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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.2.1

                                   EXULT, INC.
             1999 SPECIAL EXECUTIVE STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN

                                   ARTICLE ONE

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         I.       PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

                  This 1999 Special Executive Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan
is intended to promote the interests of Exult, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by
providing eligible persons in the Corporation's employ or service with the
opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their
proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for them to continue in
such employ or service.

                  Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the attached Appendix.

         II.      STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN

                  A. The Plan shall be divided into two (2) separate equity
programs:

                     (i) the Option Grant Program under which eligible persons
may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to purchase
shares of Common Stock, and

                     (ii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible
persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of such shares or
as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

                  B. The provisions of Articles One and Four shall apply to both
equity programs under the Plan and shall accordingly govern the interests of all
persons under the Plan.

         III.     ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

                  A. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. However, any
or all administrative functions otherwise exercisable by the Board may be
delegated to the Committee. Members of the Committee shall serve for such period
of time as the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board
at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of the
Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the
Committee.

                  B. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority
(subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations
as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Plan and to make
such determinations under, and issue such


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interpretations of, the Plan and any outstanding options or stock issuances
thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan
Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in
the Plan or any option or stock issuance thereunder.

                  C. All stock options and/or issuances under the Plan shall be
made in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 251029f) of the
California Corporations Code so that the qualification of those securities shall
not be required in the State of California.

         IV.      ELIGIBILITY

                  A. The persons eligible to participate in the Plan shall be
limited solely to (i) Employees who are officers of the Corporation and (ii)
other highly compensated Employees in the Service of the Corporation or any
Parent or Subsidiary.

                  B. The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to
determine, (i) with respect to the grants made under the Option Grant Program,
which eligible persons are to receive the option grants, the time or times when
those grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by each such
grant, the status of the granted option as either an Incentive Option or a
Non-Statutory Option, the time or times when each option is to become
exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the option shares and
the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding, and (ii) with
respect to stock issuances made under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible
persons are to receive such stock issuances, the time or times when those
issuances are to be made, the number of shares to be issued to each Participant,
the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the issued shares and the
consideration to be paid by the Participant for such shares.

                  C. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion
either to grant options in accordance with the Option Grant Program or to effect
stock issuances in accordance with the Stock Issuance Program.

         V.       STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

                  A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of
authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock. The maximum number of shares
of Common Stock which may be issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed
613,199 shares.(1)

                  B. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) the
options expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full or (ii) the
options are cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of
Article Two. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased
by the Corporation, at the option exercise or direct issue price paid per share,
pursuant to the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added
back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Plan and shall accordingly be


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         (1) As of 11/19/99, the Plan has 3,065,995 shares authorized, which
reflects the five-for-one stock split effective on 2/9/00.


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available for reissuance through one or more subsequent option grants or direct
stock issuances under the Plan.

                  C. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares,
exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a
class without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate
adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities
issuable under the Plan and (ii) the number and/or class of securities and the
exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding option in order to
prevent the dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder. The adjustments
determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive. In
no event shall any such adjustments be made in connection with the conversion of
one or more outstanding shares of the Corporation's preferred stock into shares
of Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                              OPTION GRANT PROGRAM

         I.       OPTION TERMS

         Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form
approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document
shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an
Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such options.

                  A.       Exercise Price.

                           1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the
Plan Administrator, but in no event shall such exercise price per share be less
than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.

                           2. The exercise price shall become immediately due
upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section I of
Article Four and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in cash or
check made payable to the Corporation. Should the Common Stock be registered
under Section 12 of the 1934 Act at the time the option is exercised, then the
exercise price may also be paid as follows:

                              (i) in shares of Common Stock held for the
requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for
financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise
Date, or

                              (ii) to the extent the option is exercised for
vested shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which
the Optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions (A) to a
Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the
purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds
available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate
exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal,
state and local income and


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employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation by reason of such
exercise and (B) to the Corporation to deliver the certificates for the
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.

                  Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.

                  B.      Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be
exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of
shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
documents evidencing the option grant. However, no option shall have a term in
excess of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.

                  C.       Effect of Termination of Service.

                           1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise
of any options held by the Optionee at the time of cessation of Service or
death:

                              (i) Should the Optionee cease to remain in Service
for any reason other than death, Disability or Misconduct, then the Optionee
shall have a period of three (3) months following the date of such cessation of
Service during which to exercise each outstanding option held by such Optionee.

                              (ii) Should Optionee's Service terminate by reason
of Disability, then the Optionee shall have a period of twelve (12) months
following the date of such cessation of Service during which to exercise each
outstanding option held by such Optionee.

                              (iii) If the Optionee dies while holding an
outstanding option, then the personal representative of his or her estate or the
person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's
will or the laws of inheritance shall have a twelve (12)-month period following
the date of the Optionee's death to exercise such option.

                              (iv) Under no circumstances, however, shall any
such option be exercisable after the specified expiration of the option term.

                              (v) During the applicable post-Service exercise
period, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the
number of vested shares for which the option is exercisable on the date of the
Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise
period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option
has not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the
Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate and cease to be outstanding with
respect to any and all option shares for which the option is not otherwise at
the time exercisable or in which the Optionee is not otherwise at that time
vested.


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                              (vi) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for
Misconduct, then all outstanding options held by the Optionee shall terminate
immediately and cease to remain outstanding.

                  2. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion,
exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to:

                              (i) extend the period of time for which the option
is to remain exercisable following Optionee's cessation of Service or death from
the limited period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater period of
time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond
the expiration of the option term, and/or

                              (ii) permit the option to be exercised, during the
applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of
vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time
of the Optionee's cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more
additional installments in which the Optionee would have vested under the option
had the Optionee continued in Service.

                  D. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no
stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become the
recordholder of the purchased shares.

                  E. Unvested Shares. The Plan Administrator shall have the
discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common
Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the
Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per
share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase
right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and
the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established
by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such
repurchase right.

                  F. First Refusal Rights. Until such time as the Common Stock
is first registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have
the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by the
Optionee (or any successor in interest) of any shares of Common Stock issued
under the Plan. Such right of first refusal shall be exercisable in accordance
with the terms established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
document evidencing such right.

                  G. Limited Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of
the Optionee, the option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not
be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution following the Optionee's death.

                  H. Withholding. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares
of Common Stock upon the exercise of any options granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income
and employment tax withholding requirements.


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         II.      INCENTIVE OPTIONS

                  The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive
Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the
provisions of Articles One, Two and Four shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options
shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.

                  A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to
Employees.

                  B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall not be
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of
Common Stock on the option grant date.

                  C. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the
shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant)
for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any
other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the
first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one (1) calendar
year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the
extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable
for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options are granted.

                  D. 10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive
Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price paid shall not
be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share
of Common Stock on the option grant date and the option term shall not exceed
five (5) years measured from the option grant date.

         III.     CORPORATE TRANSACTION

                  A. The shares subject to each option outstanding under the
Plan at the time of a Corporate Transaction shall automatically vest in full so
that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the
Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common
Stock at the time subject to that option and may be exercised for any or all of
those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. However, the shares subject
to an outstanding option shall NOT vest on such an accelerated basis if and to
the extent: (i) such option is assumed by the successor corporation (or parent
thereof) in the Corporate Transaction and any repurchase rights of the
Corporation with respect to the unvested option shares are concurrently assigned
to such successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) such option is to be
replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which
preserves the spread existing on the unvested option shares at the time of the
Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the
same vesting schedule applicable to those unvested option shares or (iii) the
acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan
Administrator at the time of the option grant.

                  B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in


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the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent: (i) those
repurchase rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof)
in connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting
is precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time
the repurchase right is issued.

                  C. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).

                  D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction, had
the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction.
Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to (i) the number and class of
securities available for issuance under the Plan following the consummation of
such Corporate Transaction and (ii) the exercise price payable per share under
each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such
securities shall remain the same.

                  E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion,
exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to structure one or more options so that those
options shall automatically accelerate and vest in full (and any repurchase
rights of the Corporation with respect to the unvested shares subject to those
options shall immediately terminate) upon the occurrence of a Corporate
Transaction, whether or not those options are to be assumed in the Corporate
Transaction.

                  F. The Plan Administrator shall also have full power and
authority, exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time
while the option remains outstanding, to structure such option so that the
shares subject to that option will automatically vest on an accelerated basis
should the Optionee's Service terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination
within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the
effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which the option is assumed and
the repurchase rights applicable to those shares do not otherwise terminate. Any
option so accelerated shall remain exercisable for the fully-vested option
shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term. In
addition, the Plan Administrator may provide that one or more of the
Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to shares held by the
Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination shall immediately terminate
on an accelerated basis, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall
accordingly vest at that time.

                  G. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in
connection with a Corporate Transaction shall remain exercisable as an Incentive
Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar limitation
is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the
accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory
Option under the Federal tax laws.

                  H. The grant of options under the Plan shall in no way affect
the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise
change its capital or business structure


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or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any
part of its business or assets.

         IV.      CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS

                  The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders,
the cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Plan and to grant
in substitution therefor new options covering the same or different number of
shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share based on the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the new option grant date.

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                             STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM

         I.       STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS

                  Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option
grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance
Agreement which complies with the terms specified below.

                  A.       Purchase Price.

                           1. The purchase price per share shall be fixed by the
Plan Administrator but shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the
Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issue date. However, the
purchase price per share of Common Stock issued to a 10% Stockholder shall not
be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of such Fair Market Value.

                           2. Subject to the provisions of Section I of Article
Four, shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for
any of the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may
deem appropriate in each individual instance:

                           (i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation, or

                           (ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or
any Parent or Subsidiary).

                  B.       Vesting Provisions.

                           1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and
immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over
the Participant's period of Service or upon attainment of specified performance
objectives. However, the Plan Administrator may not impose a vesting schedule
upon any stock issuance effected under the Stock Issuance Program


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which is more restrictive than twenty percent (20%) per year vesting, with
initial vesting to occur not later than one (1) year after the issuance date.
Such limitation shall not apply to any Common Stock issuances made to the
officers of the Corporation, non-employee Board members or independent
consultants.

                           2. Any new, substituted or additional securities or
other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend)
which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the
Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend,
stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or
other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the
Corporation's receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same
vesting requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common
Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem
appropriate.

                           3. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights
with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the
Stock Issuance Program, whether or not the Participant's interest in those
shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such
shares and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.

                           4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service
while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with
respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares
shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the
Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those
shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the
Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent (including the
Participant's purchase-money indebtedness), the Corporation shall repay to the
Participant the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares and shall
cancel the unpaid principal balance of any outstanding purchase-money note of
the Participant attributable to such surrendered shares.

                           5. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive
the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock
(or other assets attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the
non-completion of the vesting schedule applicable to those shares. Such waiver
shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant's interest in the
shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be
effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant's cessation of
Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance
objectives.

                  C. First Refusal Rights. Until such time as the Common Stock
is first registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have
the right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by the
Participant (or any successor in interest) of any shares of Common Stock issued
under the Stock Issuance Program. Such right of first refusal shall be
exercisable in accordance with the terms established by the Plan Administrator
and set forth in the document evidencing such right.


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         II.      CORPORATE TRANSACTION

                  A. Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction, all
outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase
rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in
connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is
precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the
repurchase right is issued.

                  B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any
time while the Corporation's repurchase rights with respect to those shares
remain outstanding, to provide that those rights shall automatically terminate
on an accelerated basis, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those
terminated rights shall immediately vest, in the event the Participant's Service
should subsequently terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a
designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective
date of any Corporate Transaction in which those repurchase rights are assigned
to the successor corporation (or parent thereof).

         III.     SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS

                  Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion,
be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such
shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive
legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         I.       FINANCING

                  The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant
to pay the option exercise price under the Option Grant Program or the purchase
price for shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by delivering a
full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or more
installments and secured by the purchased shares. The terms of any such
promissory note (including the interest rate and the terms of repayment) shall
be established by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. In no event may
the maximum credit available to the Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of
(i) the aggregate option exercise price or purchase price payable for the
purchased shares (less the par value of those shares) plus (ii) any Federal,
state and local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or
the Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.

         II.      EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN

                  A. The Plan shall become effective when adopted by the Board,
but no option granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no shares shall be
issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the Corporation's
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained


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within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board's adoption of the Plan,
then all options previously granted under the Plan shall terminate and cease to
be outstanding, and no further options shall be granted and no shares shall be
issued under the Plan. Subject to such limitation, the Plan Administrator may
grant options and issue shares under the Plan at any time after the effective
date of the Plan and before the date fixed herein for termination of the Plan.

                  B. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year period measured from the date the Plan is
adopted by the Board, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance
under the Plan shall have been issued as vested shares or (iii) the termination
of all outstanding options in connection with a Corporate Transaction. All
options and unvested stock issuances outstanding at the time of a clause (i)
termination event shall continue to have full force and effect in accordance
with the provisions of the documents evidencing those options or issuances.

         III.     AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

                  A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and
authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such
amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with
respect to options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the
Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or
modification. In addition, certain amendments may require stockholder approval
pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

                  B. Options may be granted under the Option Grant Program and
shares may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program which are in each instance
in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock then available for issuance
under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually issued under those programs
shall be held in escrow until there is obtained stockholder approval of an
amendment sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock available
for issuance under the Plan. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after the date the first such excess grants or issuances are
made, then (i) any unexercised options granted on the basis of such excess
shares shall terminate and cease to be outstanding and (ii) the Corporation
shall promptly refund to the Optionees and the Participants the exercise or
purchase price paid for any excess shares issued under the Plan and held in
escrow, together with interest (at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for
the period the shares were held in escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be
automatically cancelled and cease to be outstanding.

         IV.      USE OF PROCEEDS

                  Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate
purposes.

         V.       WITHHOLDING

                  The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of any options or upon the issuance or vesting of any shares
issued under the Plan shall


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be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income
and employment tax withholding requirements.

         VI.      REGULATORY APPROVALS

                  The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any options
under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the
exercise of any option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program shall be subject
to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the options granted
under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.

         VII.     NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RIGHTS

                  Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the
Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration
or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the
Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each,
to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.

         VIII.    FINANCIAL REPORTS

                  The Corporation shall deliver a balance sheet and an income
statement at least annually to each individual holding an outstanding option
under the Plan, unless such individual is a key Employee whose duties in
connection with the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) assure such
individual access to equivalent information.


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                                    APPENDIX

         The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:

         A. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.

         B. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         C. Committee shall mean a committee of two (2) or more Board members
appointed by the Board to exercise one or more administrative functions under
the Plan.

         D. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.

         E. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:

            (i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Corporation's
outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from the
persons holding those securities immediately prior to such transaction, or

            (ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation or dissolution of the
Corporation.

         F. Corporation shall mean EXULT, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any
successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock
of Exult, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.

         G. Disability shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the
Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment and shall be determined by
the Plan Administrator on the basis of such medical evidence as the Plan
Administrator deems warranted under the circumstances.

         H. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and
direction of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the
manner and method of performance.

         I. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall
have received written notice of the option exercise.

         J. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date
shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

            (i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq National
Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share
of Common Stock


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<PAGE>   14

on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National Association
of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. If there is no closing
selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market
Value shall be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which
such quotation exists.

            (ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock
Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined
by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such
price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such
exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date
in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on
the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.

            (iii) If the Common Stock is at the time neither listed on any Stock
Exchange nor traded on the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market Value
shall be determined by the Plan Administrator after taking into account such
factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.

         K. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.

         L. Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of
any individual which occurs by reason of:

            (i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or discharge by the
Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or

            (ii) such individual's voluntary resignation following (A) a change
in his or her position with the Corporation which materially reduces his or her
duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or she
reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including base
salary, fringe benefits and target bonuses under any corporate-performance based
bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a
relocation of such individual's place of employment by more than fifty (50)
miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation is effected
without the individual's consent.

         M. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use
or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct
by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition
shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the
dismissal or discharge of any Optionee, Participant or other person in the
Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).

         N. 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


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<PAGE>   15

         O. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy
the requirements of Code Section 422.

         P. Option Grant Program shall mean the option grant program in effect
under the Plan.

         Q. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under
the Plan.

         R. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.

         S. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

         T. Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Special Executive Stock
Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as set forth in this document.

         U. Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or the Committee
acting in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.

         V. Service shall mean the provision of services to the Corporation (or
any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a
non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent
advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents
evidencing the option grant.

         W. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange.

         X. Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by
the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.

         Y. Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in
effect under the Plan.

         Z. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation)
in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided
each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns,
at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.


                                       15
<PAGE>   16

         AA. 10% Stockholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under
Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).