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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6


                      FRIEDE & GOLDMAN INTERNATIONAL INC.

                          1997 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

     Friede & Goldman International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby establishes this Friede Goldman International Inc. 1997
Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

     1.   Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the
Company by encouraging employees of, and consultants to, the Company and its
Subsidiaries and the directors of the Company who are not also employees of the
Company or a Subsidiary, to acquire or increase their equity interests in the
Company and to provide a means whereby such persons may develop a sense of
proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success
of the Company, and to encourage them to remain with and devote their best
efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the
Company and its stockholders.  The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the
ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to attract and retain the services
of individuals who are believed to be essential for the growth and profitability
of the Company.

     2.   Definitions.  As used in this Plan:

          (a) "Appreciation Right" means a right granted pursuant to 
     Paragraph 5.

          (b) "Award" means an Appreciation Right, an Option Right, a Director
     Option, Phantom Shares, a Performance Unit, Bonus Stock, Restricted Stock,
     or a Cash Tax Right.

          (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (d) "Bonus Stock" means unrestricted shares of Common Stock granted
     pursuant to Paragraph 9.

          (e) "Cash Tax Right" means a right granted pursuant to Paragraph 10.

          (f) "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred upon:

               (i) the date of the acquisition by any "person" (within the
          meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and excluding any transfer to any family
          members or entities controlled by family members of J. L. Holloway),
          excluding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, of
          beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
          Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either the then outstanding shares of
          common stock of the Company, or the then outstanding voting securities
          entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

               (ii) the date the individuals who constitute the Board as of the
          effective date of this Plan (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any
          reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board,
          provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the
          effective date of this Plan whose election, or nomination for election
          by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
          majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (other
          than any individual whose nomination for election to Board membership
          was not endorsed by the Company's management prior to, or at the time
          of, such individual's initial nomination for election) shall be, for
          purposes of this Plan, considered as though such person were a member
          of the Incumbent Board;

               (iii)  the date of consummation of a merger, consolidation,
          recapitalization, reorganization, sale or disposition of all or a
          substantial portion of the Company's assets, or the 
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          issuance of shares of stock of the Company in connection with the
          acquisition of the stock or assets of another entity, provided,
          however, that a Change in Control shall not occur under this clause
          (iii) if consummation of the transaction would result in at least 50%
          of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the
          Company (or, if not the Company, the entity that succeeds to all or
          substantially all of the Company's business) outstanding immediately
          after such transaction being beneficially owned (within the meaning of
          Rule 13d-3 promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act) by at least 50%
          of the holders of outstanding voting securities of the Company
          immediately prior to the transaction, with the voting power of each
          such continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not
          substantially altered in the transaction; or

               (iv) the date the Company files a report or proxy statement with
          the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act
          disclosing in response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor
          schedule, form or report or item therein) that a change in control of
          the Company has or may have occurred or will or may occur in the
          future pursuant to any then-existing contract or transaction.

          (g) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from
     time to time.

          (h) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

          (i) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the
     Company or any security into which such Common Stock may be changed by
     reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Paragraph 14.

          (j) "Date of Grant" means (i) with respect to an Award, other than a
     Director Option, the date specified by the Committee on which such Award
     will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on
     which the Committee takes action with respect thereto) and (ii) with
     respect to a Director Option, the automatic date of grant as provided in
     Paragraph 11.

          (k) "Director" means a member of the Board.

          (l) "Director Option" means the right to purchase a share of Common
     Stock upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Paragraph 11.

          (m) "Dividend Equivalent" means, with respect to an Option or Phantom
     Share, an amount equal to the amount of any dividends that are declared and
     become payable after the Date of Grant for such Award and on or before the
     date such Award is exercised, paid or forfeited, as the case may be.

          (n) "Grant Price" means the price per share of Common Stock at which
     an Appreciation Right not granted in tandem with an Option Right is
     granted.

          (o) "Management Objectives" means the objectives, if any, established
     by the Committee that are to be achieved with respect to an Award granted
     under this Plan, which may be described in terms of Company-wide
     objectives, in terms of objectives that are related to performance of a
     division, Subsidiary, department or function within the Company or a
     Subsidiary in which the Participant receiving the Award is employed or in
     individual or other terms, and which will relate to the period of time
     ("Performance Cycle") determined by the Committee. The Management
     Objectives intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be
     with respect to one or more of the following (i) net earnings; (ii)
     operating income; (iii) earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT"); (iv)
     operating income plus interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-
     cash compensation expenses related to the issuance of stock and stock
     options to employees ("EBITDA"); (v) earnings before taxes and unusual or
     nonrecurring items; (vi) revenue; (vii) return on investment; (viii) return
     on equity; (ix) return
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     on total capital; (x) return on assets; (xi) total stockholder return;
     (xii) return on capital employed in the business; (xiii) stock price
     performance; (xiv) earnings per share growth; and (xv) cash flows.
     Determinations of which objectives to use with respect to an Award, the
     weighting of the objectives if more than one is used, and whether the
     objective is to be measured against a Company-established budget or target,
     an index or a peer group of companies, shall be made by the Committee in
     its discretion at the time of grant of the Award. A Management Objective
     need not be based on an increase or a positive result and may include, for
     example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses. The
     Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the
     Participant, may amend any stock-based Award that is intended to qualify
     under section 162(m) of the Code to reflect (1) a change in corporate
     capitalization, such as a stock split or dividend, (2) a corporate
     transaction, such as a corporate merger, a corporate consolidation, any
     corporate separation (including a spinoff or other distribution of stock or
     property by a corporation), any corporate reorganization (whether or not
     such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in section 368
     of the Code), (3) any partial or complete corporate liquidation, or (4) a
     change in accounting rules required by the Financial Accounting Standard
     Board. With respect to any Award that is subject to section 162 (m) of the
     Code, the Committee must first certify that the Management Objectives have
     been achieved before the Award may be paid. The Management Objectives of
     any other Award may be amended by the Committee, in its sole discretion and
     without the consent of the Participant, to reflect any significant event
     that the Committee believes to be appropriate to reflect the original
     intent of the Award.

          (p) "Market Value per Share" means, at any date after the Common Stock
     is readily tradeable on a national securities market, the closing sale
     price per share of the Common Stock on that date (or, if there are no sales
     on that date, the last preceding date on which there was a sale) in the
     principal market in which the Common Stock is traded.  Prior to such date,
     Market Value per Share shall be determined by the Committee, in its good
     faith opinion.

          (q) "Option Price" means the purchase price per share payable on
     exercise of an Option Right or Director Option.

          (r) "Option Right" means the right to purchase a share of Common Stock
     upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Paragraph 4.

          (s) "Participant" means an employee of, or consultant to, the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries who is selected by the Committee to receive an
     Award under any of Paragraphs 4 through 10 and shall also include a
     Director who has received an automatic grant of Director Options pursuant
     to Paragraph 11.

          (t) "Performance Unit" means a unit equivalent to $100 (or such other
     value as the Committee determines) awarded pursuant to Paragraph 8.

          (u) "Phantom Shares" means notional shares of Common Stock awarded
     pursuant to Paragraph 7.

          (v) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock granted or sold
     pursuant to Paragraph 6 as to which neither the ownership restrictions nor
     the restriction on transfers referred to therein has expired.

          (w) "Spread" means the amount determined by multiplying (i) the excess
     of the Market Value per Share on the date when an Appreciation Right is
     exercised over the Option Price provided for in the related Option Right
     or, if there is no tandem Option Right, the Grant Price provided for in the
     Appreciation Right by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock in respect
     of which the Appreciation Right is exercised.

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          (x) "Subsidiary" means, at any time, any corporation in which at the
     time the Company then owns or controls, directly or indirectly, not less
     than 50% of the total combined voting power represented by all classes of
     stock issued by such corporation.

     3.   Shares Available Under Plan and Eligibility.  (a) The total number of
shares of Common Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall
be the greater of 1,150,000 shares or 10% of the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding (on a fully diluted basis, assuming, if applicable, the
conversion of all warrants and convertible securities into Common Stock), as
such number of outstanding shares changes from time to time. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered upon
exercise of an incentive stock option shall not exceed 1,150,000  shares of
Common Stock under the Plan, subject to adjustment in accordance with Paragraph
14.  Such shares may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares or a
combination of the foregoing.  Upon exercise of any Appreciation Rights or the
payment of any Phantom Shares, there will be deemed to have been delivered under
this Plan for purposes of this Paragraph 3 the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by the Appreciation Rights or equal to the Phantom Shares, as
applicable, regardless of whether such Appreciation Rights or Phantom Shares
were paid in cash or shares of Common Stock.  Subject to the provisions of the
preceding sentence, any shares of Common Stock which are subject to Option
Rights, Appreciation Rights, or Phantom Shares awarded or sold as Restricted
Stock that are terminated unexercised, forfeited or surrendered or which expire
for any reason will again be available for issuance under this Plan.

     (b) Directors, employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and persons
who provide consulting or other services to the Company or a Subsidiary, are
eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan.  In addition, a person who has
been offered employment by the Company or a Subsidiary is eligible to be granted
an Award (other than an incentive stock option) under the Plan, provided that
such Award shall be canceled if such person fails to commence such employment,
and no payment of value may be made in connection with such Award until such
person has commenced such employment.

     4.   Option Rights.  The Committee may from time to time authorize grants
to any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of options to purchase
shares of Common Stock upon such terms and conditions as it may determine in
accordance with the following provisions:

          (a) Each grant will specify the number of shares of Common Stock to
     which it pertains and whether Dividend Equivalents are awarded with respect
     to the option and, if awarded, the payment or crediting of such Dividend
     Equivalents.

          (b) Each grant will specify its Option Price, which may not be less
     than 100% of the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

          (c) Each grant will specify that the Option Price will be payable (i)
     in cash or by check payable and acceptable to the Company or (ii) subject
     to the approval of the Committee, which may be evidenced at the Date of
     Grant in the grant agreement, (a) by tendering to the Company shares of
     Common Stock owned by the optionee (if such shares were acquired pursuant
     to the exercise of a Company stock option, such shares must have been held
     by the Optionee for at least six months) having an aggregate Market Value
     Per Share as of the date of exercise and tender that is not greater than
     the full option exercise price for the shares with respect to which the
     Option is being exercised and by paying any remaining amount of the option
     exercise price as provided in (i) above (provided that the Committee may,
     upon confirming that the optionee owns the number of shares being tendered,
     authorize the issuance of a new certificate for the number of shares being
     acquired pursuant to the exercise of the option less the number of shares
     being tendered upon the exercise and return to the optionee (or not require
     surrender of) the certificate for the shares being tendered upon the
     exercise) or (b) by the optionee delivering to the Company a properly
     executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker
     to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable
     to the Company to pay the option exercise price and any required tax
     withholding amounts; provided that in 

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     the event the optionee chooses to pay the option exercise price as provided
     in (ii)(b) above, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such
     procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements
     as the Committee shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure,
     or (iii) by a combination of such payment methods. Payment instruments will
     be received subject to collection.

          (d) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant whether or
     not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain
     unexercised.

          (e) Each grant will specify the required period or periods of
     continuous service by the Participant with the Company and the Affiliates
     and/or the Management Objectives (if any) to be achieved before the Option
     Rights or installments thereof will become exercisable, and any grant may
     provide for the earlier exercise of the Option Rights in the event of a
     Change in Control or other corporate transaction or event or upon
     termination of the Participant's employment due to death, disability,
     retirement or otherwise, including an involuntary termination other than
     for cause.

          (f) Each grant the exercise of which, or the timing of the exercise of
     which, is dependent, in whole or in part, on the achievement of Management
     Objectives may specify a minimum level of achievement in respect of the
     specified Management Objectives below which no Options Rights will be
     exercisable and may set forth a formula or other method for determining the
     number of Option Rights that will be exercisable if performance is at or
     above such minimum but short of full achievement of the Management
     Objectives.

          (g) Option Rights granted under this Plan may be (i) options which are
     intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the
     Code, provided, however, such options may only be granted to employees of
     the Company, its parent corporation and subsidiaries of the Company, (ii)
     options which are not intended to so qualify or (iii) combinations of the
     foregoing.

          (h) Option Rights granted to a Participant who is an officer of the
     Company or a Subsidiary may, in the discretion of the Committee, provide
     for an automatic "reload" grant upon the exercise of the Option Right, with
     such terms and conditions on any such reload grant as the Committee may
     choose, provided, however, the Option Price may not be less than 100% of
     the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant of the reload option and
     its term may not exceed the remaining term for the exercised option.

          (i) Each grant may, in the discretion of the Committee, provide that
     the Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option Right shall remain
     subject to a "substantial risk of forfeiture", within the meaning of
     Section 83 of the Code and the regulations thereunder, with such
     restrictions as the Committee may determine.

          (j) Each grant shall specify the period during which the Option Right
     may be exercised, but no Option Right will be exercisable more than ten
     years from the Date of Grant.

          (k) Each grant of Option Rights will be evidenced by an agreement
     executed on behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to the
     Participant and containing such terms and provisions, consistent with this
     Plan, as the Committee may approve.

          (l) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Option Rights may be granted from
     time to time in substitution for stock options held by employees of other
     corporations who become Employees as the result of a merger or
     consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or any
     Subsidiary, or the acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the
     assets of the employing corporation, or the acquisition by the Company or
     any Subsidiary of stock of the employing corporation as the result of which
     it becomes a Subsidiary.  The terms and conditions of substitute Option
     Rights granted may vary from the terms and 

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     conditions set forth above, to the extent the Committee, at the time of
     grant, deems it appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the
     provisions of the stock options in substitution for which they are granted.

          No person may receive Option Rights with respect to more than 250,000
shares during any calendar year.

     5.   Appreciation Rights.  The Committee may from time to time authorize
grants to any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of Appreciation
Rights upon such terms and conditions as it may determine in accordance with
this Paragraph.  Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with Option Rights
or separate and apart from a grant of Option Rights.  An Appreciation Right will
be a right of the Participant granted such Award to receive from the Company,
upon exercise, an amount which will be determined by the Committee at the Date
of Grant and will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding
100%) at the time of exercise.  An Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an
Option Right may be exercised only by surrender of the related Option Right.
Each grant of an Appreciation Right may utilize any or all of the
authorizations, and will be subject to all of the limitations, contained in the
following provisions:

          (a) Each grant will state whether it is made in tandem with Option
     Rights and, if not made in tandem with any Option Rights, will specify the
     number of shares of Common Stock in respect of which it is made.

          (b) Each grant made in tandem with Option Rights will specify the
     Option Price and each grant not made in tandem with Option Rights will
     specify the Grant Price, which in either case will not be less than 100% of
     the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

          (c) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an
     Appreciation Right may be paid by the Company in (i) cash or Company check,
     (ii) shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Value per Share
     equal to the Spread or (iii) any combination thereof, as determined by the
     Committee in its sole discretion.

          (d) Any grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of an
     Appreciation Right may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at
     the Date of Grant (valuing shares of Common Stock for this purpose at their
     Market Value per Share at the date of exercise).

          (e) Each grant will specify the required period or periods of
     continuous service by the Participant with the Company and its Subsidiaries
     and/or Management Objectives to be achieved before the Appreciation Rights
     or installments thereof will become exercisable.  Any grant may provide for
     the earlier exercise of the Appreciation Rights in the event of a Change in
     Control or other corporate transaction or event or upon the Participant's
     termination  due to death, disability or retirement, including an
     involuntary termination other than for cause.

          (f) Each grant the exercise of which, or the timing of the exercise of
     which, is dependent, in whole or in part, on the achievement of Management
     Objectives may specify a minimum level of achievement in respect of the
     specified Management Objectives below which no Appreciation Rights will be
     exercisable and may set forth a formula or other method for determining the
     number of Appreciation Rights that will be exercisable if performance is at
     or above such minimum but short of full achievement of the Management
     Objectives.

          (g) Each grant of an Appreciation Right will be evidenced by an
     agreement executed on behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to
     and accepted by the Participant receiving the grant, which agreement will
     describe such Appreciation Right, identify any Option Right granted in
     tandem with such 

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     Appreciation Right, state that such Appreciation Right is subject to all
     the terms and conditions of this Plan and contain such other terms and
     provisions, consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

          No person may receive Appreciation Rights with respect to more than
250,000 shares during any calendar year.

     6.   Restricted Stock.  The Committee may from time to time authorize
grants or sales to any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of
Restricted Stock upon such terms and conditions as it may determine in
accordance with the following provisions:

          (a) Each grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the
     ownership of shares of Common Stock to the Participant in consideration of
     the performance of services, entitling such Participant to voting and other
     ownership rights, but subject to the restrictions hereinafter referred to.
     Each grant or sale may limit the Participant's dividend rights during the
     period in which the shares of Restricted Stock are subject to any such
     restrictions.

          (b) Each grant or sale will specify the Management Objectives, if any,
     that are to be achieved in order for the ownership restrictions to lapse.
     Each grant or sale that is subject to the achievement of Management
     Objectives will specify a minimum acceptable level of achievement in
     respect of the specified Management Objectives below which the shares of
     Restricted Stock will be forfeited and may set forth a formula or other
     method for determining the number of shares of Restricted Stock with
     respect to which restrictions will lapse if performance is at or above such
     minimum but short of full achievement of the Management Objectives.

          (c) Each such grant or sale may be made without additional
     consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is
     less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.

          (d) Each such grant or sale will provide that the shares of Restricted
     Stock covered by such grant or sale will be subject, for  a period to be
     determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant, to one or more
     restrictions, including, without limitation, a restriction that constitutes
     a "substantial risk of forfeiture" within the meaning of Section 83 of the
     Code and the regulations thereunder, and any grant or sale may provide for
     the earlier termination of such period in the event of a Change in Control
     or other corporate transaction or event or upon termination of the
     Participant's employment due to death, disability, retirement or otherwise,
     including an involuntary termination other than for cause.

          (e) Each such grant or sale will provide that during the period for
     which such restriction or restrictions are to continue, the transferability
     of the Restricted Stock will be prohibited or restricted in a manner and to
     the extent prescribed by the Committee at the Date of Grant (which
     restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first
     refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Stock to
     continuing restrictions in the hands of any transferee).

          (f) Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an
     agreement executed on behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to
     and accepted by the Participant and containing such terms and provisions,
     consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve.

          (g) Unless otherwise approved by the Committee, certificates
     representing shares of Common Stock transferred pursuant to a grant of
     Restricted Stock will be held in escrow pursuant to an agreement
     satisfactory to the Committee until such time as the restrictions on
     transfer have expired or the shares have been forfeited.

          No person may receive more than 250,000 shares of Restricted Stock
during any calendar year.

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     7.   Phantom Shares.  The Committee may from time to time authorize grants
to any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of Phantom Shares upon
such terms and conditions as it may determine in accordance with the following
provisions:

          (a) Each grant will specify the number of Phantom Shares to which it
     pertains and the payment or crediting of any Dividend Equivalents with
     respect to such Phantom Shares.

          (b) Each grant will specify the Management Objectives, if any, that
     are to be achieved in order for the Phantom Shares to be earned.  Each
     grant that is subject to the achievement of Management Objectives will
     specify a minimum acceptable level of achievement in respect of the
     specified Management Objectives below which the Phantom Shares will be
     forfeited and may set forth a formula or other method for determining the
     number of Phantom Shares to be earned if performance is at or above such
     minimum but short of full achievement of the Management Objectives.

          (c) Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of Phantom
     Shares which have been earned, which payment may be made in (i) cash, (ii)
     shares of Common Stock or (iii) any combination thereof, as determined by
     the Committee in its sole discretion.

          (d) Each grant of Phantom Shares will be evidenced by an agreement
     executed on behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to and
     accepted by the Participant and containing such terms and provisions,
     consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve, including
     provisions relating to a Change in Control or other corporate transaction
     or event or upon the Participant's termination due to death, disability or
     retirement.

          No person may receive more than 250,000 Phantom Shares during any
calendar year.

     8.   Performance Units.  The Committee may from time to time authorize
grants to any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of Performance
Units upon such terms and conditions as it may determine in accordance with the
following provisions:

          (a) Each grant will specify the number of Performance Units to which
     it pertains.

          (b) Each grant will specify the Management Objectives that are to be
     achieved in order for the Performance Units to be earned.  Each grant will
     specify a minimum acceptable level of achievement in respect of the
     specified Management Objectives below which no payment will be made and may
     set forth a formula or other method for determining the amount of payment
     to be made if performance is at or above such minimum but short of full
     achievement of the Management Objectives.

          (c) Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of
     Performance Units which have become payable, which payment may be made in
     (i) cash, (ii) shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Market Value per
     Share equal to the aggregate value of the Performance Units which have
     become payable or (iii) any combination thereof, as determined by the
     Committee in its sole discretion at the time of payment.

          (d) Each grant of a Performance Unit will be evidenced by an agreement
     executed on behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to and
     accepted by the Participant and containing such terms and provisions,
     consistent with this Plan, as the Committee may approve, including
     provisions relating to a Change in Control or other corporate transaction
     or event or upon the Participant's termination of employment due to death,
     disability, retirement or otherwise, including an involuntary termination
     other than for cause.

          No person may receive Performance Units with a value greater than
$1,000,000 during any calendar year.

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     9.   Bonus Stock.  The Committee may from time to time authorize grants to
any employee or consultant (other than a Director) of Bonus Stock, which shall
constitute a transfer of shares of Common Stock, without other payment therefor,
as additional compensation for the Participant's services to the Company or its
Subsidiaries.

     10.  Cash Tax Rights.  (a) The Committee may from time to time authorize
grants to any Participant (other than a Director) of Cash Tax Rights upon such
terms and conditions as it may determine in accordance with this Paragraph.
Cash Tax Rights may be granted in tandem with any Award that is payable in
shares of Common Stock. A Cash Tax Right will entitle the Participant granted
such Award to receive from the Company, upon receipt of shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the tandem Award, an amount of cash, which will be determined by the
Committee at the Date of Grant and will be expressed as a percentage of the
Market Value per Share (not exceeding 100%) of each share of Common Stock
received upon payment of the tandem Award.

     (b) Each grant of a Cash Tax Right will (i) identify the Award it is made
in tandem with and will specify the percentage of the Market Value per Share
that shall be payable in cash and (ii) be evidenced by an agreement extended on
behalf of the Company by any officer and delivered to and accepted, by the
Participant and containing such terms and provisions, consistent with this Plan,
as the Committee may approve, including provisions relating to a Change in
Control or other corporate transaction or event or upon the Participant's
termination of employment due to death, disability, retirement or otherwise,
including an involuntary termination other than for cause.

     11.  Director Options.  (a) Each person who is a Director on the effective
date of the Plan, and each person who becomes a Director for the first time
after such date, shall automatically receive on the effective date of the Plan
or, if such person first becomes a Director after such date, the date of his or
her becoming a Director, whichever is applicable, a Director Option for 1,000
shares of Common Stock.

     (b) On the day following the regular Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of
the Company in each year that this Plan is in effect (commencing with the 1997
Annual Meeting of Stockholders), each Director who is in office on that day and
who was not elected for the first time at such annual meeting shall
automatically receive a Director Option for 1,000 shares of Common Stock.

     (c) Each Director Option will be subject to all of the limitations
contained in the following provisions:

               (i) Each Director Option shall be exercisable (vested) 90 days 
          following the Date of Grant.

               (ii) The Option Price of each Director Option shall be the Market
          Value per Share on its Date of Grant.

               (iii)  Each Director Option that is vested may be exercised in
          full at one time or in part from time to time by giving written notice
          to the Company, stating the number of shares of Common Stock with
          respect to which the Director Option is being exercised, accompanied
          by payment in full of the Option Price for such shares, which payment
          may be (1) in cash by check acceptable to the Company, (2) by
          tendering to the Company shares of Common Stock owned by the optionee
          having an aggregate Market Value Per Share as of the date of exercise
          and tender that is not greater than the full option exercise price for
          the shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and by
          paying any remaining amount of the option exercise price as provided
          (1) above (provided that the Committee may, upon confirming that the
          optionee owns the number of shares being tendered, authorize the
          issuance of a new certificate for the number of shares being acquired
          pursuant to the exercise of the option less the number of shares being
          tendered upon the exercise and return to the optionee (or not require
          surrender of) the certificate for the shares being tendered upon the
          exercise), (3) by the optionee delivering to the Company a properly
          executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a
          broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and
          acceptable to the Company to pay the option exercise price and any
          required tax withholding 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
          amounts; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the
          exercise price in this manner, the optionee and the broker shall
          comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of
          indemnity and other agreements as the Committee shall prescribe as a
          condition of such payment procedure or (4) by a combination of such
          methods of payment. Payment instruments will be received subject to
          collection.

               (iv) Each Director Option shall expire 10 years from the Date of
          Grant thereof, but shall be subject to earlier termination as follows:
          Director Options, to the extent exercisable as of the date the
          Director ceases to serve as a director of the Company must  be
          exercised within one year of such date unless such termination results
          from the Director's  death, disability or retirement, in which case
          the Director Options may be exercised by the optionee or the
          optionee's legal representative or the person to whom the Director's
          rights shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution, as
          the case may be, within three years from the date of termination;
          provided however, that no such event shall extend the normal
          expiration date of such Director Options.

               (v) In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock
          available for grants under this Plan is insufficient to make all
          automatic grants provided for in this Paragraph 11 on the applicable
          date, then all Directors who are entitled to a grant on such date
          shall share ratably in the number of shares then available for grant
          under this Plan, and shall have no right to receive a grant with
          respect to the deficiencies in the number of available shares and all
          future grants under this Paragraph 11 shall terminate.

     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, the Committee may
grant such other Awards to Directors as are permissible under and are issued in
compliance with applicable federal or state laws or the rules of any stock
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock may then be
listed or quoted.

     12.  Acceleration upon a Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, all conditions and/or restrictions relating to
the continued performance of services and/or the achievement of Management
Objectives with respect to the exercisability or full entitlement to an Award
shall immediately lapse upon a Change in Control, provided that this Paragraph
12 shall not be applicable with respect to a Participant if it is intended that
the transaction constituting such Change in Control be accounted for as a
pooling of interests under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16 (or any
successor thereto), and operation of this Paragraph 12 with respect to this
Participant would otherwise preclude such accounting treatment.

     13.  Transferability.   (a) Except as provided below, no Award will be
transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution and Director Options, Option Rights or Appreciation Rights will be
exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or by the
Participant's guardian or legal representative.

     (b) The Committee may, in its discretion, adopt rules or guidelines under
which any Award previously granted or to be granted to a Participant (other than
an incentive stock option) may be transferred (in whole or in part) by the
Participant to (i) the spouse, children or grandchildren of the Participant
("Immediate Family Members"), (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit
of the Immediate Family Members and, if applicable, the Participant or (iii) a
partnership in which such Immediate Family Members and, if applicable, the
Participant are the only partners. Following transfer, any such Awards shall
continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to
the Award immediately prior to transfer; provided, however, that no transferred
Award shall be exercisable or payable, as the case may be, unless arrangements
satisfactory to the Company have been made to satisfy any tax withholding
obligations the Company may have with respect to the Award.

     14.  Adjustments.  The Board may make or provide for such adjustments in
the maximum number of shares specified in Paragraph 3, in the numbers of shares
of Common Stock covered by outstanding Director Options, Option 

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
Rights, Appreciation Rights and Phantom Shares granted hereunder, in the Option
Price or Grant Price applicable to any such Director Options, Option Rights and
Appreciation Rights, and/or in the kind of shares covered thereby (including
shares of another issuer), as the Board, in its sole discretion exercised in
good faith, may determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the rights of Participants that otherwise would result from any
stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other
change in the capital structure of the Company, merger, consolidation,
reorganization, partial or complete liquidation, issuance of rights or warrants
to purchase securities or any other corporation transaction or event having an
effect similar to any of the foregoing.

     15.  Fractional Shares.  The Company will not be required to issue any
fractional share of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan.  The Committee may
provide for the elimination of fractions for the settlement of fractions in
cash.

     16.  Taxes.  (a) To the extent that the Company is required to withhold any
taxes in connection with any grant or payment made to a Participant or any other
person under this Plan and the amounts available to the Company for such
withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such
grant or payment that the Participant or such other person make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company for the payment of the balance of the such taxes
required, which arrangements in the discretion the Committee may include
relinquishment of a portion of such Award or payment.

     (b) To the extent that the acceleration of vesting or any payment,
distribution or issuance made to a Participant under the Plan (a "Benefit") is
subject to a golden parachute excise tax under Section 4999(a) of the Code (a
"Parachute Tax"), the Company shall pay such Participant an amount of cash (the
"Gross-up Amount") such that the "net" Benefit received by the Participant under
this Plan, after paying all applicable Parachute Taxes (including those on the
Gross-up Amount) and any income taxes on the Gross-up Amount, shall be equal to
the Benefit that such Participant would have received if such Parachute Tax had
not been applicable.

     17.  Award Forfeiture/Repayment Provisions.  Notwithstanding anything in
this Plan to the contrary the Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide
with respect to any Award that such Award shall be immediately forfeited unpaid
if the Participant takes any action contrary to the interests of the Company as
the same may be specified in the Award agreement, which may include, without
limitation, limitations on non-competition, non-disclosure, non-disparagement
and non-solicitation (a "Restriction").  Further, to the extent any Award
containing such a prohibition has been exercised or paid within the one-year
period prior to the date of such violation of a Restriction, the Participant
must repay to the Company in cash an amount equal to the value of the Award at
the time of its prior exercise or payment, as the case may be.  The exercise or
payment of such an Award shall be conditioned on the Participant's written
acknowledgment and acceptance of the repayment obligation.

     18.  Administration of the Plan.  (a) This Plan will be administered by the
Committee.  A majority of the Committee will constitute a quorum, and the action
of the members the Committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is
present, or acts unanimously approved writing, will be the acts of the
Committee.

     (b) The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision
of this Plan or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing the grant
of an Award and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of
this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or documentation will be final
and conclusive.  No member of the Committee will be liable for any such action
or determination made in good faith or in the absence of gross negligence or
willful misconduct on the part of such member.

     (c) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the
contrary, with respect to an Award granted to a "covered employee" that is
intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of section
162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall not take any action with respect to the
terms of such Award after its Date of Grant which would cause such Award not to
be deductible under section 162(m).

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
     19.  Amendments, Etc.  (a)The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue,
or terminate the Plan or the Committee's authority to grant Awards under the
Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any such
action shall be subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders at or
before the next annual meeting of stockholders for which the record date is
after such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal
or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated
quotation system on which the Common Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the
Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes
to the Plan to stockholders for approval; provided, however, that without the
consent of an affected Participant, no such action may materially impair the
rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to him.  The
Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate, any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement
relating thereto; provided, however, that without the consent of an affected
Participant, no such action may materially impair the rights of such Participant
under such Award.

     (b) This Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect
to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or any
Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or any
Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant's employment or
other service at any time.

     20.  Term.  This Plan shall be effective as of the date that an
underwriting agreement relating to the initial public offering of the Company's
Common Stock is entered into among the Company and a group of underwriters.  In
the event that this Plan is not approved by the stockholders of the Company
within twelve months before or after the date of its adoption by the Board, any
Awards made under this Plan intended to be an incentive stock option shall be
automatically a nonqualified stock option.  Unless sooner terminated, this Plan
shall terminate on December 31, 2006, and no further Awards shall be made, but
all outstanding Awards on such date shall remain effective in accordance with
their terms and the terms of this Plan.

                                      -12-