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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.3

                                  AVIGEN, INC.

                           1996 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                             Adopted March 29, 1996

                     Approved By Stockholders April 30, 1996

                           Amended September 12, 1997

                   Approved by Stockholders November 20, 1997

1.      PURPOSES.

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

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

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

2.      DEFINITIONS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

        (h) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means the
employment or relationship as a Director or Consultant is not interrupted or
terminated. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous
Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in
the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved


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by the Board, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave;
or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company,
Affiliates or their successors.

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

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

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

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

        (m) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of the Common
Stock of the Company determined as follows:

               (1) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the National
Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock 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 (or the exchange with
the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) on the last market trading day
prior to the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Board deems reliable;

               (2) If the Common Stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market (but
not on the National Market thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the bid and asked prices for
the Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable;

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

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

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

        (p) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not
receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is
not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required
under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a
"non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

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

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

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

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

        (u) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee or Consultant who holds an outstanding
Option.


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

        (w) "PLAN" means this Avigen, Inc. 1996 Equity Incentive Plan.

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

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

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

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

3.      ADMINISTRATION.

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

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

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

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

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

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

        (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or
committees of the Board composed of two (2) or more members (the "Committee"),
all of the members of which Committee may be, in the discretion of the Board,
Non-Employee Directors and/or Outside Directors. If administration is delegated
to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration
of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power
to delegate to a subcommittee of the administrative powers the Committee is
authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall
thereafter be to the Committee or such a subcommittee), subject, however, to
such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be
adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at
any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board or the Committee may
delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board the authority to
grant Stock Awards to

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

4.      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

        (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall
not exceed in the aggregate one million three hundred thousand (1,300,000)
shares of the Company's Common Stock. If any Stock Award shall for any reason
expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been
exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to
and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Shares subject to Stock
Appreciation Rights exercised in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan shall not
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

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

5.      ELIGIBILITY.

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

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

        (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 13 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, no person shall be eligible to be granted Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights covering more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares of
the Company's Common Stock in any calendar year.

6.      OPTION PROVISIONS.

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

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

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

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

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

        (d) TRANSFERABILITY. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive Stock Option
is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option may be transferred
to the extent provided in the Option Agreement; provided that if the Option
Agreement does not expressly permit the transfer of a Nonstatutory Stock Option,
the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime
of the person to whom the Option is granted only by such person or any
transferee pursuant to a domestic relations order. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third
party who, in the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Option.

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

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

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

        (g) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status
as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the Optionee's
disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of termination), but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12)
months following such termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in
the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set
forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the date of termination, the Optionee is
not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the
unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again
become available for issuance under the Plan.

        (h) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee during,
or within a period specified in the Option after the termination of, the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the Option
may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who acquired the
right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated
to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to subsection 6(d),
but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12)
months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified
in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term

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of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death,
the Optionee was not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares
covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again
become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not
exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the
shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for
issuance under the Plan.

        (i) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or
Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to
the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so
purchased may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or to any
other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate.

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

        Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board or Committee may designate at the time
of the grant of the original Option; provided, however, that the designation of
any Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one
hundred thousand dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability of
Incentive Stock Options described in subsection 12(d) of the Plan and in Section
422(d) of the Code. There shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any
such Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of sufficient shares
under subsection 4(a) and the limits on the grants of Options under subsection
5(c) and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Board or
Committee may determine which are not inconsistent with the express provisions
of the Plan regarding the terms of Options.

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

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

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

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

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

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        (d) VESTING. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but
need not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in
accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the
Committee.

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

8.      STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

        (a) The Board or Committee shall have full power and authority,
exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant Stock Appreciation Rights under the
Plan to Employees, Directors and Consultants. To exercise any outstanding Stock
Appreciation Right, the holder must provide written notice of exercise to the
Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Award Agreement
evidencing such right. Except as provided in subsection 5(d), no limitation
shall exist on the aggregate amount of cash payments the Company may make under
the Plan in connection with the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Rights.

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

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

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

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

9.      CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.

        (a) The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options
and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent
of any adversely affected holders of Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights,
the cancellation of any outstanding Options and/or any Stock Appreciation Rights
under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options and/or
Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan covering the same or different numbers
of shares of stock, but having an exercise price per share not less than:
eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value for a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair

<PAGE>   8

Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option or, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option held by a 10% stockholder (as described in subsection
5(b)), not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per
share of stock on the new grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board
or the Committee may grant an Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right with an
exercise price lower than that set forth above if such Option and/or Stock
Appreciation Right is granted as part of a transaction to which section 424(a)
of the Code applies.

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

10.     COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

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

        (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Stock Award; provided,
however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") either the Plan,
any Stock Award or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock
Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any
such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company
deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the
Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock
upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

11.     USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

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

12.     MISCELLANEOUS.

        (a) The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a
Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any
part thereof will vest pursuant to subsection 6(e), 7(d) or 8(b),
notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it
may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

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

        (c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award
granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Consultant or other
holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any
Affiliate or to continue acting as a Consultant or shall affect the right of the
Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any Employee with or
without notice and with or without cause, or the right to terminate the
relationship of any Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant's
agreement with the Company or Affiliate.

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

        (e) The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is granted,
or any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred in accordance with the Plan,
as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Stock Award, (1) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to such person's
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a
purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is
knowledgeable and
<PAGE>   9

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

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

13.     ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

        (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject
to any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through
merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock
dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate
structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the
Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum
number of shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a) and the maximum
number of shares subject to award to any person during any calendar year
pursuant to subsection 5(d), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be
appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of shares and price per share
of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. Such adjustments shall be
made by the Board or the Committee, the determination of which shall be final,
binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company.")

        (b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation or sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise, then to the extent permitted by applicable law: (i) any
surviving corporation or an Affiliate of such surviving corporation shall assume
any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar Stock
Awards for those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) such Stock Awards shall
continue in full force and effect. In the event any surviving corporation and
its Affiliates refuse to assume or continue such Stock Awards, or to substitute
similar options for those outstanding under the Plan, then, with respect to
Stock Awards held by persons then performing services as Employees, Directors or
Consultants, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised shall be
accelerated and the Stock Awards terminated if not exercised prior to such
event.

14.     AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.

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

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

        (c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees
or Consultants with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the
provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to
Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options
granted under it into compliance therewith.

<PAGE>   10

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

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

15.     TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

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

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

16.     EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

        The Plan, as amended, shall become effective on such date, but no
Options granted under the Plan, as amended, shall be exercised unless and until
the Plan, as amended, has been approved by the stockholders of the Company.