Document:

EXHIBIT 10.5
-------------

                            AMENDMENT AGREEMENT NO. 1
                           TO 364 DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment Agreement") is made and
entered into as of this 24th day of February, 2000, by and among AMERISTEEL
CORPORATION, a Florida corporation (herein called the "Borrower"), BANK OF
AMERICA, N.A. (the "Administrative Agent"), as Administrative Agent for the
lenders (the "Lenders") party to the 364 Day Credit Agreement dated October 20,
1999 (the "Agreement") among the Lenders, Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                               -------------------

         WHEREAS, the parties hereto have entered into the Agreement pursuant to
which the Lenders have agreed to make revolving loans (the "364 Day Loans") to
the Borrower in the aggregate principal amount of up to $70,000,000 as evidenced
by the Notes (as defined in the Agreement); and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to the making of the 364 Day Loans the Lenders
have required that all wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Borrower guarantee
payment of all Obligations of the Borrower arising under the Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, by the terms of the Agreement the proceeds of the 364 Day
Loans may be used only to repurchase Borrower's 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2008
(the "Senior Notes"); and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Agreement be amended in
order to (i) increase the amount of the Total 364 Day Commitment by an
additional $20,000,000 from $70,000,000 to $90,000,000 and to permit the use of
a portion of such additional $20,000,000 to repay intercompany indebtedness to
FLS which shall use such amount to repay the outstanding principal balance of
Subordinated Notes of FLS payable to Mitsubishi International Corp., and the
balance to repay indebtedness arising under the Existing Credit Agreement (ii)
extend the 364 Day Termination Date, (iii) to amend the definition of Security
Event and (iv) permit a one time change in its fiscal year; and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Agreement be amended in
the manner described herein in order to permit the change in ownership and the
incurrence of the additional Indebtedness and the Agents and the Lenders have
agreed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make such amendment, as
provided herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders party hereto
do hereby agree as follows:

         1. Definitions. The term "Agreement" as used herein and in the Loan
Documents (as defined in the Agreement) shall mean the Agreement as hereinafter
amended and modified. Unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used
herein without definition shall have the definition provided therefor in the
Agreement.

         2. Amendment. Subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Agreement
is hereby amended, effective as of the date hereof, as follows:

                  (a) The second "WHEREAS" paragraph in the preamble to the
         Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety so that as amended it shall
         read as follows:

                                       1
<PAGE>
                           "WHEREAS, as a result of such change of ownership the
                  holders of the Borrower's 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2008 (the
                  "Senior Notes") and FLS's Note (with payment terms similar to
                  the Borrower's Subordinated Intercompany Note) are entitled to
                  require that the Borrower repurchase the Senior Notes and FLS
                  repay its Note and the Borrower has requested that the Lenders
                  make a loan of $90,000,000 to the Borrower, the proceeds of
                  which loan will be used to repurchase Senior Notes, repay the
                  Subordinated Intercompany Note and indebtedness arising under
                  the Existing Credit Agreement and the Lenders are willing to
                  make the loan to the Borrower on the terms and the conditions
                  set forth herein;"

                  (b) The definition of "Security Event" in Section 1.1 is
         hereby amended in its entirety so that as amended it shall read as
         follows:

                           "'Security Event' means the earlier to occur of (i)
                  the occurrence of either a Default or Event of Default, (ii)
                  the occurrence of a default or event of default under the
                  Existing Credit Agreement, (iii) September 23, 2000 and (iv)
                  the date the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall exceed 2.75 to
                  1.00."

                  (c) The definition of "Stated Termination Date" in Section 1.1
         is hereby amended in its entirety so that as amended it shall read as
         follows:

                           "'Stated Termination Date' means January 18, 2001.

                  (d) The definition of "Total 364 Day Commitment" in Section
         1.1 is hereby amended in its entirety so that as amended it shall read
         as follows:

                           "'Total 364 Day Commitment' means a principal amount
                  equal to $90,000,000, as reduced from time to time in
                  accordance with Section 2.3 and Section 2.7."

                  (e) Section 2.13 is hereby amended in its entirety so that as
         amended it shall read as follows:

                           "2.13 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made
                  pursuant to the 364 Day Facility hereunder shall be used by
                  the Borrower to (i) prepay Senior Notes, (ii) pay in full the
                  remaining $15,000,000 principal balance of the Subordinated
                  Intercompany Note, and (iii) repay Indebtedness outstanding
                  under the Existing Credit Agreement."

                  (f) Section 5.2(e) is hereby amended in its entirety so that
         as amended it shall read as follows:

                           "(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received
                  evidence acceptable to the Administrative Agent that the
                  proceeds of such 364 Day Loans are used to (i) purchase Senior
                  Notes, (ii) pay in full the Subordinated Intercompany Note, or
                  (iii) repay Indebtedness arising under the Existing Credit
                  Agreement.

                  (g) Exhibit A to the Agreement is hereby amended in its
         entirety so that as amended it is in the form of Exhibit A attached to
         this Amendment Agreement.

                                       2
<PAGE>
         3. Agreement and Consent. The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and
  the Lenders agree by their execution of this Amendment Agreement that the
  replacement of the Subordinated Intercompany Note with proceeds of the 364 Day
  Facility shall not constitute a refinancing of such Indebtedness pursuant to
  either Section 8.5(a) or Section 8.5(f) or a Restricted Payment under Section
  8.9 or an Affiliate transaction under Section 8.10. The Lenders hereby consent
  to the payment of the Subordinated Intercompany Notes notwithstanding the
  limitation set forth in Section 8.18(a) of the Agreement and to a one time
  change of the fiscal year of Borrower from March 31 to December 31 of each
  calendar year.

         4. Subsidiary Consents. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that has
  delivered a Guaranty to the Administrative Agent has joined in the execution
  of this Amendment Agreement for the purpose of (i) agreeing to the amendment
  to the Agreement and (ii) confirming its guarantee of payment of all the
  Obligations.

         5. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby represents and
  warrants that:

                  (a) The representations and warranties made by Borrower in
         Article VI of the Agreement are true on and as of the date hereof with
         the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been
         made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such
         representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date and
         except that the financial statements referred to in Section 6.6(a)(i)
         of the Agreement shall be deemed to be those financial statements most
         recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant
         to Section 7.1 from the date financial statements are delivered to the
         Administrative Agent and the Lenders in accordance with such Section;

                  (b) There has been no material adverse change in the
         condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
         since the date of the most recent financial reports of the Borrower
         received by each Lender under Section 8.1 thereof, other than changes
         in the ordinary course of business, none of which has been a material
         adverse change;

                  (c) The business and properties of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries are not and have not been adversely affected in any
         substantial way as the result of any fire, explosion, earthquake,
         accident, strike, lockout, combination of workers, flood, embargo,
         riot, activities of armed forces, war or acts of God or the public
         enemy, or cancellation or loss of any major contracts;

                  (d) No event has occurred and no condition exists which, upon
         the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, constitutes a
         Default or an Event of Default on the part of the Borrower under the
         Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document either immediately or
         with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both; and

                  (e) that the incurrence of an additional $20,000,000 of
         Indebtedness pursuant to the Agreement by the Borrower will not result
         in a Default or Event of Default under the Agreement.

         6. Conditions. This Amendment Agreement shall become effective upon the
  Borrower delivering to the Administrative Agent the following:

                  (a) ten (10) counterparts of this Amendment Agreement duly
         executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and
         consented to by each of the Subsidiaries;

                  (b) to those Lenders increasing their 364 Day Commitments,
         duly authorized and executed 364 Day Notes in the amount of their
         respective 364 Day Commitment;

                  (c) an opinion of counsel for the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries in form and content acceptable to the Administrative
         Agent;

                                       3
<PAGE>
                  (d) resolutions of the Boards of Directors of the Borrower and
         its Subsidiaries authorizing the transactions contemplated by this
         Amendment Agreement;

                  (e) receipt by the Administrative Agent on behalf of itself
         and the Lenders of all fees and expenses due in connection with this
         Amendment Agreement; and

                  (f) such other certificates, instruments and documents as the
         Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.

         7. Entire Agreement. This Amendment Agreement sets forth the entire
  understanding and agreement of the parties hereto in relation to the subject
  matter hereof and supersedes any prior negotiations and agreements among the
  parties relative to such subject matter. No promise, conditions,
  representation or warranty, express or implied, not herein set forth shall
  bind any party hereto, and no one of them has relied on any such promise,
  condition, representation or warranty. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges
  that, except as in this Amendment Agreement otherwise expressly stated, no
  representations, warranties or commitments, express or implied, have been made
  by any other party to the other. None of the terms or conditions of this
  Amendment Agreement may be changed, modified, waived or canceled orally or
  otherwise, except by writing, in the manner provided in the Agreement,
  specifying such change, modification, waiver or cancellation of such terms or
  conditions, or of any proceeding or succeeding breach thereof.

         8. Full Force and Effect of Agreement. Except as hereby specifically
  amended, modified or supplemented, the Agreement and all of the other Loan
  Documents are hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall remain
  in full force and effect according to their respective terms.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment
  Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the
  day and year first above written.

                                            BORROWER:

                                            AMERISTEEL CORPORATION
WITNESS:

  /s/ Amy Krovocheck
---------------------
                                        By:      /s/ George D. Beck
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name:    George D. Beck
 /s/  Carmen Matos                      Title:   Assistant Treasurer
---------------------

                                             GUARANTORS:

                                             AMERISTEEL FINANCE, INC.

  /s/ Judy Bryant                       By:      /s/ Tom Rose
---------------------                      ----------------------------------
                                        Name:    Tom Rose
---------------------                   Title:  President

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A,
                                        as Administrative Agent

                                        By:     /s/ Bianca Hemmen
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: Bianca Hemmen
                                        Title:   Managing Director

                                        BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender

                                        By:     /s/ Bianca Hemmen
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: Bianca Hemmen
                                        Title:   Managing Director

                                        SUNTRUST BANK, TAMPA BAY

                                        By:     /s/ W. David Wisdom
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: W. David Wisdom
                                        Title:   Vice President

                                        FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                        By:     /s/ Jorge A. Gonzalez
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name:  Jorge A. Gonzalez
                                        Title:    Senior Vice President

                                        PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                        By: /s/ Lynn Koncz
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: Lynn Koncz
                                        Title:    Vice President

                                        AMSOUTH BANK

                                        By:  /s/  Scott M. Jacobsen
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name:  Scott M. Jacobsen
                                        Title:   City President

                                       5
<PAGE>
                                        SOUTHTRUST BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                        By:   /s/ Leslie Dunbar
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: Leslie Dunbar
                                        Title:   Vice President

                                        LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                        By:  /s/ Roger N. Arsham
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name: Roger N. Arsham
                                        Title:   Vice President

                                        WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

                                        By:  /s/ William R. McCamey
                                            --------------------------------
                                        Name:  William R. McCamey
                                        Title:    Vice President

                                    EXHIBIT A

                        Applicable Commitment Percentages

                                                               Applicable
                                             364 Day           Commitment
Lender                                       Commitment        Percentage
------                                       ----------        ----------

Bank of America, N.A.                        $15,714,285.72     17.46031747%

SunTrust Bank, Tampa Bay                      15,500,000.00     17.22222222%

First Union National Bank                     11,500,000.00     12.77777778%

PNC Bank, National Association                10,928,571.43     12.14285714%

AmSouth Bank                                  10,928,571.43     12.14285714%

SouthTrust Bank, National Association          7,714,285.71      8.57142857%

LaSalle Bank National Association             10,000,000.00     11.11111111%

Wachovia Bank, N.A.                            7,714,285.71      8.57142857%
                                           ----------------    -------------

                                            $ 90,000,000.00        100%

                                       6EXHIBIT 10.6
------------

AMERISTEEL CORPORATION 2000 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE STAKEHOLDER
PLAN DOCUMENT

AmeriSteel Corporation

March 20, 2000

<PAGE>
About This Material

================================================================================
This plan document provides both design and administrative specifications for a
Long-Term Incentive Stakeholder Plan for AmeriSteel Corporation. It explains the
purpose, structure, and workings of the plan, and provides history and context
for the design decisions.

This material will serve as the formal plan document for the plan, as well as
serving as institutional memory for the design decisions.

<PAGE>
Stakeholder Plan Design

================================================================================
Plan Objectives
The goal of the long-term incentive plan is to create added value for the
Company's shareholders and participating executives. AmeriSteel's long-term
incentive plan, the Stakeholder Plan, is part of the total compensation program
for senior executives. The total program includes base salary, annual bonus
opportunity, benefits, and long-term incentive opportunities.

An important objective of the long-term incentive plan is to ensure that senior
management's interests are congruent with those of the Company's shareholders.
When AmeriSteel prospers, shareholders profit, and participating executives will
have an opportunity to accumulate wealth. The reasons for installing this plan
are to:

o        Share performance rewards with those most responsible,

o        Reward senior management's leadership and dedication,

o        Enhance and encourage personal and corporate growth opportunities,

o        Recruit, develop and retain high-calibre executive talent,

o        Maximize return on capital employed.

Plan Concept
The Stakeholder Plan is designed to reward AmeriSteel executives with a share of
the profits after a capital charge. Management's attention should be focused on
generating maximum earnings while minimizing capital employed. The more
successful management is in achieving these objectives, the greater their
financial rewards from the Plan will be. Awards are calculated in three steps:

1.       Base amount (EBIT minus a Capital Charge),

2.       Sharing Percentage (established to generate desired award levels),

3.       Individual's percentage stake (for establishing each individual's
         share of the reward).

The Board's Executive Compensation Committee has the right at the conclusion of
a Plan Year to increase or decrease (including to zero) the Award otherwise
payable to a Participant based on the evaluation of the Committee, in its sole
discretion, of individual performance and to adjust the Base Amount for
extraordinary financial items. It is not anticipated that the Committee will
make an adjustment except in an unusual situation.

Earned awards are vested and paid out over four years.

<PAGE>
Summary of Stakeholder Plan Terms
Following are the primary terms of the Stakeholder Plan. Each is discussed in
detail in the body of this document.

Company                             AmeriSteel Corporation

Plan                                AmeriSteel Corporation 2000 Long-Term
                                    Incentive Stakeholder Plan.

Governance                          Executive Compensation Committee appointed
                                    by the AmeriSteel Board of Directors (the
                                    "Committee").

Documents                           This Plan document governs the plan.
                                    Individual Award Agreements explain the
                                    individual rights of participants.

Effective Date                      October 1, 1999.

Plan Year                           January 1 to December 31, except for two
                                    short initial Plan Years of October 1, 1999
                                    to March 31, 2000 and April 1, 2000 to
                                    December 31, 2000.

Eligibility                         Senior management, including Executive
                                    Officers.

CEO Award                           The Chief Executive Officer is not included
                                    in plan calculations that apply to other
                                    participants. He will receive an Award equal
                                    to 1.5X the dollar Award of an Executive
                                    Officer.

Grant Frequency                     Annual (each Plan Year).

Grant Agreement                     Communication at the beginning of
                                    each Plan Year of the anticipated Capital
                                    Charge to be used in the Base Amount
                                    calculation, the Sharing Percent and a
                                    participant's Individual Percentage Stake
                                    for the Year.

Base Amount                         EBIT minus a Capital Charge.

Capital Charge                      A percent of Capital (Debt + Equity).
                                    The percent is set anew each year, based on
                                    a weighted average of AmeriSteel's debt rate
                                    (interest expense plus amortization of
                                    deferred finance charges, both after tax,
                                    divided by the average outstanding debt)
                                    during the current Plan Year and the
                                    shareholder's desired equity return during
                                    the Plan Year, currently 15%. The initial
                                    anticipated percent will be 10%.

Debt                                Average and outstanding long-term and
                                    short-term debt during the plan year, less
                                    cash.

Equity                              Average shareholders' equity during the plan
                                    year as reflected on the Company's financial
                                    statements.

Sharing Percent                     A percent, set anew each year, of the Base
                                    Amount awarded annually to participants. The
                                    initial percent will be 5%.
<PAGE>

Incentive Pool                      Base Amount  x  Sharing Percent.

Individual Percentage Stake         Percent of Incentive Pool allocated to each
                                    participant. Total of all Individual
                                    Percentage Stakes = 100% at the beginning of
                                    the Plan Year.

Award                               Base Amount x Sharing Percent x Individual
                                    Percentage Stake, subject to Committee
                                    review and approval based on the Committee's
                                    evaluation, in its sole discretion, of
                                    individual performance and extraordinary
                                    financial items. Awards are made at the end
                                    of each Plan Year to the extent earned.

Vesting                             Awards vest over four years, beginning the
                                    day following the first anniversary of the
                                    end of the Plan Year for which an Award is
                                    made.

Payout Schedule                     Awards are paid out over four years,
                                    beginning one year after the end of the Plan
                                    Year in which an Award is made.

Form of Payment                     Cash.

Change in Participants              Participants may be added or deleted with no
                                    effect on current participants for the Plan
                                    Year in progress. Adjustments may be made
                                    for the next Plan Year to reflect changes in
                                    the number of participants.

Retirement                          If a Participant's employment is terminated
                                    by reason of retirement or early retirement
                                    (as defined under the Company's qualified
                                    Retirement plan), unvested payments vest pro
                                    rata based on number of full months of
                                    employment during the restricted period for
                                    each Award. (Payment is calculated
                                    separately for each unvested Award, and
                                    equals the portion of the total vesting
                                    period worked, divided by the total vesting
                                    period.)

Death/Disability                    Unvested payments vest and are paid out
                                    immediately.

Termination                         Unvested payments are forfeited.

Change In Control                   The Plan defines a change in control. If
                                    employment and Plan continue, there is no
                                    impact. If employment is terminated or the
                                    Plan is terminated within a two-year period
                                    following the change of control event, all
                                    then-unvested payments vest and are paid out
                                    immediately.

Tax Withholding                     Required taxes will be due at the time an
                                    Award vests.

<PAGE>
Investment Opportunity              Up to 100% of an Award may be invested in
                                    Phantom Stock, in 25% increments. Awards
                                    will be invested in Phantom Stock as soon as
                                    they are made, and will vest according to
                                    the regular vesting schedule for that Award.

Phantom Stock                       Phantom Stock collectively refers to
                                    AmeriSteel Phantom Stock or Gerdau Phantom
                                    American Depository Receipts (ADRs).

Fair Market Value                   For AmeriSteel Phantom Stock, the most
                                    recent valuation of AmeriSteel stock. For
                                    Gerdau Phantom ADRs, the average of the
                                    closing value as reported on the New York
                                    Stock Exchange for the five consecutive
                                    business days prior to the date of the
                                    valuation.

Investment Premium                  A premium (add-on) of 25% will be
                                    added to individual awards invested in
                                    Phantom Stock.

Investment Account                  Awards invested in Phantom Stock will be
                                    held in an Investment Account until such
                                    time that they are paid to a participant.
                                    The underlying security in the Investment
                                    Account will be either AmeriSteel Phantom
                                    Stock or Gerdau Phantom ADRs.

Account Distribution                Participants may take distribution from an
                                    Investment Account at any time once an Award
                                    has vested.

Plan Design and Administration

                                   Governance

The Committee, which is named by the AmeriSteel Board of Directors, will be
responsible for the administration and governance of the Plan. The Committee may
delegate authority for administering the program, as it deems fit.

The Committee's responsibilities in administering the plan include, but are not
limited to:

o  At the beginning of the Plan Year, determining the specific Plan
   participants, Sharing Percents, Individual Percentage Stakes, and estimated
   Capital Charge.

o  At the end of the Plan Year, conduct a formal review and make a final
   determination on any extraordinary adjustments to the individual Awards.

o  For the Base Amount calculation, excluding items of income, expense and
   capital employed that it considers to be extraordinary.

The Committee may interpret the provisions of the Plan during the Plan Year, and
resolve discrepancies in this Plan document.

<PAGE>
The Committee also may amend, modify, or terminate the Plan at any time during
the Plan Year. For example, it may change grant frequency, vesting provisions,
or treatment on termination of employment for future Awards, or end the plan
altogether. However, once an award is granted, no such amendment, modification,
or termination, without the consent of the participant (or his or her
beneficiary in the case of death of the participant) will reduce the right of a
participant (or beneficiary) to a payment or distribution in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan or Grant Agreements already granted to participants.

                                 Effective Date

The AmeriSteel Corporation 2000 Long-Term Incentive Stakeholder Plan (the
"Plan") is effective as of October 1, 1999. The Plan will remain in effect,
subject to the right of the Committee to amend or terminate the Plan at any time
pursuant to the Plan specifications.

                                    Plan Year

In general, the Company's fiscal year, January 1 to December 31, will be the
Plan Year. At the time the Plan was implemented, however, the Company's fiscal
year was April 1 to March 31. In addition the Plan was begun mid-year.

Thus, the first Plan Year is a six-month short year from October 1, 1999 to
March 31, 2000. The second Plan Year is a nine-month short year, April 1, 2000
to December 31, 2000. The first full twelve-month Plan Year will be from January
1, 2001 to December 31, 2001, the Company's first calendar fiscal year.

                                   Eligibility

Participation in the Plan is at the discretion of the Committee, and is based on
position. Initial eligibility will be limited to senior management. This
includes seven positions and fourteen incumbents, as follows:

o        Executive Officers
         -- Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
         -- Vice President, Human Resources
         -- Vice President, Sales
         -- Vice President, Materiel Procurement
         -- Group Vice President (2 incumbents)

o        Vice President, Mill Division Manager (4 incumbents)

o        Regional Fabrication Manager (4 incumbents)

                          Chief Executive Officer Award

The Chief Executive Officer will also receive an award that will be equal to
1.5X the award, expressed in dollars, of an Executive Officer. The Chief
Executive Officer award is excluded from all calculations discussed below.

                                   Base Amount

The pool of funds available for Award, or Base Amount, is determined by
performance. Performance is measured by calculating Earnings Before Interest and
Taxes, and subtracting a Capital Charge.

<PAGE>
The Capital Charge is calculated as a percent of Capital. Capital is defined as
Debt + Equity. For these purposes, Debt is the weighted average of the Company's
outstanding debt for the year, with debt including both long-term debt and
short-term debt, less cash on hand; and Equity is the average of the Company's
reported shareholder equity. The Capital Charge is established at the end of
each year, based on a weighted average of AmeriSteel's Debt rate for the current
Plan Year and the shareholder's desired equity return, currently 15%. The
initial anticipated Capital Charge will be 10%.

Following is an example of a calculation for a full (12 month) Plan Year.

         Base Amount = EBIT - Charge on Capital

                     = EBIT - [Capital Charge Percent x (Debt + Equity)]

                     = $78,000,000  -  [10%  x  ($210,000,000  +  $221,000,000)]

                     = $34,900,000

EBIT will be calculated after the annual cost of this Plan. The estimated cost
of the Plan is accrued each month and will be adjusted at the end of the Plan
Year to reflect actual Award payments.

In the event the Base Amount is a negative number (i.e., the Capital Charge is
higher than EBIT), the Award will be zero for the Plan Year.

The Plan is structured to measure fiscal year performance. However, as noted
above, the first two Plan Years will be short years. Performance will be
measured and the Base Amount calculated as discussed below:

o    Initial Plan Year - For the first Plan Year, ending March 31, 2000, the
     Base Amount will be calculated based on performance in the last six months
     of the fiscal year. That is, EBIT will represent performance from October
     1, 1999 to March 31, 2000. The Capital Charge will be based on the six
     months of the fiscal year the Plan was in effect, and prorated at
     six-twelfths of the annual amount.

o    Second Plan Year - The second Plan Year will be April 1, 2000 to December
     31, 2000. This short period will constitute a fiscal year. The Capital
     Charge must be prorated at nine-twelfths of the annual amount.

                                 Sharing Percent

The Sharing Percent is the percent of the Base Amount that will be awarded to
all participants as a group. It will be calculated taking into consideration
market data, internal equity and other factors.

The initial Sharing Percent is set at 5%. It will be reviewed each Plan Year.
While it is anticipated that it will remain fairly stable, consideration will be
given to changes in eligibility, projected results, changes in capital
intensity, long-term incentive market values, and changes in compensation
philosophy.

                                 Incentive Pool

The Base Amount x the Sharing Percent equals the Incentive Pool. This is the
total amount of funds that will be paid to participants. Following is an example
of the Incentive Pool calculation, using the Base Amount calculated above:
<PAGE>

                 Incentive Pool = Base Amount x Sharing Percent

                                = $34,900,000  x  5%

                                = $1,745,000

                           Individual Percentage Stake

Each participant is assigned an Individual Percentage Stake in the Incentive
Pool. The Individual Percentage Stakes are set to generate the desired long-term
incentive award levels set by the Committee.

The sum of all Individual Percentage Stakes will be 100% at the beginning of the
Plan Year. If a participant terminates employment during the year, however, the
total will be less than 100%. (The stake of the departing participant is not
reallocated to other participants). Conversely, if a new participant enters the
plan, the total may be more than 100% for that year. (The new participant's
share is not taken from the existing participants).

Initial Individual Percentage Stakes are shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        =============================================================================================
                                                                Initial
         Positions in Initial Plan Year                        Individual
                                                            Percentage Stake      Total for Group
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>                  <C>
        Executive Officers (6)                                     8.750%               52.5%

        VP, Mill Division Managers (4)                             6.250%               25.0%

        Regional Fabrication Managers (4)                          5.625%               22.5%

        Total All Initial Individual Percentage Stakes                                   100%
        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The Incentive Pool is multiplied by the Individual Percentage Stakes to
determine individual Awards. Following is an example of the Individual
Percentage Stake Calculation for determining an individual Award for an
Executive Officer:

              Award = Incentive Pool x Individual Percentage Stake

                    = $1,745,000  x  8.750%

                    =$152,688

The Committee has the right at the conclusion of a Plan Year to increase or
decrease (including to zero) the Award otherwise payable to a Participant based
on the evaluation of the Committee, in its sole discretion, of individual
performance and to adjust the Base Amount for extraordinary financial items. It
is not anticipated that the Committee will make an adjustment except in an
unusual situation.

                                 Grant Frequency

A new Plan calculation will be made at the beginning of each Plan Year. Prior to
each Grant, certain amounts must be communicated to participants, including:

<PAGE>
o  Anticipated Capital Charge to be used in the Base Amount calculation. (Actual
   charges will be determined at the end of the Plan Year.)

o  Sharing Percent.

o  Individual Percentage Stakes.

                                     Awards

Awards are calculated at the end of each Plan Year. They vest and are paid out
over four years according to the vesting schedule.

                                  Vesting Date

Awards vest over four years, beginning the day following the first anniversary
of the end of the Plan Year for which an Award is made. For example, for an
Award made for performance in the Plan Year ending December 31, 2000, if the
total Award value is $100,000, $25,000 will vest January 1, 2002, $25,000
January 1, 2003, $25,000 January 1, 2004 and $25,000 January 1, 2005.

Awards granted but unvested are not earned amounts. They are allocations of
current and prior years' results that are earned if employment continues.

The term "Award" is meant to convey the orientation of the program as an
"owner-like" structure, but the Awards in no way represent a legal ownership
interest in AmeriSteel.

                                Payment Schedule

Payment of each Award will be spread over a four-year period in accordance with
the vesting schedule. Payment will be made as soon as practicable, but in no
event later than 60 days from the date that a payment vests, unless a
participant has elected to invest an Award in Phantom Stock, as outlined in the
Investment Opportunities section below. The result is that the first three Plan
payouts will reflect 1 year's, 2 years' and 3 years' performance. The fourth and
later payouts will reflect 4 years' performance.

As an illustration, the payment due within 60 days after January 1, 2006 will
include the fourth installment of the Award earned for the Plan Year ending
December 31, 2001, the third installment of the Award earned for the Plan Year
ending December 31, 2002, the second installment of the Award Earned for the
Plan Year ending December 31, 2003, and the first installment of the Award
Earned for the Plan Year ending December 31, 2004. The payment schedule is
illustrated in detail in Attachment A.

All payments will be made in cash.

<PAGE>
                             Investment Opportunity

Participants have the opportunity to invest Awards under the Plan in Phantom
Stock units. Participants may invest Awards, in 25% increments up to 100%, in
one of two investment vehicles:

o  AmeriSteel Phantom stock, or

o  Gerdau Phantom American Depository Receipts (ADRs).

Phantom stock accounts will reflect all economic events associated with Company
stock, including dividends and stock splits.

To encourage participants to invest their Awards in Phantom Stock, Participants
will receive an Investment Premium (add-on) of 25% on the amount invested.

Investment elections will be made as near as possible prior to the end of the
Plan Year for any Award made for that Plan Year.

Awards invested in Phantom Stock will be put in an Investment Account at the
time an Award is made at the end of the Plan Year. This will allow Awards
invested in Phantom Stock to potentially grow prior to when they vest and become
payable.

Investment Benefits

The benefits of the investment opportunity to the participants include:

o  An increase in total Award size of 25% of the funds "invested,"

o  Potential appreciation in value of AmeriSteel or Gerdau, and therefore growth
   in the underlying investment in the Investment Account.

The benefits of the investment opportunity to the Company include:

o  An incentive to tie amounts already earned to the performance of the Company
   through the investment in Phantom Stock,

o  Employee retention.

Investment Premium

As noted above, participants will receive a 25% Investment Premium (add-on) to
amounts invested in Phantom Stock. For example, a participant who receives a
$100,000 Award and elects to invest 50% in Phantom Stock will receive $50,000 in
cash and have $62,500 ($50,000 + 25%) credited to an Investment Account.

<PAGE>
Investment Accounts

Awards invested in Phantom Stock will be credited to an Investment Account. The
number of units credited to an Investment Account will equal the total Award
amount to be invested plus the Investment Premium, divided by the applicable
Fair Market Value of the Phantom Stock on the date an Award is made. The value
of an Investment Account will fluctuate with the Fair Market Value of the
Phantom Stock, and other economic events such as dividends and stock splits,
until such time as the full Investment Account balance is distributed.

On the date an Award that is invested in Phantom Stock vests, the total value is
taxable and participants are responsible for any applicable taxes. In order to
receive an Award (including a credit to an Investment Account), a Participant
must either pay the Company the amount of the required withholding for taxes
(including income and FICA taxes), or authorize the Company to take such amount
from any cash payments otherwise due the Participant and/or to reduce the amount
credited to the Investment Account for the Participant. Vested amounts remaining
after payment of taxes may be paid out in cash, or remain in the Investment
Account until such time as the participant requests distribution.

Below is an example of an Investment Account calculation based on an Award of
$100,000 with 50% taken in cash and 50% invested in AmeriSteel Phantom Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================

Schedule                                           Cash Award           Phantom Stock Award
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>                  <C>
Award Value 1/1/02                                 $50,000              $50,000
Investment Premium                                                      $12,500
Phantom Stock Investment 1/1/02                                         $62,500 @ $25 = 2,500 units
Unvested Value 1/1/02                              $50,000              $62,500

Vested Value 1/1/03  (1/4 of Award)                $12,500              625 units @$30 = $18,750

Unvested Value 1/1/03  (3/4 of Award)              $37,500              1,875 units @ $30 = $54,000

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Payments from an Investment Account

Once an Award in an Investment Account has vested and been taxed, a participant
may liquidate the Investment Account at any time for cash.

The value of the Phantom Stock will be based on the Fair Market Value on the
date a participant makes a request for a distribution, or upon termination of
employment, if earlier. For these purposes, the date of the distribution request
will be the date the request is received by the company.

An initial payment will be made on the basis of the Fair Market Value then
known. If there is no public market for the AmeriSteel common stock at that
time, the Fair Market Value will be based on the latest appraised valuation for
the stock at the time of the request, or termination of employment, as the case
may be. If a new appraisal is subsequently obtained that has an effective date
prior to the date a request for distribution is made or employment is
terminated, a supplementary payment will be made to reflect the increase in
value, if there is one.

All cash payments will be made in a lump sum amount within 60 days of the date a
participant makes a request for distribution, or within 60 days of termination
of employment.

<PAGE>

If a participant chooses to leave funds in an Investment Account after they have
vested and taxes are paid, the difference between the value of the amount
remaining and the value on the date of final distribution will be taxable as
income (if there is a gain). Appropriate tax withholding will be subtracted from
any cash payment.

                        Adding and Removing Participants

Adding or deleting a participant will not have an impact on the Award potential
of current participants in the year the participant is added.

Adding Participants

An employee hired or promoted into an eligible position during the fiscal year
may participate in the Plan in the year of hire or promotion. An Individual
Percentage Stake will be assigned to the new participant by the Committee. Other
participants' Individual Percentage Stakes will not be reduced; however, the
Company will fund the new Award from outside the Incentive Pool.

The Individual Percentage Stake assigned will take into account any proration
for less than a full year's performance. It will be applied to the full results
for the Plan Year. Below is an example of a calculation when a new participant
is in the Plan for six months:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
         Incentive Pool Plan Year Ending December 31, 2001:                            $1,000,000

         New Participant's Individual Percentage Stake:                         5%  x  6/12 = 2.5%

         Award to New Participant:                                                        $25,000

         Award to Current Participants:                                                $1,000,000

         Total of All Awards:                                                          $1,025,000
</TABLE>

For future grants, the Base Amount, Sharing Percent and/or Individual Percentage
Stakes will be revisited. Adding participants to the Plan presumably would not
be done unless an overall enhancement of value is anticipated. Thus, a smaller
share of a larger pool can be beneficial to all. However, if a major change in
eligibility criteria occurs, or a change in the philosophy of the program, the
variables will be revisited accordingly.

Removing Participants

If a participant ceases to be eligible for an award under the Plan, the Awards
due to remaining participants at the end of the current Plan Year will not be
affected. The value of the Award that would have been paid will be excluded from
Awards and reinvested in the Company. Prior to the beginning of the next Plan
Year, the Committee will review the Sharing Percent and Individual Percentage
Stakes to determine necessary adjustments.

       Termination of Employment and Disposition of the Incentive Account

Upon separation for any reason other than a change in control, death, disability
or retirement, participants will receive only amounts that have vested in the
Plan. Future installments from previous Awards will not be paid. Attachment B
illustrates the effect of termination on future payments.

If a participant terminates due to death or disability, all unvested amounts
vest immediately and payment is accelerated to within 60 days of the date of
termination. Disability will have the same definition as the Company's long-term
disability insurance program.

<PAGE>
If a participant terminates due to retirement, he will vest pro rata in unvested
amounts. This is calculated separately for each unvested portion, and equals the
portion of the total vesting period worked, divided by the total vesting period.
For example:

o  Participant retires on March 31, 2003. In his account there are the following
   amounts. The data in the table labeled "Vests" is the date the amount would
   normally have vested absent the retirement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                             <C>                        <C>                         <C>
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $40,000
   Earned 3/31/2000
   Vests 4/1/2004
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $50,000                      $50,000
   Earned 12/31/2000            Earned 12/31/2000
   Vests 1/1/2004               Vests 1/1/2005
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $60,000                      $60,000                    $60,000
   Earned 12/31/2001            Earned 12/31/2001          Earned 12/31/2001
   Vests 1/1/2004               Vests 1/1/2005             Vests 1/1/2006
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $70,000                      $70,000                    $70,000                     $70,000
   Earned 12/31/2002            Earned 12/31/2002          Earned 12/31/2002           Earned 12/31/2002
   Vests 1/1/2004               Vests 1/1/2005             Vests 1/1/2006              Vests 1/1/2007
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
</TABLE>

o Upon retirement, the participant will vest in the above amounts as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                             <C>                        <C>                         <C>
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $40,000 x 36/48
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $50,000 x 27/36              $50,000 x 27/48
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $60,000 x 15/24              $60,000 x 15/36            $60,000 x 15/48
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
   $70,000 x 3/12               $70,000 x 3/24             $70,000 x 3/36              $70,000 x 3/48
   ---------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------
</TABLE>
                                Change in Control

Payments upon a change in control are dependent upon whether or not a
participant remains with the Company, and whether or not the new company
continues the Plan.

Definition of Change in Control

A "Change of Control" is defined as any one of the following:

(a) a change in control of the Company of a nature that is required, pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), to be reported in response
to (i) Item 1(a) of a Current report on Form 8-K or (ii) Item 6(e) of Schedule
14A, in each case as such requirements are in effect on January 1, 2000, or

(b) the adoption by the Company of a plan of dissolution or liquidation, or

(c) the closing of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or

(d) Gerdau S.A. and its affiliates own less than 50% of the combined voting
power of the Company's voting securities.

Impact of a Change in Control

Following is the impact of a change in control on participants in the Plan.

<PAGE>
o  If the participant remains employed, participation in the Plan will continue
   until such time as the Plan is replaced or eliminated.

o  If the participant is terminated within two years of a change in control, all
   then-unvested Awards will vest and be paid immediately.

o  If the Plan is terminated within two years of a change in control, all
   then-unvested amounts will vest and be paid immediately, including amounts in
   an Investment Account.

If a participant leaves the company voluntarily for any reason (other than
retirement), unvested awards will be forfeited. Retirement payments will vest in
the same manner as if there were no change in control.

                                 Tax Withholding

Income taxes are due and payable by participants on all Awards at the time of
vesting, whether taken in cash or invested in Phantom Stock.

Non-Transferable

Awards made under the Plan are non-transferable other than by will or under the
laws of descent and distribution.

Designation of Beneficiary

Participants may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any vested
or unvested Award payments due under the Plan or held in an Investment Account
in the event of death while participating in the Plan. A Designation of
Beneficiary form must be completed and filed with the Company, or the
participant's estate will be deemed to be the beneficiary of any payments
otherwise due to the participant.

                                   Employment

Nothing in this Plan or any related material shall give a participant the right
to continued employment by AmeriSteel, or interfere with or limit in any way the
Company's right to terminate a participant's employment, with or without cause,
at any time.

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