Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.8

       First Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of March 1, 2001
       between Registrant and Brian P. Campbell

                     First Amendment to Employment Agreement

     This First Amendment to Employment Agreement (the "First Amendment") dated
     as of March 1, 2001 between EarthWeb Inc. (the "Company") and Brian P.
     Campbell ("Employee");

Whereas, the Company and Employee entered into that certain Employment Agreement
dated as of January 31, 2000 (the "Employment Agreement");

Whereas, the Company and Employee desire to amend the Employment Agreement to
provide for certain protections on behalf of the Employee in the event that a
Change of Control of the Company (as defined herein) occurs;

Now, Therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Employee hereby agree as
follows:

Amendment. The following provisions apply only (i) in the event of the
occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company and (ii) to the extent that the
net after-tax amount of severance payable pursuant to this First Amendment
exceeds the net after-tax amount of severance payable under the change of
control protections, if any, contained in the Employment Agreement.

Section 1

Severance. In lieu of any severance pay or severance benefits otherwise payable
to the Employee under any plan, policy, program or arrangement of the Company or
its subsidiaries, the following shall apply:

(a)      If there is a Termination (as herein defined) of the Employee's
         employment with the Company at any time within twelve (12) months after
         the occurrence of a Change of Control (as herein defined), such
         Employee shall be entitled to receive a lump-sum severance payment
         equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of such employee's then current
         salary plus (ii) the amount of such employee's most recently paid
         regular bonus (excluding special bonuses) attributable to a full
         calendar year's service to the Company (or, if higher, the amount of
         the bonus attributable to a calendar year's service which was paid to
         the Employee immediately prior to the Change of Control). All
         outstanding Stock Options granted to the Employee which are not vested
         and exercisable as of the date of Termination shall become vested and
         exercisable as of such date and shall remain exercisable for the
         periods prescribed in the Stock Option Plan. The Employee, such
         Employee's spouse and eligible dependents will continue to be provided
         with medical and dental benefits for the twelve (12)-month period
         following such Employee's Termination on the same basis as provided to
         active employees of the Company. Following such twelve (12)-month
         period, the Employee, such Employee's spouse and eligible dependents
         will begin eligibility for continuation of medical and dental coverage
         in accordance with Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
         as amended (the "Code"). The Employee shall have no duty to mitigate
         damages by seeking other employment. The Company shall have no right to
<PAGE>

         offset hereunder with respect to any compensation or benefits received
         by the Employee from or in connection with any employment subsequent to
         such Employee's Termination of employment with the Company.

(b)      If the Employee voluntarily terminates employment with the Company for
         any reason other than "Good Reason" (as herein defined) during the
         twelve (12)-month period following a Change of Control as described in
         Section 2(a) below, the Employee will not be entitled to any severance
         payment or acceleration of the vesting of any unvested Stock Options.

Section 2

Definitions.
-----------

(a)           For purposes of this First Amendment only, a "Change of Control"
              of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if at any time on
              or after the date of the Employment Agreement one or more of the
              following events shall have occurred:
              (i)    the direct or indirect acquisition by any person or related
                     group of persons (other than an acquisition from or by the
                     Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan or
                     by a person that directly or indirectly controls, is
                     controlled by, or is under common control with, the
                     Company) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
                     Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
                     amended (the "Exchange Act")) of securities possessing more
                     than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power
                     of the Company's outstanding securities; or
              (ii)   any stockholder-approved transfer or other disposition of
                     all or substantially all of the Company's assets; or
              (iii)  the Company adopts any plan of liquidation providing for
                     the distribution of all or substantially all of its assets;
                     or
              (iv)   the consummation by the Company of a reorganization, merger
                     or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or
                     substantially all of the assets of the Company or the
                     acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation (a
                     "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following
                     such Business Combination, (a) all or substantially all of
                     the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
                     owners, respectively, of the outstanding common stock and
                     outstanding company voting securities immediately prior to
                     such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or
                     indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then
                     outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting
                     power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to
                     vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
                     may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
                     Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation
                     which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or
                     all or substantially all of the Company's assets either
                     directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in
                     substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
                     immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
                     outstanding Company common stock and outstanding Company
                     voting securities, as the case may be, (b) no person
                     (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
                     Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
                     of the Company or such corporation resulting from such
                     Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
                     indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then
                     outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
                     resulting from such Business Combination or the combined
                     voting power of the then outstanding voting
<PAGE>

                     securities of such corporation except to the extent that
                     such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination
                     and (c) at least a majority of the members of the board of
                     directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
                     Combination were members of the incumbent board at the time
                     of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action
                     of the board of directors, providing for such Business
                     Combination; or

              (v)    a change in the composition of the Board over a period of
                     thirty-six (36) months or less such that a majority of the
                     Board members (rounded up to the next whole number) ceases,
                     by reason of one or more contested elections for Board
                     membership, to be comprised of individuals who are
                     continuing directors.

(b)           For purposes of this First Amendment only, "Cause" shall mean (i)
              embezzlement by the Employee, (ii) misappropriation by the
              Employee of funds of the Company, (iii) conviction of a felony,
              (iv) commission of any other act of dishonesty which causes
              material economic harm to the Company, (v) acts of fraud or deceit
              by the Employee which causes material economic harm to the
              Company, (vi) material breach of any provision of the Employment
              Agreement by the Employee, (vii) willful failure by the Employee
              to substantially perform such Employee's duties hereunder, (viii)
              willful breach of fiduciary duty by the Employee to the Company
              involving personal profit or (ix) significant violation of Company
              policy of which the Employee is made aware (or such Employee
              should reasonably be expected to be aware) or other contractual,
              statutory or common law duties to the Company. No act, or failure
              to act on the part of the Employee, shall be deemed willful unless
              it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in bad faith or
              without reasonable belief that the Employee's action or omission
              was in the best interests of the Company.

(c)           For purposes of this First Amendment only, "Good Reason" shall
              mean (i) a diminution in the responsibilities, title, duties and
              reporting lines of the Employee compared to those existing
              immediately prior to a Change of Control, (ii) a reduction in
              salary, incentive compensation and other employee benefits of the
              Employee compared to those existing immediately prior to the
              Change of Control, (iii) relocation of the Employee to an office
              more than 40 miles from the principal office at which the Employee
              is employed immediately prior to the Change of Control, (iv) any
              breach by the Company of the Employment Agreement or (v) the
              failure of any successor to assume, in writing, all obligations
              under the Employment Agreement (including this Amendment thereto).

(d)           For purposes of this First Amendment only, "Termination" shall
              mean termination of the Employee's employment without Cause or by
              the Employee for Good Reason.

Section 3

Excise Tax. In the event that the Employee becomes entitled to the payments and
benefits provided in Section 1 (the "Severance Payments") of this Amendment, if
any of the Severance Payments will be subject to the excise tax (the "Excise
Tax") imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, the Company shall pay to the
Employee an additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount
retained by the Employee, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Severance
Payments and any Federal, state and local income and employment tax and Excise
Tax upon the payments and benefits provided for by Section 3 of this Amendment,
shall be equal to the
<PAGE>

Severance Payments. For purposes of determining whether any of the Severance
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,
(i) any other payments or benefits received or to be received by the Employee in
connection with a change in ownership or control (within the meaning of section
280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company or
the Employee's termination of employment by the Company without Cause or by the
Employee for Good Reason (whether pursuant to the terms of the Employment
Agreement and this Amendment or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with
the Company, any person whose actions result in a change of control or any
person affiliated with the Company or such person) shall be treated as
"parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and
all "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the
Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of tax
counsel selected by the Company's' independent auditors and reasonably
acceptable to the Employee such other payments or benefits (in whole or in part)
do not constitute parachute payments, including by reason of Section
280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, or such excess parachute payments (in whole or in
part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the "base amount"
allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the
Excise Tax, (ii) the amount of the Severance Payments which shall be treated as
subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the total amount
of the Severance Payments or (B) the amount of excess parachute payments within
the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after applying clause (i),
above), and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or
benefit shall be determined by the Company's independent auditors in accordance
with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of
determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Employee shall be deemed to
pay Federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of Federal income taxation
in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and
local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and
locality of the Employee's residence on the date of termination, net of the
maximum reduction in Federal income taxes which could be obtained from the
deduction of such state and local taxes.

Section 4

All amounts payable hereunder shall be subject to and paid net of, all required
withholding taxes.

Section 5

Except as otherwise expressly amended by this First Amendment, the Employment
Agreement remains in full force and effect and the Employment Agreement as
amended herein shall comprise the terms of Employee's employment with the
Company.

AGREED TO BY:

EARTHWEB INC.                                  BRIAN P. CAMPBELL

Sign:   /s/ Peter A. Derow                     Sign:   /s/ Brian P. Campbell
      ----------------------                         -------------------------<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                       MEDIACOM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

                           FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED
                           --------------------------
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

1.   Purpose of the Plan.

     The purpose of the Mediacom Communications Corporation 1999 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the interests of Mediacom Communications
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its stockholders by
strengthening the Company's ability to attract and retain competent employees,
to make service on the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") more
attractive to present and prospective non-employee directors of the Company and
to provide a means to encourage stock ownership and proprietary interest in the
Company by officers, non-employee directors and valued employees and other
individuals upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the financial success
and growth of the Company largely depend.

2.   Options Granted under the Plan.

     (a) The Company is authorized under this Plan to grant (i) incentive stock
options ("qualified incentive options") that are intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), (ii) non-qualified stock options ("non-qualified options") that
are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and
(iii) stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), in each case, with respect to shares
of the Company's Class A and/or Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share
("Common Stock")

     (b) Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be authorized by action of
the Board (or a committee designated by the Board) and may be designated as
either qualified incentive stock options that are intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or non-qualified options that are not
intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Such
designation shall be in the sole discretion of the Board. Options designated as
qualified incentive stock options that fail to satisfy, or fail to continue to
satisfy, the requirements of Section 422 of the Code by reason of the transfer,
exercise or failure to exercise such options or as otherwise provided in Section
422 of the Code shall be redesignated as non-qualified options automatically on
the date of such failure without further action by the Board.

3.   Stock Subject to the Plan.

     (a) The total number of shares (the "Total Authorized Plan Shares") of the
authorized but unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock for which the Company
is authorized under this Plan to grant qualified incentive stock options,
non-qualified options and SARs shall be equal, in the aggregate, to the greater
                                                                        -------
of (x) seven million (7,000,000) shares of Common Stock or, (y) in the event of
--
an initial public offering of Common Stock of the Company during the term of
this Plan, an amount of shares of Common Stock determined as follows:
<PAGE>

          (A) 300,000; plus
                       ----
          (B) an amount equal to (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock
     outstanding upon the completion of the Company's initial public offering,
     including any shares issued by the Company pursuant to the underwriters'
     over-allotment option (collectively, the "Outstanding Shares"), divided by
     0.85, reduced by (ii) the total number of Outstanding Shares; minus
           ----------                                              -----
          (C) an amount equal to (i) 7.2% of (ii) the total number of
     Outstanding Shares divided by 0.9; and

          (D) which aggregate number of shares of Common Stock derived from
     clauses (A), (B) and (C) above shall be rounded to the next highest 100,000
     shares to arrive at the Total Authorized Plan Shares.

     (b) Notwithstanding the number of Total Authorized Plan Shares determined
as set forth in clauses (A) - (D) of subsection (a)(y) above, the total number
of shares of Common Stock for which the Company is authorized under this Plan to
grant qualified incentive stock options shall not exceed seven million
(7,000,000) shares of Common Stock (the "Total Authorized QSO Shares"), and the
amount, if any, of the Total Authorized Plan Shares in excess of the Total
Authorized ISO Shares may only be applied in respect of non-qualified options
and SARs.

     (c) The number of Total Authorized Plan Shares and Total Authorized ISO
Shares, as the case may be, shall be subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 14 hereof and may be shares of any class of Common Stock as determined
by the Board; provided, however, that, in either case, such number of shares may
from time to time be reduced by the Board to the extent that a corresponding
number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are purchased by the
Company and set aside for issue upon the exercise of options hereunder.

     (d) If an option granted or assumed hereunder shall expire, terminate or be
cancelled for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased
shares subject thereto shall again be available for subsequent option grants
under the Plan; provided, however, that shares as to which an option has been
surrendered in connection with the exercise of a related SAR will not again be
available for subsequent option or SAR grants under the Plan.

     (e) Stock issuable upon exercise of an option or SAR granted under the Plan
may be subject to such restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights or other
restrictions as shall be determined by the Board.

4.   Administration of the Plan.

     The Plan shall be administered by the Board. No member of the Board shall
act upon any matter exclusively affecting an option or SAR granted or to be
granted to himself or herself under the Plan. A majority of the members of the
Board shall constitute a quorum, and any action may be

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

taken by a majority of those present and voting at any meeting. The decision of
the Board as to all questions of interpretation and application of the Plan
shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. The Board may, in its
sole discretion, grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock, grant SARs
and issue shares upon exercise of such options and SARs, as provided in the
Plan. The Board shall have authority, subject to the express provisions of the
Plan, to construe the respective option and SAR agreements and the Plan, to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to
determine the terms and provisions of the respective option and SAR agreements,
which may but need not be identical, and to make all other determinations in the
judgment of the Board necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.
The Board may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or in any option or SAR agreement in the manner and to
the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and shall be
the sole and final judge of such expediency. No director shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith. The Board may, in its discretion,
delegate its power, duties and responsibilities to a committee, consisting of
two or more members of the Board, all of whom are "Non-Employee Directors" (as
hereinafter defined). If a committee is so appointed, all references to the
Board herein shall mean and relate to such committee, unless the context
otherwise requires. For the purposes of the Plan, a director or member of such
committee shall be deemed to be a "Non-Employee Director" only if such person
qualifies as a "Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of paragraph (b)(3)(i)
of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), as such term is interpreted from time to time.

5.   Eligibility.

     (a) Options and SARs may be granted to directors, officers and employees of
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company (herein called "subsidiary" or
"subsidiaries"), as defined in Section 424 of Code and the Treasury Regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "Regulations"), and to such other individuals as the
Board, in its discretion, may determine; provided, that no Option or SAR may be
granted to any employee or other person who is or becomes represented for
purposes of collective bargaining by a labor organization and is or becomes
covered by a collective bargaining agreement between such labor organization and
the Company or a subsidiary unless such collective bargaining agreement, by its
terms, expressly provides for participation by such person in this Plan.

     (b) Options designated as qualified incentive stock options may be granted
only to officers and key employees of the Company or of any subsidiary.
Directors who are not otherwise employees of the Company or a subsidiary shall
not be eligible to be granted qualified incentive stock options pursuant to the
Plan. SARs and options designated as non-qualified options may be granted to (i)
officers and key employees of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, or (ii)
agents and directors of and consultants to the Company, whether or not otherwise
employees of the Company.

     (c) In determining the eligibility of an individual to be granted an option
or SAR, and in determining the number of shares to be optioned to any
individual, the Board shall take into account the recommendation of the
Company's Chairman of the Board, the position and responsibilities of the
individual being considered, the length of such individual's employment with or
services to the

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Company or the subsidiaries, the nature and value to the Company or its
subsidiaries of his or her service and accomplishments, his or her present and
potential contribution to the success of the Company or its subsidiaries, and
such other factors as the Board may deem relevant.

6.   Restrictions on Qualified Incentive Stock Options.

     Qualified incentive stock options (but not non-qualified options) granted
under this Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions:

     (a) Limitation on Number of Shares. The aggregate fair market value of the
shares of Common Stock with respect to which qualified incentive stock options
are granted, determined as of the date the qualified incentive stock options are
granted, exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar
year shall not exceed $100,000. If a qualified incentive stock option is granted
pursuant to which the aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to
which it first becomes exercisable in any calendar year by an individual exceeds
such $100,000 limitation, the portion of such option which is in excess of the
$100,000 limitation, and any such options issued subsequently which first
becomes exercisable in the same such calendar year, shall be treated as a
non-qualified option pursuant to section 422(d)(1) of the Code. In the event
that an individual is eligible to participate in any other stock option plan of
the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company which is also intended to
comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, such $100,000 limitation
shall apply to the aggregate number of shares for which qualified incentive
stock options may be granted under this Plan and all such other plans.

     (b) Ten Percent (10%) Stockholder. If any employee to whom a qualified
incentive stock option is granted pursuant to the provisions of this Plan is on
the date of grant the owner of stock (as determined under Section 424(d) of the
Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, then the
following special provisions shall be applicable to the qualified incentive
stock options granted to such individual:

          (i) The option price per share subject to such qualified incentive
     stock options shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the
     stock determined at the time such option was granted. In determining the
     fair market value under this clause (i), the provisions of Section 8 hereof
     shall apply.

          (ii) The qualified incentive stock option shall have a term expiring
     not more than five (5) years from the date of the granting thereof.

7.   Option Agreement.

     Each option and SAR shall be evidenced by a written agreement (the
"Agreement") duly executed on behalf of the Company and by the grantee to whom
such option or SAR is granted, which Agreement shall comply with and be subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Agreement may contain such other
terms, provisions and conditions which are not inconsistent with

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

the Plan as may be determined by the Board, provided that options designated as
qualified incentive stock options shall meet all of the conditions for qualified
incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code. No option or SAR
shall be granted within the meaning of the Plan and no purported grant of any
option or SAR shall be effective until the Agreement shall have been duly
executed on behalf of the Company and the optionee. More than one option and SAR
may be granted to an individual.

8.   Option Price.

     (a) The option price or prices of shares of Common Stock for options
designated as non-qualified stock options shall be as determined by the Board.

     (b) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 6(b) hereof, the option
price or prices of shares of Common Stock for options designated as qualified
incentive stock options shall be at least the fair market value of such Common
Stock at the time the option is granted as determined by the Board in accordance
with subsection (c) below.

     (c) The fair market value of Common Stock shall be determined as follows:

          (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
     a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National
     Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its fair
     market value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
     closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or
     system for the last market trading day on the date of such grant and
     determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source
     as the Board deems reliable;

          (ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
     securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its fair market
     value shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common
     Stock on the date of such grant and determination, as reported in The Wall
     Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable;

          (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock,
     the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
     Board; or

          (iv) For purposes of determining the fair market value of Common Stock
     in connection with the grant of a qualified incentive stock option at the
     time of the initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock, the fair
     market value shall be the initial price to the public as set forth in the
     final prospectus included within the registration statement in Form S-1
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for such initial public
     offering.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

9.   Manner of Payment; Manner of Exercise.

     (a) Options granted under the Plan may provide for the payment of the
exercise price by delivery of (i) cash or a check payable to the order of the
Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of such options, (ii) shares of
Common Stock owned by the optionee having a fair market value equal in amount to
the exercise price of such options, or (iii) any combination of (i) and (ii);
provided, however, that payment of the exercise price by delivery of shares of
Common Stock owned by such optionee may be made only upon the condition that
such payment does not result in a charge to earnings for financial accounting
purposes as determined by the Board, unless such condition is waived by the
Board. The fair market value of any shares of Common Stock which may be
delivered upon exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board in
accordance with Section 8 hereof.

     (b) To the extent that the right to purchase shares under an option has
accrued and is in effect, options may be exercised in full at one time or in
part from time to time, by giving written notice, signed by the person or
persons exercising the option, to the Company, stating the number of shares with
respect to which the option is being exercised, accompanied by payment in full
for such shares as provided in subparagraph (a) above. Upon such exercise,
delivery of a certificate for paid-up non-assessable shares shall be made at the
principal office of the Company to the person or persons exercising the option
at such time, or as shall be designated in such notice, during ordinary business
hours, after three (3) days but not more than ninety (90) days from the date of
receipt of the notice by the Company, or at such time, place and manner as may
be agreed upon by the Company and the person or persons exercising the option.

10.   Exercise of Options and SARs.

     Each option and SAR granted under the Plan shall, subject to Section 11 and
Section 13 hereof, shall be exercisable at such time or times and during such
period as shall be set forth in the Agreement; provided, however, that no option
or SAR granted under the Plan shall have a term in excess of ten (10) years from
the date of grant. To the extent that an option or SAR is not exercised when it
becomes initially exercisable, such option or SAR shall not expire but shall be
carried forward and shall be exercisable, on a cumulative basis, until the
expiration of the exercise period provided in the Agreement unless and until
such option or SAR sooner terminates or is cancelled pursuant to Section 11 or
Section 13 hereof. No partial exercise may be made for less than one hundred
(100) full shares of Common Stock. The exercise of an option shall result in the
cancellation of the SAR to which it relates with respect to the same number of
shares of Common Stock as to which the option was exercised.

11.   Term, Expiration, Exercisability and Rescission of Options and SARs.

     (a) Term and Expiration.

          (i) Except as otherwise expressly provided by Section 6(b) of this
     Plan, each option and SAR granted under the Plan shall expire ten (10)
     years from the date of the granting thereof unless sooner terminated or
     cancelled as provided in this Section 11 or in the Agreement.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

          (ii) In the event the grantee of any option or SAR ceases for any
     reason to perform services for the Company or one of its subsidiaries, the
     entire portion of each such option or SAR which is not then vested or
     otherwise exercisable under this Plan and the Agreement shall automatically
     expire, terminate and become null and void on the date such grantee ceases
     to perform such services; provided, however, that the Board or the Chairman
     of the Board, in their sole discretion, may at the time of the grant or at
     any other time (x) permit any option or SAR to continue in effect in
     accordance with the terms of the Agreement and this Plan after the grantee
     ceases to perform services for the Company or a subsidiary and/or (y)
     accelerate the vesting and exercisability of such option or SAR with
     respect to shares that are not vested or otherwise exercisable under the
     provision of the Agreement or this Plan at the time the grantee ceases to
     perform such services.

          (iii) In the event the grantee of any option or SAR is or becomes
     represented for purposes of collective bargaining by a labor organization
     and is or becomes covered by a collective bargaining agreement between such
     labor organization and the Company or a subsidiary which does not, by its
     terms, expressly provide for participation by the grantee in the Plan, the
     entire portion of each option and SAR granted to such grantee that is not
     then vested or otherwise exercisable under this Plan and the Agreement
     shall thereupon automatically expire, terminate and become null and void.

          (iv) Nothing contained in this subsection 11(a) shall be construed as
     extending, or permitting the extension of, the term of any option or SAR
     beyond the time period set forth in clause (i) of this subsection 11(a).

     (b) Limitations on Exercise.

          (i) In the event the grantee of any option or SAR ceases for any
     reason to perform services for the Company or one of its subsidiaries, each
     option and SAR granted to such grantee that is vested and otherwise
     exercisable and in effect under this Plan and the Agreement on the date
     such grantee ceases to perform such services shall automatically terminate
     and be cancelled unless such option or SAR, as the case may be, is
     exercised in accordance with the Agreement and this Plan within 90 days
     after the grantee ceases to perform such services; provided, however, that
     the Board or the Chairman of the Board, in their sole discretion, may at
     the time of the grant or at any other time extend the period within which
     such option or SAR may be exercised beyond such 90 day period, subject to
     earlier cancellation pursuant s subsection 11(c) and/or rescission pursuant
     to subsection 11(d) hereof.

          (ii) In the event the grantee of any option or SAR is or becomes
     represented for purposes of collective bargaining by a labor organization
     and is or becomes covered by a collective bargaining agreement between such
     labor organization and the Company or a subsidiary which does not, by its
     terms, expressly provide for participation by the grantee in the Plan, each
     option and SAR granted to such grantee that is then vested and otherwise

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

     exercisable and in effect under this Plan and the Agreement shall
     automatically terminate, be cancelled and become null and void.

     (c) Wrongful Activities; Cancellation. Notwithstanding any provisions of
the Agreement or under this Plan, in the event the Company or a subsidiary
terminates the employment of any grantee of an option or SAR on the grounds that
such grantee engaged in any of the following activities ("Wrongful Activities"),
or if at any time it is determined by the Board that the grantee engaged in any
Wrongful Activity either during or after his or her employment with the Company
or a subsidiary, then, in either of such events, any and all options or SARs
granted to such grantee hereunder shall automatically terminate and be cancelled
upon such termination of employment or determination by the Board, as the case
may be, regardless of the extent to which such options and/or SARs are or were
otherwise vested, accrued and exercisable:

          (i) the commission by the grantee of a criminal act punishable as a
     felony with respect to his or her employment with the Company or any
     subsidiary; or

          (ii) the unlawful taking or use by the grantee of any asset or
     property of the Company or of any subsidiary; or

          (ii) the breach by the grantee of the terms of the Agreement or of any
     other written agreement (including any Agreement concerning the grant of an
     option or SAR under the Plan) between the employee and the Company or a
     subsidiary (which for these purpose shall include any predecessor entity or
     equity owner of such entity) insofar as such terms prohibit or otherwise
     restrict the grantee from (A) using or disclosing any confidential
     information of the Company or any subsidiary, (B) soliciting, encouraging
     or otherwise assisting any person to leave the employ of the Company or any
     subsidiary, (C) competing with, or rendering services to any competitor of,
     the Company or any subsidiary or (D) making or publishing any statement
     (oral or written) that is negative or derogatory in any way to the Company,
     any subsidiary or any of their respective executive officers.

     (d) Rescission. Upon the exercise of any option or SAR at any time during
or after the grantee's employment with the Company or a subsidiary, the grantee
shall certify on a form acceptable to the Board that the grantee is in
compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan and
has not engaged in any Wrongful Activities. If at any time following the
exercise of any option or SAR the Board determines that the grantee engaged in
any Wrongful Activities at any time either prior to or within one year after
such exercise, the exercise of such option or SAR, and any payment and delivery
in connection therewith, shall be cancelled and rescinded. The Company shall
notify the grantee in writing of any such rescission within two years after such
exercise. Within ten days after delivery of such notice to the grantee, the
grantee shall pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment
received as a result of the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery. Such
payment shall be made, in the discretion of the Board, either in cash or by
returning to the Company the number of shares of common Stock received by the
grantee in connection with the rescinded exercise, payment or delivery. The
remedies contained in this Section 11 with respect to the rescission and/or
cancellation of any option or SAR granted to any

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

grantee who engages in any Wrongful Activity shall be in addition to, and shall
not be construed as a limitation of, any and all other remedies available to the
Company against such grantee by reason of such Wrongful Activity.

12.   Options Not Transferable.

     The right of any grantee to exercise any option or SAR granted to him or
her shall not be assignable or transferable by such grantee other than by will
or the laws of descent, and any such option or SAR shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of such grantee only by him; provided, that the Board may permit a
grantee, by expressly so providing in the related Agreement, to assign or
transfer, without consideration (and only without consideration), the right to
exercise any option or SAR granted to him or her to such grantee's children,
grandchildren or spouse, to trusts for the benefit of such family members and to
partnerships in which such family members are the only partners. Any option or
SAR granted under this Plan shall be null and void and without effect upon the
bankruptcy of the grantee to whom the option is granted, or upon any attempted
assignment or transfer except as herein provided, including without limitation,
any purported assignment, whether voluntary or by operation of law, pledge,
hypothecation or other disposition, attachment, trustee process or similar
process, whether legal or equitable, upon such option or SAR.

13.   Terms and Conditions of SARs.

     (a) An SAR may be granted separately or in connection with an option
(either at the time of grant or at any time during the term of the option).

     (b) The exercise of an SAR granted in connection with an option shall
result in the cancellation of the option to which it relates with respect to the
same number of shares of Common Stock as to which the SAR was exercised.

     (c) An SAR granted in connection with an option shall be exercisable or
transferable only to the extent that such related option is exercisable or
transferable.

     (d) Upon the exercise of an SAR related to an option, the holder will be
entitled to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:

          (i) the difference obtained by subtracting the purchase price of a
     share of Common Stock specified in the related option from the fair market
     value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of such SAR (as
     determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), by

          (ii) the number of shares as to which such SAR is exercised.

     (e) An SAR granted without relationship to an option shall be exercisable
as determined by the Board, but in no event after ten years from the date of
grant.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

     (f) An SAR granted without relationship to an option will entitle the
holder, upon exercise of the SAR, to receive payment of an amount determined by
multiplying:

          (i) the difference obtained by subtracting the fair market value of a
     share of Common Stock on the date the SAR was granted from the fair market
     value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of such SAR (as
     determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), by

          (ii) the number of shares as to which such SAR is exercised.

     (g) Notwithstanding subsections (d) and (f) above, the Board may limit the
amount payable upon exercise of an SAR. Any such limitation shall be determined
as of the date of grant and noted on the instrument evidencing the SAR granted.

     (h) At the discretion of the Board, payment of the amount determined under
subsections (d) and (f) above may be made either in whole shares of Common Stock
valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise of the SAR (as
determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), or solely in cash,
or in a combination of cash and shares. If the Board decides to make full
payment in shares of Common Stock and the amount payable results in a fractional
share, payment for the fractional share shall be made in cash.

     (i) Neither an SAR nor an option granted in connection with an SAR granted
to a person subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act may be exercised before
six months after the date of grant.

14.   Recapitalization, Reorganization and the Like.

     (a) In the event that the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed
into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities
of the Company or of another corporation by reason of any reorganization,
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split-up,
combination of shares, or dividends payable in capital stock, appropriate
adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424(a) of the Code in the
number and kind of shares as to which options and SARs may be granted under the
Plan and as to which outstanding options and SARs or portions thereof then
unexercised shall be exercisable, to the end that the proportionate interest of
the grantee shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event. Such
adjustment in outstanding options and SARs shall be made without change in the
total price applicable to the unexercised portion of such options and SARs and
with a corresponding adjustment in the exercise price per share.

     (b) In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole
discretion, in the case of any (i) sale or conveyance to another entity of all
or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or (ii) Change in
Control (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, the purchaser(s) of the
Company's assets or stock may, in his, her or its discretion, deliver to the
optionee the same kind of consideration that is delivered to the stockholders of
the Company as a result of such sale,

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

conveyance or Change in Control, or the Board may cancel all outstanding options
and SARs in exchange for consideration in cash or in kind which consideration in
both cases shall be equal in value to the value of those shares of stock or
other securities the optionee would have received had the option been exercised
(to the extent then exercisable) and no disposition of the shares acquired upon
such exercise had been made prior to such sale, conveyance or Change in Control,
less the exercise price therefor. Upon receipt of such consideration, the
options and SARs shall immediately terminate and be of no further force and
effect. The value of the stock or other securities the grantee would have
received if the option had been exercised shall be determined in good faith by
the Board, and in the case of shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 hereof.

     (c) The Board shall also have the power and right to accelerate the
exercisability of any options or SARs, notwithstanding any limitations in this
Plan or in the Agreement, upon such a sale, conveyance or Change in Control.
Upon such acceleration, any options or portion thereof originally designated as
qualified incentive stock options that no longer qualify as qualified incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code as a result of such acceleration
shall be redesignated as non-qualified stock options.

     (d) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if any person,
or any two or more persons acting as a group, and all affiliates of such person
or persons, who prior to such time owned less than fifty percent (50%) of the
then outstanding Common Stock, shall acquire such additional shares of Common
Stock in one or more transactions, or series of transactions, such that
following such transaction or transactions, such person or group and affiliates
beneficially own fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock outstanding.

     (e) If by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of
property or stock, separation, reorganization, or liquidation, the Board shall
authorize the issuance or assumption of a stock option or stock options in a
transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, then, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, the Board may grant an option or options upon
such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate for the purpose of
assumption of the old option, or substitution of a new option for the old
option, in conformity with the provisions of such Section 424(a) of the Code and
the Regulations thereunder, and any such option shall not reduce the number of
shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.

     (f) No fraction of a share shall be purchasable or deliverable upon the
exercise of any option or SAR, but in the event any adjustment hereunder in the
number of shares covered by the option or SAR shall cause such number to include
a fraction of a share, such fraction shall be adjusted to the nearest smaller
whole number of shares.

15.   No Special Employment Rights.

     Nothing contained in the Plan or in any option or SAR granted under the
Plan shall confer upon any grantee any right with respect to the continuation of
his or her employment by the Company (or any subsidiary) or interfere in any way
with the right of the Company (or any subsidiary), subject to the terms of any
separate employment agreement to the contrary, at any time

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

to terminate such employment or to increase or decrease the compensation of the
grantee from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an option or SAR.
Whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government
service, shall constitute termination of employment shall be determined in
accordance with Regulations Section 1.421-7(h)(2).

16.   Withholding.

     The Company's obligation to deliver shares upon the exercise of any
non-qualified option or SAR granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
option holder's satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income
and employment tax withholding requirements. The Company and optionee may agree
to withhold shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of an option or SAR
to satisfy the above-mentioned withholding requirements; provided, however, that
no such agreement may be made by a grantee who is an "officer" or "director"
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, except pursuant to a
standing election to so withhold shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise
of an option, such election to be made not less than six months prior to such
exercise and which election may be revoked only upon six months prior written
notice.

17.   Restrictions on Issuance of Shares.

     (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9 hereof, the Company may
delay the issuance of shares covered by the exercise of an option or SAR and the
delivery of a certificate for such shares until one of the following conditions
shall be satisfied:

          (i) The shares with respect to which such option or SAR has been
     exercised are at the time of the issue of such shares effectively
     registered or qualified under applicable Federal and state securities acts
     now in force or as hereafter amended; or

          (ii) Counsel for the Company shall have given an opinion, which
     opinion shall not be unreasonably conditioned or withheld, that such shares
     are exempt from registration and qualification under applicable Federal and
     state securities acts now in force or as hereafter amended.

     (b) It is intended that all exercises of options and SARs shall be
effective, and the Company shall use its best efforts to bring about compliance
with the above conditions, within a reasonable time, except that the Company
shall be under no obligation to qualify shares or to cause a registration
statement or a post-effective amendment to any registration statement to be
prepared for the purpose of covering the issue of shares in respect of which any
option may be exercised, except as otherwise agreed to by the Company in
writing.

18.   Purchase for Investment; Rights of Holder on Subsequent Registration.

     (a) Unless the shares to be issued upon exercise of an option or SAR
granted under the Plan have been effectively registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act"), the Company shall be under no obligation to
issue any shares covered by any option or SAR unless the

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

person who exercises such option, in whole or in part, shall give a written
representation and undertaking to the Company which is satisfactory in form and
scope to counsel for the Company and upon which, in the opinion of such counsel,
the Company may reasonably rely, that he or she is acquiring the shares issued
pursuant to such exercise of the option or SAR for his or her own account as an
investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the
distribution of any such shares, and that he or she will make no transfer of the
same except in compliance with any rules and regulations in force at the time of
such transfer under the 1933 Act, or any other applicable law, and that if
shares are issued without such registration, a legend to this effect may be
endorsed upon the securities so issued.

     (b) In the event that the Company shall, nevertheless, deem it necessary or
desirable to register under the 1933 Act or other applicable statutes any shares
with respect to which an option or SAR shall have been exercised, or to qualify
any such shares for exemption from the 1933 Act or other applicable statutes,
then the Company may take such action and may require from each grantee such
information in writing for use in any registration statement, supplementary
registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or offering circular
as is reasonably necessary for such purpose and may require reasonable indemnity
to the Company and its officers and directors from such holder against all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising from such use of the information
so furnished and caused by any untrue statement of any material fact therein or
caused by the omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made.

19.   Loans.

     At the discretion of the Board, the Company may loan to the optionee some
or all of the purchase price of the shares acquired upon exercise of an option
granted under the Plan.

20.   Modification of Outstanding Options and SARs.

     Subject to limitations contained herein, the Board may authorize the
amendment of any outstanding option or SAR with the consent of the grantee when
and subject to such conditions as are deemed to be in the best interests of the
Company and in accordance with the purposes of the Plan.

21.   Term of Plan.

     The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption
by the Board of Directors or its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It
shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated
under Section 22 hereof. The Board may grant options and SARs under the Plan
prior to stockholder approval, but any such option shall become effective as of
the date of grant only upon such approval and, accordingly, no such option may
be exercisable prior to such approval.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

22.   Termination and Amendment of Plan.

     The Board may at any time terminate the Plan or make such modification or
amendment thereof as it deems advisable; provided, however, that (i) the Board
may not, without approval by a majority vote of the stockholders of the Company,
increase the maximum number of shares for which options and SARs may be granted
or change the designation of the class of persons eligible to receive options
and SARs under the Plan, and (ii) any such modification or amendment of the Plan
shall be approved by a majority vote of the stockholders of the Company to the
extent that such stockholder approval is necessary to comply with applicable
provisions of the Code, rules promulgated pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, applicable state law, or applicable National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. or exchange listing requirements. Termination or any modification
or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of an optionee, affect
his or her rights under an option or SAR theretofore granted to him or her.

23.   Limitation of Rights in the Underlying Shares.

     A holder of an option or SAR shall not be deemed for any purpose to be a
stockholder of the Company with respect to such option or SAR except to the
extent that such option or SAR shall have been exercised with respect thereto
and, in addition, a stock certificate shall have been issued theretofore and
delivered to the holder.

24.   Notices.

     Any communication or notice required or permitted to be given under the
Plan shall be in writing, and shall be deemed given and delivered when mailed by
registered or certified mail or delivered by hand and addressed, if to the
Company, at its principal place of business, attention: Chairman, and, if to the
grantee or holder of an option or SAR, at the address of the grantee or holder
appearing on the records of the Company.

                                      -14-

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00025-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00025-of-00352.parquet"}]]