<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                            MICRO THERAPEUTICS, INC.

                           FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
                            1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


        This 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (the "Plan") was established and adopted
in August 1996 (the "Effective Date") by Micro Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), was amended as of May 29, 1998, was amended as of
May 27, 1999, was amended as of July 27, 2000 and is hereby amended and restated
as of May 31, 2001 (the "Amendment Date").

                                       1.

                              PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

        1.1 PURPOSES. The purposes of the Plan are (a) to enhance the Company's
ability to attract and retain the services of qualified employees, officers and
directors (including non-employee officers and directors), and consultants and
other service providers upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the
successful conduct and development of the Company's business largely depends,
and (b) to provide additional incentives to such persons or entities to devote
their utmost effort and skill to the advancement and betterment of the Company,
by providing them an opportunity to participate in the ownership of the Company
and thereby have an interest in the success and increased value of the Company.

                                       2.

                                   DEFINITIONS

        For purposes of this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:

        2.1 ADMINISTRATOR. "Administrator" means the Board or, if the Board
delegates responsibility for any matter to the Committee, the term Administrator
shall mean the Committee.

        2.2 AFFILIATED COMPANY. "Affiliated Company" means any "parent
corporation" or "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, whether now existing or
hereafter created or acquired, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and
424(f) of the Code, respectively.

         2.3      BOARD.  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        2.4 CHANGE IN CONTROL. "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the
beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding
securities of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company
is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of
which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated; (iii) the
sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company; (iv) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (v)
any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which
securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Company's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or
persons different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to
such merger.

        2.5 CODE. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.

<PAGE>   2

        2.6 COMMITTEE. "Committee" means a committee of two or more members of
the Board appointed to administer the Plan, as set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.

        2.7 COMMON STOCK. "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $.001 par value
of the Company, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof.

        2.8 DISABILITY. "Disability" means permanent and total disability as
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The Administrator's determination of a
Disability or the absence thereof shall be conclusive and binding on all
interested parties.

        2.9 EFFECTIVE DATE. "Effective Date" means August 1, 1997, which was the
date on which the Plan was originally adopted by the Board.

        2.10 EXERCISE PRICE. "Exercise Price" means the purchase price per share
of Common Stock payable upon exercise of an Option.

        2.11 FAIR MARKET VALUE. "Fair Market Value" on any given date means the
value of one share of Common Stock, determined as follows:

             If the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading on a
Nasdaq market system or a stock exchange which reports closing sale prices, the
Fair Market Value shall be the closing sale price on the date of valuation on
such Nasdaq market system or principal stock exchange on which the Common Stock
is then listed or admitted to trading, or, if no closing sale price is quoted on
such day, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing sale price of the
Common Stock on such Nasdaq market system or such exchange on the next preceding
day on which a closing sale price is quoted.

             If the Common Stock is not then listed or admitted to trading on a
Nasdaq market system or a stock exchange which reports closing sale prices, the
Fair Market Value shall be the average of the closing bid and asked prices of
the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the date of valuation.

             If neither (a) nor (b) is applicable as of the date of valuation,
then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Administrator in good
faith using any reasonable method of evaluation, which determination shall be
conclusive and binding on all interested parties.

        2.12 INCENTIVE OPTION. "Incentive Option" means any Option designated
and qualified as an "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the
Code.

        2.13 INCENTIVE OPTION AGREEMENT. "Incentive Option Agreement" means an
Option Agreement with respect to an Incentive Option.

        2.14 NASD DEALER. "NASD Dealer" means a broker-dealer that is a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

        2.15 NONQUALIFIED OPTION. "Nonqualified Option" means any Option that is
not an Incentive Option. To the extent that any Option designated as an
Incentive Option fails in whole or in part to qualify as an Incentive Option,
including, without limitation, for failure to meet the limitations applicable to
a 10% Shareholder or because it exceeds the annual limit provided for in Section
5.6 below, it shall to that extent constitute a Nonqualified Option.

        2.16 NONQUALIFIED OPTION AGREEMENT. "Nonqualified Option Agreement"
means an Option Agreement with respect to a Nonqualified Option.


                                       2

<PAGE>   3

        2.17 OFFEREE. "Offeree" means a Participant to whom a Right to Purchase
has been offered or who has acquired Restricted Stock under the Plan.

        2.18 OPTION. "Option" means any option to purchase Common Stock granted
pursuant to the Plan.

        2.19 OPTION AGREEMENT. "Option Agreement" means the written agreement
entered into between the Company and the Optionee with respect to an Option
granted under the Plan.

        2.20 OPTIONEE. "Optionee" means a Participant who holds an Option.

        2.21 PARTICIPANT. "Participant" means an individual or entity who holds
an Option, a Right to Purchase or Restricted Stock under the Plan.

        2.22 PURCHASE PRICE. "Purchase Price" means the purchase price per share
of Restricted Stock payable upon acceptance of a Right to Purchase.

        2.23 RESTRICTED STOCK. "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to Article 6 hereof, subject to any restrictions and conditions
as are established pursuant to such Article 6.

        2.24 RIGHT TO PURCHASE. "Right to Purchase" means a right to purchase
Restricted Stock granted to an Offeree pursuant to Article 6 hereof.

        2.25 SERVICE PROVIDER. "Service Provider" means a consultant or other
person or entity who provides services to the Company or an Affiliated Company
and who the Administrator authorizes to become a Participant in the Plan.

        2.26 STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT. "Stock Purchase Agreement" means the
written agreement entered into between the Company and the Offeree with respect
to a Right to Purchase offered under the Plan.

        2.27 10% SHAREHOLDER. "10% Shareholder" means a person who, as of a
relevant date, owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules
applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of an
Affiliated Company.

                                       3.

                                   ELIGIBILITY

        3.1 INCENTIVE OPTIONS. Officers and other key employees of the Company
or of an Affiliated Company (including members of the Board if they are
employees of the Company or of an Affiliated Company) are eligible to receive
Incentive Options under the Plan.

        3.2 NONQUALIFIED OPTIONS AND RIGHTS TO PURCHASE. Officers and other key
employees of the Company or of an Affiliated Company, members of the Board
(whether or not employed by the Company or an Affiliated Company), and Service
Providers are eligible to receive Nonqualified Options or Rights to Purchase
under the Plan.

        3.3 LIMITATION ON SHARES. In no event shall any Participant be granted
Rights to Purchase or Options in any one calendar year pursuant to which the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquired thereunder
exceeds 100,000 shares.


                                       3

<PAGE>   4

                                       4.

                                   PLAN SHARES

        4.1 SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. A total of 3,250,000 shares of Common
Stock may be issued under the Plan, subject to adjustment as to the number and
kind of shares pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. For purposes of this limitation,
in the event that (a) all or any portion of any Option or Right to Purchase
granted or offered under the Plan can no longer under any circumstances be
exercised, or (b) any shares of Common Stock are reacquired by the Company
pursuant to an Incentive Option Agreement, Nonqualified Option Agreement or
Stock Purchase Agreement, the shares of Common Stock allocable to the
unexercised portion of such Option or such Right to Purchase, or the shares so
reacquired, shall again be available for grant or issuance under the Plan.

        4.2 CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event that the outstanding
shares of Common Stock are hereafter increased or decreased or changed into or
exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the
Company by reason of a recapitalization, stock split, combination of shares,
reclassification, stock dividend, or other change in the capital structure of
the Company, then appropriate adjustments shall be made by the Administrator to
the aggregate number and kind of shares subject to this Plan, and the number and
kind of shares and the price per share subject to outstanding Option Agreements,
Rights to Purchase and Stock Purchase Agreements in order to preserve, as nearly
as practical, but not to increase, the benefits to Participants.

                                       5.

                                     OPTIONS

        5.1 OPTION AGREEMENT. Each Option granted pursuant to this Plan shall be
evidenced by an Option Agreement which shall specify the number of shares
subject thereto, the Exercise Price per share, and whether the Option is an
Incentive Option or Nonqualified Option. As soon as is practical following the
grant of an Option, an Option Agreement shall be duly executed and delivered by
or on behalf of the Company to the Optionee to whom such Option was granted.
Each Option Agreement shall be in such form and contain such additional terms
and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the
Administrator shall, from time to time, deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the imposition of any rights of first refusal and resale obligations
upon any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option Agreement. Each
Option Agreement may be different from each other Option Agreement.

        5.2 EXERCISE PRICE. The Exercise Price per share of Common Stock covered
by each Option shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the
following: (a) the Exercise Price of an Incentive Option shall not be less than
100% of Fair Market Value on the date the Incentive Option is granted, (b) the
Exercise Price of a Nonqualified Option shall not be less than 85% of Fair
Market Value on the date the Nonqualified Option is granted, and (c) if the
person to whom an Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Shareholder on the date
of grant, the Exercise Price shall not be less than 110% of Fair Market Value on
the date the Option is granted.

        5.3 PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. Payment of the Exercise Price shall be
made upon exercise of an Option and may be made, in the discretion of the
Administrator, subject to any legal restrictions, by: (a) cash; (b) check; (c)
the surrender of shares of Common Stock owned by the Optionee that have been
held by the Optionee for at least six (6) months, which surrendered shares shall
be valued at Fair Market Value as of the date of such exercise; (d) the
Optionee's promissory note in a form and on terms acceptable to the
Administrator; (e) the cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the
Optionee; (f) the waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Optionee for
services rendered; (g) provided that a


                                       4

<PAGE>   5

public market for the Common Stock exists, a "same day sale" commitment from the
Optionee and an NASD Dealer whereby the Optionee irrevocably elects to exercise
the Option and to sell a portion of the shares so purchased to pay for the
Exercise Price and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of
such shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; (h) provided
that a public market for the Common Stock exists, a "margin" commitment from the
Optionee and an NASD Dealer whereby the Optionee irrevocably elects to exercise
the Option and to pledge the shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in a margin
account as security for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the amount of the
Exercise Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon receipt of
such shares to forward the Exercise Price directly to the Company; or (i) any
combination of the foregoing methods of payment or any other consideration or
method of payment as shall be permitted by applicable corporate law.

        5.4 TERM AND TERMINATION OF OPTIONS. The term and termination of each
Option shall be as fixed by the Administrator, but no Option may be exercisable
more than ten (10) years after the date it is granted. An Incentive Option
granted to a person who is a 10% Shareholder on the date of grant shall not be
exercisable more than five (5) years after the date it is granted.

        5.5 VESTING AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Each Option shall vest and be
exercisable in one or more installments at such time or times and subject to
such conditions, including without limitation the achievement of specified
performance goals or objectives, as shall be determined by the Administrator.

        5.6 ANNUAL LIMIT ON INCENTIVE OPTIONS. To the extent required for
"incentive stock option" treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate
Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Common Stock shall
not, with respect to which Incentive Options granted under this Plan and any
other plan of the Company or any Affiliated Company become exercisable for the
first time by an Optionee during any calendar year, exceed $100,000.

        5.7 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. No Option shall be assignable or
transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during
the life of the Optionee shall be exercisable only by such Optionee; provided,
however, that, in the discretion of the Administrator, any Option may be
assigned or transferred in any manner which an "incentive stock option" is
permitted to be assigned or transferred under the Code.

        5.8 RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. An Optionee or permitted transferee of an
Option shall have no rights or privileges as a shareholder with respect to any
shares covered by an Option until such Option has been duly exercised and
certificates representing shares purchased upon such exercise have been issued
to such person.

        5.9 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS. Each non-employee director of the Company
shall automatically be granted a Nonqualified Option to purchase 16,000 shares
of Common Stock (subject to vesting as provided below) upon his or her
commencement of service on the Board of Directors and every year thereafter
shall automatically be granted a Nonqualified Option to purchase 4,000 shares of
the Common Stock (provided, that on such date he or she is a non-employee of the
Company); provided, however, that no such director shall be issued options to
acquire shares of Common Stock, which when added to any shares of Common Stock
owned by such director or subject to an option of such director exercisable
within sixty (60) days would equal or exceed one percent 1% of the total
outstanding Common Stock of the Company plus shares of Common Stock of the
Company subject to stock options held by any person and exercisable within sixty
(60) days. The option price of such Options, in the case of the initial grant,
shall be at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of
commencement of such director's service on the Board of Directors and,
thereafter, shall be at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of
grant. All such options shall become exercisable twenty-five percent (25%)
immediately and the remaining seventy-five percent (75%) shall become
exercisable an additional


                                       5

<PAGE>   6

twenty-five percent (25%) on each anniversary of the date of the initial grant;
provided, however, that upon termination of a non-employee director's service on
the Board of Directors, for any reason, all unvested options held by such
non-employee director shall terminate immediately and all vested options held by
such non-employee director shall be exercisable for a period of twelve (12)
months subsequent to such termination. The term of such Options shall be ten
years.

                                       6.

                               RIGHTS TO PURCHASE

        6.1 NATURE OF RIGHT TO PURCHASE. A Right to Purchase granted to an
Offeree entitles the Offeree to purchase, for a Purchase Price determined by the
Administrator, shares of Common Stock subject to such terms, restrictions and
conditions as the Administrator may determine at the time of grant ("Restricted
Stock"). Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, continued
employment or the achievement of specified performance goals or objectives.

        6.2 ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT TO PURCHASE. An Offeree shall have no rights
with respect to the Restricted Stock subject to a Right to Purchase unless the
Offeree shall have accepted the Right to Purchase within ten (10) days (or such
longer or shorter period as the Administrator may specify) following the grant
of the Right to Purchase by making payment of the full Purchase Price to the
Company in the manner set forth in Section 6.3 hereof and by executing and
delivering to the Company a Stock Purchase Agreement. Each Stock Purchase
Agreement shall be in such form, and shall set forth the Purchase Price and such
other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Restricted Stock, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan, as the Administrator shall, from
time to time, deem desirable. Each Stock Purchase Agreement may be different
from each other Stock Purchase Agreement.

        6.3 PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE. Subject to any legal restrictions,
payment of the Purchase Price upon acceptance of a Right to Purchase Restricted
Stock may be made, in the discretion of the Administrator, by: (a) cash; (b)
check; (c) the surrender of shares of Common Stock owned by the Offeree that
have been held by the Offeree for at least six (6) months, which surrendered
shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value as of the date of such exercise; (d)
the Offeree's promissory note in a form and on terms acceptable to the
Administrator; (e) the cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the
Offeree; (f) the waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Offeree for
services rendered; or (g) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment or
any other consideration or method of payment as shall be permitted by applicable
corporate law.

        6.4 RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Upon complying with the provisions of
Section 6.2 hereof, an Offeree shall have the rights of a shareholder with
respect to the Restricted Stock purchased pursuant to the Right to Purchase,
including voting and dividend rights, subject to the terms, restrictions and
conditions as are set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement. Unless the
Administrator shall determine otherwise, certificates evidencing shares of
Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company in accordance
with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

        6.5 RESTRICTIONS. Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement or by the Administrator.
In the event of termination of a Participant's employment, service as a director
of the Company or Service Provider status for any reason whatsoever (including
death or disability), the Stock Purchase Agreement may provide, in the
discretion of the Administrator, that the Company shall have the right,
exercisable at the discretion of the Administrator, to repurchase (i) at the
original Purchase Price, any shares of Restricted Stock which have not vested as
of the date of termination, and (ii) at Fair Market Value, any shares of
Restricted Stock which have vested as of such date, on such terms as may be
provided in the Stock Purchase Agreement.


                                       6

<PAGE>   7

        6.6 VESTING OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Stock Purchase Agreement shall
specify the date or dates, the performance goals or objectives which must be
achieved, and any other conditions on which the Restricted Stock may vest.

        6.7 DIVIDENDS. If payment for shares of Restricted Stock is made by
promissory note, any cash dividends paid with respect to the Restricted Stock
may be applied, in the discretion of the Administrator, to repayment of such
note.

        6.8 NONASSIGNABILITY OF RIGHTS. No Right to Purchase shall be assignable
or transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as
otherwise provided by the Administrator.

                                       7.

                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        7.1 ADMINISTRATOR. Authority to control and manage the operation and
administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Board, which may delegate such
responsibilities in whole or in part to a committee consisting of two (2) or
more members of the Board (the "Committee"). Members of the Committee may be
appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the Board.
As used herein, the term "Administrator" means the Board or, with respect to any
matter as to which responsibility has been delegated to the Committee, the term
Administrator shall mean the Committee.

        7.2 POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. In addition to any other powers or
authority conferred upon the Administrator elsewhere in the Plan or by law, the
Administrator shall have full power and authority: (a) to determine the persons
to whom, and the time or times at which, Incentive Options or Nonqualified
Options shall be granted and Rights to Purchase shall be offered, the number of
shares to be represented by each Option and Right to Purchase and the
consideration to be received by the Company upon the exercise thereof; (b) to
interpret the Plan; (c) to create, amend or rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan; (d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions
contained in, and the form of, Option Agreements and Stock Purchase Agreements;
(e) to determine the identity or capacity of any persons who may be entitled to
exercise a Participant's rights under any Option or Right to Purchase under the
Plan; (f) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option Agreement or Stock Purchase
Agreement; (g) to accelerate the vesting of any Option or release or waive any
repurchase rights of the Company with respect to Restricted Stock; (h) to extend
the exercise date of any Option or acceptance date of any Right to Purchase; (i)
to provide for rights of first refusal and/or repurchase rights; (j) to amend
outstanding Option Agreements and Stock Purchase Agreements to provide for,
among other things, any change or modification which the Administrator could
have provided for upon the grant of an Option or Right to Purchase or in
furtherance of the powers provided for herein; and (k) to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, but
only to the extent not contrary to the express provisions of the Plan. Any
action, decision, interpretation or determination made in good faith by the
Administrator in the exercise of its authority conferred upon it under the Plan
shall be final and binding on the Company and all Participants.

        7.3 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. No employee of the Company or member of the
Board or Committee shall be subject to any liability with respect to duties
under the Plan unless the person acts fraudulently or in bad faith. To the
extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each member of the Board or
Committee, and any employee of the Company with duties under the Plan, who was
or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending
or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of such person's conduct in the performance of duties
under the Plan.


                                       7

<PAGE>   8

                                       8.

                                CHANGE IN CONTROL

        8.1 CHANGE IN CONTROL. In order to preserve a Participant's rights in
the event of a Change in Control of the Company, (i) the time period relating to
the exercise or realization of all outstanding Options, Rights to Purchase and
Restricted Stock shall automatically accelerate immediately prior to the
consummation of such Change in Control and (ii) with respect to Options and
Rights to Purchase, the Administrator in its discretion may, at any time an
Option or Right to Purchase is granted, or at any time thereafter, take one or
more of the following actions: (A) provide for the purchase of each Option or
Right to Purchase for an amount of cash or other property that could have been
received upon the exercise of the Option or Right to Purchase had the Option
been currently exercisable, (B) adjust the terms of the Options and Rights to
Purchase in a manner determined by the Administrator to reflect the Change in
Control, (C) cause the Options and Rights to Purchase to be assumed, or new
rights substituted therefor, by another entity, through the continuance of the
Plan and the assumption of outstanding Options and Rights to Purchase, or the
substitution for such Options and Rights to Purchase of new options and new
rights to purchase of comparable value covering shares of a successor
corporation, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares
and Exercise Prices, in which event the Plan and such Options and Rights to
Purchase, or the new options and rights to purchase substituted therefor, shall
continue in the manner and under the terms so provided or (D) make such other
provision as the Committee may consider equitable. If the Administrator does not
take any of the forgoing actions, all Options and Rights to Purchase shall
terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control and the Administrator
shall cause written notice of the proposed transaction to be given to all
Participants not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the anticipated effective
date of the proposed transaction.

                                       9.

                      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

        9.1 AMENDMENTS. The Board may from time to time alter, amend, suspend or
terminate the Plan in such respects as the Board may deem advisable. No such
alteration, amendment, suspension or termination shall be made which shall
substantially affect or impair the rights of any Participant under an
outstanding Option Agreement or Stock Purchase Agreement without such
Participant's consent. The Board may alter or amend the Plan to comply with
requirements under the Code relating to Incentive Options or other types of
options which give Optionee more favorable tax treatment than that applicable to
Options granted under this Plan as of the date of its adoption. Upon any such
alteration or amendment, any outstanding Option granted hereunder may, if the
Administrator so determines and if permitted by applicable law, be subject to
the more favorable tax treatment afforded to an Optionee pursuant to such terms
and conditions.

        9.2 PLAN TERMINATION. Unless the Plan shall theretofore have been
terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the
Effective Date and no Options or Rights to Purchase may be granted under the
Plan thereafter, but Option Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreements and Rights to
Purchase then outstanding shall continue in effect in accordance with their
respective terms.

                                       10.

                                 TAX WITHHOLDING

        10.1 WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the power to withhold, or
require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy
any applicable Federal, state, and local tax withholding requirements with
respect to any Options exercised or Restricted Stock issued under the Plan.


                                       8

<PAGE>   9

To the extent permissible under applicable tax, securities and other laws, the
Administrator may, in its sole discretion and upon such terms and conditions as
it may deem appropriate, permit a Participant to satisfy his or her obligation
to pay any such tax, in whole or in part, up to an amount determined on the
basis of the highest marginal tax rate applicable to such Participant, by (a)
directing the Company to apply shares of Common Stock to which the Participant
is entitled as a result of the exercise of an Option or as a result of the
purchase of or lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or (b) delivering to
the Company shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant. The shares of
Common Stock so applied or delivered in satisfaction of the Participant's tax
withholding obligation shall be valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date
of measurement of the amount of income subject to withholding.

                                       11.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        11.1 BENEFITS NOT ALIENABLE. Other than as provided above, benefits
under the Plan may not be assigned or alienated, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily. Any unauthorized attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other
disposition shall be without effect.

        11.2 NO ENLARGEMENT OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. This Plan is strictly a
voluntary undertaking on the part of the Company and shall not be deemed to
constitute a contract between the Company and any Participant to be
consideration for, or an inducement to, or a condition of, the employment of any
Participant. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed to give the right to
any Participant to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Affiliated
Company or to interfere with the right of the Company or any Affiliated Company
to discharge any Participant at any time.

        11.3 APPLICATION OF FUNDS. The proceeds received by the Company from the
sale of Common Stock pursuant to Option Agreements and Stock Purchase
Agreements, except as otherwise provided herein, will be used for general
corporate purposes.


                                       9