COGNEX CORPORATION
                            1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

         1.       Purpose of the Plan.

         This stock option plan (the "Plan") is intended to provide  incentives:
(a) to the employees of Cognex  Corporation  (the  "Company") and any present or
future  subsidiaries  of the Company by  providing  them with  opportunities  to
purchase  stock in the  Company  pursuant  to options  granted  hereunder  which
qualify as "incentive  stock options" under Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code")  ("ISO" or "ISOs");  and (b) to officers,
employees,  consultants  and  directors of the Company and any  subsidiaries  by
providing them with  opportunities  to purchase stock in the Company pursuant to
options granted hereunder which do not qualify as ISOs  ("Non-Qualified  Option"
or "Non-Qualified Options"). As used herein, the terms "parent" and "subsidiary"
mean "parent corporation" and "subsidiary corporation,"  respectively,  as those
terms  are  defined  in  Section  424 of the Code and the  Treasury  Regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Regulations").

         2.       Stock Subject to the Plan.

         (a) The initial  maximum  number of shares of common  stock,  par value
$.002 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") available for stock options and
stock awards granted under the Plan through the end of the Company's fiscal year
ending December 31, 1998 shall be 1,700,000 shares of Common Stock. In addition,
effective  January 1, 1999 and each January 1 thereafter during the term of this
Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock available for grants of stock options
and stock  awards made after such  January 1 under this Plan shall be  increased
automatically  to an  amount  equal to 4.5% of the total  number  of issued  and
outstanding shares of Common Stock (including shares held in treasury) as of the
close of business on December 31 of the preceding  year.  The Board of Directors
shall initially  reserve for issuance under this Plan 1,700,000 shares of Common
Stock.  Effective  January 1, 1999 and  effective on each  succeeding  January 1
thereafter  during the term of this Plan,  the Board of Directors  shall reserve
for  issuance  under this Plan such number of shares of Common Stock as is equal
to the sum of (i) the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  issuable  upon the
exercise  of options  then  outstanding  under the Plan;  and (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock  resulting from the  calculation  set forth in the second
sentence  of  this  paragraph.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   the  maximum
cumulative  number of shares of Common Stock  available for grants of ISOs under
the Plan  shall be  1,500,000.  The  maximum  number of  shares of Common  Stock
available for grants shall be subject to  adjustment in accordance  with Section
12 hereof. Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury.

         (b) To the extent that any stock option shall lapse, terminate,  expire
or otherwise be cancelled without the issuance of shares of Common Stock, or any
stock  award is settled  in cash,  the  shares of Common  Stock  covered by such
option(s) or award shall again be available for the granting of stock options or
awards.


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         (c)  Common  Stock  issuable  under  the  Plan may be  subject  to such
restrictions on transfer,  repurchase  rights or other  restrictions as shall be
determined by the Committee (as defined in Section 3 below).

         3.       Stock Awards.

         (a) The Committee may grant, subject to the limitation on the number of
shares of Common  Stock  available  under  Section  2  hereof,  stock  awards to
employees  of and other key  individuals  engaged  to  provide  services  to the
Company and its subsidiaries.  A stock award may be made in stock or denominated
in stock subject to final settlement in cash or stock.  Each stock award granted
shall be subject  to such terms and  conditions  as the  Committee,  in its sole
discretion,  shall  determine  and  establish.  These may  include,  but are not
limited to,  establishing a holding period during which stock issued pursuant to
an award may not be transferred, requiring forfeiture of the stock award because
of termination of employment or failure to achieve  specific  objectives such as
measures of individual,  business unit or Company  performance,  including stock
price  appreciation.  In  determining  a person's  eligibility  to be granted an
award,  as well as in  determining  the  number of shares to be  awarded  to any
person,  the  Committee  shall  take into  account  the  person's  position  and
responsibilities,  the nature and value to the  Company or its  subsidiaries  of
such person's service and  accomplishments,  such person's present and potential
contribution to the success of the Company or its  subsidiaries,  and such other
factors as the Committee may deem relevant.

         (b) The  Committee  may provide  that a stock award earn  dividends  or
dividend equivalents, which may be paid currently or may be deferred in payment,
including  reinvestment  in additional  shares covered by the  applicable  stock
award, all on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

         (c) The  Committee  shall  require  that  for  any  stock  award  to be
effective,  the recipient of the award shall execute an Award  Agreement at such
time and in such form as the Committee shall determine.  Any Award Agreement may
require  that  for any or some of the  shares  issued,  the  awardee  must pay a
minimum consideration, whether in cash, property or services, as may be required
by applicable law or the Committee, as the Committee shall determine.

         (d) A stock award may be granted  singly or in combination or in tandem
with another stock award or stock  option.  A stock award may also be granted as
the  payment  form in  settlement  of a grant or right  under any other  Company
employee benefit or compensation plan, including the plan of an acquired entity.

         (e)               Directors who are not otherwise employees of the 
Company or a subsidiary shall not be eligible to receive stock awards pursuant 
to the Plan.


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         (f) No award  granted to any person under the Plan shall be  assignable
or transferable  otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
Any award granted under the Plan shall be null and void and without  effect upon
any  attempted  assignment  or transfer,  except as herein  provided,  including
without limitation any purported  assignment,  whether voluntary or by operation
of law, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition,  attachment, trustee process
or similar process, whether legal or equitable, upon such award.

         4.       Administration of the Plan.

         (a) At the  discretion  of the Company's  Board of Directors,  the Plan
shall be  administered  either (i) by the full Board of Directors of the Company
or (ii) by a committee  (the  "Committee")  consisting of two or more members of
the Company's  Board of  Directors.  In the event the full Board of Directors is
the  administrator  of the Plan,  references  herein to the  Committee  shall be
deemed to include the full Board of  Directors.  The Board of Directors may from
time to time appoint a member or members of the Committee in substitution for or
in addition to the member or members  then in office and may fill  vacancies  on
the Committee  however caused.  The Committee shall choose one of its members as
Chairman  and shall  hold  meetings  at such  times and  places as it shall deem
advisable.  A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum
and any  action may be taken by a majority  of those  present  and voting at any
meeting.

         (b) Any action may also be taken  without the necessity of a meeting by
a written instrument signed by a majority of the Committee.  The decision of the
Committee as to all  questions of  interpretation  and  application  of the Plan
shall be final,  binding and conclusive on all persons. The Committee shall have
the authority to adopt,  amend and rescind such rules and regulations as, in its
opinion,  may be advisable in the  administration of the Plan. The Committee may
correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any  inconsistency in the
Plan or in any  option  agreement  granted  hereunder  in the  manner and to the
extent it shall deem  expedient  to carry the Plan into  effect and shall be the
sole and final judge of such expediency. No Committee member shall be liable for
any action or determination made in good faith.

         (c)  Subject  to the terms of the Plan,  the  Committee  shall have the
authority to (i)  determine  the  employees of the Company and its  subsidiaries
(from among the class of employees  eligible under Section 5 to receive ISOs) to
whom ISOs may be  granted,  and to  determine  (from  the  class of  individuals
eligible under Section 5 to receive Non-Qualified Options) to whom Non-Qualified
Options may be granted; (ii) determine the time or times at which options may be
granted; (iii) determine the option price of shares subject to each option which
price  shall not be less than the  minimum  price  specified  in Section 7; (iv)
determine whether each option granted shall be an ISO or a Non-Qualified Option;
(v)  determine  (subject to Section 10) the time or times when each option shall
become  exercisable  and the duration of the  exercise  period;  (vi)  determine
whether  restrictions  such as  repurchase  options  are to be imposed on shares
subject to options and the nature of such restrictions;  and (vii) determine the
size of any Options  under the Plan,  taking into account the position or office
of the optionee with the

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Company,  the job  performance  of the  optionee  and such other  factors as the
Committee  may deem  relevant  in the good  faith  exercise  of its  independent
business  judgment.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3 the Committee  shall
also have the authority to grant stock awards under this Plan.

         5.       Options.

         Options  designated  as ISOs may be granted  only to  employees  of the
Company or any subsidiary.  Non-Qualified Options may be granted to any officer,
employee,  consultant or director of the Company or of any of its  subsidiaries.
"Subsidiary"  or  "subsidiaries"  shall be as defined in Section 424 of the Code
and the Treasury  Regulations  promulgated  thereunder (the  "Regulations")  and
shall include subsidiaries which became such after adoption of the Plan.

         In  determining  the  eligibility  of an  individual  to be  granted an
option,  as well as in  determining  the number of shares to be  optioned to any
individual,   the   Committee   shall  take  into   account  the   position  and
responsibilities of the individual being considered, the nature and value to the
Company or its  subsidiaries of his or her service and  accomplishments,  his or
her  present  and  potential  contribution  to the success of the Company or its
subsidiaries, and such other factors as the Committee may deem relevant.

         No option  designated as an ISO shall be granted to any employee of the
Company or any subsidiary if such employee owns,  immediately prior to the grant
of an option,  stock  representing more than 10% of the combined voting power of
all  classes  of stock of the  Company or a parent or a  subsidiary,  unless the
purchase  price for the stock  under such  option  shall be at least 110% of its
fair market  value at the time such  option is granted  and the  option,  by its
terms,  shall  not be  exercisable  more  than  five  years  from the date it is
granted. In determining the stock ownership under this paragraph, the provisions
of Section  424(d) of the Code shall be  controlling.  In  determining  the fair
market  value under this  paragraph,  the  provisions  of Section 7 hereof shall
apply.

         The maximum number of shares of the Company's Common Stock with respect
to which an option or options  may be granted to any  employee  in any  calendar
year shall not exceed  500,000  shares,  taking into account  shares  subject to
options granted and terminated, or repriced, during such calendar year.

         6.       Option Agreement.

         Each option shall be evidenced by an option agreement (the "Agreement")
duly  executed on behalf of the Company and by the  optionee to whom such option
is granted,  which  Agreement  shall comply with and be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan.  The Agreement may contain such other terms,  provisions
and conditions which are not inconsistent  with the Plan as may be determined by
the Committee, provided that options designated as incentive stock options shall
meet all of the conditions for incentive stock options as defined in Section 422
of

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the Code.  The date of grant of an option shall be as  determined by the 
Committee. More than one option may be granted to an individual.

         7.       Option Price.

         The option price or prices of shares of the Company's  Common Stock for
options  designated  as  non-qualified  stock options shall be determined by the
Committee,  but in no event  shall the  option  price of a  non-qualified  stock
option be less than the par value of such Common Stock at the time the option is
granted.  The option price or prices of shares of the Company's Common Stock for
incentive  stock  options  shall be no less than the fair  market  value of such
Common Stock at the time the option is granted as determined by the Committee in
accordance  with  Section  422 of  the  Code  and  the  Regulations  promulgated
thereunder

         8.       Manner of Payment; Manner of Exercise.

         (a) The option  agreement  may provide for the payment of the  exercise
price by delivery of (i) cash or a check  payable to the order of the Company in
an amount equal to the  exercise  price of such  options,  (ii) shares of Common
Stock of the Company  owned by the optionee  having a fair market value equal in
amount  to the  exercise  price of the  options  being  exercised,  or (iii) any
combination  of (i) and (ii),  provided,  however,  that payment of the exercise
price by  delivery  of  shares  of  Common  Stock of the  Company  owned by such
optionee  may be made  only if such  payment  does not  result  in a  charge  to
earnings for financial  accounting purposes as determined by the Committee.  The
fair  market  value of any shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock  which may be
delivered  upon  exercise of an option shall be  determined  by the Committee in
accordance with Section 7 hereof. With the consent of the Committee, payment may
also be made by delivery of a properly  executed exercise notice to the Company,
together with a copy of irrevocable  instruments to a broker to deliver promptly
to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price. To
facilitate the foregoing,  the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated
procedures with one or more brokerage firms.

         (b) To the extent that the right to purchase shares under an option has
accrued  and is in effect,  options may be  exercised  in full at one time or in
part  from time to time,  by  giving  written  notice,  signed by the  person or
persons exercising the option, to the Company, stating the number of shares with
respect to which the option is being  exercised,  accompanied by payment in full
for such shares as  provided  in  subparagraph  (a) above.  Upon such  exercise,
delivery of a certificate for paid-up non-assessable shares shall be made at the
principal  office of the Company to the person or persons  exercising the option
at such time, during ordinary business hours, not earlier than ten business days
from the date of receipt of the notice by the Company, as shall be designated in
such  notice,  or at such time,  place and  manner as may be agreed  upon by the
Company and the person or persons exercising the option.

         9.       Exercise of Options.

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         Each option granted under the Plan shall,  subject to Section 10(b) and
Section 12 hereof,  be  exercisable at such time or times and during such period
as shall be set forth in the  Agreement;  provided,  however,  that no incentive
stock  option  granted  under the Plan  shall  have a term in excess of ten (10)
years from the date of grant,  and no  non-qualified  stock option granted under
the Plan  shall  have a term in excess of  fifteen  (15)  years from the date of
grant.

         To the extent that an option to purchase  shares is not exercised by an
optionee when it becomes initially exercisable, it shall not expire but shall be
carried  forward and shall be  exercisable,  on a  cumulative  basis,  until the
expiration of the exercise period. No partial exercise may be made for less than
two hundred fifty (250) full shares of Common Stock.

         10.      Term of Options; Exercisability.

         (a)      Term.

                  (1) Each incentive stock option shall expire not more than ten
         (10) years from the date of the granting thereof,  but shall be subject
         to earlier  termination as herein provided.  Each  non-qualified  stock
         option  shall  expire not more than fifteen (15) years from the date of
         the granting  thereof,  but shall be subject to earlier  termination as
         herein provided.

                  (2) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10, an option
         granted to any  employee  optionee  who ceases to be an employee of the
         Company  or one of its  subsidiaries  shall  terminate  on the  seventh
         business day after the date such  optionee  ceases to be an employee of
         the  Company  or one of its  subsidiaries,  or on the date on which the
         option expires by its terms, whichever occurs first.

                  (3) If such  termination of employment is because of dismissal
         for cause or  because  the  employee  is in  breach  of any  employment
         agreement,  such  option  will  terminate  immediately  on the date the
         optionee  ceases  to be an  employee  of  the  Company  or  one  of its
         subsidiaries.

                  (4) If such  termination of employment is because the optionee
         has become permanently disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3)
         of the  Code),  such  option  shall  terminate  on the  last day of the
         twelfth month from the date such optionee ceases to be an employee,  or
         on the date on which the option expires by its terms,  whichever occurs
         first.

                  (5) In the  event of the  death of any  optionee,  any  option
         granted to such optionee shall terminate on the last day of the twelfth
         month  from the date of  death,  or on the  date on  which  the  option
         expires by its terms, whichever occurs first.


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                  (6) Notwithstanding subparagraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) above,
         the Committee shall have the authority to extend the expiration date of
         any outstanding  option in  circumstances in which it deems such action
         to be  appropriate,  provided that no such  extension  shall extend the
         term of an  option  beyond  the date on which  the  option  would  have
         expired if no termination of the optionee's employment had occurred.

         (b)      Exercisability.

                  (1) An option granted to an employee optionee who ceases to be
         an  employee  of  the  Company  or one of  its  subsidiaries  shall  be
         exercisable  only to the extent that the right to purchase shares under
         such  option  has  accrued  and is in effect on the date such  optionee
         ceases to be an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries.

                  (2) In the  event of the  death of any  optionee,  the  option
         granted  to  such  optionee  may be  exercised  by the  estate  of such
         optionee,  or by any  person  or  persons  who  acquired  the  right to
         exercise  such  option by  bequest or  inheritance  or by reason of the
         death of such optionee.

         11.      Transferability.

         The right of any optionee to exercise any option  granted to him or her
shall not be assignable or transferable by such optionee  otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and  distribution,  except that an optionee  may transfer
options  that  are not ISOs  granted  under  Plan to the  optionee's  spouse  or
children or to a trust for the benefit of the optionee or the optionee's  spouse
or children. ISOs shall be exercisable during the lifetime of such optionee only
by him/her. Any option granted under the Plan shall be null and void and without
effect upon the  bankruptcy  of the  optionee to whom the option is granted,  or
upon any attempted assignment or transfer, except as herein provided,  including
without limitation any purported  assignment,  whether voluntary or by operation
of law, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition, attachment, divorce, trustee
process or similar process, whether legal or equitable, upon such option.

         12.      Recapitalizations, Reorganizations and the Like.

         (a) In the event that the outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the
Company are changed into or exchanged  for a different  number or kind of shares
or other  securities of the Company or of another  corporation  by reason of any
reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
split-up,  combination  of  shares,  or  dividends  payable  in  capital  stock,
appropriate  adjustment  shall be made in the  number  and kind of  shares as to
which  options  and stock  awards may be granted  under the Plan and as to which
outstanding  options or awards or portions  thereof  then  unexercised  shall be
exercisable, to the end that the proportionate interest of the optionee or award
recipient  shall be  maintained  as before the  occurrence  of such event;  such
adjustment  in  outstanding  options  shall be made without  change in the total
price

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applicable to the  unexercised  portion of such options and with a corresponding
adjustment in the option price per share.

         (b) In addition,  unless  otherwise  determined by the Committee in its
sole discretion,  in the case of any (i) sale or conveyance to another entity of
all or  substantially  all of the  property  and  assets of the  Company or (ii)
Change in Control (as hereinafter  defined) of the Company,  the purchaser(s) of
the Company's assets or stock may, in his, her or its discretion, deliver to the
optionee the same kind of consideration that is delivered to the shareholders of
the Company as a result of such sale,  conveyance  or Change in Control,  or the
Committee may cancel all outstanding  options in exchange for  consideration  in
cash or in kind,  which  consideration  in both cases shall be equal in value to
the value of those shares of stock or other  securities  the optionee would have
received had the option been exercised (to the extent then  exercisable)  and no
disposition  of the shares  acquired  upon such exercise been made prior to such
sale,  conveyance  or Change in Control,  less the option price  therefor.  Upon
receipt  of  such  consideration  by  the  optionee,  his or  her  option  shall
immediately  terminate and be of no further  force and effect.  The value of the
stock or other  securities  the optionee  would have  received if the option had
been  exercised  shall  be  determined  in good  faith by the  Committee  of the
Company,  and in the case of  shares  of the  Common  Stock of the  Company,  in
accordance  with the  provisions of Section 7 hereof.  The Committee  shall also
have the  power and  right to  accelerate  the  exercisability  of any  options,
notwithstanding  any  limitations  in this Plan or in the Agreement  upon such a
sale,  conveyance or Change in Control.  Upon such acceleration,  any options or
portion thereof originally  designated as incentive stock options that no longer
qualify as incentive  stock options under Section 422 of the Code as a result of
such acceleration shall be redesignated as non-qualified  stock options.  To the
extent permitted by law, upon such a sale, conveyance or a Change of Control the
Committee may, in its sole  discretion,  amend any Award Agreement  issued under
the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate,  including without  limitation,
by amendments  that advance the dates upon which any or all  outstanding  awards
shall become free of  restrictions  or shall become  issued or payable,  or that
advance the dates upon which any or all outstanding  awards shall  terminate.  A
"Change in Control"  shall be deemed to have occurred if any person,  or any two
or more persons acting as a group, and all affiliates of such person or persons,
who  prior  to such  time  owned  less  than  fifty  percent  (50%)  of the then
outstanding Common Stock of the Company, shall acquire such additional shares of
the  Company's  Common  Stock  in  one  or  more  transactions,   or  series  of
transactions,  such that following such transaction or transactions, such person
or group and  affiliates  beneficially  own fifty  percent  (50%) or more of the
Company's Common Stock outstanding.

         (c) Upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all options granted
under  this Plan  shall  terminate,  but each  optionee  (if at such time in the
employ of or otherwise  associated with the Company or any of its  subsidiaries)
shall have the right,  immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation,  to
exercise his or her option to the extent then  exercisable.  The Committee shall
have the right to accelerate  the vesting of any award or take such other action
with respect thereto as the Committee shall in its sole discretion  determine in
the event of any contemplated dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

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         (d) No fraction of a share shall be purchasable or deliverable upon the
exercise of any option or stock award, but in the event any adjustment hereunder
of the number of shares  covered by the option or award  shall cause such number
to include a fraction of a share, such fraction shall be adjusted to the nearest
smaller whole number of shares.

         13.      No Special Employment Rights.

         Nothing  contained in the Plan or in any option  granted under the Plan
shall confer upon any option  holder any right with respect to the  continuation
of his  employment  by the Company (or any  subsidiary)  or interfere in any way
with the right of the Company (or any  subsidiary),  subject to the terms of any
separate  employment  agreement to the contrary,  at any time to terminate  such
employment or to increase or decrease the compensation of the option holder from
the  rate in  existence  at the  time of the  grant  of an  option.  Whether  an
authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government service, shall
constitute termination of employment shall be determined by the Committee at the
time.

         14.      Withholding.

         The Company's  obligation to deliver shares upon settlement of an award
or upon the exercise of any option  granted  under the Plan, or to make any cash
payment in connection with an award, and any payments or transfers under Section
12 hereof, shall be subject to the option or award holder's  satisfaction of all
applicable Federal,  state and local governmental tax withholding  requirements.
Whenever  cash is to be paid  pursuant to an award  under the Plan,  the Company
shall be entitled to deduct  therefrom  an amount  sufficient  in its opinion to
satisfy all federal,  state and local tax  withholding  requirements  related to
such payment. Whenever shares of Common Stock are to be delivered pursuant to an
award or the exercise of an option under the Plan, the Company shall be entitled
to require as a condition  of delivery  that the option or award holder remit to
the  Company an amount  sufficient  in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all
federal,  state and local  governmental  tax  withholding  requirements  related
thereto. With the approval of the Committee, which it shall have sole discretion
to grant,  and on such terms and  conditions as the  Committee  may impose,  the
option or award holder may satisfy the  foregoing  condition by electing to have
the Company  withhold from delivery shares having a value equal to the amount of
tax to be  withheld.  The  Committee  shall also have the right to require  that
shares be withheld from delivery to satisfy such condition.

         15.      Restrictions on Issue of Shares.

         (a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8, the Company may delay
the issuance of shares  covered by the exercise of an option and the delivery of
a  certificate  for such shares until one of the following  conditions  shall be
satisfied:


                                      - 9 -




                                           

                           (i)      The shares with respect to which such option
has been exercised are at the time of the issue of such shares effectively  
registered or qualified under applicable  Federal and state securities acts now 
in force or as hereafter amended; or

                           (ii)     Counsel for the Company shall have given an 
opinion, which opinion shall not be unreasonably  conditioned or withheld, that 
such shares are exempt from  registration and qualification  under applicable  
Federal and state securities acts now in force or as hereafter amended.

         (b) It is intended  that all  exercises of options  shall be effective,
and the Company  shall use its best efforts to bring about  compliance  with the
above  conditions  within a reasonable  time,  except that the Company  shall be
under no obligation to qualify shares or to cause a registration  statement or a
post-effective  amendment to any  registration  statement to be prepared for the
purpose  of  covering  the issue of shares in respect of which any option may be
exercised, except as otherwise agreed to by the Company in writing.

         16.      Purchase for Investment; Rights of Holder on Subsequent 
Registration.

         Unless the shares to be issued upon exercise of an option granted under
the Plan have been  effectively  registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
now in force or hereafter  amended,  the Company shall be under no obligation to
issue any  shares  covered by any option  unless the person who  exercises  such
option, in whole or in part, shall give a written representation and undertaking
to the  Company  which is  satisfactory  in form and  scope to  counsel  for the
Company  and upon  which,  in the  opinion  of such  counsel,  the  Company  may
reasonably  rely, that he or she is acquiring the shares issued pursuant to such
exercise of the option for his or her own account as an investment  and not with
a view to, or for sale in connection  with, the distribution of any such shares,
and that he or she will make no transfer of the same except in  compliance  with
any  rules  and  regulations  in force at the time of such  transfer  under  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  or any other  applicable  law,  and that if shares are
issued without such  registration,  a legend to this effect may be endorsed upon
the  securities so issued.  In the event that the Company  shall,  nevertheless,
deem it necessary or desirable to register  under the  Securities Act of 1933 or
other applicable  statutes any shares with respect to which an option shall have
been exercised,  or to qualify any such shares for exemption from the Securities
Act of 1933 or other applicable statutes,  then the Company may take such action
and may require from each  optionee such  information  in writing for use in any
registration  statement,   supplementary  registration  statement,   prospectus,
preliminary  prospectus or offering circular as is reasonably necessary for such
purpose and may require reasonable indemnity to the Company and its officers and
directors and controlling  persons from such holder against all losses,  claims,
damages and  liabilities  arising from such use of the  information so furnished
and caused by any untrue statement of any material fact therein or caused by the
omission to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the  statements  therein not  misleading in the light of the  circumstances
under which they were made.


                                     - 10 -




                                                   
         17.      Loans.

         The Company may not make loans to  optionees to permit them to exercise
options.

         18.      Modification of Outstanding Options.

         The Committee may  authorize  the amendment of any  outstanding  option
with the  consent of the  optionee  when and subject to such  conditions  as are
deemed to be in the best  interests  of the Company and in  accordance  with the
purposes of this Plan.

         19.      Approval of Shareholders.

         The Plan  shall be  subject  to  approval  by the vote of  shareholders
holding at least a majority of the voting stock of the Company  voting in person
or by proxy at a duly held  shareholders'  meeting,  or by  written  consent  of
shareholders  holding at least a majority  of the voting  stock of the  Company,
within  twelve  (12)  months  after  the  adoption  of the Plan by the  Board of
Directors  and  shall  take  effect as of the date of  adoption  by the Board of
Directors  upon such  approval.  The  Committee may grant options under the Plan
prior to such  approval,  but any such option shall  become  effective as of the
date of grant only upon such  approval and,  accordingly,  no such option may be
exercisable prior to such approval.

         20.      Termination and Amendment.

         Unless sooner  terminated as herein provided,  the Plan shall terminate
ten (10) years  from the date upon which the Plan was duly  adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Company.  The Board of Directors  may at any time  terminate
the Plan or make such  modification or amendment  thereof as it deems advisable;
provided,  however,  that except as  provided  in this  Section 20, the Board of
Directors  may not,  without  the  approval of the  shareholders  of the Company
obtained in the manner  stated in Section  19,  increase  the maximum  number of
shares for which options may be granted or change the  designation  of the class
of persons  eligible  to  receive  options  under the Plan.  The  Committee  may
terminate,  amend or modify any  outstanding  option  without the consent of the
option  holder,  provided,  however,  that,  except as  provided  in Section 12,
without the consent of the optionee,  the Committee  shall not change the number
of shares subject to an option,  nor the exercise price thereof,  nor extend the
term of such option.

         21.      Reservation of Stock.

         The Company  shall at all times during the term of the Plan reserve and
keep  available  such number of shares of stock as will be sufficient to satisfy
the  requirements  of the Plan and shall pay all fees and  expenses  necessarily
incurred by the Company in connection therewith.


                                     - 11 -




                                             
         22.      Notices.

         Any communication or notice required or permitted to be given under the
Plan  shall be in  writing,  and  mailed  by  registered  or  certified  mail or
delivered  by hand,  if to the  Company,  to its  principal  place of  business,
attention: President, and, if to an optionee, to the address as appearing on the
records of the Company.


Approved by the Directors: February 27, 1998      
Approved by the Stockholders:  April 21, 1998

330789-1

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