Document:

Exhibit 4.5

                            AMENDED AND RESTATED

                              COMMSCOPE, INC.

                       1997 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

                      (AS AMENDED THROUGH MAY 5, 2000)

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                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----

1.  Establishment, Purpose and Effective Date.............................1

      (a) Establishment...................................................1

      (b) Purpose.........................................................1

      (c) Effective Date..................................................1

2.  Definitions...........................................................1

3.  Scope of the Plan.....................................................6

      (a) Number of Shares Available Under the Plan.......................6

      (b) Reduction in the Available Shares in Connection with Award
          Grants..........................................................7

      (c) Effect of the Expiration or Termination of Awards...............7

4.  Administration........................................................8

      (a) Committee Administration........................................8

      (b) Board Reservation and Delegation................................8

      (c) Committee Authority.............................................8

      (d) Committee Determinations Final..................................9

5.  Eligibility...........................................................9

6.  Conditions to Grants.................................................10

      (a) General Conditions.............................................10

      (b) Grant of Options and Option Price..............................10

      (c) Grant of Incentive Stock Options...............................11

      (d) Grant of Shares of Restricted Stock............................12

      (e) Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares..............14

      (f) Grant of Phantom Stock.........................................15

      (g) Grant of Director's Shares.....................................15

      (h) Tandem Awards..................................................16

7.  Non-transferability..................................................16

8.  Exercise.............................................................16

      (a) Exercise of Options............................................16

      (b) Exercise of Performance Units..................................17

      (c) Payment of Performance Shares..................................18

      (d) Payment of Phantom Stock Awards................................19

      (e) Exercise, Cancellation, Expiration or Forfeiture of Tandem
          Awards.........................................................19

9.  Spin-off and Substitute Options......................................19

10. Effect of Certain Transactions.......................................19

11. Mandatory Withholding Taxes..........................................19

12. Termination of Employment............................................20

13. Securities Law Matters...............................................20

14. No Funding Required..................................................21

15. No Employment Rights.................................................21

16. Rights as a Stockholder..............................................21

17. Nature of Payments...................................................21

18. Non-Uniform Determinations...........................................21

19. Adjustments..........................................................22

20. Amendment of the Plan................................................22

21. Termination of the Plan..............................................22

22. No Illegal Transactions..............................................23

23. Governing Law........................................................23

24. Severability.........................................................23

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     1.   Establishment, Purpose and Effective Date.

          (a) Establishment. The Company hereby establishes the Amended and
Restated CommScope, Inc. 1997 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as set forth herein
and from time to time amended, the "Plan").

          (b)  Purpose.  The  primary  purpose  of the Plan is to provide a
means  by  which  key  employees  and  directors  of the  Company  and  its
Subsidiaries   can   acquire  and   maintain   stock   ownership,   thereby
strengthening  their  commitment  to the  success  of the  Company  and its
Subsidiaries  and their  desire to remain  employed  by the Company and its
Subsidiaries, focusing their attention on managing the Company as an equity
owner,   and  aligning   their   interests  with  those  of  the  Company's
stockholders. The Plan also is intended to attract and retain key employees
and  to  provide  such  employees  with  additional  incentive  and  reward
opportunities  designed to encourage them to enhance the profitable  growth
of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

          (c)  Effective  Date.  The Plan shall become  effective  upon its
adoption by the Board.

     2.   Definitions.

     As used in the Plan, terms defined  parenthetically  immediately after
their use shall have the respective  meanings  provided by such definitions
and the terms set forth  below  shall  have the  following  meanings  (such
meanings to be equally  applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined):

          (a)  "Award"  means   Options,   shares  of   restricted   Stock,
               performance  units,  performance shares or Director's Shares
               granted under the Plan.

          (b)  "Award  Agreement"  means the written  agreement by which an
               Award is evidenced.

          (c)  "Beneficial Owner,"  "Beneficially  Owned" and "Beneficially
               Owning" shall have the meanings  applicable under Rule 13d-3
               promulgated under the 1934 Act.

          (d)  "Board" means the board of directors of the Company.

          (e)  "Change in  Capitalization"  means any increase or reduction
               in the  number  of shares  of  Stock,  or any  change in the
               shares  of Stock  or  exchange  of  shares  of  Stock  for a
               different  number or kind of shares or other  securities  by
               reason of a stock dividend,  extraordinary  dividend,  stock
               split,    reverse    stock   split,    share    combination,
               reclassification,  recapitalization,  merger, consolidation,
               spin-off, split-up, reorganization,  issuance of warrants or
               rights,  liquidation,  exchange  of  shares,  repurchase  of
               shares, change in corporate structure,  or similar event, of
               or by the Company.

          (f)  "Change of Control" means, any of the following:

               (i) the acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of
          Voting Securities which, when added to the Voting Securities then
          Beneficially  Owned by such  Person,  would result in such Person
          Beneficially  Owning 33% or more of the combined  Voting Power of
          the  Company's  then  outstanding  Voting  Securities;  provided,
          however,  that for purposes of this paragraph (i), a Person shall
          not be deemed to have made an acquisition of Voting Securities if
          such Person:  (1)  acquires  Voting  Securities  as a result of a
          stock split,  stock dividend or other corporate  restructuring in
          which all stockholders of the class of such Voting Securities are
          treated on a pro rata basis;  (2) acquires the Voting  Securities
          directly from the Company;  (3) becomes the  Beneficial  Owner of
          33% or more of the combined  Voting Power of the  Company's  then
          outstanding   Voting   Securities  solely  as  a  result  of  the
          acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company or any Subsidiary
          which, by reducing the number of Voting  Securities  outstanding,
          increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by
          such  Person,  provided  that if (x) a Person  would own at least
          such  percentage as a result of the acquisition by the Company or
          any Subsidiary  and (y) after such  acquisition by the Company or
          any Subsidiary,  such Person acquires Voting Securities,  then an
          acquisition of Voting Securities shall have occurred;  (4) is the
          Company or any corporation or other Person of which a majority of
          its voting power or its equity  securities or equity  interest is
          owned  directly  or  indirectly  by the  Company  (a  "Controlled
          Entity");  or (5) acquires Voting Securities in connection with a
          "Non-Control  Transaction" (as defined in paragraph (iii) below);
          or

               (ii) the  individuals  who, as of the  Effective  Date,  are
          members of the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason
          to  constitute  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  Board;  provided,
          however,  that if either the  election of any new director or the
          nomination  for  election of any new  director  by the  Company's
          stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
          Incumbent  Board prior to such election or  nomination,  such new
          director shall be considered as a member of the Incumbent  Board;
          provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered
          a member  of the  Incumbent  Board if such  individual  initially
          assumed  office as a result  of  either  an actual or  threatened
          "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under
          the 1934  Act) or other  actual  or  threatened  solicitation  of
          proxies or  consents  by or on behalf of a Person  other than the
          Board (a "Proxy  Contest")  including by reason of any  agreement
          intended  to  avoid  or  settle  any  Election  Contest  or Proxy
          Contest; or

               (iii) approval by stockholders of the Company of:

                    (A) a merger, consolidation or reorganization involving
               the Company (a "Business Combination"), unless

                         (1) the  stockholders of the Company,  immediately
                    before  the  Business  Combination,  own,  directly  or
                    indirectly    immediately    following   the   Business
                    Combination, at least a majority of the combined voting
                    power  of  the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the
                    corporation  resulting  from the  Business  Combination
                    (the "Surviving Corporation") in substantially the same
                    proportion as their ownership of the Voting  Securities
                    immediately before the Business Combination, and

                         (2)  the  individuals  who  were  members  of  the
                    Incumbent Board  immediately  prior to the execution of
                    the agreement  providing  for the Business  Combination
                    constitute  at least a majority  of the  members of the
                    Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation, and

                         (3) no  Person  (other  than  the  Company  or any
                    Controlled Entity, a trustee or other fiduciary holding
                    securities  under one or more employee benefit plans or
                    arrangements  (or any  trust  forming  a part  thereof)
                    maintained by the Company, the Surviving Corporation or
                    any Controlled  Entity, or any Person who,  immediately
                    prior  to  the  Business  Combination,  had  Beneficial
                    Ownership of 33% or more of the then outstanding Voting
                    Securities) has Beneficial  Ownership of 33% or more of
                    the   combined    voting   power   of   the   Surviving
                    Corporation's  then  outstanding  voting  securities (a
                    Business  Combination   satisfying  the  conditions  of
                    clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this subparagraph (A) shall
                    be referred to as a "Non-Control Transaction");

               (B) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

                    (C)  the   sale  or   other   disposition   of  all  or
               substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a
               transfer to a Controlled Entity).

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed
to  occur  solely  because  33% or  more  of the  then  outstanding  Voting
Securities  is  Beneficially  Owned by (x) a  trustee  or  other  fiduciary
holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans or arrangements
(or any trust  forming a part  thereof)  maintained  by the  Company or any
Controlled  Entity or (y) any corporation  which,  immediately prior to its
acquisition  of such  interest,  is owned  directly  or  indirectly  by the
stockholders  of the Company in the same  proportion as their  ownership of
stock in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

          (g)  "Committee"  means  the  committee  of the  Board  appointed
               pursuant to Article 4.

          (h)  "Company" means CommScope, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

          (i)  "Director's  Shares"  means the shares of Stock awarded to a
               nonemployee  director  of the  Company  pursuant  to Article
               6(h).

          (j)  "Disability"  means a mental or physical condition which, in
               the opinion of the  Committee,  renders a Grantee  unable or
               incompetent to carry out the job responsibilities which such
               Grantee  held  or the  duties  to  which  such  Grantee  was
               assigned at the time the disability was incurred,  and which
               is expected to be permanent or for an indefinite duration.

          (k)  "Effective  Date" means the date that the Plan is adopted by
               the Board.

          (l)  "Fair  Market  Value" of any  security of the Company or any
               other issuer means, as of any applicable date:

               (i) if the  security  is listed for  trading on the New York
          Stock Exchange,  the closing price,  regular way, of the security
          as reported on the New York Stock Exchange  Composite Tape, or if
          no such reported sale of the security shall have occurred on such
          date,  on the  next  preceding  date on  which  there  was such a
          reported sale, or

               (ii) if the  security  is not so  listed,  but is  listed on
          another national  securities exchange or authorized for quotation
          on the National  Association of Securities  Dealers Inc.'s NASDAQ
          National Market System ("NASDAQ/NMS"), the closing price, regular
          way, of the security on such exchange or NASDAQ/NMS,  as the case
          may be, or if no such  reported  sale of the security  shall have
          occurred on such date, on the next  preceding date on which there
          was such a reported sale, or

               (iii)  if  the  security  is not  listed  for  trading  on a
          national  securities  exchange or  authorized  for  quotation  on
          NASDAQ/NMS,  the average of the  closing bid and asked  prices as
          reported  by  the  National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers
          Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or, if no such prices shall
          have been so reported for such date, on the next  preceding  date
          for which such prices were so reported, or

               (iv) if the security is not listed for trading on a national
          securities  exchange  or  is  not  authorized  for  quotation  on
          NASDAQ/NMS  or NASDAQ,  the fair market  value of the security as
          determined in good faith by the Committee.

          (m)  "Grant Date" means the date of grant of an Award  determined
               in accordance with Article 6.

          (n)  "Grantee" means an individual who has been granted an Award.

          (o)  "Incentive  Stock  Option"  means an Option  satisfying  the
               requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code and
               designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

          (p)  "Internal  Revenue Code" means the Internal  Revenue Code of
               1986, as amended,  and regulations  and rulings  thereunder.
               References to a particular  Section of the Internal  Revenue
               Code shall include references to successor provisions.

          (q)  "Measuring  Period"  has the  meaning  specified  in Article
               6(f)(ii)(B).

          (r)  "Minimum  Consideration"  means the $.0l par value per share
               of  Stock  or such  larger  amount  determined  pursuant  to
               resolution of the Board to be capital  within the meaning of
               Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

          (s)  "1934 Act" means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
               amended.

          (t)  "Nonqualified  Stock Option" means an Option which is not an
               Incentive  Stock  Option or other  type of  statutory  stock
               option under the Internal Revenue Code.

          (u)  "Option" means an option to purchase Stock granted or issued
               under the Plan, including Substitute and Spin-off Options.

          (v)  "Option  Price"  means the per share  purchase  price of (i)
               Stock subject to an Option or (ii) restricted  Stock subject
               to an Option.

          (w)  "Performance-Based  Compensation"  means any Option or Award
               that  is   intended   to   constitute   "performance   based
               compensation"  within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of
               the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

          (x)  "Performance   Percentage"  has  the  meaning  specified  in
               Article 6(f)(ii)(C).

          (y)  "Person" means a person within the meaning of Sections 13(d)
               and 14(d) of the 1934 Act.

          (z)  "Plan" has the meaning set forth in Article 1(a).

          (aa) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          (bb) "Section 16  Grantee"  means a person  subject to  potential
               liability  with respect to equity  securities of the Company
               under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

          (cc) "Spin-off Option" means an Option that has been issued under
               this Plan to certain named persons  pursuant to the Employee
               Benefits Allocation Agreement between General Semiconductor,
               Inc. ("GS"), CommScope, Inc. and the Company, dated June 25,
               1997, as amended,  modified, or otherwise  supplemented (the
               "Benefits Agreement").

          (dd) "Stock" means common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
               Company.

          (ee) "Subsidiary"  means a  corporation  as  [defined  in Section
               424(f) of the Internal  Revenue Code, with the Company being
               treated as the  employer  corporation  for  purposes of this
               definition].

          (ff) "Substitute  Option"  means an Option  that has been  issued
               under this Plan to certain persons  pursuant to the Benefits
               Agreement.

          (gg) "10% Owner" means a person who owns stock  (including  stock
               treated  as  owned  under  Section  424(d)  of the  Internal
               Revenue Code)  possessing  more than 10% of the Voting Power
               of the Company.

          (hh) "Termination of Employment" occurs the first day on which an
               individual  is for any  reason  no  longer  employed  by the
               Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or with  respect to an
               individual who is an employee of a Subsidiary, the first day
               on which  the  Company  no  longer  owns  Voting  Securities
               possessing  at  least  50%  of  the  Voting  Power  of  such
               Subsidiary.

          (ii) "Voting  Power" means the combined  voting power of the then
               outstanding Voting Securities.

          (jj) "Voting  Securities"  means,  with respect to the Company or
               any Subsidiary, any securities issued by the Company or such
               Subsidiary, respectively, which generally entitle the holder
               thereof  to  vote  for  the  election  of  directors  of the
               Company.

     3.   Scope of the Plan.

          (a) Number of Shares Available Under the Plan. The maximum number
of shares of Stock that may be made the subject of Awards granted under the
Plan is  6,600,000  plus the number of shares of Stock that are  covered by
Substitute  Options and Spin-off  Options (or the number and kind of shares
of Stock or other  securities  to which such  shares of Stock are  adjusted
upon a Change in Capitalization pursuant to Article 18); provided, however,
that in the  aggregate,  not more than 200,000  shares of Stock may be made
the subject of Awards other than Options.  The maximum  number of shares of
Stock that may be the subject of Options (other than Substitute Options and
Spin-off Options) and Awards granted to any individual pursuant to the Plan
in any three (3) calendar year period may not exceed  500,000.  The maximum
dollar amount of cash or the Fair Market Value of Stock that any individual
may  receive  in  any  calendar  year  in  respect  of  performance   units
denominated in dollars may not exceed $1,000,000. The Company shall reserve
for the purpose of the Plan, out of its  authorized but unissued  shares of
Stock or out of shares  held in the  Company's  treasury,  or partly out of
each, such number of shares as shall be determined by the Board.  The Board
shall have the authority to cause the Company to purchase from time to time
shares of Stock to be held as treasury shares and used for or in connection
with Awards.  The issuance of Substitute Options and Spin-off Options shall
not reduce the shares  available  for grants under the Plan or to a Grantee
in any calendar year.

          (b)  Reduction in the Available  Shares in Connection  with Award
Grants. Upon the grant of an Award, the number of shares of Stock available
under  Article 3(a) for the granting of further  Awards shall be reduced as
follows:

               (i) Performance Units Denominated in Dollars.  In connection
          with  the  granting  of  each  performance  unit  denominated  in
          dollars,  the number of shares of Stock  available  under Article
          3(a) for the  granting of further  Awards shall be reduced by the
          quotient of (x) the dollar amount  represented by the performance
          unit  divided by (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
          the date immediately  preceding the Grant Date of the performance
          unit.

               (ii) Other Awards.  In connection  with the granting of each
          Award, other than a performance unit denominated in dollars,  the
          number of shares of Stock  available  under  Article 3(a) for the
          granting of further Awards shall be reduced by a number of shares
          equal to the  number of shares of Stock in  respect  of which the
          Award is granted or denominated;  provided,  however, that if any
          Award is exercised by tendering shares of Stock,  either actually
          or by  attestation,  to the Company as full or partial payment of
          the  exercise  price,  the  maximum  number  of  shares  of Stock
          available  under Section 3(a) shall be increased by the number of
          shares of Stock so tendered.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  where two or more Awards are granted
with  respect to the same shares of Stock,  such shares shall be taken into
account only once for purposes of this Article 3(b).

          (c) Effect of the Expiration or Termination of Awards.  If and to
the extent an Option or Award (including a Substitute  Option or a Spin-off
Option) expires,  terminates or is canceled, settled in cash (including the
settlement  of tax  withholding  obligations  using  shares  of  Stock)  or
forfeited for any reason without having been exercised in full  (including,
without  limitation,  a  cancellation  of an  Option  pursuant  to  Article
4(c)(vi)),  the shares of Stock  associated  with the expired,  terminated,
canceled,  settled  or  forfeited  portion  of the Award (to the extent the
number of shares  available for the granting of Awards was reduced pursuant
to Article 3(b)) shall again become available for Awards under the Plan.

     4.   Administration.

          (a) Committee  Administration.  Subject to Article 4(b), the Plan
shall be  administered  by the  Committee,  which shall consist of not less
than two "non-employee  directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and to
the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as Performance-Based
Compensation  to so  qualify,  each  member  of the  Committee  shall be an
"outside  director"  within the meaning of Section  162(m) of the  Internal
Revenue Code.

          (b) Board  Reservation  and  Delegation.  The Board  may,  in its
discretion,  reserve to itself or exercise any or all of the  authority and
responsibility of the Committee hereunder.  It may also delegate to another
committee of the Board any or all of the  authority and  responsibility  of
the  Committee  with  respect to Awards to Grantees  who are not Section 16
Grantees at the time any such  delegated  authority  or  responsibility  is
exercised.  Such other  committee may consist of one or more  directors who
may, but need not be, officers or employees of the Company or of any of its
Subsidiaries.  To the extent  that the Board has  reserved  to  itself,  or
exercised the authority and  responsibility of the Committee,  or delegated
the authority and  responsibility of the Committee to such other committee,
all  references  to the  Committee  in the Plan shall be to the Board or to
such other committee.

          (c) Committee Authority.  The Committee shall have full and final
authority, in its discretion,  but subject to the express provisions of the
Plan, as follows:

               (i) to grant Awards,

               (ii) to  determine  (A) when Awards may be granted,  and (B)
          whether or not  specific  Awards shall be  identified  with other
          specific  Awards,  and if so,  whether they shall be  exercisable
          cumulatively  with,  or  alternatively  to,  such other  specific
          Awards,

               (iii) to issue Substitute Options and Spin-off Options,

               (iv) to  interpret  the Plan and to make all  determinations
          necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan,

               (v) to prescribe,  amend,  and rescind rules and regulations
          relating to the Plan, including,  without limitation,  rules with
          respect to the  exercisability  and  nonforfeitability  of Awards
          upon the Termination of Employment of a Grantee,

               (vi) to  determine  the  terms and  provisions  of the Award
          Agreements,  which need not be identical and, with the consent of
          the Grantee, to modify any such Award Agreement at any time,

               (vii)  to  cancel,   with  the   consent  of  the   Grantee,
          outstanding Awards,

               (viii)  to  accelerate   the   exercisability   of,  and  to
          accelerate or waive any or all of the restrictions and conditions
          applicable to, any Award,

               (ix) to make such  adjustments or modifications to Awards to
          Grantees  working  outside the United States as are necessary and
          advisable to fulfill the purposes of the Plan,

               (x) to authorize any action of or make any  determination by
          the Company as the  Committee  shall deem  necessary or advisable
          for carrying out the purposes of the Plan, and

               (xi) to impose such additional conditions, restrictions, and
          limitations  upon the grant,  exercise or  retention of Awards as
          the Committee may, before or concurrently with the grant thereof,
          deem  appropriate,   including,  without  limitation,   requiring
          simultaneous  exercise of related identified Awards, and limiting
          the percentage of Awards which may from time to time be exercised
          by a Grantee.

          (d) Committee  Determinations  Final.  The  determination  of the
Committee on all matters  relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement shall
be conclusive and final. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any
action or determination  made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
Award.

     5.   Eligibility.

     Awards  may be granted to any  employee  of the  Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.  In selecting the  individuals to whom Awards may be granted,
as well as in determining the number of shares of Stock subject to, and the
other terms and conditions  applicable to, each Award,  the Committee shall
take into  consideration such factors as it deems relevant in promoting the
purposes of the Plan.  In  addition,  Nonqualified  Stock  Options  will be
granted to  nonemployee  directors of the Company,  as set forth in Article
6(b)(ii),  and Director's Shares will be issued to nonemployee directors of
the Company pursuant to Article 6(h).

     6.   Conditions to Grants.

          (a) General Conditions.

               (i) The  Grant  Date of an Award  shall be the date on which
          the Committee grants the Award or such later date as specified in
          advance by the Committee.

               (ii) The term of each Award  (subject  to Article  6(c) with
          respect to Incentive Stock Options) shall be a period of not more
          than ten  years  from the  Grant  Date and  shall be  subject  to
          earlier termination as provided herein or in the applicable Award
          Agreement; provided, however, that the Committee may provide that
          an Option  (other than an Incentive  Stock  Option) may, upon the
          death of the Grantee,  be exercised for up to one year  following
          the  date of the  Grantee's  death  even if such  period  extends
          beyond ten years from the date the Option is granted.

               (iii) A Grantee  may,  if  otherwise  eligible,  be  granted
          additional Awards in any combination.

               (iv)  The   Committee   may  grant  Awards  with  terms  and
          conditions which differ among the Grantees thereof. To the extent
          not set forth in the Plan, the terms and conditions of each Award
          shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.

          (b) Grant of Options and Option Price.  The Committee may, in its
discretion,  and shall as provided in Article  6(b)(ii),  grant  Options as
follows:

               (i) Employee Options.  Options to acquire unrestricted Stock
          or restricted Stock may be granted to any employee eligible under
          Article 5 to receive Awards.  No later than the Grant Date of any
          Option,  the  Committee  shall  determine  the Option Price which
          shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock
          on the Grant Date.

               (ii)  Nonemployee   Director  Options.   Nonqualified  Stock
          Options with respect to 20,000 shares of unrestricted Stock shall
          be granted to each  nonemployee  director of the  Company  (other
          than a  nonemployee  director who is a general  partner of any of
          the Forstmann Little  Companies or any of their  affiliates) upon
          his or her  initial  election  to the Board and every three years
          thereafter  on the  anniversary  of such  nonemployee  director's
          initial  election  to the  Board  as  long  as  such  nonemployee
          director is then still  serving on the Board,  at an Option Price
          equal to 100% of the Fair Market  Value of the Stock on the Grant
          Date; provided,  however, that the Grant Date of the first grants
          of Nonqualified Stock Options to nonemployee directors under this
          Plan shall be the fifth trading day after the  NextLevel  Systems
          Distribution  Date (as defined in the Benefits  Agreement).  Each
          Nonqualified Stock Option granted to a nonemployee  director will
          become  exercisable  with respect to one-third of the  underlying
          shares on each of the first,  second and third  anniversaries  of
          the  Grant  Date,  and  will  have a  term  of  ten  years.  If a
          nonemployee director ceases to serve as a director of the Company
          for any reason,  any  Nonqualified  Stock Option  granted to such
          nonemployee  director shall be  exercisable  during its remaining
          term,  to the  extent  that such  Nonqualified  Stock  Option was
          exercisable on the date such nonemployee  director ceased to be a
          director.

          (c) Grant of Incentive Stock Options. At the time of the grant of
any Option,  the  Committee  may  designate  that such  Option  shall be an
Incentive Stock Option. Any Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option:

               (i) shall have an Option  Price of (A) not less than 100% of
          the Fair  Market  Value of the Stock on the Grant  Date or (B) in
          the case of a 10%  Owner,  not less than 110% of the Fair  Market
          Value of the Stock on the Grant Date;

               (ii)  shall  have a term of not more  than ten  years  (five
          years, in the case of a 10% Owner) from the Grant Date, and shall
          be subject to earlier  termination  as provided  herein or in the
          applicable Award Agreement;

               (iii) shall,  if, with respect to any grant,  the  aggregate
          Fair Market Value of Stock  (determined on the Grant Date) of all
          Incentive  Stock Options  granted  under the Plan and  "incentive
          stock  options"  (within  the meaning of Section 422 of the Code)
          granted  under  any  other  stock  option  plan of the  Grantee's
          employer  or any parent or  subsidiary  thereof  (in either  case
          determined  without regard to this Article 6(c)) are  exercisable
          for the first time during any calendar year exceeds $100,000,  be
          treated  as  Nonqualified  Stock  Options.  For  purposes  of the
          foregoing  sentence,  Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as
          Nonqualified  Stock Options  according to the order in which they
          were granted such that the most recently granted  Incentive Stock
          Options are first treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

               (iv) shall be granted  within ten years from the  earlier of
          the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is
          approved by the stockholders of the Company; and

               (v) shall require the Grantee to notify the Committee of any
          disposition  of any Stock issued  pursuant to the exercise of the
          Incentive  Stock  Option  under the  circumstances  described  in
          Section 421(b) of the Internal  Revenue Code (relating to certain
          disqualifying dispositions), within ten days of such disposition.

          (d) Grant of Shares of Restricted Stock.

               (i) The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  grant shares of
          restricted  Stock to any  employee  eligible  under  Article 5 to
          receive Awards.

               (ii) Before the grant of any shares of restricted Stock, the
          Committee shall determine, in its discretion:

                    (A) whether the  certificates  for such shares shall be
               delivered  to the  Grantee  or held  (together  with a stock
               power  executed  in blank by the  Grantee)  in escrow by the
               Secretary   of  the  Company   until  such   shares   become
               nonforfeitable or are forfeited;

                    (B) the per share purchase price of such shares,  which
               may be zero; provided,  however, that the per share purchase
               price of all such shares (other than treasury  shares) shall
               not be less  than the  Minimum  Consideration  for each such
               share;

                    (C) the  restrictions  applicable to such grant and the
               time or times upon which any applicable  restrictions on the
               restricted Stock shall lapse; provided, however, that except
               in the case of shares of restricted  Stock issued in full or
               partial   settlement   of  another  Award  or  other  earned
               compensation,  or in the event of the Grantee's  termination
               of employment,  as determined by the Committee and set forth
               in an Award  Agreement,  such  restrictions  shall not lapse
               prior to the  third  anniversary  of the  Grant  Date of the
               restricted Stock; and

                    (D) whether the payment to the Grantee of dividends, or
               a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on such shares
               by the Company  shall be  deferred  until the lapsing of the
               restrictions  imposed  upon such shares and shall be held by
               the  Company for the account of the  Grantee,  whether  such
               dividends  shall  be  reinvested  in  additional  shares  of
               restricted  Stock (to the extent shares are available  under
               Article 3) subject to the same  restrictions and other terms
               as apply to the shares with respect to which such  dividends
               are  issued  or  otherwise  reinvested  in  Stock or held in
               escrow,  whether interest will be credited to the account of
               the  Grantee  with  respect to any  dividends  which are not
               reinvested in restricted or unrestricted  Stock, and whether
               any Stock  dividends  issued with respect to the  restricted
               Stock to be granted shall be treated as additional shares of
               restricted Stock.

               (iii)  Payment of the purchase  price (if greater than zero)
          for  shares  of  restricted  Stock  shall  be made in full by the
          Grantee before the delivery of such shares and, in any event,  no
          later than ten days after the Grant  Date for such  shares.  Such
          payment  may be  made,  as  determined  by the  Committee  in its
          discretion, in any one or any combination of the following:

                    (A) cash; or

                    (B) with the prior approval of the Committee, shares of
               restricted or unrestricted  Stock owned by the Grantee prior
               to such  grant and  valued at its Fair  Market  Value on the
               business day immediately preceding the date of payment;

          provided,  however,  that,  in the case of  payment  in shares of
          restricted  or  unrestricted  Stock,  if the  purchase  price for
          restricted Stock ("New Restricted  Stock") is paid with shares of
          restricted  Stock  ("Old  Restricted  Stock"),  the  restrictions
          applicable  to the New  Restricted  Stock shall be the same as if
          the Grantee had paid for the New Restricted Stock in cash unless,
          in the judgment of the Committee,  the Old  Restricted  Stock was
          subject to a greater risk of  forfeiture,  in which case a number
          of shares of New  Restricted  Stock equal to the number of shares
          of Old  Restricted  Stock  tendered in payment for New Restricted
          Stock  shall  be  subject  to the  same  restrictions  as the Old
          Restricted Stock, determined immediately before such payment.

               (iv) The  Committee  may, but need not,  provide that all or
          any portion of a  Grantee's  Award of  restricted  Stock shall be
          forfeited:

                    (A)  except  as   otherwise   specified  in  the  Award
               Agreement,  upon the  Grantee's  Termination  of  Employment
               within a specified time period after the Grant Date; or

                    (B) if the  Company  or the  Grantee  does not  achieve
               specified  performance  goals within a specified time period
               after the Grant Date and before the Grantee's Termination of
               Employment; or

                    (C) upon failure to satisfy such other  restrictions as
               the Committee may specify in the Award Agreement.

          (v) If a share of restricted Stock is forfeited, then:

                    (A) the  Grantee  shall be deemed to have  resold  such
               share of  restricted  Stock to the  Company at the lesser of
               (1) the purchase  price paid by the Grantee  (such  purchase
               price shall be deemed to be zero dollars ($0) if no purchase
               price was paid) or (2) the Fair  Market  Value of a share of
               Stock on the date of such forfeiture;

                    (B) the  Company  shall pay to the  Grantee  the amount
               determined  under clause (A) of this sentence,  if not zero,
               as soon as is administratively  practicable, but in any case
               within 90 days after forfeiture; and

                    (C) such share of  restricted  Stock  shall cease to be
               outstanding,  and  shall no  longer  confer  on the  Grantee
               thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company, from and
               after  the  date  of the  Company's  tender  of the  payment
               specified  in clause  (B) of this  sentence,  whether or not
               such  tender is  accepted  by the  Grantee,  or the date the
               restricted  Stock is forfeited if no purchase price was paid
               for the restricted Stock.

               (vi) Any share of restricted Stock shall bear an appropriate
          legend specifying that such share is non-transferable and subject
          to  the  restrictions  set  forth  in  the  Plan  and  the  Award
          Agreement.   If   any   shares   of   restricted   Stock   become
          nonforfeitable,  the Company  shall cause  certificates  for such
          shares to be issued or reissued without such legend and delivered
          to the  Grantee or, at the  request of the  Grantee,  shall cause
          such shares to be credited to a brokerage  account  specified  by
          the Grantee.

          (e) Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares.

               (i) The Committee may, in its discretion,  grant performance
          units  or  performance  shares  to any  employee  eligible  under
          Article 5 to receive Awards.

               (ii) Before the grant of any performance unit or performance
          share, the Committee shall:

                    (A)  designate a period,  of not less than one year nor
               more than five years,  for the  measurement of the extent to
               which   performance   goals  are  attained  (the  "Measuring
               Period");

                    (B)  determine  performance  goals  applicable  to such
               grant;  provided,  however,  that the performance goals with
               respect  to a  Measuring  Period  shall  be  established  in
               writing by the  Committee  by the earlier of (x) the date on
               which a quarter of the  Measuring  Period has elapsed or (y)
               the date which is ninety (90) days after the commencement of
               the Measuring Period, and in any event while the performance
               relating  to  the  performance  goals  remain  substantially
               uncertain; and

                    (C) assign a "Performance  Percentage" to each level of
               attainment of performance goals during the Measuring Period,
               with the percentage  applicable to minimum  attainment being
               zero percent (0%) and the  percentage  applicable to optimum
               attainment to be  determined  by the Committee  from time to
               time.

               (iii) The performance  goals applicable to performance units
          or performance  shares shall, in the discretion of the Committee,
          be based on stock price,  earnings per share,  operating  income,
          return on equity or assets,  cash flow, EBITDA or any combination
          of the  foregoing.  Such  performance  goals may be  absolute  or
          relative (to prior  performance  or to the  performance of one or
          more other entities or external  indices) and may be expressed in
          terms of a progression  within a specified  range. At the time of
          the granting of performance  units or performance  shares,  or at
          any time thereafter, in either case to the extent permitted under
          Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder without
          adversely  affecting  the  treatment of the  performance  unit or
          performance   share  as   Performance-Based   Compensation,   the
          Committee may provide for the manner in which performance will be
          measured  against  the  performance  goals  (or  may  adjust  the
          performance  goals) to reflect the impact of specified  corporate
          transactions,   special  charges,   foreign   currency   effects,
          accounting  or  tax  law  changes  and  other   extraordinary  or
          nonrecurring events.

               (iv) Prior to the vesting, payment, settlement or lapsing of
          any  restrictions   with  respect  to  any  performance  unit  or
          performance    share    that   is    intended    to    constitute
          Performance-Based  Compensation  made to a Grantee who is subject
          to Section  162(m) of the Code,  the  Committee  shall certify in
          writing  that  the   applicable   performance   goals  have  been
          satisfied.

               (v) Unless otherwise  expressly stated in the relevant Award
          Agreement,  each performance  unit and performance  share granted
          under the Plan is intended to be  Performance-Based  Compensation
          and the Committee  shall  interpret and administer the applicable
          provisions  of the Plan in a  manner  consistent  therewith.  Any
          provisions  inconsistent with such treatment shall be inoperative
          and shall not adversely affect the treatment of performance units
          or  performance  shares  granted  hereunder as  Performance-Based
          Compensation. The Committee shall not be entitled to exercise any
          discretion  otherwise  authorized  hereunder with respect to such
          performance unit or performance  share if the ability to exercise
          such discretion or the exercise of such  discretion  itself would
          cause the  compensation  attributable to such performance unit or
          performance  share  to  fail  to  qualify  as   Performance-Based
          Compensation.

          (f) Grant of Phantom Stock. The Committee may, in its discretion,
grant shares of phantom stock to any employee who is eligible under Article
5 to receive  Awards.  Such phantom stock shall be subject to the terms and
conditions  established  by the Committee  and set forth in the  applicable
Award Agreement.

          (g) Grant of Director's Shares. There shall be granted Director's
Shares with respect to 1,000 shares of Stock to each  nonemployee  director
of the Company (other than a nonemployee  director who is a general partner
of any of the Forstmann Little  Companies or any of their  affiliates) upon
his or her initial election to the Board.  Director's Shares shall be fully
vested and transferable upon issuance.

          (h) Tandem Awards. The Committee may grant and identify any Award
with any other Award granted under the Plan ("Tandem Award"),  other than a
Substitute Option or a Spin-off Option, on terms and conditions  determined
by the Committee.

     7.   Non-transferability.

     Unless set forth in the applicable  Award  Agreement,  no Award (other
than an Award of restricted  Stock) granted hereunder shall by its terms be
assignable  or  transferable  except  by will or the  laws of  descent  and
distribution  or, in the case of an Option  other than an  Incentive  Stock
Option,  pursuant to a domestic relations order (within the meaning of Rule
16a-12  promulgated  under the  Exchange  Act).  An Option may be exercised
during the lifetime of a Grantee only by the Grantee or his or her guardian
or legal representatives.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may
set  forth  in the  Award  Agreement  evidencing  an Award  (other  than an
Incentive Stock Option) at the time of grant or thereafter,  that the Award
may be transferred to members of the Grantee's  immediate family, to trusts
solely for the benefit of such immediate family members and to partnerships
in which such family members  and/or trusts are the only partners,  and for
purposes of this Plan, a  transferee  of an Award shall be deemed to be the
Grantee.  For this purpose,  immediate  family means the Grantee's  spouse,
parents,  children,  stepchildren and grandchildren and the spouses of such
parents,  children,  stepchildren and grandchildren.  The terms of an Award
shall be final,  binding and conclusive upon the beneficiaries,  executors,
administrators,  heirs  and  successors  of  the  Grantee.  Each  share  of
restricted  Stock  shall  be  non-transferable  until  such  share  becomes
nonforfeitable.

     8.   Exercise.

          (a) Exercise of Options. Subject to Articles 4(c)(vii), 12 and 13
and such terms and  conditions  as the  Committee  may impose,  each Option
shall be  exercisable  in one or more  installments  commencing not earlier
than the first  anniversary  of the Grant  Date of such  Option;  provided,
however,  that all Options held by each  Grantee  shall become fully (100%)
exercisable  upon the  occurrence  of a Change  of  Control  regardless  of
whether the acceleration of the  exercisability of such Options would cause
such Options to lose their  eligibility  for  treatment as Incentive  Stock
Options.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  Options may not be exercised by a
Grantee for twelve months following a hardship distribution to the Grantee,
to the  extent  such  exercise  is  prohibited  under  Treasury  Regulation
ss.1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4).  Each Option  shall be exercised by delivery
to the Company of written notice of intent to purchase a specific number of
shares of Stock  subject to the Option.  The Option  Price of any shares of
Stock as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be paid in full at the
time of the  exercise.  Payment may be made, as determined by the Committee
in its discretion with respect to Options granted to eligible employees and
in all cases  with  respect to Options  granted  to  nonemployee  directors
pursuant  to  Article  6(b)(ii),  in  any  one or  any  combination  of the
following:

               (i) cash,

               (ii) shares of unrestricted Stock held by the Grantee for at
          least six months (or such lesser  period as may be  permitted  by
          the Committee) prior to the exercise of the Option, and valued at
          its  Fair  Market  Value  on the last  business  day  immediately
          preceding the date of exercise, or

               (iii) through  simultaneous  sale through a broker of shares
          of  unrestricted  Stock acquired on exercise,  as permitted under
          Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board.

          Shares of unrestricted Stock acquired by a Grantee on exercise of
an Option  shall be  delivered  to the  Grantee  or, at the  request of the
Grantee, shall be credited directly to a brokerage account specified by the
Grantee.

          (b) Exercise of Performance Units.

               (i) Subject to Articles 4(c)(vii),  12 and 13 and such terms
          and conditions as the Committee may impose,  and unless otherwise
          provided in the applicable Award  Agreement,  if, with respect to
          any performance  unit, the Committee has determined in accordance
          with Article  6(f)(iv)  that the minimum  performance  goals have
          been achieved during the applicable  Measuring Period,  then such
          performance  unit shall be deemed  exercised on the date on which
          it first becomes exercisable.

               (ii) The benefit for each  performance  unit exercised shall
          be an amount equal to the product of

                    (A) the Unit Value (as defined below), multiplied by

                    (B) the  Performance  Percentage  attained  during  the
               Measuring Period for such performance unit.

               (iii)  The  Unit  Value  shall  be,  as   specified  by  the
          Committee,

                    (A) a dollar amount,

                    (B) an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share
               of Stock on the Grant Date,

                    (C) an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share
               of Stock on the exercise date of the performance unit, plus,
               if so provided in the Award Agreement,  an amount ("Dividend
               Equivalent  Amount")  equal to the Fair Market  Value of the
               number of shares of Stock that would have been  purchased if
               each dividend paid on a share of Stock on or after the Grant
               Date and on or before the  exercise  date were  invested  in
               shares of Stock at a purchase price equal to its Fair Market
               Value on the respective dividend payment date, or

                    (D) an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share
               of Stock on the exercise date of the performance unit (plus,
               if  so  specified  in  the  Award   Agreement,   a  Dividend
               Equivalent  Amount),  reduced by the Fair Market  Value of a
               share of Stock on the Grant Date of the performance unit.

               (iv) The benefit  upon the  exercise of a  performance  unit
          shall be payable as soon as is administratively  practicable (but
          in any event  within 90 days) after the later of (A) the date the
          Grantee is deemed to exercise such  performance  unit, or (B) the
          date (or dates in the event of installment  payments) as provided
          in the applicable Award Agreement.  Such benefit shall be payable
          in  cash,  except  that  the  Committee,   with  respect  to  any
          particular exercise, may, in its discretion,  pay benefits wholly
          or partly in Stock  delivered  to the  Grantee or  credited  to a
          brokerage account specified by the Grantee.  The number of shares
          of Stock  payable in lieu of cash shall be  determined by valuing
          the  Stock at its Fair  Market  Value  on the  business  day next
          preceding the date such benefit is to be paid.

          (c) Payment of Performance Shares. Subject to Articles 4(c)(vii),
12 and 13 and such terms and  conditions as the  Committee may impose,  and
unless  otherwise  provided  in  the  applicable  Award  Agreement,  if the
Committee  has  determined  in  accordance  with Article  6(f)(iv) that the
minimum  performance  goals with respect to an Award of performance  shares
have been achieved during the applicable Measuring Period, then the Company
shall pay to the Grantee of such Award (or, at the request of the  Grantee,
deliver to a brokerage  account  specified by the Grantee)  shares of Stock
equal  in  number  to the  product  of the  number  of  performance  shares
specified in the applicable  Award Agreement  multiplied by the Performance
Percentage achieved during such Measuring Period, except to the extent that
the  Committee in its  discretion  determines  that cash be paid in lieu of
some or all of such shares of Stock.  The amount of cash payable in lieu of
a share of Stock  shall be  determined  by  valuing  such share at its Fair
Market Value on the business day next preceding the date such cash is to be
paid.  Payments  pursuant  to this  Article  8(d)  shall be made as soon as
administratively  practicable  (but in any event  within 90 days) after the
end of the applicable Measuring Period. Any performance shares with respect
to which the  performance  goals have not been  achieved  by the end of the
applicable Measuring Period shall expire.

          (d)  Payment  of  Phantom  Stock  Awards.  Upon the  vesting of a
phantom  stock  Award,  the  Grantee  shall be  entitled  to receive a cash
payment in respect of each share of phantom  stock  which shall be equal to
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock as of the date the phantom  stock
Award was granted, or such other date as determined by the Committee at the
time the phantom stock Award was granted.  The Committee may, at the time a
phantom stock Award is granted,  provide a limitation on the amount payable
in respect of each share of phantom stock.  In lieu of a cash payment,  the
Committee  may settle  phantom  stock  Awards with shares of Stock having a
Fair Market Value equal to the cash payment to which the Grantee has become
entitled.

          (e)  Exercise,  Cancellation,  Expiration or Forfeiture of Tandem
Awards. Upon the exercise, cancellation,  expiration, forfeiture or payment
in respect of any Award which is identified  with any Tandem Award pursuant
to Article  6(i),  the Tandem  Award shall  automatically  terminate to the
extent  of the  number  of  shares  in  respect  of which  the  Award is so
exercised, cancelled, expired, forfeited or paid, unless otherwise provided
by the Committee at the time of grant of the Tandem Award or thereafter.

     9.   Spin-off and Substitute Options.

     Spin-off  Options and  Substitute  Options  shall be issued under this
Plan  pursuant  to  and in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  Benefits
Agreement. Spin-off Options and Substitute Options shall be governed by the
terms of the Plan to the extent that the terms of the Plan do not  conflict
with the  terms of the  agreements  evidencing  the  Spin-off  Options  and
Substitute Options.

     10.  Effect of Certain Transactions.

     With respect to any Award which relates to Stock,  in the event of (i)
the  liquidation  or  dissolution  of  the  Company  or  (ii) a  merger  or
consolidation  of the  Company (a  "Transaction"),  the Plan and the Awards
issued  hereunder  shall  continue  in  effect  in  accordance  with  their
respective  terms and each Grantee  shall be entitled to receive in respect
of each share of Stock subject to any outstanding Awards, upon the vesting,
payment or exercise of the Award (as the case may be),  the same number and
kind of stock, securities, cash, property, or other consideration that each
holder of a share of Stock was  entitled to receive in the  Transaction  in
respect of a share of Stock.

     11.  Mandatory Withholding Taxes.

     The Company  shall have the right to deduct from any  distribution  of
cash to any Grantee an amount equal to the federal,  state and local income
taxes and other  amounts  as may be  required  by law to be  withheld  (the
"Withholding  Taxes")  with  respect  to  any  Award.  If a  Grantee  is to
experience  a  taxable  event in  connection  with the  receipt  of  shares
pursuant to an Option exercise or the vesting or payment of another type of
Award (a "Taxable  Event"),  the Grantee shall pay the Withholding Taxes to
the Company prior to the issuance,  or release from escrow,  of such shares
or payment of such Award.  Payment of the applicable  Withholding Taxes may
be made, as determined  by the Committee in its  discretion,  in any one or
any  combination  of (i) cash,  (ii) shares of restricted  or  unrestricted
Stock  owned by the Grantee  prior to the  Taxable  Event and valued at its
Fair Market  Value on the business day  immediately  preceding  the date of
exercise,  or (iii) by making a Tax  Election  (as  described  below).  For
purposes  of this  Article  11,  the  Committee  may  provide  in the Award
Agreement  at the  time of  grant,  or at any  time  thereafter,  that  the
Grantee,  in satisfaction of the obligation to pay Withholding Taxes to the
Company,  may elect to have  withheld a portion of the shares then issuable
to  him  or  her  having  an  aggregate  Fair  Market  Value  equal  to the
Withholding Taxes.

     12.  Termination of Employment.

     The Award Agreement pertaining to each Award shall set forth the terms
and conditions applicable to such Award upon a Termination of Employment of
the Grantee by the Company,  a Subsidiary or an operating division or unit,
which,  except for Options  granted to  nonemployee  directors  pursuant to
Article  6(b)(ii),  shall  be as the  Committee  may,  in  its  discretion,
determine at the time the Award is granted or thereafter.

     13.  Securities Law Matters.

          (a) If the  Committee  deems  it  necessary  to  comply  with the
Securities  Act of 1933,  the  Committee  may require a written  investment
intent  representation  by the Grantee and may require  that a  restrictive
legend be affixed to certificates for shares of Stock.

          (b) If,  based upon the opinion of counsel for the  Company,  the
Committee determines that the exercise or nonforfeitability of, or delivery
of benefits  pursuant to, any Award would violate any applicable  provision
of (i) federal or state securities law or (ii) the listing  requirements of
any national  securities  exchange on which are listed any of the Company's
equity  securities,  then the  Committee  may postpone  any such  exercise,
nonforfeitability  or delivery,  as the case may be, but the Company  shall
use its best efforts to cause such exercise,  nonforfeitability or delivery
to comply with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

          (c)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of the  Plan  or any  Award
Agreement  to the  contrary,  no  shares  of Stock  shall be  issued to any
Grantee in respect of any Award prior to the time a registration  statement
under the Securities Act of 1933 is effective with respect to such shares.

     14.  No Funding Required.

     Benefits  payable  under the Plan to any person shall be paid directly
by the  Company.  The Company  shall not be required to fund,  or otherwise
segregate assets to be used for payment of, benefits under the Plan.

     15.  No Employment Rights.

     Neither the  establishment  of the Plan, nor the granting of any Award
shall be construed to (a) give any Grantee the right to remain  employed by
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or to any benefits not specifically
provided  by the Plan or (b) in any manner  modify the right of the Company
or any of its  Subsidiaries  to  modify,  amend,  or  terminate  any of its
employee benefit plans.

     16.  Rights as a Stockholder.

     A Grantee  shall not, by reason of any Award  (other  than  restricted
Stock),  have any right as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the
shares of Stock which may be  deliverable  upon exercise or payment of such
Award until such shares have been  delivered to him.  Shares of  restricted
Stock held by a Grantee or held in escrow by the  Secretary  of the Company
shall  confer on the Grantee all rights of a  stockholder  of the  Company,
except as otherwise provided in the Plan.

     17.  Nature of Payments.

     Any and all grants, payments of cash, or deliveries of shares of Stock
hereunder shall constitute  special  incentive  payments to the Grantee and
shall  not be taken  into  account  in  computing  the  amount of salary or
compensation  of the Grantee for the purposes of  determining  any pension,
retirement,  death or other  benefits  under (a) any  pension,  retirement,
profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance or other employee benefit plan of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any agreement between the Company
or any  Subsidiary,  on the one hand,  and the Grantee,  on the other hand,
except as such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.

     18.  Non-Uniform Determinations.

     Neither the Committee's nor the Board's  determinations under the Plan
need be uniform and may be made by the  Committee or the Board  selectively
among persons who receive,  or are eligible to receive,  Awards (whether or
not such persons are similarly  situated).  Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing,  the Committee shall be entitled,  among other things, to
make  non-uniform and selective  determinations,  to enter into non-uniform
and selective Award Agreements as to (a) the identity of the Grantees,  (b)
the terms and provisions of Awards,  and (c) the treatment of  Terminations
of Employment.

     19.  Adjustments.

     In the event of Change in Capitalization,  the Committee shall, in its
sole discretion, make equitable adjustment of

          (a)  the  aggregate  number and class of shares of Stock or other
               stock or securities available under Article 3,

          (b)  the  number  and class of shares of Stock or other  stock or
               securities  covered by an Award and to be covered by Options
               granted  to  nonemployee   directors   pursuant  to  Article
               6(b)(ii),

          (c)  the Option Price applicable to outstanding Options,

          (d)  the terms of performance  unit and performance  share grants
               (to the extent  permitted  under Section 162(m)) of the Code
               and the regulations  thereunder without adversely  affecting
               the treatment of the performance  unit or performance  share
               as Performance-Based Compensation,

          (e)  the Fair Market Value of Stock to be used to  determine  the
               amount of the benefit  payable upon exercise of  performance
               units, performance shares or phantom stock,

          (f)  the  maximum  number  and  class of shares of Stock or other
               securities  with  respect to which  Awards may be granted to
               any individual in any three calendar year period, and

          (g)  the number and class of shares of Stock or other  securities
               with  respect  to which  Director  Shares  are to be granted
               under Article 6(h).

     20.  Amendment of the Plan.

     The Board may from time to time in its discretion  amend or modify the
Plan without the  approval of the  stockholders  of the Company,  except as
such  stockholder  approval may be required (a) to retain  Incentive  Stock
Option  treatment  under Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code,  (b) to
permit  transactions  in  Stock  pursuant  to the  Plan to be  exempt  from
potential  liability  under  Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act or (c) under the
listing  requirements  of  any  securities  exchange  on  which  any of the
Company's equity securities are listed.

     21.  Termination of the Plan.

     The Plan  shall  terminate  on the  tenth  (10th)  anniversary  of the
Effective  Date or at such  earlier  time as the Board may  determine.  Any
termination,  whether in whole or in part,  shall not affect any Award then
outstanding under the Plan.

     22.  No Illegal Transactions.

     The Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to it are subject to all laws
and  regulations  of any  governmental  authority  which may be  applicable
thereto;  and  notwithstanding  any  provision  of the  Plan or any  Award,
Grantees  shall not be entitled to exercise  Awards or receive the benefits
thereof and the Company  shall not be obligated to deliver any Stock or pay
any benefits to a Grantee if such exercise, delivery, receipt or payment of
benefits would  constitute a violation by the Grantee or the Company of any
provision of any such law or regulation.

     23.  Governing Law.

     Except  where  preempted  by  federal  law,  the law of the  State  of
Delaware shall be controlling in all matters relating to the Plan,  without
giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

     24.  Severability.

     If all  or  any  part  of  the  Plan  is  declared  by  any  court  or
governmental  authority  to be unlawful or invalid,  such  unlawfulness  or
invalidity  shall  not  serve to  invalidate  any  portion  of the Plan not
declared to be  unlawful  or invalid.  Any Article or part of an Article so
declared to be unlawful or invalid  shall,  if possible,  be construed in a
manner  which will give  effect to the terms of such  Article or part of an
Article to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.Exhibit 10(a)

                           CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

         This Change in Control Agreement, dated _______________, ______, is
made by and between The Valspar Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and ___________________________ (the "Executive").

A.       The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that it is in the
         best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the
         Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
         notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in
         Control (as defined in Exhibit A to this Agreement) of the Company.

B.       The Board believes that it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
         distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties
         and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control, to
         encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company
         currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in
         Control and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefit
         arrangements upon a Change in Control which ensure that the
         compensation and benefit expectations of the Executive will be
         satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations.

C.       To accomplish these objectives, the Board has authorized this
         Agreement.

         In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained in
this Agreement, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

         1. Definitions. The definitions set forth in Exhibit A to this
Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.

         2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall continue in effect until the
earlier of (i) termination of Executive's employment prior to a Change in
Control and (ii) a Payment Event shall have occurred and the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations and satisfied all of its liabilities under this
Agreement.

         3. Severance Payments. Upon a Payment Event, in lieu of any further
salary payments and any cash severance benefit otherwise payable to the
Executive, (a) the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash, within 10 days of
the Payment Event, the Severance Payment and (b) for a 36-month period after the
Payment Event or until such earlier time that the Executive becomes reemployed,
the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with health insurance, life
insurance, dental insurance and disability insurance benefits substantially
similar to those available to the Executive prior to the Change in Control.
Notwithstanding any provision of any incentive compensation plan requiring
continued employment after the completed fiscal year or other measuring period
as a condition to payment, the Company shall pay to the Executive an amount, in
cash, equal to the amount of any incentive compensation that was allocated or
awarded to the Executive for a

<PAGE>

completed fiscal year or other measuring period preceding the occurrence of a
Payment Event not yet paid to the Executive.

         4. Gross-Up Payment. Following a Payment Event, the Company shall cause
its independent auditors promptly to review, at the Company's sole expense, the
applicability of Section 4999 of the Code to the Total Payments to be received
by Executive. If such auditors determine that any of the Total Payments would be
subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any interest
or penalties with respect to such tax (such excise tax, together with any
interest and penalties, being collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"),
then, in addition to any amounts otherwise payable under this Agreement, the
Company shall pay an additional cash payment (the "Gross-Up Payment") equal to
the Excise Tax imposed on the Total Payments (which Gross-Up Payment shall take
into account any Excise Tax or any other income and FICA taxes (determined using
the highest applicable rate) that may be imposed on the Gross-Up Payment),
within 30 days of such determination. If no determination by the Company's
auditors is made prior to the time a tax return reflecting the Total Payments is
required to be filed by Executive, Executive will be entitled to receive a
Gross-Up Payment calculated on the basis of the Total Payments reported by him
in such tax return, within 30 days of the filing of such tax return. In all
events, if any tax authority determines that a greater Excise Tax should be
imposed on the Total Payments than is determined by the Company's independent
auditors or reflected in Executive's tax return pursuant to this section,
Executive shall be entitled to receive the full Gross-Up Payment calculated on
the basis of the amount of Excise Tax determined to be payable by such tax
authority from the Company within 30 days of such determination.

         5. Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay to the Executive reasonable
legal fees and reasonable expenses incurred in good faith by the Executive in
obtaining the Severance Payment (including, but not limited to, all such fees
and expenses, if any, in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit
or right provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or
proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Section 4999 of the
Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder). Such payment shall be made
within five business days after delivery of the Executive's written request for
payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the
Company reasonably may require.

         6. Outplacement Services. Upon the occurrence of any Payment Event, the
Company shall provide the Executive with outplacement services substantially
similar to those available to the Executive prior to the Change in Control.

         7. No Mitigation. The Company agrees that if a Payment Event occurs,
the Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way
to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company. The amount of any
payment or benefit provided for in Section 3 (other than in clause (b) thereof)
shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result
of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any

<PAGE>

amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company or any Subsidiary, or
otherwise.

         8. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Governing Law. All matters relating to the interpretation,
construction, validity and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by
the internal laws of the State of Minnesota without giving effect to any choice
or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Minnesota or any
other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of Minnesota.

         (b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings with respect to such subject matter, and the
parties hereto have made no agreements, representations or warranties relating
to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein.

         (c) Amendments. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be
deemed effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

         (d) No Waiver. No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed
to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel to enforce any provisions
of this Agreement, except by a statement in writing signed by the party against
whom enforcement of the waiver or estoppel is sought. Any written waiver shall
not be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated, shall operate only
as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future or as to any act other than that
specifically waived.

         (e) Successor to Company. In addition to any obligations imposed by law
upon any successor to the Company, the Company will require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company to expressly
assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession
had taken place.

         (f) Successor to Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and
legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to
the Executive hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate
upon the death of the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all
such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or
administrators of the Executive's estate.

<PAGE>

         (g) Notices. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the
respective addresses set forth below, or to such other address as either party
may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that
notice of change of address shall be effective only upon actual receipt:

              If to the Company:        The Valspar Corporation
                                        1101 South Third Street
                                        Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
                                        Attention: General Counsel
                                        Fax: (612) 375-7313

              If to the Executive:
                                        -------------------------------

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

                                        -------------------------------
                                        Fax:
                                             --------------------------

         (h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be simultaneously executed in any
number of counterparts, and such counterparts executed and delivered, each as an
original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

         (i) Severability. To the extent any provision of this Agreement shall
be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted herefrom and the
remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall
continue in full force and effect.

         (j) Captions and Headings. The captions and paragraph headings used in
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any of the provisions
hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and the Company have executed this
Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph.

                                       THE VALSPAR CORPORATION

                                       By
                                         ------------------------------------
                                       Its
                                           ----------------------------------

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

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

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

         "Applicable Incentive Amount" means the target potential amount payable
to the Executive pursuant to all incentive compensation plans with a performance
period commencing coincident with or most recently prior to the date on which a
Payment Event occurs, assuming that the Executive were continuously employed by
the Company or a Subsidiary until the last day of the performance period.

         "Cause" means (i) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to
substantially perform the Executive's duties with the Company or a Subsidiary,
as such duties may be defined from time to time, or abide by the written
policies of the Company or of the Executive's primary employer (other than any
such failure resulting from the Executive's termination for Good Reason by the
Executive) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to
the Executive by the Board of Directors which demand specifically identifies the
manner in which the Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not
substantially performed the Executive's duties or has not abided by written
policies, or (ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in conduct which is
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries,
monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of this
definition, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive's part shall be deemed
"willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith
and without reasonable belief that the Executive's act, or failure to act, was
in the best interest of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         "Change in Control" means any of the following: (i) any individual,
entity or group becomes a "Beneficial Owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of at least 20% but less than 50% of the
voting stock of the Company in a transaction that is not previously approved by
the Board of Directors of the Company; (ii) any individual, entity or group
becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of at least 50% of the
voting stock of the Company; (iii) the persons who were directors of the Company
immediately prior to any contested election or series of contested elections,
tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, other business combination,
or any combination of the foregoing cease to constitute a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors of the Company immediately following such
occurrence; (iv) any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business
combination where the individuals or entities who constituted the Company's
shareholders immediately prior to the combination will not immediately after the
combination own at least 50% of the voting securities of the business resulting
from the combination; (v) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or
substantially all the assets of the Company to any individual, entity or group
not affiliated with the Company; (vi) the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company; or (vii) the occurrence of any other event by which the Company no
longer operates as an independent public company.

         "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may be
amended from time to time.

         "Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, $.50 par value per
share.

<PAGE>

         "Disability" means any physical or mental illness or impairment that
renders Executive unable to substantially perform all of such Executive's duties
and services hereunder in a satisfactory manner for a period of 60 consecutive
days.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "Good Reason" means (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status,
title and reporting requirement), authority, duties or responsibilities or any
other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive; (ii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office
or location which is not within 100 miles from (A) Executive's place of
employment immediately prior to a Change in Control or (B) the Company's
headquarters; (iii) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; (iv) any
failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 8(e) of this
Agreement; (v) a reduction in the Executive's annual base salary as in effect on
the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time; (vi) the
failure by the Company or a Subsidiary to pay to the Executive any portion of
the Executive's compensation within seven days of the date of such compensation
is due; (vii) the failure by the Company or a Subsidiary to continue in effect
any compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately prior to
the Change in Control which is material to the Executive's total compensation
unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or
alternative plan or arrangement) has been made with respect to such plan, or the
failure by the Company or a Subsidiary to continue the Executive's participation
therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan or arrangement) on a basis
not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits provided
and the level of the Executive's participation relative to other participants,
as existed at the time of the Change in Control; or (viii) the failure by the
Company or a Subsidiary to continue to provide the Executive with benefits
substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the
Company's or a Subsidiary's retirement, life insurance, medical, health and
accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was participating at the
time of the Change in Control, the taking of any action by the Company or a
Subsidiary which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such
benefits or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the
Executive at the time of the Change in Control, or the failure by the Company or
a Subsidiary to provide the Executive with the number of paid vacation days to
which the Executive is entitled on the basis of years of service with the
Company and its Subsidiary in accordance with the Company's or a Subsidiary's
normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the Change in Control.

         "Payment Event" means the occurrence of a Change in Control coincident
with or followed at any time before the end of the 24-month period immediately
following the month in which the Change in Control occurred, by the termination
of the Executive's employment with the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason
other than (A) by the Executive without Good Reason, (B) by the Company as a
result of

<PAGE>

the Disability of the Executive or for Cause or (C) as a result of the death of
the Executive.

         "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation or other entity, and
shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

         "Severance Payment" means an amount equal to (a) the higher of (i)
three times the sum of Executive's annual base salary in effect immediately
prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control and the Applicable Incentive
Amount or (ii) three times the sum of Executive's annual base salary in effect
immediately prior to the occurrence of the Payment Event and the Applicable
Incentive Amount, plus (b) the Stub Period Incentive Amount.

         "Stub Period Incentive Amount" means the pro rata portion of the
Applicable Incentive Amount for the year in which a Payment Event occurs,
determined by (a) multiplying the Applicable Incentive amount by the number of
days between the first day of the performance period commencing coincident with
or most recently prior to the date on which a Payment Event occurs and the date
of the Payment Event, and (b) dividing the product by 365 days.

         "Subsidiary" means a corporation or other entity or enterprise, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which at least a majority of the securities
or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a
majority of the board of directors or others serving similar functions with
respect to such corporation or other entity or enterprise is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company.

         "Total Payments" means any payment or benefits received or to be
received by Executive payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company as a result of the
termination of Executive's employment with the Company.

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