Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 4.01

                        [ARROW POINT COMMUNICATIONS LOGO]
COMMON STOCK                                                     PAR VALUE $.001

              INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
                                                               See reverse for
                                                             certain definitions

                                                             CUSIP 042810  10  1

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

IS THE OWNER OF

          FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK OF

ArrowPoint Communications, Inc. transferable in person or by duly authorized
attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate
and the shares represented hereby are subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws and all Amendments
and Restatements thereto and Supplements thereof. This Certificate is not valid
until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

   Witness the corporate seal of the Corporation and the signatures of its duly
authorized officers.

Dated:

                                                          /s/ Louis J. Volpe
                                                                   PRESIDENT AND
                                                         CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
                                 [SEAL GRAPHIC]
COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:

     AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY              /s/ Cynthia M. Deysher

                                   TRANSFER AGENT   VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
                                   AND REGISTRAR     AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
BY

                  AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

<PAGE>   2
                        ArrowPoint Communications, Inc.

The Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock. The
corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the
power, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

         The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         <S>                                          <C>
         TEN COM - as tenants in common               UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-............Custodian............
         TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties                            (Cust)               (Minor)
         JT TEN  - as joint tenants with right of                       under Uniform Gifts to Minors
                   survivorship and not as tenants                      Act...............
                   in common                                                   (State)
</TABLE>

     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list

              For value recieved, ________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER
     IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
---------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

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

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

                                                                          shares
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

of the common stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby

irrevocably constitute and appoint

                                                                        Attorney
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to transfer the said stock on the books of the within named Corporationn with

full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:
      ---------------------------

         (Signature)
                    ----------------------------------
             NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE
                     NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY
                     PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE
                     WHATSOEVER.

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

----------------------------------------------------
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE
GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS
AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBER-
SHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION
PROGRAM), PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15.<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                   AWARE, INC.

                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

     This 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") of Aware, Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (the "Company"), is designed to provide additional incentive to
executives and other key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries and for
certain other individuals providing services to or acting as directors of the
Company and its subsidiaries. The Company intends that this purpose will be
effected by the granting of incentive stock options ("Incentive Stock Options")
as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and nonqualified stock options ("Nonqualified Options") under the Plan
which afford such executives, key employees, directors and other eligible
individuals an opportunity to acquire or increase their proprietary interest in
the Company through the acquisition of shares of its Common Stock. The Company
intends that Incentive Stock Options issued under the Plan will qualify as
"incentive stock options" as defined in Section 422 of the Code and the terms of
the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with this intention. The term
"subsidiary" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424 of the Code.

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION

     2.1  THE COMMITTEE. Unless otherwise determined by the Company's Board of
Directors (the "Board"), the Plan shall be administered by a Committee (the
"Committee") consisting of at least two (2) "Outside Directors" who may also be
members of the Compensation Committee. As used herein, the term "Outside
Director" means any director who (i) is not an employee of the Company or of any
"affiliated group," as such term is defined in Section 1504(a) of the Code,
which includes the Company (an "Affiliate"), (ii) is not a former employee of
the Company or any Affiliate who is receiving compensation for prior services
(other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the Company's
or any Affiliate's taxable year, (iii) has not been an officer of the Company or
any Affiliate and (iv) does not receive remuneration from the Company or any
Affiliate, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a
director. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan shall be administered
by "non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), but the authority and
validity of any act taken or not taken by the Committee shall not be affected if
any person administering the Plan is not a non-employee director. Except as
specifically reserved to the Board under the terms of the Plan, the Committee
shall have full and final authority to operate, manage and administer the Plan
on behalf of the Company. Action by the Committee shall require the affirmative
vote of a majority of all members thereof.

     2.2  POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. Subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan, the Committee shall have the power:

          (a)  To determine from time to time the persons eligible to receive
     options and the options to be granted to such persons under the Plan and to
     prescribe the terms, conditions, restrictions, if any, and provisions
     (which need not be identical) of each option granted under the Plan to such
     persons;

          (b)  To construe and interpret the Plan and options granted thereunder
     and to establish, amend, and revoke rules and regulations for
     administration of the Plan. In this connection, the Committee may correct
     any defect or supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the
     Plan, or in any option agreement, in the manner and to the extent it shall
     deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective. All decisions
     and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of this power shall be
     final and binding upon the Company and optionees;

          (c)  To make, in its sole discretion, changes to any outstanding
     option granted under the Plan, including:

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               (i)  To reduce the exercise price of or otherwise reprice any
          outstanding option granted under the Plan, whether through amendment,
          cancellation or replacement grant or any other means, but only if (A)
          such outstanding option is held by a person other than a director,
          officer or other affiliate of the Company and (B) the aggregate number
          of shares of Common Stock (or other securities as provided in Section
          8 hereof) subject to the options to be repriced, together with all
          other options granted under the Plan that have been previously
          repriced, does not exceed 10% of the number of shares of Common Stock
          (or such other securities) authorized to be issued under the Plan from
          time to time;

               (ii) To accelerate the vesting schedule of any option, but only
          (A) upon the death, retirement or disability of the optionee, (B) in
          connection with any change in control of the Company described in
          Section 8.5, (C) in the case of any option vesting according to the
          lapse of time, to vest not more quickly than ratably over a period of
          three years, or (D) in the case of any option vesting according to
          performance criteria established by the Committee or the Board, to
          vest no earlier than the later of the first anniversary of the date of
          grant or the satisfaction of such performance criteria; or

               (iii) To extend the expiration date of any option; and

          (d)  Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as
     are deemed necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the
     Company with respect to the Plan.

SECTION 3. STOCK

     3.1  STOCK TO BE ISSUED. The stock subject to the options granted under the
Plan shall be shares of the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock, $.01
par value (the "Common Stock"), or shares of the Company's Common Stock held in
treasury. The total number of shares that may be issued pursuant to options
granted under the Plan shall not exceed an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of
Common Stock; provided, however, that the class and aggregate number of shares
which may be subject to options granted under the Plan shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof.

     3.2  EXPIRATION, CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF OPTION. Whenever any
outstanding option under the Plan expires, is cancelled or is otherwise
terminated (other than by exercise), the shares of Common Stock allocable to the
unexercised portion of such option may again be the subject of options under the
Plan.

     3.3  LIMITATION ON GRANTS. In no event may any Plan participant be granted
options with respect to more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock in any calendar
year. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an option
granted to a Plan participant in a calendar year that is subsequently forfeited,
cancelled or otherwise terminated shall continue to count toward the foregoing
limitation in such calendar year. In addition, if the exercise price of an
option is subsequently reduced, the transaction shall be deemed a cancellation
of the original option and the grant of a new one so that both transactions
shall count toward the maximum shares issuable in the calendar year of each
respective transaction.

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY

     4.1  PERSONS ELIGIBLE. Incentive Stock Options under the Plan may be
granted only to officers and other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Nonqualified Options may be granted to officers or other employees of the
Company or its subsidiaries, and to members of the Board and consultants or
other persons who render services to the Company (regardless of whether they are
also employees).

     4.2  GREATER-THAN-TEN-PERCENT STOCKHOLDERS. Except as may otherwise be
permitted by the Code or other applicable law or regulation, no Incentive Stock
Option shall be granted to an individual who, at the time the option is granted,
owns (including ownership attributed pursuant to Section 424 of the Code) more
than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or any subsidiary (a "greater-than-ten-percent stockholder"), unless
such Incentive Stock Option provides that (i) the purchase price per share shall
not be less than one hundred ten percent of the fair market value of the Common
Stock at the time such option

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is granted, and (ii) that such option shall not be exercisable to any extent
after the expiration of five years from the date it is granted.

     4.3  MAXIMUM AGGREGATE FAIR MARKET VALUE. The aggregate fair market value
(determined at the time the option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect
to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any
optionee during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other plans of the
Company or its subsidiary for the issuance of incentive stock options) shall not
exceed $100,000 (or such greater amount as may from time to time be permitted
with respect to incentive stock options by the Code or any other applicable law
or regulation).

SECTION 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR DEATH OF OPTIONEE

     5.1  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Except as may be otherwise expressly
provided herein, options shall terminate on the earlier of:

          (a)  the date of expiration thereof,
          (b)  the date of termination of the optionee's employment with or
     services to the Company by it for cause (as determined by the Company), or
     voluntarily by the optionee; or

          (c)  thirty days after the date of termination of the optionee's
     employment with or services to the Company by it without cause;

provided that Nonqualified Options granted to persons who are not employees of
the Company need not, unless the Committee determines otherwise, be subject to
the provisions set forth in clauses (b) and (c) above.

     An employment relationship between the Company and the optionee shall be
deemed to exist during any period in which the optionee is employed by the
Company or any subsidiary. Whether authorized leave of absence, or absence on
military or government service, shall constitute termination of the employment
relationship between the Company and the optionee shall be determined by the
Committee at the time thereof.

     As used herein, "cause" shall mean (x) any material breach by the optionee
of any agreement to which the optionee and the Company are both parties, (y) any
act or omission to act by the optionee which may have a material and adverse
effect on the Company's business or on the optionee's ability to perform
services for the Company, including, without limitation, the commission of any
crime (other than ordinary traffic violations), or (z) any material misconduct
or material neglect of duties by the optionee in connection with the business or
affairs of the Company or any affiliate of the Company.

     5.2  DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death
or permanent and total disability of the holder of an option prior to
termination of the optionee's employment with or services to the Company and
before the date of expiration of such option, such option shall terminate on the
earlier of such date of expiration or one year following the date of such death
or disability. After the death of the optionee, his/her executors,
administrators or any person or persons to whom his/her option may be
transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, shall have the
right, at any time prior to such termination, to exercise the option to the
extent the optionee was entitled to exercise such option immediately prior to
his/her death. Permanent and total disability shall be determined in accordance
with Section 22(e)(3) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.

SECTION 6. TERMS OF THE OPTION AGREEMENTS

     Each option agreement shall be in writing and shall contain such terms,
conditions, restrictions, if any, and provisions as the Committee shall from
time to time deem appropriate. Such provisions or conditions may include without
limitation restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, or such other provisions
as shall be determined by the Committee; provided that such additional
provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or condition of the
Plan and such additional provisions shall not cause any Incentive Stock Option
granted under the Plan to fail to qualify as an incentive option within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Code. Option agreements need not be

<PAGE>   4

identical, but each option agreement by appropriate language shall include the
substance of all of the following provisions:

     6.1  EXPIRATION OF OPTION. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan
or of any option agreement, each option shall expire on the date specified in
the option agreement, which date shall not, in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, be later than the tenth anniversary (fifth anniversary in the case of a
greater-than-ten-percent stockholder) of the date on which the option was
granted, or as specified in Section 5 hereof.

     6.2  EXERCISE. Subject to Section 7.3 hereof, each option may be exercised,
so long as it is valid and outstanding, from time to time in part or as a whole,
subject to any limitations with respect to the number of shares for which the
option may be exercised at a particular time and to such other conditions as the
Committee in its discretion may specify upon granting the option.

     6.3  PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price per share under each option shall
be determined by the Committee at the time the option is granted; provided,
however, that the option price shall not be less than the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date the option is granted (110% of the fair market
value in the case of a greater-than-ten-percent stockholder). For the purpose of
the Plan the fair market value of the Common Stock shall be the closing price
per share on the date of grant of the option as reported by a nationally
recognized stock exchange, or, if the Common Stock is not listed on such an
exchange, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System, Inc. ("NASDAQ"), or, if the Common Stock is not
quoted on NASDAQ, the fair market value as determined by the Committee.

     6.4  TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Options shall not be transferable by the
optionee otherwise than by will or under the laws of descent and distribution,
and shall be exercisable, during his or her lifetime, only by him or her.

     6.5  RIGHTS OF OPTIONEES. No optionee shall be deemed for any purpose to be
the owner of any shares of Common Stock subject to any option unless and until
the option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, and the
Company shall have issued and delivered the shares to the optionee.

     6.6  REPURCHASE RIGHT. The Committee may in its discretion provide upon the
grant of any option hereunder that the Company shall have an option to
repurchase upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee all or
any number of shares purchased upon exercise of such option. The repurchase
price per share payable by the Company shall be such amount or be determined by
such formula as is fixed by the Committee at the time the option for the shares
subject to repurchase is granted. In the event the Committee shall grant options
subject to the Company's repurchase option, the certificates representing the
shares purchased pursuant to such option shall carry a legend satisfactory to
counsel for the Company referring to the Company's repurchase option.

     6.7  "LOCKUP" AGREEMENT. The Committee may in its discretion specify upon
granting an option that the optionee shall agree for a period of time (not to
exceed 180 days) from the effective date of any registration of securities of
the Company (upon request of the Company or the underwriters managing any
underwritten offering of the Company's securities), not to sell, make any short
sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any
shares issued pursuant to the exercise of such option, without the prior written
consent of the Company or such underwriters, as the case may be.

SECTION 7. METHOD OF EXERCISE; PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE

     7.1  METHOD OF EXERCISE. Any option granted under the Plan may be exercised
by the optionee by delivering to the Company on any business day a written
notice specifying the number of shares of Common Stock the optionee then desires
to purchase and specifying the address to which the certificates for such shares
are to be mailed (the "Notice"), accompanied by payment for such shares.

     7.2  PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE. Payment for the shares of Common Stock
purchased pursuant to the exercise of an option shall be made by:

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          (a)  cash in an amount, or a check, bank draft or postal or express
     money order payable in an amount, equal to the aggregate exercise price for
     the number of shares specified in the Notice;

          (b)  with the consent of the Committee, shares of Common Stock of the
     Company having a fair market value (as defined for purposes of Section 6.3
     hereof) equal to such aggregate exercise price;

          (c)  with the consent of the Committee, a personal recourse note
     issued by the optionee to the Company in a principal amount equal to such
     aggregate exercise price and with such other terms, including interest rate
     and maturity, as the Committee may determine in its discretion; provided
     that the interest rate borne by such note shall not be less than the lowest
     applicable federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code;

          (d)  with the consent of the Committee, such other consideration that
     is acceptable to the Committee and that has a fair market value, as
     determined by the Committee, equal to such aggregate exercise price,
     including any broker-directed cashless exercise/resale procedure adopted by
     the Committee; or

          (e)  with the consent of the Committee, any combination of the
     foregoing.

As promptly as practicable after receipt of the Notice and accompanying payment,
the Company shall deliver to the optionee certificates for the number of shares
with respect to which such option has been so exercised, issued in the
optionee's name; provided, however, that such delivery shall be deemed effected
for all purposes when the Company or a stock transfer agent of the Company shall
have deposited such certificates in the United States mail, addressed to the
optionee, at the address specified in the Notice.

     7.3  SPECIAL LIMITS AFFECTING SECTION 16(B) OPTION HOLDERS. Shares issuable
upon exercise of options granted to a person who in the opinion of the Committee
may be deemed to be a director or officer of the Company within the meaning of
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder shall
not be sold or disposed of until after the expiration of six months following
the date of grant.

SECTION 8. CHANGES IN COMPANY'S CAPITAL STRUCTURE

     8.1  RIGHTS OF COMPANY. The existence of outstanding options shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to make
or authorize, without limitation, any or all adjustments, recapitalizations,
reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital structure or its
business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any issue of Common
Stock, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock or
other capital stock ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the rights
thereof, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or
transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate
act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

     8.2  RECAPITALIZATION, STOCK SPLITS AND DIVIDENDS. If the Company shall
effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares or other capital readjustment,
the payment of a stock dividend, or other increase or reduction of the number of
shares of the Common Stock outstanding, in any such case without receiving
compensation therefor in money, services or property, then (i) the number,
class, and price per share of shares of stock subject to outstanding options
hereunder shall be appropriately adjusted in such a manner as to entitle an
optionee to receive upon exercise of an option, for the same aggregate cash
consideration, the same total number and class of shares as he or she would have
received as a result of the event requiring the adjustment had he or she
exercised his or her option in full immediately prior to such event; (ii) the
number and class of shares with respect to which options may be granted under
the Plan; and (iii) the number and class of shares set forth in Section 3.3
shall be adjusted by substituting for the total number of shares of Common Stock
then reserved for issuance under the Plan that number and class of shares of
stock that the owner of an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock
would own as the result of the event requiring the adjustment.

     8.3  MERGER WITHOUT CHANGE OF CONTROL. After a merger of one or more
corporations into the Company, or after a consolidation of the Company and one
or more corporations in which (i) the Company shall be the surviving
corporation, and (ii) the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such
merger or

<PAGE>   6

consolidation own after such merger or consolidation shares representing at
least fifty percent of the voting power of the Company, each holder of an
outstanding option shall, at no additional cost, be entitled upon exercise of
such option to receive in lieu of the number of shares as to which such option
shall then be so exercisable, the number and class of shares of stock or other
securities to which such holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms
of the agreement of merger or consolidation if, immediately prior to such merger
or consolidation, such holder had been the holder of record of a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares for which such option was
exercisable.

     8.4  SALE OR MERGER WITH CHANGE OF CONTROL. If the Company is merged into
or consolidated with another corporation under circumstances where the Company
is not the surviving corporation, or if there is a merger or consolidation where
the Company is the surviving corporation but the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not own after such merger
or consolidation shares representing at least fifty percent of the voting power
of the Company, or if the Company is liquidated, or sells or otherwise disposes
of substantially all of its assets to another corporation while unexercised
options remain outstanding under the Plan, (i) subject to the provisions of
clause (iii) below, after the effective date of such merger, consolidation,
liquidation, sale or disposition, as the case may be, each holder of an
outstanding option shall be entitled, upon exercise of such option, to receive,
in lieu of shares of Common Stock, shares of such stock or other securities,
cash or property as the holders of shares of Common Stock received pursuant to
the terms of the merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or disposition; (ii)
the Committee may accelerate the time for exercise of all unexercised and
unexpired options to and after a date prior to the effective date of such
merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or disposition, as the case may be,
specified by the Committee; or (iii) all outstanding options may be cancelled by
the Committee as of the effective date of any such merger, consolidation,
liquidation, sale or disposition provided that (x) notice of such cancellation
shall be given to each holder of an option and (y) each holder of an option
shall have the right to exercise such option to the extent that the same is then
exercisable or, if the Committee shall have accelerated the time for exercise of
all unexercised and unexpired options, in full during the 30-day period
preceding the effective date of such merger, consolidation, liquidation, sale or
disposition.

     8.5  ADJUSTMENTS TO COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO OPTIONS. Except as hereinbefore
expressly provided, the issue by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property,
or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights
or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations
of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not
affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the
number or price of shares of Common Stock then subject to outstanding options.

     8.6  MISCELLANEOUS. Adjustments under this Section 8 shall be determined by
the Committee, and such determinations shall be conclusive. No fractional shares
of Common Stock shall be issued under the Plan on account of any adjustment
specified above.

SECTION 9. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS

     9.1  INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. The Company may require any person to whom
an option is granted, as a condition of exercising such option, to give written
assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the Company to the effect that
such person is acquiring the Common Stock subject to the option for his or her
own account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or
otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the Company deems
necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and applicable state
securities laws.

     9.2  COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. The Company shall not be required to
sell or issue any shares under any option if the issuance of such shares shall
constitute a violation by the optionee or by the Company of any provisions of
any law or regulation of any governmental authority. In addition, in connection
with the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or hereafter amended (the
"Act"), upon exercise of any option, the Company shall not be required to issue
such shares unless the Committee has received evidence satisfactory to it to the
effect that the holder of such option will not transfer such shares except
pursuant to a registration statement in effect under such Act or unless an
opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company has been received by the Company
to the effect that such registration is not required. Any determination in this
connection by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. In the event
the shares issuable on exercise of an option are not registered under the Act,
the Company

<PAGE>   7

may imprint upon any certificate representing shares so issued the following
legend or any other legend which counsel for the Company considers necessary or
advisable to comply with the Act and with applicable state securities laws:

          The shares of stock represented by this certificate have not been
          registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the securities
          laws of any State and may not be sold or transferred except upon such
          registration or upon receipt by the Corporation of an opinion of
          counsel satisfactory to the Corporation, in form and substance
          satisfactory to the Corporation, that registration is not required for
          such sale or transfer.

     The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any
securities covered hereby pursuant to the Act; and in the event any shares are
so registered the Company may remove any legend on certificates representing
such shares. The Company shall not be obligated to take any other affirmative
action in order to cause the exercise of an option or the issuance of shares
pursuant thereto to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental
authority.

     9.3  EMPLOYMENT OBLIGATION. The granting of any option shall not impose
upon the Company any obligation to employ or continue to employ any optionee;
and the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any officer or other
employee shall not be diminished or affected by reason of the fact that an
option has been granted to him or her.

SECTION 10. WITHHOLDING TAXES

     10.1 RIGHTS OF COMPANY. The Company may require an employee exercising a
Nonqualified Option, or disposing of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
the exercise of an Incentive Option in a disqualifying disposition (as defined
in Section 421(b) of the Code), to reimburse the Company for any taxes required
by any government to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by the Company
in respect of the issuance or disposition of such shares. In lieu thereof, the
Company shall have the right to withhold the amount of such taxes from any other
sums due or to become due from the Company to the employee upon such terms and
conditions as the Company may prescribe. The Company may, in its discretion,
hold the stock certificate to which such employee is otherwise entitled upon the
exercise of an Option as security for the payment of any such withholding tax
liability, until cash sufficient to pay that liability has been received or
accumulated.

     10.2 PAYMENT IN SHARES. An employee may elect to have such tax withholding
obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to
withhold from shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the exercise of a
Nonqualified Option a number of shares with an aggregate fair market value (as
defined in Section 6.3 hereof determined as of the date the withholding is
effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due with respect to such
exercise, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Common Stock owned by
the employee with an aggregate fair market value (as defined in Section 6.3
hereof determined as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy
the withholding amount due. With respect to any employee who is subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the following additional restrictions shall
apply:

          (a)  the election to satisfy tax withholding obligations relating to
     an option exercise in the manner permitted by this Section 10.2 shall be
     made either (1) during the period beginning on the third business day
     following the date of release of quarterly or annual summary statements of
     sales and earnings of the Company and ending on the twelfth business day
     following such date, or (2) at least six (6) months prior to the date of
     exercise of the option;

          (b)  such election shall be irrevocable;

          (c)  such election shall be subject to the consent or approval of the
     Committee; and

          (d)  the Common Stock withheld to satisfy tax withholding, if granted
     at the discretion of the Committee, must pertain to an option which has
     been held by the employee for at least six (6) months from the date of
     grant of the option.

<PAGE>   8

     10.3 NOTICE OF DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION. Each holder of an Incentive
Option shall agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after making a
disqualifying disposition (as defined in Section 421(b) of the Code) of any
Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Incentive Option.

SECTION 11. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN

     11.1 AMENDMENT. The Board may terminate the Plan and may amend the Plan at
any time, and from time to time, subject to the limitation that, except as
provided in Section hereof, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by
the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law and
regulations, at an annual or special meeting held within 12 months before or
after the date of adoption of such amendment, in any instance in which such
amendment would: (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued under, or as to which Options may be granted pursuant to, the Plan; or
(ii) change in substance the provisions of Section hereof relating to
eligibility to participate in the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Board is expressly authorized to amend the Plan, at any time and
from time to time, to confirm it to the provisions of Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, as that Rule may be amended from time to time.

     Except as provided in Section hereof, the rights and obligations under any
option granted before amendment of this Plan or any unexercised portion of such
option shall not be adversely affected by amendment of this Plan or such option
without the consent of the holder of such option.

     11.2 TERMINATION. This Plan shall terminate as of the tenth anniversary of
its effective date. The Board may terminate this Plan at any earlier time for
any or no reason. No Option may be granted after the Plan has been terminated.
No Option granted while this Plan is in effect shall be altered or impaired by
termination of this Plan, except upon the consent of the holder of such Option.
The power of the Committee to construe and interpret this Plan and the Options
granted prior to the termination of this Plan shall continue after such
termination.

SECTION 12. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF PLAN

     Neither the adoption of this Plan by the Board of Directors nor the
submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be
construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such
other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including the granting of
stock options otherwise than under this Plan, and such arrangements may be
either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN

     This Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board, provided
that the stockholders of the Company shall have approved this Plan within twelve
months prior to or following the adoption of this Plan by the Board. Subject to
the foregoing, options may be granted under the Plan at any time subsequent to
its effective date; provided, however, that (a) no such option shall be
exercised or exercisable unless the stockholders of the Company shall have
approved the Plan within twelve months prior to or following the adoption of
this Plan by the Board, and (b) all options issued prior to the date of such
stockholders' approval shall contain a reference to such condition. No option
may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date.
The Plan shall terminate (i) when the total amount of the Common Stock with
respect to which options may be granted shall have been issued upon the exercise
of options or (ii) by action of the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 11
hereof, whichever shall first occur.

SECTION 14. PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     14.1 SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
of this Plan, each of which shall remain in full force and effect.

     14.2 CONSTRUCTION. The headings in this Plan are included for convenience
only and shall not in any way effect the meaning or interpretation of this Plan.
Any term defined in the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa. The
words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" refer to this Plan as a whole and not
to any particular part

<PAGE>   9

of this Plan. The word "including" as used herein shall not be construed so as
to exclude any other thing not referred to or described.

     14.3 FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Company and any holder of an option shall from
time to time execute and deliver any and all further instruments, documents and
agreements and do such other and further acts and things as may be required or
useful to carry out the intent and purpose of this Plan and such option and to
assure to the Company and such option holder the benefits contemplated by this
Plan; provided, however, that neither the Company nor any option holder shall in
any event be required to take any action inconsistent with the provisions of
this Plan.

     14.4 GOVERNING LAW. This Plan and each Option shall be governed by the laws
of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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