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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                  2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
                                       OF
                              WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     PURPOSE

         The purpose of the Wolverine Tube, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for
Outside Directors of the Company (the "Plan") is to retain the services of
qualified persons who are not employees of the Company to serve as members of
the Board of Directors of the Company and to secure for the Company the benefits
of the incentives inherent in increased stock ownership by paying such persons a
portion of their compensation for such service through the grant of stock
options to purchase shares of Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   DEFINITIONS

         "Administration Committee" means the committee of the Board, which is
composed of the members of the Board who are not Outside Directors, that
administers the Plan in accordance with Article VIII hereof.

         "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by an Outside
Director to exercise an Option in the event of an Outside Director's death or,
if no such person is designated, the Outside Director's estate.

         "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         "Change in Control of the Company" has the meaning set forth in Section
14.03 below.

         "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, par value $.01
per share.

         "Company" means Wolverine Tube, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to the Common Stock, the
average of the closing price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange
Composite Trading Tape for the date of determination and the four preceding
trading days.

         "Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted
under the Plan to an Outside Director which is not intended to be an "incentive
stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.

         "Outside Director" means a member of the Board who is not an employee
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

                                   ARTICLE III

                                SHARES AVAILABLE

         Subject to the provisions of Article X of the Plan, no more than
250,000 shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of
Options granted under the Plan. If an Option is forfeited or expires without
being exercised, the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall be
available for additional Option grants under


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the Plan. Either authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or treasury
shares may be delivered pursuant to the exercise of Options granted under the
Plan.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                  PARTICIPATION

         All Outside Directors shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
Grants of Options to purchase Common Stock may be made pursuant to the Plan only
to Outside Directors.

                                    ARTICLE V

                                GRANTS OF OPTIONS

         5.01     Initial and Periodic Grants. Unless otherwise determined by
the Administration Committee, each Outside Director shall be granted the
following options: (a) each individual who initially becomes an Outside Director
after the date hereof shall be granted an Option to purchase 5,000 shares of
Common Stock, effective as of the date of such individual's election or
appointment to the Board (the "Initial Options"); (b) on each anniversary of
each Outside Director's election to the Board, each Outside Director who is a
member of the Board on such anniversary date shall receive a grant, effective as
of such anniversary date, of an additional Option to purchase 1,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Periodic Options").

         5.02     Additional Grants. In addition to the Options granted pursuant
to Section 5.01 above, each Outside Director may be granted additional Options
in lieu of any retainer or other compensation otherwise payable to the Outside
Director (the "Additional Options").

                                   ARTICLE VI

                      TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTION GRANTS

         6.01     Vesting. Initial Options granted to an Outside Director shall
vest in accordance with the following schedule: 1/3 on the first anniversary of
grant; 1/3 on the second anniversary of grant; and 1/3 on the third anniversary
of grant. Unless otherwise determined by the Administration Committee, Periodic
Options and Additional Options shall be fully vested when granted.

         6.02     Exercisability. Options will be fully exercisable (subject to
the vesting requirements of Section 6.01) until termination of the Option
pursuant to Section 6.03 below; provided, however, that, in the event of a
Change in Control of the Company, all outstanding Options shall be immediately
exercisable as of the date of such Change in Control of the Company.

         6.03     Termination of Option. Options shall terminate on the earliest
to occur of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant of the Option, (ii)
the first anniversary of the date of an Outside Director's resignation, removal
or termination as a member of the Board, or such later date as the
Administration Committee may determine, and (iii) the date of the Outside
Director's removal from the Board for "cause." Whether an Outside Director has
been removed from the Board for "cause" shall be determined in accordance with
the By-Laws of the Company.

         6.04     Exercise Price. The per share exercise price of each Option
shall be the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of
grant of the Option.

         6.05     Payment of Option Exercise Price. An Outside Director may pay
the exercise price of an Option by tendering to the Company cash (including a
certified check, teller's check or wire transfer of funds), previously owned
shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.

         6.06     Certificate. The terms and provisions of an Option shall be
set forth in an option certificate which shall be delivered to the Outside
Director reasonably promptly following the date of grant of the Option.


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         6.07     Transferability. Options shall be nontransferable other than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the life of the
Outside Director, such Options shall be exercisable only by the Outside
Director; provided, however, that this sentence shall not preclude the Outside
Director from (i) designating a Beneficiary who shall be entitled to exercise
the Option in the event of the Outside Director's death during the exercise
period specified in Section 6.03 above, (ii) transferring Options to a revocable
trust under circumstances where the grantor Outside Director is the trustee or
co-trustee of such revocable trust and the trust beneficiaries are limited to
the grantor Outside Director and, in the event of the Outside Director's death,
the grantor's spouse, lineal descendants and lineal ancestors, or (iii)
transferring Options to, or for the benefit of, the Outside Director's Immediate
Family (including, without limitation, to a trust for the benefit of the Outside
Director's Immediate Family or to a partnership or limited liability company
whose only partners or members are the Outside Director and/or the Outside
Director's Immediate Family). The transferee shall remain subject to all the
terms and conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. The term
"Immediate Family" shall mean the Outside Director's spouse, children, and
grandchildren (and, for those purposes, shall also include the Outside
Director). Written notice of the Outside Director's intent to transfer Options
under this Section 6.07 must be delivered to the Administration Committee prior
to such transfer. Any transfer is subject to such limits as the Administration
Committee may establish.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                REGISTRATION OF SHARES; LIMITS ON EXERCISABILITY

         7.01     Securities Act. No Option shall be exercisable and no transfer
of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Option (the "Underlying Shares")
may be made to any Outside Director, and any attempt to exercise any Option or
to transfer any Underlying Shares to any Outside Director shall be void and of
no effect, unless and until (i) a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), has been duly filed and declared
effective pertaining to the Underlying Shares and the Underlying Shares have
been duly qualified under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii)
the Board, in its sole discretion after securing the advice of counsel,
determines, or the Outside Director provides an opinion of counsel satisfactory
to the Board, that such registration or qualification is not required as a
result of the availability of an exemption from registration or qualification
under such laws.

         7.02     Limit on Exercise. Without limiting the foregoing, if at any
time the Board shall determine in its discretion that the listing, registration
or qualification of the Underlying Shares under any state or federal law or on
any securities exchange, or the consent or approval of any governmental
regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with, the granting of Options or the delivery or purchase of Underlying Shares,
such Options may not be granted or exercised unless such listing, registration,
qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of
any conditions not acceptable to the Board. In addition, if at any time the
Board shall determine in its discretion that the grant or exercise of Options
would violate any securities laws, then such Options may not be granted or
exercised until such time as the board shall determine that such grant or
exercise may be effected other than in violation of such laws. Any restrictions
imposed on the exercise of Options under this Section 7.02 shall be effective
immediately upon notice to the Outside Director.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                 ADMINISTRATION

         The Plan shall be administered by the Administration Committee, which
shall be composed of all of the members of the Board who are not Outside
Directors. All questions or interpretation, administration and application of
the Plan shall be determined by the Board. The Board may authorize any officer
of the Company to execute and deliver an option certificate on behalf of the
Company to an Outside Director. No member of the Board shall be liable for
anything whatsoever in connection with the administration of the Plan except
such member's own willful misconduct.


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                                   ARTICLE IX

                           AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

         9.01     Amendments. Subject to Section 9.02 below, the Plan may be
altered, amended, suspended, or terminated at any time by the Board; provided,
however, that in no event may the provisions of the Plan respecting eligibility
to participate or the timing or amount of grants be amended more frequently than
once every six months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, or any rules or regulations thereunder; and provided, further,
that any amendment which under the requirements of applicable law must be
approved by the stockholders of the Company shall not be effective unless and
until such stockholder approval has been obtained in compliance with such law;
and provided, further, that any amendment that must be approved by the
stockholders of the Company in order to maintain the continued qualification of
the Plan under Rule 16b-3(d)(2) under the Exchange Act, or any successor
provision, shall not be effective unless and until such stockholder approval has
been obtained in compliance with such rule.

         9.02     Consents To Plan Changes. No termination or amendment of the
Plan may, without the consent of the Outside Director, affect any such
individual's rights under the provisions of the Plan with respect to awards of
Options which were made prior to such action.

         9.03     Termination. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with
Section 10.01 above, the Plan shall terminate on, and no further Options may be
granted hereunder after, the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the
Plan, but awards granted prior to such date may extend beyond that date.

                                    ARTICLE X

                     ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING THE COMMON STOCK

         In the event of any merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock dividend, distribution or property, special cash
dividend or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common Stock,
adjustments shall be made by the Board to prevent dilution or enlargement of
rights in the number and class of shares of Common Stock, granted or authorized
to be granted hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                             NO RIGHT TO REELECTION

         Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to create any obligation on the
part of the Board to nominate any of its members for reelection by the Company's
stockholders, nor confer upon any Outside Director the right to remain a member
of the Board for any period of time, or at any particular rate of compensation.

                                   ARTICLE XII

                                  GOVERNING LAW

         The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be construed in accordance with
and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.


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                                  ARTICLE XIII

                       NO RESTRICTION ON RIGHT OF COMPANY
                           TO EFFECT CORPORATE CHANGES

         The Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company
or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital
structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any
issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds,
debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or
affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any
other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE XIV

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         14.01    Expenses. All expenses and costs in connection with the
administration of the Plan or the issuance of Options hereunder shall be borne
by the Company.

         14.02    Headings. The headings of sections herein are included solely
for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning of any of the
provisions of the Plan.

         14.03    Change in Control. A "Change in Control of the Company" means:

         (a)      The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
         meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of
         beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
         Exchange Act) of 50 percent or more of either (i) the then outstanding
         shares of Common Stock (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii)
         the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
         the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
         (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that
         the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control:
         (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition
         by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
         acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit
         plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
         corporation controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any
         corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation which
         would not be a Change in Control under paragraph (c) below; or

         (b)      Individuals who, as of the effective date of the Plan,
         constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
         constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that
         any individual becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of
         the Plan whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
         shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
         directors then comprising the Incumbent Board will be considered as
         though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
         excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
         assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
         threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
         Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or
         threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a
         person other than the Board; or

         (c)      Approval by the shareholders of the company of a
         reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless following
         such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 50 percent
         of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
         resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and the
         combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
         corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is
         then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
         substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
         beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
         Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
         such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same
         proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such
         reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the Outstanding Company
         Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
         be, and (ii) at least a majority of the


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         members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
         such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
         Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
         providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

         (d)      Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a complete
         liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other
         disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
         other than to a corporation, with respect to which following such sale
         or other disposition, (A) more than 50 percent of the then outstanding
         shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting
         power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
         entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
         beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all
         of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
         respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
         Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
         disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership,
         immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding
         Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the
         case may be, and (B) at least a majority of the members of the board of
         directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at
         the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
         Board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the
         Company.

         14.04    Section 16. It is intended that the Plan and any grants made
to a person subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 meet
all of the requirements of Rule 16b-3. If any provision of the Plan or any award
hereunder would disqualify the Plan or such award, or would otherwise not comply
with Rule 16b-3, such provision or award shall be construed or deemed amended to
conform to Rule 16b-3.

         14.05    Payment of Taxes. An Outside Director shall, no later than the
date as of which the value of any portion of the Option first becomes includable
in the Outside Director's gross income for federal income tax purposes, make
arrangements satisfactory to the Administration Committee regarding payment of
any federal, state, local or FICA taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld with respect to the Option.

         14.06    Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall be effective on the
date it is approved by a majority vote of the holders of the Company's Common
Stock.

         14.07    Severability. If any provision of this Plan shall for any
reason be held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision hereby, and this Plan
shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision were omitted.

         14.08    Successors and Assigns. This Plan shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon each successor and assign of the Company. All obligations
imposed upon an Outside Director, and all rights granted to the Company
hereunder, shall be binding upon the Outside Director's heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.


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