text: **(17) Valuation and Qualifying Accounts**
  
  B a l a n c e 
  at January 1  Balance at 
  December 31 
  
  1 9 9 8 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts 
  1 9 9 9 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts 
  2 0 0 0 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts  $  3 8 1 
  
  **(18) Stock Plans**
  
  The Company has established a share compensation plan that provides certain employees options to purchase shares of its common stock. 
  The options vest over a period of five years from the date of grant. Options are exercisable during the term of employment or consulting 
  a rrangements with the Company and its subsidiaries. At December 31, 2000, the Company has authorized options for the purchase of 
  6,463,991 shares of common shares, of which 4,584,508 have been awarded to employees and 2,441,928 remain unexercised. 
  
  In accordance with a shareholders’ agreement dated Febru a ry 15, 1996 and amended on October 14, 1996, Euronet re s e rved 2,850,925 
  common shares for the purpose of awarding common shares (“milestone awards”) to certain investors and options to acquire common share s 
  (“milestone options”) to the founders, management and key employees. The Company granted 800,520 milestone awards at an exerc i s e 
  price of $0.02 per share and 2,050,405 milestone options at an exercise price of $2.14 per share. 