Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 10.19
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO
                          CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT

                                       AND

                               SIXTH AMENDMENT TO
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                            Dated as of March 3, 2000

                                      Among

                            SPECIALTY CATALOG CORP.
                        SC CORPORATION, d/b/a SC DIRECT
                              SC PUBLISHING, INC.
                        DAXBOURNE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                      and

                              FLEET NATIONAL BANK

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

               SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
                                       AND
                       SIXTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

     This SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT and SIXTH AMENDMENT
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is entered into as of March 3, 2000 by
and among SPECIALTY CATALOG CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or the
"Parent"), SC CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation d/b/a SC DIRECT ("SC Direct"),
and SC PUBLISHING, INC., a Delaware corporation ("SC Publishing") (each a "U.S.
Borrower" and collectively, the "U.S. Borrowers"), DAXBOURNE INTERNATIONAL
LIMITED, (Registered No. 3369640), a private company limited by shares formed
under the laws of England and Wales (the "U.K. Borrower") (the U.S. Borrowers
and U.K. Borrower each a "Borrower" and collectively, the "Borrowers") and FLEET
NATIONAL BANK (f/k/a BankBoston, N.A.), a national banking association (the
"Bank").

                                    Recitals

     The Borrowers and the Bank are parties to a Credit and Guaranty Agreement
dated as of March 12, 1997 (as amended, the "U.S. Credit Agreement") and a
Credit Agreement dated as of October 3, 1997 (as amended, the "U.K. Credit
Agreement") (each a "Credit Agreement" and collectively, the "Credit
Agreements"). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall
have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreements. The Borrowers desire to
amend the Credit Agreements in certain respects, including increasing the Term
Loan under the U.S. Credit Agreement, and the Bank is willing to agree to such
amendments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to
effectiveness specified in Section 4, the Borrowers and the Bank hereby amend
the Credit Agreements as follows:

         Section 1.     Amendment of Definitions. Section 1.1 of each of the
                        ------------------------
Credit Agreements is hereby amended, effective as of January 1, 2000, as
follows:

                        (a)    The definition of "Consolidated EBITDA" is hereby
                                                  -------------------
                 deleted in its entirety and a new definition substituted
                 therefor as follows:

                               "`Consolidated EBITDA' shall mean for any period
                        the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (b) all
                        amounts deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income in
                        respect of (i) interest expense on Indebtedness, (ii)
                        taxes based on or measured by income, and (iii)
                        depreciation and amortization expense, in each case for
                        the period under review; provided, however, that in
                                                 --------  -------
                        calculating Consolidated Net Income, the restructuring
                        charge incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries
                        relating to severance packages for certain senior
                        employees during the quarter ended October 2, 1999, in
                        an aggregate amount not to exceed $600,000, shall not be
                        treated as an expense during such quarter but shall be
                        treated as an expense in the future quarters as and when
                        such severance amounts are paid in cash or property and
                        the charge incurred by the Company associated with the
                        termination of the "Paula's Hatbox" line of business
                        during the quarter ended January 1, 2000 up to
                        $1,800,000, shall not be treated as an expense; and
                        provided, further, that in calculating Consolidated
                        --------  -------
                        EBITDA for any period through the third quarter of 2000
                        for the purposes of Sections 7.1 and 7.3 hereto, there
                        shall be included an assumed $125,000 of net income from
                        operations of American Healthcare Institute, Inc.
                        ("AHI") for each quarter of operations of AHI through
                        the third quarter of 1999 of the Borrowers."
<PAGE>

                        (b)   A new definition of "Seventh Amendment" shall be
                                                   -----------------
                 added in alphabetical order, as follows:

                              ""Seventh Amendment" shall mean the Seventh
                        Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Sixth
                        Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of March 3, 2000
                        by and among the Borrowers and the Bank."

         Section 2.     Amendment of Covenants. Section 7.3 of each of the
                        ----------------------
Credit Agreements is hereby amended by deleting paragraph (b) thereof in its
entirety and substituting therefor the following:

                              "(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall earn
                 Consolidated EBITDA of not less than (i) $750,000 in each first
                 fiscal quarter, commencing with the first fiscal quarter of
                 2000, (ii) $1,900,000 in each second fiscal quarter, commencing
                 with the second fiscal quarter of 2000, (iii) $1,200,000 in
                 each third fiscal quarter, commencing with the third fiscal
                 quarter of 2000, and (iv) $1,800,000 in each fourth fiscal
                 quarter, commencing with the fourth fiscal quarter of 2000."

         Section 3.     Effectiveness: Conditions to Effectiveness. This Seventh
                        ------------------------------------------
Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement and Sixth Amendment to Credit
Agreement shall become effective as of the date set forth above upon execution
hereof by the Borrowers and the Bank and satisfaction of the following
conditions:

         (a)            Officers' Certificate. The Borrowers shall have
                        ---------------------
delivered to the Bank an Officers' Certificate in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
                                                              ---------

         (b)            Fee. The Borrowers shall have paid to the Bank a fee of
                        ---
$10,000, which fee shall be earned in full by the Bank upon its execution
hereof.

         Section 4.     Representations and Warranties: No Default. The U.S.
                        ------------------------------------------
Borrowers hereby confirm to the Bank the representations and warranties of the
U.S. Borrowers set forth in Article 5 of the U.S. Credit Agreement as amended as
of the date hereof, as if set forth herein in full (provided, however, that
                                                    --------  -------
references therein to the 1996 Financial Statements, shall be deemed to refer to
the 1998 Financial Statements; and provided, further, that the representation
                                   --------  -------
contained in Section 5.12 of the U.S. Credit Agreement is qualified to the
extent of the following changes which have been notified to the Bank prior to
the date hereof: (i) the acquisition of assets of the American Healthcare
Institute, Inc., (ii) the closing of the "Paula's Hatbox" line of business, and
(iii) the notice of proposed resignation of Steven L. Bock as a full-time
employee of the Borrowers). The U.K. Borrower hereby confirms to the Bank the
representations and warranties of the U.K. Borrower set forth in Article 5 of
the U.K. Credit Agreement as amended as of the date hereof, as if set forth
herein in full (provided, however, that references therein to the 1996 Financial
Statements, shall be deemed to refer to the 1998 Financial Statements; and
provided, further, that the representation contained in the section 5.12 of the
--------  -------
U.K. Credit Agreement is qualified to the extent of the following changes which
have been notified to the Bank prior to the date thereof: (i) the acquisition of
assets of American Healthcare Institute, Inc., (ii) the closing of the "Paula's
Hatbox" line of business, and (iii) the notice of proposed resignation of Steven
L. Bock as a full-time employee of the Borrowers). The Borrowers acknowledge
that if Steven L. Bock ceases to serve actively as a full-time employee of the
U.S. Borrowers, it will constitute an Event of Default as provided in and in
accordance with Section 10.1(h) of each of the Credit Agreements unless
expressly waived in writing by the Bank within ninety (90) days of the
occurrence of such cessation of active full-time employment. The Borrowers
hereby certify that no Default exists under the Credit Agreements.

         Section 5.     Miscellaneous. The Borrowers agree to pay on demand all
                        -------------
the Bank's reasonable expenses in preparing, executing and delivering this
Amendment, and all related instruments and documents, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the Bank's special
counsel, Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP. This Amendment shall be a Bank Agreement
under each of the Credit Agreements and shall be governed by and construed and
enforced under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (except to the
extent it effects any amendment of the U.K. Credit Agreement, as to which
English law shall apply).
<PAGE>

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The U.S. Borrowers, the U.K. Borrower and the
Bank have caused this Seventh Amendment to Credit and Guaranty Agreement and
Sixth Amendment to Credit Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized
officers as of the date first set forth above.

                                                SPECIALTY CATALOG CORP.

                                                By:      /s/ Steven L. Bock
                                                         ------------------
                                                Name:    Steven L. Bock
                                                Title:   CEO

                                                SC CORPORATION d/b/a SC DIRECT

                                                By:      /s/ Steven L. Bock
                                                         ------------------
                                                Name:    Steven L. Bock
                                                Title:   CEO

                                                SC PUBLISHING, INC.

                                                By:      /s/ Steven L. Bock
                                                         ------------------
                                                Name:    Steven L. Bock
                                                Title:   CEO

                                                DAXBOURNE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

                                                By:      /s/ Steven L. Bock
                                                         ------------------
                                                Name:    Steven L. Bock
                                                Title:   CEO

                                                FLEET NATIONAL BANK

                                                By:      /s/ John Sharry
                                                         ---------------
                                                Name:    John Sharry
                                                Title:   Vice President
<PAGE>

                         ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GUARANTOR

     The undersigned, Guarantor of all bank Obligations pursuant to an Unlimited
Guaranty dated as of December 30, 1997, hereby acknowledges and consents to the
foregoing.

                                              SC LICENSING CORP.

                                              By:      /s/ Steven L. Bock
                                                       ------------------
                                              Name:    Steven L. Bock
                                              Title:   CEO<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT 10.2

                          SIGHT RESOURCE CORPORATION

           1992 EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT STOCK OPTION PLAN

                          (As Amended December 1999)

1.   DEFINITIONS AND PURPOSES.
     ------------------------

     A.   Definitions

          Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires,
     the following terms, as used in this Sight Resource Corporation 1992
     Employee, Director and Consultant Stock Option Plan, have the following
     meanings:

     1.   Administrator means the Board of Directors, unless it has delegated
          -------------
          power to act on its behalf to a committee. (See Article 3)

     2.   Affiliate means a corporation which, for purposes of Section 424 of
          ---------
          the Code, is a parent or subsidiary of the Company, direct or
          indirect.

     3.   Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
          ------------------

     4.   Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          ----
          amended.

     5.   Committee means the Committee to which the Board of Directors has
          ---------
          delegated power to act under or pursuant to the provisions of the
          Plan.

     6.   Company means Sight Resource Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
          -------

     7.   Disability or Disabled means permanent and total disability as defined
          ----------    --------
          in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

     8.   Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock means:
          -----------------

          (a)  If such Shares are then listed on any national securities
          exchange, the fair market value shall be the last sale price, if any,
          on the largest such exchange on the date of the grant of the Option,
          or, if none, on the most recent trade date thirty (30) days or less
          prior to the date of the grant of the Option;

          (b)  If the Shares are not then listed on any such exchange, the fair
          market value of such Shares shall be the last sale price, if any, as
          reported in the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
<PAGE>

          Quotation System (NASDAQ) for the date of the grant of the Options, or
          if none, for the most recent trade date thirty (30) days or less prior
          to the date of the grant of the Option;

          (c)  If the Shares are not then either listed on any such exchange or
          quoted in NASDAQ, the fair market value shall be the mean between the
          average of the "Bid" and the average of the "Ask" prices, if any, as
          reported in the National Daily Quotation Service for the date of the
          grant of the option, or, if none, for the most recent trade date
          thirty (30) days or less prior to the date of the grant of the Option
          for which such quotations are reported; and

          (d)  If the market value cannot be determined under the preceding
          three paragraphs, it shall be determined in good faith by the Board of
          Directors.

     9.   ISO means an option meant to qualify as an incentive stock option
          ---
          under Code Section 422.

     10.  Key Employee means an employee of the Company or of an Affiliate
          ------------
          (including, without limitation, an employee who is also serving as an
          officer or director of the Company or of an Affiliate), designated by
          the Administrator to be eligible to be granted one or more Options
          under the Plan.

     11.  Non-Qualified Option means an option which is not intended to qualify
          --------------------
          as an ISO.

     12.  Option means an ISO or Non-Qualified Option granted under the Plan.
          ------

     13.  Option Agreement means an agreement between the Company and a
          ----------------
          Participant executed and delivered pursuant to the Plan, in such form
          as the Administrator shall approve.

     14.  Participant means a Key Employee, director or consultant to whom one
          -----------
          or more Options are granted under the Plan.

     15.  Participant's Survivors means a deceased Participant's legal
          -----------------------
          representatives and/or any person or persons who acquired the
          Participant's rights to an Option by will or by the laws of descent
          and distribution.

     16.  Plan means this Restated Stock Option Plan.
          ----

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

     17.  Shares means shares of the common stock, $.01 par value, of the
          ------
          Company ("Common Stock") as to which Options have been or may be
          granted under the Plan or any shares of capital stock into which the
          Shares are changed or for which they are exchanged within the
          provisions of Article 2 of the Plan.  The shares issued upon exercise
          of Options granted under the Plan may be authorized and unissued
          shares or shares held by the Company in its treasury, or both.

B.   Purposes of the Plan

     The Plan is intended to encourage ownership of Shares by Key Employees,
non-employee directors and certain consultants of the Company in order to
attract such people, to induce them to work for the benefit of the Company or of
an Affiliate and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success
of the Company or of an Affiliate. The Plan provides for the issuance of ISOs
and Non-Qualified Options.

2.   SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
     --------------------------

     The number of Shares subject to this Plan as to which Options may be
granted from time to time shall be 1,850,000, or the equivalent of such number
of Shares after the Administrator, in its sole discretion, has interpreted the
effect of any stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or
similar transaction effected after such date in accordance with Paragraph 16 of
the Plan.

     If an Option ceases to be "outstanding", in whole or in part, the Shares
which were subject to such Option shall be available for the granting of other
Options under the Plan. Any Option shall be treated as "outstanding" until such
Option is exercised in full, or terminates or expires under the provisions of
the Plan, or by agreement of the parties to the pertinent Option Agreement.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

3.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
     --------------------------

     The Administrator of the Plan will be the Board of Directors, except to the
extent the Board of Directors delegates its authority to a Committee of the
Board of Directors.  The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 or its
successors, promulgated pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") with respect to Participants who are subject
to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, and any provision in this Plan with respect to
such persons contrary to Rule 16b-3 shall be deemed null and void to the extent
permissible by law and deemed appropriate by the Administrator.  Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Administrator is authorized to:

     a.   Interpret the provisions of the Plan or of any Option or Option
          Agreement and to make all rules and determinations which it deems
          necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan;

     b.   Determine which employees of the Company or of an Affiliate shall be
          designated as Key Employees and which of the Key Employees, directors
          and consultants shall be granted Options;

     c.   Determine the number of Shares for which an Option or Options shall be
          granted; and

     d.   Specify the terms and conditions upon which an Option or Options may
          be granted;

     provided, however, that all such interpretations, rules, determinations,
     terms and conditions shall be made and prescribed in the context of
     preserving the tax status under Code Section 422 of those Options which are
     designated as ISOs. Subject to the foregoing, the interpretation and
     construction by the Administrator of any provisions of the Plan or of any
     Option granted under it shall be final, unless otherwise determined by the
     Board of Directors, if the Administrator is other than the Board of
     Directors.

4.   ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.
     -----------------------------

     The Administrator will, in its sole discretion, name the Participants in
the Plan, provided, however, that each Participant must be a Key Employee,
director or consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate at the time an Option
is granted. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions, the Administrator
may authorize the grant of an Option to a person not then an employee, director
or consultant of the Company or of

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

an Affiliate. The actual grant of such Option, however, shall be conditioned
upon such person becoming eligible to become a Participant at or prior to the
time of the execution of the Option Agreement evidencing such Option. ISOs may
be granted only to Key Employees. Non-Qualified Options may be granted to any
Key Employee, director or consultant of the Company or an Affiliate. Granting of
any Option to any individual shall neither entitle that individual to, nor
disqualify him or her from, participation in any other grant of Options. In no
event shall any Participant be granted, in any consecutive three year period,
options to purchase more than 400,000 shares pursuant to the Plan.

5.   TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
     -------------------------------

     Each Option shall be set forth in an Option Agreement, duly executed by the
Company and by the Participant.  The Option Agreements, which may be changed in
the Administrator's discretion for any particular Participant (provided that any
change in the Incentive Stock Option Agreement is not inconsistent with Code
Section 422), shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

     Non-Qualified Options: Each Option intended to be a Non- Qualified Option
     ---------------------
     shall be subject to the terms and conditions which the Administrator
     determines to be appropriate and in the best interest of the Company,
     subject to the following minimum standards for any such Non-Qualified
     Option:

     a.   The Option Agreement shall be in writing in the form approved by the
          Administrator, with such modifications to such form as the
          Administrator shall approve;

     b.   Option Price: The option price (per share) of the Shares covered by
          each Option shall be determined by the Administrator but shall not be
          less than the par value per share of the Shares on the date of the
          grant of the Option.

     c.   Each Option Agreement shall state the number of Shares to which it
          pertains; and

     d.   Each Option Agreement shall state the date on which it first is
          exercisable and the date after which it may no longer be exercised.
          Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, each Option
          granted hereunder shall become cumulatively exercisable in four (4)
          equal annual installments of twenty-five percent (25%) each,
          commencing on the first anniversary date of the Option

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

          Agreement executed by the Company and the Participant with respect to
          such Option, and continuing on each of the next three (3) anniversary
          dates.

     e.   Each Option shall terminate not more than 10 (ten) years from the date
          of grant thereof or at such earlier time as the Option Agreement may
          provide.

     f.   Directors' Options:  Each director of the Company who is not an
          ------------------
          employee of the Company or any Affiliate, immediately after each
          Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, provided that on such
          dates such director has been in the continued and uninterrupted
          service of the Company as a director for a period of at least one year
          prior to the date of such annual meeting and is and was a director and
          was and is not an employee of the Company at such times, shall be
          granted a Non-Qualified Option to purchase 5,000 Shares.  Each such
          Option shall (i) have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value
          (per share) of the Shares on the date of grant of the Option, (ii)
          have a term of ten (10) years, and (iii) shall become cumulatively
          exercisable in two (2) equal annual installments of fifty percent
          (50%) each, upon the first and second anniversary of the date of
          grant, provided that on such dates such director has been in the
          continued and uninterrupted service of the Company as a director and
          not an employee since the date of grant.  Any director entitled to
          receive an Option grant under this subparagraph (f) may elect to
          decline the Option.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 23
          concerning amendment of the Plan, the provisions of this subparagraph
          (f) shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than
          to comport with changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income
          Security Act, or the rules thereunder.  The provisions of Articles 9,
          10, 11 and 12 below shall not apply to Options granted pursuant to
          this subparagraph (f).

     ISOs: Each Option intended to be an ISO shall be issued only to a Key
     ----
     Employee and be subject to at least the following terms and conditions,
     with such additional restrictions or changes as the Administrator
     determines are appropriate but not in conflict with Code Section 422 and
     relevant regulations and rulings of the Internal Revenue Service:

     a.   Minimum standards:  The ISO shall meet the minimum standards for Non-
          Qualified Options, as described above, except clauses (a), (b) and (e)
          thereunder.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

     b.   Option Agreement:  The Option Agreement for an ISO shall be in writing
          in substantially the form as approved by the Administrator, with such
          changes to such form as the Administrator shall approve, provided any
          changes are not inconsistent with Code Section 422.

     c.   Option Price:  Immediately before the Option is granted, if the
          Participant owns, directly or by reason of the applicable attribution
          rules in Code Section 424(d):

          i.     Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting power of
                                   -------
                 all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
                 the Option price per share of the Shares covered by each Option
                 shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
                 Market Value per share of the Shares on the date of the grant
                 of the Option.

          ii.    More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
                 of all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
                 the Option price per share of the Shares covered by each Option
                 shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the
                 said Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

     d.   Term of Option:  For Participants who own

          i.     Ten percent (10%) or less of the total combined voting power of
                                   -------
                 all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
                 each Option shall terminate not more than ten (10) years from
                 the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option
                 Agreement may provide;

          ii.    More than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
                 of all classes of share capital of the Company or an Affiliate,
                 each Option shall terminate not more than five (5) years from
                 the date of the grant or at such earlier time as the Option
                 Agreement may provide.

     e.   Limitation on Yearly Exercise:  The Option Agreements shall restrict
          the amount of Options which may be exercisable in any calendar year
          (under this or any other ISO plan of the Company or an Affiliate) so
          that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time each ISO
          is granted) of the stock with respect to which ISOs are exercisable
          for the first time by the Participant in any calendar year does not
          exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), provided that this

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

          subparagraph (e) shall have no force or effect if its inclusion in the
          Plan is not necessary for Options issued as ISOs to qualify as ISOs
          pursuant to Section 422(d) of the Code.

     f.   Limitation on Grant of ISOs:  No ISOs shall be granted after the
          expiration of the earlier of ten (10) years from the date of the
                            -------
          adoption of the Plan by the Company or the approval of the Plan by the
          shareholders of the Company.

6.   EXERCISE OF OPTION AND ISSUE OF SHARES.
     --------------------------------------

     An Option (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving
written notice to the Company at its principal office address, together with
provision for payment of the full purchase price in accordance with this
paragraph for the shares as to which such Option is being exercised, and upon
compliance with any other condition(s) set forth in the Option Agreement. Such
written notice shall be signed by the person exercising the Option, shall state
the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and
shall contain any representation required by the Plan or the Option Agreement.
Payment of the purchase price for the shares as to which such Option is being
exercised shall be made (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check, or (b)
at the discretion of the Administrator, through delivery of shares of Common
Stock having a Fair Market Value equal as of the date of the exercise to the
cash exercise price of the Option, (c) at the discretion of the Administrator,
by delivery of the grantee's personal recourse note bearing interest payable not
less than annually at no less than 100% of the applicable Federal rate, as
defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code, (d) at the discretion of the
Administrator, in accordance with a cashless exercise program established with a
securities brokerage firm, and approved by the Administrator, or (e) at the
discretion of the Administrator, by any combination of (a), (b), (c) and (d)
above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator shall accept only such
payment on exercise of an ISO as is permitted by Section 422 of the Code.

     The Company shall then reasonably promptly deliver the Shares as to which
such Option was exercised to the Participant (or to the Participant's Survivors,
as the case may be). In determining what constitutes "reasonably promptly," it
is expressly understood that the delivery of the Shares may be delayed by the
Company in order to comply with any law or regulation which requires the Company
to take any action with respect to the Shares prior to their issuance. The
Shares shall, upon delivery, be evidenced by an appropriate certificate or
certificates for paid-up non-assessable Shares.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

     The Administrator shall have the right to accelerate the date of exercise
of any installment of any Option; provided that the Administrator shall not
accelerate the exercise date of any installment of any Option granted to any Key
Employee as an ISO (and not previously converted into a Non-Qualified Option
pursuant to Article 18) if such acceleration would violate the annual vesting
limitation contained in Section 422(d) of the Code, as described in paragraph
5(e).

7.   RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
     -----------------------

     No Participant to whom an Option has been granted shall have rights as a
shareholder with respect to any Shares covered by such Option, except after due
exercise of the Option and provision for payment of the full purchase price for
the Shares being purchased pursuant to such exercise.

8.   ASSIGNABILITY AND TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.
     --------------------------------------------

     By its terms, an Option granted to a Participant shall not be transferable
by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder,
and shall be exercisable, during the Participant's lifetime, only by such
Participant (or by his or her legal representative). Such Option shall not be
assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation of law or
otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.
Any attempted transfer, assignment, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition
of any Option or of any rights granted thereunder contrary to the provisions of
this Plan, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon an Option,
shall be null and void.

9.   EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE OTHER THAN "FOR CAUSE".
     -------------------------------------------------------

     Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, in the
event of a termination of service (whether as an employee or consultant) before
the Participant has exercised all Options, the following rules apply:

     a.   A Participant who ceases to be an employee or consultant of the
          Company or of an Affiliate (for any reason other than termination "for
          cause", Disability, or death for which events there are special rules
          in Articles 10, 11, and 12, respectively), may exercise

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

          any Option granted to him or her to the extent that the right to
          purchase Shares has accrued on the date of such termination of
          service, but only within such term as the Administrator has designated
          in the pertinent Option Agreement.

     b.   In no event may an Option Agreement provide, if the Option is intended
          to be an ISO, that the time for exercise be later than three (3)
          months after the Participant's termination of employment.

     c.   The provisions of this paragraph, and not the provisions of Article 11
          or 12, shall apply to a Participant who subsequently becomes disabled
          or dies after the termination of employment, or consultancy, provided,
          however, in the case of a Participant's death, the Participant's
          survivors may exercise the Option within six (6) months after the date
          of the Participant's death, but in no event after the date of
          expiration of the term of the Option.

     d.   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if subsequent to a
          Participant's termination of employment or consultancy, but prior to
          the exercise of an Option, the Board of Directors determines that,
          either prior or subsequent to the Participant's termination, the
          Participant engaged in conduct which would constitute "cause", then
          such Participant shall forthwith cease to have any right to exercise
          any Option.

     e.   A Participant to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan who is
          absent from work with the Company or with an Affiliate because of
          temporary disability (any disability other than a permanent and total
          Disability as defined in Article 1 hereof), or who is on leave of
          absence for any purpose, shall not, during the period of any such
          absence, be deemed, by virtue of such absence alone, to have
          terminated such Participant's employment or consultancy with the
          Company or with an Affiliate, except as the Administrator may
          otherwise expressly provide.

     f.   Options granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of
          employment or other service within or among the Company and any
          Affiliates, so long as the Participant continues to be an employee or
          consultant of the Company or any Affiliate, provided, however, if a
          Participant's employment by either the Company or an Affiliate should
          cease (other than to become an employee of an Affiliate or the
          Company), such termination shall affect the Participant's rights under

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

          any Option granted to such Participant in accordance with the terms of
          the Plan and the pertinent Option Agreement.

10.  EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE "FOR CAUSE".
     --------------------------------------------

     Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, the
following rules apply if the Participant's service (whether as an employee or
consultant) is terminated "for cause" prior to the time that all of his or her
outstanding Options have been exercised:

     a.   All outstanding and unexercised Options as of the date the Participant
          is notified his or her service is terminated "for cause" will
          immediately be forfeited, unless the Option Agreement provides
          otherwise.

     b.   For purposes of this Article, "cause" shall include (and is not
          limited to) dishonesty with respect to the employer, insubordination,
          substantial malfeasance or non-feasance of duty, unauthorized
          disclosure of confidential information, and conduct substantially
          prejudicial to the business of the Company or any Affiliate.  The
          determination of the Administrator as to the existence of cause will
          be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

     c.   "Cause" is not limited to events which have occurred prior to a
          Participant's termination of service, nor is it necessary that the
          Administrator's finding of "cause" occur prior to termination.  If the
          Administrator determines, subsequent to a Participant's termination of
          service but prior to the exercise of an Option, that either prior or
          subsequent to the Participant's termination the Participant engaged in
          conduct which would constitute "cause", then the right to exercise any
          Option is forfeited.

     d.   Any definition in an agreement between the Participant and the Company
          or an Affiliate, which contains a conflicting definition of "cause"
          for termination and which is in effect at the time of such
          termination, shall supersede the definition in this Plan with respect
          to such Participant.

11.  EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE FOR DISABILITY.
     -----------------------------------------------

     Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, a
Participant who ceases to be an employee of or

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

consultant to the Company or of an Affiliate by reason of Disability may
exercise any Option granted to such Participant:

     a.   To the extent that the right to purchase Shares has accrued on the
          date of his Disability; and

     b.   In the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the
          extent of a pro rata portion of such rights based upon the number of
          days prior to such Participant's Disability and during the accrual
          period which next ends following the date of Disability.

     A Disabled Participant may exercise such rights only within a period of not
more than one (1) year after the date that the Participant became Disabled or,
if earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.

     The Administrator shall make the determination both of whether Disability
has occurred and the date of its occurrence (unless a procedure for such
determination is set forth in another agreement between the Company and such
Participant, in which case such procedure shall be used for such determination).
If requested, the Participant shall be examined by a physician selected or
approved by the Administrator, the cost of which examination shall be paid for
by the Company.

12.  EFFECT OF DEATH WHILE AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT.
     -----------------------------------------------

     Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Option Agreement, in the
event of the death of a Participant to whom an Option has been granted while the
Participant is an employee or consultant of the Company or of an Affiliate, such
Option may be exercised by the Participant's Survivors:

     a.   To the extent exercisable but not exercised on the date of death; and

     b.   In the event rights to exercise the Option accrue periodically, to the
          extent of a pro rata portion of such rights based upon the number of
          days prior to the Participant's death and during the accrual period
          which next ends following the date of death;

     If the Participant's Survivors wish to exercise the Option, they must take
all necessary steps to exercise the Option within one (1) year after the date of
death of such Participant, notwithstanding that the decedent might have been
able to exercise the Option as to some or all of the Shares on a later date if
he or she had not died and had continued to be an employee or consultant or, if
earlier, within the originally prescribed term of the Option.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

13.  TERMINATION OF DIRECTORS' OPTION RIGHTS.
     ---------------------------------------

     Except as otherwise provided in the pertinent Non-Qualified Option
Agreement, if a director who receives Options pursuant to Article 5,
subparagraph (f):

     a.   ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Company for any
          reason other than death or disability, any then unexercised Options
          granted to such Director may be exercised by the director within a
          period of ninety (90) days after the date the director ceases to be a
          member of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent of the number
          of shares with respect to which the Options are exercisable on the
          date the director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors, and
          in no event later than the expiration date of the Option; or,

     b.   ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Company by
          reason of his or her death or Disability, any then unexercised Options
          granted to such Director may be exercised by the director (or by the
          director's personal representative, heir or legatee, in the event of
          death) within a period of one hundred eighty (180) days after the date
          the director ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors, but only
          to the extent of the number of Shares with respect to which the
          Options are exercisable on the date the director ceases to be a member
          of the Board of Directors, and in no event later than the expiration
          date of the Option.

14.  PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.
     -----------------------

     Unless the offering and sale of the Shares to be issued upon the particular
exercise of an Option shall have been effectively registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended (the "Act"), the
Company shall be under no obligation to issue the Shares covered by such
exercise unless and until the following conditions have been fulfilled:

     a.   The person(s) who exercise such Option shall warrant to the Company,
          prior to receipt of the Shares, that such person(s) are acquiring such
          Shares for their own respective accounts, for investment, and not with
          a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any
          such Shares, in which event the person(s) acquiring such Shares shall
          be bound by the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

          provisions of the following legend which shall be endorsed upon the
          certificate(s) evidencing their Shares issued pursuant to such
          exercise or such grant:

               "The shares represented by this certificate have been taken for
               investment and they may not be sold or otherwise transferred by
               any person, including a pledgee, in the absence of an effective
               registration statement of the shares under the Securities Act of
               1933 or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company that an
               exemption from registration is then available."

     b.   The Company shall have received an opinion of its counsel that the
          Shares may be issued upon such particular exercise in compliance with
          the Act without registration thereunder.

     The Company may delay issuance of the Shares until completion of any action
or obtaining of any consent which the Company deems necessary under any
applicable law (including, without limitation, state securities or "blue sky"
laws).

15.  DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.
     -----------------------------------------

     Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all Options granted
under this Plan which as of such date shall not have been exercised will
terminate and become null and void; provided, however, that if the rights of a
Participant or a Participant's Survivors have not otherwise terminated and
expired, the Participant or the Participant's Survivors will have the right
immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise any Option to
the extent that the right to purchase Shares has accrued under the Plan as of
the date immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation.

16.  ADJUSTMENTS.
     -----------

     Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, a Participant's rights
with respect to any Option granted to him or her hereunder which have not
previously been exercised in full shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided,
unless otherwise specifically provided in the written agreement between the
optionee and the Company relating to such Option:

     A.   Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the shares of Common Stock shall
          --------------------------------
be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the
Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its
outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon
the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

exercise of such Option shall be appropriately increased or decreased
proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price
per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

     B.   Consolidations or Mergers. If the Company is to be consolidated with
          -------------------------
or acquired by another entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets or otherwise (an "Acquisition"), the Administrator or the
board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company
hereunder (the "Successor Board"), shall, as to outstanding Options, either (i)
make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Options by substituting
on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Options the
consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in
connection with the Acquisition or securities of any successor or acquiring
entity; or (ii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide that all Options
must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of
days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Options shall
terminate; or (iii) terminate all Options in exchange for a cash payment equal
to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to such Options (to
the extent then exercisable) over the exercise price thereof.

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

     D.   Modification of ISOs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments
          --------------------
made pursuant to subparagraphs A, B or C with respect to ISOs shall be made only
after the Administrator, after consulting with counsel for the Company,
determines whether such adjustments would constitute a "modification" of such
ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424(h) of the Code) or would cause any
adverse tax consequences for the holders of such ISOs. If the Administrator
determines that such adjustments made with respect to ISOs would constitute a
modification of such ISOs, it may refrain from making such adjustments, unless
the holder of an ISO specifically requests in writing that such adjustment be
made and such writing indicates that the holder has full knowledge of the
consequences of such "modification" on his or her income tax treatment with
respect to the ISO.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

17.  ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES.
     -----------------------

     Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares
of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any
class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Options. Except as
expressly provided herein, no adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in
cash or in property (including without limitation, securities) of the Company.

18.  FRACTIONAL SHARES.
     -----------------

     No fractional share shall be issued under the Plan and the person
exercising such right shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such
fractional share equal to the Fair Market Value thereof.

19.  CONVERSION OF ISOs INTO NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS: TERMINATION OF ISOs.
     ------------------------------------------------------------------

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

20.  WITHHOLDING.
     -----------

     Upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Option for less than its fair market
value, the making of a Disqualifying Disposition (as defined in paragraph 21) or
the vesting of restricted Common Stock acquired on the exercise of an Option
hereunder, the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

Company may withhold from the optionee's wages, if any, or other remuneration,
or may require the optionee to pay additional federal, state, and local income
tax withholding and employee contributions to employment taxes in respect of the
amount that is considered compensation includible in such person's gross income.
Such amounts may be payable in Common Stock at the discretion of the Committee
(if permitted by law), provided that with respect to persons subject to Section
16 of the 1934 Act, any such withholding arrangement shall be in compliance with
any applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16 of the 1934
Act. The Administrator in its discretion may condition the exercise of an Option
for less than its fair market value or the vesting of restricted Common Stock
acquired by exercising an Option on the grantee's payment of such additional
income tax withholding and employee contributions to employment taxes.

21.  NOTICE TO COMPANY OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.
     ----------------------------------------------

     Each Key Employee who receives an ISO must agree to notify the Company in
writing immediately after the Key Employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of
any shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO. A Disqualifying
Disposition is any disposition (including any sale) of such shares before the
later of (a) two years after the date the Key Employee was granted the ISO, or
(b) one year after the date the Key Employee acquired shares by exercising the
ISO. If the Key Employee has died before such stock is sold, these holding
period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur
thereafter.

22.  TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
     -----------------------

     Except as provided in the following sentence, the Plan will terminate on
November 30, 2002. The Plan may be terminated at an earlier date by vote of the
stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that any such earlier
termination will not affect any Options granted or Option Agreements executed
prior to the effective date of such termination.

23.  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
     ---------------------

     The Plan may be amended by the stockholders of the Company. The Plan may
also be amended by the Administrator, including, without limitation, to the
extent necessary to qualify any or all outstanding ISOs granted under the Plan
or ISOs to be granted under the Plan for favorable federal income tax treatment
(including deferral of taxation upon exercise) as may be afforded incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code, to the

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

extent necessary to ensure the compliance of the Plan with Rule 16b-3 under the
1934 Act, and to the extent necessary to qualify the shares issuable upon
exercise of any outstanding options granted, or options to be granted, under the
Plan for listing on any national securities exchange or quotation in any
national automated quotation system of securities dealers. Any amendment
approved by the Administrator which is of a scope that requires stockholder
approval in order to ensure favorable federal income tax treatment for any
incentive stock options or requires stockholder approval in order to ensure the
qualification of the Plan under Rule 16b-3 shall be subject to obtaining such
stockholder approval. Any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not,
without the consent of an optionee, adversely affect his or her rights under an
option previously granted to him or her. With the consent of the optionee
affected, the Administrator may amend outstanding option agreements in a manner
not inconsistent with the Plan.

24.  EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER RELATIONSHIP.
     --------------------------------

     Nothing in this Plan or any Option Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the
Company or an Affiliate from terminating the employment, consultancy or director
status of a Participant, nor to prevent a Participant from terminating his or
her own employment, consultancy or director status or to give any Participant a
right to be retained in employment or other service by the Company or any
Affiliate for any period of time.

25.  GOVERNING LAW.
     -------------

     This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the law
of the State of Delaware.

                                      -18-

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