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EXHIBIT 10.19

                              VALUESTAR CORPORATION
                      NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

THIS NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into
effective  as of the  28th  day of  January,  2000,  by  and  between  VALUESTAR
CORPORATION,  a  Colorado  corporation  (the  "Company")  and  Robert  Sick (the
"Optionee").

                                   BACKGROUND

A. The Company has  determined to reward and to provide  incentives to those who
are primarily  responsible for the operations of the Company and for shaping and
carrying  out the  long-range  plans of the Company and aiding in its  continued
growth and financial success.

B. In furtherance of these  purposes,  the Board of Directors of the Company has
authorized the grant to Optionee of a stock option to purchase certain shares of
the common stock,  par value $.00025 per share, of the Company  ("Common Stock")
by resolution dated January 28, 2000.

C.  The  Company  and  Optionee  wish to  confirm  the  terms,  conditions,  and
restrictions of this option.

For and in consideration of the premises, the mutual covenants contained herein,
and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1

                          GRANT AND EXERCISE OF OPTION

1.1 GRANT OF  OPTION.  Subject  to the  terms,  restrictions,  limitations,  and
conditions  stated herein,  the Company hereby grants to Optionee an option (the
"Option") to purchase 16,600 shares of Common Stock (the "Option  Shares").  The
date first  written above shall be the date on which the Option has been granted
(the "Grant Date").

1.2 EXERCISE OF THE OPTION (a) The Option may be  exercised  with respect to all
or any portion of the vested  Option Shares at any time during the Option Period
(as defined  below) by the delivery to the Company,  at its  principal  place of
business,  of (i) a written  notice of exercise  which shall be delivered to the
Company no earlier  than  thirty (30) days and no later than ten (10) days prior
to the date upon which  Optionee  desires to exercise  all or any portion of the
Option (the "Exercise  Date");  (ii) a certified check payable to the Company in
the amount of the Exercise Price (as defined below)  multiplied by the number of
Option  Shares  being  purchased  (the  "Purchase  Price")  OR with the  advance
approval of the  Company,  by  delivery  of a number of shares of Common  Stock,
which have been held by Optionee  for at least six months,  having a fair market
value,  as of the date the Option is  exercised,  at least equal to the Purchase
Price OR with the advance  approval of the Company by a certified  check payable
to the  Company in an amount less than the  Exercise  Price and by delivery of a
number of shares of Common Stock,  which have been held by Optionee for at least
six months,  having a fair market value, as of the date the Option is exercised,
at least equal to the balance of the Purchase Price OR with the advance approval
of the  Company by Optionee  advising  the  Company,  at the time this Option is
exercised,  to withhold

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from exercise  under the Option the  appropriate  number of Option  Shares,  the
aggregate  fair  market  value of which on the date of exercise of the Option is
equal to the aggregate cash purchase price of the Option Shares being  exercised
and purchased  under the Option,  and such  withholding  shall  constitute  full
payment for the  non-withheld  Option  Shares issued upon exercise OR such other
consideration  as the Board of Directors may specifically  authorize;  and (iii)
except as permitted in Paragraph  1.2(b) below, a certified check payable to the
Company  in the  amount of all  withholding  tax  obligations,  if any  (whether
federal,  state or local),  imposed on the Company by reason of the  exercise of
the Option,  or if  applicable  the  Withholding  Election  described in Section
1.2(b). Upon acceptance of such notice,  receipt of payment in full, the Company
shall cause a  certificate  representing  the shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option has been exercised (less any withheld  Option Shares,  if applicable)
to be issued and delivered to the Optionee.

(b) In lieu of paying  the  withholding  tax  obligation,  if any,  in cash,  as
described in Section  1.2(a)  (iii),  the  Optionee may elect,  with the advance
approval  of the  Company,  to have the actual  number of shares  issuable  upon
exercise of the Option reduced by the smallest  number of whole shares of Common
Stock which,  when multiplied by the fair market value of the Common Stock as of
the date the Option is  exercised,  is  sufficient  to satisfy the amount of the
withholding  tax  obligations  imposed on the Company by reason of the  exercise
thereof  (the  "Withholding  Election").  The  Optionee  may take a  Withholding
Election only if all of the following conditions are met:

         (i) the  Withholding  Election must be made by electing the Withholding
         Election  in the  written  notice of  exercise;  and by  executing  and
         delivering to the Company a properly  completed  Notice of  Withholding
         Election; and

         (ii) any Withholding  Election made will be irrevocable;  however,  the
         Company may, in its sole discretion,  disapprove and not give effect to
         any Withholding  Election at its discretion or due to its cash position
         or based on any other  regulatory or statutory factor in its reasonable
         judgment.

1.3 EXERCISE  PRICE.  The exercise price for each share of Common Stock shall be
Seven Dollars ($7.00) (the "Exercise Price").

1.4 TERM AND TERMINATION OF OPTION.  Except as otherwise  provided  herein,  the
term of the  Option  ("Option  Period")  shall  commence  on the Grant  Date and
terminate on January 27, 2005. Subject to paragraph 1.5 below, this Option shall
become  exercisable  (vest)  based on the  passage of services to the Company in
accordance with the following vesting schedule:

                  4,150  options  shares shall vest on March 31, 2000 subject to
                  written approval of the Compensation  Committee of the Company
                  which  approval shall be based on an evaluation of performance

                  4,150  options  shares  shall vest on June 30, 2000 subject to
                  written approval of the Compensation  Committee of the Company
                  which  approval shall be based on an evaluation of performance

                  4,150 options  shares shall vest on September 30, 2000 subject
                  to  written  approval  of the  Compensation  Committee  of the
                  Company  which  approval  shall be based on an  evaluation  of
                  performance

                  4,150  options  shares shall vest on December 31, 2000 subject
                  to  written  approval  of the  Compensation  Committee  of the
                  Company  which  approval  shall be based on an  evaluation  of
                  performance

Once the right to  purchase  shares has  accrued  and  vested,  such  shares may
thereafter  be  purchased at any time,  or in part from time to time,  until the

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termination  date of this Option,  subject to the  provisions  of Paragraph  1.7
below.  In no case may this Option be  exercised  for a fraction of a share.  No
shares shall vest after  termination of services to the Company unless otherwise
agreed in writing.

Upon the  expiration of the Option Period as set forth above,  this Option,  and
all unexercised  rights granted to the Optionee  hereunder shall terminate,  and
thereafter be null and void.

1.5 ACCELERATION OF VESTING. In the event of a merger, sale or reorganization of
the Company with or into any other  corporation or corporations or a sale of all
or substantially all of the assets or outstanding stock of the Company, in which
transaction the Company's stockholders immediately prior to such transaction own
immediately after such transaction less than 50% of the equity securities of the
surviving  corporation  or its  parent,  all  Option  Shares  that have not been
terminated in accordance with this agreement,  that will become vested within 48
months  of the  closing  date of such  merger,  sale or  reorganization  will be
accelerated.  In the  event  of a merger  of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation,  this outstanding  option may be assumed or an equivalent option or
right may be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary
of such successor corporation.  For the purposes of this paragraph,  this Option
shall be considered  assumed if,  following the merger,  the Option  confers the
right to purchase or receive,  for each Option  Share  immediately  prior to the
merger, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property)
received  in the merger by  holders  of Common  Stock for each share held on the
effective  date of the  transaction  (and if the holders are offered a choice of
consideration,  the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding  shares).  If such  consideration  received in the merger is not
solely common stock of the  successor  corporation  or its Parent,  the Board of
Directors of the Company  may,  with the consent of the  successor  corporation,
provide for the  consideration  to be received upon the exercise of this Option,
for each Option Share, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger.

1.6 RIGHTS AS  STOCKHOLDER.  Optionee,  or, if  applicable,  any  Transferee (as
defined in Section 3.12 (c)) shall have no rights as a stockholder  with respect
to any shares covered by the Option until a stock  certificate for the shares is
issued in Optionee's or Transferee's  name. No adjustment to the Option shall be
made  pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof for  dividends  paid or declared on or with
respect to Common Stock in cash,  securities  other than Common Stock,  or other
property, for which the record date is prior to the date of exercise hereof.

1.7 EARLY  TERMINATION OF OPTION.  The Option Period shall terminate on the date
of the first to occur of the following:

         (a) January 27, 2005:

         (b)  Disability  or Death as provided by this  subparagraph  (b).  This
         Option shall  terminate and no further  options  shall vest  thereafter
         upon Optionee's  death or disability and any vested options at the time
         of such death or disability  shall no longer be  exercisable  after the
         expiration  of twelve (12) months from the date of death or  disability
         of the Optionee.

         (c) If Optionee's  services as an employee is terminated for no reason,
         or for any reason  (voluntarily or otherwise)  other than disability or
         death,

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         then no further  options  shall vest  thereafter  and this Option shall
         terminate  and  no  longer  be   exercisable   six  months  after  such
         termination.  If Optionee shall die within six months after termination
         the  remaining  vested  portion  shall  terminate on the earlier of the
         expiration  of the  Option  Period or twelve  months  after the date of
         death.

         (d) the date immediately  preceding the consummation of the dissolution
         or liquidation of the Company. The Company will use its best efforts to
         provide  written notice to Optionee of such  dissolution or liquidation
         or like  transaction,  at least (30) days prior to the  closing of such
         transaction  to permit  Optionee to  exercise  the Option to the extent
         vested. In no event will te option be exercisable  beyond expiration of
         the Option Period.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                     RESTRICTION ON OPTION AND OPTION SHARES

2.1  RESTRICTIONS  ON  TRANSFER  OF  OPTION.  The  Option  evidenced  hereby  is
non-transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be  exercisable  during the lifetime of Optionee  only by Optionee (or, in
the event of Optionee's death or disability, by a permitted Transferee).

2.2  LOCK-UP  PROVISION.  In  connection  with any  public  registration  of the
Company's securities, the Optionee (and any transferee of Optionee) agrees, upon
the  request of the Company or the  underwriter(s)  managing  such  underwritten
offering of the Company's securities, not to sell, make any short sale of, loan,
grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise  dispose of this Option,  any
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Option or any other
securities of the Company  heretofore or hereafter  acquired by Optionee  (other
than unrestricted  securities  acquired in the open market and those included in
the  registration)  without  the prior  written  consent of the Company and such
underwriter(s),  as the case  may be,  for a period  of time not to  exceed  one
hundred  eighty  (180) days from the  effective  date of the  registration  (the
"Lock-Up Period"). Upon request by the Company,  Optionee (and any transferee of
Optionee) agrees to enter into any further reasonable  agreement in writing in a
form  reasonably   satisfactory   to  the  Company  and  such   underwriter(s)in
furtherance of such lock-up. The Company may impose  stop-transfer  instructions
with respect to the securities  subject to the foregoing  restrictions until the
end of said 180-day period. Any shares issued upon exercise of this Option shall
bear an  appropriate  legend  referencing  this lock-up  provision (the "Lock-Up
Legend").

                                    ARTICLE 3

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

3.1 CHANGE IN CAPITALIZATION.  If the number of outstanding shares of the Common
Stock shall be increased or decreased by a change in par value, split-up,  stock
split,  reverse  stock  split,  reclassification,  distribution  of common stock
dividend, or other similar capital adjustment,  an appropriate  adjustment shall
be made by the Board of  Directors  in the number and kind of shares as to which
the  Option,  or the  portion  thereof  then  unexercised,  shall  be or  become
exercisable,  such that Optionee's proportionate interest shall be maintained as
before the occurrence of the event.  The adjustment shall be made without change
in the total

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price  applicable  to  the  unexercised   portion  of  the  Option  and  with  a
corresponding  adjustment in the Exercise Price.  No fractional  shares shall be
issued or made subject to the Option in making such adjustment.  All adjustments
made by the Board of Directors under this Section shall be final,  binding,  and
conclusive.

3.2 LEGENDS.  Each  certificate  representing  the Option Shares  purchased upon
exercise of the Option  shall  (unless a  registration  statement  covering  the
Option Shares is in effect) be endorsed  with the following  legend and Optionee
shall not make any transfer of the Option shares  without first  complying  with
the restrictions on transfer described in such legend:

                             TRANSFER IF RESTRICTED

         THE SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
         UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR
         SIMILAR  STATE   SECURITIES   LAWS   APPLICABLE   TO  SUCH   SECURITIES
         (COLLECTIVELY THE "ACTS") AND MAY NOT BE SOLD,  TRANSFERRED,  ASSIGNED,
         OR  HYPOTHECATED  UNLESS (1) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE  REGISTRATION  UNDER
         SUCH  ACTS  COVERING  SUCH  SECURITIES,  (2)  THE  TRANSFER  IS MADE IN
         COMPLIANCE  WITH RULE 144  PROMULGATED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT,  OR
         SIMILAR  STATE  SECURITIES  LAW,  OR (3) THE  COMPANY  HAS  RECEIVED AN
         OPINION OF COUNSEL,  REASONABLY  SATISFACTORY  TO THE COMPANY,  STATING
         THAT SUCH SALE,  TRANSFER,  ASSIGNMENT OR  HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM
         THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACTS.

Optionee agrees that the Company may also include any other legends  required by
applicable federal or state securities laws.

3.3 GOVERNING LAWS. This Agreement shall be construed, administered and enforced
according  to the laws of the State of  California,  excluding  that body of law
dealing with conflicts of law.

3.4 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the heirs,  legal  representatives,  successors,  and  permitted  assigns of the
parties.

3.5  NOTICE.  Except  as  otherwise  specified  herein,  all  notices  and other
communications  under this Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given if  personally  delivered or if sent by  registered or certified
United States mail, return receipt requested,  postage prepaid, addressed to the
proposed  recipient at the last known  address of the  recipient.  Any party may
designate  any other  address to which notices shall be sent by giving notice of
the address to the other parties in the same manner as provided herein.

3.6 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the provisions or portion
thereof  contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be invalid,
illegal,  or  unenforceable  in any respect,  the same shall not  invalidate  or
otherwise  affect any other  provisions of this  Agreement,  and this  Agreement
shall be  construed  as if the invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable  provision or
portion thereof had never been contained herein.

3.7 ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  expresses the entire  understanding  and
Agreement  of the  parties  with  respect to the  subject  matter  hereof.  This

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Agreement  may be executed in one or more  counterparts,  each of which shall be
deemed  an  original  but  all of  which  shall  constitute  one  and  the  same
instrument.

3.8 VIOLATION. Any transfer,  pledge, sale, assignment,  or hypothecation of the
Option or any portion  thereof made in violation of the terms of this  Agreement
shall be void and without effect.

3.9 HEADINGS.  Paragraph  headings used herein are for  convenience of reference
only and shall not be considered in construing this Agreement.

3.10 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.  In the event of any actual or threatened default in,
or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the
party or parties  who are  thereby  aggrieved  shall have the right to  specific
performance  and injunction in addition to any and all other rights and remedies
at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

3.11 NO EMPLOYMENT  RIGHTS CREATED.  The grant of the Option hereunder shall not
be construed  as giving  Optionee  the right to  continued  employment  with the
Company.

3.12 CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  The  capitalized  terms listed below are used herein
with the meaning thereafter ascribed:

          (a)  "Disability"  means (1) the  inability of Optionee to perform the
         duties of  Optionee's  employment  with the  Company due to physical or
         emotional incapacity or illness, where such inability is expected to be
         of  long-continued  and  indefinite  duration or (2) Optionee  shall be
         entitled to (i) disability retirement benefits under the federal Social
         Security Act or (ii) recover  benefits  under any long-term  disability
         plan or policy  maintained  by the Company.  In the event of a dispute,
         the determination of Disability shall be made by the Board of Directors
         and shall be supported  by advice of a physician  competent in the area
         to which such Disability relates.

         (b) "Fair Market Value" means of the  applicable  prices  selected from
         the following  alternatives  for the date as of which Fair Market Value
         is to be  determined  as quoted in the Wall Street  Journal (or in such
         other reliable  publication as the committee,  in it's discretion,  may
         determine  to rely upon):  (i) if the common stock is listed on the New
         York Stock  Exchange,  the mean of highest and lowest  sales prices per
         share  of  the  Common   Stock  as  quoted  in  the  NYSE  -  Composite
         transactions listing for such or each date, (ii) if the common Stock is
         not listed on such  exchange,  the mean of the highest and lowest sales
         prices  per share of  Common  stock for such or each date on (or on any
         composite  index  including)  the principal  United  States  Securities
         Exchange  registered  under the 1934 Act on which the  Common  Stock is
         listed,  or  (iii)  if the  Common  Stock  is not  listed  on any  such
         exchange,  the mean of the highest and lowest sales prices per share of
         the Common  Stock for such or each date on the National  Associates  of
         Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Systems or any successor system
         then in use ("NASDAQ"). If there are no such sales price quotations for
         the date as of which Fair Market  Value is to be  determined  but there
         are such sales price quotations  within a reasonable period both before
         and after such date,  then Fair  Market  Value shall be  determined  by
         taking a weighted  average of the means  between the highest and lowest
         sales  prices per share of the Common Stock as so quoted on the nearest
         date  before,  and the nearest  date  after,  the date as of which Fair
         Market  Value is to be  determined.  The  average  should  be  weighted
         inversely by the respective

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         numbers of trading  days  between the selling  dates and the date as of
         which Fair Market Value is to be determined. If there are no such sales
         price  quotations  on, or within a  reasonable  period  both before and
         after, the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, then
         Fair Market  Value of the Common  Stock  shall be the mean  between the
         bonafide  bid and asked  prices per share of Common  Stock as so quoted
         for such date on NASDAQ,  or if none, the weighted average of the means
         between such bonafide bid and asked prices on the nearest  trading date
         before,  and the nearest trading date after,  the date as of which Fair
         Market  Value is to be  determined,  if both such  dates  are  within a
         reasonable  period. If the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock cannot
         be determined on the basis set forth in this definition for the date as
         of which Fair Market Value is to be determined,  the Committee shall in
         good faith  determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such
         date.  Fair Market  Value  shall be  determined  without  regard to any
         restriction,  other than a restriction  which, by its terms, will never
         lapse.

         (c) "Transferee"  means the estate, or the executor or administrator of
         the estate, of a deceased Optionee,  or the personal  representative of
         an Optionee suffering a Disability.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first set forth above.

VALUESTAR CORPORATION

BY: /s/ JAMES STEIN
ITS: President

ATTESTED:

BY: /s/ MICHAEL KELLY
ITS: Controller

ACCEPTED:

/s/ ROBERT A. SICK
ROBERT SICK

                                       7EXHIBIT 10.20

                              VALUESTAR CORPORATION

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

               INCENTIVE AND NON-STATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

This Stock  Option  Agreement  ("Agreement")  is made and entered into as of the
Date of Grant indicated below by and between ValueStar  Corporation,  a Colorado
corporation  (the  "Company"),  and  the  person  named  below  as  Employee  or
Participant.

WHEREAS,  Employee  is an  employee  of the  Company  and/or  one or more of its
subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS,  pursuant to the  Company's  1997 Stock Option Plan (the  "Plan"),  the
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company  administering  the Plan (the
"Committee")  has approved the grant to Employee of an option to purchase shares
of the common stock,  $0.00025 par value,  of the Company (the "Common Stock" or
"Shares"), on the terms and conditions set forth herein,

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the covenants set
forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option:  Certain Terms and Conditions.  The Company hereby grants to
Employee,  and Employee  hereby  accepts,  as of the Date of Grant, an option to
purchase  the number of shares of Common  Stock  indicated  below  (the  "Option
Shares") at the Exercise  Price per share  indicated  below,  which option shall
expire at 5:00 o'clock p.m.,  California  time, on the Expiration Date indicated
below and shall be subject to all of the terms and  conditions set forth in this
Agreement (the "Option").  The Option shall become exercisable to purchase,  and
shall vest with  respect  to,  that  number of Option  Shares as provided in the
Vesting Schedule provided below.

Employee:                           ROBERT SICK

Date of Grant:                      January 28, 2000

Number of shares purchasable:       Fifteen Thousand (15,000)

Exercise Price per share:           $7.00

Expiration Date:                    January 27, 2005

Vesting Schedule: All 15,000 shares shall vest on March 31, 2000.

The first 14,000 shares that vest and become exercisable are intended as Options
intended  to qualify as an  incentive  stock  option  under  Section  422 of the
Internal Revenue Code (an "Incentive Stock Option") and consequently:

         (a) the Expiration  Date shall not be more than 10 years after the Date
         of Grant and the  Exercise  Price per share  shall not be less than the
         Fair  Market  Value (as  defined  in the Plan) per share on the Date of
         Grant; provided.  however, that if, on the Date of Grant, Employee owns
         (after application of the family and other attribution rules of Section
         425(d)  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code)  more  than  10% of the  total
         combined  voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its
         parent or subsidiary  corporations,  then the Expiration Date shall not
         be more than five years after the Date of Grant and the Exercise  Price
         per share  shall not be less  than  110% of the Fair  Market  Value per
         share on the Date of Grant; and

         (b) the  aggregate  Fair Market Value  (determined  as of the date such
         options  are  granted)  of the shares of Common  Stock with  respect to
         which  Incentive  Stock Options are  exercisable  for the first time by
         Employee  during any calendar  year (under the Plan and all other stock
         option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations)
         shall not exceed $100,000.

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The  balance  of the  shares  under  Option  are not  intended  to qualify as an
incentive  stock  option  under  Section 422 of the  Internal  Revenue  Code (an
"Incentive Stock Option").

2. Acceleration and Termination of Option.

(a) Termination of Employment.

         (i) Permanent Disability.  If Participant's Employment is Terminated by
         reason of Permanent Disability (within the meaning of Section 422(c)(6)
         of the Code) of  Participant,  then (A) the  portion of the Option that
         has  not  vested  on or  prior  to the  date  of  such  Termination  of
         Employment  shall  terminate on such date and (B) the remaining  vested
         portion  of  the  Option  shall  terminate  upon  the  earlier  of  the
         Expiration  Date  or  the  first   anniversary  of  the  date  of  such
         Termination  of  Employment.   Any  determination  by  the  Board  that
         Participant does or does not have a Permanent Disability shall be final
         and binding upon the Company and Participant.

         (ii) Death During Employment. If Participant's Employment is Terminated
         by reason of death of Employee, then (A) the portion of the Option that
         has  not  vested  on or  prior  to the  date  of  such  Termination  of
         Employment  shall  terminate on such date and (B) the remaining  vested
         portion  of  the  Option  shall  terminate  upon  the  earlier  of  the
         Expiration  Date  or  fifteen  (15)  months  after  the  date  of  such
         Termination of Employment.

         (iii) Other Termination.  If Participant's Employment is Terminated for
         no reason, or for any reason other than Retirement,  death or Permanent
         Disability,  and a Change of Control shall not have occurred within one
         year prior  thereto,  then the Option shall  terminate six months after
         such Termination of Employment.

(b) Death Following Termination of Employment.  Notwithstanding  anything to the
contrary in this  Agreement,  if Participant  shall die within not more than six
months  after  the  Termination  of his  or  her  Employment  and  prior  to the
Expiration  Date,  then (i) the  portion of the Option that has not vested on or
prior  to the  date of such  death  shall  terminate  on such  date and (ii) the
remaining  vested  portion of the Option  shall  terminate on the earlier of the
Expiration Date or fifteen (15) months after the date of such death.

(c) Merger. In the event of a merger, sale or reorganization of the Company with
or into any other  corporation or corporations or a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets or outstanding stock of the Company,  in which transaction the
Company's  stockholders  immediately  prior to such  transaction own immediately
after such transaction  less than 50% of the equity  securities of the surviving
corporation  or its  parent,  all  Options  that  have  not been  terminated  in
accordance  with the Stock Option  Agreement  that will become  vested within 48
months  of the  closing  date of such  merger,  sale or  reorganization  will be
accelerated.  In the  event  of a merger  of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation,  each outstanding  Option or Stock Purchase Right may be assumed or
an equivalent  option or right may be substituted by such successor  corporation
or a parent or subsidiary of such successor  corporation.  If, in such event, an
Option or Stock  Purchase  Right is not  assumed or  substituted,  the Option or
Stock  Purchase  Right  shall  terminate  as of the date of the  closing  of the
merger.  For the purposes of this paragraph,  the Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall be  considered  assumed  if,  following  the  merger,  the Option or Stock
Purchase  Right  confers the right to  purchase  or  receive,  for each Share of
Optioned Stock subject to the Option or Stock Purchase Right  immediately  prior
to the merger,  the consideration  (whether stock,  cash, or other securities or
property)  received in the merger by holders of Common Stock for each Share held
on the  effective  date of the  transaction  (and if the  holders  are offered a
choice of  consideration,  the type of consideration  chosen by the holders of a
majority  of the  outstanding  Shares).  If such  consideration  received in the
merger is not solely  common stock of the successor  corporation  or its Parent,
the Committee  may, with the consent of the successor  corporation,  provide for
the  consideration  to be  received  upon the  exercise  of the  Option or Stock
Purchase Right,  for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option or Stock
Purchase  Right,  to be solely common stock of the successor  corporation or its
Parent  equal in fair market  value to the per share  consideration  received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger.

(d) Other Events Causing  Acceleration  of Option.  The  Committee,  in its sole
discretion,  may accelerate the exercisability of the Option at any time and for
any reason.

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<PAGE>

(e) Other Events Causing Termination of Option.  Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement,  the Option shall terminate upon the consummation of
any of the following events, or, if later, the thirtieth day following the first
date upon which such event  shall have been  approved  by both the Board and the
shareholders of the Company:

         (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or

         (ii) a sale or lease of all or  substantially  all of the  property and
         assets of the  Company,  unless  the term of such  sale or lease  shall
         provide otherwise.

3. Adjustments.  In the event that the outstanding  securities of the class then
subject to the Option are  increased,  decreased or  exchanged  for or converted
into cash,  property and/or a different  number or kind of securities,  or cash,
property  and/or  securities  are  distributed  in respect  of such  outstanding
securities,   in  either  case  as  a  result  of  a   reorganization,   merger,
consolidation,  recapitalization,   reclassification,  dividend  (other  than  a
regular,  quarterly cash dividend) or other distribution,  stock split,  reverse
stock split or the like, or in the event that  substantially all of the property
and assets of the  Company  are sold,  then,  unless  such event shall cause the
option to terminate  pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof,  the Committee  shall make
appropriate  and  proportionate  adjustments in the number and type of shares or
other  securities or cash or other property that may thereafter be acquired upon
the exercise of the Option; provided.  however. that any such adjustments in the
Option shall be made without  changing the aggregate  Exercise Price of the then
unexercised portion of the Option.

4. Exercise.

(a) The Option shall be  exercisable  during a  Participant's  lifetime  only by
Participant  or by  his or her  guardian  or  legal  representative,  and  after
Participant's  death  only by the  person  or  entity  entitled  to do so  under
Participant's  last will and testament or applicable  intestate  law. The Option
may only be exercised by the delivery to the Company of a written notice of such
exercise, which notice shall specify the number of Option Shares to be purchased
(the "Purchased  Shares") and the aggregate  Exercise Price for such shares (the
"Exercise  Notice"),  together with payment in full of such  aggregate  Exercise
Price in cash or by  cashier's or personal  check or money order  payable to the
Company; provided,  however, that at the option of the Committee payment of such
aggregate  Exercise  Price  may  instead  be made,  in whole or in part,  by the
delivery to the Company of a certificate or certificates  representing shares of
Common Stock,  duly  endorsed or  accompanied  by a duly executed  stock powers,
which delivery effectively transfers to the Company good and valid title to such
shares,  free  and  clear  of any  pledge,  commitment,  lien,  claim  or  other
encumbrance  (such shares to be valued on the basis of the aggregate Fair Market
Value (as defined in the Plan) thereof on the date of such  exercise),  provided
that the Company is not then prohibited from purchasing or acquiring such shares
of Common Stock.

5. Payment of  Withholding  Taxes.  The exercise of any Option is subject to the
condition that if at any time the Company shall  determine,  in its  discretion,
that the satisfaction of withholding tax or other withholding  liabilities under
any federal,  state or local law is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or
in connection  with, such exercise or a later lapsing of time or restrictions on
or disposition  of the shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise,  then
in such event,  the exercise of the Option  shall not be  effective  unless such
withholding  shall have been effected or obtained in a manner  acceptable to the
Company.

6.  Notices.  All notices and other  communications  required or permitted to be
given pursuant to this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be deemed given
if delivered  personally  or five days after  mailing by certified or registered
mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Company at 1120A Ballena
Blvd., Alameda, California 95401, Attention: Jim Stein, or to Participant at the
address set forth beneath his or her signature on the signature page hereto,  or
at such other  addresses as they may  designate by written  notice in the manner
aforesaid.

7. Applicable Laws.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
no shares of stock  purchased  upon exercise of the Option,  and no  certificate
representing all or any part of such shares,  shall be issued or delivered if in
the opinion of counsel to the Company, such issuance or delivery would cause the
Company to be in violation of or to incur liability under any federal,  state or
other securities law, or any requirement of any stock exchange listing agreement
to which  the  Company  is a party,  or any other  requirement  of law or of any
administrative  or regulatory  body having  jurisdiction  over the Company.  The
issuance  of any  unregistered  Shares upon the  exercise of an Option  shall be
conditioned   upon  the  Participant   providing  to  the  Committee  a  written
representation  that,  at  the  time  of  exercise,  it is  the  intent  of  the
Participant to acquire the Shares for investment only and not with a view toward

                                       3

<PAGE>

distribution.  Any unregistered Shares shall be restricted as to transfer by the
Company unless the Company  receives an opinion of counsel  satisfactory  to the
Company to the effect that such restriction is not necessary.

8. Nontransferability.  Neither the Option nor any interest therein may be sold,
assigned,  conveyed,  gifted, pledged,  hypothecated or otherwise transferred in
any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

9. Plan. The Option is granted pursuant to the Plan, as in effect on the Date of
Grant,  and is subject to all the terms and  conditions of the Plan, as the same
may be amended  from time to time;  provided,  however,  that no such  amendment
shall deprive  Participant,  without his or her consent, of the Option or of any
of  Participant's   rights  under  this  Agreement.   The   interpretation   and
construction by the Committee of the Plan,  this Agreement,  the Option and such
rules and  regulations  as may be adopted by the  Committee  for the  purpose of
administering  the Plan shall be final and binding upon  Participant.  Until the
Option shall expire,  terminate or be exercised in full, the Company shall, upon
written request therefor,  send a copy of the Plan, in its then-current form, to
Participant or any other person or entity then entitled to exercise the Option.

10.  Shareholder  Rights. No person or entity shall be entitled to vote, receive
dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of any Option Shares until the
Option  shall  have  been duly  exercised  to  purchase  such  Option  Shares in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

11.  Unemployment or Contract  Rights.  No provision of this Agreement or of the
Option granted hereunder shall (a) confer upon Participant any right to continue
in the employ of or contract  with the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,  (b)
affect the right of the Company and each of its  subsidiaries  to terminate  the
employment or contract of Participant, with or without cause, or (c) confer upon
Participant any right to participate in any employee  welfare or benefit plan or
other  program of the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  other than the Plan.
Participant  hereby  acknowledges  and agrees  that the  Company and each of its
subsidiaries may terminate the employment or contract of Participant at any time
and for any reason, or for no reason, unless Participant and the Company or such
subsidiary are party to a written employment, consulting or other agreement that
expressly provides otherwise.

12.  Governing  Law. This Agreement and the Option  granted  hereunder  shall be
governed by and construed and enforced in accordance  with the laws of the State
of California without reference to choice or conflict of law principles.

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  and  Participant  have duly  executed  this
Agreement as of the Date of Grant.

VALUESTAR CORPORATION

/s/ JAMES STEIN
By: James Stein

Title: President and CEO

PARTICIPANT

/s/ ROBERT A. SICK
Signature

211 Alberta Ave.
San Carlos, CA  94070

                                       4

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