Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.28

                            Elliott Associates, L.P.
                                712 Fifth Avenue
                            New York, New York 10019

                          Westgate International, L.P.
                      c/o Stonington Management Corporation
                                712 Fifth Avenue
                            New York, New York 10019

                             Alexander Finance, L.P.
                               1560 Sherman Avenue
                            Evanston, Illinois 60201

                                 March 27, 2000

Illinois Superconductor Corporation
451 Kingston Court
Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056

         RE: Option Exercise

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Reference is made to the Investment Agreement, dated as of November 5,
1999 (as amended by the letter dated November 12, 1999) (the "Investment
Agreement"), by and among you (the "Company") and the undersigned (the
"Investors"). Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meaning
set forth in the Investment Agreement.

         1. Exercise of Option.
            -------------------

            (a) Pursuant to Section 7 of the Investment Agreement, the Investors
hereby notify the Company of their exercise of the option, contained in such
section, to purchase additional Notes and Warrants which shall contain the terms
and provisions described in such section.

            (b) Pursuant to the foregoing exercise, the Investors shall purchase
(the "Option Purchase") an aggregate of (i) $4,000,000 principal amount of Notes
and (ii) Warrants to purchase 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock, in the
respective amounts set forth on Schedule I hereto, for aggregate consideration
of $4,000,000 (the "Option Purchase Price").

         2. Closing of Option Purchase.
            ---------------------------

            (a) The closing of the Option Purchase shall take place at the
offices of Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, P.C. on March 27, 2000, ("Closing
Date") at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
<PAGE>   2

            (b) The Notes and Warrants purchased pursuant to the Option Purchase
shall be deemed to be outstanding on the Closing Date for all purposes. Within
one day of the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Investors, in
physical form, the Notes and Warrants purchased by them pursuant to the Option
Purchase. The delivery of payment by wire transfer to an account designated by
the Company by each Investor of the portion of the Option Purchase Price
applicable to it as set forth in Schedule I shall constitute a payment delivered
to the Company in satisfaction of such Investor's obligation to pay its share of
the Option Purchase Price hereunder.

            (c) The Company agrees to pay the legal fees and disbursements
incurred by the Investors in connection with the Option Purchase and shall pay
the invoice for such fees and disbursements within seven days of the receipt
thereof.

         3. Representations and Warranties.

            (a) The Company hereby restates, as of the date hereof, the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 8 of the Investment
Agreement, with respect to the Notes and Warrants being issued pursuant to the
Option Purchase, except as set forth on Schedule II, hereto. For purposes of the
foregoing restatement of representations, (i) references to Transaction
Documents shall refer only as applicable to this Option Exercise and, with
respect to solely the consummation of the Option Purchase, the Transaction
Documents referred to in the Investment Agreement, and (ii) the date referred to
in Section 2.1(s) shall be deemed to refer to December 31, 1999.

            (b) The Investors hereby restate the representations set forth in
Section 9(a) of the Investment Agreement with respect to the Notes and Warrants
being purchased pursuant to the Option Purchase.

                            [signature page follows]

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
         Please indicate your acceptance and agreement of the terms contained
herein by countersigning this Agreement and returning a signed copy to the
undersigned.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        ELLIOTT ASSOCIATES, L.P.

                                        By: /s/ PAUL SINGER
                                            -----------------------------------

                                        WESTGATE INTERNATIONAL, L.P.
                                           By:  Martley International, Inc.
                                                  Attorney-in-Fact

                                           By:  /s/ PAUL SINGER
                                                -------------------------------

                                        ALEXANDER FINANCE, L.P.

                                        By: /s/ BRADFORD T. WHITMORE
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Bradford T. Whitmore
                                            President: Bun Partners, Inc.
                                                        its General Partner

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED

ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION

By: /s/ CYNTHIA QUIGLEY
    ------------------------------------

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT               AMOUNT OF
PURCHASER                        PURCHASE PRICE    OF NOTES PURCHASED       WARRANTS PURCHASED
---------                        --------------    ------------------       ------------------
<S>                                <C>                <C>                          <C>
Elliott Associates, L.P.           $1,111,112         $1,111,112                   444,444
Westgate International, L.P.       $1,111,112         $1,111,112                   444,444
Alexander Finance, LP              $1,777,776         $1,777,776                   711,112
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   5
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
                                                                     -----------
                                    SCHEDULES
                                    ---------

         The Company generally incorporates information from its SEC filings as
disclosures for these schedules. The Company further notes that:

2.1(c): The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 has
the Company's current capitalization prior to giving effect to these
transactions. Additional holders of 5% of the Company's Common Stock, if any,
may be disclosed in Schedules 13D or 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Options have continued to be granted.

2.1(d): As recognized in Section 12 of the Investment Agreement, additional
shares must be authorized and a charter amendment is necessary to authorize such
shares.

2.1(e)/(f): See 2.1(d) above with respect to the need for a charter amendment.
The factoring agreement with Franklin Capital will be in breach if a lien is
created on the inventory and accounts without the prior written consent of the
factor. The Company will not list shares of its Common Stock, and will register
such shares as and when required by the Registration Rights Agreement as
modified by Section 5 of the Investment Agreement. The Company will reflect the
Option Purchase in a Form 8-K filing and a Form S-2 supplemental filing.

2.1(g): To the Company's knowledge, there is no pending litigation except (i)as
disclosed in the SEC filings, and (ii) Steve Levy v. Illinois Superconductor
Corporation, filed in Delaware Chancery Court on or about December 14, 1999.

2.1(h):See 2.1(e)/(f), above.

2.1(i): The Company has not recently reviewed the voluminous schedules
previously delivered and the Company does not now make or update such
representations and schedules.

2.1(k): The Disclosure Materials also include the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, its Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999, and
its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed in 1999 and 2000. Elliott and Grace have
been updated on the Company's financial and business situation, including at a
meeting with those investors during their due diligence in connection with their
November, 1999 investment and December, 1999 investment in the Company, and as a
result of affiliates of Elliott having joined the Company's board of directors
in November, 1999. That information, including the written handouts from the
aforementioned due diligence meeting, is incorporated by reference.

2.1(l) The obligations to Franklin Capital under the factoring agreement are
pari passu with the notes held by Elliott and Grace, including the 6% Notes, but
may in certain respects have a senior lien.

2.1(p): Registration under Form S-3 may no longer be available to the Company. A
registration under Form S-2 may be available.

                                       6
<PAGE>   6

2.1(s): See SEC filings. Elliott and Grace are aware of the terms of the
factoring agreement with Franklin Factor. Pursuant to Section 7 of the
Investment Agreement, the Company issued Notes to the Investors on December 29,
1999.

                                        7<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                         PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 12, 2000

                            THE JOHN NUVEEN COMPANY

                              3,500,000 SHARES OF
                              CLASS A COMMON STOCK
                           (PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE)

                            ISSUABLE PURSUANT TO THE

          NUVEEN AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

                            ------------------------

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION OR
  ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
     PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                            ------------------------

     No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations, other than those contained in this Prospectus, in connection
with the offers described in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such
information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by The John Nuveen Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to
sell, or the solicitation of any offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction to
any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer in such jurisdiction.

                            ------------------------

  THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES THAT HAVE
               BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.

                                        1
<PAGE>   2

         DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE AND AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The following documents previously filed by The John Nuveen Company (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are
incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed to be a part hereof:

     (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
         31, 1998.

     (2) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") since
         the end of the last fiscal year covered by the registrant document
         referred to in (1) above.

     (3) The description of the Company's Class A Common Stock contained in the
         Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission pursuant
         to Section 12 of the Exchange Act on July 9, 1996, including any
         amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

     All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Section 10(a) Prospectus for the Nuveen 1996
Equity Incentive Award Plan (the "Equity Plan") and to be part hereof from their
respective dates of filing (such documents, and the documents enumerated above,
being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents").

     Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Section 10(a) Prospectus for the
Equity Plan to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Section 10(a) Prospectus
for the Equity Plan.

     This Section 10(a) Prospectus for the Equity Plan incorporates documents by
reference which are not presented herein or delivered herewith. These documents
(except for certain exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference herein) and other documents required to
be delivered to employees pursuant to Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, are available upon request without charge from Alan G. Berkshire,
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, 333 West
Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, (312) 917-7700.

                                        2
<PAGE>   3

             AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

     The John Nuveen Company hereby establishes the Amended and Restated 1996
Equity Incentive Award Plan for the benefit of its eligible Participants (as
hereinafter defined) for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

I. DEFINITIONS

     (a) "Award" shall mean an award of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted
Stock, or any combination thereof.

     (b) "Beneficiary" shall mean (i) in the event of the Disability or
incompetence of a Participant, the person or persons who shall have acquired on
behalf of such Participant by legal proceeding or otherwise the right to receive
the benefits specified under this Plan, or (ii) in the event of a Participant's
death, the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by such
Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with
the Committee to receive the benefits specified under this Plan, or, if there is
no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the person,
persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and
distribution to receive such benefits.

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

     (d) "Bonus Committee" shall mean the senior executive officers of the
Company selected by the Board of Directors to administer the Company's Annual
Incentive Award Plan.

     (e) "Cause" shall have the meaning specified by the Committee in connection
with the grant of any Award; provided, that if the Committee does not so
specify, "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful engaging by the Participant in
conduct which the Participant knows, or has substantial reason to believe, is
illegal to the extent of a felony violation (or the equivalent seriousness under
laws other than those of the United States) and which has effects on the Company
or the Participant materially injurious to the Company; (ii) any act or acts of
serious dishonesty or gross misconduct which result in material damage to the
Company or its business or reputation or which the Board of Directors reasonably
determines do materially and adversely affect the value, reliability or
performance of the Participant to the Company; (iii) the willful and continued
failure by the Participant to perform his or her duties to the Company (which
may include any sustained and unexcused absence of the Participant from the
performance of such duties, which absence has not been certified in writing as
due to physical or mental illness or Disability), after a written demand for
performance has been delivered to the Participant by the Board of Directors
identifying the manner in which the Participant has failed to substantially
perform his or her duties. For purposes of the proviso of the preceding
sentence: (i) no act or failure to act on the Participant's part shall be
considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, in bad faith and
without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Company; (ii) any act or failure to act by the
Participant based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for
the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, in
good faith and in the best interests of the Company; and (iii) notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Participant shall not be deemed to have been terminated with
Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy
of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire
Board of Directors of the Company at a meeting of the Board called and held
after such reasonable notice to the Participant and at which the Participant has
had an opportunity, together with his or her other counsel, to be heard before
such Board, finding that in the good faith opinion of such Board, the
Participant was guilty of the conduct set forth above and specifying the
particulars thereof in detail.

     (f) "Change in Control" shall mean any of the following:

          (i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of
     1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     voting securities of the Company where such acquisition causes such Person
     to own 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
     voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election
     of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided,
                                        3
<PAGE>   4

     however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following
     acquisitions shall not be deemed to result in a Change in Control: (A) any
     acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company,
     (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
     sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the
     Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction
     that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) below; and
     provided, further, that if any Person's beneficial ownership of the
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities reaches or exceeds 20% as a result of
     a transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above, and such Person
     subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of additional voting securities
     of the Company, such subsequent acquisition shall be treated as an
     acquisition that causes such Person to own 20% or more of the Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities; or

          (ii) individuals who, as of the effective date hereof, constitute the
     Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least
     a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
     considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board,
     but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
     assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election
     contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
     actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of
     a Person other than the Board; or

          (iii) The approval by the shareholders of the Company of (x) a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale, or other disposition of
     all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (y) the
     acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation in exchange for
     voting securities of the Company (each of (x) and (y), a "Business
     Combination") or, if consummation of such Business Combination is subject,
     at the time of such approval by shareholders, to the consent of any
     government or governmental agency, the obtaining of such consent (either
     explicitly or implicitly by consummation); excluding, however, such a
     Business Combination pursuant to which (A) all or substantially all of the
     individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
     beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively,
     the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power
     of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
     election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting
     from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
     corporation that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
     substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or
     more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
     ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities, (B) no Person (excluding any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
     resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, (except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
     Business Combination) an amount of, respectively, the then outstanding
     shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business
     Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
     securities of such corporation representing the greater of (1) 20% thereof
     or (2) a percentage thereof equal to or greater than the percentage thereof
     held after such transaction by the persons who were the owners of the
     Company's Class B stock prior to such transaction; and (C) at least a
     majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation
     resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent
     Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the
     action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

          (iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless a majority of the Incumbent Board
determines otherwise, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred with
respect to a particular Participant if the Change in Control results from
actions or events in which such Participant is a participant in a capacity other
than solely as an officer, employee or director of the Company.
                                        4
<PAGE>   5

     (g) "Class A Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock of the
Company, par value $.01 per share.

     (h) "Class B Common Stock" shall mean the Class B Common Stock of the
Company, par value $.01 per share.

     (i) "Class B Directors" shall mean those members of the Board of Directors
of the Company that have been nominated and elected by the holders of the Class
B Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the Company's certificate of
incorporation.

     (j) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     (k) "Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board of Directors, the
members of which are selected by and serve at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that the Committee shall at all times consist of
at least two directors. The Committee shall initially be the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors.

     (l) "Common Stock" shall mean the Class A Common Stock and the Class B
Common Stock.

     (m) "Company" shall mean The John Nuveen Company, a Delaware corporation,
and its successors.

     (n) "Constructive Termination" shall have the meaning specified by the
Committee in connection with the grant of any Award; provided, that if the
Committee does not so specify, "Constructive Termination" shall mean any of the
following, without the written consent of the Participant: (i) a substantial
adverse change in the Participant's position, authority, responsibilities or
titles; (ii) a requirement that the Participant retire before reaching age 65;
or (iii) a material reduction in the Participant's base salary, incentive
compensation opportunities, or other employee benefits; or (iv) in the case of
an officer/director, a requirement that the Participant relocate to an office or
location other than that at which he is based at the grant date of an Award. For
purposes of the proviso of the preceding sentence, a Participant shall not be
deemed to have terminated his or her employment as a result of Constructive
Termination unless he or she gives notice within 90 days after an event
described in such proviso and the Company has not cured the condition within 60
days of its receipt of such notice.

     (o) "Deferred Dividend Equivalents" means Dividend Equivalents, the
delivery of which is deferred pursuant to Section 3.3(a), together with the
interest thereon specified in Section 3.3(c).

     (p) "Deferred Restricted Stock" means Restricted Stock, the delivery of
which is deferred pursuant to Section 3.3(a).

     (q) "Disability" shall mean the inability of a Participant to perform the
services normally rendered to his or her Employer due to a physical or mental
impairment that can be expected to be of either permanent or indefinite
duration, as determined by the Committee, and which results in the Participant's
inability to perform his or her normal duties to the Employer.

     (r) "Dividend Equivalent" shall mean a right, provided automatically in
connection with an Award of Deferred Restricted Stock, to receive on the payment
date for any dividend on the Class A Common Stock cash compensation from the
Company equal to the dividend that would have been paid on such shares of
Restricted Stock (or the Fair Market Value of such dividend, if such dividend
would not have been paid in cash), if such shares had been issued and
outstanding, fully vested and held by the Participant on the record date for
payment of such dividend; provided, that if such dividend would not have been
paid in cash, the Dividend Equivalent with respect thereto shall not be paid
unless and until certificates evidencing the Deferred Restricted Stock with
respect to which it is paid are issued to the Participant (at which time such
Dividend Equivalent shall be paid together with interest thereon at the Prime
Rate from the date such dividend would have been payable until the payment date
for such Dividend Equivalent); and provided, further, that such payment of all
Dividend Equivalents may also be deferred pursuant to the deferral election with
respect to such Restricted Stock. Unless specifically provided otherwise, the
term "Dividend Equivalents" includes (but is not limited to) Deferred Dividend
Equivalents.

     (s) "Effective Date" of an Award shall mean the date of the grant as
specified by the Committee.
                                        5
<PAGE>   6

     (t) "Employer" shall mean the Company with respect to its employees and
each Nuveen Subsidiary with respect to its employees.

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

     (v) "Exercise Price" shall mean the price at which each share of Class A
Common Stock covered by a Non-Qualified Stock Option may be purchased.

     (w) "Fair Market Value" of a share of Class A Common Stock shall mean the
closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange as
reported on the Composite Tape and published in The Wall Street Journal, or, if
there is no trading of the Class A Common Stock on the date in question, then
the closing price of the Class A Common Stock, as so reported and published, on
the next preceding date on which there was trading in the Class A Common Stock.
"Fair Market Value" of other property shall be determined by the Committee.

     (x) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" or "Option" shall mean a right to purchase
a specified number of shares of Class A Common Stock at a specified price, which
is not intended to comply with the terms and conditions for a tax-qualified
stock option as set forth in Section 422 of the Code, as such section may be in
effect from time to time.

     (y) "Nuveen Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other entity, of
which 50% or more of the normal voting power for the election of directors or
other managers is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

     (z) "Participant" shall mean an employee of the Company or a Nuveen
Subsidiary or a non-employee director of the Company who has been granted an
Award under the Plan.

     (aa) "Performance Goals" shall mean performance goals established by the
Committee prior to the grant of an Award based on the attainment of one or any
combination of the following: specified levels of earnings per share from
continuing operations, operating income, revenues, return on operating assets,
return on equity, shareholder return (measured in terms of stock price
appreciation) and/or total shareholder return (measured in terms of stock price
appreciation and dividends), achievement of cost control, or stock price, in
each case of the Company or a Nuveen Subsidiary, or a division or department of
the Company or a Nuveen Subsidiary for or within which the Participant is
primarily employed, and that are intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Such Performance Goals also may be based upon attaining
specified levels of Company performance under one or more of the measures
described above relative to the performance of other corporations. Such
Performance Goals shall be set by the Committee within the time period
prescribed by Section 162(m).

     (bb) "Plan" shall mean this Nuveen Amended & Restated 1996 Equity Incentive
Award Plan.

     (cc) "Prime Rate" shall mean the prime rate of interest as reported by The
First National Bank of Chicago or any successor thereto, or a comparable bank
selected by the Committee.

     (dd) "Restricted Stock" shall mean an award of shares of Class A Common
Stock subject to restrictions on transferability, a risk of forfeiture, and
certain other terms and conditions under the Plan or specified by the Committee.
The restrictions on and risk of forfeiture of Restricted Stock generally will
expire on a specified date, upon the occurrence of an event and/or on an
accelerated basis under certain circumstances specified in the Plan or an
agreement relating to the Restricted Stock. Unless specifically provided
otherwise, the term "Restricted Stock" includes (but is not limited to) Deferred
Restricted Stock.

     (ee) "Retirement" shall mean the retirement of a Participant from the
employment of the Company or a Nuveen Subsidiary at (i) such Participant's
normal retirement date upon reaching age 65, or (ii) such Participant's early
retirement either (A) upon having reached that age, which, when added to his or
her years of continuous service (as such term is defined under the Nuveen
Employees' Retirement Plan or any successor thereto) is equal to or greater than
90, or (B) with the approval of the Committee.

     (ff) "Section 162(m)" shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the
Treasury Regulations thereunder.
                                        6
<PAGE>   7

     (gg) "Termination of Employment" shall mean a cessation of the
employee-employer relationship between a Participant and an Employer (other than
by reason of transfer of the employee to another Employer), or the consummation
of a transaction whereby a Participant's Employer (other than the Company)
ceases to be a Nuveen Subsidiary (such consummation, a "Disaffiliation
Transaction"). The employment of a Participant who is on an approved leave of
absence in excess of two years shall be considered terminated as of the
commencement of such leave for all purposes of the Plan.

II. THE PLAN

2.1 Purposes.

     The purposes of the plan are to enable the Company and Nuveen Subsidiaries
to attract and retain exceptionally qualified employees (and non-employee
directors) upon whom the sustained growth and profitability of the Company and
Nuveen Subsidiaries will depend in large measure, to provide added incentive for
such individuals to enhance the value of the Company for the benefit of its
stockholders, and to strengthen the mutuality of interests between Participants
and the Company's stockholders by providing equity-based incentive awards. The
Plan is intended to achieve these purposes through the award of Non-Qualified
Stock Options and Restricted Stock.

2.2 Administration.

     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Any action of the
Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant
to a majority vote or the written consent of a majority of its members. The
Committee may (i) delegate to any one or more of the members thereof or to an
officer of the Company any of its authority with respect to the Plan, other than
any such delegation that would cause Awards or other transactions under the Plan
to cease to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or to cease to
quality as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code,
and (ii) authorize any one or more of the members thereof or any officer of the
Company to execute and deliver documents on behalf of the Committee.

     Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the
authority to construe and interpret the Plan, to define the terms used herein,
to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to administration
of the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan. The determinations of the Committee on the foregoing
matters shall be conclusive. The duties of the Committee shall include, but
shall not be limited to, selecting individuals for participation in the Plan,
determining the types, sizes, terms and provisions of Awards (which need not be
identical), making disbursements and settlements of Awards, creating trusts,
determining whether to defer or accelerate the vesting of, or the lapsing of
restrictions or risk of forfeiture with respect to, Non-Qualified Stock Options,
Restricted Stock, construing the provisions of the Plan, modifying the terms of
any Award, and authorizing the exchange or replacement of Awards; provided,
however, that no such modification, exchange or substitution shall be to the
detriment of a Participant with respect to any Award previously granted, and
provided, further, that in no event shall the Committee be permitted to reduce
the Exercise Price of any outstanding Option or to exchange or replace an
outstanding Option with a new Option with a lower Exercise Price, except
pursuant to Section 4.1. Subject only to compliance with the express provisions
of the Plan, the Committee may act in its sole and absolute discretion in
performing the duties specifically set forth in the preceding sentence and other
duties under the Plan. The Committee shall have the power and authority to
appoint and authorize such of the Company's officers or other persons to perform
such functions in the execution and administration of the Plan (other than the
interpretation of the Plan and the adoption of rules governing its execution and
administration) as the Committee shall determine from time to time. No member of
the Committee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination or
interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any transaction
hereunder. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if the Committee
designates an Award of Restricted Stock as being intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m), neither the Committee nor
the Board of Directors shall have any power to take any action with respect to
such Award, if the result would be to cause it to cease to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m).
                                        7
<PAGE>   8

2.3 Participation.

     Officers and other employees of the Company or a Nuveen Subsidiary,
including those who also serve as directors of the Company or a Nuveen
Subsidiary, and non-employee directors of the Company shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan upon selection and approval by the Committee. The
Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to the Bonus Committee of the Board
of Directors the authority to select individuals for participation in the Plan
and to whom Awards may be granted, provided that such individuals are not
subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Participants shall be selected
because they are in a position to have a significant impact on achieving the
long-term profit and growth objectives of the Company and/or a Nuveen
Subsidiary. An individual who has received Awards may, if otherwise eligible, be
granted additional Awards if the Committee shall so determine. Awards granted
under the Plan may be terminated or forfeited upon the occurrence of such events
or in such circumstances, including at or following a Participant's Termination
of Employment, as the Committee shall specify.

2.4 Shares Reserved for Plan.

     (a) The total number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for
issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be 7,300,000 (including
the 3,800,000 shares approved in February 1996 and the additional 3,500,000
shares approved in March 1999), all of which shall be Class A Common Stock;
provided however that the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock that
may be issued in connection with the awards of Restricted Stock under the
Restated Equity Plan shall not exceed 950,000. The maximum number of shares of
Class A Common Stock with respect to which any one Participant may be granted
Awards in any one calendar year shall be 600,000 for Options and 120,000 for
Restricted Stock. Except as contemplated by the provisions of Section 4.1(a)
hereof, the Committee shall not increase the number of shares available for
issuance in connection with Awards under the Plan or to any one individual as
set forth above. In no event shall Awards be outstanding at any one time that
have resulted or could result in the issuance of a number of shares of Class A
Common Stock in excess of the number then remaining reserved and available for
issuance under the Plan. If any shares of Class A Common Stock subject to an
Award are forfeited or such Award otherwise terminates without a distribution of
shares to the Participant, or if shares of Class A Common Stock are tendered to
the Company in satisfaction of the exercise price of, or in payment of any
required income tax withholding for, an option awarded hereunder, any shares
counted against the number of shares reserved and available under the Plan with
respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination
or tender, again be available for Awards under the Plan.

     (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Awards granted through the assumption
of, or in substitution or exchange for, similar awards in connection with the
acquisition of another corporation or business entity shall not be counted for
purposes of applying the above limitations on numbers of shares available for
Awards generally or any particular kind of Award under the Plan.

     (c) Any shares of Class A Common Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury
shares.

III. AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN

3.1 In General; "In Lieu Awards".

     (a) Non-Qualified Stock Options and Restricted Stock may be awarded in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan and on such other terms and
conditions as are not inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Plan.
Awards granted under the Plan may be granted either alone or in addition to, in
tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award granted under the Plan or
any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Nuveen Subsidiary
or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any
Nuveen Subsidiary.

     (b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may
from time to time make an Award hereunder in lieu of (and the vesting of which
may be contingent upon the recipient's having earned at some future period) a
specified cash award under the Nuveen 1999 Executive Officer Performance Plan or
the

                                        8
<PAGE>   9

Nuveen Annual Incentive Award Plan (the "Incentive Plans"). In this event, the
Committee shall establish at the time of the grant of such an "In Lieu Award"
the "Fair Value" of such award, which shall be the amount by which the cash
award otherwise payable to the recipient under the Incentive Plans for one or
more specified Plan Years will be reduced (and the vesting of the In Lieu Award
may be dependent upon having earned an award under the Incentive Plans at least
equal to the Fair Value of the In Lieu Award). In determining "Fair Value," the
Committee may take into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including
but not limited to the Fair Market Value of the shares represented by any award,
any restrictions on vesting and transferability of an award, and values
calculated by option pricing models.

     (c) After the Committee has approved the grant of an Award to a Participant
and established the applicable terms and conditions of the Award applicable to
such Participant, such Participant shall be given written confirmation of such
Award.

3.2 Non-Qualified Stock Options.

     All Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be in
such form as the Committee shall from time to time determine and shall be
subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as deemed
appropriate by the Committee and, in addition, to the following terms and
conditions:

     (a) All Non-Qualified Stock Options awarded under the Plan shall represent
the right to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock.

     (b) The Exercise Price for each share of Class A Common Stock covered by a
Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be determined and fixed by the Committee and
shall be set forth in such Option; provided, however, that the Exercise Price
shall in no event be less than the Fair Market Value of the Class A Common Stock
on the Effective Date of the Award, and provided, further, that in no event
shall the Exercise Price be less than the par value of the Class A Common Stock.

     (c) Each Non-Qualified Stock Option awarded under the Plan shall be
evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement in a form approved by the Committee, to be
executed between the Company and the person to whom such Option is granted.

     (d) The term of each Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be not more than ten
years from the date of grant, as the Committee shall determine, subject to
earlier termination as provided in Section 3.2(i).

     (e) Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.2(i) or Section 4.1(b),
Non-Qualified Stock Options awarded to a Participant shall become exercisable on
such date or dates, and subject to such conditions, as specified by the
Committee in connection with the grant thereof. Any shares covered by an
exercisable Option that are not purchased on an applicable installment date may
be purchased at any time thereafter prior to the final expiration of the Option.

     (f) Subject to the terms and conditions of the Option, during its term an
Option may be exercised only by the optionee, by a legal representative upon the
incapacity of the optionee or by the Beneficiary upon the death of the optionee,
by giving written notice of exercise to the Company prior to expiration of the
Option, specifying the number of shares to be purchased and accompanied by the
payment of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor.

     (g) No partial exercise of any Option may be for less than 100 shares or
the number of shares remaining subject to such Option, whichever is less.

     (h) The aggregate Exercise Price for all shares purchased pursuant to
exercise of an Option shall be paid for at the time of such purchase and prior
to the delivery of said shares either (i) in cash or by check, bank draft or
money order payable to the order of the Company, or (ii) subject to the
discretion of the Committee, through the delivery (actual or constructive) of
previously acquired shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the optionee, to the
extent that such payment does not require the delivery of a fractional share of
such previously acquired Class A Common Stock, and provided that such previously
acquired shares have been held by the optionee for at least six months, (iii)
subject to the discretion of the Committee, through the authorization of a third
party broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Class A Common
                                        9
<PAGE>   10

Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option (or a portion thereof) and remit to
the Company a portion of the proceeds sufficient to pay the aggregate Exercise
Price of, and any required income tax withholding payments relating to, such
exercise, or (iv) a combination of, (ii) and (iii). For purposes of the
immediately preceding sentence, previously acquired shares of Class A Common
Stock shall be valued at the average of the high and low sales prices of the
Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape as of the
date of exercise.

     (i) (1) Except as otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of
grant, in the case of Options that are not In Lieu Awards, in the event of
Termination of Employment of an optionee who is an employee of the Company or a
Nuveen Subsidiary other than by reason of the optionee's death, Disability or
Retirement, by the Employer without Cause, by the optionee as a result of
Constructive Termination or as a result of a Disaffiliation Transaction, any
Options previously awarded to such optionee that have not become exercisable as
of the date of Termination of Employment shall be forfeited, and all other
Options that are exercisable but have not been exercised as of the date of
Termination of Employment shall be exercisable for a period of 60 days following
the date of Termination of Employment (but not after the expiration date of the
Option) and shall, if not theretofore exercised, terminate upon the expiration
of such 60-day period. If Termination of Employment is by reason of the death,
Disability or Retirement of the optionee, any Options not exercised as of the
date of Termination of Employment (including Options that are otherwise not yet
exercisable) may be exercised by the optionee or the optionee's Beneficiary at
any time within three (3) years after the date of Termination of Employment (but
not after the expiration date of the Option) to the extent of the total number
of shares subject to Option. If Termination of Employment is by the Employer
without Cause, by the optionee as a result of Constructive Termination or as a
result of a Disaffiliation Transaction, any Options not exercised as of the date
of Termination of Employment (including Options that are otherwise not yet
exercisable) may be exercised by the optionee or the optionee's Beneficiary at
any time within sixty (60) days after the date of Termination of Employment (but
not after the expiration date of the Option) to the extent of the total number
of shares subject to Option.

     (2) Except as otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of grant, in
the case of Options that are In Lieu Awards, in the event of Termination of
Employment of an optionee who is an employee of the Company or a Nuveen
Subsidiary other than by reason of the optionee's death, Disability or
Retirement, by the Employer without Cause, by the optionee as a result of
Constructive Termination or as a result of a Disaffiliation Transaction, any
Options previously awarded to such optionee that have not become exercisable as
of the date of Termination of Employment shall be forfeited, and all other
Options that are exercisable but have not been exercised as of the date of
Termination of Employment shall be exercisable for a period of 60 days following
the date of Termination of Employment (but not after the expiration date of the
Option) and shall, if not theretofore exercised, terminate upon the expiration
of such 60-day period. If Termination of Employment is by reason of the death,
Disability or Retirement of the optionee, by the Employer without Cause, by the
optionee as a result of Constructive Termination or as a result of a
Disaffiliation Transaction, any Options not exercised as of the date of
Termination of Employment (including Options that are otherwise not yet
exercisable) may be exercised by the optionee or the optionee's Beneficiary at
any time until the expiration date of the Option to the extent of the total
number of shares subject to Option; provided, however, that any such Options
awarded after March 1999 shall in no event remain exercisable for more than five
years following any such Termination of Employment.

     (j) The grant and exercise of Options hereunder shall be subject to all
applicable rules and regulations of governmental authorities. Each Option shall
be subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee shall
determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of
the shares covered thereby upon any securities exchange or under any state or
federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of
such Option or the purchase of shares thereunder, the Company's obligation to
deliver shares upon exercise shall be conditioned upon such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval, which shall have been effected
or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

     (k) The holder of an Option granted under this Plan shall have no rights as
a stockholder with respect to any shares of Class A Common Stock covered by such
Option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate for such shares.

     (l) Unless an optionee could otherwise transfer shares issued upon exercise
of an Option without incurring liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange
Act, at least six months must elapse from the date of grant of an Option to the
date of disposition of shares issued upon exercise of the Option.

     (m) The Committee may, in its discretion, from time to time establish
procedures whereby optionees may elect to defer receipt of shares of Class A
Common Stock purchased by exercise of Options.

3.3 Restricted Stock.

     (a) The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock to Participants,
subject to such restrictions on transferability and such other restrictions as
the Committee may impose in its discretion, including without limitation the
achievement of Performance Goals. If a Participant so elects in accordance with
such procedures as the Committee may from time to time specify, the delivery of
such Restricted Stock and, if the deferral election so specifies, of the
Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto, shall be deferred until the date or
dates specified in such election.

     (b) Restricted Stock other than Deferred Restricted Stock granted under the
Plan shall be evidenced by one or more certificates registered in the name of
the Participant and bearing an appropriate legend referring to the terms,
conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. The Company
shall retain physical possession of such certificate, and each Participant
awarded such Restricted Stock shall deliver a stock power to the Company,
endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock, during the period when the
Restricted Stock is nontransferable and/or subject to a risk of forfeiture, at
the end of which period certificates evidencing such Restricted Stock shall be
delivered to the Participant (unless such Restricted Stock has previously been
forfeited pursuant to Section 3.3(e)). From the Effective Date of the Award of
such Restricted Stock through the earlier of (i) the date such Restricted Stock
is forfeited pursuant to Section 3.3(e) and (ii) the date certificates
evidencing such Restricted Stock are delivered to the Participant, the
Participant shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to such shares,
including but not limited to the right to receive all dividends and other
distributions paid with respect thereto and to vote (in person or by proxy) such
shares at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company; provided, that any
dividend or distribution that is not payable in cash shall be subject to the
same restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Restricted
Stock with respect to which it is paid and shall be treated for all purposes of
the Plan as if it were part of the Award of such Restricted Stock.

     (c) Deferred Restricted Stock shall not be issued until the date or dates
that it is to be delivered to the Participant in accordance with his or her
deferral election pursuant to Section 3.3(a), at which time certificates
evidencing such Deferred Restricted Stock shall be delivered to the Participant
(unless such Deferred Restricted Stock has previously been forfeited pursuant to
Section 3.3(e)). From the Effective Date of an Award of Deferred Restricted
Stock through the earlier of (A) the date such Deferred Restricted Stock is
forfeited pursuant to Section 3.3(e) and (B) the date certificates evidencing
such Deferred Restricted Stock are delivered to the Participant, the Participant
shall be entitled to receive as compensation from the Company Dividend
Equivalents with respect thereto, but shall have none of the rights of a
stockholder with respect to such shares; provided, that if the deferral election
made with respect to such Deferred Restricted Stock specifies that the Dividend
Equivalents will be deferred, the Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid until
the date or dates specified in such deferral election, at which time they shall
be paid together with interest thereon at the Prime Rate from the date such
Dividend Equivalents would otherwise have been paid until the actual payment
date.

     (d) Neither Awards of Restricted Stock under the Plan which have not fully
vested under the vesting provisions applicable thereto, nor the right to vote
and receive dividends on unvested Restricted Stock which is not Deferred
Restricted Stock, nor the right to receive Dividend Equivalents on Deferred
Restricted Stock, may be sold, assigned, transferred, exchanged, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, and no such sale, assignment, transfer,
exchange, pledge, hypothecation or encumbrance, whether made or created by
                                       11
<PAGE>   12

voluntary act of the Participant or of any agent of such Participant or by
operation of law, shall be recognized by, or be binding upon, or shall in any
manner affect the rights of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any
agent or any custodian holding certificates for such stock pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan.

     (e) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, in the event of Termination
of Employment of a Participant other than by reason of the Participant's death,
Disability or Retirement, by the Employer without Cause, by the Participant as a
result of Constructive Termination, or as a result of a Disaffiliation
Transaction, all shares of Restricted Stock awarded to such Participant that
have not fully vested on the date of Termination of Employment shall be
forfeited by such Participant and neither the Participant nor any successors,
heirs, assigns or personal representatives of such Participant shall have any
rights or interest in such shares, and the Participant's name shall be deleted
from the list of the Company's stockholders with respect to such shares. If
Termination of Employment is by reason of the death, Disability or Retirement of
the Participant, by the Employer without Cause, by the Participant as a result
of Constructive Termination, or as a result of a Disaffiliation Transaction, all
restrictions and risk of forfeiture with respect to Restricted Stock that have
not fully vested on the date of Termination of Employment shall lapse and all
such shares of Restricted Stock shall become fully and irrevocably vested, all
Deferred Restricted Stock shall be immediately delivered and all Deferred
Dividend Equivalents shall be immediately paid in full to the Participant.

IV. OTHER PROVISIONS

4.1 Adjustments Upon Corporate Changes.

     (a) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.1,
in the event that (i) the outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased,
decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or
securities of the Company upon a reorganization, merger, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, stock
consolidation or otherwise, or (ii) the Company makes any extraordinary
distribution of cash or property on the Common Stock, the Committee shall make
an appropriate and proportionate adjustment in the number and kind of shares
reserved and available for issuance under the Plan, in the Restricted Stock
theretofore awarded (if necessary to avoid an adverse effect on the value of
such Restricted Stock), and in the number and kind of shares subject to
outstanding Non-Qualified Stock Options and the exercise price thereof.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a
Change in Control, unless the right to accelerated vesting, the lapse of
restrictions or risk of forfeiture, or accelerated delivery or receipt of cash
provided for herein is waived or deferred by a Participant by written notice to
the Company delivered prior to the Change in Control, all restrictions and risks
of forfeiture on Awards (other than those imposed by law or regulation) shall
lapse, all deferral or vesting periods relating to Awards shall immediately
expire, and (i) all unexercised Options shall become immediately and fully
exercisable; (ii) all shares of Restricted Stock not previously vested shall
vest immediately and be delivered to the Participant entitled thereto; (iii) all
Deferred Restricted Stock shall be immediately delivered to the Participant
entitled thereto; and (iv) all Deferred Dividend Equivalents not previously paid
shall be immediately paid over to the Participant entitled thereto.

     (c) The Committee shall be authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards, restriction periods and
deferral periods in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the
Company or any Nuveen Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or
any Nuveen Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws,
regulations, or accounting principles; provided, however, that no such
modification shall be made to the detriment of a Participant with respect to any
Award previously granted; and provided, further, that no such modification may
be made if the result would be to cause an Award that was previously qualified
as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to cease to
so qualify.

4.2 Rights of Participants and Beneficiaries.

     (a) Nothing contained in the Plan (or in any documents evidencing an Award)
shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of his or
her Employer or constitute any contract or agreement
                                       12
<PAGE>   13

of employment or interfere in any way with the right of such Employer to reduce
such Participant's compensation from the rate in effect at the time of an Award
or to terminate such Participant's employment with or without cause, but nothing
contained herein or in any document evidencing an Award shall affect any other
contractual rights of a Participant. No Participant or other person shall have
any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for
uniformity of treatment of Participants.

     (b) All settlements of Awards shall be made hereunder only to the
Participant or his or her Beneficiary entitled thereto pursuant to the Plan.
Neither the Company nor any Nuveen Subsidiary shall be liable for the debts,
contracts, or engagements of any Participant or his or her Beneficiary, and
rights relating to Awards under this Plan may not be taken in execution by
attachment or garnishment, or by any other legal or equitable proceeding while
in the hands of an Employer; nor shall any Participant or his or her Beneficiary
have any right to assign, pledge or hypothecate any benefits or rights
hereunder.

     (c) Except as provided in Section 3.3(d) with respect to Restricted Stock
that is not Deferred Restricted Stock, no Award shall confer on any Participant
any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company (including any right to
receive dividends) unless and until shares of Common Stock are registered in the
name of and delivered to such person in connection with such Award.

     (d) No fractional shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan
or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other
property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether such
fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise
eliminated.

4.3 Governing Law.

     This Plan and documents evidencing Awards or rights relating to Awards
shall be construed, administered and governed in all respects under and by the
laws of the State of Delaware. If any provision of this Plan shall be held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

4.4 Withholding.

     The Company shall have the right to deduct any sums that federal, state,
local or foreign tax laws may require to be withheld with respect to Awards,
settlement of Awards, and the payment of dividends, Dividend Equivalents and
interest with respect to Awards. Subject to the rules and regulations of the
Committee, this authority shall permit (but shall not obligate) the Company to
withhold and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a
Participant's tax obligations, including tax obligations in excess of mandatory
withholding requirements (but not in excess of the maximum marginal tax rate).
The Company may require, as a condition to issuing or delivering shares of Class
A Common Stock or cash in settlement of Awards or as payment of dividends,
Dividend Equivalents or interest with respect to Awards, that the Participant
pay to the Company any sums that may be required to satisfy any applicable
withholding tax, and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, withholding
obligations may be settled with shares of Class A Common Stock, including Class
A Common Stock that is part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding
requirement, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee. Except
as contemplated by the preceding sentence, the Company shall have no obligation
to advise any Participant of the existence of any tax or the amount which the
Company will be required to withhold.

4.5 Amendment and Termination of Plan and Awards.

     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary other than the last
sentence of Section 2.2, the Board of Directors may, with the consent of a
majority of the Class B Directors, at any time and from time to time, terminate
or suspend the Plan or amend or modify any of its provisions and the terms and
provisions of any Awards theretofore made to Participants which have not been
settled; provided, however, that any such termination, suspension, amendment, or
modification of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company's
stockholders within one year after such Board action if such stockholder
approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of
any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Common Stock may
be listed or quoted, and provided, further, that, without the consent of an
                                       13
<PAGE>   14

affected Participant, no termination, suspension, amendment, or modification of
the Plan or any outstanding Award may impair the rights of such Participant
under any Award theretofore granted; and provided, further, that no such
modification may be made if the result would be to cause an Award that was
previously qualified as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of
the Code to cease to so qualify; and provided, further, that the provisions of
Section 4.1(b) of the Plan shall not be amended in any respect following a
Change in Control.

4.6 Unfunded Status of Awards.

     The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and
deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a
Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award
shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company; provided, however, that the Committee may
authorize the creation of trusts or make other arrangements to meet the
Company's obligations under the Plan to deliver cash, shares of Common Stock,
other Awards, or other property pursuant to any Award or to provide other
benefits, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
"unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the
consent of each affected Participant. The trustee of any trust established under
the Plan may be authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest proceeds in
alternative investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee
may specify and in accordance with applicable law.

4.7 Restrictions on Transferability.

     Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, awards under the Plan are
not transferable other than to a Beneficiary designated by the Participant in
the event of a Participant's death, or by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.

4.8 Effective Date.

     This Plan was initially effective as of February 23, 1996, and, as amended
and restated, shall be effective as of March 19, 1999, subject to approval by
the Company's stockholders, and shall remain in effect until such time as action
may be taken to terminate or suspend the Plan pursuant to Section 4.5, or until
such time as no shares remain reserved and available for issuance and the
Company has no further obligation with respect to any Award granted under the
Plan.

                                       14

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