Document:

<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                               LEASE MODIFICATION

                                      From

                           NATIONAL CITY BANK, Trustee
                                          as Lessor

                                       To

                               BRUSH WELLMAN INC.
                                          as Lessee

                                      Dated

                                      As of

                                  May 30, 2003

<PAGE>

                                        1

Memorandum of Lease Modification recorded on _______________, 2003 at
__________. E.D.S.T. as Instrument No. __________ in the Ottawa County, Ohio
Records at Vol. ___, Page _____.

This Lease Modification modifies the Lease dated as of October 1, 1996, from the
above-named Lessor as assignee to the above-named Lessee, a memorandum of which
was recorded on October 10, 1996 in the Ottawa County, Ohio, Records at Volume
32, Page 525. All right, title and interest of the Lessor under that Lease have
been assigned by the Assignment of Lease, dated as of October 1, 1996 to
National City Bank, as Trustee under the Trust Indenture dated as of October 1,
1996. The Assignment of Lease was recorded in the Ottawa County, Ohio Official
Records on October 10, 1996 at Volume 32, Page 534. That Lease was supplemented
by the First Supplemental Lease dated as of April 1, 1997, from the above-named
Lessor to the above-named Lessee, a memorandum of which was recorded on April
25, 1997 in the Ottawa County, Ohio, Records at Volume 32, Page 707.

<PAGE>

                                     INDEX

                        (This Index is not a part of the
                        Lease Modification but rather is
                       for convenience of reference only)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----
<S>                     <C>                                                                                   <C>
         Section 1.        Definitions...........................................................................2

         Section 2.        Interpretation........................................................................2

         Section 3.        Project Facilities....................................................................3

         Section 4.        The Original Lease....................................................................3

         Section 5.        Assignment of Lease...................................................................3

         Section 6.        Events of Default.....................................................................3

         Section 7.        Annual Statement and Other Reports....................................................4

         Section 8.        Representations of the Lessor.........................................................4

         Section 9.        Representations of the Lessee.........................................................4

         Section 10.       The Lessee's Approval of Documents....................................................5

         Section 11.       Governing Law.........................................................................5
</TABLE>

                                       i
<PAGE>
                               LEASE MODIFICATION

         THIS LEASE MODIFICATION dated as of May 30, 2003 (the "2003 Lease
Modification") is made between NATIONAL CITY BANK, Trustee, as lessor (in that
capacity, the "Lessor"), a national banking association duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, and BRUSH
WELLMAN INC., as lessee (the "Lessee"), a corporation for-profit organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Ohio, to supplement the Lease, dated as
of October 1, 1996 between the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (the
"Authority") and the Lessee (the "Original Lease"), as supplemented and amended
by the First Supplemental Lease between the Trustee and the Lessee, dated as of
April 1, 1997 (the "First Supplemental Lease"), and with this 2003 Lease
Modification, as each may be hereafter amended or supplemented in accordance
with their respective terms, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Lease") under the following circumstances:

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS, as authorized by a resolution adopted by the Legislative
Authority on May 23, 1996, as amended and supplemented by a resolution adopted
by the Legislative Authority on July 25, 1996, the Authority entered into the
Original Lease with the Lessee, a memorandum of which was recorded on October
10, 1996, at Volume 32, Page 525, Ottawa County, Ohio Official Records,
providing for the lease of the Project to the Lessee and the Authority assigned
all of its right, title and interest as lessor under the Original Lease to the
Lessor by the Assignment of the Lease from the Authority to the Lessor, which
Assignment of Lease was recorded on October 10, 1996 at Volume 32, Page 534,
Ottawa County, Ohio Official Records;

         WHEREAS, to finance a portion of the costs of the Project, the
Authority issued, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America ("Prudential")
has purchased, the Project Bonds;

         WHEREAS, to provide additional financing for the Project, and at the
request of the Lessee, the Authority issued, and Prudential has purchased, the
Series 1997 Bonds as Additional Bonds under the Original Indenture to finance
further costs of the Project;

         WHEREAS, the Lessor and the Lessee entered into the First Supplemental
Lease, a memorandum of which was recorded on April 25, 1997, at Volume 37, Page
707, Ottawa County Ohio Official Records, to amend and supplement the Original
Lease to reflect issuance of the Series 1997 Bonds;

         WHEREAS, as a condition, among others, to Prudential's willingness to
purchase the Project Bonds, Prudential required that the Lessee enter into that
certain Inducement Agreement between the Lessee and Prudential, dated as of
October 1, 1996, (the "Series 1996 Inducement Agreement"), and as a condition,
among others, to Prudential's willingness to purchase the Series 1997 Bonds,
Prudential required that the Lessee enter into that certain Series 1997
Inducement Agreement between the Lessee and Prudential, dated as of April 1,
1997 (the "Series 1997 Inducement Agreement"; the Series 1996 Inducement
Agreement and the Series 1997 Inducement Agreement are referred to herein,
collectively, as the "Existing Inducement Agreements");
<PAGE>

         WHEREAS, on May 16, 2000, as part of an overall corporate
reorganization, the Lessee became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brush Engineered
Materials Inc., an Ohio corporation ("Holdings").

         WHEREAS, Holdings and the Company have requested that the Existing
Inducement Agreements be amended and restated to, among other things, amend the
financial reporting requirements, and Prudential has agreed to accommodate this
request, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Amended
and Restated Inducement Agreement (the "Inducement Agreement"), dated as of even
date herewith, by and among the Guarantor, the Company and Prudential;

         WHEREAS, no additional real or personal property or combination thereof
will be leased by this 2003 Lease Modification; and

         WHEREAS, the Lessor and the Lessee each have full right and lawful
authority to enter into this 2003 Lease Modification and to perform and observe
the provisions hereof on their respective parts to be performed and observed;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the words and terms defined
elsewhere in this 2003 Lease Modification, the Original Lease and the First
Supplemental Lease, for the purpose of the Lease the words and terms set forth
below shall have the meanings set forth below, unless the use or context
indicates another or different meaning or intent, and such definitions shall be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of any of those words
and terms.

         "Holdings" shall mean Brush Engineered Materials Inc., an Ohio
corporation.

         "Indenture" means the Original Indenture together with the First
Supplemental Indenture and the 2003 Indenture Modification, as each may be
amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with their respective
terms.

         "Lease" means the Original Lease together with the First Supplemental
Lease and this 2003 Lease Modification, as each may be amended and supplemented
from time to time in accordance with their respective terms and pursuant to the
Assignment of Lease and as may be permitted by the Indenture.

         "2003 Indenture Modification" shall mean that certain Indenture
Modification dated as of May 30, 2003 between the Authority and the Trustee.

         "2003 Lease Modification" shall mean this Lease Modification dated as
of May 30, 2003.

         Section 2. Interpretation. Any reference herein to the Lessor, to the
Authority, to the Legislative Authority or to any member or officer of any of
them, includes entities or officials succeeding to their respective functions,
duties or responsibilities pursuant to or by operation of law or lawfully
performing their functions.

                                       2
<PAGE>

         Any reference to a section or provision of the Constitution of the
State or the Act, or to a section, provision or chapter of the Ohio Revised
Code, or to any statute of the United States of America, includes that section,
provision or chapter as amended, modified, revised, supplemented or superseded
from time to time; provided, that no amendment, modification, revision,
supplement or superseding section, provision or chapter shall be applicable
solely by reason of this provision, if it constitutes in any way an impairment
of the rights or obligations of the Lessor or the Lessee under the Original
Lease, the First Supplemental Lease, this 2003 Lease Modification, or any
modification or amendment to the Original Lease or the First Supplemental Lease
in this 2003 Lease Modification or the rights of any other person under those
instruments.

         Unless the context indicates otherwise, words importing the singular
number include the plural number, and vice versa; the terms "hereof," "hereby,"
"herein," "hereto," "hereunder" and similar terms refer to this 2003 Lease
Modification; and the term "hereafter" means after, and the term "heretofore"
means before, the date of this 2003 Lease Modification. Words of any gender
include the correlative words of the other gender, unless the sense indicates
otherwise.

         Section 3. Project Facilities. The Lessor, in consideration of the
rents, covenants and agreements stated in the Original Lease, as supplemented
and amended by the First Supplemental Lease, and as modified and amended by this
2003 Lease Modification, agrees to and does hereby affirm its lease to the
Lessee, and the Lessee does hereby affirm its lease from the Lessor, for the
Lease Term, subject to the provisions of the Original Lease, as supplemented and
amended by the First Supplemental Lease, and as supplemented and amended by this
2003 Lease Modification, of the Project.

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Project unto the Lessee for the Lease Term and
for the purposes set forth in Section 2.1 of the Original Lease.

         Possession of the Project shall be delivered and accepted as provided
in Section 2.1 of the Original Lease.

         Section 4. The Original Lease. The Original Lease and the First
Supplemental Lease shall remain in force and effect as originally written,
except as amended and modified hereby.

         Section 5. Assignment of Lease. The Lessee acknowledges that all of the
Authority's right, title and interest in and to the Lease (including the First
Supplemental Lease and this 2003 Lease Modification), including the Rental
Payments, has been sold, assigned, transferred and conveyed to the Trustee
pursuant to the Assignment. No subsequent assignment to any Person other than
the Trustee may be made without prior written notice to the Lessee; provided,
however, that upon occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default under the
Lease such an assignment may be made without prior written notice to the Lessee.
The Lessee further acknowledges that all title, interest, obligations and rights
of the Lessor under the Lease are vested irrevocably in the Lessor, as assignee.

         Section 6. Events of Default. Section 10.1(g) of the Original Lease be
and the same is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

                  (g) An "Event of Default" as defined in the Amended and
         Restated Inducement Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2003, by and among
         Holdings, the Lessee

                                       3
<PAGE>

         and the original purchaser of the Project Bonds and the Series 1997
         Bonds shall have occurred.

         Section 7. Annual Statement and Other Reports. Section 8.5 of the
Original Lease be and the same is hereby amended and restated to read as
follows:

                           Holdings (i) shall have an annual audit made by its
          regular independent certified public accountants and shall furnish a
          copy of such audit to the Lessor promptly upon its completion, but not
          later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of Holding's
          fiscal year, and (ii) shall prepare and furnish within sixty (60) days
          after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings to the Lessor a
          certificate of the Authorized Lessee Representative stating whether,
          to the best of its knowledge, the Lessee is in default under this
          Lease, and if it is, the nature of the default. Holdings shall also
          furnish promptly to the Lessor a copy of all financial statements,
          reports, notices, proxy statements and registration statements which
          its sends to its shareholders generally or which it files with any
          securities exchange or the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
          successor agency. In the event Holdings ceases to be an entity
          required to file periodic reports with a securities exchange or the
          Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency, Holdings
          shall furnish to the Lessor the same information and at the same times
          as it would have furnished such information to a securities exchange
          or the Securities and Exchange Commission in financial statements,
          reports, notices, proxy statements and registration statements filed
          with that securities exchange or the Securities and Exchange
          Commission or any successor agency.

         Section 8. Representations of the Lessor. The Lessor represents that:
(a) it has duly accomplished all conditions necessary to be accomplished by it
prior to execution and delivery of this 2003 Lease Modification; (b) it is not
in violation of or in conflict with any provisions of the laws of the State or
any agreement or instrument to which the Lessor is a party or by which it is
bound which would materially impair its ability to carry out its obligations
contained in the Lease and the Project Service Agreement; (c) it is empowered to
enter into the transactions contemplated by this 2003 Lease Modification; (d) it
has duly authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this 2003 Lease
Modification; (e) it is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of
the United States of America and is qualified to exercise trust powers under the
laws of the State; and (f) it will do all things in its power in order to
maintain its existence or assure the assumption of its obligations under the
Project Service Agreement and the Lease by an entity capable of performing those
obligations.

         Section 9. Representations of the Lessee. The Lessee represents that:
it has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
2003 Lease Modification and to enter into and carry out the transactions
contemplated by this 2003 Lease Modification which execution, delivery and
performance, and such entering into and carrying out of those transactions, do
not violate any provisions of the law of the State applicable to the Lessee or
the Lessee's Articles of Incorporation or its Code of Regulations and do not
conflict with or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which the Lessee is a party or by which it is bound, which, in
each case, would materially impair its ability to carry out its obligations
contained in this Lease or resulting from those transactions. This 2003 Lease
Modification has, and to the extent required the transactions contemplated by
this 2003 Lease

                                       5
<PAGE>

Modification have, by proper action, been duly authorized, and this 2003 Lease
Modification has been duly executed and delivered by the Lessee and all steps
necessary have been taken to constitute this Lease a valid and binding
obligation of the Lessee.

         Section 10. The Lessee's Approval of Documents. The 2003 Indenture
Modification, has been submitted to the Lessee for examination, and the Lessee
acknowledges, by execution of this 2003 Lease Modification, that it has approved
it and waives the notice and mailing requirements of consents pursuant to
Section 8.03 of the Original Indenture with respect to that instrument.

         The Lessee approves and accepts all rights, remedies, powers and
privileges of the Trustee and the Holders and all duties, covenants, agreements
and obligations of the Lessee which are created or expressly identified in the
Indenture. The Lessee covenants and agrees to be bound by those rights,
remedies, powers and privileges and to observe and perform those duties,
covenants, agreements and obligations.

         Section 11. Governing Law. This 2003 Lease Modification shall be deemed
to be a contract made under the laws of the State and for all purposes shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State.

                   (Balance of page intentionally left blank)

                                       5
<PAGE>
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Lessor and the Lessee have caused this 2003
Lease Modification to be duly executed in their respective names, all as of the
date hereinbefore written.

Signed and acknowledged in              NATIONAL CITY BANK, Trustee, as Lessor
  the presence of:

-------------------------------------   By:
Name:                                      -----------------------------------

                                        Title:
                                              --------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Name:
(Witnesses as to Lessor)

Signed and acknowledged in               BRUSH WELLMAN INC., as Lessee
  the presence of:

-------------------------------------   By:
Name:                                      -----------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------------

-------------------------------------   And By:
Name:                                          -------------------------------
(Witnesses as to Lessor)                   Name:
                                                ------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------------

Signed and acknowledged in               BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS, INC.
  the presence of:

-------------------------------------   By:
Name:                                      -----------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                                ------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------------

-------------------------------------   And By:
Name:                                          -------------------------------
(Witnesses as to Lessor)                   Name:
                                                ------------------------------
                                           Title:
                                                 -----------------------------

<PAGE>

                                     CONSENT

         The undersigned, the fully authorized representatives of The Director
of Development of the State of Ohio and The Prudential Insurance Company of
America, as Majority Holder of the Bonds and in accordance with Sections 8.02
and 8.03 of the Original Indenture each hereby acknowledge satisfactory prior
written notice of, and consent to, the execution and delivery of the foregoing
2003 Lease Modification.

Date:  May ___, 2003                  THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
                                        OF THE STATE OF OHIO

                                      By:_____________________________________

                                      Title:__________________________________

                                      THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
                                         COMPANY OF AMERICA

                                      By:_____________________________________

                                      Title:__________________________________

<PAGE>

STATE OF OHIO                            )
                                         )   SS:
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA                       )

         On this _____ day of May, 2003, before me a Notary Public in and for
said County and State, personally appeared _____________________________,
__________________________ of National City Bank, Trustee, and acknowledged the
execution of the foregoing instrument as the duly authorized officer of said
bank on behalf of said bank, and that the same is her voluntary act and deed as
said officer of said bank and the voluntary act and deed of said bank.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my
official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

(SEAL)                                      ___________________________________
                                                        Notary Public

STATE OF OHIO                            )
                                         )   SS:
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA                       )

         On this _____ day of May, 2003, before me a Notary Public in and for
said County and State, personally appeared Michael C. Hasychak, Vice President
and Secretary and Gary Schiavoni, Assistant Treasurer of Brush Wellman Inc.,
respectively, and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument as the
duly authorized officers for and on behalf of said Corporation and pursuant to
authority granted by the Board of Directors of said Corporation, and that the
same is their voluntary act and deed on behalf of said Corporation and the
voluntary act and deed of said Corporation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my
official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

(SEAL)                                      ___________________________________
                                                        Notary Public

<PAGE>

                        MEMORANDUM OF LEASE MODIFICATION
                        --------------------------------

         THIS MEMORANDUM OF LEASE MODIFICATION is for placing of record an
unrecorded Lease Modification (the "Lease Modification") dated as of May 30,
2003 between NATIONAL CITY BANK, a national banking association duly organized
and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America and
qualified to exercise trust powers under the laws of the State of Ohio, in its
capacity as trustee (the "Trustee") pursuant to a Trust Indenture dated as of
October 1, 1996 between the Trustee and the Authority (as hereinafter defined)
as amended thereafter, as lessor, and BRUSH WELLMAN INC., an Ohio corporation,
as lessee ("Lessee"). The Lease Modification amends and supplements that certain
Lease dated as of October 1, 1996 (the "Original Lease") between the
TOLEDO-LUCAS COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY, a port authority and political subdivision
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Ohio
("Authority"), as lessor, and Lessee, as amended and supplemented by that
certain First Supplemental Lease, dated as of April 1, 1997 (the "First
Supplemental Lease"), between the Trustee, as lessor, and the Lessee. A
Memorandum of Lease relating to such Original Lease was filed of record on
October 10, 1996 under document number 9600028762 in Volume 32 at page 525,
Ottawa County, Ohio Lease Records, and a Memorandum of First Supplemental Lease
relating to such First Supplemental Lease was filed of record on April 25, 1997,
under document number 9700034679 in Volume 32 at page 707, Ottawa County, Ohio
Lease Records. An Assignment of Lease, whereby the Authority assigned all of its
right, title and interest as lessor under the Original Lease to the Trustee, was
filed of record on October 10, 1996 under document number 9600028763 in Volume
32 at page 534, Ottawa County, Ohio Lease Records. The Trustee in its capacity
as assignee of the right, title and interest of the lessor under the Original
Lease is referred to herein as "Lessor." The Original Lease and the First
Supplemental Lease, as supplemented by the 2003 Lease Modification, are referred
to herein as the "Lease."

         1. ADDRESSES. The addresses of Lessor and Lessee as set forth in the
Lease are as follows:

            Lessee:                          Brush Wellman Inc.
                                             17876 St. Clair Avenue
                                             Cleveland, Ohio  44110
                                             Attn.: Treasurer

            Lessor:                          National City Bank, Trustee
                                             629 Euclid Ave., Suite 635
                                             Cleveland, Ohio  44114
                                             Attn.:  Corporate Trust Dept.

         2. PREMISES. In consideration of the rents, and other terms, covenants
and conditions contained in the Lease, Lessor has demised and leased to Lessee
and Lessee has leased from Lessor the real property located in Ottawa County,
Ohio and further described on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein
by reference and Lessor's leasehold interest therein and all easements
appurtenant thereto ("Project Site"), including all rights under the Easement
Agreement granted by Lessee to Lessor as recorded in Volume 411, Page 165,
Instrument No. 9600028761 of Ottawa County, Ohio Records, together with any
additions

                                       6
<PAGE>

thereto and less any removals therefrom, in the manner and to the extent
provided in the Lease, and all improvements and buildings constructed by Lessor
on the Project Site constituting the Project Facilities (as that term is defined
in the Lease), together constituting "port authority facilities" as defined in
Sections 4582.01 to 4582.20, inclusive, of the Ohio Revised Code as enacted and
amended (collectively, the "Project").

         3. TITLE. The Authority claims a ground leasehold interest to the
Project Site pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Ground Lease ("Ground
Lease"), dated as of October 1, 1996, by and between Brush Wellman Inc. ("Ground
Lessor") (as ground lessor) and the Authority. A Memorandum of Ground Lease,
evidencing the Ground Lease, was recorded on October 10, 1996, in Volume 32,
Page 513, Instrument No. 9600028760 of Ottawa County, Ohio Records. Ground
Lessor claims title to the Project Site by deeds recorded in Volume 309, Page
515; Volume 391, Page 307; Volume 160, Page 288; and Volume 411, Page 161,
Instrument No. 9600028759 of Ottawa County, Ohio Deed Records.

         4. TERM AND OPTION TO EXTEND. The Lease is for a period, unless earlier
terminated as provided in the Lease, commencing on the date of delivery of the
Lease, and ending on May 1, 2011. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Lease, Lessee may extend the term of the Lease for three (3) additional
terms of five (5) years each with the first such period commencing May 1, 2011,
the second May 1, 2016, and the third May 1, 2021.

         5. OPTION TO PURCHASE. The Lessee is hereby granted an option to
purchase all interests of the Lessor in the Project upon the termination of the
lease term pursuant to Section 9.3 of the Lease, or at the expiration of the
term, in any case, by payment to the Lessor of the sums set forth in the Lease,
as applicable.

         6. OPTION TO TERMINATE. The Lessee is hereby granted an option to
terminate the Lease pursuant to Section 9.1 or 9.2 of the Lease by payment to
the Lessor of the sums set forth in the Lease and the satisfaction of other
conditions as set forth in the Lease.

         7. COUNTERPARTS. This Memorandum of 2003 Lease Modification may be
executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same document.

         8. NO MERGER. If the Lessor or the Lessee acquires the interest of the
other in the Project Site or the Project, including under the Lease, there shall
be no merger of the leasehold estate into the fee simple estate or any leasehold
estate in the Project Site or the Project.

               [THE BALANCE OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Memorandum of Lease Modification has been
executed by Lessor and Lessee this _____ day of May, 2003.

Witnessed by                                            LESSOR:
                                              NATIONAL CITY BANK, TRUSTEE

________________________________________  By:_____________________________
Witness 1 - Signature

________________________________________  Its:____________________________
Witness 1 - Print or Type Name

________________________________________
Witness 2 - Signature

________________________________________
Witness 2 - Print or Type Name

Witnessed by:                                           LESSEE:
                                                   BRUSH WELLMAN INC.

________________________________________  By:_____________________________
Witness 1 - Signature

________________________________________  Its:____________________________
Witness 1 - Print or Type Name

________________________________________
Witness 2 - Signature

________________________________________
Witness 2 - Print or Type Name

<PAGE>

                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
                                 ---------------

STATE OF OHIO                            )
                                         )   SS:
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA                       )

         On this _____ day of May, 2003, before me a Notary Public in and for
said County and State, personally appeared ___________________ of National City
Bank, Trustee, and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument, and
that the same is his voluntary act and deed on behalf of said bank and the
voluntary act and deed of said bank.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my
official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                            ___________________________________
                                                        Notary Public

STATE OF OHIO                            )
                                         )   SS:
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA                       )

         On this _____ day of May, 2003, before me a Notary Public in and for
said County and State, personally appeared Michael C. Hasychak, Vice President
and Treasurer of Brush Wellman Inc., and acknowledged the execution of the
foregoing instrument as the duly authorized officer for and on behalf of said
Corporation and pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors of said
Corporation, and that the same is his voluntary act and deed on behalf of said
Corporation and the voluntary act and deed to said Corporation.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my
official seal on the day and year aforesaid.

                                            ___________________________________
                                                        Notary Public<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                            NATIONAL CITY CORPORATION

                                 RETENTION PLAN

                             FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

                            Effective April 29, 2003
                            ------------------------

                  ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF PLAN

         1.1 Amendment and Restatement of the Predecessor Plan. The following
are the provisions of the National City Corporation Retention Plan for Executive
Officers, effective as of April 29, 2003 (the "Plan") which is an amendment and
restatement of the National City Corporation Long-Term Supplemental Incentive
Compensation Plan for Executive Officers, effective April, 22, 2002.

         The Plan shall be effective for all purposes with respect to Plan Years
commencing on or after January 1, 2000, and with respect to all determinations
to be made on or after April 29, 2003.

         1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to maximize the returns to
stockholders, to promote the long-term profitability and success of the
Corporation, and to help build loyalty to the Corporation by providing a
retention incentive to those key executives of the Corporation who are primarily
responsible for such profitability and success.

         1.3 Operation of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the
Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. The Plan shall serve as a non-qualified plan providing for deferred
compensation as provided hereunder.

<PAGE>

                             ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

         2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below, unless otherwise expressly provided. When the
defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized.

         (a)      "Account" shall mean an account to be established and
                  maintained by the Corporation in the name of each Participant,
                  as described in Article 9.

         (b)      "Award" shall mean the retention amount awarded a Participant
                  by the Committee subject to such vesting schedule established
                  by the Committee.

         (c)      "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

         (d)      "Committee" shall mean the Compensation and Organization
                  Committee of the Board, or another committee appointed by the
                  Board to serve as the administering committee of the Plan.

         (e)      "Corporation" shall mean National City Corporation, a
                  Delaware corporation.

         (f)      "Disability" shall mean the inability, by reason of a
                  medically determinable physical or mental impairment, to
                  engage in substantial and gainful activity for a continuous
                  period of 26 weeks or more as determined by the Committee.

         (g)      "Early Retirement" shall mean retirement at or after age 55
                  with at least ten years of service with the Employers prior to
                  Normal Retirement.

         (h)      "Effective Date of a Change in Control" see Article 11.

         (i)      "Eligible Employee" shall mean an Employee who is employed in
                  a position meeting the defined eligibility criteria for
                  participation in the Plan, as set forth in Article 3.

         (j)      "Employee" shall mean an individual employed by an Employer on
                  a regular active and full-time salaried basis.

         (k)      "Employer" shall mean the Corporation or any corporation,
                  organization or entity controlled by the Corporation.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

         (l)      "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
                  as amended.

         (m)      "Normal Retirement" shall mean leaving the employ of all
                  Employers at or after the age 62 with at least twenty years of
                  continuous service with the Employers or at or after the age
                  65 with a least 5 years of continuous service with the
                  Employers.

         (n)      "Participant" shall mean an Eligible Employee who is approved
                  by the Committee for participation in the Plan. Such approval
                  shall be determined with respect to each Award the Committee
                  grants hereunder and shall be effective on the grant date.

         (o)      "Performance Period" shall mean a period of time during which
                  a Participant must render services in order to become vested
                  in his or her Award as provided under section 2.1 (u) (1).
                  Each Performance Period and vesting schedule shall be
                  established by the Committee in connection with the grant of
                  each Award hereunder.

         (p)      "Payment Date" means anytime during February of the Plan Year
                  following the Termination Date.

         (q)      "Plan" see Section 1.1.

         (r)      "Plan Year" shall mean the calendar year. The first Plan Year
                  is 2000.

         (s)      "Termination Date" means the later of (i) individual's last
                  day worked, or (ii) the last day an individual receives a
                  payment from an Employer either for services rendered or as
                  salary continuation.

         (t)      "Vesting Event" shall mean the earliest to occur of the
                  following events:

                  (1)      the date an Award vests according to the schedule
                           established by the Committee.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  (2)      the Effective Date of a Change in Control,

                  (3)      the date a Participant retires on a Normal
                           Retirement,

                  (4)      the date a Participant incurs a Disability,

                  (5)      the date of a Participant's death.

                  (6)      the date a Participant ceases to be an employee of
                           the Employers by reason of action initiated by the
                           Employers other than a termination for cause and
                           where Participant has executed a release, releasing
                           the Employers from any liability associated with or
                           arising out of Participant's employment or
                           termination of employment.

                  Upon a Vesting Event described in (1) above, the Participant
                  shall become vested in the portion of the Award called for in
                  the schedule established by the Committee unless earlier
                  vested by other Vesting Events. Upon a Vesting Event described
                  in (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) above, the Participant shall
                  become 100% vested in all Awards. Upon a Participant's Early
                  Retirement the Committee shall have the discretion to vest any
                  portion or all of a Participant's Award. Notwithstanding the
                  foregoing, a Participant's Awards, whether vested or not,
                  shall be subject to the forfeiture provisions of Article 10.

         (u)      "Vesting Grant" shall mean a grant or that portion of a grant
                  that vests on any given day.

         (v)      "Vesting Grant Accrued Investment Credit" shall mean the
                  investment credit credited to a Participant's account under
                  Section 9.3 of the Plan with respect to any given Vesting
                  Grant.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         (w)      "Voting Stock" shall mean the then outstanding securities of a
                  company entitled to vote generally in the election of
                  directors.

         2.2 Gender and Number. Except when otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine terminology used herein also shall include the feminine, and the
definition of any term in the singular shall include the plural.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                    ARTICLE 3. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

         3.1 Eligibility. Eligibility for participation in the Plan will be
limited to those senior officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries that
were awarded an Award prior to April 22, 2002.

         3.2 No Right to Participate. No Participant or Employee shall have a
right at any time to be selected for current or future participation in the
Plan.

                         ARTICLE 4. AWARD DETERMINATION

         4.1 Award. The amount of the Award that has been awarded to a
Participant under this Plan has been expressed as a dollar amount. Such amount
shall be vested upon a Vesting Event. No new Awards shall be awarded under the
Plan on or after the April 22, 2002.

                          ARTICLE 5. PAYMENT OF AWARDS

         5.1 Manner of Distribution. Subject to the discretion of the Committee,
the vested portion of a Participant's Account shall be distributed in accordance
with one or more of the following optional means of distribution elected by the
Participant:

         (a)      A single distribution of the vested Account made on the
                  Payment Date. if the Participant has submitted a payment
                  election form not less than one year prior to the Payment Date
                  electing this option.

         (b)      Five annual installments commencing on the Payment Date if the
                  Participant has submitted a payment election form not less
                  than one year prior to the Payment Date electing this option.
                  The remaining four installments shall be made each succeeding
                  February. Each distribution shall be equal to (i) the
                  Participant's vested Account, multiplied by (ii) a fraction,
                  the numerator of which is one and

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

                  the denominator is the number of installments remaining,
                  including the current year's payment.

         (c)      Ten annual installments commencing on the Payment Date if the
                  Participant has submitted a payment election form not less
                  than one year prior to the Payment Date electing this option.
                  The remaining nine installments shall be made each succeeding
                  February. Each distribution shall be equal to (i) the
                  Participants vested Account multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the
                  numerator of which is one and the denominator is the number of
                  installments remaining, including the current year's payment.

         (d)      A lump sum payment of either (i) a Vesting Grant Accrued
                  Investment Credit or (ii) the Vesting Grant and the Vesting
                  Grant Accrued Investment Credit on any date specified on the
                  election form that is after a Vesting Event ("Payment Election
                  Date"). For this election to be effective the Participant must
                  submit the payment election form prior to the Vesting Event of
                  Vesting Grant and not less than one year prior to the Payment
                  Election Date.

         5.2 Committee's Discretion. Notwithstanding section 5.1 above the
Committee shall have the discretion to distribute the vested portion of an Award
during the February following the Award's Vesting Event. Such decision shall be
made in the discretion of the Committee, not less than one year prior to the
Vesting Date corresponding to the portion of the Award to be distributed. The
Committee's decision shall be final and binding on all parties.

         5.3 If the Participant has failed to make a valid election pursuant to
Section 5.1 above and the Committee has not timely exercised its discretion
pursuant to Section 5.2 above, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
designate the form and manner of payment(s) to commence on the Payment Date.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         5.4 Forfeiture of Non-vested Awards. All non-vested Awards in a
Participant's Account shall be forfeited upon the Termination Date and the
Corporation shall have no further obligation to pay the Participant in regard to
such forfeited Awards.

         5.5      Distribution on Death.

         (a)      A Participant may designate any person or persons (not
                  exceeding 5), including a trust, as his or her beneficiary to
                  receive his or her accumulated Award in the event of the
                  Participant's death. Any such designation shall be made by
                  filing the form provided for that purpose by the Plan
                  Administrator. The Participant may change or cancel his or her
                  beneficiary designation at any time prior to death without the
                  consent of any designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary has
                  been designated by the Participant, or if no beneficiary is
                  alive at the date of the Participant's death, payment shall be
                  made to the Participant's estate.

          (b)     If the Participant's death occurs during employment, the
                  Participant's Account shall be distributed in a lump sum as
                  provided in 5.1(a) to each of the Participant's surviving
                  beneficiaries in the portions designated by the Participant.

          (c)     If the Participant's death occurs after installment payments
                  have commenced, the Participant's Account shall be distributed
                  in a lump sum on the next scheduled Payment Date to each of
                  the Participant's surviving beneficiaries in the portions
                  designated by the Participant

         5.6 Participants Rights; Beneficiaries Rights. Except as otherwise
specifically provided, neither a Participant nor any of his or her Beneficiaries
has rights under this Plan. The

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

payment of deferred compensation shall be a general, unsecured obligation of the
Corporation to be paid by the Corporation from its own funds, and such payments
shall not impose any obligation upon any trust fund for any tax qualified plan,
be paid from any such trust fund, or have any effect whatsoever upon any such
fund. No Participant or beneficiary shall have any title to or beneficial
ownership in any assets which the Corporation may earmark to pay benefits
hereunder.

                        ARTICLE 6. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS

         6.1 Employment. Nothing in this Plan shall interfere with or limit in
any way the right of the Corporation to terminate a Participant's employment at
any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of
the Corporation.

         6.2 Restrictions on Assignments. The interest of a Participant or his
or her beneficiary under this Plan may not be sold, transferred, assigned, or
encumbered in any manner, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and any attempt
to so anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge
the same shall be null and void; neither shall the benefits hereunder be liable
for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of
any person to whom such benefits or funds are payable, nor shall they be subject
to garnishment, attachment, or other legal or equitable process, nor shall they
be an asset in bankruptcy.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                            ARTICLE 7. ADMINISTRATION

         7.1 Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee in
accordance with any administrative guidelines and any rules that may be
established from time to time by the Committee. The procedures, standards and
provisions of this Plan for determining eligibility for and amounts of Awards in
themselves confer no rights, duties or privileges upon Participants nor place
obligations upon either the Board or the Corporation. Accordingly, the Committee
may, in making such determinations hereunder, deviate from such procedures and
standards in whatever manner that it, in its judgment, deems appropriate.

         The Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret,
construe and administer the Plan and its interpretations and construction
hereof, and actions hereunder, including the timing, form, amount or recipient
of any payment to be made hereunder, and its decisions shall be binding and
conclusive on all persons for all purposes.

         The Committee may name assistants who may be, but need not be, members
of the Committee. Such assistants shall serve at the pleasure of the Committee,
and shall perform such functions as are provided for herein and such other
functions as may be assigned by the Committee.

         No member of the Committee or any assistant shall be liable to any
person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and
administration of this Plan unless attributable to his or her own willful
misconduct or lack of good faith.

                         ARTICLE 8. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

         8.1 Laws Governing. This Plan shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Ohio.

         8.2 Withholding Taxes. The Corporation shall have the right to deduct
from all payments or vested amounts under this Plan any federal, state or local
taxes required by the law to be withheld with respect to such payments.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

         8.3 Plan Binding on Corporation, Employees and Their Successors. This
Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation, its
successors and assigns and each Participant and his or her beneficiaries, heirs,
executors, administrators and legal representatives.

                        ARTICLE 9. ACCUMULATION OF AWARDS

         9.1 Accounts. An Account shall be established and maintained by the
Corporation in the name of each Participant who has an Award hereunder. Such
Accounts shall remain a part of the general liabilities of the Corporation and
nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to create a trust or fund of any kind or
any fiduciary relationship.

         9.2 Crediting to Accounts. Each Participant's Account shall be credited
with Awards effective as of the grant date, and investment credits as determined
in sections 9.3 below. Each Participant's Account shall be reduced by amounts
distributed, amounts transferred as provided under section 9.3 and non-vested
amounts which were forfeited upon termination.

         9.3 Investment Credits. Each Participant's Account shall be credited as
of the last day of each calendar year with an investment credit. The investment
credit for each given calendar year shall be determined by multiplying the yield
on 10 year constant maturity U.S. Treasury Securities, as published in the
Federal Reserve Statistical Release, for the last active trading day in the
calendar year times the average daily balance in the Participant's Account for
that year. In the event the security or the publication becomes unavailable, the
Committee shall have the discretion to select a comparable reference for the
purpose of determining the investment credit.

         9.4 Nature of deferred compensation. The election of deferred
compensation under this Plan and any setting aside by the Corporation of amounts
with which to discharge its deferred obligations hereunder in a trust fund, an
insurance policy, or otherwise, shall not be deemed to create a right in any
person; equitable title to any funds so set aside in a trust, an insurance
policy, or otherwise shall remain in the Corporation, and any recipient of
benefits hereunder shall have no security or other interest in such trust,
policies or funds. Any and all funds so set aside in a trust, an insurance
policy or otherwise shall remain subject to the claims of

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

the general creditors of the Corporation, present and future. This provision
shall not require the Corporation to set aside any funds, but the Corporation
may set aside such funds if it chooses to do so. Any amount so set aside for
this Plan shall be accounted for separately and apart from any other plan of the
Corporation. This Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan of deferred
compensation described in Section 201(2) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974.

         9.5 Distributions in Cash. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Plan, distributions hereunder shall be made only in cash and shall be subject to
withholding of applicable taxes.

         9.6 Nature of Deferred Compensation Plan. The provisions of the Plan
relating to deferred compensation are fixed and final unless and until amended,
revised or terminated as herein provided.

                             ARTICLE 10. FORFEITURES

         Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary excepting
only the provisions of Article 11, in the event the Committee finds

                  (a) that an Employee or former Employee who has an interest
                  under this Plan has been discharged by his or her Employer in
                  the reasonable belief (and such reasonable belief is the
                  reason or one of the reasons for such discharge) that the
                  Employee or former Employee did engage in fraud against the
                  Employer or anyone else, or

                  (b) that an Employee or former Employee who has an interest
                  under this Plan has been convicted of a crime as a result of
                  which it becomes illegal for his Employer to employ him or
                  her,

then any amounts held under this Plan for the benefit of such Employee or former
Employee or his or her beneficiaries shall be forfeited and no longer payable to
such Employee or former Employee or to any person claiming by or through such
Employee or former Employee.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                          ARTICLE 11. CHANGE IN CONTROL

         11.1 Treatment of Awards. Upon the Effective Date of a Change in
Control all accumulated Awards hereunder shall become 100% vested. Amounts to be
paid commencing upon any Payment Date following the Change in Control shall
continue to be payable from time to time under this Plan unless the Committee
acts to distribute amounts during February following the Change in Control.

         11.2 Definition of Change in Control. Change in Control shall mean the
occurrence of any of the following events:

              (a) The Corporation is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or
with another corporation or other legal person, and as a result of such merger,
consolidation or reorganization less than sixty-five percent of the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding Voting Stock of such corporation or person
immediately after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of
Voting Stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction;

              (b) The Corporation sells or otherwise transfers all or
substantially all of its assets to another corporation or other legal person,
and as a result of such sale or transfer less than sixty-five percent of the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation or
person immediately after such sale or transfer is held in the aggregate by the
holders of Voting Stock immediately prior to such sale or transfer;

              (c) The Corporation files a report or proxy statement with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act disclosing in
response to Form 8-K or Schedule 14A (or any successor schedule, form or report
or item therein) that a change in control

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

of the Corporation has occurred or will occur in the future pursuant to any
then-existing contract or transaction; or

              (d) If, during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Directors of the
Corporation cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;
provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (d) each Director who is
first elected, or first nominated for election by the Corporation's
stockholders, by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors of the
Corporation (or a committee thereof) then still in office who were Directors of
the Corporation at the beginning of any such period will be deemed to have been
a Director of the Corporation at the beginning of such period.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of paragraph 11.2(a), 11.2(b)
or 11.2(c), in the case where the individuals who constitute the Directors of
the Corporation at the time a specific transaction described in Paragraph
11.2(a), 11.2(b) or 11.2(c) is first presented or disclosed to the Board will,
by the terms of the definitive agreement for that transaction, constitute at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the resulting
corporation or person immediately following such transaction, then, prior to the
occurrence of any event that would otherwise constitute a Change in Control
under any of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection 11.2, the Board may
determine by majority vote of the Board that the specific transaction does not
constitute a Change in Control under Paragraph 11.2(a), 11.2(b) or 11.2(c).

         11.3 Effective Date of Change in Control. The Effective Date of a
Change in Control shall be the earliest to occur of those events specified in
section 11.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Change in Control
ultimately results from uninterrupted discussions or negotiations involving the
Corporation or any of its officers or directors, the "Effective Date" of such
Change in Control shall be the date such discussions or negotiations commenced.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

                            ARTICLE 12. MISCELLANEOUS

         In the event of the liquidation of the Corporation the Committee may
make any provisions for holding, handling and distributing the amounts standing
to the credit of the Participants or beneficiaries hereunder which in the
discretion of the Committee are appropriate and equitable under all
circumstances and which are consistent with the spirit and purposes of these
provisions.

                    ARTICLE 13. AMENDMENT AND DISCONTINUANCE

         The Corporation expects to continue this Plan indefinitely, but
reserves the right, by action of the Committee to amend it from time to time or
to discontinue it. However, if the Corporation should amend or discontinue this
Plan, the Corporation shall remain obligated under the Plan with respect to (1)
Awards that have vested prior to the date of such amendment or discontinuance,
(2) Awards and rights of any Participant or beneficiary with respect to whom a
Vesting Event has occurred, and (3) with respect to Awards granted but not yet
vested prior to

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

the date of such amendment or discontinuation.

         Executed as of April 29, 2003 at Cleveland, Ohio.

                                         NATIONAL CITY CORPORATION

                                         By:
                                            -------------------------------

                                      -16-

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