in the
         event of an optionee's or beneficiary's bankruptcy or insolvency and to
         the  extent  any  such  interest  arising  under  the  Plan or an Award
         received under the Plan is awarded to a spouse  pursuant to any divorce
         proceeding,  such  interest  shall  be  deemed  to  be  terminated  and
         forfeited  notwithstanding any vesting provisions or other terms herein
         or in the agreement evidencing such Award.


                  G. Application of Funds. The proceeds  received by the Company
         from the sale of shares  pursuant  to the Plan will be used for general
         purposes.

                  H. Governing  Law;  Construction.  All rights and  obligations
         under the Plan shall be governed by, and the Plan shall be construed in
         accordance  with,  the laws of the State of Delaware  without regard to
         the  principles  of conflicts of laws.  Titles and headings to Sections
         herein are for purposes of reference  only,  and shall in no way limit,
         define  or  otherwise  affect  the  meaning  or  interpretation  of any
         provisions of the Plan.

         Adopted effective as of July 25, 1996.



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