Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 4.6
                              ACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC.

                                 1999 STOCK PLAN

    1.    PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Stock Plan are to attract
and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Employees and Consultants
of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's business. Options
granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options (as defined under
Section 422 of the Code) or Nonstatutory Stock Options, as determined by the
Administrator at the time of grant of an Option and subject to the applicable
provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder. Stock Purchase Rights may also be granted under the Plan.

    2.    DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

          (a) "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or its Committee appointed
pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

          (b) "AFFILIATE" means an entity other than a Subsidiary (as
defined below) in which the Company owns an equity interest or which, together
with the Company, is under common control of a third person or entity.

          (c) "APPLICABLE LAWS" means the legal requirements relating to the
administration of stock option and restricted stock purchase plans under
applicable U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and applicable state
securities laws, the Code, any Stock Exchange rules or regulations and the
applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock
Purchase Rights are granted under the Plan, as such laws, rules, regulations and
requirements shall be in place from time to time.

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

          (e) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means a sale of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with or
into another corporation other than a merger or consolidation in which the
holders of more than 50% of the shares of capital stock of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to hold (either by
the voting securities remaining outstanding or by their being converted into
voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the total voting
power represented by the voting securities of the Company, or such surviving
entity, outstanding immediately after such transaction.

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

          (g) "COMMITTEE" means one or more committees or subcommittees of
the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with
Section 4 below.

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          (h) "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company.

          (i) "COMPANY" means Active Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

          (j) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, who
renders services to the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate and is
compensated for such services, and any Director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not.

          (k) "CONTINUOUS SERVICE STATUS" means the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant to the
Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate. Continuous Service Status shall
not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) sick leave; (ii) military
leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided
that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment
upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or
unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time;
or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Parent(s), Subsidiaries, Affiliates or their respective successors.
Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or the Company, a change in
status from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant to an Employee will
not constitute a termination of Continuous Service Status.

          (l) "CORPORATE TRANSACTION" means a sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets, or a merger, consolidation or other capital
reorganization of the Company with or into another corporation.

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

          (n) "EMPLOYEE" means any person (including, if appropriate, any
Named Executive, Officer or Director) employed by the Company or any Parent,
Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. The payment by the Company of a
director's fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment"
of such Director by the Company.

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

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

              (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("Nasdaq") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted
on such system or exchange on the date of determination (or if no trading or
bids occurred on the date of determination, on the last trading day prior to the
date of determination), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other
source as the Administrator deems reliable;

              (ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but not
on the National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities
dealer but selling

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prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the
high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock for the date of determination
(or if no bids occurred on the date of determination, on the last trading day
prior to the date of determination); or

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

          (q) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify
as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as
designated in the applicable Option Agreement.

          (r) "LISTED SECURITY" means any security of the Company that is
listed or approved for listing on a national securities exchange or designated
or approved for designation as a national market system security on an
interdealer quotation system by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.

          (s) "NAMED EXECUTIVE" means any individual who, on the last day of
the Company's fiscal year, is the chief executive officer of the Company (or is
acting in such capacity) or among the four most highly compensated officers of
the Company (other than the chief executive officer). Such officer status shall
be determined pursuant to the executive compensation disclosure rules under the
Exchange Act.

          (t) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable Option
Agreement.

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

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

          (w) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written document, the form(s) of
which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, reflecting the
terms of an Option granted under the Plan and includes any documents attached to
or incorporated into such Option Agreement, including, but not limited to, a
notice of stock option grant and a form of exercise notice.

          (x) "OPTION EXCHANGE PROGRAM" means a program approved by the
Administrator whereby outstanding Options are exchanged for Options with a lower
exercise price.

          (y) "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.

          (z) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an
Option.

          (aa) "PARENT" means a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

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          (bb) "PARTICIPANT" means any holder of one or more Options or
Stock Purchase Rights, or the Shares issuable or issued upon exercise of such
awards, under the Plan.

          (cc) "PLAN" means this 1999 Stock Plan.

          (dd) "REPORTING PERSON" means an Officer, Director or greater than
10% stockholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 of the Exchange
Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 of the Exchange Act.

          (ee) "RESTRICTED STOCK" means shares of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to a grant of a Stock Purchase Right under Section 11 below.

          (ff) "RESTRICTED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means a written
document, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the
Administrator, reflecting the terms of a Stock Purchase Right granted under the
Plan and includes any documents attached to such agreement.

          (gg) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

          (hh) "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.

          (ii) "STOCK EXCHANGE" means any stock exchange or consolidated
stock price reporting system on which prices for the Common Stock are quoted at
any given time.

          (jj) "STOCK PURCHASE RIGHT" means the right to purchase Common
Stock pursuant to Section 11 below.

          (kk) "SUBSIDIARY" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

          (ll) "TEN PERCENT HOLDER" means a person who owns stock
representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.

    3.    STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 14 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be sold under the Plan
is 3,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, plus an automatic annual increase on July 1
of each of the following years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, in an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) 1,500,000 Shares, or (ii) four percent (4%) of the
Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year. The
Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

      If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable for any reason without
having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange
Program, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan
has been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan. In
addition, any Shares of Common Stock that are retained by the

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Company upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right in order to satisfy
the exercise or purchase price for such Option or Stock Purchase Right or any
withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise or purchase shall be treated
as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan. Shares issued
under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase
right that the Company may have shall not be available for future grant under
the Plan.

    4.   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) GENERAL. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a
Committee, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Board. The Plan may be
administered by different administrative bodies with respect to different
classes of Participants and, if permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Board may
authorize one or more officers (who may (but need not) be Officers) to grant
Options or Stock Purchase Rights to Employees and Consultants.

         (b) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO REPORTING PERSONS. With respect to
Options granted to Reporting Persons and Named Executives, the Plan may (but
need not) be administered so as to permit such Options to qualify for the
exemption set forth in Rule 16b-3 and to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (c) COMMITTEE COMPOSITION. If a Committee has been appointed pursuant
to this Section 4, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated
capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may
increase the size of any Committee and appoint additional members thereof,
remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution
therefor, fill vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of a Committee
and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the
Applicable Laws and, in the case of a Committee administering the Plan pursuant
to Section 4(b) above, to the extent permitted or required by Rule 16b-3 and
Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (d) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the Plan
and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board to
such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

             (i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in
accordance with Section 2(q) of the Plan;

             (ii) to select the Employees and Consultants to whom Options and
Stock Purchase Rights or any combination thereof may from time to time be
granted;

             (iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options and Stock
Purchase Rights or any combination thereof are granted;

             (iv) to determine the number of Shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each such award granted;

             (v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

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             (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder, which terms and
conditions include but are not limited to the exercise or purchase price, the
time or times when Options or Stock Purchase Rights may be exercised (which may
be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of
forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Option,
Optioned Stock, Stock Purchase Right or Restricted Stock, based in each case on
such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;

             (vii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option
may be settled in cash under Section 10(f) instead of Common Stock;

             (viii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then
current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered
by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted and to
make any other amendments or adjustments to any Option that the Administrator
determines, in its discretion and under the authority granted to it under the
Plan, to be necessary or advisable, provided however that no amendment or
adjustment to an Option that would materially and adversely affect the rights of
any Optionee shall be made without the prior written consent of the Optionee;

             (ix) to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Stock
Purchase Rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by exercising such Stock
Purchase Rights;

             (x) to initiate an Option Exchange Program;

             (xi) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards
granted under the Plan; and

             (xii) in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without
amending the Plan, to modify grants of Options or Stock Purchase Rights to
Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States
in order to recognize differences in local law, tax policies or customs.

      (e) EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION. All decisions, determinations and
interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all
Participants.

    5.    ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS. Nonstatutory Stock Options and Stock Purchase
Rights may be granted to Employees and Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may
be granted only to Employees, provided however that Employees of Affiliates
shall not be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options. An Employee or
Consultant who has been granted an Option or Stock Option Right may, if he or
she is otherwise eligible, be granted additional Options or Stock Purchase
Rights.

         (b) TYPE OF OPTION. Each Option shall be designated in the Option
Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
However,

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notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of Shares with respect to which Options are exercisable for the first time
by an Optionee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any
Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 5(b), Incentive Stock
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and
the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the date of grant
of such Option.

         (c) NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. The Plan shall not confer upon any
Participant any right with respect to continuation of employment or consulting
relationship with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her
right or the Company's right to terminate his or her employment or consulting
relationship at any time, with or without cause.

    6.   TERM OF PLAN.  The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the
Board. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner
terminated under Section 16 of the Plan.

    7.   TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
the Option Agreement; provided however that the term shall be no more than ten
(10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be
provided in the Option Agreement and provided further that, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to a person who at the time of such grant is a
Ten Percent Holder, the term of such Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5)
years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in
the Option Agreement.

    8.   LIMITATION ON GRANTS TO EMPLOYEES. Subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 13 below, the maximum number of Shares which may be subject to
Options and Stock Purchase Rights granted to any one Employee under this Plan
for any fiscal year of the Company shall be 1,000,000.

    9.   OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

         (a) EXERCISE PRICE. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by
the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement, but shall be subject to
the following:

             (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

                 (A) granted to an Employee who at the time of grant is a Ten
Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or

                 (B) granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price
shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of
grant.

             (ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option

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                 (A) granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common
Stock becomes a Listed Security to a person who is at the time of grant is a Ten
Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by the Applicable
Laws and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator;

                 (B) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant of
such Option, is a Named Executive of the Company, the per share Exercise Price
shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant if such
Option is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section
162(m) of the Code; or

                 (C) granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common
Stock becomes a Listed Security to any person other than a Named Executive or a
Ten Percent Holder, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 85% of
the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant if required by Applicable
Law and, if not so required, shall be such price as is determined by the
Administrator.

           (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options may be granted with a
per Share exercise price other than as required above pursuant to a merger or
other corporate transaction.

       (b) PERMISSIBLE CONSIDERATION. The consideration to be paid for the
Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment,
shall be determined by the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of
(1) cash; (2) check; (3) delivery of Optionee's promissory note with such
recourse, interest, security and redemption provisions as the Administrator
determines to be appropriate (subject to the provisions of Section 153 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law); (4) cancellation of indebtedness; (5) other
Shares that (x) in the case of Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option either
have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of
surrender (or such other period as may be required to avoid a charge to the
Company's earnings) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the
Company, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the
aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the Option is exercised; (6)
authorization from the Company to retain from the total number of Shares as to
which the Option is exercised that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value
on the date of exercise equal to the exercise price for the total number of
Shares as to which the Option is exercised; (7) delivery of a properly executed
exercise notice together with such other documentation as the Administrator and
the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect exercise of the Option and
prompt delivery to the Company of the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the
exercise price and any applicable withholding taxes; (8) any combination of the
foregoing methods of payment; or (9) such other consideration and method of
payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under the Applicable
Laws. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the
Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be
reasonably expected to benefit the Company and the Administrator may refuse to
accept a particular form of

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consideration at the time of any Option exercise if, in its sole discretion,
acceptance of such form of consideration is not in the best interests of the
Company at such time.

      10. EXERCISE OF OPTION.

          (a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator, consistent with the terms of the Plan, and
reflected in the Option Agreement, including vesting requirements and/or
performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee; provided
however that, if required by the Applicable Laws, any Option granted prior to
the date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security shall
become exercisable at a rate of at least 20% per year over five years from the
date the Option is granted. In the event that any of the Shares issued upon
exercise of an Option (which exercise occurs prior to the date, if any, upon
which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security) should be subject to a right
of repurchase in the Company's favor, such repurchase right shall, if required
by the Applicable Laws, lapse at the rate of at least 20% per year over five
years from the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the above, in the
case of an Option granted to an officer (including but not limited to Officers),
Director or Consultant, the Option may become exercisable, or a repurchase
right, if any, in favor of the Company shall lapse, at any time or during any
period established by the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the
discretion to determine whether and to what extent the vesting of Options shall
be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence; provided however that in the
absence of such determination, vesting of Options shall be tolled during any
such leave.

          An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

          An Option shall be deemed exercised when written notice of
such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and the Company has
received full payment for the Shares. Full payment may, as authorized by the
Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable
under Section 9(b) of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist
with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly
upon exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other
right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is
issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan.

          Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan
and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is
exercised.

          (b) TERMINATION OF STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT. In the event
of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Service Status, such Optionee may,
but only within three (3) months (or such other period of time, not less than
thirty (30) days, as is determined by

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the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option being made at the time of grant of the Option) after the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of
such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his or her Option to
the extent that he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the
Option at the date of such termination, or if the Optionee does not exercise the
Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified above, the Option
shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the
Option shall revert to the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the
Administrator or the Company, no termination shall be deemed to occur and this
Section 10(b) shall not apply if (i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an
Employee, or (ii) the Optionee is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.

          (c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. Notwithstanding Section 10(b) above,
in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Service Status as a
result of his or her total and permanent disability (as defined in Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), such Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months (or
such other period of time as is determined by the Administrator, with such
determination in the case of an Incentive Stock Option made at the time of grant
of the Option) from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the
date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent he or she was entitled to exercise
it at the date of such termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if the Optionee
does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified
above, the Option shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the
unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.

          (d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee
during the period of Continuous Service Status since the date of grant of the
Option, or within 30 days following termination of the Optionee's Continuous
Service Status, the Option may be exercised at any time within twelve (12)
months following the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration
date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement) by such
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that
had accrued at the date of death or, if earlier, the date of termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Service Status. To the extent that the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death or termination, as the case
may be, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified above, the Option shall terminate and the
Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to
the Plan.

          (e) EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD. The Administrator shall have
full power and authority to extend the period of time for which an Option is to
remain exercisable following termination of an Optionee's Continuous Service
Status from the periods set forth in Sections 10(b), 10(c) and 10(d) above or in
the Option Agreement to such greater time as the Administrator shall deem
appropriate, provided that in no event shall such Option be exercisable later
than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement.

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          (f) BUY-OUT PROVISIONS. The Administrator may at any time offer to
buy out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted under the
Plan based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and
communicate to the Optionee at the time such offer is made.

    11.   STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS.

          (a) RIGHTS TO PURCHASE. Stock Purchase Rights may be issued
either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the
Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. After the Administrator
determines that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall
advise the offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related
to the offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled
to purchase, the price to be paid, and the time within which such person must
accept such offer, which shall in no event exceed 30 days from the date upon
which the Administrator made the determination to grant the Stock Purchase
Right. In the case of a Stock Purchase Right granted prior to the date, if any,
on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if required by the
Applicable Laws at such time, the purchase price of Shares subject to such Stock
Purchase Rights shall not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of the
Shares as of the date of the offer, or, in the case of a person owning stock
representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the price shall not be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date of the offer. If
the Applicable Laws do not impose the requirements set forth in the preceding
sentence and with respect to any Stock Purchase Rights granted after the date,
if any, on which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the purchase price
of Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights shall be as determined by the
Administrator. The offer to purchase Shares subject to Stock Purchase Rights
shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement in the
form determined by the Administrator.

          (b) REPURCHASE OPTION. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise,
the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase
option exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the
purchaser's employment with the Company for any reason (including death or
disability). The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be the original purchase price paid by
the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any indebtedness of the
purchaser to the Company. The repurchase option shall lapse at such rate as the
Administrator may determine; provided however that with respect to a Stock
Purchase Right granted prior to the date, if any, on which the Common Stock
becomes a Listed Security to a purchaser who is not an officer (including an
Officer), Director or Consultant of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary
of the Company, it shall lapse at a minimum rate of 20% per year if required by
the Applicable Laws.

          (c) OTHER PROVISIONS. The Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. In
addition, the provisions of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements need not be the
same with respect to each purchaser.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>   12

          (d) RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Once the Stock Purchase Right is
exercised, the purchaser shall have the rights equivalent to those of a
stockholder, and shall be a stockholder when his or her purchase is entered upon
the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 14
of the Plan.

    12.   TAXES.

          (a) As a condition of the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase
Right granted under the Plan, the Participant (or in the case of the
Participant's death, the person exercising the Option or Stock Purchase Right)
shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the
satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax
obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise of Option or Stock
Purchase Right and the issuance of Shares. The Company shall not be required to
issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.

          (b) In the case of an Employee and in the absence of any other
arrangement, the Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to
withhold or collect from his or her compensation an amount sufficient to satisfy
such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the
date of an exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right.

          (c) This Section 12(c) shall apply only after the date, if any, upon
which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security. In the case of Participant
other than an Employee (or in the case of an Employee where the next payroll
payment is not sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, with respect to any
remaining tax obligations), in the absence of any other arrangement and to the
extent permitted under the Applicable Laws, the Participant shall be deemed to
have elected to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of the Option or Stock Purchase Right that number of Shares having a
Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date (as defined below)
equal to the amount required to be withheld. For purposes of this Section 12,
the Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the
date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined under the
Applicable Laws (the "Tax Date").

          (d) If permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, a
Participant may satisfy his or her tax withholding obligations upon exercise of
an Option or Stock Purchase Right by surrendering to the Company Shares that (i)
in the case of Shares previously acquired from the Company, have been owned by
the Participant for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii)
have a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date equal to the
amount required to be withheld.

          (e) Any election or deemed election by a Participant to have Shares
withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under Section 12(c) or (d) above
shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is
made and shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator.
Any election by a Participant under Section 12(d) above must be made on or prior
to the applicable Tax Date.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

          (f) In the event an election to have Shares withheld is made by a
Participant and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no
election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participant shall receive
the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option or Stock Purchase
Right is exercised but such Participant shall be unconditionally obligated to
tender back to the Company the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

    13.   NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS. Options and
Stock Purchase Rights may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution; provided that, after the date, if any, upon which the
Common Stock becomes a Listed Security, the Administrator may in its discretion
grant transferable Nonstatutory Stock Options pursuant to Option Agreements
specifying (i) the manner in which such Nonstatutory Stock Options are
transferable and (ii) that any such transfer shall be subject to the Applicable
Laws. The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee will not constitute a
transfer. An Option or Stock Purchase Right may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the holder of Option or Stock Purchase Right, only by such holder or
a transferee permitted by this Section 13.

    14.   ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS AND
CERTAIN OTHER TRANSACTIONS.

          (a) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action by the
stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right, the number of Shares set forth
in Sections 3(a)(i) and 8 above, and the number of shares of Common Stock that
have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options or
Stock Purchase Rights have yet been granted or that have been returned to the
Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, as
well as the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding
Option or Stock Purchase Right, shall be proportionately adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock resulting
from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination,
recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock (including any change
in the number of Shares of Common Stock effected in connection with a change of
domicile of the Company), or any other increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided however that conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose
determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as
expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any
class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the
number or price of Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option or Stock Purchase
Right.

          (b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, each outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right
shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction, unless
otherwise provided by the Administrator.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

          (c) CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS; CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of a
Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Option and Stock Purchase Right shall
be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be substituted by the
successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of such successor corporation
(such entity, the "Successor Corporation"), unless the Successor Corporation
does not agree to such assumption or substitution, in which case such Options
and Stock Purchase Rights shall terminate upon consummation of the transaction.
In the event of a Change of Control (and irrespective of whether awards
outstanding under the Plan are assumed, substituted or terminated pursuant to
this Section 14(c)), the vesting of each Option shall accelerate so that such
Options shall become exercisable as to fifty percent (50%) of the number of
Shares that would otherwise be unvested as of the consummation of the Change of
Control, and any repurchase right in favor of the Company with respect to any
Shares purchased upon exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall lapse
as to fifty percent (50%) of the number of Shares that would otherwise be
subject to such repurchase right as of the consummation of the transaction,
prior to such consummation at such time and on such conditions as the
Administrator determines. To the extent an Option or Stock Purchase Right is
being terminated pursuant to this Section 14(c), the Administrator shall notify
the Optionee of such fact at least five (5) days prior to the date of such
termination.

          For purposes of this Section 14(c), an Option or a Stock Purchase
Right shall be considered assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of
issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Corporate Transaction or a
Change of Control, as the case may be, each holder of an Option or Stock
Purchase Right would be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option or Stock
Purchase Right the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of
property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive
upon the occurrence of the transaction if the holder had been, immediately prior
to such transaction, the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock covered
by the Option or the Stock Purchase Right at such time (after giving effect to
any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the Option or Stock Purchase
Right as provided for in this Section 14); provided however that if the
consideration received in the transaction is not solely common stock of the
Successor Corporation, the Administrator may, with the consent of the Successor
Corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon exercise of the
Option or Stock Purchase Right to be solely common stock of the Successor
Corporation equal to the Fair Market Value of the per Share consideration
received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

          (d) ACCOUNTING AND TAX TREATMENT.

              (i)    POOLING ISSUES.  Notwithstanding Section 14(c) above, no
vesting acceleration or lapse of a repurchase right pursuant to such section
shall occur if such acceleration or lapse would cause a contemplated Change of
Control transaction that was intended to be accounted for as a "pooling of
interests" transaction to be ineligible for such treatment under generally
accepted accounting principles, as determined by the Company's independent
accountants prior to the Change of Control.

              (ii)   LIMITATION ON PAYMENTS.  In the event that the vesting
acceleration or lapse of a repurchase right provided for in Section 14(c) above
(x) constitutes

                                      -14-

<PAGE>   15

"parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (y) but
for this Section 14(d)(ii) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section
4999 of the Code (or any corresponding provisions of state income tax law), then
such vesting acceleration or lapse of a repurchase right shall be either

                                   (A) delivered in full, or

                                   (B) delivered as to such lesser extent which
would result in no portion of such severance benefits being subject to excise
tax under Code Section 4999,

whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal,
state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999,
results in the receipt by the Participant on an after-tax basis of the greater
amount of acceleration or lapse of repurchase rights benefits, notwithstanding
that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Code Section
4999. Any determination required under this Section 14(d) shall be made in
writing by the Company's independent accountants, whose determination shall be
conclusive and binding for all purposes on the Company and any affected
Participant. In the event that (ii)(A) above applies, then the Participant shall
be responsible for any excise taxes imposed with respect to such benefits. In
the event that (ii)(B) above applies, then each benefit provided hereunder shall
be proportionately reduced to the extent necessary to avoid imposition of such
excise taxes.

          (e) CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. In the event of any distribution to the
Company's stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other
than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of
consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion,
appropriately adjust the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each
outstanding Option or Stock Purchase Right to reflect the effect of such
distribution.

    15.   TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS. The date of
grant of an Option or Stock Purchase Right shall, for all purposes, be the date
on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option or Stock
Purchase Right, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator;
provided however that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the grant date
shall be the later of the date on which the Administrator makes the
determination granting such Incentive Stock Option or the date of commencement
of the Optionee's employment relationship with the Company. Notice of the
determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option or
Stock Purchase Right is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of
such grant.

    16.   AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

          (a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may at any time amend, alter,
suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, discontinuance or termination (other than an adjustment made
pursuant to Section 14 above) shall be made that would materially and adversely
affect the rights of any Optionee or holder of Stock Purchase Rights under any
outstanding grant, without his or her consent. In addition, to the extent
necessary and desirable to comply with the Applicable Laws, the Company shall

                                      -15-

<PAGE>   16

obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such
as degree as required.

         (b) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. No amendment or termination of
the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Options or Stock Purchase Rights
already granted, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee or holder
of the Stock Purchase Rights and the Administrator, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by such Optionee or holder and the Company.

    17.  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to
the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for
failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or
delivery would comply with the Applicable Laws, with such compliance determined
by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel.

    As a condition to the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Right, the
Company may require the person exercising such Option or Stock Purchase Right to
represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being
purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or
distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a
representation is required by law.

    18.  RESERVATION OF SHARES.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will
at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

    19.  AGREEMENTS.  Options and Stock Purchase Rights shall be evidenced by
Option Agreements and Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements, respectively, in
such form(s) as the Administrator shall from time to time approve.

    20.  STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.  If required by the Applicable Laws, continuance
of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company
within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. Such
stockholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the degree required
under the Applicable Laws.

    21.  INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS TO OPTIONEES AND PURCHASERS. Prior to the
date, if any, upon which the Common Stock becomes a Listed Security and if
required by the Applicable Laws, the Company shall provide financial statements
at least annually to each Optionee and to each individual who acquired Shares
pursuant to the Plan, during the period such Optionee or purchaser has one or
more Options or Stock Purchase Rights outstanding, and in the case of an
individual who acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such
individual owns such Shares. The Company shall not be required to provide such
information if the issuance of Options or Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan
is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure
their access to equivalent information.

                                      -16-<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.7

                              ACTIVE SOFTWARE, INC.

                        1999 DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN

       1.     PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this Directors' Stock Option
Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service as
Directors of the Company, to provide additional incentive to the Outside
Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to encourage their continued
service on the Board.

              All options granted hereunder shall be nonstatutory stock options.

       2.     DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall
              apply:

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

              (b)    "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means a sale of all or substantially
all of the Company's assets, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with
or into another corporation other than a merger or consolidation in which the
holders of more than 50% of the shares of capital stock of the Company
outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to hold (either by
the voting securities remaining outstanding or by their being converted into
voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the total voting
power represented by the voting securities of the Company, or such surviving
entity, outstanding immediately after such transaction.

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

              (d)    "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company.

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

              (f)    "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS A DIRECTOR" means the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as a Director.

              (g)    "CORPORATE TRANSACTION" means a dissolution or liquidation
of the Company, a sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or a
merger, consolidation or other capital reorganization of the Company with or
into another corporation.

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

              (i)    "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including any officer or
Director, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of
itself to constitute "employment" by the Company.

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

<PAGE>   2

              (k)    "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
All options shall be nonstatutory stock options (i.e., options that are not
intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code).

              (l)    "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an
                     Option.

              (m)    "OPTIONEE" means an Outside Director who receives an
                     Option.

              (n)    "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who is not an Employee.

              (o)    "PARENT" means a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

              (p)    "PLAN" means this 1999 Directors' Stock Option Plan.

              (q)    "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 11 of the Plan.

              (r)    "SUBSIDIARY" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now
or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

       3.     STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 300,000 Shares of Common Stock (the "Pool"). The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

       If an Option should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without
having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto
shall, unless the Plan has been terminated, become available for future grant
under the Plan. In addition, any Shares of Common Stock that are retained by the
Company upon exercise of an Option in order to satisfy the exercise price for
such Option, or any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise, shall
be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan. If
Shares that were acquired upon exercise of an Option are subsequently
repurchased by the Company, such Shares shall not in any event be returned to
the Plan and shall not become available for future grant under the Plan.

       4.     ADMINISTRATION OF AND GRANTS OF OPTIONS UNDER THE PLAN.

              (a)    ADMINISTRATOR. Except as otherwise required herein, the
Plan shall be administered by the Board.

              (b)    PROCEDURE FOR GRANTS. All grants of Options hereunder shall
be automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be made strictly in accordance with
the following provisions:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

                     (i)    No person shall have any discretion to select which
Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares
to be covered by Options granted to Outside Directors.

                     (ii)   Each Outside Director who becomes an Outside
Director after the effective date of this Plan (a "New Outside Director") shall
be automatically granted an Option to purchase 20,000 Shares (the "First
Option") on the date on which such person first becomes an Outside Director,
whether through election by the stockholders of the Company or appointment by
the Board to fill a vacancy. In addition, each Director who was elected to the
Board by the holders of the Company's Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7(a)
of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation who continues
to be a Director on the effective date of this Plan (such person, a "VC
Director") shall receive a First Option on the date of the first Annual Meeting
of Company's stockholders following the effective date of this Plan, provided
such VC Director continues to serve on the Board immediately following the time
of such Annual Meeting.

                     (iii)  Each Outside Director shall thereafter be
automatically granted an Option to purchase 5,000 Shares (a "Subsequent Option")
on the date of each Annual Meeting of the Company's stockholders immediately
following which such Outside Director is serving on the Board, provided that, on
such date, he or she shall have served on the Board for at least six (6) months
prior to the date of such Annual Meeting and provided further that each VC
Director shall not receive a Subsequent Option on the date of the first Annual
Meeting of the Company's stockholders following the effective date of this Plan.

                     (iv)   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii)
and (iii) hereof, in the event that a grant would cause the number of Shares
subject to outstanding Options plus the number of Shares previously purchased
upon exercise of Options to exceed the Pool, then each such automatic grant
shall be for that number of Shares determined by dividing the total number of
Shares remaining available for grant by the number of Outside Directors
receiving an Option on the automatic grant date. Any further grants shall then
be deferred until such time, if any, as additional Shares become available for
grant under the Plan through action of the stockholders to increase the number
of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or
expiration of Options previously granted hereunder.

                     (v)    Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii)
and (iii) hereof, any grant of an Option made before the Company has obtained
stockholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 17 hereof shall be
conditioned upon obtaining such stockholder approval of the Plan in accordance
with Section 17 hereof.

                     (vi)   The terms of each option granted hereunder shall be
as follows:

                            (1)    each option shall be exercisable only while
the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Section 9 below;

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

                            (2)    the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of
the fair market value per Share on the date of grant of each option, determined
in accordance with Section 8 hereof;

                            (3)    each First Option and each Subsequent Option
shall be exercisable in its entirety immediately upon grant.

              (c)    POWERS OF THE BOARD. Subject to the provisions and
restrictions of the Plan, the Board shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with
Section 8(b) of the Plan, the fair market value of the Common Stock; (ii) to
determine the exercise price per Share of Options to be granted, which exercise
price shall be determined in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan; (iii) to
interpret the Plan; (iv) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations
relating to the Plan; (v) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the
Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously
granted hereunder; and (vi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.

              (d)    EFFECT OF BOARD'S DECISION. All decisions, determinations
and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all Optionees and
any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.

              (e)    SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF OPTION. If the Chief
Executive Officer or his or her designee reasonably believes that an Optionee
has committed an act of misconduct, such officer may suspend the Optionee's
right to exercise any option pending a determination by the Board (excluding the
Outside Director accused of such misconduct). If the Board (excluding the
Outside Director accused of such misconduct) determines an Optionee has
committed an act of embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty, nonpayment of an obligation
owed to the Company, breach of fiduciary duty or deliberate disregard of the
Company rules resulting in loss, damage or injury to the Company, or if an
Optionee makes an unauthorized disclosure of any Company trade secret or
confidential information, engages in any conduct constituting unfair
competition, induces any Company customer to breach a contract with the Company
or induces any principal for whom the Company acts as agent to terminate such
agency relationship, neither the Optionee nor his or her estate shall be
entitled to exercise any Option whatsoever. In making such determination, the
Board of Directors (excluding the Outside Director accused of such misconduct)
shall act fairly and shall give the Optionee an opportunity to appear and
present evidence on Optionee's behalf at a hearing before the Board or a
committee of the Board.

       5.     ELIGIBILITY. Options may be granted only to Outside Directors. All
Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4(b) above. An Outside Director who has been granted an Option may, if
he or she is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options in
accordance with such provisions.

              The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect
to continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a Director,
nor shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director or the
Company may have to terminate his or her directorship at any time.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

       6.     TERM OF PLAN; EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall become effective on
the effectiveness of the registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, relating to the Company's initial public offering of
securities. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless
sooner terminated under Section 13 of the Plan.

       7.     TERM OF OPTIONS. The term of each Option shall be five (5) years
from the date of grant thereof unless an Option terminates sooner pursuant to
Section 9 below.

       8.     EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.

              (a)    EXERCISE PRICE. The per Share exercise price for the Shares
to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be 100% of the fair market
value per Share on the date of grant of the Option.

              (b)    FAIR MARKET VALUE. The fair market value shall be
determined by the Board; provided however that in the event the Common Stock is
traded on the Nasdaq National Market or listed on a stock exchange, the fair
market value per Share shall be the closing sales price on such system or
exchange on the date of grant of the Option (or, in the event that the Common
Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately preceding trading date), as
reported in The Wall Street Journal, or if there is a public market for the
Common Stock but the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market or
listed on a stock exchange, the fair market value per Share shall be the mean of
the bid and asked prices of the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on
the date of grant, as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so
reported, as otherwise reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation ("Nasdaq") System).

              (c)    FORM OF CONSIDERATION. The consideration to be paid for
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall consist entirely of
cash, check, other Shares of Common Stock having a fair market value on the date
of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which the
Option shall be exercised (which, if acquired from the Company, shall have been
held for at least six months), or any combination of such methods of payment
and/or any other consideration or method of payment as shall be permitted under
applicable corporate law.

       9.     EXERCISE OF OPTION.

              (a)    PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE; RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. Any
Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in
Section 4(b) above; provided however that no Options shall be exercisable prior
to stockholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 17 below has been
obtained.

                     An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

                     An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

Option is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may consist
of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(c) of the
Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of
the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. A share certificate for the number
of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable
after exercise of the Option. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other
right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is
issued, except as provided in Section 11 of the Plan.

                     Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a
decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for
purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as
to which the Option is exercised.

              (b)    TERMINATION OF CONTINUOUS STATUS AS A DIRECTOR. If an
Outside Director ceases to serve as a Director, he or she may, but only within
ninety (90) days after the date he or she ceases to be a Director of the
Company, exercise his or her Option to the extent that he or she was entitled to
exercise it at the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event may the Option be exercised after its term set forth in Section 7 has
expired. To the extent that such Outside Director was not entitled to exercise
an Option at the date of such termination, or does not exercise such Option (to
the extent he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified above,
the Option shall terminate and the Shares underlying the unexercised portion of
the Option shall revert to the Plan.

              (c)    DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. Notwithstanding Section 9(b) above,
in the event a Director is unable to continue his or her service as a Director
with the Company as a result of his or her total and permanent disability (as
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), he or she may, but only within twelve
(12) months from the date of such termination, exercise his or her Option to the
extent he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its
term set forth in Section 7 has expired. To the extent that he or she was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if he or she does
not exercise such Option (to the extent he or she was entitled to exercise)
within the time specified above, the Option shall terminate and the Shares
underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.

              (d)    DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an
Optionee: (A) during the term of the Option who is, at the time of his or her
death, a Director of the Company and who shall have been in Continuous Status as
a Director since the date of grant of the Option, or (B) three (3) months after
the termination of Continuous Status as a Director, the Option may be exercised,
at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of death, by the
Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that
had accrued at the date of death or the date of termination, as applicable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may the Option be exercised after its
term set forth in Section 7 has expired. To the extent that an Optionee was not
entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death or termination or if he or
she does not exercise

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

such Option (to the extent he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time
specified above, the Option shall terminate and the Shares underlying the
unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.

       10.    NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. The Option may not be sold,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any manner other
than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution or pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order (as defined by the Code or the rules
thereunder). The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee does not constitute
a transfer. An Option may be exercised during the lifetime of an Optionee only
by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section.

       11.    ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; CORPORATE
              TRANSACTIONS.

              (a)    ADJUSTMENT. Subject to any required action by the
stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option, the number of Shares of Common Stock set forth in
Sections 4(b)(ii) and (iii) above, and the number of Shares of Common Stock
which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no
Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon
cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per Share of
Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common
Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Common Stock (including any such change
in the number of Shares of Common Stock effected in connection with a change in
domicile of the Company) or any other increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the
Company; provided however that conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected without receipt of
consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly
provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price
of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

              (b)    CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS; CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of
a Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an
equivalent option shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent
or Subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the successor corporation
does not agree to assume the outstanding Options or to substitute equivalent
options, in which case the Options shall terminate upon the consummation of the
transaction.

              For purposes of this Section 11(b), an Option shall be considered
assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other
consideration upon such Corporate Transaction or Change of Control, each
Optionee would be entitled to receive upon exercise of an Option the same number
and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities
as the Optionee would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such
transaction if the Optionee had been, immediately prior to such transaction,

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the Option at such
time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by
the Option as provided for in this Section 11); provided however that if such
consideration received in the transaction was not solely common stock of the
successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of
the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon
exercise of the Option to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal to the Fair Market Value of the per Share consideration
received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

              (c)    CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. In the event of any distribution to
the Company's stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets
(other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt
of consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion,
appropriately adjust the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each
outstanding Option to reflect the effect of such distribution.

       12.    TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall,
for all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4(b) hereof.
Notice of the determination shall be given to each Outside Director to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

       13.    AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

              (a)    AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may amend or
terminate the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem
advisable; provided that, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with
Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (or any other applicable law or regulation),
the Company shall obtain approval of the stockholders of the Company to Plan
amendments to the extent and in the manner required by such law or regulation.

              (b)    EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan that would impair the rights of any Optionee shall not
affect Options already granted to such Optionee and such Options shall remain in
full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless
mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement
must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

       14.    CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to
the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for
failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or
delivery would comply with the legal requirements relating to the administration
of stock option plans under applicable U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal
and applicable state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or Nasdaq
rules or regulations to which the Company may be subject and the applicable laws
of any other country or jurisdiction where Options are granted under the Plan,
as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to
time (the "Applicable Laws"). Such compliance shall be determined by the Company
in consultation with its legal counsel.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

              As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may
require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time
of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.

       15.    RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

       16.    OPTION AGREEMENT. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

       17.    STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. If required by the Applicable Laws,
continuance of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the
Company. Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the manner and to the
degree required under the Applicable Laws.

                                      -9-

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