Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.30

January 12, 2001

Asuri S. Raghavan
18889 Bellgrove Circle
Saratoga, CA 95070

Dear Asuri:

I am pleased to offer you the position of Executive Vice-President of the
Surface Integrity Group reporting to Rick Hill, Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer.

Your starting salary will be $27,500.00 per month, which when annualized is
$330,000. In addition to this, an Incentive Stock Option (ISO) of 300,000 shares
will be available to you subject to approval by the Board of Directors. These
options will vest 25% per year over a four (4) year period beginning on your
start date. Your entitlement to any stock options that may be approved is, of
course, conditioned upon your signing of the applicable Stock Option Agreement
and Plan and subject to the terms thereof.

Your existing GaSonics options in the amount of 400,000 shares will convert to
Novellus options on a pro-rata basis at a rate of .52 Novellus shares for each
share of GaSonics, in accordance with the definitive merger agreement between
Novellus and GaSonics dated October 25, 2000. These converted shares will vest
in accordance with the vesting schedule currently in force at GaSonics.

You also will be eligible to participate in the Novellus Bonus Program, subject
to its terms. Under the Program, you will be eligible for a target amount of
100% of base salary contingent upon successful completion of company, business
unit and personal performance objectives. On-going participation in the Program
is subject to annual review by the Executive Staff and Compensation Committee.

You will receive a one-time hire-on bonus in the amount of $100,000.00 less
applicable taxes, in your first paycheck. If you voluntarily terminate your
employment with Novellus before your one-year anniversary with Novellus, you
agree to repay the full amount of the sign-on bonus.

You also will be eligible for one (1) of the benefits detailed below:

1)   The Change of Control benefits described in Section 9) of your March 3,
     1998 GaSonics International offer letter in the event your employment from
     Novellus is terminated other than for cause or you resign for good reason,
     within twelve (12) months of continuous service.

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2)   If you resign for good reason or if Novellus terminates your employment
     other than for cause after at least one (1) year of continuous service, you
     will be eligible for:

     a)   For two (2) years after your resignation date, base salary
          continuation and an annual bonus payment up to 100% of your total
          target bonus amount. Continued vesting of 150,000 shares of the
          Incentive Stock Option of 300,000 shares described above for two (2)
          years.

     b)   Continued vesting for two (2) years of any stock option grants that
          you received during your employment in addition to the Incentive Stock
          Option of 300,000 shares described above.

3)   If you resign for good reason or if Novellus terminates your employment
     other than for cause after at least two (2) years of continuous service,
     you will be eligible for:

     a)   For two (2) years after your resignation date, base salary
          continuation and an annual bonus payment up to 100% of your total
          target bonus amount. Continued vesting of the Incentive Stock Option
          of 300,000 shares described above for two (2) years or until fully
          vested, whichever occurs first.

     b)   Continued vesting for two (2) years of any stock option grants that
          you received in addition to the Incentive Stock Option of 300,000
          shares described above.

Novellus has an excellent benefits program including health, dental, vision,
life and long term disability insurance coverage. Novellus will pay one hundred
percent of the cost of your coverage and a portion for your dependents in
accordance with the terms of the benefits program in question.

This offer of employment is contingent upon your: (1) completion of the Novellus
Employment Application; (2) signing of the Novellus Proprietary Information
Agreement; (3) signing of the Novellus Employment Practices Acknowledgement; and
(4) providing verification of your eligibility for employment in the United
States. A Novellus Application and an Employment Eligibility Verification form
are enclosed to assist you in providing the information to Novellus on your
first day of work.

Novellus is an at-will employer, which means that either you or the Company has
the right to terminate employment at any time, with or without advance notice,
and with or without cause, for any reason or no reason.

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This offer letter is the full and complete statement of the parties
understanding, supersedes any other communication, whether verbal or written,
regarding your employment and only can be modified by a writing signed by you
and an Officer of the Company (or his or her authorized designee).

Please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer by signing below. The entire
Novellus staff looks forward to you joining Novellus and becoming a key person
with our growing team.

Sincerely,

NOVELLUS SYSTEMS, INC.            ----------------------------------------------
                                  Accepted Date

Carla DeMerritt                   ---------------------------------------------
Director of Human Resources       Start Date (Effective date of close of merger)<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.31

                       GASONICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                      1994 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
                      -------------------------------------

              (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 20, 1998)

                                   ARTICLE ONE

                                     GENERAL
                                     -------

        I.      PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

               A. This 1994 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "Plan") is
intended to promote the interests of GaSonics International Corporation, a
Delaware corporation or any successor corporation (the "Corporation") adopting
the Plan, by providing (i) key employees (including officers) of the Corporation
(or its parent or subsidiary corporations) who are responsible for the
management, growth and financial success of the Corporation (or its parent or
subsidiary corporations), (ii) the non-employee members of the Board and (iii)
consultants and other independent contractors who provide valuable services to
the Corporation (or its parent or subsidiary corporations) with the opportunity
to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary
interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in the Service
of the Corporation (or its parent or subsidiary corporations).

               B. The Plan became effective upon adoption by the Board of
Directors of Gasonics International Corporation, a California corporation
("Gasonics California") on January 27, 1994, and such date shall accordingly
constitute the Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan was subsequently assumed by
the Corporation in connection with the merger (the "Merger") of Gasonics
California into the Corporation in February, 1994.

        II.     DEFINITIONS

               A. For purposes of the Plan, the following definitions shall be
in effect:

               BOARD: the Corporation's Board of Directors.

               CHANGE IN CONTROL: a change in ownership or control of the
Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:

                      a. the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or
        related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
        directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
        control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the
        meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more
        than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
        Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
        offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board
        does not recommend such stockholders to accept; or

                      b. a change in the composition of the Board over a period
        of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of
        the Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) ceases, by
        reason of one or more contested elections for Board membership, to be
        comprised of individuals who either (i) have been Board members
        continuously since the beginning of such period or (ii) have been
        elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by
        at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (i) who
        were still in office at the time such election or nomination was
        approved by the Board.

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               CODE: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

               COMMON STOCK: shares of the Corporation's common stock, par value
$0.001 per share.

               CORPORATE TRANSACTION: any of the following stockholder-approved
transactions to which the Corporation is a party:

                      a. a merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is
        not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose
        of which is to change the state in which the Corporation is
        incorporated,

                      b. the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
        substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in complete
        liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or

                      c. any reverse merger in which the Corporation is the
        surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty
        percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
        outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different
        from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such
        merger.

               EMPLOYEE: an individual who performs services while in the employ
of the Corporation or one or more parent or subsidiary corporations, subject to
the control and direction of the employer entity not only as to the work to be
performed but also as to the manner and method of performance.

               EXERCISE DATE: the date on which the Corporation shall have
received written notice of the option exercise.

                                       2.

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               FAIR MARKET VALUE: the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock determined in accordance with the following provisions:

               a. If the Common Stock is not at the time listed or admitted to
        trading on any national securities exchange but is traded on the Nasdaq
        National Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
        price per share on the date in question, as such price is reported by
        the National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National
        Market or any successor system. If there is no reported closing selling
        price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the closing
        selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists
        shall be determinative of Fair Market Value.

               b. If the Common Stock is at the time listed or admitted to
        trading on any national securities exchange, then the Fair Market Value
        shall be the closing selling price per share on the date in question on
        the securities exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the
        primary market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted
        in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no
        reported sale of Common Stock on such exchange on the date in question,
        then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the
        exchange on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

               c. If the Common Stock is on the date in question neither listed
        nor admitted to trading on any national securities exchange nor traded
        on the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market Value of the Common
        Stock on such date shall be determined by the Plan Administrator after
        taking into account such factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem
        appropriate.

               HOSTILE TAKE-OVER: the direct or indirect acquisition by any
person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders
which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.

               INCENTIVE OPTION: a stock option which satisfies the requirements
of Code Section 422.

               1934 ACT: the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.

                                       3.
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               NON-STATUTORY OPTION: a stock option not intended to meet the
requirements of Code Section 422.

               OPTIONEE: any person to whom an option is granted under the
Discretionary Option Grant or Automatic Option Grant Program in effect under the
Plan.

               PARTICIPANT: any person who receives a direct issuance of Common
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program in effect under the Plan.

               PERMANENT DISABILITY OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED: the inability of
the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by
reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to
result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.

               PLAN ADMINISTRATOR: the particular entity, whether the Primary
Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized to
administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with
respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is
carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to
the persons under its jurisdiction.

               PRIMARY COMMITTEE: the committee of two (2) or more non-employee
Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders.

               SERVICE: the performance of services on a periodic basis to the
Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary corporation) in the capacity of an
Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or an independent
consultant or advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in
the applicable stock option or stock issuance agreement.

               SECONDARY COMMITTEE: a committee of one (1) or more Board members
appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than Section 16
Insiders.

               SECTION 12(g) REGISTRATION DATE: the date on which the initial
registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the 1934 Act becomes
effective.

               SECTION 16 INSIDER: an executive officer of the Company or a
member of the Board subject to the short-swing liability provisions of Section
16(b) of the 1934 Act.

               TAKE-OVER PRICE: the GREATER of (a) the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the date the particular option to purchase such stock
is surrendered to the Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (b)
the highest reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror
in effecting such Hostile Take-Over. However, if the

                                       4.
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surrendered option is an Incentive Option, the Take-Over Price shall not exceed
the clause (a) price per share.

               B. The following provisions shall be applicable in determining
the parent and subsidiary corporations of the Corporation:

                      Any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
        unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation shall be
        considered to be a PARENT of the Corporation, provided each such
        corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at
        the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or
        more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one
        of the other corporations in such chain.

                      Each corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
        unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation shall be
        considered to be a SUBSIDIARY of the Corporation, provided each such
        corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the last corporation)
        owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent
        (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
        in one of the other corporations in such chain.

        III.    STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

               A. STOCK PROGRAMS. The Plan shall be divided into three (3)
separate components: the Discretionary Option Grant Program specified in Article
Two, the Automatic Option Grant Program specified in Article Three and the Stock
Issuance Program specified in Article Four. Under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program, eligible individuals may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator,
be granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with the
provisions of Article Two. Under the Automatic Option Grant Program,
non-employee members of the Board will receive special option grants at periodic
intervals to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions
of Article Three. Under the Stock Issuance Program, eligible individuals may be
issued shares of Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of
such shares at a price not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair
Market Value of the shares at the time of issuance or as a bonus tied to the
performance of services or the Corporation's attainment of financial objectives.

               B. GENERAL PROVISIONS. Unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, the provisions of Articles One and Five shall apply to the
Discretionary Option Grant Program, the Automatic Option Grant Program and the
Stock Issuance Program and shall accordingly govern the interests of all
individuals under the Plan.

        IV.     ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary Option Grant
and Stock Issuance Programs shall be limited to the following:

                                       5.
<PAGE>   6

                      (i) Employees of the Corporation or any parent or
        subsidiary, whether now existing or subsequently established,

                      (ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of
        directors of any parent or subsidiary corporation, and

                      (iii) consultants and other independent advisors who
        provide services to the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary
        corporation).

               B. The Primary Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority
to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with
respect to Section 16 Insiders.

               C. Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in
those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be vested in the Primary
Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the Board may retain the power to
administer those programs with respect to all such persons. The member or
members of the Secondary Committee may be comprised of one or more Board members
who are Employees eligible to receive discretionary option grants or direct
stock issuances under the Plan or any other stock option, stock appreciation,
stock bonus or other stock plan of the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary).

               D. Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee
shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be
removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the
functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority
previously delegated to such committee.

               E. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority to
establish such rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for proper
administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs and
to make such determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the
provisions of such programs and any outstanding options or stock issuances
thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan
Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under the Plan
shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the
Discretionary Option Grant or Stock Issuance Program under its jurisdiction or
any stock option or stock issuance thereunder.

               F. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee
shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee
shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board
members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee
or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or stock issuances under the
Plan.

                                       6.
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               G. Administration of the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be
self-executing in accordance with the terms of that program, and no Plan
Administrator shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to option
grants made thereunder.

        V.      STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

               A. Shares of Common Stock shall be available for issuance under
the Plan and shall be drawn from either the Corporation's authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock or from reacquired shares of Common Stock,
including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The maximum
number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued over the term of the Plan
shall not exceed 3,100,000 shares(1), subject to adjustment from time to time in
accordance with the provisions of this Section VI. Such share reserve includes
the 400,000-share increase authorized by the Board on January 20, 1998, subject
to stockholder approval at the 1998 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

               B. In no event shall the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock for which any one individual participating in the Plan may be granted
stock options and direct stock issuances exceed 825,000 shares(1) over the term
of the Plan.

               C. Should one or more outstanding options under this Plan expire
or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full (including any option
cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of Section IV
of Article Two of the Plan), then the shares subject to the portion of each
option not so exercised shall be available for subsequent issuance under the
Plan. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased by the
Corporation at the original option or issue price paid per share will be added
back to the share reserve and will accordingly be made available for subsequent
issuance under the Plan. Shares subject to any option or portion thereof
surrendered in accordance with Section V of Article Two or Section III of
Article Three shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. In
addition, should the exercise price of an outstanding option under the Plan be
paid with shares of Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise
issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the
withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an outstanding
option under the Plan or the vesting of a direct share issuance made under the
Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the
Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is
exercised or which vest under the share issuance, and not by the net number of
shares of Common Stock actually issued to the holder of such option or share
issuance.

-----------------

(1) Each number reflects the 3-for-2 split of the Common Stock effected by the
Corporation on November 20, 1995. In no event, however, may more than 2,604,008
shares of Common Stock be issued under the Plan after November 15, 1996,
including the shares subject to options outstanding under the Plan on that date.

                                       7.
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               D. Should any change be made to the Common Stock issuable under
the Plan by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the
outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of
consideration, then appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum
number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum
number and/or class of securities for which any one individual participating in
the Plan may be granted stock options and direct stock issuances in the
aggregate over the term of the Plan, (iii) the number and/or class of securities
for which automatic option grants are to be subsequently made per newly-elected
or continuing non-employee Board member under the Automatic Option Grant Program
and (iv) the number and/or class of securities and price per share in effect
under each option outstanding under the Discretionary Option Grant or Automatic
Option Grant Program. Such adjustments to the outstanding options are to be
effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights
and benefits under such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan
Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                                       8.
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                                   ARTICLE TWO

                       DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

        I.      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

               Options granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
shall be authorized by action of the Plan Administrator and may, at the Plan
Administrator's discretion, be either Incentive Options or Non-Statutory
Options. Each granted option shall be evidenced by one or more instruments in
the form approved by the Plan Administrator; PROVIDED, however, that each such
instrument shall comply with the terms and conditions specified below. Each
instrument evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the
applicable provisions of Section II of this Article Two.

                A.      EXERCISE PRICE.

               1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with the following provisions:

                      a. The exercise price per share of the Common Stock
        subject to an Incentive Option shall in no event be less than one
        hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on
        the grant date.

                      b. The exercise price per share of the Common Stock
        subject to a Non-Statutory Option shall in no event be less than
        eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock
        on the grant date.

               2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise
of the option and, subject to the provisions of Section I of Article Five and
the instrument evidencing the grant, shall be payable in one of the alternative
forms specified below:

                      a. full payment in cash or check made payable to the
        Corporation's order;

                      b. full payment in shares of Common Stock held for the
        requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's
        earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market
        Value on the Exercise Date;

                                       9.
<PAGE>   10

                      c. full payment in a combination of shares of Common Stock
        held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the
        Corporation's earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at
        Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date and cash or check made payable to
        the Corporation's order; or

                      d. to the extent the option is exercised for vested
        shares, full payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance
        procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall provide concurrent
        irrevocable written instructions (i) to a Corporation-designated
        brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and
        remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the
        settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price
        payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state and
        local income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the
        Corporation in connection with such purchase and (ii) to the Corporation
        to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such
        brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction.

               Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure is
utilized in connection with the exercise of the option, payment of the exercise
price for the purchased shares must accompany such notice.

               B. TERM AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Each option granted under this
Discretionary Option Grant Program shall be exercisable at such time or times
and during such period as is determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth
in the instrument evidencing the grant. No such option, however, shall have a
maximum term in excess of ten (10) years measured from the grant date.

               C. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During the lifetime of the
Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution following the Optionee's death. However, a Non-Statutory Option
may, in connection with the Optionee's estate plan, be assigned in whole or in
part during the Optionee's lifetime to one or more members of the Optionee's
immediate family or to a trust established exclusively for one or more such
family members. The assigned portion may only be exercised by the person or
persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option pursuant to the
assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall be the same as
those in effect for the option immediately prior to such assignment and shall be
set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as the Plan Administrator may
deem appropriate.

                                       10.
<PAGE>   11

        D.      TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

               1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise period
applicable to any outstanding options held by the Optionee at the time of
cessation of Service or death.

                      a. Should an Optionee cease Service for any reason
        (including death or Permanent Disability) while holding one or more
        outstanding options under this Article Two, then none of those options
        shall (except to the extent otherwise provided pursuant to subparagraph
        3 below) remain exercisable for more than a thirty-six (36)-month period
        (or such shorter period determined by the Plan Administrator and set
        forth in the instrument evidencing the grant) measured from the date of
        such cessation of Service.

                      b. Any option held by the Optionee under this Article Two
        and exercisable in whole or in part on the date of his or her death may
        be subsequently exercised by the personal representative of the
        Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is
        transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the
        laws of descent and distribution. However, the right to exercise such
        option shall lapse upon the EARLIER of (i) the third anniversary of the
        date of the Optionee's death (or such shorter period determined by the
        Plan Administrator and set forth in the instrument evidencing the grant)
        or (ii) the specified expiration date of the option term. Accordingly,
        upon the occurrence of the earlier event, the option shall terminate and
        cease to remain outstanding.

                      c. Under no circumstances shall any such option be
        exercisable after the specified expiration date of the option term.

                      d. During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the
        option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of
        shares (if any) in which the Optionee is vested at the time of his or
        her cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of the limited
        post-Service exercise period or (if earlier) upon the specified
        expiration date of the option term, each such option shall terminate and
        cease to remain outstanding with respect to any vested shares for which
        the option has not otherwise been exercised. However, each outstanding
        option shall immediately terminate and cease to remain outstanding, at
        the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service, with respect to any
        shares for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable or
        in which the Optionee is not otherwise vested.

                                       11.
<PAGE>   12

                      e. Should (i) the Optionee's Service be terminated for
        misconduct (including, but not limited to, any act of dishonesty,
        willful misconduct, fraud or embezzlement) or (ii) the Optionee make any
        unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade
        secrets of the Corporation or its parent or subsidiary corporations,
        then in any such event all outstanding options held by the Optionee
        under this Article Two shall terminate immediately and cease to remain
        outstanding.

               2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion,
exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to permit one or more options held by the Optionee
under this Article Two to be exercised, during the limited post-Service exercise
period applicable under this paragraph C., not only with respect to the number
of vested shares of Common Stock for which each such option is exercisable at
the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service but also with respect to one or
more subsequent installments of vested shares for which the option would
otherwise have become exercisable had such cessation of Service not occurred.

               3. The Plan Administrator shall also have full power and
authority, exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time
while the option remains outstanding, to extend the period of time for which the
option is to remain exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service or
death from the limited period in effect under subparagraph 1. above to such
greater period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate. In no
event, however, shall such option be exercisable after the specified expiration
date of the option term.

               E. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. An Optionee shall have no stockholder
rights with respect to any shares covered by the option until such individual
shall have exercised the option and paid the exercise price for the purchased
shares.

               F. REPURCHASE RIGHTS. The shares of Common Stock acquired upon
the exercise of any Article Two option grant may be subject to repurchase by the
Corporation in accordance with the following provisions:

               1. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to authorize
the issuance of unvested shares of Common Stock under this Article Two. Should
the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the Corporation
shall have the right to repurchase any or all of those unvested shares at the
exercise price paid per share. The terms and conditions upon which such
repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for
exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be
established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the instrument evidencing
such repurchase right.

               2. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights under
this Article Two shall automatically terminate, and all shares subject to such
terminated rights shall

                                       12.
<PAGE>   13

immediately vest in full, upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction,
except to the extent:  (i) any such repurchase right is expressly assigned to
the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with the Corporate
Transaction or (ii) such termination is precluded by other limitations imposed
by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.

               3. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority,
exercisable either before or after the Optionee's cessation of Service, to
cancel the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to one or
more shares purchased or purchasable by the Optionee under this Discretionary
Option Grant Program and thereby accelerate the vesting of such shares in whole
or in part at any time.

        II.     INCENTIVE OPTIONS

               The terms and conditions specified below shall be applicable to
all Incentive Options granted under this Article Two. Incentive Options may only
be granted to individuals who are Employees. Options which are specifically
designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan shall NOT be
subject to such terms and conditions.

               A. DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined
as of the respective date or dates of grant) of the Common Stock for which one
or more options granted to any Employee under this Plan (or any other option
plan of the Corporation or its parent or subsidiary corporations) may for the
first time become exercisable as incentive stock options under the Federal tax
laws during any one calendar year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more
such options which become exercisable for the first time in the same calendar
year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability of such options as
incentive stock options under the Federal tax laws shall be applied on the basis
of the order in which such options are granted. Should the number of shares of
Common Stock for which any Incentive Option first becomes exercisable in any
calendar year exceed the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000)
limitation, then that option may nevertheless be exercised in such calendar year
for the excess number of shares as a non-statutory option under the Federal tax
laws.

               B. 10% STOCKHOLDER. If any individual to whom an Incentive Option
is granted is the owner of stock (as determined under Section 424(d) of the
Code) possessing ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Corporation or any one of its parent or subsidiary
corporations, then the exercise price per share shall not be less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five (5) years, measured
from the grant date.

               Except as modified by the preceding provisions of this Section
II, the provisions of Articles One, Two and Five of the Plan shall apply to all
Incentive Options granted hereunder.

        III.    CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL

                                       13.
<PAGE>   14

               A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each option which
is at the time outstanding under this Article Two shall automatically accelerate
so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the specified effective
date for the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the
total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and
may be exercised for all or any portion of such shares. However, an outstanding
option under this Article Two shall NOT so accelerate if and to the extent: (i)
such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be
assumed by the successor corporation or parent thereof or to be replaced with a
comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor
corporation or parent thereof, (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash
incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the option spread
existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent
payout in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to such option or
(iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by
the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant. The determination of
option comparability under clause (i) above shall be made by the Plan
Administrator, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

               B. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, all outstanding options under this Article Two shall terminate and
cease to remain outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor
corporation or parent company.

               C. Each outstanding option under this Article Two which is
assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction or is otherwise to continue
in effect shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply and pertain to the number and class of securities which
would have been issued to the option holder, in consummation of such Corporate
Transaction, had such person exercised the option immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the
exercise price payable per share, PROVIDED the aggregate exercise price payable
for such securities shall remain the same. In addition, the class and number of
securities available for issuance under the Plan following the consummation of
the Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted.

               D. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable
either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding, to provide (upon such terms as it may deem appropriate) for (i) the
automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding options granted under the Plan
which are assumed or replaced in the Corporate Transaction and do not otherwise
accelerate at that time and/or (ii) the subsequent termination of one or more of
the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights which are assigned in connection
with the Corporate Transaction and do not otherwise terminate at that time, in
the event Optionee's Service should subsequently terminate within a designated
period following such Corporate Transaction.

               E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority,
exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to provide for the automatic acceleration of one or
more outstanding options under this Article Two (and the immediate termination
of one or more of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights

                                       14.
<PAGE>   15

under this Article Two) upon the occurrence of a Change in Control. The Plan
Administrator shall also have full power and authority to condition any such
option acceleration (and the termination of any outstanding repurchase rights)
upon the subsequent termination of the Optionee's Service within a specified
period following the Change in Control.

               F. Any options accelerated in connection with the Change in
Control shall remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner
termination of the option term.

               G. The grant of options under this Article Two shall in no way
affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or
otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate,
dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.

               H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated under this
Section III in connection with a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control
shall remain exercisable as an incentive stock option under the Federal tax laws
only to the extent the dollar limitation of Section II of this Article Two is
not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated
portion of such option shall be exercisable as a non-statutory option under the
Federal tax laws.

        IV.     CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

               The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at any
time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected Optionees, the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under this Article Two and to
grant in substitution new options under the Plan covering the same or different
numbers of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share not less
than (i) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the new grant date or (ii) one hundred percent (100%) of such Fair
Market Value in the case of an Incentive Option.

        V.      STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

               A. Provided and only if the Plan Administrator determines in its
discretion to implement the stock appreciation right provisions of this Section
V, one or more Optionees may be granted the right, exercisable upon such terms
and conditions as the Plan Administrator may establish, to surrender all or part
of an unexercised option under this Article Two in exchange for a distribution
from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market
Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the
Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered
portion thereof) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested
shares.

               B. No surrender of an option shall be effective hereunder unless
it is approved by the Plan Administrator, either at the time of the option
surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so approved, then the
distribution to which the Optionee shall accordingly become

                                       15.
<PAGE>   16

entitled under this Section V may be made in shares of Common Stock valued at
Fair Market Value on the option surrender date, in cash, or partly in shares and
partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem
appropriate.

               C. One or more officers of the Corporation subject to the
short-swing profit restrictions of the Federal securities laws may, in the Plan
Administrator's sole discretion, be granted limited stock appreciation rights in
tandem with their outstanding options under this Article Two. Upon the
occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the officer shall have a thirty (30)-day
period in which he or she may surrender any outstanding options with such a
limited stock appreciation right to the Corporation, to the extent such option
is at the time exercisable for fully vested shares of Common Stock. The officer
shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an
amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the vested shares of
Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered option (or surrendered
portion of such option) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. The cash distribution shall be made within five (5) days following the
date the option is surrendered to the Corporation. The Plan Administrator shall
pre-approve, at the time the limited right is granted, the subsequent exercise
of that right in accordance with the terms of the grant and the provisions of
this Section V. No additional approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board
shall be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash
distribution. Any unsurrendered portion of the option shall continue to remain
outstanding and become exercisable in accordance with the terms of the
instrument evidencing such grant.

               D. The shares of Common Stock subject to any option surrendered
for an appreciation distribution pursuant to this Section V shall NOT be
available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

                                       16.
<PAGE>   17

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                         AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

        I.      ELIGIBILITY

               ELIGIBLE DIRECTORS. The individuals eligible to receive automatic
option grants pursuant to the July 19, 1995 restated provisions of this Article
Three program shall be limited to (i) those individuals who are continuing to
serve as non-employee Board members on July 19, 1995 and (ii) those individuals
who are first elected or appointed as non-employee Board members on or after
July 19, 1995. A non-employee Board member who has previously been in the employ
of the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary) shall not be eligible to
receive an option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program at the time he
or she first becomes a non-employee Board member, but such individual shall be
eligible to receive periodic option grants under the Automatic Option Grant
Program upon his or her continued service as a non-employee Board member. Any
non-employee Board member eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant
Program pursuant to the foregoing criteria shall be designated an Eligible
Director for purposes of this Article Three.

        II.     TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS

               A. GRANT DATES. Option grants shall be made pursuant to the July
19, 1995 restated provisions of this Article Three on the dates specified below:

                      INITIAL GRANT. Each individual who first becomes an
        Eligible Director on or after July 19, 1995, whether through election by
        the stockholders or appointment by the Board, shall automatically be
        granted, at the time of such initial election or appointment (the
        "Initial Grant Date"), a Non-Statutory Option to purchase 30,000
        shares(2) of Common Stock upon the terms and conditions of this Article
        Three.

                      ANNUAL GRANT. Each Eligible Director who receives an
        initial 30,000-share option grant shall automatically be granted, on
        each successive anniversary of the Initial Grant Date on which he or she
        continues to serve as an Eligible Director, beginning with the fourth
        anniversary of such Initial Grant Date, a Non-Statutory Option to
        purchase an additional 7,500 shares(3) of Common Stock upon the terms
        and conditions of this Article

-----------------------

(2) This number reflects the 3-for-2 split of the Common Stock effected by the
Corporation on November 20, 1995.

(3) This number reflects the 3-for-2 split of the Common Stock effected by the
Corporation on November 20, 1995.

                                       17.
<PAGE>   18

        Three. In addition, each individual who is an Eligible Director on July
        19, 1995 but who is not otherwise to receive an initial 30,000-share
        grant on such date shall automatically be granted, on July 19, 1995 and
        each subsequent anniversary of that grant date on which he or she
        continues to serve as an Eligible Director, a Non-Statutory Option to
        purchase an additional 7,500 shares of Common Stock upon the terms and
        conditions of this Article Three. Any Eligible Director previously in
        the Corporation's employ shall receive his or her initial 7,500-share
        option grant under this Article Three at the first Annual Stockholders
        Meeting at which he is she is elected as a non-employee Board member and
        shall automatically be granted, on the date of each succeeding Annual
        Stockholders Meeting at which he or she is re-elected as a non-employee
        Board member, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase an additional 7,500
        shares of Common Stock upon the terms and conditions of this Article
        Three.

               There shall be no limit on the number of such 7,500-share option
grants any one Eligible Director may receive over his or her period of Board
service. The number of shares for which the automatic option grants are to be
made to each newly-elected or continuing Eligible Director shall be subject to
periodic adjustment pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section VI.C. of
Article One.

               B. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Common Stock
subject to each automatic option grant made under this Article Three shall be
equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the automatic grant date.

               C. PAYMENT. The exercise price shall be payable in one of the
alternative forms specified below:

                      1. full payment in cash or check made payable to the
        Corporation's order;

                      2. full payment in shares of Common Stock held for the
        requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's
        earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market
        Value on the Exercise Date;

                      3. full payment in a combination of shares of Common Stock
        held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the
        Corporation's earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at
        Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date and cash or check made payable to
        the Corporation's order; or

                      4. full payment through a sale and remittance procedure
        pursuant to which the non-employee Board member shall provide concurrent
        irrevocable written instructions (i) to a Corporation-designated
        brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and
        remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the
        settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price
        payable for the purchased shares and (ii) to the

                                       18.
<PAGE>   19

        Corporation to deliver the certificates for the purchased shares
        directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale
        transaction.

               D. OPTION TERM. Each automatic grant under this Article Three
shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the automatic grant
date.

               E. EXERCISABILITY. Option grants made under this Article Three
shall become exercisable as specified below:

                      INITIAL GRANT. Each initial 30,000-share automatic grant
        shall become exercisable in four (4) successive equal annual
        installments upon the Optionee's completion of each year of Board
        service over the four (4)-year period measured from the Initial Grant
        Date.

                      ANNUAL GRANT. Each annual 7,500-share automatic grant
        shall become exercisable upon the Optionee's completion of one (1) year
        of Board service measured from the grant date.

               Each option granted under this Article Three shall automatically
accelerate and become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at
the time subject to the option:

                -       should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member by
                        reason of death or Permanent Disability, or

                -       should there occur an acceleration event specified in
                        Section III of this Article Three.

               F. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY. During the lifetime of the Optionee,
each automatic option grant, together with the limited stock appreciation right
pertaining to such option, shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall
not be assignable or transferable by the Optionee other than a transfer of the
option to one or more immediate family members or a trust established
exclusively for one or more such family members. The assigned portion of may
only be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in
the option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned
portion shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to
such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee
as the Plan Administrator may deem fit.

               G. TERMINATION OF BOARD SERVICE.

                      1. Should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member
for any reason other than death or Permanent Disability while holding one or
more automatic option grants under this Article Three, then each of those
options may, during the twelve (12)-month period measured from the date of such
cessation of Board service (the "Post-Service Exercise Period"), be exercised in
accordance with the following parameters:

                                       19.
<PAGE>   20

               INITIAL 30,000-SHARE GRANT

                      a. Should the Optionee cease Board service prior to the
        fourth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, then the Optionee may, at
        any time during the Post-Service Exercise Period, exercise the option
        for any or all of the option shares for which the option is exercisable
        at the time of such cessation of Board service. In addition, the option
        shall become exercisable for an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of
        the option shares on the next anniversary of the Initial Grant Date
        following the Optionee's cessation of Board service and shall remain so
        exercisable until the expiration date of the Post-Service Exercise
        Period.

                      b. If the Optionee ceases Board service on or after the
        fourth anniversary of the Initial Grant Date, then the Optionee may, at
        any time during the Post-Service Exercise Period, exercise the option
        for any or all of the option shares for which the option is exercisable
        at the time of such cessation of Board service.

                      c. However, the option shall, immediately upon the
        Optionee's cessation of Board service, terminate and cease to be
        outstanding with respect to any and all option shares for which the
        option is not otherwise at that time exercisable or for which it is not
        otherwise to become exercisable in accordance with clause a. above.

               ANNUAL 7,500-SHARE GRANT

                      a. The option shall become exercisable for all of the
        option shares on the first anniversary of the grant date, whether or not
        the Optionee continues in Board service, and shall remain so exercisable
        for any or all of those shares until the expiration date of the
        Post-Service Exercise Period.

                      b. Should the Optionee die after his or her cessation of
        Board service but while holding one or more automatic option grants
        under this Article Three, then the personal representative of the
        Optionee's estate or the person or persons to whom the option is
        transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the
        laws of descent and distribution shall have the remainder of the
        applicable Post-Service Exercise Period in which to exercise each such
        option in accordance with the parameters established for the Optionee in
        Paragraph 1.

                      c. Should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member by
        reason of death or Permanent Disability while holding one or more
        automatic option grants under this Article Three, then such individual
        (or the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the
        person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the
        Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and
        distribution) shall have a twelve (12)-month period following the

                                       20.
<PAGE>   21

        date of such cessation of Board service in which to exercise each such
        option for any or all of the option shares at the time subject to the
        option, whether or not the option would otherwise at that time be
        exercisable for those shares.

                      2. In no event shall any automatic grant under this
Article Three remain exercisable after the expiration date of the ten (10)-year
option term.

               H. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of an automatic option grant
under this Article Three shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with
respect to any shares subject to such option until such individual shall have
exercised the option and paid the exercise price for the purchased shares.

               I. REMAINING TERMS. The remaining terms and conditions of each
automatic option grant shall be as set forth in the form Automatic Stock Option
Agreement attached as Exhibit A.

        III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER

               A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each Article Three
option, to the extent outstanding at the time but not otherwise fully
exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Corporate Transaction,
become exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of such shares as
fully-vested shares. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, all automatic option grants under this Article Three shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the
acquiring company (or parent thereof).

               B. In connection with any Change in Control of the Corporation,
each Article Three option, to the extent outstanding at the time but not
otherwise fully exercisable, shall automatically accelerate so that each such
option shall, immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Change
in Control, become exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time
subject to such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of such
shares as fully-vested shares. Each such option shall remain so exercisable for
all the option shares following the Change in Control, until the expiration or
sooner termination of the option term.

               C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall
have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each
Article Three option held by him or her. The Optionee shall in return be
entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the
excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time
subject to the surrendered option (whether or not the option is otherwise at the
time exercisable for those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price
payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5)
days following the surrender of the option to

                                       21.
<PAGE>   22

the Corporation. At the time of each Article Three option grant, the Board shall
concurrently pre-approve any subsequent surrender of that option in accordance
with the provisions of this Section III.C, and no additional approval of the
Board or any Plan Administrator shall accordingly be required at the time of the
actual option surrender and cash distribution. The shares of Common Stock
subject to each option surrendered in connection with the Hostile Take-Over
shall NOT be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

               D. The automatic option grants outstanding under this Article
Three shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify,
reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets.

                                       22.
<PAGE>   23

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                             STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

        I.      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK ISSUANCES

               Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program through direct and immediate purchases without any intervening stock
option grants. The issued shares shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance
Agreement ("Issuance Agreement") that complies with the terms and conditions of
this Article Four.

        A.      CONSIDERATION.

               1. Shares of Common Stock drawn from the Corporation's authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock ("Newly Issued Shares") shall be issued
under the Stock Issuance Program for one or more of the following items of
consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate in each
individual instance:

                      a. full payment in cash or check made payable to the
        Corporation's order;

                      b. a promissory note payable to the Corporation's order in
        one or more installments, which may be subject to cancellation in whole
        or in part upon terms and conditions established by the Plan
        Administrator; or

                      c. past services rendered to the Corporation or any parent
        or subsidiary corporation.

                2. Newly Issued Shares may, in the absolute discretion of the
Plan Administrator, be issued for consideration with a value less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of
issuance, but in no event less than eighty-five percent (85%) of such Fair
Market Value.

                3. Shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Corporation and held
as treasury shares ("Treasury Shares") may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program for such consideration (including one or more of the items of
consideration specified in subparagraph 1 above) as the Plan Administrator may
deem appropriate, whether such consideration is in an amount less than, equal to
or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Treasury Shares at the time of
issuance. Treasury Shares may, in lieu of any cash consideration, be issued
subject to such vesting requirements tied to the Participant's period of future
Service or the Corporation's attainment of specified performance objectives as
the Plan Administrator may establish at the time of issuance.

                                       23.
<PAGE>   24

        B.      VESTING PROVISIONS.

                1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance
Program may, in the absolute discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and
immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over
the Participant's period of Service. The elements of the vesting schedule
applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance Program, namely:

                      a. the Service period to be completed by the Participant
        or the performance objectives to be achieved by the Corporation,

                      b. the number of installments in which the shares are to
        vest,

                      c. the interval or intervals (if any) which are to lapse
        between installments, and

                      d. the effect which death, Permanent Disability or other
        event designated by the Plan Administrator is to have upon the vesting
        schedule,

shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Issuance
Agreement executed by the Corporation and the Participant at the time such
unvested shares are issued.

                2. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with
respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to him or her under the Plan,
whether or not his or her interest in those shares is vested. Accordingly, the
Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to receive any regular
cash dividends paid on such shares. Any new, additional or different shares of
stock or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash
dividend) which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to
his or her unvested shares by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration or by reason of any Corporate Transaction shall be
issued, subject to (i) the same vesting requirements applicable to his or her
unvested shares and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator
shall deem appropriate.

                3. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while
holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock under the Stock Issuance
Program, then those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation
and made available for subsequent issuance. The Participant shall have no
further stockholder rights with respect to those shares. To the extent the
surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for consideration
paid in cash or cash equivalent (including the Participant's purchase-money
promissory note), the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the cash
consideration paid for the surrendered shares and shall cancel the unpaid
principal balance of any outstanding purchase-money note of the Participant
attributable to such surrendered shares. The surrendered shares may, at the Plan

                                       24.
<PAGE>   25

Administrator's discretion, be retained by the Corporation as Treasury Shares or
may be retired to authorized but unissued share status.

                   4. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion elect to
waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common
Stock (or other assets attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon
the non-completion of the vesting schedule applicable to such shares. Such
waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant's interest in
the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be
effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant's cessation of
Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance
objectives.

        II.     CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL

                A. Upon the occurrence of any Corporate Transaction, all
unvested shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding under this Stock
Issuance Program shall immediately vest in full and the Corporation's repurchase
rights shall terminate, except to the extent: (i) any such repurchase right is
expressly assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in
connection with the Corporate Transaction or (ii) such termination is precluded
by other limitations imposed in the Issuance Agreement.

                B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority, exercisable either at the time the stock issuance is made or at any
time while that issuance remains outstanding, to provide for the automatic
vesting of one or more unvested shares outstanding under the Stock Issuance
Program (and the immediate termination of the Corporation's repurchase rights
with respect to those shares) at the time of a Change in Control. The Plan
Administrator shall also have full power and authority to condition any such
accelerated vesting upon the subsequent termination of the Participant's Service
within a specified period following the Change in Control.

        III.    TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS/SHARE ESCROW

                A. Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion,
be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such
shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive
legends on the certificates evidencing such unvested shares. To the extent an
escrow arrangement is utilized, the unvested shares and any securities or other
assets distributed with respect to such shares (other than regular cash
dividends) shall be delivered in escrow to the Corporation to be held until the
Participant's interest in such shares (or the distributed securities or assets)
vests. If the unvested shares are issued directly to the Participant, the
restrictive legend on the certificates for such shares shall read substantially
as follows:

                                       25.
<PAGE>   26

                THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE UNVESTED AND ARE
                ACCORDINGLY SUBJECT TO (I) CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS AND
                (II) CANCELLATION OR REPURCHASE IN THE EVENT THE REGISTERED
                HOLDER (OR HIS/HER PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST) CEASES TO REMAIN IN
                THE CORPORATION'S SERVICE. SUCH TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS AND THE
                TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SUCH CANCELLATION OR REPURCHASE ARE SET
                FORTH IN A STOCK ISSUANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND
                THE REGISTERED HOLDER (OR HIS/HER PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST) DATED
                ______________, 199_, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
                PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION."

                B. The Participant shall have no right to transfer any unvested
shares of Common Stock issued to him or her under the Stock Issuance Program.
For purposes of this restriction, the term "transfer" shall include (without
limitation) any sale, pledge, assignment, encumbrance, gift or other disposition
of such shares, whether voluntary or involuntary. Upon any such attempted
transfer, the unvested shares shall immediately be cancelled in accordance with
substantially the same procedure in effect under Section I.B.3 of this Article
Four, and neither the Participant nor the proposed transferee shall have any
rights with respect to such cancelled shares. However, the Participant shall
have the right to make a gift of unvested shares acquired under the Stock
Issuance Program to his or her spouse or issue, including adopted children, or
to a trust established for such spouse or issue, provided the donee of such
shares delivers to the Corporation a written agreement to be bound by all the
provisions of the Stock Issuance Program and the Issuance Agreement applicable
to the gifted shares.

                                       26.
<PAGE>   27

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

        I.      LOANS OR INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS

                A. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, assist any
Optionee or Participant, to the extent such Optionee or Participant is an
Employee (including an Optionee or Participant who is an officer of the
Corporation), in the exercise of one or more options granted to such Optionee
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or the purchase of one or more
shares issued to such Participant under the Stock Issuance Program, including
the satisfaction of any Federal, state and local income and employment tax
obligations arising therefrom, by (i) authorizing the extension of a loan from
the Corporation to such Optionee or Participant or (ii) permitting the Optionee
or Participant to pay the exercise price or purchase price for the purchased
shares in installments over a period of years. The terms of any loan or
installment method of payment (including the interest rate and terms of
repayment) shall be upon such terms as the Plan Administrator specifies in the
applicable option or issuance agreement or otherwise deems appropriate under the
circumstances. Loans or installment payments may be authorized with or without
security or collateral. However, the maximum credit available to the Optionee or
Participant may not exceed the exercise or purchase price of the acquired shares
(less the par value of such shares) plus any Federal, state and local income and
employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or Participant in connection
with the acquisition of such shares.

                B. The Plan Administrator may, in its absolute discretion,
determine that one or more loans extended under this financial assistance
program shall be subject to forgiveness by the Corporation in whole or in part
upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.

        II.     AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS

                A. The Board has complete and exclusive power and authority to
amend or modify the Plan (or any component thereof) in any or all respects
whatsoever. However, no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect
rights and obligations with respect to options at the time outstanding under the
Plan, nor adversely affect the rights of any Participant with respect to Common
Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program prior to such action, unless the
Optionee or Participant consents to such amendment. In addition, certain
amendments may require stockholder approval in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations.

                B. (i) Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and (ii) shares of Common Stock may
be issued under the Stock Issuance Program, which are in both instances in
excess of the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan,
provided any excess shares actually issued under the

                                       27.
<PAGE>   28

Discretionary Option Grant Program or the Stock Issuance Program are held in
escrow until stockholder approval is obtained for a sufficient increase in the
number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. If such stockholder
approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date the first such
excess option grants or excess share issuances are made, then (i) any
unexercised excess options shall terminate and cease to be exercisable and (ii)
the Corporation shall promptly refund the purchase price paid for any excess
shares actually issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest
(at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held
in escrow.

        III.    TAX WITHHOLDING

                A. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of stock options for such shares or the vesting of such
shares under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable
Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.

                B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion and in
accordance with the provisions of this Section III and such supplemental rules
as the Plan Administrator may from time to time adopt (including the applicable
safe-harbor provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3),
provide any or all holders of Non-Statutory Options (other than the automatic
option grants made pursuant to Article Three of the Plan) or unvested shares
under the Plan with the right to use shares of the Corporation's Common Stock in
satisfaction of all or part of the Federal, state and local income and
employment tax liabilities incurred by such holders in connection with the
exercise of their options or the vesting of their shares (the "Taxes"). Such
right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following
formats:

                        STOCK WITHHOLDING: The holder of the Non-Statutory
        Option or unvested shares may be provided with the election to have the
        Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable
        upon the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or the vesting of such
        shares, a portion of those shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value to
        exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable Taxes.

                        STOCK DELIVERY: The Plan Administrator may, in its
        discretion, provide the holder of the Non-Statutory Option or the
        unvested shares with the election to deliver to the Corporation, at the
        time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares vest, one or
        more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such individual
        (other than in connection with the option exercise or share vesting
        triggering the Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value not to exceed
        one hundred percent (100%) of the Taxes incurred in connection with such
        option exercise or share vesting.

        IV.     EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

                A. This Plan became effective immediately upon adoption by the
Board of Directors of Gasonics California. This Plan was subsequently assumed by
the Corporation in

                                       28.
<PAGE>   29

connection with the Merger. Stock options and share issuances may be made under
Articles Two and Four of the Plan from and after the Effective Date.

                B. The Plan was amended by the Board on September 21, 1994 to
(i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan by an
additional 500,000 shares(4) and (ii) increase the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock for which any one individual may be granted stock options and
direct stock issuances under the Plan by an additional 250,000 shares(4) (the
"1994 Amendment"). The stockholders approved the 1994 Amendment at the 1995
Annual Meeting which was held on February 14, 1995. The Plan was subsequently
amended and restated by the Board on July 19, 1995 to revise the provisions of
the Automatic Option Grant Program in effect under Article III (the "June 1995
Amendment") and was amended in November 1995 to increase the number of shares
available for issuance under the Plan by an additional 750,000 shares (the
"November 1995 Amendment"). Both the June 1995 Amendment and the November 1995
Amendment were approved by the stockholders at the 1996 Annual Meeting.

                C. The Plan was amended on February 1, 1996 to authorize the
appointment of the Secondary Committee for purposes of administering the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to
individuals who are non Section 16 Insiders. The Primary Committee shall also
retain separate but concurrent authority to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to such individuals. The Plan was
subsequently amended on December 17, 1996 (the "December 1996 Amendment") to
effect the following changes: (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock
authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan by an additional 500,000
shares, (ii) render the non-employee Board members eligible to receive option
grants and direct stock issuances under the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs, (iii) allow unvested shares issued under the Plan and
subsequently repurchased by the Corporation at the option exercise price or
issue price paid per share to be reissued under the Plan and (iv) effect a
series of technical changes to the provisions of the Plan in order to take
advantage of the recent amendments to Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 which exempts certain officer and director transactions under the Plan
from the short-swing liability provisions of the federal securities laws. The
December 1996 Amendment was approved by the stockholders the 1997 Annual
Meeting.

                D. The Plan was again amended by the Board on January 20, 1998
to increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan by an
additional 400,000 shares, from 2,700,000 to 3,100,000 shares (the "January 1998
Amendment"), subject to stockholder approval at the 1998 Annual Meeting. No
option grants made on the basis of the January 1998 Amendment shall become
exercisable in whole or in part unless and until the January 1998

--------------------

(4) The numbers DO NOT reflect the 3-for-2 split of the Common Stock effected by
the Corporation on November 20, 1995.

                                       29.
<PAGE>   30

Amendment is approved by the stockholders. Should such stockholder approval not
be obtained at the 1998 Annual Meeting, then each option grant made pursuant to
the January 1998 Amendment shall terminate and cease to remain outstanding, and
no further option grants shall be made on the basis of that share increase.
However, the provisions of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to the
January 1998 Amendment shall automatically be reinstated, and option grants and
direct stock issuances may thereafter continue to be made pursuant to the
reinstated provisions of the Plan. All option grants and direct stock issuances
made prior to the January 1998 Amendment shall remain outstanding in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the respective instruments evidencing those
options or issuances, and nothing in the January 1998 Amendment shall be deemed
to modify or in any way affect those outstanding options or issuances. Subject
to the foregoing limitations, the Plan Administrator may make option grants and
direct stock issuances under the Plan at any time before the date fixed herein
for the termination of the Plan.

                E. The Plan shall terminate upon the EARLIER of (i) December 31,
2003 or (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued or cancelled pursuant to the exercise, surrender or
cash-out of the options granted under the Plan or the issuance of shares
(whether vested or unvested) under the Stock Issuance Program. If the date of
termination is determined under clause (i) above, then all option grants and
unvested share issuances outstanding on such date shall thereafter continue to
have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the instruments
evidencing such grants or issuances.

        V.      USE OF PROCEEDS

                A. Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale
of shares pursuant to option grants or share issuances under the Plan shall be
used for general corporate purposes.

        VI.     REGULATORY APPROVALS

                A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock
option or stock appreciation right under the Plan, the issuance of any shares
under the Stock Issuance Program and the issuance of Common Stock upon the
exercise of the stock options or stock appreciation rights granted hereunder
shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits
required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock
options and stock appreciation rights granted under it and the Common Stock
issued pursuant to it.

                B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or
delivered under this Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with
all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the
filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares
of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements
of any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading.

                                       30.
<PAGE>   31

        VII.    NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS

                Neither the action of the Corporation in establishing the Plan,
nor any action taken by the Plan Administrator hereunder, nor any provision of
the Plan shall be construed so as to grant any individual the right to remain in
the Service of the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary corporation) for any
period of specific duration, and the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary
corporation retaining the services of such individual) may terminate such
individual's Service at any time and for any reason, with or without cause.

        VIII.   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                A. Except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in the
Plan, the right to acquire Common Stock or other assets under the Plan may not
be assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred by any Optionee or Participant.

                B. The provisions of the Plan relating to the exercise of
options and the vesting of shares shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules, as such laws
are applied to contracts entered into and performed in such State.

                C. The provisions of the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and
be binding upon, the Corporation and its successors or assigns, whether by
Corporate Transaction or otherwise, and the Participants and Optionees, the
legal representatives of their respective estates, their respective heirs or
legatees and their permitted assignees.

                                       31.
<PAGE>   32

                       GASONICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                         NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION

                Notice is hereby given of the following stock option grant (the
"Option") to purchase shares of the Common Stock of GaSonics International
Corporation (the "Corporation"):

        OPTIONEE: ___________________________

        GRANT DATE: __________________________

        EXERCISE PRICE: $_______ per share

        NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES: ___________ shares

        EXPIRATION DATE: _________________, 200__

        TYPE OF OPTION: _____ Incentive Stock Option

                _____ Non-Statutory Option

        EXERCISE SCHEDULE: The Option shall become exercisable for twenty-five
        percent (25%) of the Option Shares upon Optionee's completion of one (1)
        year of Service (as defined in the attached Stock Option Agreement)
        measured from the Grant Date and shall become exercisable for the
        balance of the Option Shares in a series of three (3) equal and
        successive annual installments upon Optionee's completion of each
        additional year of Service thereafter. In no event shall the Option
        become exercisable for any additional Option Shares following Optionee's
        cessation of Service. However, in the event Optionee's Service should
        terminate by reason of permanent disability (as defined in the attached
        Stock Option Agreement), the Option shall immediately become exercisable
        for an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option Shares.

                Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted
subject to and in accordance with the express terms and conditions of the
GaSonics International Corporation 1994 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the
"Plan"). Optionee further agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the
Plan and the terms and conditions of the Option as set forth in the Stock Option
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. Optionee also acknowledges receipt of a
copy of the official prospectus for the Plan attached hereto as Exhibit B.

                NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE CONTRACT. Nothing in this Agreement or
in the Plan shall confer upon Optionee any right to continue in Service for any
period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way
the rights of the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary employing Optionee)
or Optionee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate
Optionee's Service at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.

Dated:__________, 199__

                                       GASONICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION

                                       By:_______________________________

                                       Title: ___________________________

                                       __________________________________
                                                  OPTIONEE

                                       Address: __________________________

                                                  ________________

ATTACHMENTS:
EXHIBIT A:  STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT B:  PLAN SUMMARY AND PROSPECTUS

                                        2
<PAGE>   33

                                    EXHIBIT A

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

<PAGE>   34

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                 PLAN PROSPECTUS

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