Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                                     KEYCORP
                              ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN
                         (DECEMBER 21, 1999 RESTATEMENT)

         KeyCorp (the "Corporation") hereby establishes this Annual Incentive
Plan for the purpose of providing an incentive to selected key officers of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries.
                                    ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

         For the purposes hereof, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:

         1. A "Beneficiary" shall mean any person designated by a Participant in
accordance with the Plan to receive payment of all or a portion of any Incentive
Award for which the Participant is eligible at the time of the Participant's
death.

         2. A "Change of Control" shall mean a Change of Control under any of
clauses (a), (b), (c), or (d) below. A "Non-Initiated Change of Control" shall
mean (i) a Change of Control under clause (c) below (regardless of whether it
also constitutes a Change of Control under any other clause below), and (ii) a
Change of Control under clause (a), (b), or (d) below if such Change of Control
results in whole or in any significant part, directly or indirectly, proximately
or remotely, from or in response or reaction to an offer or proposal (whether to
the Board of Directors or the shareholders of the Corporation) which was not
solicited or invited by the management of the Corporation to engage in a
transaction with the Corporation that, if consummated, would result in a Change
Event under clause (c) below. An "Initiated Change of Control" shall mean all
Changes of Control other than a Non-Initiated Change of Control. The
determination of the Committee whether a Change of Control constitutes an
Initiated or Non-Initiated Change of Control shall be final and conclusive. For
purposes of this definition, the Corporation will be deemed to have become a
subsidiary of another corporation if any other corporation (which term shall
include, in addition to a corporation, a limited liability company, partnership,
trust, or other organization) owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more
of the total combined outstanding voting power of all classes of stock of the
Corporation or any successor to the Corporation.

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<PAGE>   2

                           (a) A Change of Control will have occurred under this
                  clause (a) if the Corporation is a party to a transaction
                  pursuant to which the Corporation is merged with or into, or
                  is consolidated with, or becomes the subsidiary of another
                  corporation and either

                           (i) immediately after giving effect to that
                           transaction, less than 65% of the then outstanding
                           voting securities of the surviving or resulting
                           corporation or (if the Corporation becomes a
                           subsidiary in the transaction) of the ultimate parent
                           of the Corporation represent or were issued in
                           exchange for voting securities of the Corporation
                           outstanding immediately prior to the transaction, or

                           (ii) immediately after giving effect to that
                           transaction, individuals who were directors of the
                           Corporation on the day before the first public
                           announcement of (x) the pendency of the transaction
                           or (y) the intention of any person or entity to cause
                           the transaction to occur, cease for any reason to
                           constitute at least 51% of the directors of the
                           surviving or resulting corporation or (if the
                           Corporation becomes a subsidiary in the transaction)
                           of the ultimate parent of the Corporation.

                           (b) A Change of Control will have occurred under this
                  clause (b) if a tender or exchange offer shall be made and
                  consummated for 35% or more of the outstanding voting stock of
                  the Corporation or any person (as the term "person" is used in
                  Section 13(d) and Section 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act) is or
                  becomes the beneficial owner of 35% or more of the outstanding
                  voting stock of the Corporation or there is a report filed on
                  Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor schedule,
                  form or report), each as adopted under the 1934 Act,
                  disclosing the acquisition of 35% or more of the outstanding
                  voting stock of the Corporation in a transaction or series of
                  transactions by any person (as defined earlier in this clause
                  (b)).

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                           (c) A Change of Control will have occurred under this
                           clause (c) if either (i) without the prior approval,
                           solicitation, invitation, or recommendation of the
                           Corporation Board of Directors any person or entity
                           makes a public announcement of a bona fide intention
                           (A) to engage in a transaction with the Corporation
                           that, if consummated, would result in a Change Event
                           (as defined below in this clause (c)), or (B) to
                           "solicit" (as defined in Rule 14a-1 under the 1934
                           Act) proxies in connection with a proposal that is
                           not approved or recommended by the Corporation Board
                           of Directors, or (ii) any person or entity publicly
                           announces a bona fide intention to engage in an
                           election contest relating to the election of
                           directors of the Corporation (pursuant to Regulation
                           14A, including Rule 14a-11, under the 1934 Act),

                  and, at any time within the 24 month period immediately
                  following the date of the announcement of that intention,
                  individuals who, on the day before that announcement,
                  constituted the directors of the Corporation (the "Incumbent
                  Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
                  majority thereof unless both (A) the election, or the
                  nomination for election by the Corporation's shareholders, of
                  each new director was approved by a vote of at least
                  two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors in office at the time of
                  the election or nomination for election of such new director,
                  and (B) prior to the time that the Incumbent Directors no
                  longer constitute a majority of the Board of Directors, the
                  Incumbent Directors then in office, by a vote of at least 75%
                  of their number, reasonably determine in good faith that the
                  change in Board membership that has occurred before the date
                  of that determination and that is anticipated to thereafter
                  occur within the balance of the 24 month period to cause the
                  Incumbent Directors to no longer be a majority of the Board of
                  Directors was not caused by or attributable to, in whole or in
                  any significant part, directly or indirectly, proximately or
                  remotely, any event under subclause (i) or (ii) of this clause
                  (c).

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                  For purposes of this clause (c), the term "Change Event" shall
                  mean any of the events described in the following subclauses
                  (x), (y), or (z) of this clause (c):

                           (x) A tender or exchange offer shall be made for 25%
                           or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
                           Corporation or any person (as the term "person" is
                           used in Section 13(d) and Section 14(d)(2) of the
                           1934 Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner of 25%
                           or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
                           Corporation or there is a report filed on Schedule
                           13D or Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor schedule,
                           form, or report), each as adopted under the 1934 Act,
                           disclosing the acquisition of 25% or more of the
                           outstanding voting stock of the Corporation in a
                           transaction or series of transactions by any person
                           (as defined earlier in this subclause (x)).

                           (y) the Corporation is a party to a transaction
                           pursuant to which the Corporation is merged with or
                           into, or is consolidated with, or becomes the
                           subsidiary of another corporation and, after giving
                           effect to such transaction, less than 50% of the
                           then outstanding voting securities of the surviving
                           or resulting corporation or (if the Corporation
                           becomes a subsidiary in the transaction) of the
                           ultimate parent of the Corporation represent or were
                           issued in exchange for voting securities of the
                           Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such
                           transaction or less than 51% of the directors of the
                           surviving or resulting corporation or (if the
                           Corporation becomes a subsidiary in the transaction)
                           of the ultimate parent of the Corporation were
                           directors of the Corporation immediately prior to
                           such transaction.

                           (z) There is a sale, lease, exchange, or other
                           transfer (in one transaction or a series of related
                           transactions) of all or substantially all the assets
                           of the Corporation.

                           (d) A Change of Control will have occurred under this
                  clause (d) if there is a sale, lease, exchange, or other
                  transfer (in one transaction or a series of related
                  transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
                  Corporation.

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<PAGE>   5

         3. The "Committee" shall mean the Compensation and Organization
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or other Committee of the
Board of Directors hereafter succeeding to the responsibilities currently
performed by the Compensation and Organization Committee with respect to the
Plan.

         4. An "Incentive Award" shall mean the incentive which may be paid to a
Participant pursuant to the Plan.

         5. "Market Point" shall mean for any Participant for any calendar year
the market point (as determined under the Corporation's salary administration
program) of such Participant's job grade at the end of the calendar year;
provided, however, that if the Corporation changes such Participant's job grade
during any such calendar year or such Participant is promoted, transferred, or
otherwise moves into a different job grade during such calendar year, then such
Market Point shall be calculated on a pro rata basis for each of the periods in
which such job grades were in effect for such Participant.

         6. A "Participant" shall mean a senior officer of the Corporation or
one of its subsidiaries who is selected by the Committee to participate in the
Plan.

         7. The "Plan" shall mean this Annual Incentive Plan, together with all
amendments hereto.

         8. "Plan Year" shall mean each calendar year for which the Plan remains
in existence.

         9. "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the United States or of any state or the District of Columbia of
which 50 percent or more of the issued and outstanding stock is owned by the
Corporation or by a Subsidiary of the Corporation.

         10. The "Target Incentive Pool" shall mean the aggregate amount, as
determined in accordance with Article II of the Plan, of the aggregate
individual target Incentive Awards of Participants.

         11. "Target Pool Percentage" shall mean the percentage determined
pursuant to Article II, Sections 3 and 4 below that will be used to establish
the aggregate amount available for Incentive Awards.

         12. The "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as
from time to time amended.

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                                   ARTICLE II

                                INCENTIVE AWARDS
                                ----------------

         1. PARTICIPATION. Annually, the Committee shall select the Participants
in the Plan for the Plan Year. In general, the selection will be made prior to
the beginning of each Plan Year or as soon thereafter as is reasonably
practicable; in addition, such selection may be made at any time during a Plan
Year in the case of a newly hired employee or an employee that receives a new
position. Not in limitation of the foregoing, the Committee shall have the
authority to designate at the beginning of a Plan Year, or as soon thereafter as
is reasonably practicable, employees in selected job grades as Participants,
including any employee that may later be hired or promoted into any such job
grade during the Plan Year, without further action on behalf of the Committee.
Participants shall be notified of their selection in writing. In the event that
employees are determined to be Participants by job grade, the Chief Executive
Officer, or his or her designee, may select, subject to the approval of the
Committee or in accordance with guidelines established by the Committee,
additional eligible employees for Plan participation notwithstanding their job
grade. Employees otherwise eligible for participation because of their job grade
may be excluded, by action of the Committee or the Chief Executive Officer (or
his or her designee), if they are participants in business unit or other
incentive compensation plans.

         2. INCENTIVE POOL. The individual target incentives for persons
selected to be in the Plan are set forth in Exhibit A to the Plan, which Exhibit
A may be amended by action of the Committee from time to time. Target incentives
for Participants who are eligible for part of the Plan Year or whose incentive
group assignment changed during the Plan Year will be calculated on a pro rata
basis for both the period of each incentive group assignment and the period
during the Plan Year in which the Participant was an eligible employee. In the
event that an individual whose job does not have an assigned salary grade is
approved for participation in the Plan, the Chief Executive Officer, or his or
her designee, is authorized to select a target incentive percentage for such
individual and base the calculation of target incentive and other calculations
under this Plan on such individual's base salary.

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<PAGE>   7

         3. FORMULA FOR TARGET POOL PERCENTAGE; KNOCK-OUT FACTOR. Prior to each
Plan Year or as soon as practical thereafter, the Committee shall devise a
formula to determine the Target Pool Percentage which formula shall be based on
one or more financial criteria or other performance goals. The Committee shall
have the discretion to set minimal performance goals which must be met before
any Incentive Awards will be made under the Plan. In its sole discretion the
Committee may revise or waive one or more of such minimal performance goals as a
result of any change in conditions or the occurrence of any events or other
factors which make such goal or goals unsuitable or undesirable. Notwithstanding
that the Corporation has not met a minimal performance goal, if the Committee
determines that one or more lines of business of the Corporation have had a
level of performance deserving of Incentive Awards, the Committee may establish
a pool for Incentive Awards utilizing a Target Pool Percentage fixed at 25% (or
such higher or lower percentage as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine).

         4. INCENTIVE AWARDS. As soon as practical after the end of the Plan
Year, the Committee shall determine the Target Pool Percentage (not to exceed
200%) to be applied to the Target Incentive Pool to establish the maximum
aggregate amount to be distributed as Incentive Awards. The percentage shall be
based on the formula established in Section 3 hereof but the Committee shall
have the discretion to decrease or increase the Target Pool Percentage by not
more than twenty per cent (20%). In determining whether, and the extent to
which, the formula established in Section 3 hereof has been achieved, the
Committee shall have the discretion to disregard changes in accounting rules or
practices, gains from the sale of subsidiaries or assets outside the ordinary
course of business, or restructuring or other nonrecurring charges or similar
adjustments. It is contemplated that Incentive Awards may, depending upon the
responsibilities of the Participant, be based wholly on corporate performance,
partially on corporate performance and partially on line of business or business
unit performance, or wholly on line of business or business unit performance.
Ordinarily, the Committee will delegate to management responsibility for
determining Target Pool Percentages for each line of business or business unit
provided that the aggregate weighted average Target Pool Percentages for all
lines of business and business units shall be substantially equivalent to the
Target Pool Percentage established by the Committee.

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<PAGE>   8

         The Committee shall determine or approve the amount of the Incentive
Award for each Participant above such job grade level as the Committee shall
from time to time select and, with respect to all other Participants, the
Committee shall approve the Incentive Awards based on the methodology utilized
by management consistent with the Committee's overall discretion.

         It may be determined that a Participant shall receive no Incentive
Award for the Plan Year. In addition, the Plan does not restrict the maximum
amount of an Incentive Award that may be paid to an individual Participant.

         5. ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT. Ordinarily, Incentive Awards shall be
made only to Participants who are actively employed at the end of the Plan Year;
however, Participants who retire at age 65 or over or become disabled during a
Plan Year, or the Beneficiary(s) or estate of a Participant whose death occurs
during a Plan Year shall be entitled to, on a pro rata basis (for the period of
time the Participant was in the Plan for the Plan Year) the lesser of (i) the
Participant's target incentive or (ii) the Participant's target incentive times
the Target Pool Percentage if the Committee determines a Target Pool Percentage
of less than 100%. Except as provided in Section 6 hereof, no other Participant
who is not actively employed at the end of the Plan Year shall receive an
Incentive Award unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, so determines that
an Incentive Award shall be made.

         6. EFFECT OF CHANGE OF CONTROL. Upon the occurrence of a Non-Initiated
Change of Control during the Plan Year, this Plan shall terminate and each
Participant immediately prior to the occurrence of such Non-Initiated Change of
Control shall promptly receive 200% of such Participant's target incentive
payable under the Plan for the full Plan Year. In the event of the occurrence of
an Initiated Change of Control during the Plan Year, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine whether the Plan should terminate and the manner of
calculating, and the time for payment, of Incentive Awards (if any) to be made
under the Plan for the Plan Year.

         7. PAYMENT OF INCENTIVE AWARD. Except as provided in the first sentence
of Section 6 hereof, Incentive Awards shall be paid on or prior to March 15 of
the year following the Plan Year.

                                       8
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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall have the authority to authorize payment of all or a portion of
all Incentive Awards prior to the end of the Plan Year, and if a portion, the
Corporation shall pay the remaining portion of the Award on or prior to March 15
of the year following the Plan Year.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee, in its
sole discretion, shall have the authority to require deferral of payment of all
or a portion of all Incentive Awards due to any Plan Participant if the
Committee determines that the Corporation would be denied a deduction for
federal income tax purposes for such Award or the portion thereof by reason of
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations issued thereunder, if the Award or the portion thereof were not so
deferred. Such deferred Incentive Awards, or the portion thereof, shall be
deferred in accordance with the provisions of the KeyCorp Deferred Compensation
Plan or the KeyCorp Automatic Deferral Plan ("Automatic Deferral Plan"),
whichever is applicable.
                                   ARTICLE III

                               AUTOMATIC DEFERRAL
                               ------------------

         1. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION. A Plan Participant who accrues an
Incentive Award under the Plan which exceeds $100,000 for the applicable Plan
year shall automatically and without further action by the Participant defer a
percentage of the Participant's Incentive Award to the Automatic Deferral Plan,
and shall automatically become a participant in the Automatic Deferral Plan.

         2. AUTOMATIC DEFERRAL REQUIREMENTS. Commencing as of January 1, 1999
and thereafter, a Participant meeting the eligibility and participation
requirements contained in Section 1 hereof, as a condition of their continued
participation in the Plan, shall automatically defer the following percentages
of the Participant's accrued Incentive Award for the applicable Plan year to the
Automatic Deferral Plan:

                           (a) THE PORTION OF A PARTICIPANT'S INCENTIVE AWARD
                  BETWEEN $100,000 UP TO AND INCLUDING $500,000. Twenty percent
                  (20%) of the Participant's Incentive Award between $100,000 up
                  to and including $500,000 shall be automatically deferred to
                  the Automatic Deferral Plan.

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<PAGE>   10

                           (b) THE PORTION OF A PARTICIPANT'S INCENTIVE AWARD
                  BETWEEN $500,000 UP TO AND INCLUDING $1,000,000. Twenty five
                  (25%) of the Participant's Incentive Award between $500,000 up
                  to and including $1,000,000 shall be automatically deferred to
                  the Automatic Deferral Plan.

                           (c) THE PORTION OF A PARTICIPANT'S INCENTIVE AWARD
                  GREATER THAN $1,000,000. Thirty percent (30%) of the
                  Participant's Incentive Award greater than $1,000,000 shall be
                  automatically deferred to the Automatic Deferral Plan.

         3. PLAN VESTING. A Participant shall have no vested interest in that
portion of the Participant's Plan Incentive Award that is automatically deferred
to the Automatic Deferral Plan. Once deferred to the Automatic Deferral Plan,
the Participant's deferred Incentive Award shall be subject to the Automatic
Deferral Plan's vesting, distribution, and forfeiture provisions, and the Plan
Participant shall have no right or entitlement to any such Incentive Award
deferred to the Automatic Deferral Plan except as specifically granted and/or
authorized under the terms of the Automatic Deferral Plan.

         4. TIME OF DEFERRAL. A Participant's accrued Plan Incentive Award
deferred to the Automatic Deferral Plan in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2 hereof, shall be credited on a bookkeeping basis to an Automatic
Deferral Plan account established in the Participant's name as of the payroll
date on which such Incentive Awards are generally otherwise paid under the Plan.

         5. EFFECT OF DISCHARGE FOR CAUSE OR VOLUNTARY TERMINATION. In the event
of a Participant's Discharge for Cause or Voluntary Termination, the Participant
shall automatically forfeit any and all right to receive payment for any
Incentive Award which otherwise would have become subject to the "Automatic
Deferral Requirements" of Section 2, hereof, but for the Participant's Discharge
for Cause or Voluntary Termination prior to the date on which Incentive Awards
are otherwise paid under the Plan.

         6. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article III, the following words
and phrases shall have the meaning hereinafter set forth, unless a different
meaning is clearly required by the context:

                           (a) "Discharge for Cause" shall mean the permanent
                  termination of the Participant's employment from his or her
                  Employer and any other Employer that is the result of (1)
                  serious misconduct as an Employee, including, but not limited
                  to, a continued

                                       10
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                  failure after notice to perform a substantial portion of his
                  or her duties and responsibilities unrelated to illness or
                  incapacity, unethical behavior such as acts of self-dealing or
                  self-interest, harassment, violence in the workplace, or
                  theft; (2) the commission of a crime involving a controlled
                  substance, moral turpitude, dishonesty, or breach of trust; or
                  (3) the Employer being directed by a regulatory agency or
                  self-regulatory agency to terminate or suspend the Participant
                  or to prohibit the Participant from performing services for
                  the Employer. The Corporation in its sole and absolute
                  discretion shall determine whether a Participant has been
                  Discharged for Cause, as provided for in this Section 6(a).

                           (b) "Voluntary Termination" shall mean a voluntary
                  and permanent termination of a Participant's employment from
                  his or her Employer and from any other Employer, whether by
                  resignation or otherwise, but shall not include the
                  Participant's Discharge for Cause, Retirement, Involuntary
                  Termination, Termination Under Limited Circumstances, or
                  termination as a result of Disability or death.

         All the capitalized and undefined terms used in this Section 6 shall
have the meanings given them in the Automatic Deferral Plan, unless a different
meaning is plainly required by the context.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                 ADMINISTRATION
                                 --------------

         The Corporation shall be responsible for the general administration of
the Plan and for carrying out the provisions hereof. The Committee shall have
all such powers as may be necessary to carry out its duties under the Plan,
including the power to determine all questions pertaining to claims for benefits
and procedures for claim review, and the power to resolve all other questions
arising under the Plan, including any questions of construction. The Corporation
and the Committee may take such further action as the Corporation and the
Committee shall deem advisable in the administration of the Plan. The actions
taken and the decisions made by the Corporation and the Committee hereunder
shall be final and binding upon all interested parties. In accordance with the
provisions of Section 503 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, the Committee shall provide a procedure for handling claims of

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

Participants or their Beneficiaries under this Plan. Such procedure shall be in
accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor and shall provide
adequate written notice within a reasonable period of time with respect to the
denial of any such claims as well as a reasonable opportunity for a full and
fair review by the Committee of any such denial. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Corporation shall be the "administrator" for the
purpose of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Any action authorized under the Plan to be done by the Committee may be done by
the Board of Directors or any other Board committee authorized by the Board of
Directors.
                                    ARTICLE V

                            AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
                            -------------------------

         The Corporation reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at
any time by action of the Board of Directors or the Committee, but, from and
after the occurrence of a Non-Initiated Change of Control, no such amendment or
termination shall adversely affect the rights of a Participant which have
accrued prior to such amendment or termination except with the written consent
of such Participant.
                                   ARTICLE VI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

         1. NOT AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed as a commitment to or agreement with any person employed by the
Corporation or a Subsidiary to continue such person's employment with the
Corporation or Subsidiary, and nothing herein contained shall be construed as a
commitment or agreement on the part of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to
continue the employment or the annual rate of compensation of any such person
for any period. All Participants shall remain subject to discharge to the same
extent as if the Plan had never been put into effect.

         2. UNFUNDED FOR TAX AND ERISA PURPOSES. It is the intention of the
Corporation and the Participants that the Plan be unfunded for tax purposes and
for the purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         3. CLAIMS OF OTHER PERSONS. The provisions of the Plan shall in no
event be construed as giving any person, firm, or corporation any legal or
equitable right against the Corporation or any Subsidiary, their officers,
employees, agents, or directors, except any such rights as are specifically
provided for in the Plan or are hereafter created in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Plan.

         4. ABSENCE OF LIABILITY. No member of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation or a Subsidiary or any officer or employee of the Corporation or a
Subsidiary shall be liable for any act or action hereunder, whether of
commission or omission.

         5. SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
provisions of the Plan shall not affect any other provision hereof, and the Plan
shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision
were omitted herefrom.

         6. GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

                            KEYCORP

                            By:   /s/ Thomas E. Helfrich
                               ------------------------------------------------
                                  Thomas E. Helfrich, Executive Vice President

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                                    Exhibit A
                                    ---------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         Incentive              Job                      Target Incentive As a
           Group                Grades                   Percent of Market Point
           -----                ------                   -----------------------

<S>                               <C>                            <C>
              I                   95                             100%
             II                   94                             85%
            III                   92-93                          70%
             IV                   90-91                          55%
              V                   89                             45%
             VI                   88                             35%
            VII                   87                             30%
           VIII                   86                             25%
             IX                   85                             20%
              X                   84 and below                   15%

</TABLE>

                                       14<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

THIS NON-NEGOTIABLE SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS "NOTE") AND THE
INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED HEREBY, AND THE EXERCISE OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
HEREUNDER, ARE SUBORDINATE IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THAT
CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF MARCH 17, 2000, BY AND BETWEEN ING
(U.S.) CAPITAL LLC (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO ING (U.S.) CAPITAL CORPORATION) AS
AGENT, NUON INTERNATIONAL, B.V., AND NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.

THIS NON-NEGOTIABLE SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS "NOTE") HAS NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), AND MAY NOT
BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS A REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE ACT WITH RESPECT TO THIS NOTE HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE OR UNLESS THE
HOLDER ESTABLISHES TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE MAKER THAT AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH
REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

                   NON-NEGOTIABLE SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTE

U.S. $48,500,000
                                                                  March 17, 2000

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC., a
Delaware corporation (hereinafter "Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the order
of NUON INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS, B.V., (hereinafter called the "Holder") whose
address is Utrechtseweg 68, 6812 AH Arnhem, The Netherlands, the principal sum
of Forty-Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($48,500,000), in lawful
money of the United States of America, as hereinafter provided.

         1.       INTEREST.

                  (a) Interest hereunder shall accrue on the unpaid principal
balance of this Note beginning on the date hereof, and continuing thereafter
until the Stated Maturity (as defined below). All accrued and unpaid interest
shall be paid by the Maker to Holder semiannually on each [August 31] and
[February 28] beginning on [August 31, 2000] until the principal balance due
under this Note is paid in full. If the principal balance of this Note is
prepaid pursuant to Section 2 hereof, all accrued and unpaid interest shall be
paid by the Maker to Holder on the date of such prepayment. The interest rate
payable on the principal amount of this Note from time to time outstanding shall
be the then Applicable LIBOR Rate as determined on each Interest Determination
Date.

                  (b) Interest on the unpaid principal balance shall be computed
on a daily basis of 1/360th of the annual rate.

<PAGE>   2

         2. PAYMENT TERMS. Subject to the rights of acceleration set forth
herein, the entire principal balance hereof of Forty-Eight Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($48,500,000), plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
shall be payable in a single balloon payment by Maker to the Holder on [February
28, 2015] ("Stated Maturity"). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as
defined below), the Holder may, at its option, declare the outstanding principal
balance of this Note (and interest, if any) to be immediately due and payable,
together with all costs and fees, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred
by the Holder in collecting or enforcement thereof. At any time upon ten (10)
days prior written notice to the Holder, this Note may be prepaid by Maker in
whole or in part without penalty or premium. Any such permitted prepayment under
this Note shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid interest on the principal
balance outstanding and then to principal.

         3. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following capitalized terms shall
have the following meanings:

         (a) "Applicable LIBOR Rate" means the LIBOR Rate PLUS 2.30% per annum.

         (b) "Business Day" shall mean any day which is neither a Saturday or
Sunday nor a legal holiday on which banks are authorized or required to be
closed in New York, New York.

         (c) "Event of Default" means the occurrence of any of the following
events (i) failure to pay when due any principal or interest on this Note, or
any other sum due hereunder, within five (5) days after the same becomes due;
(ii) upon a breach or default of any covenant of Maker set forth in this Note;
(iii) Maker becomes insolvent or bankrupt or admits in writing its inability to
pay its debts as they become due or makes an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or if a trustee or receiver is appointed for Maker or for the major
part of its property and is not discharged within sixty (60) days after such
appointment; (iv) bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement or insolvency
proceedings, or other proceedings for relief under any bankruptcy or similar
laws for the relief of debtors, are instituted by or against Maker and, if
instituted against Maker, are consented to or are not dismissed within sixty
(60) days after such institution or (v) an Event of Default shall have occurred
under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of February 9, 1998, by and
between ING (U.S.) Capital LLC, successor in interest by merger to ING (U.S.)
Capital Corporation, as Agent and Lender ("ING"), and the Maker, which Event of
Default has not been waived in writing by ING within ten (10) days after the
occurrence thereof.

         (d) "LIBOR Rate" means the per annum interest rate equal to the average
for the applicable day (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest next 1/100
of 1%) of those LIBOR (6 month) rates quoted on the REUTERS SCREEN "LIBOR" page
on each September 1 and March 1, as applicable, or the next succeeding Business
Day if such rates are not quoted by REUTERS on such date (each an "Interest
Determination Date"). If such rate is not available, the LIBOR Rate for purposes
of this Note shall be a rate of interest per annum agreed to by the Maker and
Holder. The Libor Rate from the date of this Note to the initial Interest
Determination Date shall be the per annum interest rate equal to the average
(rounded upward if necessary, to the nearest next 1/100 of 1%) of those LIBOR (6
month) rates quoted on the REUTERS SCREEN "LIBOR" page on the date of this Note.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

         4. PAYMENTS. All payments hereunder will be made to the address noted
herein for the Holder, or such other address designated by the Holder for such
payments, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the
time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private
debts, upon presentation hereof for notation of each payment or upon surrender
hereof.

         5. JUNIOR LIEN. Maker agrees that its obligations to the Holder under
this Note may, at the election of the Holder at any time, be secured by a lien
on any or all of the assets of Peake Energy, Inc., which lien shall be
subordinated to the liens of ING (other than wells and other property interests
that are subject to any Section 29 Tax Credit Agreement with BBD Gas LLC). Maker
agrees that if Holder so elects, Maker will execute and deliver such documents,
and otherwise take such other action and execute such assignments or other
instruments or documents, each as Holder may reasonably request to evidence,
perfect or record such junior liens on the assets of Peake Energy, Inc.

         6. INTEREST RATE LIMITATION. Nothing herein contained, nor any
transaction related thereto, shall be construed or so operate as to require
Maker to pay interest at a greater rate than is now lawful or in such case to
contract for, or to make any payment, or to do any act contrary to applicable
law. Should any interest or other charges paid by Maker, or parties liable for
the payment of this Note, in connection with the indebtedness evidenced by this
Note or any other document delivered in connection with this Note, result in the
computation or earning of interest in excess of the maximum legal rate of
interest that is legally permitted under applicable law, then any and all such
excess shall be, and the same hereby is, waived by the Holder, and any and all
such excess shall be automatically credited against and in reduction of the
balance due under this Note, and the portion of said excess that exceeds the
balance due under this Note shall be paid by the Holder to Maker.

         7. NEW SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY. In the event that Maker refinances or
replaces its senior credit facility with ING, Maker will endeavor using
commercially reasonable efforts to have that new lender repay as much of the
principal balance due under this Note as is reasonably possible pursuant to
terms which are reasonably acceptable to Maker and Holder. At the time of such
repayment, if any, the Maker and Holder may renegotiate the terms of this Note.

         8. GOVERNING LAW AND SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Note shall be
construed according to the laws of the State of New York without regard to
conflict of laws principles. If any provision hereof is in conflict with any
statute or rule of law of the State of New York or is otherwise unenforceable
for any reason whatsoever, then such provision shall be ineffective to the
extent of such invalidity, and shall be deemed separable from and shall not
invalidate any other provision of this Note.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         9. BINDING EFFECT. This Note shall be shall be binding upon Maker and
Maker's successors and assigns.

                                          NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.
                                          ("Maker")

                                          /s/ Omer Yonel
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Omer Yonel
                                          Title: Chief Executive Officer
Maker's Address:

North Coast Energy, Inc.
1993 Case Parkway
Twinsburg, Ohio 44087

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

ACKNOWLEDGED, CONSENTED AND AGREED,
this 17th day of March, 2000:

NUON INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS, B.V.
as Holder

By: /s/ A. Goedmakers
   -------------------------------
      Name:  A. Goedmakers
      Title: Director

                                       5

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