Document:

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    Exhibit 4(b)

                               BRUSH WELLMAN INC.
                                       AND
                         BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS INC.

                   AMENDMENT TO BRUSH WELLMAN INC. 1997 STOCK
                    INCENTIVE PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

                  Brush Wellman Inc., an Ohio corporation ("BRUSH"), and Brush
Engineered Materials Inc. ("BEM"), hereby amend the Brush Wellman Inc. 1997
Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "1997 PLAN") for the
purpose of substituting BEM for Brush under the 1997 Plan and to otherwise
reflect the terms of the reorganization of Brush through the merger of Brush
Merger Co. into Brush and the conversion of shares of common stock of Brush, par
value $1.00 per share, into shares of BEM, without par value:

         1. The 1997 Plan is hereby named the Brush Engineered Materials Inc.
1997 Stock Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

         2. In accordance with Section 12 of the 1997 Plan, Section 15 is hereby
added thereto, to read, in its entirety, as follows:

         "15.     BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS INC. AS SUCCESSOR.

                  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
         from and after the consummation of a merger of Brush Merger Co. into
         the Company on the terms approved by the shareholders of the Company on
         May 2, 2000 (the "Merger")

                  (a)      Brush Engineered Materials Inc. ("BEM") will (i)
                           automatically succeed to the Company as the issuer
                           under this Plan, (ii) be assigned and assume all the
                           powers, rights, liabilities, obligations and duties
                           of the Company immediately prior to the time BEM
                           succeeded to this Plan and (iii) perform the terms of
                           this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent
                           as the Company was required to perform them
                           immediately prior to the succession;

                  (b)      The terms of this Plan will be binding upon and inure
                           to the benefit of BEM;

                  (c)      The term "Common Stock" will be interpreted to mean
                           the common stock of BEM, without par value, subject
                           to any adjustments authorized by Section 8 of this
                           Plan; and

                  (d)      Each agreement entered into pursuant to this Plan
                           will be interpreted to be consistent with this Plan
                           to the extent that it would have been consistent with
                           this Plan had BEM not succeeded to Brush as issuer
                           hereunder.

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused the
foregoing amendment to be duly executed and delivered.

                                   BRUSH WELLMAN INC.

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   By:  Michael C. Hasychak
                                        Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

                                   BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS INC.

                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   By:  Michael C. Hasychak
                                        Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4(b)

                               BRUSH WELLMAN INC.
                                       AND
                         BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS INC.

             AMENDMENT TO BRUSH WELLMAN INC. 1979 STOCK OPTION PLAN

            Brush Wellman Inc., an Ohio corporation ("BRUSH"), and Brush
Engineered Materials Inc., an Ohio corporation ("BEM"), hereby amend the Brush
Wellman Inc. 1979 Stock Option Plan (the "1979 PLAN") for the purpose of
substituting BEM for Brush under the 1979 Plan and to otherwise reflect the
terms of the reorganization of Brush through the merger of Brush Merger Co. into
Brush and the conversion of shares of common stock of Brush, par value $1.00 per
share, into shares of BEM, without par value:

            1.  The 1979 Plan is hereby named the Brush Engineered Materials
Inc. 1979 Stock Option Plan.

            2.  In accordance with Paragraph 9 of the 1979 Plan, Paragraph 10 is
hereby added thereto, to read, in its entirety, as follows:

            "   10. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
            from and after the consummation of a merger of Brush Merger Co. into
            the Company on the terms approved by the shareholders of the Company
            on May 2, 2000 (the "Merger")

                (i)   Brush Engineered Materials Inc. ("BEM") will (A)
                      automatically succeed to the Company as the issuer under
                      this Stock Option Plan, (B) be assigned, accept and assume
                      all the powers, rights, liabilities, obligations and
                      duties of the Company immediately prior to the time BEM
                      succeeded to this Stock Option Plan and (C) perform the
                      terms of this Stock Option Plan in the same manner and to
                      the same extent as the Company was required to perform
                      them immediately prior to the succession;

                (ii)  The terms of this Stock Option Plan will be binding upon
                      and inure to the benefit of BEM;

                (iii) References in this Stock Option Plan to the "Company's
                      Common Stock" will be interpreted to mean the common stock
                      of BEM, without par value, subject to any adjustments
                      authorized by Paragraph 5 of this Stock Option Plan; and

                (iv)  Each Stock Option Agreement entered into pursuant to this
                      Stock Option Plan will be interpreted to be consistent
                      with this Stock Option Plan to the extent that it would
                      have been consistent with this Stock Option Plan had BEM
                      not succeeded to Brush as issuer hereunder."
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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused the foregoing
amendment to be duly executed and delivered.

                                     BRUSH WELLMAN INC.

                                     /s/ Michael C. Hasychak
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     By: Michael C. Hasychak
                                         Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

                                     BRUSH ENGINEERED MATERIALS INC.

                                     /s/ Michael C. Hasychak
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     By: Michael C. Hasychak
                                         Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 4(a)

                NOT VALID UNLESS COUNTERSIGNED BY TRANSFER AGENT
                  INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
                                    DELAWARE

  NUMBER                                                             SHARES
------------    [CHECKER BOARD                                    -------------
                LOGO APPEARS HERE] PURINA MILLS, INC.
------------                                                      -------------
                   AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK: 20,000,000 SHARES
                                 PAR VALUE 0.01

THIS CERTIFIES THAT

IS THE RECORD HOLDER OF

                   Shares of PURINA MILLS, INC. Common Stock

transferable on the books of the Corporation in person or by duly authorized
attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate
is not valid until countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the
Registrar.

         Witness the facsimile seal of the Corporation and the facsimile
signatures of its duly authorized officers

         Dated:

[PURINA MILLS
CORPORATE SEAL]

/s/ signature                                         /s/ signature
---------------------------                           -------------------------
                  SECRETARY                                           PRESIDENT<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 10(e)

                               PURINA MILLS, INC.
                         FORM OF EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

         1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Purina Mills, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan
is to attract and retain key employees for Purina Mills, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and its Subsidiaries and to provide to such persons incentives and
rewards for superior performance.

         2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan,

                  (a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company and,
to the extent of any delegation by the Board to a committee (or subcommittee
thereof) pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan, such committee (or subcommittee).

                  (b) "Change of Control" shall mean if at any time any of the
following events shall have occurred: the acquisition by any individual, entity
or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50.1% or more of either (i) the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Company Common
Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting
securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
Directors; provided, however, that for purposes of the Plan, the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, a Subsidiary or
Greenwich Street Capital Partners, its affiliates or their respective managed
funds, or (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary.

                  (c) "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of the Company or any security into which such shares of common stock may
be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in
Section 6 of this Plan.

                  (d) "Company" means Purina Mills, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

                  (e) "Date of Grant" means the date specified by the Board on
which a grant of Option Rights shall become effective, which date shall not be
earlier than (i) the date on which the Board takes action with respect thereto
or (ii) the Effective Date.

                  (f) "Director" means a member of the Board.

                  (g) "Effective Date" means the Effective Date defined in the
Second Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Purina Mills, Inc., Its Parent
Corporation and Its Debtor Subsidiaries Dated February 22, 2000, as amended.

                  (h) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as such law, rules and
regulations may be amended from time to time.

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                  (i) "Good Cause" means, when used in connection with the
termination of an Optionee's employment by the Company or a Subsidiary, a
termination based upon (i) the Optionee's willful and continued failure to
substantially perform his duties with the Company or the Subsidiary (other than
as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental condition) that is not
corrected within 30 days after a written demand for substantial performance is
delivered to the Optionee by the Company or the Subsidiary, which specifically
identifies the manner in which the Optionee has not substantially performed his
duties; (ii) legally sufficient evidence of the Optionee's commission of an act
constituting a criminal offense involving moral turpitude, dishonesty or breach
of trust; or (iii) the Optionee's material breach of any provision of any
employment agreement between the Optionee and the Company or any Subsidiary..

                  (j) "Market Value per Share" means, as of any particular date,
(i) the closing sale price per share of Common Stock as reported on the
principal exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are then trading, if any,
or, if applicable, the NASDAQ National Market System, on the Date of Grant, or
if there are no sales on such day, on the next preceding trading day during
which a sale occurred, or (ii) if clause (i) does not apply, the fair market
value of the shares of Common Stock as determined by the Board in good faith.

                  (k) "Non-Employee Director" means a Director who is a
"non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule 166-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act.

                  (l) "Optionee" means the individual named in an agreement
evidencing an outstanding Option Right.

                  (m) "Option Agreement" means an agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit A attached hereto pursuant to which Option Rights shall be
granted to the Optionee.

                  (n) "Option Price" means the purchase price payable on
exercise of an Option Right.

                  (o) "Option Right" means the right to purchase shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4 of this
Plan.

                  (p) "Participant" means a person who is selected by the Board
to receive benefits under this Plan and who is a key employee of the Company or
a Subsidiary.

                  (q) "Plan" means this Purina Mills, Inc. Equity Incentive
Plan.

                  (r) "Subsidiary" means a corporation, company or other entity
(i) more than 50 percent of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing
the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority)
are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the
case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated association), but more
than 50 percent of whose ownership interest representing the right generally to
make decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by the Company.

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<PAGE>   3
         3. SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN. (a) Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 3(b) and Section 6 of this Plan, the number of shares of
Common Stock that may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of Option
Rights shall not exceed in the aggregate 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, plus
any shares described in Section 3(b). Such shares may be shares of original
issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.

                  (b) The number of shares available in Section 3(a) above shall
be adjusted to account for shares relating to awards that expire or are
forfeited. Upon payment in cash of the benefit provided by any award granted
under this Plan, any shares that were covered by that award shall again be
available for issue or transfer hereunder.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3, or elsewhere
in this Plan, to the contrary and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6
of this Plan, no Participant shall be granted Option Rights for more than
250,000 shares of Common Stock during any period of one year.

         4. OPTION RIGHTS. As of the Effective Date or as soon as reasonably
practicable thereafter, the Board shall grant Option Rights to Participants to
purchase shares of Common Stock. Each such grant shall be subject to all of the
requirements contained in the following provisions:

                  (a) Each grant shall specify the number of shares of Common
Stock to which it pertains subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3 of
this Plan.

                  (b) Each grant shall specify an Option Price per share as
follows:

                  (i)      50% of the options granted to each Optionee shall
                           have an Option Price of $18.50 per share;

                  (ii)     25% of the options granted to each Optionee shall
                           have an Option Price of $23.12 per share; and

                  (iii)    25% of the options granted to each Optionee shall
                           have an Option Price of $27.75 per share.

                  (c) The Option Price of each grant shall be payable in cash or
by check acceptable to the Company (or by a combination thereof).

                  (d) Successive grants may be made to the same Participant
whether or not any Option Rights previously granted to such Participant remain
unexercised.

                  (e) Option Rights granted under this Plan shall be options
that are not intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  (f) Each Option Right (unless terminated as hereinafter
provided) shall be exercisable only to the extent of one-third of the shares of
Common Stock granted under such Option Right after the Optionee shall have been
in the continuous employ of the Company or any

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<PAGE>   4
Subsidiary for one full year from the Effective Date and to the extent of an
additional one-third of such shares after each of the next two successive years
thereafter during which the Optionee shall have been in the continuous employ of
the Company or any Subsidiary. Each Option Right granted under the Plan shall
become immediately exercisable in full in the event of (i) a Change of Control,
(ii) a recapitalization of the Company which results in the payment of dividends
or other cash compensation to shareholders, (iii) the Optionee's retirement at
or after age 65, (iv) the death of the Optionee if such death occurs while the
Optionee is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (v) the Optionee's
permanent and total disability if the Optionee becomes permanently and totally
disabled while an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. To the extent
exercisable, an Option Right may be exercised in whole or in part from time to
time in accordance with Section 7 of the Plan.

                  (g) Option Rights granted under this Plan shall terminate
automatically and without further notice on the earliest of the following dates:

                           (i) One (1) year after the Optionee's retirement at
                  or after age 65;

                           (ii) One (1) year after the Optionee's death if such
                  death occurs while the Optionee is employed by the Company or
                  any Subsidiary;

                           (iii) One (1) year after the Optionee's permanent and
                  total disability, if the Optionee becomes permanently and
                  totally disabled while an employee of the Company or any
                  Subsidiary;

                           (iv) Thirty (30) calendar days after the Optionee
                  ceases to be an employee of the Company and the Subsidiaries
                  for any reason other than as described in subsections g(i),
                  g(ii) or g(iii) of this Section 4; or

                           (v)      December 31, 2006.

                  For the purposes of the Plan, the continuous employment of the
Optionee with the Company shall not be deemed to have been interrupted, and the
Optionee shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Company, by
reason of the transfer of his or her employment among the Company and the
Subsidiaries or a leave of absence approved by the Board.

                  (h) All Option Rights under the Plan must be granted on or
before December 31, 2006.

                  (i) In the event that an Optionee's employment is terminated
for Good Cause, any Option Right granted to such Optionee shall terminate at the
time of such termination notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan and
any such Option Right will cease to be exercisable to the extent exercisable as
of such termination and will not become exercisable after such termination.

                  (j) Each grant of Option Rights shall be evidenced by an
Option Agreement executed on behalf of the Company by an officer and delivered
to the Optionee and containing

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<PAGE>   5
such terms and provisions, consistent with preceding subsections of this Section
4 of the Plan, as the Board may approve.

         5. TRANSFERABILITY. No Option Right shall be transferable by a
Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Option
Rights shall be exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by him or her or
by his or her guardian or legal representative.

         6. ADJUSTMENTS. The Board shall make or provide for such adjustments in
the numbers of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Option Rights
granted hereunder, in the Option Price and in the kind of shares covered
thereby, as the Board, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, shall
determine is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights
of Optionees that otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, stock
split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital
structure of the Company, or (b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off,
spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation, dividend or
other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase
securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect
similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction
or event, the Board, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for any or
all outstanding awards under this Plan such alternative consideration as it, in
good faith, may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require
in connection therewith the surrender of all awards so replaced; provided that
such consideration shall be of equivalent monetary value to the Optionees. The
Board shall also make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares
specified in Section 3 of this Plan as the Board in its sole discretion,
exercised in good faith, may determine is appropriate to reflect any transaction
or event described in this Section 6.

         7. NOTICE OF EXERCISE; PAYMENT. To the extent then exercisable, an
Option Right may be exercised by written notice to the Company stating the
number of Optioned Shares for which the Option Right is being exercised. Payment
equal to the aggregate Option Price of the shares of Common Stock for which the
Option Right is being exercised, in a form described in Section 4(c), shall be
tendered to the Company in full with the notice of exercise. As a condition
precedent to the exercise of an Option Right, the shares of Common Stock
acquired by the Optionee shall not be transferable, other than by reason of
death, for a period of six (6) months following the date of exercise; provided,
however, that such restriction shall not apply in the event of a Change of
Control or a recapitalization of the Company which results in the payment of
dividends or other cash compensation to shareholders. The certificate(s)
representing such shares of Common Stock shall be held in custody by the
Company, until the restrictions described in the preceding sentence have lapsed.
As a further condition precedent to the exercise of the Option Right, the
Optionee shall comply with all regulations and requirements of any regulatory
authority having control of, or supervision over, the issuance of shares of
Common Stock and in connection therewith shall execute any documents that the
Board shall in its sole discretion deem necessary or advisable. The date of the
Optionee's written notice shall be the exercise date.

         8. FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue any
fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan. The Board may provide
for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

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<PAGE>   6
         9. WITHHOLDING TAXES. To the extent that the Company is required to
withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment
made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under this Plan, and
the amounts available to the Company for such withholding are insufficient, it
shall be a condition to the realization of such benefit that the Participant or
such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of
the balance of such taxes required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the
discretion of the Board) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit
(but only to the extent of the minimum withholding required by law).

         10. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. (a) This Plan shall be administered by
the Board, which may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority
under this Plan to a committee of the Board (or subcommittee thereof) consisting
of not less than [TWO NON- EMPLOYEE] Directors appointed by the Board. A
majority of the committee (or subcommittee) shall constitute a quorum, and the
action of the members of the committee (or subcommittee) present at any meeting
at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved in writing, shall be
the acts of the committee (or subcommittee). To the extent of any such
delegation, references in this Plan to the Board shall be deemed to be
references to any such committee or subcommittee.

                  (b) The interpretation and construction by the Board of any
provision of this Plan or of any agreement, notification or document evidencing
the grant of Option Rights and any determination by the Board pursuant to any
provision of this Plan or of any such agreement, notification or document shall
be final and conclusive. No Director shall be liable for any such action or
determination made in good faith.

         11. AMENDMENTS, ETC. (a) The Board may at any time and from time to
time amend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however, that any amendment
which must be approved by the shareholders of the Company in order to comply
with applicable law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange
upon which the shares of Common Stock are traded or quoted, shall not be
effective unless and until such approval has been obtained. Presentation of this
Plan or any amendment hereof for shareholder approval shall not be construed to
limit the Company's authority to offer similar or dissimilar benefits under
other plans without shareholder approval.

                  (b) The Board shall not, without the further approval of the
shareholders of the Company, authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option
Right to reduce the Option Price. Furthermore, no Option Right shall be canceled
and replaced with awards having a lower Option Price without further approval of
the shareholders of the Company. This Section 11(b) is intended to prohibit the
repricing of "underwater" Option Rights and shall not be construed to prohibit
the adjustments provided for in Section 6 of this Plan.

                  (c) This Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any right
with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or
any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with any right the Company or
any Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant's employment
or other service at any time.

         12. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. The Company shall make reasonable efforts to
comply with all applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, however,
notwithstanding any

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<PAGE>   7
other provision of this Plan, no Option Right shall not be exercisable if the
exercise thereof would result in a violation of any such law.

         13. GOVERNING LAW. The interpretation, performance, and enforcement of
this Plan and any Option Right granted hereunder shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Missouri, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of
laws thereof.

         14. TERMINATION. No grant of Option Rights shall be made under this
Plan after December 31, 2006, and all grants made on or prior to such date which
are not exercised prior to that date shall automatically terminate on December
31, 2006.

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