<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.5

                          GT INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE CORP.

                            1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                          (AS AMENDED ON JUNE 17, 1998)
<PAGE>   2
                                Table of Contents

                                                                         Page
                                                                         ----

                                    ARTICLE I

                                     GENERAL

1.1   Purpose......................................................        1
1.2   Administration...............................................        1
1.3   Persons Eligible for Awards..................................        3
1.4   Types of Awards Under Plan...................................        4
1.5   Shares Available for Awards..................................        4
1.6   Definitions of Certain Terms.................................        6

                                   ARTICLE II

                              AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

2.1   Agreements Evidencing Awards.................................       10
2.2   No Rights as a Shareholder...................................       10
2.3   Grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
        Rights and Dividend Equivalent Rights......................       11
2.4   Exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation
        Rights.....................................................       15
2.5   Termination of Employment; Death.............................       17
2.6   Grant of Restricted Stock....................................       19
2.7   Grant of Restricted Stock Units..............................       21
2.8   Other Stock-Based Awards.....................................       22
2.9   Grant of Dividend Equivalent Rights..........................       23

                                   ARTICLE III

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

3.1   Amendment of the Plan; Modification
        of Awards..................................................       24
3.2   Tax Withholding..............................................       25
3.3   Restrictions.................................................       26
3.4   Nonassignability.............................................       27
3.5   Requirement of Notification of Election
        Under Section 83(b) of the Code............................       27
3.6   Requirement of Notification Upon
        Disqualifying Disposition Under
        Section 421(b) of the Code.................................       28
3.7   Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger.............................       28
3.8   Right of Discharge Reserved..................................       30


                                       -i-
<PAGE>   3
3.9   Nature of Payments...........................................       30
3.10  Non-Uniform Determinations...................................       30
3.11  Other Payments or Awards.....................................       31
3.12  Section Headings.............................................       31
3.13  Effective Date and Term of Plan..............................       31
3.14  Governing Law................................................       32


                                      -ii-
<PAGE>   4
                                    ARTICLE I

                                     GENERAL

1.1      Purpose

            The purpose of the GT Interactive Software Corp. 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to provide for officers, other employees and
directors of, and consultants to, GT Interactive Software Corp. (the "Company")
and its subsidiaries an incentive (a) to enter into and remain in the service of
the Company, (b) to enhance the long-term performance of the Company, and (c) to
acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company.

1.2      Administration

            1.2.1 Subject to Section 1.2.6, the Plan shall be administered by
the Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the board of directors of the
Company (the "Board"), which shall consist of not less than two directors. The
members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of,
the Board. To the extent required for transactions under the Plan to qualify for
the exemptions available under Rule 16b-3 ("Rule 16b-3") promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), all actions relating to awards
to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act shall be taken by the Board
unless each person who serves on the Committee is a "non-employee director"
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 or such actions are taken by a sub-committee of
the Committee (or the Board) comprised solely of "non-employee directors". To
the 


                                      -1-
<PAGE>   5
extent required for compensation realized from awards under the Plan to be
deductible by the Company pursuant to section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (the "Code"), the members of the Committee shall be "outside
directors" within the meaning of section 162(m).

            1.2.2 The Committee shall have the authority (a) to exercise all of
the powers granted to it under the Plan, (b) to construe, interpret and
implement the Plan and any Plan Agreements executed pursuant to Section 2.1, (c)
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
including rules governing its own operations, (d) to make all determinations
necessary or advisable in administering the Plan, (e) to correct any defect,
supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, and (f) to
amend the Plan to reflect changes in applicable law.

            1.2.3 Actions of the Committee shall be taken by the vote of a
majority of its members. Any action may be taken by a written instrument signed
by a majority of the Committee members, and action so taken shall be fully as
effective as if it had been taken by a vote at a meeting.

            1.2.4 The determination of the Committee on all matters relating to
the Plan or any Plan Agreement shall be final, binding and conclusive.

            1.2.5 No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any award
thereunder.


                                      -2-
<PAGE>   6
            1.2.6 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (a)
until the Board shall appoint the members of the Committee, the Plan shall be
administered by the Board; and (b) the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any
time and from time to time, grant awards or resolve to administer the Plan. In
either of the foregoing events, the Board shall have all of the authority and
responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

1.3         Persons Eligible for Awards

            Awards under the Plan may be made to such directors, officers and
other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (including prospective
employees conditioned on their becoming employees), and to such consultants to
the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, "key persons") as the Committee
shall in its discretion select.

1.4         Types of Awards Under Plan

            Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (a) incentive stock
options (within the meaning of section 422 of the Code), (b) nonqualified stock
options, (c) stock appreciation rights, (d) dividend equivalent rights, (e)
restricted stock, (f) restricted stock units and (g) other stock-based awards,
all as more fully set forth in Article II. The term "award" means any of the
foregoing. No incentive stock option (other than an incentive stock option that
may be assumed or issued by the Company in connection with a transaction to
which section 424(a) of the 


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   7
Code applies) may be granted to a person who is not an employee of the Company
on the date of grant.

1.5         Shares Available for Awards

            1.5.1 The total number of shares of common stock of the Company, par
value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), which may be transferred pursuant to
awards granted under the Plan shall be initially 8,000,000 shares and may be in
creased annually, commencing January 1, 2000 at the discretion of the Board, by
an amount up to 1% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding. Such shares
may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or authorized and issued Common
Stock held in the Company's treasury or acquired by the Company for the purposes
of the Plan. The Committee may direct that any stock certificate evidencing
shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall bear a legend setting forth such
restrictions on transferability as may apply to such shares pursuant to the
Plan.

            1.5.2 The total number of shares of Common Stock with respect to
which stock options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to any one
employee of the Company or a subsidiary during any one year period shall not
exceed 1,000,000.

            1.5.3 Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the
Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding award,
the number of shares available for awards, the number of shares that may be
subject to awards to any one employee, and the price per share of Common 


                                      -4-
<PAGE>   8
Stock covered by each such outstanding award shall be proportionately adjusted
for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock
resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination
or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in
the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the
Committee, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of
any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with
respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an award.
After any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 1.5.3, the number of shares
subject to each outstanding award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

            1.5.4 Except as provided in this Section 1.5 and in Section 2.3.8,
there shall be no limit on the number or the value of the shares of Common Stock
that may be subject to awards to any individual under the Plan.

1.6         Definitions of Certain Terms

            1.6.1 The "Fair Market Value" of a share of Common Stock on any day
shall be determined as follows.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>   9
                  (a) If the principal market for the Common Stock (the
"Market") is a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, the
last sale price or, if no reported sales take place on the applicable date, the
average of the high bid and low asked price of Common Stock as reported for such
Market on such date or, if no such quotation is made on such date, on the next
preceding day on which there were quotations, provided that such quotations
shall have been made within the ten (10) business days preceding the applicable
date;

                  (b) If the Market is the NASDAQ National List, the NASDAQ
Supplemental List or another market, the average of the high bid and low asked
price for Common Stock on the applicable date, or, if no such quotations shall
have been made on such date, on the next preceding day on which there were
quotations, provided that such quotations shall have been made within the ten
(10) business days preceding the applicable date; or,

                  (c) In the event that neither paragraph (a) nor (b) shall
apply, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on any day shall be
determined in good faith by the Committee.

            1.6.2 The term "incentive stock option" means an option that is
intended to qualify for special federal income tax treatment pursuant to
sections 421 and 422 of the Code, as now constituted or subsequently amended, or
pursuant to a successor provision of the Code, and which is so designated in the
applicable Plan Agreement. Any option that is not specifically designated as an
incentive stock option shall under no circumstances be considered an incentive


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   10
stock option. Any option that is not an incentive stock option is referred to
herein as a "nonqualified stock option."

                  1.6.3 The term "employment" means, in the case of a grantee of
an award under the Plan who is not an employee of the Company, the grantee's
association with the Company or a subsidiary as a director, consultant or other
wise.

                  1.6.4 A grantee shall be deemed to have a "termination of
employment" upon ceasing employment with the Company and all of its
subsidiaries or by a corporation assuming awards in a transaction to which
section 424(a) of the Code applies. The Committee may in its discretion
determine (a) whether any leave of absence constitutes a termination of
employment for purposes of the Plan, (b) the impact, if any, of any such leave
of absence on awards theretofore made under the Plan, and (c) when a change in a
non-employee's association with the Company constitutes a termination of
employment for purposes of the Plan. The Committee shall have the right to
determine whether the termination of a grantee's employment is a dismissal for
cause and the date of termination in such case, which date the Committee may
retroactively deem to be the date of the action that is cause for dismissal.
Such determinations of the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                  1.6.5 The term "cause," when used in connection with
termination of a grantee's employment, shall have the meaning set forth in any
then-effective employment agreement between the grantee and the Company or a
subsidiary 


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   11
thereof. In the absence of such an employment agreement provision, "cause"
means: (a) conviction of any crime (whether or not involving the Company)
constituting a felony in the jurisdiction involved; (b) engaging in any
substantiated act involving moral turpitude; (c) engaging in any act which, in
each case, subjects, or if generally known would subject, the Company to public
ridicule or embarrassment; (d) material violation of the Company's policies,
including, without limitation, those relating to sexual harassment or the
disclosure or misuse of confidential information; (e) serious neglect or
misconduct in the performance of the grantee's duties for the Company or a
subsidiary or willful or repeated failure or refusal to perform such duties; in
each case as determined by the Committee, which determination shall be final,
binding and conclusive.


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   12
                                   ARTICLE II

                              AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

2.1         Agreements Evidencing Awards

            Each award granted under the Plan (except an award of unrestricted
stock) shall be evidenced by a written agreement ("Plan Agreement") which shall
contain such provisions as the Committee in its discretion deems necessary or
desirable. By accepting an award pursuant to the Plan, a grantee thereby agrees
that the award shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan
and the applicable Plan Agreement.

2.2         No Rights as a Shareholder

            No grantee of an option or stock appreciation right (or other person
having the right to exercise such award) shall have any of the rights of a
shareholder of the Company with respect to shares subject to such award until
the issuance of a stock certificate to such person for such shares. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 1.5.3, no adjustment shall be made for dividends,
distributions or other rights (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in
cash, securities or other property) for which the record date is prior to the
date such stock certificate is issued.


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   13
2.3         Grant of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and Dividend
            Equivalent Rights

                  2.3.1 The Committee may grant incentive stock options and
nonqualified stock options (collectively, "options") to purchase shares of
Common Stock from the Company, to such key persons, in such amounts and subject
to such terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine in its
discretion, subject to the provisions of the Plan.

                  2.3.2 The Committee may grant stock appreciation rights to
such key persons, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as
the Committee shall determine in its discretion, subject to the provisions of
the Plan. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in connection with all or any
part of, or independently of, any option granted under the Plan. A stock
appreciation right granted in connection with a nonqualified stock option may be
granted at or after the time of grant of such option. A stock appreciation right
granted in connection with an incentive stock option may be granted only at the
time of grant of such option.

                  2.3.3 The grantee of a stock appreciation right shall have the
right, subject to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Plan Agreement, to
receive from the Company an amount equal to (a) the excess of the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the stock
appreciation right over (b) the exercise price of such right as set forth in the
Plan Agreement (or over the option exercise price if the stock appreciation
right is granted in connection with an 


                                      -10-
<PAGE>   14
option), multiplied by (c) the number of shares with respect to which the stock
appreciation right is exercised. Payment upon exercise of a stock appreciation
right shall be in cash or in shares of Common Stock (valued at their Fair Market
Value on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right) or both, all as
the Committee shall determine in its discretion. Upon the exercise of a stock
appreciation right granted in connection with an option, the number of shares
subject to the option shall be correspondingly reduced by the number of shares
with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised. Upon the
exercise of an option in connection with which a stock appreciation right has
been granted, the number of shares subject to the stock appreciation right shall
be correspondingly reduced by the number of shares with respect to which the
option is exercised.

                  2.3.4 Each Plan Agreement with respect to an option shall set
forth the amount (the "option exercise price") payable by the grantee to the
Company upon exercise of the option evidenced thereby. The option exercise price
per share shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided,
however, that the option exercise price of an incentive stock option shall be at
least 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the
option is granted (except as permitted in connection with the assumption or
issuance of options in a transaction to which section 424(a) of the Code
applies), and provided further that in no event shall the option exercise price
be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   15
                  2.3.5 Each Plan Agreement with respect to an option or stock
appreciation right shall set forth the periods during which the award evidenced
thereby shall be exercisable, whether in whole or in part. Such periods shall be
determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that no
incentive stock option (or a stock appreciation right granted in connection with
an incentive stock option) shall be exercisable more than 10 years after the
date of grant.

                  2.3.6 The Committee may in its discretion include in any Plan
Agreement with respect to an option (the "original option") a provision that an
additional option (the "additional option") shall be granted to any grantee who,
pursuant to Section 2.4.3(b), delivers shares of Common Stock in partial or full
payment of the exercise price of the original option. The additional option
shall be for a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number thus
delivered, shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the original option, and shall
have an expiration date no later than the expiration date of the original
option. In the event that a Plan Agreement provides for the grant of an
additional option, such Agreement shall also provide that the exercise price of
the original option be no less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on its date of grant, and that any shares that are delivered pursuant to
Section 2.4.3(b) in payment of such exercise price shall have been held for at
least six months.

                  2.3.7 To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the time the option is granted) of the stock with respect to
which incentive 


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   16
stock options granted under this Plan and all other plans of the Company and any
subsidiary are first exercisable by any employee during any calendar year shall
exceed the maximum limit (currently, $100,000), if any, imposed from time to
time under section 422 of the Code, such options shall be treated as
nonqualified stock options.

                  2.3.8 Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3.4 and
2.3.5, to the extent required under section 422 of the Code, an incentive stock
option may not be granted under the Plan to an individual who, at the time the
option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of his employer corporation or of its
parent or subsidiary corporations (as such ownership may be determined for
purposes of section 422(b)(6) of the Code) unless (a) at the time such incentive
stock option is granted the option exercise price is at least 110% of the Fair
Market Value of the shares subject thereto and (b) the incentive stock option by
its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of 5 years from the date it is
granted.

2.4         Exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

                  Subject to the provisions of this Article II, each option or
stock appreciation right granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:

                  2.4.1 Unless the applicable Plan Agreement otherwise provides,
an option or stock appreciation right shall become exercisable in five
substantially equal installments, on each of the first, second, third, fourth
and fifth anniversaries 


                                      -13-
<PAGE>   17
of the date of grant, and each installment, once it becomes exercisable, shall
remain exercisable until expiration, cancellation or termination of the award.

                  2.4.2 Unless the applicable Plan Agreement otherwise provides,
an option or stock appreciation right may be exercised from time to time as to
all or part of the shares as to which such award is then exercisable (but, in
any event, only for whole shares). A stock appreciation right granted in
connection with an option may be exercised at any time when, and to the same
extent that, the related option may be exercised. An option or stock
appreciation right shall be exercised by the filing of a written notice with the
Company, on such form and in such manner as the Committee shall prescribe.

                  2.4.3 Any written notice of exercise of an option shall be
accompanied by payment for the shares being purchased. Such payment shall be
made: (a) by certified or official bank check (or the equivalent thereof
acceptable to the Company) for the full option exercise price; or (b) unless the
applicable Plan Agreement provides otherwise, by delivery of shares of Common
Stock acquired at least six months prior to the option exercise date and having
a Fair Market Value (determined as of the exercise date) equal to all or part of
the option exercise price and a certified or official bank check (or the
equivalent thereof acceptable to the Company) for any remaining portion of the
full option exercise price; or (c) at the discretion of the Committee and to the
extent permitted by law, by such other pro vision as the Committee may from time
to time prescribe.


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   18
                  2.4.4 Promptly after receiving payment of the full option
exercise price, or after receiving notice of the exercise of a stock
appreciation right for which payment will be made partly or entirely in shares,
the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 (relating to certain
restrictions), deliver to the grantee or to such other person as may then have
the right to exercise the award, a certificate or certificates for the shares of
Common Stock for which the award has been exercised. If the method of payment
employed upon option exercise so requires, and if applicable law permits, an
optionee may direct the Company to deliver the certificate(s) to the optionee's
stockbroker.

2.5         Termination of Employment; Death

                  2.5.1 Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 2.5.2
or 2.5.3 or in the applicable Plan Agreement, all options and stock appreciation
rights not theretofore exercised shall terminate upon termination of the
grantee's employment for any reason (including death).

                  2.5.2 If a grantee's employment terminates for any reason
other than death or dismissal for cause, the grantee may exercise any
outstanding option or stock appreciation right on the following terms and
conditions: (a) exercise may be made only to the extent that the grantee was
entitled to exercise the award on the date of employment termination; and (b)
exercise must occur within 90 days after employment terminates with respect to
options granted prior to June 17, 1998 or 30 days after employment terminates
with respect to options granted on or after June 17, 1998, except that such 90
or 30 day period, as the case may be, shall be 


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   19
increased to one year if the termination is by reason of disability, but in no
event after the expiration date of the award as set forth in the Plan Agreement.
In the case of an incentive stock option, the term "disability" for purposes of
the preceding sentence shall have the meaning given to it by section 422(c)(7)
of the Code.

                  2.5.3 If a grantee dies while employed by the Company or any
subsidiary, or after employment termination but during the period in which the
grantee's awards are exercisable pursuant to Section 2.5.2, any outstanding
option or stock appreciation right shall be exercisable on the following terms
and conditions: (a) exercise may be made only to the extent that the grantee
was entitled to exercise the award on the date of death; and (b) exercise must
occur by the earlier of the first anniversary of the grantee's death or the
expiration date of the award. Any such exercise of an award following a
grantee's death shall be made only by the grantee's executor or administrator,
unless the grantee's will specifically disposes of such award, in which case
such exercise shall be made only by the recipient of such specific disposition.
If a grantee's personal representative or the recipient of a specific
disposition under the grantee's will shall be entitled to exercise any award
pursuant to the preceding sentence, such representative or recipient shall be
bound by all the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Plan
Agreement which would have applied to the grantee including, without limitation,
the provisions of Sections 3.3 and 3.7 hereof.

2.6         Grant of Restricted Stock


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   20
                  2.6.1 The Committee may grant restricted shares of Common
Stock to such key persons, in such amounts, and subject to such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, subject to the
provisions of the Plan. Restricted stock awards may be made independently of or
in connection with any other award under the Plan. A grantee of a restricted
stock award shall have no rights with respect to such award unless such grantee
accepts the award within such period as the Committee shall specify by executing
a Plan Agreement in such form as the Committee shall determine and, if the
Committee shall so require, makes payment to the Company by certified or
official bank check (or the equivalent thereof acceptable to the Company) in
such amount as the Committee may determine.

                  2.6.2 Promptly after a grantee accepts a restricted stock
award, the Company shall issue in the grantee's name a certificate or
certificates for the shares of Common Stock covered by the award. Upon the
issuance of such certificate(s), the grantee shall have the rights of a
shareholder with respect to the restricted stock, subject to the
nontransferability restrictions and Company repurchase rights described in
Sections 2.6.4 and 2.6.5 and to such other restrictions and conditions as the
Committee in its discretion may include in the applicable Plan Agreement.

                  2.6.3 Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, any
certificate issued evidencing shares of restricted stock shall remain in the
possession of the 


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   21
Company until such shares are free of any restrictions specified in the
applicable Plan Agreement.

                  2.6.4 Shares of restricted stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as
specifically provided in this Plan or the applicable Plan Agreement. The
Committee at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates (which may depend
upon or be related to the attainment of performance goals and other conditions)
on which the nontransferability of the restricted stock shall lapse. Unless the
applicable Plan Agreement provides otherwise, additional shares of Common Stock
or other property distributed to the grantee in respect of shares of restricted
stock, as dividends or otherwise, shall be subject to the same restrictions
applicable to such restricted stock.

                  2.6.5 During the 120 days following termination of the
grantee's employment for any reason, the Company shall have the right to require
the return of any shares to which restrictions on transferability apply, in
exchange for which the Company shall repay to the grantee (or the grantee's
estate) any amount paid by the grantee for such shares.

2.7         Grant of Restricted Stock Units

                  2.7.1 The Committee may grant awards of restricted stock units
to such key persons, in such amounts, and subject to such terms and conditions
as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, subject to the provisions of
the 


                                      -18-
<PAGE>   22
Plan. Restricted stock units may be awarded independently of or in connection
with any other award under the Plan.

                  2.7.2 At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the
date or dates on which the restricted stock units shall become fully vested and
nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems
appropriate. In the event of the termination of the grantee's employment by the
Company and its subsidiaries for any reason, restricted stock units that have
not become nonforfeitable shall be forfeited and cancelled. The Committee at
any time may accelerate vesting dates and otherwise waive or amend any
conditions of an award of restricted stock units.

                  2.7.3 At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the
maturity date applicable to each grant of restricted stock units, which may be
determined at the election of the grantee. Such date may be later than the
vesting date or dates of the award. On the maturity date, the Company shall
transfer to the grantee one unrestricted, fully transferable share of Common
Stock for each restricted stock unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and
not previously forfeited. The Committee shall specify the purchase price, if
any, to be paid by the grantee to the Company for such shares of Common Stock.

2.8         Other Stock-Based Awards

                  The Board may authorize other types of stock-based awards
(including the grant of unrestricted shares), which the Committee may grant to
such key 


                                      -19-
<PAGE>   23
persons, and in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the
Committee shall in its discretion determine, subject to the provisions of the
Plan. Such awards may entail the transfer of actual shares of Common Stock to
Plan participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value
of shares of Common Stock.

2.9         Grant of Dividend Equivalent Rights

                  The Committee may in its discretion include in the Plan
Agreement with respect to any award a dividend equivalent right entitling the
grantee to receive amounts equal to the ordinary dividends that would be paid,
during the time such award is outstanding and unexercised, on the shares of
Common Stock covered by such award if such shares were then outstanding. In the
event such a provision is included in a Plan Agreement, the Committee shall
determine whether such payments shall be made in cash, in shares of Common Stock
or in another form, whether they shall be conditioned upon the exercise of the
award to which they relate, the time or times at which they shall be made, and
such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.


                                      -20-
<PAGE>   24
                                   ARTICLE III

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

3.1         Amendment of the Plan; Modification of Awards

                  3.1.1 The Board may from time to time suspend, discontinue,
revise or amend the Plan in any respect whatsoever, except that no such
amendment shall materially impair any rights or materially increase any
obligations under any award theretofore made under the Plan without the consent
of the grantee (or, after the grantee's death, the person having the right to
exercise the award). For purposes of this Section 3.1, any action of the Board
or the Committee that alters or affects the tax treatment of any award shall not
be considered to materially impair any rights of any grantee.

                  3.1.2 Shareholder approval of any amendment shall be obtained
to the extent necessary to comply with section 422 of the Code (relating to
incentive stock options) or other applicable law or regulation.

                  3.1.3 The Committee may amend any outstanding Plan Agreement,
including, without limitation, by amendment which would accelerate the time or
times at which the award becomes unrestricted or may be exercised, or waive or
amend any goals, restrictions or conditions set forth in the Agreement. However,
any such amendment (other than an amendment pursuant to Section 3.7) that
materially impairs the rights or materially increases the obligations of a
grantee 


                                      -21-
<PAGE>   25
under an outstanding award shall be made only with the consent of the grantee
(or, upon the grantee's death, the person having the right to exercise the
award).

3.2         Tax Withholding

                  3.2.1 As a condition to the receipt of any shares of Common
Stock pursuant to any award or the lifting of restrictions on any award, or in
connection with any other event that gives rise to a federal or other
governmental tax with holding obligation on the part of the Company relating to
an award (including, without limitation, FICA tax), the Company shall be
entitled to require that the grantee remit to the Company an amount sufficient
in the opinion of the Company to satisfy such withholding obligation.

                  3.2.2 If the event giving rise to the withholding obligation
is a transfer of shares of Common Stock, then, unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Plan Agreement, the grantee may satisfy the withholding obligation
imposed under Section 3.2.1 by electing to have the Company withhold shares of
Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of tax to be
withheld. For this purpose, Fair Market Value shall be determined as of the date
on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined (and any fractional
share amount shall be settled in cash).

3.3         Restrictions

                  3.3.1 If the Committee shall at any time determine that any
consent (as hereinafter defined) is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or
in connection 


                                      -22-
<PAGE>   26
with, the granting of any award under the Plan, the issuance or purchase of
shares or other rights thereunder, or the taking of any other action thereunder
(each such action being hereinafter referred to as a "plan action"), then such
plan action shall not be taken, in whole or in part, unless and until such
consent shall have been effected or obtained to the full satisfaction of the
Committee.

                  3.3.2 The term "consent" as used herein with respect to any
plan action means (a) any and all listings, registrations or qualifications in
respect thereof upon any securities exchange or under any federal, state or
local law, rule or regulation, (b) any and all written agreements and
representations by the grantee with respect to the disposition of shares, or
with respect to any other matter, which the Committee shall deem necessary or
desirable to comply with the terms of any such listing, registration or
qualification or to obtain an exemption from the requirement that any such
listing, qualification or registration be made and (c) any and all consents,
clearances and approvals in respect of a plan action by any governmental or
other regulatory bodies.

3.4         Nonassignability

                  Except to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Plan
Agreement, no award or right granted to any person under the Plan shall be
assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and all such awards and rights shall be exercisable during the
life of the grantee only by the grantee or the grantee's legal representative.


                                      -23-
<PAGE>   27
3.5         Requirement of Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the
            Code

                  If any grantee shall, in connection with the acquisition of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan, make the election permitted under section
83(b) of the Code (that is, an election to include in gross income in the year
of transfer the amounts specified in section 83(b)), such grantee shall notify
the Company of such election within 10 days of filing notice of the election
with the Internal Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification
required pursuant to regulations issued under the authority of Code section
83(b).


                                      -24-
<PAGE>   28
3.6         Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under
            Section 421(b) of the Code

                  If any grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Common
Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option under the
circumstances described in section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain
disqualifying dispositions), such grantee shall notify the Company of such
disposition within 10 days thereof.

3.7         Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger

                  3.7.1 In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation
of the Company, all outstanding awards will terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the
Committee. The Committee may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such
instances, accelerate the date on which any award becomes exercisable or fully
vested and/or declare that any award shall terminate as of a specified date.

                  3.7.2 In the event of a merger or consolidation ("Merger") of
the Company with or into any other corporation or entity ("Corporation"),
outstanding awards shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be
substituted by such successor Corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
successor Corporation, unless the Committee determines, in the exercise of its
sole discretion, to accelerate the date on which an award becomes exercisable or
fully vested. In the absence of an assumption or substitution of awards, awards
shall, to the extent not exercised, terminate as of the date of the closing of
the Merger. For the 


                                      -25-
<PAGE>   29
purposes of this Section 3.7.2, an award shall be considered assumed if, for
every share of Common Stock subject thereto immediately prior to the merger, the
grantee has the right, following the Merger, to acquire the consideration
received in the merger transaction by holders of shares of Common Stock (and if
holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen
by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided, however, that
if such consideration received in the Merger was not solely common stock of the
successor Corporation or its parent, the Committee may, with the consent of the
successor Corporation and the participant, provide for the consideration to be
acquired pursuant to the award, for each share of Common Stock subject thereto,
to be solely common stock of the successor Corporation or its parent equal in
fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common
Stock in the Merger. For purposes hereof, the term "Merger" shall include any
transaction in which another corporation acquires all of the issued and
outstanding Common Stock of the Company.

3.8         Right of Discharge Reserved

                  Nothing in the Plan or in any Plan Agreement shall confer upon
any grantee the right to continue in the employ of the Company or affect any
right which the Company may have to terminate such employment.


                                      -26-
<PAGE>   30
3.9         Nature of Payments

                  3.9.1 Any and all grants of awards and issuances of shares of
Common Stock under the Plan shall be in consideration of services performed for
the Company by the grantee.

                  3.9.2 All such grants and issuances shall constitute a special
incentive payment to the grantee and shall not be taken into account in
computing the amount of salary or compensation of the grantee for the purpose of
determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus,
life insurance or other benefit plan of the Company or under any agreement
between the Company and the grantee, unless such plan or agreement specifically
provides otherwise.

3.10        Non-Uniform Determinations

                  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). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and
selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Plan
agreements, as to (a) the persons to receive awards under the Plan, (b) the
terms and provisions of awards under the Plan, and (c) the treatment of leaves
of absence pursuant to Section 1.6.4.


                                      -27-
<PAGE>   31
3.11        Other Payments or Awards

                  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be deemed in any way to
limit or restrict the Company from making any award or payment to any person
under any other plan, arrangement or understanding, whether now existing or
hereafter in effect.

3.12        Section Headings

                  The section headings contained herein are for the purpose of
convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of the
sections.

3.13        Effective Date and Term of Plan

                  3.13.1 The Plan was adopted by the Board on April 30, 1997,
subject to approval by the Company's shareholders. All awards under the Plan
prior to such shareholder approval are subject in their entirety to such
approval. If such approval is not obtained prior to the first anniversary of the
date of adoption of the Plan, the Plan and all awards thereunder shall terminate
on that date.

                  3.13.2 Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the provisions
of the Plan respecting the grant of incentive stock options shall terminate on
the day before the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Plan by the Board,
and no incentive stock option awards shall thereafter be made under the Plan.
All awards made under the Plan prior to its termination shall remain in effect
until such awards 


                                      -28-
<PAGE>   32
have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the terms and provisions of
the Plan and the applicable Plan Agreements.

3.14        Governing Law

                  All rights and obligations under the Plan shall be construed
and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.


                                      -29-