Exhibit 10.2

                           MEDICAL STERILIZATION, INC.

                                 1996 STOCK PLAN



         1. Purpose. The purpose of the Medical Sterilization, Inc. 1996 Stock
Plan (the "Plan") is to encourage key employees of Medical Sterilization, Inc.
(the "Company") and of any present or future parent or subsidiary of the Company
(collectively, "Related Corporations") and other individuals who render services
to the Company or a Related Corporation, by providing opportunities to
participate in the ownership of the Company and its future growth through (a)
the grant of options which qualify as "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") under
Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");
(b) the grant of options which do not qualify as ISOs ("Non-Qualified Options");
(c) awards of stock in the Company ("Awards"); and (d) opportunities to make
direct purchases of stock in the Company ("Purchases"). Both ISOs and
Non-Qualified Options are referred to hereafter individually as an "Option" and
collectively as "Options." Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases
are referred to hereafter collectively as "Stock Rights." As used herein, the
terms "parent" and "subsidiary" mean "parent corporation" and "subsidiary
corporation," respectively, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the
Code.

         2.       Administration of the Plan.

                  A. Board or Committee Administration. The Plan shall be
administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or by a
committee appointed by the Board (the "Committee"); provided that the Plan shall
be administered: (i) to the extent required by applicable regulations under
Section 162(m) of the Code, by two or more "outside directors" (as defined in
applicable regulations thereunder) and (ii) to the extent required by Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), or any successor provision ("Rule 16b-3"), by a disinterested
administrator or administrators within the meaning of Rule 16b-3. Hereinafter,
all references in this Plan to the "Committee" shall mean the Board if no
Committee has been appointed. Subject to ratification of the grant or
authorization of each Stock Right by the Board (if so required by applicable
state law), and subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the
authority to (i) determine to whom (from among the class of employees eligible
under paragraph 3 to receive ISOs) ISOs shall be granted, and to whom (from
among the class of individuals and entities eligible under paragraph 3 to
receive Non-Qualified Options and Awards and to make Purchases) Non-Qualified
Options, Awards and authorizations to make Purchases may be granted; (ii)
determine the time or times at which Options or Awards shall be granted or
Purchases made; (iii) determine the purchase price of shares subject to each
Option or Purchase, which prices shall not be less than the minimum price
specified in paragraph 6; (iv) determine whether each Option granted shall be an
ISO or a Non-Qualified Option; (v) determine (subject to paragraphs 7 and 8) the
time or times when each Option shall become exercisable and the duration of the
exercise period; (vi) extend the period during which outstanding Options may be
exercised; (vii) determine 

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whether  restrictions such as repurchase options and rights of first refusal are
to be imposed on shares subject to Options,  Awards and Purchases and the nature
of such  restrictions,  if any, and (viii)  interpret the Plan and prescribe and
rescind rules and  regulations  relating to it. If the  Committee  determines to
issue a Non-Qualified Option, it shall take whatever actions it deems necessary,
under Section 422 of the Code and the  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  to
ensure  that such  Option  is not  treated  as an ISO.  The  interpretation  and
construction  by the  Committee  of any  provisions  of the Plan or of any Stock
Right granted under it shall be final unless otherwise  determined by the Board.
The  Committee  may from  time to time  adopt  such  rules and  regulations  for
carrying  out the Plan as it may deem  advisable.  No member of the Board or the
Committee  shall be liable  for any action or  determination  made in good faith
with respect to the Plan or any Stock Right granted under it.

                  B. Committee Actions. The Committee may select one of its
members as its chairman, and shall hold meetings at such time and places as it
may determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and acts of
a majority of the members of the Committee at a meeting at which a quorum is
present, or acts reduced to or approved in writing by all the members of the
Committee (if consistent with applicable state law), shall be the valid acts of
the Committee. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the
Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or
without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies
however caused, or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan.

                  C. Grant of Stock Rights to Board Members. Subject to the
provisions of the first sentence of paragraph 2(A) above, if applicable, Stock
Rights may be granted to members of the Board. All grants of Stock Rights to
members of the Board shall in all other respects be made in accordance with the
provisions of this Plan applicable to other eligible persons. Consistent with
the provisions of the first sentence of Paragraph 2(A) above, members of the
Board who either (i) are eligible to receive grants of Stock Rights pursuant to
the Plan or (ii) have been granted Stock Rights may vote on any matters
affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any Stock Rights
pursuant to the Plan, except that no such member shall act upon the granting to
himself or herself of Stock Rights, but any such member may be counted in
determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board during which
action is taken with respect to the granting to such member of Stock Rights.

         3. Eligible Employees and Others. ISOs may be granted only to employees
of the Company or any Related Corporation. Non-Qualified Options, Awards and
authorizations to make Purchases may be granted to any employee, officer or
director (whether or not also an employee) or consultant of the Company or any
Related Corporation. The Committee may take into consideration a recipient's
individual circumstances in determining whether to grant a Stock Right. The
granting of any Stock Right to any individual or entity shall neither entitle
that individual or entity to, nor disqualify such individual or entity from,
participation in any other grant of Stock Rights.

         4. Stock. The stock subject to Stock Rights shall be authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company, $. 01 par value (the "Common
Stock"), or shares of  

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Common Stock reacquired by the Company in any manner. The aggregate number of
shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 500,000, subject to
adjustment as provided in paragraph 13. If any Stock Right granted under the
Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in
full or shall cease for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part or
shall be repurchased by the Company, the shares of Common Stock subject to such
Stock Right shall again be available for grants of Stock Rights under the Plan.

         No employee of the Company or any Related Corporation may be granted
Options to acquire, in the aggregate, more than 300,000 shares of Common Stock
under the Plan. If any Option granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate
for any reason without having been exercised in full or shall cease for any
reason to be exercisable in whole or in part or shall be repurchased by the
Company, the shares subject to such Option shall be included in the
determination of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock deemed to have
been granted to such employee under the Plan.

         5. Granting of Stock Rights. Stock Rights may be granted under the Plan
at any time on or after March 21, 1996 and prior to March 21, 2006. The date of
grant of a Stock Right under the Plan will be the date specified by the
Committee at the time it grants the Stock Right; provided, however, that such
date shall not be prior to the date on which the Committee acts to approve the
grant. Options granted under the Plan are intended to qualify as
performance-based compensation to the extent required under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.162-27.

         6.       Minimum Option Price; ISO Limitations.

                  A. Price for Non-Qualified Options, Awards and Purchases. The
exercise price per share specified in the agreement relating to each
Non-Qualified Option granted, and the purchase price per share of stock granted
in any Award or authorized as a Purchase, under the Plan shall in no event be
less than the minimum legal consideration required therefor under the laws of
any jurisdiction in which the Company or its successors in interest may be
organized. The Committee may, in its discretion, subject any Non-Qualified
Option granted under the Plan or Award made or Purchase authorized under the
Plan to any terms or conditions necessary for such Stock Right to qualify as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code and any
applicable regulations thereunder.

                  B. Price for ISOs. The exercise price per share specified in
the agreement relating to each ISO granted under the Plan shall not be less than
the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of such grant. In
the case of an ISO to be granted to an employee owning stock possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, the price per share specified
in the agreement relating to such ISO shall not be less than one hundred ten
percent (110%) of the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of
grant. For purposes of determining stock ownership under this paragraph, the
rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply.

                  C. $100,000 Annual Limitation on ISO Vesting. Each eligible
employee may be granted Options treated as ISOs only to the extent that, in the
aggregate under this Plan and all incentive stock option plans of the Company
and any Related Corporation, ISOs do not



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<PAGE>
become exercisable for the first time by such employee during any calendar year
with respect to stock having a fair market value (determined at the time the
ISOs were granted) in excess of $100,000. The Company intends to designate any
Options granted in excess of such limitation as Non-Qualified Options.

                  D. Determination of Fair Market Value. If, at the time an
Option is granted under the Plan, the Company's Common Stock is publicly traded,
"fair market value" shall be determined as of the date of grant or, if the
prices or quotes discussed in this sentence are unavailable for such date, the
last business day for which such prices or quotes are available prior to the
date of grant and shall mean (i) the average (on that date) of the high and low
prices of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a
national securities exchange; or (ii) the last reported sale price (on that
date) of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market, if the Common Stock is
not then traded on a national securities exchange; or (iii) the closing bid
price (or average of bid prices) last quoted (on that date) by an established
quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not
reported on the Nasdaq National Market. If the Common Stock is not publicly
traded at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, "fair market value"
shall mean the fair value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee
after taking into consideration all factors which it deems appropriate,
including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the Common Stock
in private transactions negotiated at arm's length.

         7. Option Duration. Subject to earlier termination as provided in
paragraphs 9 and 10 or in the agreement relating to such Option, each Option
shall expire on the date specified by the Committee, but not more than (i) ten
years from the date of grant in the case of Options generally and (ii) five
years from the date of grant in the case of ISOs granted to an employee owning
stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, as determined
under paragraph 6(B). Subject to earlier termination as provided in paragraphs 9
and 10, the term of each ISO shall be the term set forth in the original
instrument granting such ISO, except with respect to any part of such ISO that
is converted into a Non-Qualified Option pursuant to paragraph 16.

         8. Exercise of Option. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 9
through 12, each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:

            A. Vesting. The Option shall either be fully exercisable on the date
of grant or shall become exercisable thereafter in such installments as the
Committee may specify.

            B. Full Vesting of Installments. Once an installment becomes
exercisable it shall remain exercisable until expiration or termination of the
Option, unless otherwise specified by the Committee.

            C. Partial Exercise. Each Option or installment may be exercised at
any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total number
of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.



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<PAGE>

            D. Acceleration of Vesting. The Committee shall have the right to
accelerate the date that any installment of any Option becomes exercisable;
provided that the Committee shall not, without the consent of an optionee,
accelerate the permitted exercise date of any installment of any Option granted
to any employee as an ISO (and not previously converted into a Non-Qualified
Option pursuant to paragraph 16) if such acceleration would violate the annual
vesting limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, as described in
paragraph 6(C).

         9. Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise specified in the
agreement relating to such ISO, if an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the
Company and all Related Corporations other than by reason of death or disability
as defined in paragraph 10, no further installments of his or her ISOs shall
become exercisable, and his or her ISOs shall terminate on the earlier of (a)
ninety (90) days after the date of termination of his or her employment, or (b)
their specified expiration dates, except to the extent that such ISOs (or
unexercised installments thereof) have been converted into Non-Qualified Options
pursuant to paragraph 16. For purposes of this paragraph 9, employment shall be
considered as continuing uninterrupted during any bona fide leave of absence
(such as those attributable to illness, military obligations or governmental
service) provided that the period of such leave does not exceed 90 days or, if
longer, any period during which such optionee's right to reemployment is
guaranteed by statute. A bona fide leave of absence with the written approval of
the Committee shall not be considered an interruption of employment under this
paragraph 9, provided that such written approval contractually obligates the
Company or any Related Corporation to continue the employment of the optionee
after the approved period of absence. ISOs granted under the Plan shall not be
affected by any change of employment within or among the Company and Related
Corporations, so long as the optionee continues to be an employee of the Company
or any Related Corporation. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any
grantee of any Stock Right the right to be retained in employment or other
service by the Company or any Related Corporation for any period of time.

         10.      Death; Disability.

          A. Death. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and
all Related Corporations by reason of his or her death, any ISO owned by such
optionee may be exercised, to the extent otherwise exercisable on the date of
death, by the estate, personal representative or beneficiary who has acquired
the ISO by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, until the earlier of
(i) the specified expiration date of the ISO or (ii) 180 days from the date of
the optionee's death.

          B. Disability. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company
and all Related Corporations by reason of his or her disability, such optionee
shall have the right to exercise any ISO held by him or her on the date of
termination of employment, for the number of shares for which he or she could
have exercised it on that date, until the earlier of (i) the specified
expiration date of the ISO or (ii) 180 days from the date of the termination of
the optionee's employment. For the purposes of the Plan, the term "disability"
shall mean 



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<PAGE>

"permanent and total disability" as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code or any successor statute.

         11. Assignability. No Stock Right shall be assignable or transferable
by the grantee except by will, by the laws of descent and distribution or, in
the case of Non-Qualified Options only, pursuant to a valid domestic relations
order. Except as set forth in the previous sentence, during the lifetime of a
grantee each Stock Right shall be exercisable only by such grantee.

         12. Terms and Conditions of Options. Options shall be evidenced by
instruments (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may
from time to time approve. Such instruments shall conform to the terms and
conditions set forth in paragraphs 6 through 11 hereof and may contain such
other provisions as the Committee deems advisable which are not inconsistent
with the Plan, including restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of Options. The Committee may specify that any
Non-Qualified Option shall be subject to the restrictions set forth herein with
respect to ISOs, or to such other termination and cancellation provisions as the
Committee may determine. The Committee may from time to time confer authority
and responsibility on one or more of its own members and/or one or more officers
of the Company to execute and deliver such instruments. The proper officers of
the Company are authorized and directed to take any and all action necessary or
advisable from time to time to carry out the terms of such instruments.

         13. Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, an
optionee's rights with respect to Options granted to such optionee hereunder
shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically
provided in the written agreement between the optionee and the Company relating
to such Option:

                  A. Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the shares of Common
Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares
or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on
its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable
upon the exercise of Options shall be appropriately increased or decreased
proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price
per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

                  B. Consolidations or Mergers. If the Company is to be
consolidated with or acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets or otherwise (an "Acquisition"), the
Committee or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of
the Company hereunder (the "Successor Board"), shall, as to outstanding Options,
either (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by
substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Options
either (a) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of
Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition, (b) shares of stock of the
surviving corporation or (c) such other securities as the Successor Board deems
appropriate, the fair market value of which shall not materially exceed the fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Options immediately
preceding the Acquisition; or (ii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide
that all Options must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a
specified number of days of the date of such 



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<PAGE>

notice, at the end of which period the Options shall terminate; or (iii)
terminate all Options in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the
fair market value of the shares subject to such Options (to the extent then
exercisable) over the exercise price thereof.

                  C. Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (other than a transaction
described in subparagraph B above) pursuant to which securities of the Company
or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of
Common Stock, an optionee upon exercising an Option shall be entitled to receive
for the purchase price paid upon such exercise the securities he or she would
have received if he or she had exercised such Option prior to such
recapitalization or reorganization.

                  D. Modification of ISOs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
adjustments made pursuant to subparagraphs A, B or C with respect to ISOs shall
be made only after the Committee, after consulting with counsel for the Company,
determines whether such adjustments would constitute a "modification" of such
ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424 of the Code) or would cause any
adverse tax consequences for the holders of such ISOs. If the Committee
determines that such adjustments made with respect to ISOs would constitute a
modification of such ISOs or would cause adverse tax consequences to the
holders, it may in its discretion refrain from making such adjustments.

                  E. Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Option will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action or at such other
time and subject to such other conditions as shall be determined by the
Committee.

                  F. Issuances of Securities. Except as expressly provided
herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares subject to Options. No adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in
cash or in property other than securities of the Company.

                  G. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued
under the Plan and the optionee shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of
such fractional shares.

                  H. Adjustments. Upon the happening of any of the events
described in subparagraphs A, B or C above, the class and aggregate number of
shares set forth in paragraph 4 hereof that are subject to Stock Rights which
previously have been or subsequently may be granted under the Plan shall also be
appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such subparagraphs.
The Committee or the Successor Board shall determine the specific adjustments to
be made under this paragraph 13 and, subject to paragraph 2, its determination
shall be conclusive.

         14. Means of Exercising Options. An Option (or any part or installment
thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to the Company at its
principal office address, or to such transfer agent as the Company shall
designate. Such notice shall identify the Option being exercised and specify the
number of shares as to which such Option is being exercised, 



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accompanied by full payment of the purchase price therefor either (a) in United
States dollars in cash or by check, (b) at the discretion of the Committee,
through delivery of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal as
of the date of the exercise to the cash exercise price of the Option, (c) at the
discretion of the Committee, by delivery of the grantee's personal recourse note
bearing interest payable not less than annually at no less than 100% of the
lowest applicable Federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code, (d)
at the discretion of the Committee and consistent with applicable law, through
the delivery of an assignment to the Company of a sufficient amount of the
proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option
and an authorization to the broker or selling agent to pay that amount to the
Company, which sale shall be at the participant's direction at the time of
exercise, or (e) at the discretion of the Committee, by any combination of (a),
(b), (c) and (d) above. If the Committee exercises its discretion to permit
payment of the exercise price of an ISO by means of the methods set forth in
clauses (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the preceding sentence, such discretion shall be
exercised in writing at the time of the grant of the ISO in question. The holder
of an Option shall not have the rights of a shareholder with respect to the
shares covered by such Option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate
to such holder for such shares. Except as expressly provided above in paragraph
13 with respect to changes in capitalization and stock dividends, no adjustment
shall be made for dividends or similar rights for which the record date is
before the date such stock certificate is issued.

         15. Term and Amendment of Plan.  This Plan was adopted by the Board on
March 21, 1996 subject, with respect to the validation of ISOs granted under the
Plan, to approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company at the next
Shareholders Meeting or, in lieu thereof, by written consent. If the approval of
shareholders is not obtained prior to March 21,1997, any grants of ISOs under
the Plan made prior to that date will be rescinded. The Plan shall expire at the
end of the day on March 20, 2006 (except as to Options outstanding on that
date). Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 above, Options may be granted
under the Plan prior to the date of shareholder approval of the Plan. The Board
may terminate or amend the Plan in any respect at any time, except that, without
the approval of the shareholders obtained within 12 months before or after the
Board adopts a resolution authorizing any of the following actions: (a) the
total number of shares that may be issued under the Plan may not be increased
(except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); (b) the benefits accruing to
participants under the Plan may not be materially increased; (c) the
requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan may not be
materially modified; (d) the provisions of paragraph 3 regarding eligibility for
grants of ISOs may not be modified; (e) the provisions of paragraph 6(B)
regarding the exercise price at which shares may be offered pursuant to ISOs may
not be modified (except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); (f) the
expiration date of the Plan may not be extended; and (g) the Board may not take
any action which would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Rule 16b-3. Except
as otherwise provided in this paragraph 15, in no event may action of the Board
or shareholders alter or impair the rights of a grantee, without such grantee's
consent, under any Option previously granted to such grantee.

         16. Conversion of ISOs into Non-Qualified Options. The Committee, at
the written request or with the written consent of any optionee, may in its
discretion take such actions as may be necessary to convert such optionee's ISOs
(or any installments or portions of



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<PAGE>

installments thereof) that have not been exercised on the date of conversion
into Non-Qualified Options at any time prior to the expiration of such ISOs,
regardless of whether the optionee is an employee of the Company or a Related
Corporation at the time of such conversion. Such actions may include, but shall
not be limited to, extending the exercise period or reducing the exercise price
of the appropriate installments of such ISOs. At the time of such conversion,
the Committee (with the consent of the optionee) may impose such conditions on
the exercise of the resulting Non-Qualified Options as the Committee in its
discretion may determine, provided that such conditions shall not be
inconsistent with this Plan. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any
optionee the right to have such optionee's ISOs converted into Non-Qualified
Options, and no such conversion shall occur until and unless the Committee takes
appropriate action.

                  17. Application Of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company
from the sale of shares pursuant to Options granted and Purchases authorized
under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.

                  18. Notice to Company of Disqualifying Disposition. By
accepting an ISO granted under the Plan, each optionee agrees to notify the
Company in writing immediately after such optionee makes a Disqualifying
Disposition (as described in Sections 421, 422 and 424 of the Code and
regulations thereunder) of any stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of ISOs
granted under the Plan. A Disqualifying Disposition is generally any disposition
occurring on or before the later of (a) the date two years following the date
the ISO was granted or (b) the date one year following the date the ISO was
exercised.

                  19. Withholding of Additional Income Taxes. Upon the exercise
of a Non-Qualified Option, the grant of an Award, the making of a Purchase of
Common Stock for less than its fair market value, the making of a Disqualifying
Disposition (as defined in paragraph 18), the vesting or transfer of restricted
stock or securities acquired on the exercise of an Option hereunder, or the
making of a distribution or other payment with respect to such stock or
securities, the Company may withhold taxes in respect of amounts that constitute
compensation includable in gross income. The Committee in its discretion may
condition (i) the exercise of an Option, (ii) the grant of an Award, (iii) the
making of a Purchase of Common Stock for less than its fair market value, or
(iv) the vesting or transferability of restricted stock or securities acquired
by exercising an Option, on the grantee's making satisfactory arrangement for
such withholding. Such arrangement may include payment by the grantee in cash or
by check of the amount of the withholding taxes or, at the discretion of the
Committee, by the grantee's delivery of previously held shares of Common Stock
or the withholding from the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon
exercise of a Option shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the
amount of such withholding taxes.

                  20. Governmental Regulation. The Company's obligation to sell
and deliver shares of the Common Stock under this Plan is subject to the
approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the
authorization, issuance or sale of such shares.

                  Government regulations may impose reporting or other
obligations on the Company with respect to the Plan. For example, the Company
may be required to send tax information



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<PAGE>

statements to employees and former employees that exercise ISOs under the Plan,
and the Company may be required to file tax information returns reporting the
income received by grantees of Options in connection with the Plan.

                  21. Governing Law. The validity and construction of the Plan
and the instruments evidencing Options shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York, or the laws of any jurisdiction in which the Company or its
successors in interest may be organized.



Date Approved by the Board of Directors of the Company:  March 21, 1996

Date Approved by Shareholders of the Company:  May 30, 1996


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