Exhibit 10.26
                           Cone Mills Corporation
                           2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                                  March 8, 2001
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                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.  PURPOSE.............................................................3
2.  SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN.....................................6
4.  ADJUSTMENTS.........................................................7
5.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN..........................................7
6.  ELIGIBILITY.........................................................7
7.  OPTIONS.............................................................8
8.  STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS...........................................9
9.  RESTRICTED SHARES...................................................9
10. DEFERRED SHARES....................................................10
11. PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS...........................11
12. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS...........................................11
13. AWARDS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS...................................11
14. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COVERED OFFICERS AND PERFORMANCE-
        BASED AWARDS.. ................................................12
15. TRANSFERABILITY....................................................12
16. FRACTIONAL SHARES..................................................12
17. WITHHOLDING TAXES..................................................13
18. CERTAIN TERMINATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, HARDSHIP AND APPROVED
        LEAVES OF ABSENCE..............................................13
19. EMPLOYEES BASED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES..........................13
20. AMENDMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS.......................................13
21. GOVERNING LAW......................................................14
22. NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS................................................14
23. SHARE CERTIFICATES.................................................14
24. AWARD AGREEMENTS...................................................14
25. NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS........................14
26. SEVERABILITY.......................................................14
27. OTHER LAWS.........................................................14
28. NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED...........................................15
29. HEADINGS...........................................................15
30. EFFECTIVE DATE AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL............................15
31. TERMINATION........................................................15

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                             Cone Mills Corporation
                           2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.       PURPOSE.

         The purpose of this Plan is to attract and retain Key Employees and
Non-Employee Directors for Cone Mills Corporation (Cone Mills) and to provide
such persons with incentives and rewards for superior performance and increased
shareholder value. This Plan will authorize the Committee to grant Incentive
Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Other
Stock-Based Awards to those officers, Key Employees and Non-Employee Directors
who are selected to participate in the Plan.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         As used in this Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth
below:

         "AFFILIATE" means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is
controlled by the Company, (ii) any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity interest, (iii) an affiliate of the Company, as defined in
Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and (iv) any entity
in which the Company has at least twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting
power of the entity's outstanding voting securities, in each case as designated
by the Board as being a participating employer in the Plan.

         "AWARD" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Shares,
Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units or Other Stock-Based
Awards granted under the Plan, whether singly, in combination, or in tandem, to
a Participant by the Committee pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions
and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee may establish.

         "AWARD AGREEMENT" means any written agreement, contract, or other
instrument or document evidencing any Award approved or authorized by the
Committee and delivered to a Participant.

         "BASE PRICE" means the price to be used as the basis for determining
the Spread upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right.

         "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of Cone Mills Corporation.

         "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means (a) the Company is merged or consolidated or
reorganized into or with another corporation, person or entity (including,
without limitation, a merger in which the Company is the surviving entity) and,
as a result of such transaction, the holders of the Company's Common Stock
immediately before the transaction, as a group, hold less than 50% of the
combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the surviving entity
immediately after the transaction; (b) the Company's Common Stock is acquired in
a share exchange pursuant to Section 55-11-02 of the General Statutes of North
Carolina and, as a result of such transaction, the holders of the Company's
Common Stock immediately before the transaction, as a group, hold less than 50%
of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities of the acquiring
corporation immediately after the transaction; (c) the Company sells or
otherwise transfers assets having an aggregate fair market value (as determined
in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of more than 50% of the
Company's total assets, as reflected on the most recent audited consolidated
balance sheet of the Company, and, as a result of such transaction, neither the
Company nor the holders of the Company's Common Stock immediately before the
transaction, as a group, hold 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
outstanding securities of the transferee immediately after the transaction; (d)
there is a report filed on Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), by a person (other than a
person that satisfies the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange
Act for filing such report on Schedule 13G), which report as filed discloses
that any person (as the term "person" is used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) has become the beneficial owner (as the term "beneficial
owner" is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities
representing more than 50% of the Company's Common Stock (whether by purchase,
recapitalization of the Company or otherwise); or (e) if during any period of
two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors of the Company cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination
for election by the Company's shareholders, of each director of the Company
first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the directors of the Company then still in office who were directors of the
Company at the beginning of any such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of the Plan
if the Company or any Company-sponsored employee benefit plan (or any trustee of
any such plan on its behalf) files or becomes obligated to file a report or
proxy statement disclosing beneficial ownership by a Company-sponsored employee
benefit plan of more than 50% of the Company's Common Stock.

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
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         "COMMITTEE" means a Committee of the Board which shall have a least 2
members, each of whom shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of
the Board and all of whom shall be "disinterested persons" with respect to the
Plan within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

         "COMPANY" means Cone Mills Corporation or any successor corporation.

         "COVERED OFFICER" means at any date (i) any individual who, with
respect to the previous taxable year of the Company, was a "covered employee" of
the company within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however,
that the term "Covered Officer" shall not include any such individual who is
designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at
any subsequent time, as reasonably expected not to be such a "covered employee"
with respect to the current taxable year of the Company and (ii) any individual
who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award
or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected to be such a "covered
employee" with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or with
respect to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award will be
paid.

         "CONE MILLS" means Cone Mills Corporation or any successor to such
corporation.

         "DEFERRAL PERIOD" means the period of time during which Deferred Shares
are subject to deferral limitations enumerated in Section 10 of this Plan.

         "DEFERRED SHARES" means an Award pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan
providing the right to receive Shares at the end of a specified Deferral Period.

         "DISABILITY" means, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award
Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a total and permanent disability
under the Company's then current long-term disability plan.

         "DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS" means amounts equivalent to the dividends paid
on Shares of common stock. They may be granted in connection with Awards
denominated in notional Shares, or they may be granted on a freestanding basis.

         "EARLY RETIREMENT" means, unless otherwise defined in the applicable
Award Agreement, the termination of a Participant from the employ or service of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates at a time when the
Participant would meet the age and service requirements for "early retirement"
under the terms of the applicable Company pension plan.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time.

         "FAIR MARKET VALUE" on any date with respect to the Stock means (1) the
last reported sale price of the Stock on the New York Stock Exchange or, if no
sale takes place on such date, the average of the reported closing bid and asked
prices on such date, or (2) if the Stock is otherwise publicly traded, the last
reported sale price of the Stock under the quotation system under which such
sale price is reported or, if no sale takes place on such date, the average of
the reported closing bid and asked prices on such date under the quotation
system under which such bid and asked prices are reported, or (3) if no such
last sales price or average of the reported closing bid and asked prices are
available on such date, such last reported sale price of the Stock or, if no
sale takes place, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices as so
reported for the immediately preceding business day on (a) the New York Stock
Exchange or, (b) if the Stock is otherwise publicly traded, under the quotation
system under which such data are reported, or (4) if none of the prices
described above is available, the fair market value per share of the Stock as
reasonably determined by the Board.

         "GRANT DATE" means the date specified by the Committee on which a grant
of an Award shall become effective, which shall not be earlier than the date on
which the Committee takes action with respect thereto.

         "GRANTEE" means the person so designated in an agreement as the
recipient of an Award granted by the Company.

         "HARDSHIP" means an unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event
beyond the control of the Participant that would result in severe financial
hardship to the Participant resulting from (i) a sudden and unexpected illness
or accident of the Participant or a dependent of the Participant, (ii) a loss of
the Participant's property due to casualty, or (iii) such other extraordinary
and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control
of the Participant, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

         "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION (ISO)" means any Option that is intended to
qualify as an "Incentive Stock Option" under Section 422 of the Code or any
successor provision.

         "KEY EMPLOYEE" means an employee of Cone Mills or any Subsidiary or
Parent Corporation who, in the judgement of the Committee acting in its absolute
discretion, is key to the business performance and success of Cone Mills.

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         "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

         "NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" or "NQSO" means an Option that is not
intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

         "NORMAL RETIREMENT" means, unless otherwise defined in the applicable
Award Agreement, retirement of a Participant from the employ or service of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates in accordance with the terms of
the applicable Company pension plan at or after attainment of age 65, or if a
Participant is not covered by any such plan, retirement on or after attainment
of age 65.

         "OPTION" means any Option (ISO or NQSO) to purchase Shares granted
under this Plan.

         "OPTION PRICE" means the purchase price payable to purchase one share
upon the exercise of an Option or other Award.

         "OPTIONEE" means the person so designated in an agreement evidencing an
outstanding Option or other Award.

         "OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARD" means any Award granted under Section 12 of
the Plan.

         "PARENT CORPORATION" means any corporation, which is a parent of Cone
Mills within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code.

         "PARTICIPANT" means an officer, a Key Employee or a Non-Employee
Director who is selected by the Board or the Committee to receive benefits under
this Plan, provided that Non-Employee Directors shall not be eligible to receive
grants of Incentive Stock Options.

         "PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES" means performance goals or targets established
pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance
Shares or Performance Units or, when so determined by the Committee, Deferred
Shares, Options, Restricted Shares or Other Stock-Based Awards. Performance
Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives
that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or the
division, department or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the
Participant is employed. Any Performance Objectives applicable to Awards
intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of
the Code shall be limited to specified levels of, or increases in, the Company's
or Subsidiary's market share, sales, costs, return on equity, earnings per
share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA),
earnings growth, return on capital, return on assets, divisional return on
capital, divisional return on net assets, total shareholder return and/or
increase in the Fair Market Value of the Shares. Except in the case of
Performance Objectives related to an Award intended to qualify under Section
162(m) of the Code, if the Committee determines that a change in the business,
operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the
manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances
render the Performance Objectives unsuitable, the Committee, after the date of
grant, may modify such Performance Objectives, in whole or in part, as the
Committee deems appropriate and equitable.

         "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" means a period of time established under Section
11 of this Plan within which the Performance Objectives relating to a
Performance Share, Performance Unit, Option, Deferred Share or Restricted Share
are to be achieved.

         "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means an Award pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan
that provides the Participant the opportunity to earn one or more Shares
contingent upon the achievement of one or more Performance Objectives during a
Performance Period.

         "PERFORMANCE UNIT" means an Award pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan
that provides the Participant the opportunity to earn one or more units,
denominated in Shares or cash or a combination thereof, contingent upon
achieving one or more Performance Objectives during a Performance Period.

         "PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, associate,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or
instrumentality of a government or other entity.

         "PLAN" means this Cone Mills Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan as
effective as of the date adopted by the Board in 2001 and as amended from time
to time thereafter.

         "RESTRICTED SHARES" means Shares granted under Section 9 of this Plan
subject to such restrictions, including, but not limited to, service
requirements and/or Performance Objectives, as may be determined by the
Committee at the time of grant.

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         "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16B-3 of the Exchange Act and any successor
provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

         "SHARES" or "STOCK" means Shares of the common stock of Cone Mills
Corporation $0.10 par value, or any security into which Shares may be converted
by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 4 of
this Plan.

         "SPREAD" means, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount
by which the Fair Market Value on the date when any such right is exercised
exceeds the Base Price specified in such right or, in the case of a Tandem Stock
Appreciation Right, the amount by which the Fair Market Value on the date when
any such right is exercised exceeds the Option Price specified in the related
Option.

         "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means a right granted under Section 8 of
this Plan, including a Stock Appreciation Right or a Tandem Stock Appreciation
Right.

         "SUBSIDIARY" means a corporation or other entity (i) more than 50
percent of whose outstanding Shares or securities (representing the right to
vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii)
which does not have outstanding Shares or securities (as may be the case in a
partnership, joint venture or unincorporated association), but more than 50
percent of whose ownership interest (representing the right generally to make
decisions for such other entity) is, as of the date this Plan is approved by the
Board and thereafter owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company,
provided that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a
Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, "Subsidiary"
means any corporation in which the Company owns or controls directly or
indirectly more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power represented
by all classes of stock issued by such corporation at the time of such grant.

         "TANDEM STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" means a Stock Appreciation Right
granted pursuant to Section 8 of this Plan that is granted in tandem with an
Option or any similar right granted under any other Plan of the Company such
that the exercise of one results in the cancellation of the other.

         "TEN PERCENT SHAREHOLDER" means a person who owns, at the time of an
Award and after taking into account the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of
the Code, more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of either Cone Mills, a Subsidiary or a Parent Corporation.

3.       SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN.

         (a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4 of this Plan, the
number of Shares that may be (i) issued or transferred upon the exercise of
Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, (ii) Awarded as Restricted Shares and
released from substantial risk of forfeiture, or (iii) issued or transferred in
payment of Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units, or Other
Stock Based Awards, shall not in the aggregate exceed 2,000,000 Shares. Such
Shares may be Shares of original issuance or Shares that have been reacquired by
the Company. The number of Performance Units granted under this Plan may not in
the aggregate exceed 1,000,000.

         (b) Upon the payment of any Option Price by the transfer to the Company
of Shares or upon satisfaction of tax withholding obligations under the Plan by
the transfer or relinquishment of Shares, there shall be deemed to have been
issued or transferred only the number of Shares actually issued or transferred
by the Company, less the number of Shares so transferred or relinquished. In any
event, the number of Shares actually issued or transferred by the Company upon
the exercise of Incentive Stock Options may not exceed 2,000,000, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 4 of the Plan. Upon the payment in cash of a
benefit provided by any Award under this Plan, any Shares that were subject to
such Award shall again be available for issuance or transfer under this Plan.
Performance Units that are paid in Shares or are not earned by a Participant at
the end of a Performance Period are available for future grants of Performance
Units.

         (c) If an Award expires or terminates for any reason without being
exercised in full or is satisfied without the distribution of Stock, or Stock
distributed pursuant to an Award is forfeited or reacquired by the Company, or
is surrendered upon exercise of an Award, the Stock subject to such Award or so
forfeited, reacquired or surrendered shall again be available for distribution
for purposes of the Plan.

         (d) No Participant may receive Awards, including Options, during any
one calendar year representing more than 300,000 Shares or more than 100,000
Performance Units.

         (e) Any shares issued by the Company in connection with the assumption
or substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not
reduce the Shares available for Awards under the Plan.


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4.       ADJUSTMENTS.

         In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other
property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange
of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other
rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar
corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is
determined in good faith by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of
Optionees or Grantees, then the Committee shall in such manner as it may deem
equitable: (i) adjust any or all of (1) the aggregate number of Shares or other
securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property)
with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan; (2) the number of
Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other
securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan; and (3)
the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award under the Plan, provided
that in each case, the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a
whole number; (ii) in cancellation of an option, provide for an equivalent award
in respect of securities of the surviving entity of any merger, consolidation or
other transaction or event having a similar effect; or (iii) in cancellation of
an award, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding
Award.

5.       ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) This Plan shall be administered by one or more Committees appointed
by the Board. Any grants of Awards to officers who are subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act shall be made by a Committee composed of not less than two
members of the Board, each of whom shall be a "Non-Employee Director" within the
meaning of Rule 16B-3. Any grant of an Award that is intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be made
by a Committee composed of not less than two members of the Board, each of whom
shall be an "outside director" within the meaning of the regulations under
Section 162(m) of the Code. For purposes of grants of Awards to Non-Employee
Directors, the entire Board shall serve as the Committee.

         (b) The Committee, or Committees, shall have the power and authority to
grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and
authority: (i) to select the officers and other Key Employees of the Company,
its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to whom Awards may from time to time be granted;
(ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of
Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
Restricted Stock Awards, Deferred Stock Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards,
Performance Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards, or any combination of the
foregoing, granted to any one or more Participants; (iii) to determine the
number of Shares to be covered by any Award; (iv) to establish the terms and
conditions of any Award, including, but not limited to: (A) the Share price; (B)
any restriction or limitation on the grant, vesting or exercise of any Award
(including but not limited to, the attainment (and certification of the
attainment) of one or more Performance Objectives (or any combination thereof)
that may apply to the individual Participant, a Company business unit, including
a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, or the Company as a whole); and (C) any waiver or
acceleration of vesting or forfeiture provisions regarding any Stock Option or
other Award and the Stock relating thereto, based on such factors as the
Committee shall determine; and to determine whether, to what extent and under
what circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award
shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant,
and whether and to what extent the Company shall pay or credit amounts equal to
interest (at rates determined by the Committee), dividends or deemed dividends
on such deferrals.

         (c) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
full and conclusive authority to interpret and administer the Plan and any
instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; to amend or
modify the terms of any Award at or after grant with the consent of the holder
of the Award, except to the extent prohibited by Section 7(b); to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the
terms and provisions of the respective Award agreements and to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan.
The Committee's determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be
made by it selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive,
Awards under the Plan (whether or not such persons are similarly situated). No
member of the Committee shall be liable to any person or entity for any action
taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award
granted hereunder.

         (d) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to
the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may
be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons,
including the Company, any subsidiary and Affiliate, and Participant, any holder
or beneficiary of any Award, any Employee and any Non-Employee Director.

6.       ELIGIBILITY.

         Any officer, Key Employee (including any employee-director of the
Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate who is not a member of the Committee)
or Non-Employee Director shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.

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7.       OPTIONS.

         The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to Participants of
Options to purchase Shares upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may
determine in accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Each grant shall specify the number of Shares to which it pertains.

         (b) Each grant shall specify an Option Price per Share. Except in the
case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than
100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is
granted on the Grant Date. If an officer or Key Employee owns or is deemed to
own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the
Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary or Parent Corporation (within the meaning of Section
424(e) of the Code), and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such officer or
Key Employee, the Option Price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market
Value on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as permitted
by the provisions of Sections 4 and 20(c) hereof, the Committee shall not have
the power to (i) amend the terms of previously granted Options to reduce the
Option Price of such Options, or (ii) cancel such Options and grant substitute
Options with a lower Option Price than the cancelled Options.

         (c) Each Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with
respect to whole shares only, within the period permitted for the exercise
thereof and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the
Option, delivered to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to
the Company at said office of the amount of the Option Price for the number of
Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. Each grant
shall specify the form of consideration to be paid in satisfaction of the Option
Price and the manner of payment of such consideration, which may include (i)
cash in the form of currency or check or other cash equivalent acceptable to the
Company, (ii) nonforfeitable, unrestricted Shares that have been owned by the
Optionee for at least six months and have a value at the time of exercise that
is equal to the Option Price, together with any applicable withholding taxes,
(iii) any other legal consideration that the Committee may deem appropriate,
including without limitation any form of consideration authorized under Section
7(d) below, on such basis as the Committee may determine in accordance with this
Plan, or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.

         (d) On or after the Grant Date of any Option other than an Incentive
Stock Option, the Committee may determine that payment of the Option Price may
also be made in whole or in part in the form of Restricted Shares or other
Shares that are subject to risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, whenever any Option Price is paid
in whole or in part by means of any of the forms of consideration specified in
this Section 7(d), the Shares received by the Optionee upon the exercise of the
Options shall be subject to the same risks of forfeiture or restrictions on
transfer as those that applied to the consideration surrendered by the Optionee,
provided that such risks of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer apply only
to the same number of Shares received by the Optionee as applied to the
forfeitable or Restricted Shares surrendered by the Optionee.

         (e) Any grant may provide for deferred payment of the Option Price from
the proceeds of sale through a bank or broker on the date of exercise of some or
all of the Shares to which the exercise relates.

         (f) On or, in the case of Nonqualified Stock Options, after the Grant
Date, the Committee may provide for the automatic grant to the Optionee of a
"new" Option in the event the Optionee surrenders Shares in satisfaction of the
Option Price upon the exercise of an Option as authorized under Sections 7(c)
and (d) above. Each new Option shall pertain to a number of Shares equal to the
number of Shares utilized by the Optionee to exercise the original Option. Each
new Option shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value on the
date the new Option is granted and shall expire on the stated expiration date of
the original Option.

         (g) Each Option grant may specify a period of continuous employment of
the Optionee by the Company or any Subsidiary (or, in the case of a Non-Employee
Director, service on the Board) or other terms and conditions, such as
achievement of Performance Objectives, that may be determined by the Committee
that is necessary before the Options or installments thereof shall become
exercisable, and any grant may provide for the earlier exercise of such rights
in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar transaction
or event.

         (h) Options granted under this Plan may be Incentive Stock Options,
Nonqualified Stock Options, or a combination of the foregoing, provided that
only Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Non-Employee Directors. Each
grant shall specify whether (or the extent to which) the Option is an Incentive
Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. Notwithstanding any such
designation, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares
with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options or Tandem
Stock Appreciation Rights related to such Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by an Optionee during any calendar year (under
all Plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000 such Options shall be treated as
Nonqualified Stock Options.


                                        8
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         (i) No Option granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10
years from the Grant Date; provided, however, that if an Incentive Stock Option
is granted to an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the
attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or Parent
Corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code), the term of such
Incentive Stock Option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant.

         (j) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement executed on behalf of
the Company by any officer thereof and delivered to the Optionee and containing
such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with this
Plan.

8.       STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

         The Committee may also authorize grants to Participants of Stock
Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right provides a Participant the right
to receive from the Company an amount, which shall be determined by the
Committee and shall be expressed as a percentage (not exceeding 100 percent), of
the Spread at the time of the exercise of such right. Any grant of Stock
Appreciation Rights under this Plan shall be upon such terms and conditions as
the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of
a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in cash, Shares or any
combination thereof and may (i) either grant to the Participant or reserve to
the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives or (ii) preclude the
right of the Participant to receive and the Company to issue Shares or other
equity securities in lieu of cash;

         (b) Any grant may specify that the amount payable upon the exercise of
a Stock Appreciation Right shall not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee
on the Grant Date;

         (c) Any grant may specify (i) a waiting period or periods before Stock
Appreciation Rights shall become exercisable and (ii) permissible dates or
periods on or during which Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable;

         (d) Any grant may specify that a Stock Appreciation Right may be
exercised only in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other
similar transaction or event,

         (e) On or after the Grant Date of any Stock Appreciation Rights, the
Committee may provide for the payment to the Participant of Dividend Equivalents
thereon in cash or Shares on a current, deferred or contingent basis,

         (f) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement executed on behalf of
the Company by any officer thereof and delivered to the Optionee, which shall
describe the subject Stock Appreciation Rights, identify any related Options,
state that the Stock Appreciation Rights are subject to all of the terms and
conditions of this Plan and contain such other terms and provisions as the
Committee may determine consistent with this Plan,

         (g) Each grant of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall provide that
such Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised only (i) at a time when
the related Option (or any similar right granted under this or any other Plan of
the Company) is also exercisable and the Spread is positive; and (ii) by
surrender of the related Option (or such other right) for cancellation;

         (h) Each grant of a Stock Appreciation Right shall specify in respect
of each Stock Appreciation Right a Base Price per Share, which shall be equal to
or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the Grant Date.
Successive grants of Stock Appreciation Rights may be made to the same
Participant regardless of whether any Stock Appreciation Rights previously
granted to such Participant remain unexercised. Each grant shall specify the
period or periods of continuous employment of the Participant by the Company or
any Subsidiary that are necessary before the Stock Appreciation Rights or
installments thereof shall become exercisable, and any grant may provide for the
earlier exercise of such rights in the event of a Change in Control of the
Company or other similar transaction or event. No Stock Appreciation Right
granted under this Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Grant Date.

9.       RESTRICTED SHARES.

         The Committee may also authorize grants to Participants of Restricted
Shares upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in
accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Each grant shall constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership
of Shares to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services,
entitling such Participant to dividend, voting and other ownership rights,
subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer
hereinafter described.

                                        9
<PAGE>


         (b) Each grant may be made without additional consideration from the
Participant or in consideration of a payment by the Participant that is less
than the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.

         (c) Each grant shall provide that the Restricted Shares covered thereby
shall be subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture" within the meaning of
Section 83 of the Code for a period to be determined by the Committee on the
Grant Date, and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of
such risk of forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or
other similar transaction or event.

         (d) Each grant shall provide that, during the period for which such
substantial risk of forfeiture is to continue, the transferability of the
Restricted Shares shall be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the
extent prescribed by the Committee on the Grant Date. Such restrictions may
include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal by the
Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Shares to a continuing
substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee.

         (e) Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further conditioned upon
the attainment of Performance Objectives established by the Committee in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 11 of this Plan regarding
Performance Shares and Performance Units.

         (f) Any grant may require that any or all dividends or other
distributions paid on the Restricted Shares during the period of such
restrictions be automatically sequestered and reinvested on an immediate or
deferred basis in the form of cash or additional Shares, which may be subject to
the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the
Committee may determine.

         (g) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement executed on behalf of
the Company by any officer thereof and delivered to the Participant and
containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent
with this Plan. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all certificates
representing Restricted Shares, together with a stock power that shall be
endorsed in blank by the Participant with respect to such Shares, shall be held
in custody by the Company until all restrictions thereon lapse.

         (h) At the end of the restricted period and provided that any other
restrictive conditions of the Restricted Shares Award are met, or at such
earlier time as otherwise determined by the Committee, all restrictions set
forth in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Share Award or in the
Plan shall lapse as to the restricted Shares subject thereto, and a stock
certificate for the appropriate number of Shares, free of the restrictions and
restricted stock legend, shall be delivered to the Participant or the
Participant's beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.

10.      DEFERRED SHARES.

         The Committee may authorize grants of Deferred Shares to Participants
upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with
the following provisions:

         (a) Each grant shall constitute the agreement by the Company to issue
or transfer Shares to the Participant in the future in consideration of the
performance of services, subject to the fulfillment during the Deferral Period
of such conditions as the Committee may specify.

         (b) Each grant may be made without additional consideration from the
Participant or in consideration of a payment by the Participant that is less
than the Fair Market Value on the Grant Date.

         (c) Each grant shall provide that the Deferred Shares covered thereby
shall be subject to a Deferral Period, which shall be fixed by the Committee on
the Grant Date, and any grant or sale may provide for the earlier termination of
such period in the event of a Change in Control of the Company or other similar
transaction or event.

         (d) During the Deferral Period, the Participant shall not have any
right to transfer any rights under the subject Award, shall not have any rights
of ownership in the Deferred Shares and shall not have any right to vote such
Shares, but the Committee may on or after the Grant Date authorize the payment
of Dividend Equivalents on such Shares in cash or additional Shares on a
current, deferred or contingent basis.

         (e) Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further conditioned upon
the attainment of Performance Objectives established by the Committee in
accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 11 of this Plan regarding
Performance Shares and Performance Units. Except as otherwise determined by the
Committee, all Deferred Shares and all rights of the grantee to such Deferred
Shares shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company,
unless the Grantee remains in continuous employment of the Company for the
entire Deferral Period in relation to which such Deferred Shares were granted
and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Deferred Shares are
met.

                                       10
<PAGE>


         (f) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement executed on behalf of
the Company by any officer thereof and delivered to the Participant and
containing such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent
with this Plan.

11.      PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS.

         The Committee also may authorize grants of Performance Shares and
Performance Units, which shall become payable to the Participant upon the
achievement of specified Performance Objectives, upon such terms and conditions
as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares or
Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment to
reflect changes in compensation or other factors.

         (b) The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Share or
Performance Unit shall commence on a date specified by the Committee at the time
of grant and may be subject to earlier termination in the event of a Change in
Control of the Company or other similar transaction or event.

         (c) Each Award shall specify the Performance Objectives that are to be
achieved by the Participant with respect to the grant or the vesting thereof.

         (d) Each grant may specify in respect of the specified Performance
Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no payment will
be made and shall set forth a formula or other procedure for determining the
amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum
acceptable level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified
Performance Objectives.

         (e) Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of
Performance Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any
grant may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash,
Shares or any combination thereof and may either grant to the Participant or
reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.

         (f) Any grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units may specify
that the amount payable, or the number of Shares issued, with respect thereto
may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee on the Grant Date.

         (g) Any grant of Performance Shares may provide for the payment to the
Participant of Dividend Equivalents thereon in cash or additional Shares on a
current, deferred or contingent basis.

         (h) If provided in the terms of the grant, the Committee may adjust
Performance Objectives and the related minimum acceptable level of achievement
if, in the sole judgment of the Committee, events or transactions have occurred
after the Grant Date that are unrelated to the performance of the Participant
and result in distortion of the Performance Objectives or the related minimum
acceptable level of achievement.

         (i) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement executed on behalf of
the Company by any officer thereof and delivered to the Participant, which shall
state that the Performance Shares or Performance Units are subject to all of the
terms and conditions of this Plan and such other terms and provisions as the
Committee may determine consistent with this Plan.

12.      OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS.

         The Committee shall have the authority to grant to Participants an
"Other Stock-Based Award," which shall consist of any right that is (a) not an
Award described in Sections 7 through 11 above and (b) an Award of Shares or an
Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation,
securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Committee to be consistent
with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and
conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award.

13.      AWARDS TO NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.

The Board may grant to Non-Employee Director's awards in the form of
Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Shares,
Deferred Shares and/or Other Stock Based Awards, including unrestricted Shares.
The grants may be made according to an approved formula of the Board or made at
the discretion of the Board from time to time. The Board shall determine the
terms and conditions of any such Awards, including the terms and conditions
which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Director's service as a
member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion
to administer such

                                       11
<PAGE>


Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.

14.      PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO COVERED OFFICERS AND PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS.

         Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless the
Committee determines otherwise, all performance-based Awards granted hereunder
shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 14:

         (a) The Committee may grant to Covered Officers performance-based
Awards that vest or become exercisable upon the attainment of performance
targets related to one or more Performance Objectives selected by the Committee
from among the list of Performance Objectives contained herein. For the purposes
of this Section 14, performance goals shall be limited to one or more of the
Performance Objectives or any combination thereof. Each Performance Objective
may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or
otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of
the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in
the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to
capital, shareholders' equity and/or Shares outstanding, or to assets or net
assets.

         (b) With respect to any Covered Officer, the maximum annual number of
Shares in respect of which all performance-based Restricted Shares, Deferred
Shares, Performance Shares, Performance Units and Other Stock-Based Awards may
be granted under the Plan is 300,000 and the maximum annual amount of any Award
settled in cash is $3,000,000.

         (c) To the extent necessary to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code,
with respect to Restricted Share Awards, Deferred Share Awards, Performance
Share Awards, Performance Unit Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards, no later
than 90 days following the commencement of each Performance Period (or such
other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the
Committee shall, in writing, (i) select the Performance Objective or Objectives
applicable to the Performance Period, (ii) establish the various targets and
bonus amounts which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (iii) specify
the relationship between Performance Objectives and targets and the amounts to
be earned by each Covered Officer for such Performance Period. Following the
completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing
whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved and the amounts,
if any, payable to Covered Officers for such Performance Period. In determining
the amount earned by a Covered Officer for a given Performance Period, subject
to any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the right to reduce
(but not increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take
into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the
assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.

15.      TRANSFERABILITY.

         (a) Except as provided in Section 15(b), no Award granted under this
Plan may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
encumbered or disposed of by a Participant other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercisable during a Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or, in the
event of the Participant's legal incapacity, by his guardian or legal
representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under
state law and court supervision.

         (b) The Committee may expressly provide in a Nonqualified Stock Option
agreement (or an amendment to such an agreement) that a Participant may transfer
such Nonqualified Stock Option to a spouse or lineal descendant (a "Family
Member"), a trust for the exclusive benefit of Family Members, a partnership or
other entity in which all the beneficial owners are Family Members, or any other
entity affiliated with the Participant that may be approved by the Committee.
Subsequent transfers of any such Nonqualified Stock Option shall be prohibited
except in accordance with this Section 15(b). All terms and conditions of any
such Nonqualified Stock Option, including provisions relating to the termination
of the Participant's employment or service with the Company or a Subsidiary,
shall continue to apply following a transfer made in accordance with this
Section 15(b).

         (c) Any Award made under this Plan may provide that all or any part of
the Shares that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the
exercise of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, upon the termination of the
Deferral Period applicable to Deferred Shares or upon payment under any grant of
Performance Shares or Performance Units, or (ii) no longer subject to the
substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in
Section 9 of this Plan, shall be subject to further restrictions upon transfer.

16.      FRACTIONAL SHARES.

         No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan
or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities,
or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares
or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled,
terminated or otherwise eliminated.

                                       12
<PAGE>


17.      WITHHOLDING TAXES.

         To the extent that the Company is required to withhold federal, state,
local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment made or benefit realized
by a Participant or other person under this Plan, it shall be a condition to the
receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant
or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment
of all such taxes required to be withheld. At the discretion of the Committee,
such arrangements may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit. The
Committee may provide, at its discretion, for additional cash payments to
holders of Awards to defray or offset any tax arising from the grant, vesting,
exercise or payments of any Award other than ISO's.

18.      CERTAIN TERMINATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, HARDSHIP AND APPROVED LEAVES OF
         ABSENCE.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in
the event of termination of employment by reason of death, Disability, Normal
Retirement, Early Retirement with the consent of the Company or leave of absence
approved by the Company, or in the event of Hardship or other special
circumstances, of a Participant who holds an Option or Stock Appreciation Right
that is not immediately and fully exercisable, any Restricted Shares as to which
the substantial risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer
has not lapsed, any Deferred Shares as to which the Deferral Period is not
complete, any Performance Shares or Performance Units that have not been fully
earned, or any Shares that are subject to any transfer restriction pursuant to
Section 15(b) or (c) of this Plan, the Committee may in its sole discretion take
any action that it deems to be equitable under the circumstances or in the best
interests of the Company, including without limitation waiving or modifying any
limitation or requirement with respect to any Award under this Plan.

19.      EMPLOYEES BASED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

         In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants
under this Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to
Participants who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the
United States of America, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate
to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the
Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements or
alternative versions of this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate
for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect
for any other purpose, provided that no such supplements, amendments,
restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as then in effect, unless this Plan
could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval
by the stockholders of the Company.

20.      AMENDMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS.

         (a) The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the
Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment,
alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall increase any of the
limitations specified in Sections 3 or 14(b) of this Plan, other than to reflect
an adjustment made in accordance with Section 4, without the further approval of
the stockholders of the Company.

         (b) Subject to the restrictions of Section 7(b) hereof, the Committee
may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend,
discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively
or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration,
suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would adversely
affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award
theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of
the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

         (c) The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms
and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of
unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events
described in Section 4 hereof) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or
Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting
principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan; provided that
no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would
be inconsistent with a performance-based Award's meeting the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (d) This Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right with
respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any
Subsidiary and shall not interfere in any way with any right that the Company or
any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate any Participant's employment or
other service at any time.

                                       13
<PAGE>


         (e) To the extent that any provision of this Plan would prevent any
Option that was intended to qualify under particular provisions of the Code from
so qualifying, such provision of this Plan shall be null and void with respect
to such Option, provided that such provision shall remain in effect with respect
to other Options, and there shall be no further effect on any provision of this
Plan.

21.      GOVERNING LAW.

         The validity, construction and effect of this Plan and any Award
hereunder shall be determined in accordance with the laws (including those
governing contracts) of the State of North Carolina, without giving effect to
the conflict of law principles thereof.

22.      NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS.

         No Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no
obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Non-Employee Directors, or
holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not
be the same with respect to each recipient.

23.      SHARE CERTIFICATES.

         All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the
exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules,
regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which
such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or
state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any
such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

24.      AWARD AGREEMENTS.

         Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that
shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions
of the Award and any rules applicable thereto. In the event of a conflict
between the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan
shall prevail. The Award Agreement shall be executed or acknowledged by the
Participant only if required by the Committee.

25.      NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS.

         Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation
arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of Options,
Restricted Stock, Shares and other types of Awards provided for hereunder
(subject to stockholder approval as such approval is required), and such
arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific
cases.

26.      SEVERABILITY.

         If any provision of the Plan or any Award is, or becomes, or is deemed
to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person
or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed
applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed
amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the
intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such
jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award
shall remain in full force and effect.

27.      OTHER LAWS.

         The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other
consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines
that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might
violate any applicable law or regulation (including applicable non-U.S. laws or
regulations) or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of
the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant,
other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall
be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder, or beneficiary.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder
shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such
offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole
discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance
with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal or non-U.S. securities laws
and any other laws to which such offer, if made, would be subject.

                                       14
<PAGE>


28.      NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED.

         Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a
trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To
the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company
or any Subsidiary or Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no
greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate.

29.      HEADINGS.

         Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely
as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in
any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan
or any provision thereof.

30.      EFFECTIVE DATE AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.

         This Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the Board subject
to approval by the stockholders of the Company at the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The Committee may grant Awards subject to the condition that this
Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of the Company.

31.      TERMINATION.

         This Plan shall terminate ten years from the date on which this Plan is
first approved by the Board, and no Award shall be granted after that date.
Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award
Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Committee
to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to
waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after the
authority for grant of new Awards hereunder has been exhausted.


                                       15