EXHIBIT 4.1





                   RUBY MINING COMPANY 2002 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                   ARTICLE I

                                NAME AND PURPOSE

     SECTION 1.01. NAME. The name of the plan shall be the Ruby Mining Company
2002 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     SECTION 1.02. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purpose of the Plan is to enable the
Employees, Consultants and Directors of Ruby Mining Company (the "Company") to
share in the growth and prosperity of the Company by encouraging stock ownership
by Employees, Consultants and Directors and to assist the Company to obtain and
retain key management personnel. Either Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified
Stock Options may be granted to Employees of the Company under the Plan but only
Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Non-Employee Directors and
Consultants under the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS

     As used herein, the following definitions shall apply.

     "Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules
and Regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "Agreement" shall mean a written agreement entered into in accordance with
Paragraph 5(c).

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

     "Change of Control" means the approval by the Company's shareholders of (a)
a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other
than a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the surviving corporation
and which does not result in any capital reorganization or reclassification or
other change in the Company's then outstanding shares of common stock), (b) a
sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or (c)
a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

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



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     "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board. If the
Board does not have a Compensation Committee, the Board shall constitute the
Compensation Committee.

     "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

     "Company" shall mean Ruby Mining Company, a Colorado corporation.

     "Consultant" shall mean any person, including an advisor, who is not an
employee of the Company but who renders services to the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate and is compensated for such services.

     "Continuous Service" shall mean the absence of any interruption or
termination of service as an Employee or Consultant of the Company or a
Subsidiary or Affiliate. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted
in the case of (a) sick leave, military leave or any other leave of absence
approved by the Company, (b) transfers between payroll locations of the Company
or between the Company, an Affiliate or a successor, (c) a Director's
performance of services in an emeritus or advisory capacity, or (d) changes
between a Participant's status as an Employee or Director provided the
Participant is continuously performing services for the Company or an Affiliate.

     "Director" shall mean any member of the Board and any member of the board
of directors of any Affiliate that the Board has by resolution designated as
being eligible for participation in this Plan.

     "Disability" shall mean a physical or mental condition, which in the sole
and absolute discretion of the Committee, is reasonably expected to be of
indefinite duration and to substantially prevent a Participant from fulfilling
his or her duties or responsibilities to the Company or an Affiliate.

     "Effective Date" shall mean the date specified in Section 12.01 hereof.

     "Employee" shall mean any person (including, if appropriate, any Officer or
Director) employed by the Company or by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Company. The Payment by the Company of a director's fee to a Director shall not
be sufficient to constitute "employment" of such Director by the Company.

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

     "Exercise Price" shall mean the price per Optioned Share at which an Option
may be exercised.

     "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of the Common Stock,
as determined under Section 7.02 hereof.

     "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean any stock option granted to an Employee
under the Plan, which the Committee intends at the time it is granted to be an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.


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     "Named Executive" shall mean any individual who, on the last day of the
Company's fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company (or is
acting in such capacity) or among the four most highly compensated officers of
the Company (other than the chief executive officer). Such officer status shall
be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules under the
Exchange Act.

     "Non-Employee Director" shall mean any person who is a member of the Board
but is not an Employee of the Company and has not been an Employee of the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company at any time during the preceding twelve
(12) months. Service as a director does not in itself constitute employment for
purposes of this definition.

     "Nonqualified Stock Option" shall mean any stock option granted to an
Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant under the Plan which is not a
stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

     "Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option granted pursuant to this Plan.

     "Optioned Shares" shall mean Shares subject to an Option granted pursuant
to this Plan.

     "Participant" shall mean any person who receives an Option pursuant to the
Plan.

     "Permanent and Total Disability" shall mean, as determined by the
Committee, an illness or injury of a potentially permanent nature, expected to
last for a continuous period of at least twelve (12) months, certified by a
physician selected by or satisfactory to the Committee, which prevents the
Participant from engaging in any occupation for wage or profit for which the
Participant is reasonably fitted by training, education or experience.

     "Plan" shall mean this Ruby Mining Company 2002 Stock Option Plan.

     "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as
amended, or any successor provision.

     "Share" shall mean one share of Common Stock.

     "Year of Service" shall mean a full twelve-month period, measured from the
grant date of an Option and each annual anniversary of that date, during which a
Participant has not terminated Continuous Service for any reason.

                                  ARTICLE III

                          TERM OF THE PLAN AND OPTIONS

     SECTION 3.01. TERM OF THE PLAN. This Plan shall remain in effect until
terminated by the Board. Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Options
previously granted, and such Options shall remain valid and in effect until they
have been earned and paid, or by their terms expire or are forfeited. No Option
shall be granted under the Plan after ten years from the Effective Date.


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     SECTION 3.02. TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each Option granted under the
Plan shall be established by the Committee, but shall not exceed 10 years;
provided, however, that in the case of an Employee who owns Shares representing
more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock at the time an Incentive Stock
Option is granted, the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall not exceed five
years.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     Except as otherwise required under Article 9, the aggregate number of
Shares deliverable pursuant to Options shall be in such amounts as the Board of
Directors or the Compensation Committee shall determine from time to time. The
number of Shares initially reserved under the Plan shall be 4,500,000. Such
Shares may either be authorized but unissued Shares, Shares held in treasury, or
Shares held in a grantor trust created by the Company. If any Option should
expire, become unexercisable, or be forfeited for any reason, the Shares subject
to the Option shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, be available
for the grant of additional Options under the Plan.

                                   ARTICLE V

                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

     SECTION 5.01. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE. The Committee shall administer
the Plan. In the absence at any time of a duly appointed Committee, the Board
shall administer the Plan.

     SECTION 5.02. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. Except as limited by the express
provisions of the Plan or by resolutions adopted by the Board, the Committee
shall have sole and complete authority and discretion (a) to select Participants
and grant Options, (b) to determine the form and content of Options to be issued
under the Plan, (c) to interpret the Plan, (d) to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and (e) to make other determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall
have and may exercise such other power and the Board may delegate authority as
to it from time to time. A majority of the entire Committee shall constitute a
quorum and the action of a majority of the members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by a majority of the
Committee without a meeting, shall be deemed the action of the Committee.

     SECTION 5.03. AGREEMENT. Each Option granted by the Committee shall be
evidenced by a written agreement containing such provisions as may be approved
by the Committee. Each such Agreement shall constitute a binding contract
between the Company and the Participant and every Participant who enters into an
Agreement shall be bound by the terms and restrictions of the Plan and of such
Agreement. The terms of each Agreement shall be in accordance with the Plan, but
each Agreement may include such additional provisions and restrictions as the
Committee, in its discretion may determine, provided that such additional
provisions and restrictions are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. In
particular, the Committee shall set


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forth in each Agreement (a) the Exercise Price of the Option, (b) the number of
Shares subject to, and the expiration date of, the Option, (c) the manners,
times and rates (cumulative or otherwise) of exercise or vesting of such Option,
and (d) the restrictions, if any, placed upon such Option or upon Shares which
may be issued upon exercise of such Option.

     The Chairman of the Committee and such other Directors and officers as
shall be designated by the Committee are hereby authorized to execute Agreements
on behalf of the Company and to cause them to be delivered to the recipients of
the Options.

     SECTION 5.04. EFFECT OF THE COMMITTEE'S DECISIONS. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and
conclusive on all persons affected thereby.

     SECTION 5.05. INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to such other rights of
indemnification as they may have, the members of the Committee shall be
indemnified by the Company in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding relating to any action taken or failure to act under or in connection
with the Plan or any Option granted hereunder to the full extent provided for
under the Company's governing instruments with respect to the indemnification of
Directors.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                GRANT OF OPTIONS

     SECTION 6.01. GENERAL RULE. The Committee shall have the discretion to
grant Non-Employee Directors, Directors (including members of the Committee),
Consultants and Employees Options to purchase Optioned Shares, which shall be
subject to any restrictions or conditions imposed pursuant to Article 15 of this
Plan. SECTION 6.02. SPECIAL RULES FOR INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The aggregate
Fair Market Value, as of the date the Option is granted, of the Shares with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
an Employee during any calendar year (under all incentive stock option plans, as
defined in Section 422 of the Code, of the Company or any present or future
Affiliate of the Company) shall not exceed $100,000. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may grant Options in excess of the foregoing
limitations, in which case such Options granted in excess of such limitation
shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of this Section
6.02, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which
they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined
as of the date of grant of such Option.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                           EXERCISE PRICE FOR OPTIONS

     SECTION 7.01. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE.

          (a)  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
     to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the
     Committee, but shall be subject to the following:


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               (i)   In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                     (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of
               such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than
               ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of
               the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per share exercise
               price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per
               Share on the date of grant.

                     (B) granted to any Employee, the per share exercise price
               shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
               the date of grant.

              (ii)   In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

                     (A) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of
               such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%)
               of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
               Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no
               less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
               the grant.

                     (B) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of
               such Option, is a Named Executive of the Company, the per share
               Exercise Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market
               Value on the date of grant of such Option is intended to qualify
               as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the
               Code.

                     (C) granted to any person, the per Share exercise price
               shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
               the date of grant.

     SECTION 7.02. STANDARDS FOR DETERMINING FAIR MARKET VALUE. The Fair Market
Value of the Optioned Shares shall be determined as follows:

          (a) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
     a national market system including without limitation the National Market
     of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
     ("NASDAQ") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price
     for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on
     such system or exchange on the date of determination (or if no trading or
     bids occurred on the date of determination, on the last trading day prior
     to the date of determination), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
     such other source as the Committee deems reliable;

          (b) If the Common Stock is quoted on the NASDAQ System (but not on the
     National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities
     dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be
     the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock for
     the date of determination (or if no bids occurred on the date of
     determination, on the last trading day prior to the date of determination);
     or


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          (c) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the
     Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
     Committee.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                               EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

     SECTION 8.01. GENERALLY. Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable
at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Committee,
consistent with the terms of the Plan, and reflected in the Option Agreement,
including any vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to
the Company and/or the Optionee.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Participant shall become (100%) vested
immediately (a) upon termination of the Participant's Continuous Service due to
the Participant's Disability or death, or (b) termination of the Participant's
Continuous Service within 12 months following a Change in Control, unless such
termination was for "Cause" as defined in Section 8.03 below. An Option may not
be exercised for a fractional Share.

     SECTION 8.02. PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE. A Participant may exercise an Option,
subject to provisions relative to its termination and limitations on its
exercise, only by (a) written notice of intent to exercise the Option with
respect to a specified number of Shares, and (b) payment to the Company
(contemporaneously with delivery of such notice) (i) in cash, (ii) by check,
(iii) by delivery of a promissory note with such recourse, interest, security
and redemption provisions as the Committee determines to be appropriate (subject
to the provisions of Section 153 of the Delaware General Corporation Law);
provided that the term of such promissory note shall not exceed twelve (12)
months, or (iv) any combination of (i) through (iii). Each such notice (and
payment where required) shall be delivered, or mailed by prepaid registered or
certified mail, addressed to the President or Chief Executive Officer of the
Company at its executive offices.

     SECTION 8.03. PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY. Except to the extent otherwise
provided herein or in the terms of an Agreement, an Option may be exercised by a
Participant only while he has maintained Continuous Service from the date of the
grant of the Option, or within three months after termination of such Continuous
Service (but not later than the date on which the Option would otherwise
expire).

          (a)  DEATH.

               (i) If the Optionee shall die at any time after the date an
          Option is granted and prior to any termination hereof, the executor or
          administrator of the estate of the Optionee or the person or persons
          to whom the Option shall have been validly transferred by the executor
          or the administrator pursuant to will or the laws of descent and
          distribution shall have the right, during the period ending one (1)
          year after the date of the Optionee's death, to exercise the Option to
          the extent

          that it was exercisable at the date of death and shall not have been
          exercised. Any Options not exercised within said time period shall
          terminate and all rights thereunder shall cease. In the event of the
          Optionee's death, any Options not vested as of the date of the
          Optionee's death shall become immediately vested; provided, however,
          that the Optionee was continuously employed by the Company, or
          continuously served on the Board or as a Consultant for at least three
          years, or such shorter period as the Committee determines in its sole
          discretion.


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               (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no transfer of an Option by
          will or the laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to
          bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with
          written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the will and/or
          such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish
          the validity of the transfer and the acceptance by the transferee or
          transferees of the terms and conditions of the Option.

          (b) PERMANENT AND TOTAL DISABILITY. If the Optionee becomes
     Permanently and Totally Disabled at any time after the date an Option is
     granted and prior to any termination thereof, the Optionee (or in the case
     of the Optionee becoming mentally incapacitated, his guardian or legal
     representative) shall have the right, during a period ending one (1) year
     after such Permanent and Total Disability, to exercise the Option to the
     extent that it was exercisable at the date of such Permanent and Total
     Disability and shall not have been exercised. Any Options not exercised
     within said time period shall terminate and all rights thereunder shall
     cease. In the Event of the Optionee's Permanent and Total Disability, any
     Options not vested as of the date of the Optionee's Permanent and Total
     Disability shall become immediately vested; provided, however, that the
     Optionee was continuously employed by the Company, or continuously served
     on the Board or as a Consultant for at least three (3) years, or such
     shorter period as the Committee determines in its sole discretion.

          (c) OTHER.

               (i) Upon termination of the Participant's continuous service
          within twelve (12) months of a Change in Control, all options shall
          become fully exercisable.

               (ii) Upon termination of the Participant's employment with the
          Company by Participant (other than due to death or Permanent and Total
          Disability) or by the Company (other than for Cause), any Options not
          vested as of the date of the Participant's termination shall
          immediately terminate and all rights thereunder shall cease unless the
          Committee determines otherwise in its sole discretion. If a
          registration statement has been declared effective under the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of shares
          under the Plan, vested Options shall terminate ninety (90) days after
          termination of Optionee's employment with the Company and all rights
          under such Options shall cease unless the Committee determines
          otherwise in its sole discretion. If a registration statement has not
          been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, vested
          Options shall terminate one (1) year after termination of
          Participant's employment with the Company and all rights under such
          Options shall cease unless the Committee determines otherwise in its
          sole discretion.


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               (iii) The Participant's rights to exercise such Options shall
          terminate immediately upon termination of the Participant's Continuous
          Service due to "Cause" which for purposes hereof shall have the
          meaning set forth in any unexpired employment, consulting, or
          severance agreement between the Participant and the Company (and, in
          the absence of any such agreement, shall mean termination because of
          the Participant's dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach
          of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to
          perform stated duties, or willful violation of any law, rule or
          regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses); and

               (iv) The Participant's rights to exercise such Options shall
          terminate immediately upon a determination by the Committee that the
          Participant has violated a noncompetition provision contained in any
          unexpired employment, consulting, or other written agreement between
          the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate.

     SECTION 8.04. EFFECT OF THE COMMITTEE'S DECISIONS. The Committee's
determination whether a Participant's Continuous Service has ceased, and the
effective date thereof, shall be final and conclusive on all persons affected
thereby.

     SECTION 8.05. BUY-OUT PROVISION. The Committee may at any time offer to buy
out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted under the Plan
based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish and
communicate to the Optionee at the time such offer is made.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                      CHANGE IN CONTROL; EFFECT OF CHANGES
                       IN COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

     SECTION 9.01. CHANGE IN CONTROL. Upon a termination of a Participant's
Continuous Service within 12 months of a Change in Control, all Options shall
become fully exercisable, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any
Agreement.

     SECTION 9.02. RECAPITALIZATIONS; STOCK SPLITS, ETC. The number and kind of
Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, and the number and kind of Shares
subject to outstanding Options, and the Exercise Price thereof, shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase, decrease, change or exchange of
Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the
Company which results from a merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reorganization, reclassification, stock dividend, split-up, combination of
shares, or similar event in which the number or kind of shares is changed
without the receipt or payment of consideration by the Company.

     SECTION 9.03. TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS NOT THE SURVIVING
ENTITY. In the event of (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (b) a
merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or (c)
the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets (any
of the foregoing to be referred to herein as a "Transaction"), all


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outstanding Options, together with the Exercise Prices thereof, shall be
equitably adjusted for any change or exchange of Shares for a different number
or kind of shares or other securities which results from the Transaction, and
the forfeiture provisions set forth in subsections 8(c)(2) and 17(c) shall
automatically become null and void.

     SECTION 9.04. SPECIAL RULE FOR INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Any adjustment made
pursuant to Sections 9.02 and 9.03 shall be made in such a manner as not to
constitute a modification, within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code, of
outstanding Incentive Stock Options.

     SECTION 9.05. CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ON NEW, ADDITIONAL, OR DIFFERENT
SHARES OR SECURITIES. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this
Article IX, a Participant becomes entitled to new, additional, or different
shares of stock or securities, then, except as expressly provided in this
Article IX, such new, additional, or different shares of stock or securities
shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions which were
applicable to the Shares pursuant to this Plan and any applicable Agreement
before the adjustment was made. No fractional shares of Company Stock resulting
from any adjustments made pursuant to this Article IX shall be issued upon
exercise of an Option, but the Fair Market Value of any such fractional share
shall be paid in cash upon such exercise.

     SECTION 9.06. OTHER ISSUANCES. Except as expressly provided in this
Section, the issuance by the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of shares of
stock of any class, or of securities convertible into Shares or stock of another
class, for cash or property or for labor or services either upon direct sale or
upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, shall not affect,
and no adjustment shall be made with respect to, the number, class, or Exercise
Price of Shares then subject to Options or reserved for issuance under the Plan.

     SECTION 9.07. CERTAIN SPECIAL DIVIDENDS. The Exercise Price of Shares
subject to outstanding Options shall be proportionately adjusted upon the
payment of a special large and nonrecurring dividend that has the effect of a
return of capital to the stockholders.

                                   ARTICLE X

                 NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

     Incentive Stock Options may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision
of this Plan, a Participant who holds Nonqualified Stock Options may transfer
such Nonqualified Stock Options to his or her spouse, lineal ascendants, lineal
descendants, or to a duly established trust for the benefit of one or more of
these individuals. The Nonqualified Stock Options so transferred may thereafter
be transferred only to the Participant who originally received the grant or to
an individual or trust to whom the Participant could have initially transferred
the Nonqualified Stock Options pursuant to this Article 10. Nonqualified Stock
Options which are transferred pursuant to this Article 10 shall be exercisable
or earned by the transferee according to the same terms and conditions as
applied to the Participant.


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                                   ARTICLE XI

                            TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS

     The date of grant of an Option shall, for all purposes, be the later of the
date on which the Committee makes the determination of granting such Option and
the Effective Date. Notice of the determination shall be given to each
Participant to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the
date of such grant.

                                  ARTICLE XII

                                 EFFECTIVE DATE

     The Plan shall become effective January 1, 2002, subject to its approval by
a favorable vote of at least a majority of the total votes cast at a duly called
meeting, or written consent in lieu thereof, of the Company's stockholders held
in accordance with Applicable Laws.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                             MODIFICATION OF OPTIONS

     At any time, and from time to time, the Board may authorize the Committee
to direct execution of an instrument providing for the modification of any
outstanding Option, provided no such modification shall confer on the holder of
said Option any right or benefit which could not be conferred on him by the
grant of a new Option at such time, or impair the Option without the consent of
the holder of the Option.

                                  ARTICLE XIV

                      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

     The Board may from time to time amend the terms of the Plan and, with
respect to any Shares at the time not subject to Options, suspend or terminate
the Plan. No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the
consent of any affected holders of an Option, alter or impair any rights or
obligations under any Option theretofore granted.

                                   ARTICLE XV

                       CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES

     SECTION 15.01. INVESTMENT ASSURANCES. The Company may require a
Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Option
grant, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the
Participant'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 Option grant; and (ii) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant
is acquiring the stock subject to the Option grant for the


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Participant'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 (iii) the issuance
of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Option grant
has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement
under the Securities Act or (iv) 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.

     SECTION 15.02. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. The inability of the Company to
obtain approval from any regulatory body or authority deemed by the Company's
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder
shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the non-issuance or
sale of such Shares. As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company
may require the person exercising the Option to make such representations and
warranties as may be necessary to assure the availability of an exemption from
the registration requirements of federal or state securities law.

     SECTION 15.03. REPURCHASE RIGHT; DAMAGES. The Company shall have the right
to forfeit Shares (in the case of Optioned Shares, in exchange for any Exercise
Price paid by the Participant) that a Participant receives pursuant to an Option
if the Participant breaches a noncompetition provision in any unexpired
employment, consulting or other written agreement between the Participant and
the Company or an Affiliate. If a Participant has disposed of such Shares, the
Company may seek compensatory damages from the Participant, as well as seek
specific performance for the sale to the Company of such other Shares that the
Participant owns or controls (but only to the extent necessary to provide the
Company with the recovery contemplated in the preceding sentence).

     SECTION 15.04. COMMITTEE DISCRETION. The Committee shall have the
discretionary authority to impose in Agreements such restrictions on Shares as
it may deem appropriate or desirable, including but not limited to the authority
to impose a right of first refusal, or to establish repurchase rights, or to pay
an Optionee the in-the-money value of his Option in consideration for its
cancellation, or all or any combination of these or other restrictions.

                                  ARTICLE XVI

                              RESERVATION OF SHARES

     The Company, during the term of the Plan, will reserve and keep available a
number of Shares sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.


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<PAGE>


                                  ARTICLE XVII

                                 WITHHOLDING TAX

     As a condition of the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan, the
Participant (or in the case of the Participant's death, the person exercising
the Option) shall make such arrangements as the Committee may require for the
satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax
obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise of the Option and the
issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under
the Plan until such obligations are satisfied. The Committee, in its discretion,
may permit the Participant to satisfy the obligation, in whole or in part, by
irrevocably electing to have the Company withhold Shares, or to deliver to the
Company Shares that he already owns, having a value equal to the amount required
to be withheld. The value of the Shares to be withheld, or delivered to the
Company, shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the
amount of tax to be withheld is determined. As an alternative, the Company may
retain, or sell without notice, a number of such Shares sufficient to cover the
amount required to be withheld.

                                 ARTICLE XVIII

                              NO SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS

     No Participant shall have any voting or dividend rights or other rights of
a stockholder in respect of any Shares covered by an Option prior to the time
said Shares are actually distributed to him.

                                  ARTICLE XIX

                          NO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RIGHTS

     In no event shall an Employee's or Director's eligibility to participate or
participation in the Plan create or be deemed to create any legal or equitable
right of the Employee, Director, or any other party to continue employment by or
service with the Company or any Affiliate. No Employee or Director shall have a
right to be granted an Option or, having received an Option, the right to again
be granted an Option. An Employee or Director who has been granted an Option
however, if otherwise eligible, may be granted an additional Option or Options.

                                   ARTICLE XX

                                  GOVERNING LAW

     The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Georgia, except to the extent that federal law shall be deemed to
apply.


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