As filed with the  Securities and Exchange Commission on September 17, 2002
    Registration No. 333-________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933


                                 SYNOPSYS, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
              DELAWARE                                    56-1546236
    (State or other jurisdiction               (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  of incorporation or organization)
                           700 EAST MIDDLEFIELD ROAD,
                         MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
                 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                CO-DESIGN AUTOMATION, INC. 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                           (Full title of the Plan)


                                 AART J. DE GEUS
                             CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 SYNOPSYS, INC.
                            700 EAST MIDDLEFIELD ROAD
                         MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94043
                      (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (650) 584-5000
          (Telephone Number, including area code, of agent for service)


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

====================================== ===================== ==================


                                                        Proposed Maximum                                      Amount of
  Title of Securities             Amount to be         Offering Price per       Proposed Maximum             Registration
   to be Registered              Registered(1)             Share(2)         Aggregate Offering Price(2)       Fee(2)(3)
                                                                                                
 CO-DESIGN AUTOMATION, INC.
 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 Common Stock, $0.001 par value    30,726 shares             $2.24                $68,826.24                    $6.33

===================================== ====================== ==================

(1)      This  Registration  Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
         Common Stock which become issuable under the Co-Design Automation, Inc.
         1998 Stock  Option Plan by reason of any stock  dividend,  stock split,
         recapitalization  or other  similar  transaction  effected  without the
         Registrant's  receipt of consideration  which results in an increase in
         the number of the outstanding shares of Registrant's Common Stock.

(2)      Calculated  solely for purposes of this  offering  under Rule 457(h) of
         the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  on the basis of the weighted
         average exercise price of the outstanding options.

(3)      The Registrant filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (Registration
         No.  333-75638)  on  December  21, 2001 (the "Form  S-4"),  to register
         certain shares of its common stock in connection  with the  transaction
         described therein. The filing fee remitted for the S-4 was $209,040.53.
         Subsequently,  the Commission issued Fee Rate Advisory No. 8 on January
         16, 2002, which retroactively  reduced Securities Act filing fees. As a
         result,   the  Registrant  now  has  a  credit  of  $128,573  with  the
         Commission,  as  reduced  by  the  fees  for  subsequent  filings.  The
         registration  fee for  this  registration  statement  is  being  offset
         against such credit.







                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     Synopsys,  Inc. (the  "Registrant")  hereby  incorporates by reference into
this Registration  Statement the following  documents  previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

(a)               The  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal
                  year ended  October  31,  2001 filed  with the  Commission  on
                  January 25,  2002 (as  amended on Form  10-K/A  filed with the
                  Commission  on March 1,  2002),  pursuant to Section 13 of the
                  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act");

(b)               The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the periods
                  ended  January 31, 2002,  and April 30,  2002,  filed with the
                  Commission on March 18, 2002 and June 17, 2002, respectively;

(c)               The  Registrant's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K filed with the
                  Commission  on December 5, 2001,  May 7, 2002 and June 6, 2002
                  (as  amended on Form 8-K/A filed with the  commission  on July
                  30, 2002);

(d)               The  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  filed
                  with the  Commission on January 24, 1992,  pursuant to Section
                  12(g) of the 1934 Act, in which there is described  the terms,
                  rights and provisions  applicable to the  Registrant's  Common
                  Stock; and

(e)               The  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A,  filed
                  with the  Commission on October 31, 1997,  pursuant to Section
                  12(g)  of the  1934  Act,  and as  amended  on Form  8-A/A  on
                  December  13,  1999  and  April  10,  2000 in  which  there is
                  described the terms,  rights and provisions  applicable to the
                  Registrant's Preferred Share Purchase Rights.

                  All reports and  definitive  proxy or  information  statements
filed  pursuant to Section 13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the
date of this Registration  Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which  indicates that all securities  offered hereby have been sold or
which  de-registers  all securities then remaining  unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  into this  Registration  Statement  and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement  contained in a
document  incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration  Statement
to the extent that a statement  contained  herein or in any  subsequently  filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

                  Not applicable.

Item 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

                  Not applicable.

Item 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

                  Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law permits a
corporation to include in its charter  documents,  and in agreements between the
corporation  and its directors and officers,  provisions  expanding the scope of
indemnification beyond that specifically provided by the current law.

                                      II-2


                  Article X of  the Registrant's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides for the indemnification of directors to the fullest
extent permissible under Delaware Law.

                  Article  VII of  the  Registrant's  Bylaws  provides  for  the
indemnification  of officers,  directors and third parties to the fullest extent
permissible  under  Delaware Law,  which  provisions are deemed to be a contract
between the Registrant and each director and officer who serves in such capacity
while such bylaw is in effect.

                  The  Registrant  has entered into  indemnification  agreements
with its directors and executive  officers,  in addition to the  indemnification
provided   for  in  the   Registrant's   Bylaws,   and  intends  to  enter  into
indemnification  agreements with any new directors and executive officers in the
future. The Registrant has also obtained liability  insurance for the benefit of
its directors and officers.

Item 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

                  Not applicable.

Item 8.  EXHIBITS

  EXHIBIT NUMBER     EXHIBIT

  4            Instruments  Defining  the Rights of  Stockholders.  Reference is
               made to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, together
               with the amendments and exhibits thereto,  which are incorporated
               herein by reference pursuant to Items 3(d) and 3(e).
  5            Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
 23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
 23.2          Consent of KPMG LLP.
 23.3          Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.
 23.4          Consent of KPMG LLP.
 23.5          Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
               Exhibit 5.
 24            Power of Attorney.  Reference is made to page II-5 of this
               Registration Statement.
 99.1          Co-Design Automation, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan.


Item 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

                  A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:  (1) to file,
during  any period in which  offers or sales are being  made,  a  post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required
by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts
or events  arising after the effective date of this  Registration  Statement (or
the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,  individually or in the
aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the information set forth in this
Registration  Statement  and (iii) to  include  any  material  information  with
respect  to  the  plan  of  distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  this
Registration  Statement  or any  material  change  to such  information  in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not  apply  if the  information  required  to be  included  in a  post-effective
amendment  by those  clauses  is  contained  in  periodic  reports  filed by the
Registrant  pursuant  to Section  13 or  Section  15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated  by reference into this  Registration  Statement;  (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment  shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the
securities  offered  therein and the  offering of such  securities  at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;  and (3) to remove
from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any of the securities
being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at the  termination  of the  Co-Design
Automation, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan.

                  B. The  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for
purposes of  determining  any  liability  under the 1933 Act, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
1934 Act that is  incorporated  by reference  into this  Registration  Statement
shall be deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities
offered  therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-3


                  C. Insofar as  indemnification  for liabilities  arising under
the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors,  officers or controlling  persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification  provisions  summarized in Item 6
or  otherwise,  the  Registrant  has been  advised  that,  in the opinion of the
Commission,  such  indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the
1933  Act  and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than  the  payment  by  the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,  officer,  or controlling
person of the  Registrant  in the  successful  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8,  and has duly  caused
this  Registration  Statement  to be  signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Mountain View, State of California on
this 17th day of September, 2002.

                                 SYNOPSYS, INC.



                                 By: /s/ Aart J. de Geus
                                     Aart J. de Geus
                                     Chief Executive Officer



                                      II-4




                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                  KNOW ALL  PERSONS  BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned
officers  and  directors of Synopsys,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation,  do hereby
constitute  and appoint Aart J. de Geus and Robert B. Henske,  and each of them,
the lawful  attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and authority to do any
and all acts and  things  and to  execute  any and all  instruments  which  said
attorneys  and  agents,  and any one of  them,  determine  may be  necessary  or
advisable or required to enable said  corporation  to comply with the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  and any rules or  regulations or  requirements  of the
Securities  and  Exchange   Commission  in  connection  with  this  Registration
Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority,
the powers  granted  include  the power and  authority  to sign the names of the
undersigned  officers and directors in the  capacities  indicated  below to this
Registration  Statement,  to any  and all  amendments,  both  pre-effective  and
post-effective,  and supplements to this Registration Statement,  and to any and
all  instruments  or  documents  filed as part of or in  conjunction  with  this
Registration  Statement or amendments or  supplements  thereof,  and each of the
undersigned  hereby ratifies and confirms that all said attorneys and agents, or
any one of them,  shall do or cause to be done by virtue  hereof.  This Power of
Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the undersigned has executed this
Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  this  Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

    Signature                     Title                       Date

                           Chief Executive Officer
                            (Principal Executive
   /s/ Aart de Geus         Officer) and Chairman            September 17, 2002
   Aart J. de Geus        of the Board of Directors


   /s/ Chi-Foon Chan       President, Chief Operating        September 17, 2002
   Chi-Foon Chan             Officer and Director



   /s/ Robert B. Henske      Chief Financial Officer         September 17, 2002
   Robert B. Henske        (Principal Financial Officer)



   /s/ Richard Rowley         Corporate Controller           September 17, 2002
   Richard Rowley         Principal Accounting Officer)


   /s/ Andy D. Bryant               Director                 September 17, 2002
   Andy D. Bryant


   /s/ Deborah A. Coleman           Director                 September 17, 2002
   Deborah A. Coleman

                                      II-5




   /s/ Bruce R. Chizen              Director                 September 17, 2002
   Bruce R. Chizen


   /s/ Richard Newton               Director                 September 17, 2002
   A. Richard Newton


   /s/ Sasson Somekh                Director                 September 17, 2002
   Sasson Somekh


   /s/ Steven C. Walske             Director                 September 17, 2002
   Steven C. Walske





                                      II-6




                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                 WASHINGTON, D.C.


                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                     UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                 SYNOPSYS, INC.







                                      II-7




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


  EXHIBIT NUMBER     EXHIBIT

        4            Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders.  Reference
                     is made to Registrant's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                     together with the  amendments and exhibits  thereto,  which
                     are  incorporated  herein by  reference  pursuant  to Items
                     3(d)and 3(e).
        5            Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
       23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
       23.2          Consent of KPMG LLP.
       23.3          Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.
       23.4          Consent of KPMG LLP.
       23.5          Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                     Exhibit 5.
       24            Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-5 of this
                     Registration Statement.
       99.1          Co-Design Automation, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan.








                                                                      EXHIBIT 5

             OPINION AND CONSENT OF BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP



                               September 17, 2002


Synopsys, Inc.
700 E. Middlefield Road
Mountain View, California 94043

             Re:      Synopsys, Inc. - Registration Statement for Offering
                      of 30,736 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

                  We have  acted  as  counsel  to  Synopsys,  Inc.,  a  Delaware
corporation  (the  "Company"),  in connection with the  registration on Form S-8
(the "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
30,726 shares of the Company's common stock for issuance under the Co-Design
Automation, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.

     We  have  reviewed  the  Company's  charter  documents  and  the  corporate
proceedings  taken by the Company in connection  with the assumption of the Plan
and the  outstanding  options  thereunder.  Based on such review,  we are of the
opinion that if, as and when the shares of the Company's common stock are issued
and sold (and the consideration therefor received) pursuant to the provisions of
option   agreements  duly  authorized  under  the  Plan  and  the  documentation
evidencing  the  assumption of the option by the Company and in accordance  with
the Registration Statement, such shares will be duly authorized, legally issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

                  We consent to the filing of this  opinion  letter as Exhibit 5
to the Registration Statement.

                  This opinion  letter is rendered as of the date first  written
above and we  disclaim  any  obligation  to advise you of facts,  circumstances,
events or developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which
may  alter,  affect or modify  the  opinion  expressed  herein.  Our  opinion is
expressly  limited  to the  matters  set forth  above and we render no  opinion,
whether by  implication  or otherwise,  as to any other matters  relating to the
Company,  the Plan or the shares of the Company's  common stock  issuable  under
such plan.


                                Very truly yours,

                                /s/ BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP

                                BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP





                                                                    Exhibit 23.1



                           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We hereby consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of Synopsys,  Inc. of our report  dated  February 6, 2002
relating to the financial statements of Avant! Corporation, which appears in the
Current  Report on Form 8-K of  Synopsys,  Inc.,  dated July 30,  2002.  We also
hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration  Statement
on Form S-8 of Synopsys,  Inc. of our report dated  January 18, 2002 relating to
the financial  statements of Forefront Venture Partners,  L.P., which appears in
the Current Report on Form 8-K of Synopsys, Inc., dated July 26, 2002.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
September 16, 2002



                                                                   Exhibit 23.2

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

The Board of Directors
Avant! Corporation:


     We consent to the  incorporation by reference of our reports dated February
12,  2001,  except  as to Note 7,  which is as of March  23,  2001  included  in
Synopsys  Inc.'s  current  report on Form 8-K  filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission on June 6, 2002, as amended on Form 8-K/A filed on July 30,
2002,  relating to the  consolidated  balance  sheet of Avant!  Corporation  and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000, and the related consolidated statements of
earnings, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each
of the years in the  two-year  period ended  December 31, 2000,  and the related
financial statement schedule,  which reports appear in the Annual Report on Form
10-K of Avant! Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2001.



                                         /s/ KPMG LLP
Mountain View, California
September 16, 2002



                                                                   Exhibit 23.3


                CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Forefront Venture Partners, L.P.
Santa Clara, CA

     We hereby consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this  Registration
Statement  on Form S-8 of Synopsys,  Inc. of our report dated  February 9, 2001,
except  for Note 4, as to which  the date is March  30,  2001,  relating  to the
financial  statements  of Forefront  Venture  Partners,  L.P. as of December 31,
2000, and the related  statements of operations and changes in partners' capital
for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2000  and  1999,   appearing  in  Avant!
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP

BDO Seidman, LLP
San Jose, California
September 13, 2002



                                                                   Exhibit 23.4



                      CONSENT OF KPMG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Synopsys, Inc.:

     We consent to  incorporation  herein of our report dated November 20, 2001,
except as to Notes 9 and 11, which are as of December 20, 2001,  relating to the
consolidated balance sheets of Synopsys, Inc. and subsidiaries as of October 31,
2001  and  2000,  and  the  related   consolidated   statements  of  operations,
stockholders'  equity and comprehensive  income,  and cash flows for each of the
years in the two-year period ended October 31, 2001, the one-month  period ended
October 31, 1999,  and the year ended  September  30,  1999,  and of our related
report dated November 20, 2001, relating to the consolidated financial statement
schedule,  which  reports  appear in the annual report on Form 10-K of Synopsys,
Inc.


/s/ KPMG LLP

Mountain View, California
September 16, 2002



                                                                   Exhibit 99.1


                      CO DESIGN AUTOMATION, INC.

                        1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                     As Adopted September 30,1998



     1.  PURPOSE.  This 1998 Stock  Option  Plan  ("Plan") is  established  as a
compensatory  plan to attract,  retain and provide equity incentives to selected
persons to  promote  the  financial  success of Co Design  Automation,  Inc.,  a
California corporation (the "Company'). Capitalized terms not previously defined
herein are defined in Section 17 of this Plan.

     2.  TYPES OF  OPTIONS  AND  SHARES.  Options  granted  under this Plan (the
"Options") may be either (a) incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning
of Section 422A of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code"),
or (b) nonqualified stock options ("NQSOs"), as designated at the time of grant.
The shares of stock that may be purchased upon exercise of Options granted under
this Plan (the "Shares") are shares of the Common Stock of the Company.

     3.  NUMBER OF SHARES.  The  aggregate  number of Shares  that may be issued
pursuant to Options  granted  under this Plan is  1,720,000  Shares,  subject to
adjustment  as provided  in this Plan.  If any Option  expires or is  terminated
without being  exercised in whole or in part, the unexercised or released Shares
from such  Options will be  available  for future grant and purchase  under this
Plan.  At all times  during the term of this Plan,  the Company will reserve and
keep  available  such  number of  Shares  as will be  required  to  satisfy  the
requirements of outstanding Options under this Plan.

     4. ELIGIBILITY.  Options may be granted to employees,  officers, directors,
consultants,  independent  contractors and advisors  (provided such consultants,
contractors  and advisors  render bona fide services not in connection  with the
offer and sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction) of the Company or
any Parent,  Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. ISOs may be granted only to
employees  (including  officers and  directors  who are also  employees)  of the
Company or a Parent or Subsidiary  of the Company.  The Committee (as defined in
Section  14) in its sole  discretion  will  select  the  recipients  of  Options
("Optionees").  An Optionee may be granted more than one Option under this Plan.
The Company may also, from time to time, assume  outstanding  options granted by
another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company
or otherwise, by either (i) granting an option under this Plan in replacement of
the option assumed by the Company,  or (ii) treating the assumed option as if it
had been granted  under this Plan if the terms of such  assumed  option could be
applied  to  an  option  granted  under  this  Plan.  Such  assumption  will  be
permissible  if the holder of the assumed  option would have been eligible to be
granted an option  hereunder if the other  company had applied the rules of this
Plan to such grant.

     5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.  The Committee  will determine  whether
each  Option is to be an ISO or an NQSO,  the  number of Shares  subject  to the
Option, the exercise price of the Option, the period during which the Option may
be exercised,  and all other terms and conditions of the Option,  subject to the
following:

     (a) Form of Option  Grant.  Each  Option  granted  under  this Plan will be
evidenced by a written Stock Option Grant (the "Grant") in such form (which need
not be the same for each  Optionee)  as the  Committee  will  from  time to time
approve, which Grant will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions
of this Plan.

     (b) Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which
the Committee  makes the  determination  to grant such Option  unless  otherwise
specified by the Committee.  The Grant representing the Option will be delivered
to the Optionee with a copy of this Plan within a reasonable time after the date
of grant.

     (c) Exercise Price. The exercise price of an NQSO will be not less than 85%
of the Fair Market  Value of the Shares on the date the Option is  granted.  The
exercise price of any ISO will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of
the Shares on the date the Option is granted.  The exercise  price of any Option
granted to a person owning more than 10% of the total  combined  voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or  Subsidiary  of the Company
("Ten Percent  Shareholder") will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
of the Shares on the date the Option is granted.

     (d) Exercise Period.  Options will be exercisable  within the times or upon
the events  determined  by the  Committee  as set forth in the Grant;  provided,
however,  that no Option will be  exercisable  after the  expiration of ten (10)
years from the date the Option is  granted,  and  provided  further  that no ISO
granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder will be exercisable after the expiration of
five (5) years from the date the Option is granted.

     (e) Limitations on ISOs. The aggregate Fair Market Value  (determined as of
the  time an  Option  is  granted)  of stock  with  respect  to  which  ISOs are
exercisable  for the first time by an Optionee  during any calendar  year (under
this Plan or under any other  incentive  stock option plan of the Company or any
Parent or  Subsidiary  of the  Company)  will not exceed  $100,000.  If the Fair
Market Value of stock with respect to which ISOs are  exercisable  for the first
time by an Optionee during any calendar year exceeds  $100,000,  the Options for
the first  $100,000  worth of Shares to become  exercisable in such year will be
ISOs  and the  Options  for the  amount  in  excess  of  $100,000  that  becomes
exercisable  in that  year  will be  NQSOs.  In the  event  that  the IRC or the
regulations  promulgated thereunder are amended after the effective date of this
Plan to  provide  for a  different  limit on the  Fair  Market  Value of  Shares
permitted  to be  subject to ISOs,  such  different  limit will be  incorporated
herein and will apply to any Options  granted after the  effective  date of such
amendment.

     (f) Options  Non-Transferable. Options granted under this Plan, and any
interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by the Optionee, and
may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, otherwise
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and will be exercisable
during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee.

     (g) Assumed Options.  In the event the Company assumes an option granted by
another  company,  the terms and conditions of such option will remain unchanged
(except the  exercise  price and the number and nature of shares  issuable  upon

exercise, which will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Section 425(c) of the
Code.)  In the event  the  Company  elects  to grant a new  option  rather  than
assuming an existing  option (as  specified  in Section 4), such new option need
not be  granted  at Fair  Market  Value on the date of grant and may  instead be
granted with a similarly adjusted exercise price.

6.       EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

     (a) Notice.  Options may be exercised  only by delivery to the Company of a
written  exercise  agreement in a form approved by the Committee (which need not
be the same for each  Optionee),  stating the number of Shares being  purchased,
the restrictions  imposed on the Shares,  if any, and such  representations  and
agreements regarding the Optionee's investment intent and access to information,
if any, as may be required by the Company to comply with  applicable  securities
laws,  together  with  payment in full of the  exercise  price for the number of
Shares being purchased.

     (b)  Payment.  Payment  for the  Shares  may be made in cash (by check) or,
where approved by the Committee in its sole  discretion at the time of grant and
where  permitted by law: (i) by  cancellation  of indebtedness of the Company to
the  Optionee;  (ii) by  surrender of shares of Common Stock of the Company that
have been owned by the  Optionee  for more than six (6)  months  (and which have
been paid for  within the  meaning of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
("SEC") Rule 144 and, if such Shares were purchased from the Company by use of a
promissory  note,  such note has been fully paid with respect to such shares) or
were  obtained by the  Optionee in the open public  market  having a Fair Market
Value  equal to the  exercise  price of the  Option;  (iii) by  tender of a full
recourse  promissory  note having such terms as may be approved by the Committee
and bearing  interest at a rate  sufficient to avoid  imputation of income under
Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code, (iv) by waiver of compensation due to accrued
to Optionee for services  rendered;  (v) provided  that a public  market for the
Company's  stock exists,  through a "same day sale  commitment from the Optionee
and a broker-dealer  that is a member of the National  Association of Securities
Dealers (an "NASD Dealer") whereby the Optionee  irrevocably  elects to exercise
the  Option  and to sell a portion  of the  Shares so  purchased  to pay for the
exercise price and whereby the NASD Dealer  irrevocably  commits upon receipt of
such Shares to forward the exercise price directly to the Company; (vi) provided
that  a  public  market  for  the  Company's  stock  exists,  through  a  margin
commitmentfrom the Optionee and an NASD Dealer whereby the Optionee  irrevocably
elects to  exercise  the Option and to pledge the Shares so purchase to the NASD
Dealer in a margin  account as  security  for a loan from the NASD Dealer in the
amount of the exercise price,  and whereby the NASD Dealer  irrevocably  commits
upon  receipt of such  Shares to forward  the  exercise  price  directly  to the
Company;  or (vii) by any  combination of the  foregoing.  Optionees who are not
employees or  directors  of the Company will not be entitled to purchase  Shares
with a promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by collateral other
than the Shares.

     (c) Withholding  Taxes. Prior to issuance of the Shares upon exercise of an
Option,  the Optionee  will pay or make  adequate  provision  for any federal or
state withholding obligations of the Company, if applicable.

     (d) Limitations on Exercise. Notwithstanding the exercise periods set forth
in the Grant, exercise of an Option will always be subject to the following:

     (i) If an  Optionee  ceases to be  employed  by the  Company or any Parent,
Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  of  the  Company  for  any  reason  except  death  or
disability,  Optionee may exercise such  Optionee's ISOs to the extent (and only
to the extent) that it would have been exercisable upon the date of termination,
within  three (3) months  after the date of  termination,  or such  shorter time
period as may be  specified in the Grant,  provided  that such period will in no
event be less than one (1)  month or later  than the date of  expiration  of the
ISOs;

     (ii) If Optionee is an Insider and the Company is subject to Section  16(b)
of the Exchange Act,  Optionee's Option will be exercisable for a period of time
sufficient  to allow  Optionee  from having a matching  purchase  and sale under
Section 16(b),  with any extension  beyond three (3) months from  termination of
employment deemed to be as an NQSO, and provided further that in no event may an
Option be exercisable later than the expiration date of the Option;

     (iii) If Optionee's  employment with the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary
or  Affiliate of the Company is  terminated  because of the death of Optionee or
disability of Optionee, Optionee's ISOs may be exercised to the extent (and only
to the extent)  that it would have been  exercisable  by Optionee on the date of
termination, by Optionee (or Optionee's legal representative) within twelve (12)
months  after the date of  termination,  or such  shorter  time period as may be
specified in the Grant,  provided that such period will in no event be less than
six (6) months or later than the expiration date of the ISOs;

     (iv) The Committee will have  discretion to determine  whether the Optionee
has ceased to be employed by the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary or Affiliate
of the Company and the effective date on which such employment terminated;

     (v) In the case of an Optionee who is a director,  independent  consultant,
contractor  or advisor,  the  Committee  will have the  discretion  to determine
whether the  Optionee is  employed by the Company or any Parent,  Subsidiary  or
Affiliate of the Company pursuant to the foregoing Sections; and

     (vi) The Committee may specify a reasonable  minimum  number of Shares that
may be purchased on any exercise of an Option, provided that such minimum number
will not prevent  Optionee from exercising the full number of Shares as to which
the Option is then exercisable.

     (vii)  An  Option  will  not be  exercisable  unless  such  exercise  is in
compliance  with the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  all
applicable  state  securities laws and the requirements of any stock exchange or
national market system upon which the Shares may then be listed,  as they are in
effect on the date of  exercise.  The  Company  will be under no  obligation  to
register the Shares with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("SEC") or to
effect compliance with the registration,  qualification or listing  requirements
of any state  securities  laws or stock  exchange,  and the Company will have no
liability for any inability or failure to do so.

     7. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES. At the discretion of the Committee,  the Company
may reserve to itself and/or its  assignee(s)  in the Grant (a) a right of first
refusal to purchase all Shares that an Optionee (or a subsequent transferee) may
propose to transfer to a third party and/or (b) a right to  repurchase a portion
of or all Shares held by an Optionee upon  Optionee's  termination of employment
or service  with the  Company or its  Parent,  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate  of the
Company for any reason within a specified time as determined by the Committee at
the time of grant  at (1)  Optionee's  original  purchase  price,  (ii) the Fair
Market  Value of such Shares or (iii) a price  determined  by a formula or other
provision set forth in the Grant.

     8. MODIFICATION,  EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF OPTIONS. The Committee will have
the power to modify,  extend or renew  outstanding  Options and to authorize the
grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may
not, without the written consent of Optionee, impair any rights under any Option
previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, . extended, renewed or
otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 425(h) of the Code.
The Committee  will have the power to reduce the exercise  price of  outstanding
Options  without the consent of Optionees by a written  notice to the  Optionees
affected;  provided,  however,  that the  exercise  price  per  share may not be
reduced below the minimum  exercise price that would be permitted  under Section
5(c) of this Plan for Options  granted on the date the action is taken to reduce
the exercise price.

     9. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK  OWNERSHIP.  No Optionee will have any of the rights
of a  shareholder  with  respect to any Shares  subject to an Option  until such
Option is  properly  exercised.  No  adjustment  will be made for  dividends  or
distributions  or other  rights for which the record date is prior to such date,
except as provided in this Plan.  The Company will provide to each  Optionee and
person owning shares  purchased  through this Plan with financial  statements at
least  annually,  unless the Optionee or shareholder is an employee whose duties
in connection with the Company assure access to equivalent information.

     10. NO  OBLIGATION  TO EMPLOY.  Nothing in this Plan or any Option  granted
under this Plan will confer on any  Optionee any right to continue in the employ
of, or other  relationship  with,  the  Company  or any  Parent,  Subsidiary  or
Affiliate  of the  Company  or limit in any way the right of the  Company or any
Parent,  Subsidiary  or  Affiliate of the Company to  terminate  the  Optionee's
employment or other relationship at any time, with or without cause.

     11.  ADJUSTMENT  OF  OPTION  SHARES.  In  the  event  that  the  number  of
outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  of the  Company  is  changed  by a stock
dividend,  stock split,  reverse stock split,  combination,  reclassification or
similar change in the capital  structure of the Company  without  consideration,
then the  number of Shares  available  under  this Plan and the number of Shares
subject to outstanding  Options and the exercise price per share of such Options
will be proportionately adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board of
Directors  (the  "Board") or  shareholders  of the Company and  compliance  with
applicable securities laws; provided,  however, that a fractional share will not
be issued upon  exercise of any Option and any  fractions  of a Share that would
have  resulted  will either be cashed out at Fair Market  Value or the number of
shares issuable under the Option will be rounded up to the nearest whole number,
as determined by the Committee; and provided further that the exercise price may
not be decreased to below the par value, if any, for the Shares.

     12. ASSUMPTION OF OPTIONS BY SUCCESSORS.

     (a) In the event of (1) a merger or  consolidation  in which the Company is
not the  surviving  corporation  (other  than a merger or  consolidation  with a
wholly owned subsidiary, a reincorporation,  or other transaction in which there
is no substantial  change in the shareholders of the corporation and the Options
granted  under  this  Plan  are  assumed  by the  successor  corporation,  which
assumption will be binding on all Optionees),  (ii) a dissolution or liquidation
of the Company,  (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company,  or  (iv)  any  other  transaction  which  qualifies  as  a  "corporate
transaction"  under Section 425(a) of the Code wherein the  shareholders  of the
Company  give up all of their  equity  interest in the  Company  (except for the
acquisition  of  all or  substantially  all of  the  outstanding  shares  of the
Company),  any or  all  outstanding  Options  may be  assumed  by the  successor
corporation,  which  assumption  will  be  binding  on  all  Optionees.  In  the
alternative,  the successor  corporation may substitute an equivalent  option or
provide  substantially  similar  consideration  to  Optionees as was provided to
shareholders  (after  taking into account the existing  provisions of Optionee's
options,  such as the exercise  price and the vesting  schedule).  The successor
corporation may also issue,  in place of outstanding  shares of the Company held
by  Optionee  as a result  of the  exercise  of an  Option  that is  subject  to
repurchase,  substantially  similar shares or other property  subject to similar
repurchase restrictions no less favorable to Optionee.

     (b) In the event such successor  corporation,  if any, refuses to assume or
substitute  Options, as provided above,  pursuant to a transaction  described in
Subsections   12(a)(ii),   (iii)  or  (iv)  above,  or  there  is  no  successor
corporation,  and if the  Company is  ceasing  to exist as a separate  corporate
entity,  the Options  will,  notwithstanding  any  contrary  terms in the Grant,
expire  on a date at least 20 days  after  the  Board  gives  written  notice to
Optionees specifying the terms and conditions of such termination.

     (c) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, in the event of
the occurrence of any  transaction  described in Section 12(a),  any outstanding
Option  will be treated  as  provided  in the  applicable  agreement  or plan of
merger,  consolidation,  dissolution,  liquidation,  sale  of  assets  or  other
"corporate transaction".

     13. ADOPTION AND SHAREHOLDER  APPROVAL.  This Plan will become effective on
the date  that it is  adopted  by the  Board of the  Company.  This Plan will be
approved  by  the  shareholders  of the  Company,  in any  manner  permitted  by
applicable  corporate  law,  within  twelve months before or after the date this
Plan is adopted by the Board. Upon the effective date of the Plan, the Board may
grant  Options  pursuant  to  this  Plan;  provided  that,  in  the  event  that
shareholder approval is not obtained within the time period provided herein, all
Options granted  hereunder will terminate.  No Option that is issued as a result
of any increase in the number of shares  authorized to be issued under this Plan
will be  exercised  prior to the time such  increase  has been  approved  by the
shareholders  of the  Company  and all such  Options  granted  pursuant  to such
increase will similarly terminate if such Shareholder  approval is not obtained.
After the Company  becomes  subject to Section  16(b) of the  Exchange  Act, the
Company  will  comply  with the  requirements  of Rule  16b-3  with  respect  to
shareholder approval.

     14.  ADMINISTRATION.  This  Plan  may be  administered  by the  Board  or a
Committee  appointed  by  the  Board  (the  "Committee").  If the  Board  is not

comprised entirely of Disinterested  Persons,  the Company will take appropriate
steps to comply with the disinterested director requirements of Section 16(b) of
the  Exchange  Act,  which  may  consist  of the  appointment  by the Board of a
Committee  consisting  of not less  than two  persons  (who are  members  of the
Board), each of whom is a Disinterested Person. As used in this Plan, references
to the  "Committee"  will mean either the  committee  appointed  by the Board to
administer  this Plan or the Board if no  committee  has been  established.  The
interpretation  by the  Committee of any of the  provisions  of this Plan or any
Option  granted  under this Plan will be final and binding  upon the Company and
all persons having an interest in any Option or any Shares purchased pursuant to
an Option.  The Committee may delegate the authority to grant Options under this
Plan to  Optionees  who are not  Insiders  of the  Company  to  officers  of the
Company.

     15. TERM OF PLAN. Options may be granted pursuant to this Plan from time to
time  within a period  of ten (10)  years  from the date on which  this  Plan is
adopted by the Board.

     16.  AMENDMENT  OR  TERMINATION  OF  PLAN.  The  Committee  may at any time
terminate  or amend this Plan in any  respect  including  (but not  limited  to)
amendment of any form of Grant,  exercise agreement or instrument to be executed
pursuant to this Plan; provided,  however,  that the Committee will not, without
the approval of the holders of a majority of the  outstanding  voting  shares of
the  Company,  amend  this Plan in any manner  that  requires  such  shareholder
approval pursuant to the Code or the regulations  promulgated thereunder as such
provisions  apply to ISO plans or pursuant to the Exchange Act or Rule 16b-3 (or
its successor) promulgated thereunder.

     17. CERTAIN  DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Plan,  the following  terms will
have the following meanings:

     (a) "Parent" means any corporation  (other than the Company) in an unbroken
chain of corporations ending with the Company if, at the time of the granting of
the  Option,  each of such  corporations  other  than  the  Company  owns  stock
possessing  50% or more of the total  combined  voting  power of all  classes of
stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

     (b)  "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation  (other  than the  Company) in an
unbroken  chain of  corporations  beginning  with the Company if, at the time of
granting of the Option, each of the corporations other than the last corporation
in the unbroken  chain owns stock  possessing  50% or more of the total combined
voting  power of all classes of stock in one of the other  corporations  in such
chain.

     (c) "Affiliate" means any corporation that directly,  or indirectly through
one or more  intermediaries,  controls or is  controlled  by, or is under common
control  with,  another  corporation,   where  "control"  (including  the  terms
"controlled by" and "under common control with") means the possession, direct or
indirect,  of the power to cause the direction of the management and policies of
the corporation, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise.

     (d) "Disinterested Person" will have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3(d)
(3) as  promulgated  by the SEC under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, as such
rule is amended from time to time and as interpreted by the SEC.

     (e) "Fair  Market  Value" will mean the fair market  value of the Shares as
determined by the Committee from time to time in good faith.  If a public market
exists for the  Shares,  the Fair  Market  Value will be the average of the last
reported  bid and asked  prices  for  Common  Stock of the  Company  on the last
trading day prior to the date of  determination  (or the average  closing  price
over the number of consecutive  working days preceding the date of determination
as the Committee will deem appropriate) or, in the event the Common Stock of the
Company is listed on a stock exchange or on the NASDAQ  National  Market System,
the Fair Market  Value will be the closing  price on such  exchange or quotation
system  on the last  trading  day  prior to the  date of  determination  (or the
average closing price over the number of consecutive  working days preceding the
date of determination as the Committee will deem appropriate).