EXHIBIT 10.18


                           E. W. BLANCH HOLDINGS, INC.
                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN


Section 1. Purpose.

         The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and
its stockholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining employees,
consultants and independent contractors, to offer such persons incentives to put
forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company's business and to provide
such persons with opportunities for stock ownership.

Section 2. Definitions.

         As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:

                  (a) "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and
(ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each
case as determined by the Committee.

                  (b) "Award" shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent,
Other Stock Grant or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.

                  (c) "Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement,
contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the
Plan. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the applicable terms and
conditions of the Plan and any other terms and conditions (not inconsistent with
the Plan) determined by the Committee.

                  (d) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

                  (e) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (f) "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the
Board or such other committee of Directors designated by the Board to administer
the Plan.

                  (g) "Company" shall mean E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.

                  (h) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

                  (i) "Dividend Equivalent" shall mean any right granted under
Section 6(e) of the Plan.


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                  (j) "Eligible Person" shall mean any employee, consultant or
independent contractor providing services to the Company or any Affiliate whom
the Committee determines to be an Eligible Person, but shall not include (i) an
officer or director of the Company or any Affiliate who is subject to Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule or
regulation, (ii) any "executive officer" of the Company, as defined under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or (iii) any other officer or
Director of the Company.

                  (k) "Fair Market Value" shall mean, with respect to any
property (including, without limitation, any Shares or other securities), the
fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as
shall be established from time to time by the Committee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value
of Shares as of a given date shall be, if the Shares are then traded on the New
York Stock Exchange, the average of the high and low sale prices as reported on
the New York Stock Exchange on such date or, if the New York Stock Exchange is
not open for trading on such date, on the most recent preceding date when it is
open for trading.

                  (l) "Option" shall mean an option granted under Section 6(a)
of the Plan that shall not be an incentive stock option within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision, and shall include Reload
Options.

                  (m) "Other Stock Grant" shall mean any right granted under
Section 6(f) of the Plan.

                  (n) "Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean any right granted
under Section 6(g) of the Plan.

                  (o) "Participant" shall mean an Eligible Person designated to
be granted an Award under the Plan.

                  (p) "Performance Award" shall mean any right granted under
Section 6(d) of the Plan.

                  (q) "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation,
partnership, association or trust.

                  (r) "Plan" shall mean the E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. 2000
Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, the provisions of which are
set forth herein.

                  (s) "Reload Option" shall mean any Option granted under
Section 6(a)(iv) of the Plan.

                  (t) "Restricted Stock" shall mean any Shares granted under
Section 6(c) of the Plan.


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                  (u) "Restricted Stock Unit" shall mean any unit granted under
Section 6(c) of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash
payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) at some future date.

                  (v) "Shares" shall mean shares of Common Stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Company or such other securities or property as may become
subject to Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 4(c) of the Plan.

                  (w) "Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean any right granted
under Section 6(b) of the Plan.

Section 3. Administration.

                  (a) Power and Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be
administered by the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and
to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i)
designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted
to each Participant under the Plan; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be
covered by (or the method by which payments or other rights are to be calculated
in connection with) each Award; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any
Award or Award Agreement; (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or
Award Agreement and accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of
restrictions relating to any Award; (vi) determine whether, to what extent and
under what circumstances Awards may be exercised in cash, Shares, promissory
notes, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited
or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards,
other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan
shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof
or the Committee; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or
agreement, including an Award Agreement, relating to the Plan; (ix) establish,
amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it
shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (x) make
any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems
necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations,
interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any
Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any
time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder
or beneficiary of any Award and any employee of the Company or any Affiliate.

                  (b) Delegation. The Committee may delegate its powers and
duties under the Plan to one or more Directors or a committee of Directors,
subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish
in its sole discretion.

                  (c) Power and Authority of the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, at any
time and from time to time, without any further action of the Committee,
exercise the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan.


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Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.

                  (a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 4(c) of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued
under all Awards under the Plan shall be 1,000,000. Shares to be issued under
the Plan may be either authorized but unissued Shares or Shares acquired in the
open market or otherwise. Any Shares that are used by a Participant as full or
partial payment to the Company of the purchase price relating to an Award, or in
connection with the satisfaction of tax obligations relating to an Award, shall
again be available for granting Awards under the Plan. In addition, if any
Shares covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not purchased or are
forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares,
then the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares
available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such
forfeiture or termination, shall again be available for granting Awards under
the Plan.

                  (b) Accounting for Awards. For purposes of this Section 4, if
an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number
of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted
on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares
available for granting Awards under the Plan.

                  (c) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee shall
determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash,
Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split,
reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the
Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other
securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event
affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the
Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of
(i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or other property) that
thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number and type of Shares
(or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and (iii)
the purchase or exercise price with respect to any Award; provided, however,
that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates
shall always be a whole number.

Section 5. Eligibility.

         Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.
In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of
any Award, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services
rendered by the respective Eligible Persons, their present and potential
contributions to the success of the Company or such other factors as the
Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant.


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Section 6. Awards.

                  (a) Options. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant
Options to Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with
such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan as the Committee shall determine:

                           (i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share
purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided,
however, that such purchase price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option.

                           (ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be
fixed by the Committee.

                           (iii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee
shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole
or in part and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (including,
without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other
Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value
on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price) in which, payment of
the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made.

                           (iv) Reload Options. The Committee may grant Reload
Options, separately or together with another Option, pursuant to which, subject
to the terms and conditions established by the Committee, the Participant would
be granted a new Option when the payment of the exercise price of a previously
granted option is made by the delivery of Shares owned by the Participant
pursuant to Section 6(a)(iii) of the Plan or the relevant provisions of another
plan of the Company, and/or when Shares are tendered or withheld as payment of
the amount to be withheld under applicable income tax laws in connection with
the exercise of an Option, which new Option would be an Option to purchase the
number of Shares not exceeding the sum of (A) the number of Shares so provided
as consideration upon the exercise of the previously granted option to which
such Reload Option relates and (B) the number of Shares, if any, tendered or
withheld as payment of the amount to be withheld under applicable tax laws in
connection with the exercise of the option to which such Reload Option relates
pursuant to the relevant provisions of the plan or agreement relating to such
option. Reload Options may be granted with respect to Options previously granted
under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or may be granted
in connection with any Option granted under the Plan or any other stock option
plan of the Company at the time of such grant; provided, however, that Reload
Options may be granted only to Eligible Persons. Such Reload Options shall have
a per share exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the
date of grant of the new Option. Any Reload Option shall be subject to
availability of sufficient Shares for grant under the Plan.

                  (b) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is hereby
authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Persons subject to the
terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right
granted under the Plan shall confer on the holder thereof a right to receive
upon exercise thereof the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of


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one Share on the date of exercise (or, if the Committee shall so determine, at
any time during a specified period before or after the date of exercise) over
(ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as specified by the
Committee, which price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of
one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right. Subject to the
terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, term,
methods of exercise, dates of exercise, methods of settlement and any other
terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by
the Committee. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the
exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.

                  (c) Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee
is hereby authorized to grant Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to
Eligible Persons with the following terms and conditions and with such
additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan
as the Committee shall determine:

                           (i) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee
may impose (including, without limitation, a waiver by the Participant of the
right to vote or to receive any dividend or other right or property with respect
thereto), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time
or times, in such installments or otherwise as the Committee may deem
appropriate.

                           (ii) Stock Certificates; Delivery of Shares. Any
Restricted Stock granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by issuance of a
stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or certificates shall be
held by the Company. Such certificate or certificates shall be registered in the
name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the
restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Stock certificates registered
in the name of the Participant shall be delivered to the Participant promptly
after the applicable restrictions lapse or are waived. In the case of Restricted
Stock Units, no Shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted. Upon
the lapse or waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to
Restricted Stock Units evidencing the right to receive Shares, such Shares shall
be issued and delivered to the holders of the Restricted Stock Units.

                           (iii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by
the Committee, upon a Participant's termination of employment (as determined
under criteria established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction
period, all Shares of Restricted Stock and all Restricted Stock Units held by
the Participant at such time shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company;
provided, however, that the Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be
in the best interest of the Company, waive in whole or in part any or all
remaining restrictions with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units.

                  (d) Performance Awards. The Committee is hereby authorized to
grant Performance Awards to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan
and any applicable Award Agreement. A Performance Award granted under the Plan
(i) may be denominated or payable in cash, Shares (including, without
limitation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units), other securities,
other Awards or other property and (ii) shall confer on the holder thereof


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the right to receive payments, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such
performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall
establish. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement,
the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length
of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award granted, the
amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award
and any other terms and conditions of any Performance Award shall be determined
by the Committee.

                  (e) Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is hereby authorized
to grant to Eligible Persons Dividend Equivalents under which the Participant
shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other
Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee)
equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of
Shares with respect to a number of Shares determined by the Committee. Subject
to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such Dividend
Equivalents may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

                  (f) Other Stock Grants. The Committee is hereby authorized,
subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, to grant to
Eligible Persons Shares without restrictions thereon as are deemed by the
Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.

                  (g) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is hereby
authorized to grant to Eligible Persons subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement, such other Awards that are denominated or payable
in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related
to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares),
as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purpose of the Plan.
Shares or other securities delivered pursuant to a purchase right granted under
this Section 6(g) shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid
by such method or methods and in such form or forms (including, without
limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards or
other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine,
the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall not be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of
the date such purchase right is granted.

                  (h) General.

                           (i) No Cash Consideration for Awards. Awards shall be
granted for no cash consideration or for such minimal cash consideration as may
be required by applicable law.

                           (ii) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together.
Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award or any award
granted under any plan of the Company or any Affiliate other than the Plan.
Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or in addition to
or in tandem with awards granted under any such other plan of the Company or any


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Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from
the grant of such other Awards or awards.

                           (iii) Forms of Payment under Awards. Subject to the
terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to
be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an
Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine
(including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other
securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), and may
be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis,
in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the
Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions
for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred
payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to
installment or deferred payments.

                           (iv) Limits on Transfer of Awards. No Award (other
than Other Stock Grants) and no right under any such Award shall be transferable
by a Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution;
provided, however, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may,
in the manner established by the Committee, transfer Options or designate a
beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the rights of the Participant and
receive any property distributable with respect to any Award upon the death of
the Participant. Each Award or right under any Award shall be exercisable during
the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant (except as otherwise provided
in an Award Agreement or amendment thereto relating to an Option pursuant to
terms determined by the Committee) or, if permissible under applicable law, by
the Participant's guardian or legal representative. No Award or right under any
such Award may be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any
purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance thereof shall be void
and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate.

                           (v) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be
for such period as may be determined by the Committee.

                           (vi) Restrictions; Securities Exchange Listing. All
Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the
exercise thereof shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under the Plan, applicable federal or state securities laws and
regulatory requirements, and the Committee may cause appropriate entries to be
made or legends to be affixed to reflect such restrictions. If any securities of
the Company are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be
required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless
and until such Shares or other securities have been admitted for trading on such
securities exchange.

Section 7. Amendment and Termination; Adjustments.

                  (a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter,
suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan at any time.


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                  (b) Amendments to Awards. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee may waive any conditions of or rights of the Company under
any outstanding Award, prospectively or retroactively. Except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Award Agreement, the Committee may not amend, alter,
suspend, discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award, prospectively or
retroactively, if such action would adversely affect the rights of the holder of
such Award, without the consent of the Participant or holder or beneficiary
thereof.

                  (c) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies. The
Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall
deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.

Section 8. Income Tax Withholding; Tax Bonuses.

                  (a) Withholding. In order to comply with all applicable
federal, state or local income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take
such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state
or local payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and
absolute responsibility of a Participant, are withheld or collected from such
Participant. In order to assist a Participant in paying all or a portion of the
federal and state taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of
(or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its
discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt,
may permit the Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (i) electing to
have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon
exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award
with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes or (ii) delivering to
the Company Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or
the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal
to the amount of such taxes. The election, if any, must be made on or before the
date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

                  (b) Tax Bonuses. The Committee, in its discretion, shall have
the authority, at the time of grant of any Award under this Plan or at any time
thereafter, to approve cash bonuses to designated Participants to be paid upon
their exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) Awards
in order to provide funds to pay all or a portion of federal, state or local
taxes due as a result of such exercise or receipt (or the lapse of such
restrictions). The Committee shall have full authority in its discretion to
determine the amount of any such tax bonus.

Section 9. General Provisions.

                  (a) No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Person, Participant or
other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and
there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons,
Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and
conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or
with respect to different Participants.


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                  (b) Award Agreements. No Participant will have rights under an
Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have
been duly executed on behalf of the Company and, if requested by the Company,
signed by the Participant.

                  (c) No Rights of Stockholders. Except with respect to
Restricted Stock and Other Stock Awards, neither a Participant nor the
Participant's legal representative shall be, or have any of the rights and
privileges of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable
upon the exercise or payment of any Award, in whole or in part, unless and until
the Shares have been issued.

                  (d) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing
contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting
or continuing in effect other or additional compensation plans or arrangements,
and such plans or arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.

                  (e) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or any Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company
or an Affiliate to terminate such employment at any time, with or without cause.
In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant
from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or any
Award, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award
Agreement.

                  (f) Governing Law. The internal law, and not the law of
conflicts, of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the
validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and
regulations relating to the Plan or any Award.

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

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

                  (i) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued
or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall
determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Share or whether
such fractional Share and any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or
otherwise eliminated.


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

Section 10. Effective Date of the Plan.

         The Plan shall be effective as of January 27, 2000.

Section 11. Term of the Plan.

         No Award shall be granted under the Plan after January 26, 2010 or any
earlier date of discontinuation or termination established pursuant to Section
7(a) of the Plan. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in
an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may extend beyond
such date, and the authority of the Committee provided for hereunder with
respect to the Plan and any Awards, and the authority of the Board of Directors
of the Company to amend the Plan, shall extend beyond that date.


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