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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.26

                               THERMA-WAVE, INC.

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

     The following constitute the provisions of the 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan of Therma-Wave, Inc.

1.   PURPOSE.

     The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its
Designated Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the
Company. It is the intention of the Company to have the Plan qualify as an
"Employee Stock Purchase Plan" under Section 423 of the Code. The provisions of
the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and limit
participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of
the Code.

2.   DEFINITIONS.

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

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

     (c) "COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
         share.

     (d) "COMPANY" means Therma-Wave, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     (e) "COMPENSATION" means all regular straight time gross earnings,
incentive compensation, incentive payments, profit sharing payments, bonuses,
commissions, payments for overtime, shift premium and other compensation.

     (f) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE" means the absence of any
interruption or termination of service as an Employee. Continuous Status as an
Employee 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 and its Designated Subsidiaries.

     (g) "CONTRIBUTIONS" means all amounts credited to the account of a
participant pursuant to the Plan.

     (h) "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.

     (i) "DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARIES" means the Subsidiaries which have been
designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to
participate in the Plan; provided however that the Board shall only have the
discretion to designate Subsidiaries if the issuance of options to such
Subsidiary's Employees pursuant to the Plan would not cause the Company to incur
adverse accounting charges.

     (j) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including an Officer, who is customarily
employed for at least twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months
in a calendar year by the Company or one of its Designated Subsidiaries.

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

     (l) "OFFERING DATE" means the first business day of each Offering Period of
the Plan.

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     (m) "OFFERING PERIOD" means a period of twenty-four (24) months commencing
on April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each year, except for the first
Offering Period as set forth in Section 4(a).

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

     (o) "PLAN" means this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

     (p) "PURCHASE DATE" means the last day of each Purchase Period of the Plan.

     (q) "PURCHASE PERIOD" means a period of three (3) months within an Offering
Period, except for the first Purchase Period as set forth in Section 4(b).

     (r) "PURCHASE PRICE" means with respect to a Purchase Period an amount
equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b) below) of a
Share of Common Stock on the Offering Date or on the Purchase Date, whichever is
lower; provided, however, that in the event (i) of any increase in the number of
Shares available for issuance under the Plan as a result of a stockholder-
approved amendment to the Plan, and (ii) all or a portion of such additional
Shares are to be issued with respect to one or more Offering Periods that are
underway at the time of such increase ("Additional Shares"), and (iii) the Fair
Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the date of such increase (the
"Approval Date Fair Market Value") is higher than the Fair Market Value on the
Offering Date for any such Offering Period, then in such instance the Purchase
Price with respect to Additional Shares shall be 85% of the Approval Date Fair
Market Value or the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock on the Purchase
Date, whichever is lower.

     (s) "SHARE" means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with
Section 19 of the Plan.

     (t) "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not
less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or a Subsidiary,
whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired
by the Company or a Subsidiary.

3.   ELIGIBILITY.

     (a) Any person who is an Employee as of the Offering Date of a given
Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in such Offering Period under
the Plan, subject to the requirements of Section 5(a) and the limitations
imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code; provided however that eligible Employees
may not participate in more than one Offering Period at a time.

     (b) Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no
Employee shall be granted an option under the Plan (i) if, immediately after the
grant, such Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to
such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) would own capital stock of
the Company and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five
percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes
of stock of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) if such
option would permit his or her rights to purchase stock under all employee stock
purchase plans (described in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to accrue at a rate which exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000) of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 7(b) below) of such
stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in
which such option is outstanding at any time.

4.   OFFERING PERIODS AND PURCHASE PERIODS.

     (a) OFFERING PERIODS. The Plan shall be implemented by a series of
Offering Periods of twenty-four (24) months duration, with new Offering Periods
commencing on or about April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1 of each year (or
at such other time or times as may be determined by the Board of Directors). The
first Offering Period shall commence on the beginning of the effective date of
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 for the initial public offering of the
Company's Common Stock (the "IPO Date") and continue until March 31, 2002. The
Plan shall continue until terminated in accordance with Section 20 hereof. The
Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power to change the duration
and/or the frequency of Offering Periods with respect to future offerings
without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least five (5) days
prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Offering Period to be affected.

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     (b) PURCHASE PERIODS. Each Offering Period shall consist of eight (8)
consecutive Purchase Periods of three (3) months' duration. The last day of each
Purchase Period shall be the "Purchase Date" for such Purchase Period. A
Purchase Period commencing on April 1 shall end on the next June 30. A Purchase
Period commencing on July 1 shall end on the next September 30. A Purchase
Period commencing on October 1 shall end on the next December 31. A Purchase
Period commencing on January 1 shall end on the next March 31. The first
Purchase Period shall commence on the IPO Date and shall end on March 31, 2000.
The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power to change the
duration and/or frequency of Purchase Periods with respect to future purchases
without stockholder approval if such change is announced at least five (5) days
prior to the scheduled beginning of the first Purchase Period to be affected.

5.   PARTICIPATION.

     (a) An eligible Employee may become a participant in the Plan by completing
a subscription agreement on the form provided by the Company and filing it with
the Company's payroll office prior to the applicable Offering Date, unless a
later time for filing the subscription agreement is set by the Board for all
eligible Employees with respect to a given Offering Period. The subscription
agreement shall set forth the percentage of the participant's Compensation
(subject to Section 6(a) below) to be paid as Contributions pursuant to the
Plan. The eligible Employee may choose one of the following methods of payment
for the Shares to be acquired on his or her behalf during the Purchase Period:

             (i)   periodic payroll deduction; or

             (ii)  lump sum cash payment; provided, however, that the Board may,
                   for any Purchase Period, prohibit lump sum cash payments.

     (b) If periodic payroll deductions are selected, payroll deductions
shall commence on the first payroll following the Offering Date and shall end on
the last payroll paid on or prior to the last Purchase Period of the Offering
Period to which the subscription agreement is applicable, unless sooner
terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10.

     (c) If the lump sum cash payment alternative is selected, the lump sum
payment must be paid by the participant within the first fifteen (15) days of
the final month of the Purchase Period to which the subscription agreement is
applicable, unless sooner terminated by the participant as provided in Section
10.

6.   METHOD OF PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS.

     (a) A participant shall elect to have payroll deductions made on each
payday during the Offering Period in an amount not less than one percent (1%)
and not more than fifteen percent (15%) (or such greater percentage as the Board
may establish from time to time before an Offering Date) of such participant's
Compensation on each payday during the Offering Period; provided, however, that,
in the event the participant chooses the lump sum payment alternative, such
payment may not exceed 15% of the Compensation paid to such participant. All
payroll deductions made by a participant shall be credited to his or her account
under the Plan. A participant may not make any additional payments into such
account.

     (b) A participant may discontinue his or her participation in the Plan as
provided in Section 10, or, on one occasion only during a Purchase Period may
increase and on one occasion only during a Purchase Period may decrease the rate
of his or her Contributions with respect to the Offering Period by completing
and filing with the Company a new subscription agreement authorizing a change in
the payroll deduction rate or lump sum payment, as applicable. The change shall
be effective as of the beginning of the next payroll period following the date
of filing of the new subscription agreement, if the agreement is filed at least
ten (10) business days prior to such date and, if not, as of the beginning of
the next succeeding payroll period.

     (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent necessary to comply with
Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3(b) hereof, a participant's payroll
deductions or lump sum payment, as applicable, may be decreased by the Company
to 0% at any time during a Purchase Period. Payroll deductions or lump sum
payments shall re-commence at the rate provided in such participant's
subscription agreement at the beginning of the first Purchase Period which is
scheduled to end in the following calendar year, unless terminated by the
participant as provided in Section 10. In addition, a participant's payroll
deductions or lump sum payment, as

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applicable, may be decreased by the Company to 0% at any time during a Purchase
Period in order to avoid unnecessary payroll contributions as a result of
application of the maximum share limit set forth in Section 7(a), in which case
payroll deductions or lump sum payments shall re-commence at the rate provided
in such participant's subscription agreement at the beginning of the next
Purchase Period, unless terminated by the participant as provided in Section 10.

7.   GRANT OF OPTION.

     (a) On the Offering Date of each Offering Period, each eligible Employee
participating in such Offering Period shall be granted an option to purchase on
each Purchase Date a number of Shares of the Company's Common Stock determined
by dividing such Employee's Contributions accumulated prior to such Purchase
Date and retained in the participant's account as of the Purchase Date by the
applicable Purchase Price; provided however that the maximum number of Shares an
Employee may purchase during any Purchase Period shall be 400 Shares (subject to
any adjustment pursuant to Section 19 below), and provided further that such
purchase shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 13.

     (b) The fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on a given date
(the "Fair Market Value") shall be determined by the Board in its discretion
based on the closing sales price of the Common Stock for such date (or, in the
event that the Common Stock is not traded on such date, on the immediately
preceding trading date), as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation (Nasdaq) National Market or, if such price is not
reported, the mean of the bid and asked prices per share of the Common Stock as
reported by Nasdaq or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock
exchange, the Fair Market Value per share shall be the closing sales price on
such exchange on such date (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. For purposes of the Offering Date under the first Offering
Period under the Plan, the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock of
the Company shall be the Price to Public as set forth in the final prospectus
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

8.   EXERCISE OF OPTION.

     Unless a participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 10,
his or her option for the purchase of Shares will be exercised automatically on
each Purchase Date of an Offering Period, and the maximum number of full Shares
subject to the option will be purchased at the applicable Purchase Price with
the accumulated Contributions in his or her account. No fractional Shares shall
be issued. The Shares purchased upon exercise of an option hereunder shall be
deemed to be transferred to the participant on the Purchase Date. During his or
her lifetime, a participant's option to purchase Shares hereunder is exercisable
only by him or her.

9.   DELIVERY.

     As promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date of each Offering
Period, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each participant, as
appropriate, the Shares purchased upon exercise of his or her option. No
fractional Shares shall be purchased; any payroll deductions accumulated in a
participant's account which are not sufficient to purchase a full Share shall be
retained in the participant's account for the subsequent Purchase Period or
Offering Period, subject to earlier withdrawal by the participant as provided in
Section 10 below. Any other amounts left over in a participant's account after a
Purchase Date shall be returned to the participant.

10.  VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

     (a) A participant may withdraw all but not less than all the Contributions
credited to his or her account under the Plan at any time prior to each Purchase
Date by giving written notice to the Company. All of the participant's
Contributions credited to his or her account will be paid to him or her promptly
after receipt of his or her notice of withdrawal and his or her option for the
current period will be automatically terminated, and no further Contributions
for the purchase of Shares will be made during the Offering Period.

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     (b) Upon termination of the participant's Continuous Status as an Employee
prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period for any reason, including
retirement or death, the Contributions credited to his or her account will be
returned to him or her or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or
persons entitled thereto under Section 14, and his or her option will be
automatically terminated.

     (c) In the event an Employee fails to remain in Continuous Status as an
Employee of the Company for at least twenty (20) hours per week during the
Offering Period in which the employee is a participant, he or she will be deemed
to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the Contributions credited to his
or her account will be returned to him or her and his or her option terminated.

     (d) A participant's withdrawal from an offering will not have any effect
upon his or her eligibility to participate in a succeeding offering or in any
similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company.

11.  AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL.

     If the Fair Market Value of the Shares on any Purchase Date of an Offering
Period is less than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Offering Date for
such Offering Period, then every participant shall automatically (i) be
withdrawn from such Offering Period at the close of such Purchase Date and after
the acquisition of Shares for such Purchase Period, and (ii) be enrolled in the
Offering Period commencing on the first business day subsequent to such Purchase
Period.

12.  INTEREST.

     No interest shall accrue on the Contributions of a participant in the Plan.

13.  STOCK.

     (a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 19, the maximum number of
Shares which shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be 500,000
Shares or such lesser number of Shares as is determined by the Board. If the
Board determines that, on a given Purchase Date, the number of shares with
respect to which options are to be exercised may exceed (i) the number of shares
of Common Stock that were available for sale under the Plan on the Offering Date
of the applicable Offering Period, or (ii) the number of shares available for
sale under the Plan on such Purchase Date, the Board may in its sole discretion
provide (x) that the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares of
Common Stock available for purchase on such Offering Date or Purchase Date, as
applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall
determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all participants
exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and continue
all Offering Periods then in effect, or (y) that the Company shall make a pro
rata allocation of the shares available for purchase on such Offering Date or
Purchase Date, as applicable, in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and
as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all
participants exercising options to purchase Common Stock on such Purchase Date,
and terminate any or all Offering Periods then in effect pursuant to Section 20
below. The Company may make pro rata allocation of the Shares available on the
Offering Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the preceding
sentence, notwithstanding any authorization of additional Shares for issuance
under the Plan by the Company's stockholders subsequent to such Offering Date.

     (b) The participant shall have no interest or voting right in Shares
covered by his or her option until such option has been exercised.

     (c) Shares to be delivered to a participant under the Plan will be
registered in the name of the participant or in the name of the participant and
his or her spouse.

14.  ADMINISTRATION.

     The Board, or a committee named by the Board, shall supervise and
administer the Plan and shall have full power to adopt, amend and rescind any
rules deemed desirable and appropriate for the administration of the Plan and
not inconsistent with the Plan, to construe and interpret the Plan, and to make
all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the
Plan.

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15.  DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

     (a) A participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to
receive any Shares and cash, if any, from the participant's account under the
Plan in the event of such participant's death subsequent to the end of a
Purchase Period but prior to delivery to him or her of such Shares and cash. In
addition, a participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any cash from the participant's account under the Plan in the event
of such participant's death prior to the Purchase Date of an Offering Period. If
a participant is married and the designated beneficiary is not the spouse,
spousal consent shall be required for such designation to be effective.

     (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant (and
his or her spouse, if any) at any time by written notice. In the event of the
death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated
under the Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the
Company shall deliver such Shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator
of the estate of the participant, or if no such executor or administrator has
been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its
discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one or
more dependents or relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or
relative is known to the Company, then to such other person as the Company may
designate.

16.  TRANSFERABILITY.

     Neither Contributions credited to a participant's account nor any rights
with regard to the exercise of an option or to receive Shares under the Plan may
be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other
than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or as provided in Section
15) by the participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or
other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may treat
such act as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with Section 10.

17.  USE OF FUNDS.

     All Contributions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be
used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be
obligated to segregate such Contributions.

18.  REPORTS.

     Individual accounts will be maintained for each participant in the Plan.
Statements of account will be given to participating Employees at least
annually, which statements will set forth the amounts of Contributions, the per
Share Purchase Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash
balance, if any.

19.  ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

     (a) ADJUSTMENT. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the
Company, the number of Shares covered by each option under the Plan which has
not yet been exercised and the number of Shares which have been authorized for
issuance under the Plan but have not yet been placed under option (collectively,
the "Reserves"), as well as the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which
may be purchased by a participant in a Purchase Period, the number of shares of
Common Stock set forth in Section 13(a) above, and the price per Share of Common
Stock covered by each option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised,
shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of
issued Shares 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
Shares 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 issue
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into
shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof
shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an
option.

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     (b) CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of
the Company, any Purchase Period and Offering Period then in progress will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise
provided by the Board. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, each option
outstanding under the Plan shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be
substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or Subsidiary of such
successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to
assume or substitute for outstanding options, each Purchase Period and Offering
Period then in progress shall be shortened and a new Purchase Date shall be set
(the "New Purchase Date"), as of which date any Purchase Period and Offering
Period then in progress will terminate. The New Purchase Date shall be on or
before the date of consummation of the transaction and the Board shall notify
each participant in writing, at least ten (10) days prior to the New Purchase
Date, that the Purchase Date for his or her option has been changed to the New
Purchase Date and that his or her option will be exercised automatically on the
New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the
Offering Period as provided in Section 10. For purposes of this Section 19, an
option granted under the Plan shall be deemed to be assumed, without limitation,
if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon a Corporate
Transaction, each holder of an option under the Plan would be entitled to
receive upon exercise of the option 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 the transaction, 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 19); provided however that if the consideration received in the
transaction is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its
parent (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code), the Board 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 in Fair Market Value to the per Share
consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the transaction.

    The Board may, if it so determines in the exercise of its sole discretion,
also make provision for adjusting the Reserves, as well as the price per Share
of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option, in the event that the
Company effects one or more reorganizations, recapitalizations, rights offerings
or other increases or reductions of Shares of its outstanding Common Stock, and
in the event of the Company's being consolidated with or merged into any other
corporation.

20.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

     (a) The Board may at any time and for any reason terminate or amend the
Plan. Except as provided in Section 19, no such termination of the Plan may
affect options previously granted, provided that the Plan or an Offering Period
may be terminated by the Board on a Purchase Date or by the Board's setting a
new Purchase Date with respect to an Offering Period and Purchase Period then in
progress if the Board determines that termination of the Plan and/or the
Offering Period is in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders or
if continuation of the Plan and/or the Offering Period would cause the Company
to incur adverse accounting charges as a result of a change after the effective
date of the Plan in the generally accepted accounting rules applicable to the
Plan. Except as provided in Section 19 and in this Section 20, no amendment to
the Plan shall make any change in any option previously granted which adversely
affects the rights of any participant. In addition, to the extent necessary to
comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or under Section 423 of the Code
(or any successor rule or provision or any applicable law or regulation), the
Company shall obtain stockholder approval in such a manner and to such a degree
as so required.

     (b) Without stockholder consent and without regard to whether any
participant rights may be considered to have been adversely affected, the Board
(or its committee) shall be entitled to change the Offering Periods and Purchase
Periods, limit the frequency and/or number of changes in the amount withheld
during an Offering Period, establish the exchange ratio applicable to amounts
withheld in a currency other than U.S. dollars, permit payroll withholding in
excess of the amount designated by a participant in order to adjust for delays
or mistakes in the Company's processing of properly completed withholding
elections, establish reasonable waiting and adjustment periods and/or accounting
and crediting procedures to ensure that amounts applied toward the purchase of
Common Stock for each participant properly correspond with amounts withheld from
the participant's Compensation, and establish such other limitations or
procedures as the Board (or its committee) determines in its sole discretion
advisable which are consistent with the Plan.

21.  NOTICES.

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     All notices or other communications by a participant to the Company under
or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when
received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person,
designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

22.  CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES.

     Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option unless the exercise of
such option and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall
comply with all applicable provisions of law, domestic or foreign, including,
without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act,
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, applicable state securities
laws and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then
be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the
Company with respect to such compliance.

     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 any of the
aforementioned applicable provisions of law.

23.  TERM OF PLAN; EFFECTIVE DATE.

     The Plan shall become effective upon the IPO Date. It shall continue in
effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 20.

24.  ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS OF RULE 16b-3.

     The terms and conditions of options granted hereunder to, and the purchase
of Shares by, persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall comply
with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3. This Plan shall be deemed to
contain, and such options shall contain, and the Shares issued upon exercise
thereof shall be subject to, such additional conditions and restrictions as may
be required by Rule 16b-3 to qualify for the maximum exemption from Section 16
of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan transactions.

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                               THERMA-WAVE, INC.

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                        FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

                                                             New Election ______
                                                       Change of Election ______

1.   I, ________________________, hereby elect to participate in the Therma-
     Wave, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") for the Offering
     Period ______________, ____ to _______________, ____, and subscribe to
     purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock in accordance with this
     Subscription Agreement and the Plan.

2.   I elect to have Contributions in the amount of ____% of my Compensation, as
     those terms are defined in the Plan, applied to this purchase. I understand
     that this amount must not be less than 1% and not more than 15% of my
     Compensation during the Offering Period. (Please note that no fractional
     percentages are permitted).

3.   I elect to have these Contributions made through (choose one): ____ Payroll
     Deduction or ____ Lump Sum Payment

4.   In the event the payroll deduction option was selected, I hereby authorize
     payroll deductions from each paycheck during the Offering Period at the
     rate stated in Item 2 of this Subscription Agreement. I understand that all
     payroll deductions made by me shall be credited to my account under the
     Plan and that I may not make any additional payments into such account.

5.   I understand that all payments made by me shall be accumulated for the
     purchase of shares of Common Stock at the applicable purchase price
     determined in accordance with the Plan. I further understand that, except
     as otherwise set forth in the Plan, shares will be purchased for me
     automatically on the Purchase Date of each Offering Period unless I
     otherwise withdraw from the Plan by giving written notice to the Company
     for such purpose.

6.   I understand that I may discontinue at any time prior to the Purchase Date
     my participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan. I also
     understand that I can increase or decrease the rate of my Contributions on
     one occasion only with respect to any increase and one occasion only with
     respect to any decrease during any Purchase Period by completing and filing
     a new Subscription Agreement with such increase or decrease taking effect
     as of the beginning of the calendar month following the date of filing of
     the new Subscription Agreement, if filed at least ten (10) business days
     prior to the beginning of such month. Further, I may change the rate of my
     Contributions for future Offering Periods by filing a new Subscription
     Agreement, and any such change will be effective as of the beginning of the
     next Offering Period. In addition, I acknowledge that, unless I discontinue
     my participation in the Plan as provided in Section 10 of the Plan, my
     election will continue to be effective for each successive Offering Period.

7.   I have received a copy of the complete "Therma-Wave, Inc. 2000 Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan." I understand that my participation in the Plan is in
     all respects subject to the terms of the Plan.

8.   Shares purchased for me under the Plan should be issued in the name(s) of
     (name of employee or employee and spouse only):

9.   In the event of my death, I hereby designate the following as my
     beneficiary(ies) to receive all payments and shares due to me under the
     Plan:

NAME:   (Please print)
     -------------------------------------------------------
          (First)     (Middle)      (Last)

                                      98
<PAGE>

_____________________________________________________________
(Relationship)                (Address)

                                      AND

NAME:   (Please print)
     --------------------------------------------------------
                        (First)     (Middle)     (Last)

_____________________________________________________________
(Relationship)                (Address)

10.  I understand that if I dispose of any shares received by me pursuant to the
     Plan within 2 years after the Offering Date (the first day of the Offering
     Period during which I purchased such shares) or within 1 year after the
     Purchase Date, I will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having
     received ordinary compensation income at the time of such disposition in an
     amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the
     Purchase Date over the price which I paid for the shares, regardless of
     whether I disposed of the shares at a price less than their fair market
     value at the Purchase Date. The remainder of the gain or loss, if any,
     recognized on such disposition will be treated as capital gain or loss.

     I hereby agree to notify the Company in writing within 30 days after the
     date of any such disposition, and I will make adequate provision for
     federal, state or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise
     upon the disposition of the Common Stock. The Company may, but will not be
     obligated to, withhold from my compensation the amount necessary to meet
     any applicable withholding obligation including any withholding necessary
     to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits
     attributable to the sale or early disposition of Common Stock by me.

11.  If I dispose of such shares at any time after expiration of the 2-year and
     1-year holding periods, I understand that I will be treated for federal
     income tax purposes as having received compensation income only to the
     extent of an amount equal to the lesser of (1) the excess of the fair
     market value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the
     purchase price which I paid for the shares under the option, or (2) 15% of
     the fair market value of the shares on the Offering Date. The remainder of
     the gain or loss, if any, recognized on such disposition will be treated as
     capital gain or loss.

     I understand that this tax summary is only a summary and is subject to
     change. I further understand that I should consult a tax advisor concerning
     the tax implications of the purchase and sale of stock under the Plan.

12.  I hereby agree to be bound by the terms of the Plan. The effectiveness of
     this Subscription Agreement is dependent upon my eligibility to participate
     in the Plan.

SIGNATURE:______________________________________________

SOCIAL SECURITY #:______________________________________

DATE:___________________________________________________

SPOUSE'S SIGNATURE (necessary if
beneficiary is not spouse):_____________________________

_________________________________
(Signature)

                                      99
<PAGE>

________________________________
(Print name)

                               THERMA-WAVE, INC.

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                             NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

     I, __________________________, hereby elect to withdraw my participation in
the Therma-Wave, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") for the
Offering Period that began on _________ ___, _____. This withdrawal covers all
Contributions credited to my account and is effective on the date designated
below.

     I understand that all Contributions credited to my account will be paid to
me within ten (10) business days of receipt by the Company of this Notice of
Withdrawal and that my option for the current period will automatically
terminate, and that no further Contributions for the purchase of shares can be
made by me during the Offering Period.

     The undersigned further understands and agrees that he or she shall be
eligible to participate in succeeding offering periods only by delivering to the
Company a new Subscription Agreement.

Dated: ______________________     ___________________________
        Signature of Employee

                                             ____________________________
                                             Social Security Number

                                      100<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

                                THIRD AMENDMENT
                                ---------------

          THIRD AMENDMENT (this "Amendment"), dated as of March 3, 2000, among
THERMA-WAVE, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the lenders party to
the Credit Agreement referred to below (each a "Bank" and, collectively, the
"Banks") and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Agent (the "Agent"). All capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings provided such terms in the Credit Agreement referred to below.

                             W I T N E S S E T H:

          WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Banks and the Agent are parties to a Credit
Agreement, dated as of May 16, 1997 (as amended, modified or supplemented
through, but not including, the date hereof, the "Credit Agreement"); and

          WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and the Banks are willing to
grant (subject to the terms and conditions hereof), certain amendments to the
Credit Agreement as set forth herein;

          NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed:

          1.   Section 8.06 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (I)
deleting the word "and" appearing at the end of clause (iii) thereof, (ii)
deleting the period appearing at the end of clause (iv) thereof and inserting
";and" in lieu thereof and (iii) inserting the following the new clause (v) at
the end thereof:

          "(v) the Borrower may use that portion of the net cash proceeds
received by it from an initial registered public offering of Common Stock that
were not used to prepay outstanding Senior Notes as permitted by Section
8.12(ii) and/or not required to reduce the Total Revolving Loan Commitment
pursuant to Section 3.03(d) to redeem the Seller Preferred Stock in accordance
with the terms thereof so long as (I) no Default or Event of Default then exists
or would result therefrom and (ii) such net cash proceeds are so used on or
prior to April 28, 2000."

          2.   Section 8.12 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
inserting the following new language immediately after the text "Section
3.03(d)" appearing in clause (ii) thereof:

          "and/or are not used to redeem Seller Preferred Stock as permitted by
          Section 8.06(v)"

          3.   In order to induce the Banks to enter into this Amendment, the
Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (i) the representations, warranties
an agreements contained in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the Third Amendment Effective Date
(as defined below), both before and after giving effect to this Amendment and
(ii) there exists no Default or Event of Default on the Third Amendment
Effective Date, both before and after giving effect to this Amendment.

          4.   This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not constitute
a modification, acceptance or waiver of any other provision of the Credit
Agreement or any other provision of any other Credit Document.

          5.   This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts
and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which
counterparts when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which
shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of
counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Agent.

          6.   This Amendment and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the
State of New York.

          7.   This Amendment shall become effective as of the date first above
written on the date (the "Third Amendment Effective Date") when the Borrower and
the Required Banks shall have signed a counterpart hereof

                                      101
<PAGE>

(whether the same or different counterparts) and shall have delivered (included
by way of facsimile transmission) the same to the Agent at the Notice Office.

          8.   From and after the Third Amendment Effective Date, all references
in the Credit Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents to the Credit
Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as amended
hereby.

                                     * * *

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused a
counterpart of this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date
first above written.

                                        THERMA-WAVE, INC.

                                        By:  /s/ L. RAY CHRISTIE
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Title:  Vice President, CFO & Secretary

                                        BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
                                           Individually and as Agent

                                        By:  /s/ SUSAN L. LE FEVRE
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Title:  Director

                                        FLEET BANK N.A.

                                        By:_____________________________________
                                        Title:

                                      102

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