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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                           PATTERSON-UTI ENERGY, INC.

                          2001 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN


ARTICLE I: GENERAL

         SECTION 1.1 Purpose of the Plan. This 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the "Plan") of Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (the "Company") is intended to
advance the best interests of the Company, its subsidiaries and its stockholders
in order to attract, retain and motivate employees by providing them with
additional incentives through (i) the grant of options ("Options") to purchase
shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("Common
Stock"), (ii) the grant of stock appreciation rights ("Stock Appreciation
Rights"), (iii) the award of shares of restricted Common Stock ("Restricted
Stock") and (iv) the award of units payable in cash or shares of Common Stock
based on performance ("Performance Awards"), thereby increasing the personal
stake of such employees in the continued success and growth of the Company.

         SECTION 1.2 Administration of the Plan. (a) The Plan shall be
administered either by the full Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors") or by the Compensation Committee or other designated committee of
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors or such committee is referred to
herein as the "Committee." The Committee shall have authority to interpret
conclusively the provisions of the Plan, to adopt such rules and regulations for
carrying out the Plan as it may deem advisable, to decide conclusively all
questions of fact arising in the application of the Plan, to establish
performance criteria in respect of Awards (as defined herein) under the Plan, to
certify that Plan requirements have been met for any participant in the Plan, to
submit such matters as it may deem advisable to the Company's stockholders for
their approval, and to make all other determinations and take all other actions
necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee is
expressly authorized to adopt rules and regulations limiting or eliminating its
discretion in respect of certain matters as it may deem advisable to comply with
or obtain preferential treatment under any applicable tax or other law rule, or
regulation. All decisions and acts of the Committee shall be final and binding
upon all affected Plan participants.

         (b) The Committee shall designate the eligible employees, if any, to be
granted Awards and the type and amount of such Awards and the time when Awards
will be granted. All Awards granted under the Plan shall be on the terms and
subject to the conditions determined by the Committee consistent with the Plan.

         SECTION 1.3 Eligible Participants. Employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (hereinafter defined) other than officers or directors of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be eligible for Awards under the Plan.
For purposes of the Plan, Subsidiaries of the Company consist of any
corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity,
50% percent of the interests of which is directly or indirectly owned or
controlled by the


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Company, provided that the inclusion of such entity is permitted pursuant to
Section 424 of the Code and such entity is a disregarded entity for federal
income tax purposes (collectively referred to herein as "Subsidiaries").

         SECTION 1.4 Awards Under the Plan. Awards to employees may be in the
form of (i) Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, which may be issued
independent of or in tandem with Options, (iii) shares of Restricted Stock, (iv)
Performance Awards, or (v) any combination of the foregoing (collectively,
"Awards").

         SECTION 1.5 Shares Subject to the Plan. Initially, the aggregate number
of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall be 2,000,000,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 of the Plan. Shares distributed
pursuant to the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued shares or treasury
shares of the Company, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors.

         If any Award under the Plan shall expire, terminate or be canceled
(including cancellation upon an Option holder's exercise of a related Stock
Appreciation Right) for any reason without having been exercised in full, or if
any Award shall be forfeited to the Company, the unexercised or forfeited Award
shall not count against the above limits and shall again become available for
Awards under the Plan (unless the holder of such Award received dividends or
other economic benefits with respect to such Award, which dividends or other
economic benefits are not forfeited, in which case the Award shall count against
the above limits). Shares of Common Stock equal in number to the shares
surrendered in payment of the option price, and shares of Common Stock which are
withheld in order to satisfy Federal, state or local tax liability, shall count
against the above limits. Only the number of shares of Common Stock actually
issued upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall count against the above
limits, and any shares which were estimated to be used for such purposes and
were not in fact so used shall again become available for Awards under the Plan.
Cash exercises of Stock Appreciation Rights and cash settlement of other Awards
will not count against the above limits.

         The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights that may be granted to any one participant in any one
year under the Plan shall be 300,000, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 5.2 of the Plan. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may
be granted to any one participant in any one year in respect of Restricted Stock
shall be 300,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 of the Plan.
The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be received by any one
participant in any one year in respect of a Performance Award shall be 300,000,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 of the Plan, and the aggregate
amount of cash that may be received by any one participant in any one year in
respect to a Performance Award shall be $500,000.

         The total number of Awards (or portions thereof) settled in cash under
the Plan, based on the number of shares covered by such Awards (e.g., 100 shares
for a Stock Appreciation Right with respect to 100 shares), shall not exceed a
number equal to (i) the number of shares initially available for issuance under
the Plan plus (ii) the number of shares that have become available for issuance
under the Plan pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 1.5.


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         SECTION 1.6 Other Compensation Programs. Nothing contained in the Plan
shall be construed to preempt or limit the authority of the Board of Directors
to exercise its corporate rights and powers, including, but not by way of
limitation, the right of the Board of Directors (i) to grant incentive awards
for proper corporate purposes otherwise than under the Plan to any employee,
officer, director or other person or entity or (ii) to grant incentive awards
to, or assume incentive awards of, any person or entity in connection with the
acquisition (whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise) of
the business or assets (in whole or in part) of any person or entity.

ARTICLE II: STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

         SECTION 2.1 Terms and Conditions of Options. Subject to the following
provisions, all Options granted under the Plan to employees of the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall be in such form and shall have such terms and conditions
as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine consistent
with the Plan.

         (a) Option Price. The option price per share shall be determined by the
Committee.

         (b) Term of Option. The term of an Option shall be determined by the
Committee and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, no Option shall
be exercised after the expiration of its term.

         (c) Exercise of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or
times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall specify in
the Option grant. Unless the Option grant specifies otherwise, the Committee
shall have discretion at any time to accelerate such time or times and otherwise
waive or amend any conditions in respect of all or any portion of the Options
held by any optionee. An Option may be exercised in accordance with its terms as
to any or all shares purchasable thereunder.

         (d) Payment for Shares. The Committee may authorize payment for shares
as to which an Option is exercised to be made in cash, shares of Common Stock, a
combination thereof, by "cashless exercise" or in such other manner as the
Committee in its discretion may provide.

         (e) Stockholder Rights. The holder of an Option shall, as such, have
none of the rights of a stockholder.

         (f) Termination of Employment. The Committee shall have discretion to
specify in the Option grant, or, with the consent of the optionee, an amendment
thereof, provisions with respect to the period, not extending beyond the term of
the Option, during which the Option may be exercised following the optionee's
termination of employment.

         SECTION 2.2 Stock Appreciation Rights in Tandem with Options. (a) The
Committee may, either at the time of grant of an Option or at any time during
the term of the Option, grant Stock Appreciation Rights ("Tandem SARs") with
respect to all or any portion of the shares of Common Stock covered by such
Option. A Tandem SAR may be exercised at any time the


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Option to which it relates is then exercisable, but only to the extent the
Option to which it relates is exercisable, and shall be subject to the
conditions applicable to such Option. When a Tandem SAR is exercised, the Option
to which it relates shall cease to be exercisable to the extent of the number of
shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR is exercised. Similarly, when an
Option is exercised, the Tandem SARs relating to the shares covered by such
Option exercise shall terminate. Any Tandem SAR which is outstanding on the last
day of the term of the related Option (as determined pursuant to Section 2.1(b))
shall be automatically exercised on such date for cash without any action by the
optionee.

         (b) Upon exercise of a Tandem SAR, the holder shall receive, for each
share with respect to which the Tandem SAR is exercised, an amount (the
"Appreciation") equal to the difference between the option price per share of
the Option to which the Tandem SAR relates and the fair market value (as
determined by the Committee) of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise
of the Tandem SAR. The Appreciation shall be payable in cash, Common Stock, or a
combination of both, at the option of the Committee, and shall be paid within 30
days of the exercise of the Tandem SAR.

         SECTION 2.3 Stock Appreciation Rights Independent of Options. Subject
to the following provisions, all Stock Appreciation Rights granted independent
of Options ("Independent SARs") under the Plan to employees of the Company and
its Subsidiaries shall be in such form and shall have such terms and conditions
as the Committee, in its discretion, may from time to time determine consistent
with the Plan.

         (a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall be determined by
the Committee on the date the Independent SAR is granted.

         (b) Term of Independent SAR. The term of an Independent SAR shall be
determined by the Committee, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this
Plan, no Independent SAR shall be exercised after the expiration of its term.

         (c) Exercise of Independent SARs. Independent SARs shall be exercisable
at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee
shall specify in the Independent SAR grant. Unless the Independent SAR grant
specifies otherwise, the Committee shall have discretion at any time to
accelerate such time or times and otherwise waive or amend any conditions in
respect of all or any portion of the Independent SARs held by any participant.
Upon exercise of an Independent SAR, the holder shall receive, for each share
specified in the Independent SAR grant, an amount (the "Appreciation") equal to
the difference between the exercise price per share specified in the Independent
SAR grant and the fair market value (as determined by the Committee) of a share
of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the Independent SAR. The Appreciation
shall be payable in cash, Common Stock, or a combination of both, at the option
of the Committee, and shall be paid within 30 days of the exercise of the
Independent SAR.

         (d) Stockholder Rights. The holder of an Independent SAR shall, as
such, have none of the rights of a stockholder.


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         (e) Termination of Employment. The Committee shall have discretion to
specify in the Independent SAR grant, or, with the consent of the holder, an
amendment thereof, provisions with respect to the period, not extending beyond
the term of the Independent SAR, during which the Independent SAR may be
exercised following the holder's termination of employment.

         SECTION 2.4 Statutory Options. The Committee shall not have the
authority to grant Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

         SECTION 2.5 Change of Control. Unless otherwise specifically provided
for in the grant thereof, upon the event of a Change of Control (as defined in
Section 5.9) all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain subject to
the vesting schedules governing such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in
a grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and become
immediately exercisable and, unless the participant agrees otherwise in writing,
remain exercisable for three years (but not beyond the term of the Option or
Stock Appreciation Right) after the employee's termination of employment for any
reason other than termination by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company for
dishonesty, conviction of a felony, willful unauthorized disclosure of
confidential information or willful refusal to perform the duties of such
employee's position or positions with the Company or such subsidiary
(termination for "Cause").

ARTICLE III:  RESTRICTED STOCK

         SECTION 3.1 Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards. Subject to
the following provisions, all Awards of Restricted Stock under the Plan to
employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be in such form and shall
have such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its discretion, may from
time to time determine consistent with the Plan.

         (a) Restricted Stock Award. The Restricted Stock Award shall specify
the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be awarded, the price, if any, to be
paid by the recipient of the Restricted Stock, and the date or dates on which
the Restricted Stock will vest. The vesting and number of shares of Restricted
Stock may be conditioned upon the completion of a specified period of service
with the Company or its Subsidiaries, upon the attainment of specified
performance objectives, or upon such other criteria as the Committee may
determine in accordance with the provisions hereof. Performance objectives will
be based on increases in share prices, operating income, net income or cash flow
thresholds on a company wide, subsidiary or division or group basis, rig
utilization, safety records, return on common equity or any combination of the
foregoing.

         (b) Restrictions on Transfer. Stock certificates representing the
Restricted Stock granted to an employee shall be registered in the employee's
name. Such certificates shall either be held by the Company on behalf of the
employee, or delivered to the employee bearing a legend to restrict transfer of
the certificate until the Restricted Stock has vested, as determined by the
Committee. The Committee shall determine whether the employee shall have the
right to vote and/or receive dividends on the Restricted Stock before it has
vested. No share of Restricted


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Stock may be sold, transferred, assigned, or pledged by the employee until such
share has vested in accordance with the terms of the Restricted Stock Award.
Unless the grant of a Restricted Stock Award specifies otherwise, in the event
of an employee's termination of employment before all the employee's Restricted
Stock has vested, or in the event other conditions to the vesting of Restricted
Stock have not been satisfied prior to any deadline for the satisfaction of such
conditions set forth in the Award, the shares of Restricted Stock that have not
vested shall be forfeited and any purchase price paid by the employee shall be
returned to the employee. At the time Restricted Stock vests (and, if the
employee has been issued legended certificates of Restricted Stock, upon the
return of such certificates to the Company), a certificate for such vested
shares shall be delivered to the employee or the employee's estate, free of all
restrictions.

         (c) Accelerated Vesting. Notwithstanding the vesting conditions set
forth in the Restricted Stock Award, unless the Restricted Stock grant specifies
otherwise, the Committee may in its discretion at any time accelerate the
vesting of Restricted Stock or otherwise waive or amend any conditions of a
grant of Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the
grant thereof, upon the event of a Change of Control all Restricted Stock Awards
shall remain subject the vesting schedules governing such Restricted Stock
Awards.

ARTICLE IV:  PERFORMANCE AWARDS

         SECTION 4.1 Terms and Conditions of Performance Awards. The Committee
shall be authorized to grant Performance Awards, which are payable in stock,
cash or a combination thereof, at the discretion of the Committee.

         (a) Performance Period. The Committee shall establish with respect to
each Performance Award a performance period over which the performance goal of
such Performance Award shall be measured. The performance period for a
Performance Award shall be established prior to the time such Performance Award
is granted and may overlap with performance periods relating to other
Performance Awards granted hereunder to the same employee.

         (b) Performance Objectives. The Committee shall establish a minimum
level of acceptable achievement for the holder at the time of each Award. Each
Performance Award shall be contingent upon future performances and achievement
of objectives described either in terms of Company-wide performance or in terms
that are related to performance of the employee or of the division, subsidiary,
department or function within the Company in which the employee is employed. The
Committee shall have the authority to establish the specific performance
objectives and measures applicable to such objectives. Such objectives, however,
shall be based on increases in share prices, operating income, net income or
cash flow thresholds on a company wide, subsidiary or division or group, rig
utilization, safety records, return on common equity or any combination of the
foregoing.

         (c) Size, Frequency and Vesting. The Committee shall have the authority
to determine at the time of the Award the maximum value of a Performance Award,
the frequency of Awards and the date or dates when Awards vest.


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         (d) Payment. Following the end of each performance period, the holder
of each Performance Award will be entitled to receive payment of an amount, not
exceeding the maximum value of the Performance Award, based on the achievement
of the performance measures for such performance period, as determined by the
Committee. If at the end of the performance period the specified objectives have
been attained, the employee shall be deemed to have fully earned the Performance
Award. If the employee exceeds the specified minimum level of acceptable
achievement but does not fully attain such objectives, the employee shall be
deemed to have partly earned the Performance Award, and shall become entitled to
receive a portion of the total Award, as determined by the Committee. If a
Performance Award is granted after the start of a performance period, the Award
shall be reduced to reflect the portion of the performance period during which
the Award was in effect. Unless the Award specifies otherwise, including
restrictions in order to satisfy the conditions under Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Committee may adjust the payment of Awards or the performance
objectives if events occur or circumstances arise which would cause a particular
payment or set of performance objectives to be inappropriate, as determined by
the Committee.

         (e) Termination of Employment. A recipient of a Performance Award who,
by reason of death, disability or retirement, terminates employment before the
end of the applicable performance period shall be entitled to receive, to the
extent earned, a portion of the Award which is proportional to the portion of
the performance period during which the employee was employed. A recipient of a
Performance Award who terminates employment for any other reason shall not be
entitled to any part of the Award unless the Committee determines otherwise;
however, the Committee may in no event pay the employee more than that portion
of the Award which is proportional to his or her period of actual service.

         (f) Accelerated Vesting. Notwithstanding the vesting conditions set
forth in a Performance Award, unless the Award specifies otherwise, the
Committee may in its discretion at any time accelerate vesting of the Award or
otherwise waive or amend any conditions (including but not limited to
performance objectives) in respect of a Performance Award. Unless otherwise
specifically provided for in the grant thereof, upon the event of a Change of
Control all Performance Awards shall remain subject the vesting schedules
governing such Performance Awards.

         (g) Stockholder Rights. The holder of a Performance Award shall, as
such, have none of the rights of a stockholder.

ARTICLE V: ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 5.1 General Restrictions. Each Award under the Plan shall be
subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee shall determine
that (i) the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Common
Stock subject or related thereto upon any securities exchange or under any state
or Federal law, or (ii) the consent or approval of any government regulatory
body, or (iii) an agreement by the recipient of an Award with respect to the
disposition of shares of Common Stock, is necessary or desirable (in connection
with any requirement or interpretation of any Federal or state securities law,
rule or regulation) as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of
such Award or the issuance, purchase or

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delivery of shares of Common Stock thereunder, such Award may not be consummated
in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent,
approval or agreement shall have been effected or obtained free of any
conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

         SECTION 5.2 Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization. In the event of
any stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, combinations, exchanges of
shares, mergers, consolidation, liquidations, split-ups, split-offs, spin-offs,
or other similar changes in capitalization, or any distribution to stockholders,
including a rights offering, other than regular cash dividends, changes in the
outstanding stock of the Company by reason of any increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a split-up or
consolidation of shares or any similar capital adjustment or the payment of any
stock dividend, any share repurchase at a price in excess of the market price of
the Common Stock at the time such repurchase is announced or other increase or
decrease in the number of such shares, the Committee shall make appropriate
adjustment in the number and kind of shares authorized by the Plan, in the
number, price or kind of shares covered by the Awards and in any outstanding
Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that no such adjustment shall increase
the aggregate value of any outstanding Award.

         In the event of any adjustment in the number of shares covered by any
Award, any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be disregarded
and each such Award shall cover only the number of full shares resulting from
such adjustment.

         SECTION 5.3 Amendments. (a) The Board of Directors may at any time and
from time to time and in any respect amend or modify the Plan.

         (b) The Committee shall have the authority to amend any Award to
include any provision which, at the time of such amendment, is authorized under
the terms of the Plan; however, no outstanding Award may be revoked or altered
in a manner unfavorable to the holder without the written consent of the holder.

         SECTION 5.4 Cancellation of Awards. Any Award granted under the Plan
may be cancelled at any time with the consent of the holder and a new Award may
be granted to such holder in lieu thereof, which Award may, in the discretion of
the Committee, be on more favorable terms and conditions than the canceled
Award.

         SECTION 5.5 Withholding. Whenever the Company proposes or is required
to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall
have the right to require the holder to pay an amount in cash or to retain or
sell without notice, or demand surrender of, shares of Common Stock in value
sufficient to satisfy any Federal, state or local withholding tax liability
("Withholding Tax") prior to the delivery of any certificate for such shares (or
remainder of shares if Common Stock is retained to satisfy such tax liability).
Whenever under the Plan payments are to be made in cash, such payments shall be
net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any Federal, state or local withholding
tax liability. An Award may also provide the holder with the right to satisfy
the Withholding Tax with previously owned shares of Common Stock or shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable to the holder.


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         Whenever Common Stock is so retained or surrendered to satisfy
Withholding Tax, the value of shares of Common Stock so retained or surrendered
shall be determined by the Committee, and the value of shares of Common Stock so
sold shall be the net proceeds (after deduction of commissions) received by the
Company from such sale, as determined by the Committee.

         SECTION 5.6 Assignability. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or
in any agreements, no Award under the Plan shall be assignable or transferable
by the holder thereof except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the life of the holder, Awards under the Plan shall be exercisable only
by such holder or by the guardian or legal representative of such holder.

         SECTION 5.7 Non-uniform Determinations. Determinations by the Committee
under the Plan (including, without limitation, determinations of the persons to
receive Awards; the form, amount and timing of such Awards; the terms and
provisions of such Awards and the agreements evidencing same; and provisions
with respect to termination of employment) 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.

         SECTION 5.8 No Guarantee of Employment. The grant of an Award under the
Plan shall not constitute an assurance of continued employment for any period or
any obligation of the Board of Directors to nominate any director for reelection
by the Company's stockholders.

         SECTION 5.9 Change of Control. A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to
have occurred if:

         (1) any Person (as defined below), other than a Designated Person, is
or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below) of securities of the Company
representing 35% or more of the Voting Power (as defined below);

         (2) there shall occur a change in the composition of a majority of the
Board of Directors within any period of four consecutive years which change
shall not have been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors as
constituted immediately prior to the commencement of such period;

         (3) at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company called for the
purpose of electing directors, more than one of the persons nominated by the
Board of Directors for election as directors shall fail to be elected; or

         (4) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger, consolidation,
sale of substantially all assets or other reorganization of the Company, other
than a reincorporation, in which the Company does not survive.

         For purposes of this Section 5.9, (i) "Person" shall have the meaning
set forth in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act"), (ii) "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set
forth in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated

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under the Exchange Act; (iii) "Voting Power" shall mean the voting power of the
outstanding securities of the Company having the right under ordinary
circumstances to vote at an election of the Board of Directors; and (iv)
"Designated Person" shall mean any Person whose Beneficial Ownership of
securities is solely the result of such Person acquiring securities as an
underwriter in an underwritten public offering of such securities.

         SECTION 5.10 Duration and Termination.

         (a) The Plan shall be of unlimited duration.

         (b) The Board of Directors may suspend, discontinue or terminate the
Plan at any time. Such action shall not impair any of the rights of any holder
of any Award outstanding on the date of the Plan's suspension, discontinuance or
termination without the holder's written consent.

         SECTION 5.11 Deferred Compensation and Trust Agreements. The Committee
may authorize and establish deferred compensation agreements and arrangements in
connection with Awards under the Plan and may establish trusts and other
arrangements including "rabbi trusts", with respect to such agreements and
appoint one or more trustees for such trusts. Shares of Common Stock under the
Plan may also be acquired by one or more trustees from the Company, in the open
market or otherwise.

         SECTION 5.12 Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of July 24, 2001.

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