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                                  VERSICOR INC.
                      1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AMENDMENT


         WHEREAS, Versicor Inc. (the "Corporation") maintains the Versicor
Inc. 1997 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"); and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation approved the
amendments to the Plan set forth herein;

         RESOLVED, that the Plan be, and it hereby is, amended as set forth
below:

         1.   The first sentence of Section 4(a) of the Plan is amended,
              subject to stockholder approval, to read as follows:

                       "Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to
              adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be
              issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the
              aggregate 4,038,030 shares of the Company's common stock."

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused its duly authorized
officer to execute this Amendment on this 25th day of July 2000.


         By:    /s/ George F. Horner III
                ---------------------------------
         Name:  George F. Horner III
         Title: President and CEO


<PAGE>


                                                                   Exhibit 10.4


                                  VERSICOR INC.

                           1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

             ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON NOVEMBER 24, 1997
                 ADOPTED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS ON DECEMBER 2, 1997

1.       PURPOSES.

         (a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected
Employees and Directors of and Consultants to the Company and its Affiliates,
may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the stock of
the Company through the granting of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii)
Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses, (iv) rights to purchase
restricted stock, and (v) stock appreciation rights, all as defined below.

         (b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
persons who are now Employees or Directors of or Consultants to the Company or
its Affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors
and Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum
efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

         (c) The Company intends that the Stock Awards issued under the Plan
shall, in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which responsibility
for administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c),
be either (i) Options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, including Incentive
Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options, (ii) stock bonuses or rights to
purchase restricted stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof, or (iii) stock
appreciation rights granted pursuant to Section 8 hereof. All Options shall be
separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at
the time of grant, and in such form as issued pursuant to Section 6, and a
separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on
exercise of each type of Option.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f) respectively, of the Code.

         (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with subsection 3(c) of the Plan.

         (e) "COMPANY" means Versicor Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         (f) "CONCURRENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "CONCURRENT RIGHT" means a
right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(2) of the Plan.


<PAGE>

         (g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or an Affiliate to render consulting services and who is compensated for
such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors
who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not compensated by
the Company for their services as Directors.

         (h) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means
that the service of an individual to the Company, whether as an Employee,
Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Board or the chief
executive officer of the Company may determine, in that party's sole discretion,
whether Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be
considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the
Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, including sick leave,
military leave, or any other personal leave; or (ii) transfers between the
Company, Affiliates or their successors.

         (i) "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means the chief executive officer and the four
(4) other highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total
compensation is required to be reported to stockholders under the Exchange Act,
as determined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (j) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.

         (k) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a
Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to
constitute "employment" by the Company.

         (l) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (m) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the value of the common stock as
determined in good faith by the Board and in a manner consistent with Section
260.140.50 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations.

         (n) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (o) "INDEPENDENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "INDEPENDENT RIGHT" means
a right granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(3) of the Plan.

         (p) "LISTING DATE" means the first date upon which any security of the
Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any
securities exchange, or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of
issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system if
such securities exchange or interdealer quotation system has been certified in
accordance with the provisions of Section 25100(o) of the California Corporate
Securities Law of 1968.

         (q) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not
receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which


                                       2
<PAGE>

disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest
in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item
404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii)
is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

         (r) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.

         (s) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         (t) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (u) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.

         (v) "OPTIONEE" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to
the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.

         (w) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of
the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a
former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified
pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from
the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other
than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside director" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (x) "PLAN" means this 1997 Equity Incentive Plan.

         (y) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor
to Rule 16b-3, as in effect with respect to the Company at the time discretion
is being exercised regarding the Plan.

         (z) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         (aa) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means any of the various types of
rights which may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

         (bb) "STOCK AWARD" means any right granted under the Plan, including
any Option, any stock bonus, any right to purchase restricted stock, and any
Stock Appreciation Right.

         (cc) "STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and Conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.


                                       3
<PAGE>

         (dd) "TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "TANDEM RIGHT" means a right
granted pursuant to subsection 8(b)(1) of the Plan.

3.       ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the
Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c).

         (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                  (1) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock
Award shall be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an Incentive Stock Option,
a Nonstatutory Stock Option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase restricted
stock, a Stock Appreciation Right, or a combination of the foregoing; the
provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including
the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to
a Stock Award; whether a person shall be permitted to receive stock upon
exercise of an Independent Stock Appreciation Right; and the number of shares
with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.

                  (2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement,
in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the
Plan fully effective.

                  (3) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section
14.

                  (4) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

         (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee of
the Board composed of not fewer than two (2) members (the "Committee"), all of
the members of which Committee may be, in the discretion of the Board,
Non-Employee Directors and/or Outside Directors. If administration is delegated
to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration
of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power
to delegate to a subcommittee of two (2) or more Outside Directors any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or such a
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan. Additionally, prior to the Listing Date, and
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may
delegate administration of the Plan to a committee of one or more members of the
Board and the term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such
authority has been delegated. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the
contrary, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or


                                       4
<PAGE>

more members of the Board the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible
persons who (1) are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and/or
(2) are either (i) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered
Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock Award,
or (ii) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with
Section 162(m) of the Code.

4.       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards
shall not exceed in the aggregate two million one hundred ten thousand four
hundred twenty-four (2,110,424) shares of the Company's common stock. If any
Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in
part, without having been exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such
Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan. Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights exercised in accordance with
Section 8 of the Plan shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the
Plan.

         (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

5.       ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant
thereto may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive
Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights appurtenant thereto may be granted
only to Employees, Directors or Consultants.

         (b) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Option or an award
to purchase restricted stock if, at the time of grant, such person owns (or is
deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than
ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or of any of its Affiliates unless the exercise price of such Option
is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of such
stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant, or in the case of a
restricted stock purchase award, the purchase price is at least one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant.

         (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments
upon changes in stock, no person shall be eligible to be granted Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than three hundred thousand (300,000)
shares of the Company's common stock in any twelve (12) month period. This
subsection 5(c) shall not apply prior to the Listing Date and, following the
Listing Date, shall not apply until (i) the earliest of: (A) the first material
modification of the Plan (including any increase to the number of shares
reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with Section 4); (B) the
issuance of all of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the
Plan; (C) the expiration of the Plan; or (D) the first meeting of stockholders
at which directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third
calendar year following the calendar year in which occurred the first
registration of an equity


                                       5
<PAGE>

security under section 12 of the Exchange Act; or (ii) such other date required
by Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

6.       OPTION PROVISIONS.

         Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:

         (a) TERM. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten
(10) years from the date it was granted.

         (b) PRICE. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be
not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock
subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%)
of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an
exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such
Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option
in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

         (c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the grant of the
Option, (A) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (B)
according to a deferred payment arrangement, except that payment of the common
stock's "par value" (as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law) shall
not be made by deferred payment, or other arrangement (which may include,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock
of the Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the
Option is transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of
legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board.

         In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compunded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest
necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of
the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the
deferred payment arrangement.

         (d) TRANSFERABILITY. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be
transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive
Stock Option is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall
only be transferable by the Optionee upon such terms and conditions as are set
forth in the Option Agreement for such Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board
or the Committee shall determine in its discretion or pursuant to a domestic
relations order. The person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering
written notice to the Company, in a form


                                       6
<PAGE>

satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the
death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

         (e) VESTING. The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option
may, but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but need
not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during
each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest")
with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be
exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period
and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not fully
exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the
time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or
other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of
individual Options may vary but in each case will provide for vesting of at
least twenty percent (20%) per year of the total number of shares subject to the
Option. The provisions of this subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option
provisions governing the minimum number of shares as to which an Option may be
exercised.

         (f) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3)
months following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director or Consultant (or such longer or shorter period, which shall
not be less than thirty (30) days, specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii)
the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement.
If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or
her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option
shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If,
after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate, and the
shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for
issuance under the Plan.

         An Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of
the Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term
of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day
after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Finally, an Optionee's Option Agreement may
also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant (other than
upon the Optionee's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under
the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the first paragraph of this
subsection 6(f), or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of
such registration requirements.


                                       7
<PAGE>

         (g) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the
Optionee's disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the
extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of
termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i)
the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such longer or
shorter period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified
in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee
is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again
become available for issuance under the Plan.

         (h) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee during,
or within a period specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of,
the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the
Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the
Option as of the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a
person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to
subsection 6(d), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the
date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter
period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified in the
Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within
the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by
such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan.

         (i) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or
Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to
the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so
purchased shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company, with
the repurchase price to be equal to the original purchase price of the stock, or
to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that (i) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall
lapse at a minimum rate of twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years
from the date the Option was granted, and (ii) such right shall be exercisable
only within (A) the ninety (90) day period following the termination of
employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer
period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee, and (iii) such right
shall be exercisable only for cash or cancellation of purchase money
indebtedness for the shares. Should the right of repurchase be assigned by the
Company, the assignee shall pay the Company cash equal to the difference between
the original purchase price and the stock's Fair Market Value if the original
purchase price is less than the stock's Fair Market Value.

         (j) RIGHT OF REPURCHASE. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to
repurchase all or any part of the vested shares exercised pursuant to the
Option; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) such repurchase right


                                       8
<PAGE>

shall be exercisable only within (A) the ninety (90) day period following the
termination of employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or
(B) such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee, (ii)
such repurchase right shall be exercisable for less than all of the vested
shares only with the Optionee's consent, and (iii) such right shall be
exercisable only for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the
shares at a repurchase price equal to the greater of (A) the stock's Fair Market
Value at the time of such termination or (B) the original purchase price paid
for such shares by the Optionee. Should the right of repurchase be assigned by
the Company, the assignee shall pay the Company cash equal to the difference
between the original purchase price and the stock's Fair Market Value if the
original purchase price is less than the stock's Fair Market Value.

         (k) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to exercise
a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from the Optionee of the
intent to transfer all or any part of the shares exercised pursuant to the
Option. Such right of first refusal shall be exercised by the Company no more
than thirty (30) days following receipt of notice of the Optionee's intent to
transfer shares and must be exercised as to all the shares the Optionee intends
to transfer unless the Optionee consents to exercise for less than all the
shares offered. The purchase of the shares following exercise shall be completed
within thirty (30) days of the Company's receipt of notice of the Optionee's
intent to transfer shares, or such longer period of time as has been offered by
the person to whom the Optionee intends to transfer the shares, or as may be
agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for purposes of
satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code (regarding
"qualified small business stock"). Except as expressly provided in this
Subsection (k), such right of first refusal shall otherwise comply with the
provisions of the Bylaws of the Company.

         (l) RE-LOAD OPTIONS. Without in any way limiting the authority of the
Board or Committee to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder, the Board
or Committee shall have the authority (but not an obligation) to include as part
of any Option Agreement a provision entitling the Optionee to a further Option
(a "Re-Load Option") in the event the Optionee exercises the Option evidenced by
the Option agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering other shares of
Common Stock in accordance with this Plan and the terms and conditions of the
Option Agreement. Any such Re-Load Option (i) shall be for a number of shares
equal to the number of shares surrendered as part or all of the exercise price
of such Option; (ii) shall have an expiration date which is the same as the
expiration date of the Option the exercise of which gave rise to such Re-Load
Option; and (iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the
Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Re-Load Option which is granted to a 10% stockholder (as
described in subsection 5(b)), shall have an exercise price which is equal to
one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to
the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option and shall have
a term which is no longer than five (5) years.

         Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or Committee may designate at the time
of the grant of the original Option; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the designation of
any Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one
hundred thousand dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability


                                       9
<PAGE>

of Incentive Stock Options described in subsection 12(e) of the Plan and in
Section 422(d) of the Code. There shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load
Option. Any such Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of
sufficient shares under subsection 4(a) and the limits on the grants of Options
under subsection 5(c) and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as
the Board or Committee may determine which are not inconsistent with the express
provisions of the Plan regarding the terms of Options.

7.       TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

         Each stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the
Committee shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms
and conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock
bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise)
the substance of each of the following provisions as appropriate:

         (a) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board or Committee shall
determine and designate in such Stock Award Agreement, but in no event shall the
purchase price be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the stock's Fair Market
Value on the date such award is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board
or the Committee may determine that eligible participants in the Plan may be
awarded stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past
services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit.

         (b) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights under a stock bonus or restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be transferable by the grantee only upon such terms and
conditions as are set forth in the applicable Stock Award Agreement, as the
Board or the Committee shall determine in its discretion, so long as stock
awarded under such Stock Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the
agreement.

         (c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to a
stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of
purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, according to a
deferred payment arrangement, except that payment of the common stock's "par
value" (as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law) shall not be made by
deferred payment, or other arrangement with the person to whom the stock is
sold; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable
to the Board or the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board or the Committee to which administration of the Plan has been
delegated may award stock pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration
for past services actually rendered to the Company or for its benefit.

         (d) VESTING. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but
need not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the
Committee. The applicable agreement shall provide (i) that the right to
repurchase at the original purchase price shall lapse at a minimum rate of
twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Stock Award
was granted, and (ii)


                                       10
<PAGE>

such right shall be exercisable only (A) within the ninety (90) day period
following the termination of employment or the relationship as a Director or
Consultant, or (B) such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the
holder of the Stock Award, and (iii) such right shall be exercisable only for
cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares. Should the
right of repurchase be assigned by the Company, the assignee shall pay the
Company cash equal to the difference between the original purchase price and the
stock's Fair Market Value if the original purchase price is less than the
stock's Fair Market Value.

         (e) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR
CONSULTANT. In the event a Participant's Continuous Status as an Employee,
Director or Consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise
reacquire, subject to the limitations described in subsection 7(d), any or all
of the shares of stock held by that person which have not vested as of the date
of termination under the terms of the stock bonus or restricted stock purchase
agreement between the Company and such person.

8.       STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

         (a) The Board or Committee shall have full power and authority,
exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the
Plan to Employees or Directors of or Consultants to, the Company or its
Affiliates. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the holder
must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the
provisions of the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such right.

         (b) Three types of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be authorized for
issuance under the Plan:

                  (1) TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Tandem Stock
Appreciation Rights will be granted appurtenant to an Option, and shall, except
as specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and
conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains.
Tandem Stock Appreciation Rights will require the holder to elect between the
exercise of the underlying Option for shares of stock and the surrender, in
whole or in part, of such Option for an appreciation distribution. The
appreciation distribution payable on the exercised Tandem Right shall be in cash
(or, if so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair
Market Value on the date of the Option surrender) in an amount up to the excess
of (A) the Fair Market Value (on the date of the Option surrender) of the number
of shares of stock covered by that portion of the surrendered Option in which
the Optionee is vested over (B) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
vested shares.

                  (2) CONCURRENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Concurrent Rights
will be granted appurtenant to an Option and may apply to all or any portion of
the shares of stock subject to the underlying Option and shall, except as
specifically set forth in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and
conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it pertains. A
Concurrent Right shall be exercised automatically at the same time the
underlying Option is exercised with respect to the particular shares of stock to
which the Concurrent Right pertains. The appreciation distribution payable on an
exercised Concurrent Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an
equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair Market Value on the date of
the exercise of the Concurrent Right) in an amount equal to such portion as
shall be


                                       11
<PAGE>

determined by the Board or the Committee at the time of the grant of the excess
of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the
Concurrent Right) of the vested shares of stock purchased under the underlying
Option which have Concurrent Rights appurtenant to them over (B) the aggregate
exercise price paid for such shares.

         (3) INDEPENDENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Independent Rights will be
granted independently of any Option and shall, except as specifically set forth
in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to
Nonstatutory Stock Options as set forth in Section 6. They shall be denominated
in share equivalents. The appreciation distribution, payable on the exercised
Independent Right shall be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A)
the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Independent
Right) of a number of shares of Company stock equal to the number of share
equivalents in which the holder is vested under such Independent Right, and with
respect to which the holder is exercising the Independent Right on such date,
over (B) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the grant of the
Independent Right) of such number of shares of Company stock. The appreciation
distribution payable on the exercised Independent Right shall be in cash or, if
so provided, in an equivalent number of shares of stock based on Fair Market
Value on the date of the exercise of the Independent Right.

9.       CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.

         (a) The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options
and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent
of the affected holders of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights, the
cancellation of any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights
under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options and/or
Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan covering the same or different numbers
of shares of stock, but having an exercise price per share not less than
eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value (one hundred percent (100%)
of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option) or, in the
case of a 10% stockholder (as described in subsection 5(b)), not less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value) per share of stock on the
new grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may
grant an Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right with an exercise price lower
than that set forth above if such Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right is
granted as part of a transaction to which section 424(a) of the Code applies.

         (b) Shares subject to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right canceled
under this Section 9 shall continue to be counted against the maximum award of
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights permitted to be granted pursuant to
subsection 5(c) of the Plan. The repricing of an Option and/or Stock
Appreciation Right under this Section 9, resulting in a reduction of the
exercise price, shall be deemed to be a cancellation of the original Option
and/or Stock Appreciation Right and the grant of a substitute Option and/or
Stock Appreciation Right; in the event of such repricing, both the original and
the substituted Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against
the maximum awards of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights permitted to be
granted pursuant to subsection 5(c) of the Plan. The provisions of this
subsection 9(b) shall be applicable only to the extent required by Section
162(m) of the Code.


                                       12
<PAGE>

10.      COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         (a) During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep
available at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy such
Stock Awards.

         (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Stock Award; provided,
however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under
the Securities Act either the Plan, any Stock Award or any stock issued or
issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the
Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the
authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance
and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any
liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards
unless and until such authority is obtained.

11.      USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

         Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.

12.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a) Subject to any applicable provisions of the California Corporate
Securities Law of 1968 and related regulations relied upon as a condition of
issuing securities pursuant to the Plan, the Board shall have the power to
accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time
during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest pursuant to subsection
6(e), 7(d) or 8(b), notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating
the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will
vest.

         (b) Neither an Employee, Director or Consultant nor any person to whom
a Stock Award is transferred under subsection 6(d), 7(b), or 8(b) shall be
deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with
respect to, any shares subject to such Stock Award unless and until such person
has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its
terms.

         (c) Throughout the term of any Stock Award, the Company shall deliver
to the holder of such Stock Award, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days
after the close of each of the Company's fiscal years during the term of such
Stock Award, a balance sheet and an income statement. This subsection shall not
apply (i) after the Listing Date, or (ii) when issuance is limited to key
employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to
equivalent information.

         (d) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award
granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director, Consultant or
other holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in the employ of the Company
or any Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall
affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of
any Employee with or without cause the right of the Company's Board of Directors
and/or the Company's stockholders to remove any Director as provided in the


                                       13
<PAGE>

Company's By-Laws and the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or
the right to terminate the relationship of any Consultant subject to the terms
of such Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate.

         (e) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at
the time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under
all plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according
to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options.

         (f) The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is
granted, or any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred pursuant to
subsection 6(d), 7(b) or 8(b), as a condition of exercising or acquiring
stock under any Stock Award, (1) to give written assurances satisfactory to
the Company as to such person's knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably
satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial
and business matters, and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or
together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of
exercising the Stock Award; and (2) to give written assurances satisfactory
to the Company stating that such person is acquiring the stock subject to the
Stock Award for such person's own account and not with any present intention
of selling or otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing requirements,
and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative
if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of stock
under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective
registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) as to any particular
requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such
requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable
securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company,
place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel
deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities
laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the
stock.

         (g) To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the
person to whom a Stock Award is granted may satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock
under a Stock Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such
means: (1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing the Company to withhold
shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise issuable to the participant
as a result of the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award; or
(3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock
of the Company.

13.      ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

         (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any Stock Award (through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately
adjusted in the type(s)


                                       14
<PAGE>

and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a)
and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person during any
calendar year pursuant to subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards will
be appropriately adjusted in the type(s) and number of securities and price per
share of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. Such adjustments shall
be made by the Board or the Committee, the determination of which shall be
final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company".)

         (b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise; then: (i) any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation
shall assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute
similar stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid
to the stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 13(b)) for
those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) in the event any surviving corporation
or acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Stock Awards or to substitute
similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan, (A) with respect to
Stock Awards held by persons then performing services as Employees, Directors or
Consultants and subject to any applicable provisions of the California Corporate
Securities Law of 1968 and related regulations relied upon as a condition of
issuing securities pursuant to the Plan, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and,
if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall
be accelerated prior to such event and the Stock Awards terminated if not
exercised (if applicable) after such acceleration and at or prior to such event,
and (B) with respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan, such
Stock Awards shall be terminated if not exercised (if applicable) prior to such
event.

14.      AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.

         (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in Section 13 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of
the Company to the extent approval is necessary for the Plan to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 or any Nasdaq or securities
exchange listing requirements.

         (b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment to
the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to
the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder regarding the exclusion of
performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of
compensation paid to certain executive officers.

         (c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees
with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the
Code and the regulations promulgated


                                       15
<PAGE>

thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or
Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.

         (d) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted before
amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless
(i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was
granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.

         (e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms
of any one or more Stock Award; provided, however, that the rights and
obligations under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment
unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock
Award was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing.

15.      TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless
sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the date the
Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company,
whichever is earlier. No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the
Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

         (b) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan
is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan,
except with the written consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was
granted.

16.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

         The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Stock Awards granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan
has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be
within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the
Board.


                                       16