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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.17

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN FOR NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

           (As amended by the Board of Directors on February 7, 2001)

         1. PURPOSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE. The purpose of the Thomas & Betts
Corporation Restricted Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors (the "Plan") is
to promote the Corporation's long-term interests by attracting and retaining
persons of outstanding competence to serve as directors. The Plan is designed
to supplement the cash retainer and meeting fees paid to Nonemployee
Directors for service as such and to encourage and enable them to increase
their proprietary interest in the Corporation's long-term progress and
success. The Plan shall become effective upon its approval by the
shareholders of the Corporation.

         2. STOCK AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN. THE stock that may be granted under
the Plan is the Common Stock of the Corporation, par value $.10 per share (the
"Common Stock"), not exceeding a total of 40,000 shares except as adjusted in
accordance with paragraph 3 below, which may be either authorized and unissued
shares or issued shares acquired by the Corporation or a combination thereof.
Any restricted share awarded under this Plan which become forfeited for any
reason shall not again be available for other awards under the Plan.

         3. ADJUSTMENT IN THE EVENT OF CHANGE IN STOCK. In the event of any
change in the number or kind of outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of
a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, dividend, combination of shares, or
any other change in the corporate structure or shares of stock of the
Corporation, the committee of the Board of Directors administering the Plan will
make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares available for delivery
pursuant to the provisions of this Plan and the number of shares to be awarded
to each participant under this Plan.

         4. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN. Any person who is elected
a director of the Corporation and is not an employee of the Corporation or any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation ("Nonemployee Director" or
"Participant") shall be a Participant in the Plan.

         5. AWARDS OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Upon the effective date of this Plan,
each Participant in the Plan shall receive an award of 200 restricted shares of
Common Stock. Thereafter, awards consisting of 200 restricted shares of Common
Stock will be made to each Participant who is elected or who continues as a
director each year, effective as of the date of the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. A Nonemployee Director who is elected to fill a vacancy or a newly
created directorship in the interim between Annual Meetings will receive,
effective as of the date of such election, a prorated award based upon the
number of full or partial months such director will serve between the month in
which he or she is elected and the next Annual Meeting. (Amended by the Board of
Directors on February 7, 2001 to reflect 1996 stock split)

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         Each award of restricted shares under this Plan shall be registered in
the name of the Participant as soon as practicable, but shall be expressly
subject to the restrictions, the service provisions, and the other terms and
conditions set forth in Section 6 of this Plan.

         6. RESTRICTIONS, REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
AWARDS OF RESTRICTED SHARES. (a) Each Participant shall have the right to
receive all dividends and other distributions made with respect to restricted
shares registered in his or her name and shall have the right to vote or execute
proxies with respect to such registered restricted shares, unless and until such
shares are forfeited pursuant to the provisions of this Plan.

         Possession of the certificates of restricted shares shall be retained
by the Corporate Secretary or such other person designated by the committee
administering the Plan, for the benefit of Participants, but subject to the
restrictions of this Plan, until the provisions of the Plan relating to removal
of the restrictions have been satisfied.

         (b) Shares of restricted stock may not be sold, assigned, pledged or
otherwise transferred by the Participant unless and until all of the
restrictions imposed by this Plan have been removed pursuant to the provisions
of this Plan. Certificates for restricted shares shall bear an appropriate
legend evidencing such limitation on disposal, and the Participant in whose name
the shares are registered shall execute a stock power or other instrument of
assignment endorsed in blank which will permit transfer to the Corporation of
all or any portion of the shares that shall be forfeited.

         (c) None of the shares of restricted stock awarded under this Plan
shall become free of restrictions and nonforfeitable until the termination of
the Participant's service as a director of the Corporation at the earliest of
the Participant's:

         (i)   death or disability;

         (ii)  retirement from the Board in accordance with the retirement
               policy adopted by the Board;

         (iii) failure to be re-elected after being duly nominated; or

         (iv)  resignation with the consent of the Board.

         Subject to paragraph (d) below, any involuntary termination for cause
effected by Board or shareholder action shall result in forfeiture of the
restricted shares.

         (d) In the event of a "change of control" of the Corporation (as
defined below) and the involuntary termination of the Participant"s service as a
director, except for cause, the forfeiture provisions relating to all of the
affected director's restricted shares shall immediately lapse and the shares
shall be released to the terminated director.

                                       2
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         For purposes of this Plan, a "change of control" of the Corporation
shall mean a change of control of a nature that would be required to be reported
in response to Item 1 (a) of the Current Report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the
date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act"); provided that, without limitation, such a "change of
control" shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) a third person, including a
"group" as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, becomes
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the combined
voting power of the Corporation's outstanding voting securities ordinarily
having the right to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation; or
(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors
of the Corporation (the "Board" generally and as of the date hereof the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Corporation's
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors
comprising the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an
individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors of the
Corporation, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated
under the Exchange Act) shall be, for purposes of this Plan, considered as
though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board.

         (e) Any shares of Common Stock received by a Participant as a stock
dividend, or as a result of stock splits, recapitalizations, combinations,
exchanges of shares, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations or otherwise which
are derived directly or indirectly from shares of restricted stock issued under
this Plan shall have the same status, be subject to the same restrictions, and
shall bear the same legend as the shares received pursuant to this Plan.

         (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the issuance or
delivery of any shares may be postponed for such period as may be required to
comply with any applicable requirements of any national securities exchange or
any requirements under any other law or regulation applicable to the issuance or
delivery of such shares, and the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue or
deliver any such shares if the issuance or delivery thereof shall constitute a
violation of any provision of any law or of any regulation of any governmental
authority or any national securities exchange.

         7. NO RIGHT TO NOMINATION. Nothing contained in this Plan shall confer
upon any director the right to be nominated for re-election to the Board.

         8. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN. The Plan will be administered by the
Corporate Governance Committee or by such other committee as may be designated
by the Board of Directors (the "Committee"); provided, however, that the
Committee"s functions shall be essentially ministerial and limited to
interpreting the provisions of the Plan. The Committee shall have no power to
determine eligibility for awards, the number of shares to be awarded to each
Participant, the timing of the awards, or to authorize release of restrictions
on shares awarded under the Plan otherwise than as specifically set forth in
this Plan.

                                       3

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         9. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Corporation reserves the right
to amend, modify, suspend, or terminate this Plan at any time by action of its
Board of Directors, provided that such action shall not adversely affect any
Participant's rights under the provisions of this Plan with respect to awards of
restricted stock which were made prior to such action, and further provided that
any change in eligibility under the Plan or in the number of shares available
for grant under the Plan, other than as set forth in Section 3, will be subject
to the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence or otherwise in the Plan,
Sections 3, 4, 5 and/or 6 shall not be amended more than once every six months,
other than to comport with changes in the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.

                                       4<PAGE>

                                                                EXHIBIT 10.18

                           THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION
                     NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
                 (ADOPTED MAY 5, 1999, AS AMENDED MARCH 9, 2001)

     1.   PURPOSE. The purpose of the Thomas & Betts Corporation Nonemployee
Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the long-term success of
Thomas & Betts Corporation (the "Corporation") by providing a means for each
nonemployee director to increase his or her holdings of common stock of the
Corporation through the annual grant of a nonqualified stock option ("Option" or
"Options," as appropriate).

     2.   TERM. The Plan shall be effective May 5, 1999 and shall remain in
effect until terminated by the Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board").
After termination of the Plan, no future Options may be granted, but previously
granted Options shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable
terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of the Plan.

     3.   PLAN ADMINISTRATION. With respect to any determination for which
approval of the specific transaction (and not the Plan as a whole) is necessary
or advisable for purposes of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "1934 Act"), the Committee shall be comprised solely of two or more
members of the Board, each of whom meets the definition of a "nonemployee
director" as set forth in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the 1934 Act, or any successor
rule. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Committee shall be the
Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, unless otherwise determined by the
Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and
exclusive power to interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and
guidelines for carrying out the Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of
which power shall be exercised in the best interests of the Corporation.

     4.   ELIGIBILITY. Each member of the Board who is neither an officer nor an
employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates shall be
eligible to receive one or more Options under the Plan; provided, however, that
a member of the Board who has entered into an agreement with the Corporation
which provides that he or she is not eligible to receive any additional
remuneration in connection with his or her services as a member of the Board
shall not be eligible to receive an Option under the Plan during the term of
such agreement. A member of the Board who is eligible to receive an Option under
the Plan is hereinafter referred to as a "Nonemployee Director."

     5.   SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Options may be granted
under the Plan to purchase in the aggregate for distribution pursuant to the
terms of the Plan a maximum of 200,000 shares of the issued and outstanding
common stock of the Corporation, $0.10 par value (the "Common Stock"), subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 6. If any Option granted under the Plan
expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the
Common Stock subject to, but not delivered under, such Option shall become
available for the grant of other Options under the Plan. Any shares of Common
Stock issued under the Plan will consist of authorized and unissued shares.

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     6.   ADJUSTMENTS AND REORGANIZATIONS. In the event of any stock dividend,
stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off
or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Corporation assets
to shareholders, or any other change affecting shares, such proportionate
adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to
reflect such change shall be made with respect to (i) the aggregate number of
shares that may be issued under the Plan, (ii) the number of shares (stated in
Section 7(b)) subject to each Option to be granted under the Plan, (iii) the
number of shares subject to each outstanding Option granted under the Plan, and
(iv) the per share purchase price for any outstanding Options under the Plan.
Any such adjustment shall be made only as necessary to maintain the
proportionate interest of each Nonemployee Director who has received, or is
eligible to receive, an Option under the Plan and preserve, without exceeding,
the value of each Option.

     7.   OPTIONS. Each Option granted to a Nonemployee Director under the Plan
shall be subject to the following terms.

        (a)    GRANT OF OPTION. Effective May 5, 1999, each Nonemployee Director
shall receive a grant of an Option as of each date he or she is elected to the
Board.

        (b)    SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTION. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to each Option granted under Section 7(a) shall be determined by the
Committee, in its sole discretion as provided in Section 3 (subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 6). In no event, however, may any Nonemployee
Director acquire under the Plan more than one percent of the shares of Common
Stock outstanding as of May 5, 1999.

        (c)    PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price of each share of Common Stock
subject to an Option shall be Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 8) on the
date of grant.

        (d)    TERM. Subject to earlier termination as provided in
Sections 7(f), (g) and (h), the term of each Option shall be ten years from
the date of its grant.

        (e)    EXERCISE. Each Option shall be fully exercisable on the date of
grant. An Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, or from time
to time, but not later than the date the Option expires. No fractional shares
shall be issued under the Plan.

               The purchase price shall be payable:

               (1)  in U.S. currency; or

               (2)  in shares of Common Stock previously acquired by the
                    Nonemployee Director; provided that if such shares of Common
                    Stock were acquired through the exercise of an option, such
                    shares shall have been held by the Nonemployee Director for
                    a period of at least six months on the date of exercise;

                                       -2-

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               (3)  by delivering a properly executed notice of exercise of the
Option to a broker designated by the Corporation, with irrevocable
instructions to the broker promptly to deliver to the Corporation the amount
of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price of the Option; or

               (4)  in any combination of paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.

          In the event the purchase price is paid, in whole or in part, with
shares of Common Stock, the portion of the purchase price so paid shall be equal
to the closing sales price as reported on the composite tape for securities
listed on the New York Stock Exchange on the business day immediately preceding
the date of exercise of the Option.

        (f)    EXERCISE UPON RETIREMENT OR DISABILITY OF NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR.
If a Nonemployee Director shall retire in accordance with the retirement policy
of the Board, or if a Nonemployee Director's membership on the Board is
terminated as a consequence of disability (within the meaning of section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), his or her Option or
Options may be exercised at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration
date of such Option, or (ii) six years after the date of such termination of
membership on the Board. In the event of the Nonemployee Director's disability,
his or her Option or Options may be so exercised by his or her legal
representative.

        (g)    EXERCISE UPON DEATH OF NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR. If a Nonemployee
Director shall die during his or her membership on the Board or within three
years of his or her retirement in accordance with Section 7(f), his or her
Option or Options may be exercised by the Nonemployee Director's estate,
personal representative or beneficiary who acquired the right to exercise such
Option by bequest or inheritance, at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
expiration date specified in such Option, or (ii) three years after the date of
death.

        (h)    END OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP FOR ANY OTHER REASON. If a Nonemployee
Director's membership on the Board terminates for any reason (such as, without
limitation, failure to be re-elected by the Corporation's shareholders) other
than by retirement, disability or death, his or her Option or Options may be
exercised by the Nonemployee Director at any time prior to the earlier of (i)
the expiration date specified in such Option, or (ii) three months after the
date of such termination of membership on the Board.

        (i)    TRANSFERABILITY. A Nonemployee Director may transfer an Option
for no consideration to (1) a member of his or her immediate family (as defined
in Rule 16a-1(e) under the 1934 Act), a niece, a nephew, a former spouse, or any
person sharing the Nonemployee Director's household (other than a tenant or
employee) ("Permitted Transferees"), (2) a trust in which one or more Permitted
Transferees in the aggregate have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (3)
a foundation in which one or more Permitted Transferees (and the Nonemployee
Director) in the aggregate control the management of assets, and (4) any other
entity in which one or more Permitted Transferees (and the Nonemployee Director)
in the aggregate own more than 50% of the voting interests. Except as provided
in the preceding sentence, or by will or the laws of descent and

                                       -3-

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distribution, an Option shall not be assignable or transferable by the
Nonemployee Director, and during the lifetime of the Nonemployee Director, the
Option shall be exercisable only by him or her or by his or her guardian or
legal representative. Any Option transferred by a Nonemployee Director shall not
be assignable or transferable by the transferee, and the transferee shall remain
subject to all the terms and conditions of the Option prior to such transfer. If
the Nonemployee Director is married at the time of exercise and if the
Nonemployee Director so requests at the time of exercise, the shares of Common
Stock shall be registered in the name of the Nonemployee Director and the
Nonemployee Director's spouse, jointly, with right of survivorship.

     8.   FAIR MARKET VALUE. "Fair Market Value" for all purposes under the
Plan shall mean the average of the high and low sales prices of Common Stock as
reported on the composite tape for securities listed on the New York Stock
Exchange for the date in question, or if no sales of Common Stock were made on
said Exchange on that date, the average of the high and low sales prices of
Common Stock as reported on said composite tape for the preceding day on which
sales of Common Stock were made on said Exchange.

     9.   OPTION AGREEMENTS. Options under the Plan shall be evidenced by
agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Option.
The Committee need not require the execution of any such agreement by the
recipient, in which case the delivery of the Option to the respective
Nonemployee Director will constitute his or her acceptance and agreement to the
terms of the Option.

     10.  PLAN AMENDMENT. The Board may amend the Plan as it deems necessary
or appropriate.

     11.  UNFUNDED PLAN. The Plan shall be unfunded and shall not create (or
be construed to create) a trust or a separate fund or funds. The Plan shall not
establish any fiduciary relationship between the Corporation and any participant
or other person. To the extent any person holds any rights by virtue of an
Option granted under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of
an unsecured general creditor of the Corporation.

     12.  GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan
and any actions taken or relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance
with the laws of the State of Tennessee and applicable federal law.

     13.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The Plan shall be binding on all successors
and assigns of a Nonemployee Director, including, without limitation, the estate
of the Nonemployee Director and the executor, administrator or trustee of such
estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the
Nonemployee Director's creditors.

     14.  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER. Neither a Nonemployee Director nor his or her
successor or successors in interest shall have any rights as a shareholder with
respect to a share of Common Stock subject to an Option until he or she becomes
the holder of record.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

     15.  RETENTION AS DIRECTOR. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Option
agreement under the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of
the shareholders of the Corporation or the Board to remove any Nonemployee
Director from the Board pursuant to the Charter or the bylaws of the
Corporation, nor confer upon any Nonemployee Director any right to continue in
the service of the Corporation.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>

                                 GRANT AGREEMENT

                 NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

          This Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement is made by and between Thomas
& Betts Corporation (the "Corporation") and the nonemployee director of the
Corporation identified in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock Option (the
"Optionee").

          WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to afford the Optionee an opportunity
to purchase shares of common stock of the Corporation ("Shares") as hereinafter
provided, in accordance with the provisions of the Thomas & Betts Corporation
Nonemployee Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Plan");

          NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the provisions and
conditions as stated herein and in the Plan, and for other good and valuable
consideration, it is agreed as follows:

          (1)  GRANT OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions contained
herein and in the Plan, the Corporation hereby grants the Optionee the right and
option (the "Option") to purchase the number of Shares specified in the attached
Notice of Grant of Stock Option, subject to adjustment pursuant to Paragraph 8,
at the price per share set forth in the attached Notice of Grant of Stock
Option, subject to adjustment pursuant to Paragraph 8. This Option is not
intended to qualify as an incentive stock option ("ISO") as that term is defined
in Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

          (2)  VESTING AND EXERCISABILITY. This Option shall be fully vested and
exercisable on the date of grant set forth in the attached Notice of Grant of
Stock Option (the "Date of Grant").

          (3)  METHOD OF EXERCISE. This Option may be exercised by giving
written notice to the Corporation's Director of Compensation or other designated
person of the Corporation at its principal office, or to the broker designated
by the Corporation (the "Designated Broker") no later than the Expiration Date
(as defined in Paragraph 4).

               Notices of exercise provided to the Corporation shall include a
statement of the number of Shares with respect to which this Option is being
exercised, and shall be accompanied by full tender of the purchase price payable
which may be made in whole or in part either in U.S. currency or by tendering
such number of whole Shares owned by the Optionee, the fair market value of
which as of the close of the business day immediately preceding the date of
exercise does not exceed the purchase price payable; provided, however, that if
the Shares to be tendered were acquired by exercise of an option, such Shares
shall have been owned by the Optionee for at least six months prior to such
payment.

               Notices of Exercise provided to the Designated Broker shall be in
such form and satisfy such conditions as the Designated Broker shall require.

               Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the Optionee any
rights as a stockholder with respect to a Share prior to the time he or she
becomes the holder of record of such Share.

<PAGE>

          (4)  EXPIRATION DATE. Unless this Option expires earlier in accordance
with any provision of Paragraph 5, this Option shall expire on the date which is
ten years from the Date of Grant (the "Expiration Date").

          (5)  TERMINATION OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP. If, prior to the Expiration
Date, the Optionee (i) becomes totally and permanently disabled (as defined in
the Plan) ("Disabled"), (ii) retires, (iii) dies, or (iv) otherwise terminates
membership on the Board, this Option shall be exercisable under the
circumstances and for the time periods set forth below, but only to the extent
such time periods do not extend the Expiration Date.

               (a)  RETIREMENT. If the Optionee retires in accordance with the
retirement policy of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board"),
this Option may be exercised at any time within six years of the date of such
retirement.

               (b)  DISABILITY. If the Optionee becomes Disabled, this Option
may be exercised at any time within six years of the date the Optionee's
membership on the Board is terminated by reason of being Disabled.

               (c)  DEATH. If the Optionee dies during his membership on the
Board or within three years of his retirement in accordance with subparagraph
(a) above, this Option may be exercised at any time within three years of the
Optionee's date of death by the legal representative of the Optionee or any
person who acquires this Option by bequest or inheritance.

               (d)  TERMINATION FOR REASON OTHER THAN RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR
DEATH. If the Optionee's membership on the Board terminates for any reason other
than (i) retirement in accordance with subparagraph (a) above, (ii) becoming
Disabled, or (iii) death, this Option may be exercised within three months of
the date of such termination.

          (6)  REGISTRATION. The Optionee agrees, by the acceptance of this
Option, for himself or herself and his or her successors and assigns, that if a
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 is not in effect at the
time of the exercise of any portion of this Option, with respect to the sale by
the Corporation and the resale by the Optionee of the Shares issuable upon such
exercise, it shall be a condition precedent to the right to purchase such Shares
that the notice of exercise shall be accompanied by a written representation
that the Optionee or his or her successor or assign is acquiring such Shares for
his or her own or such successor or assign's account for investment and not with
a view to the distribution thereof.

          (7)  LISTING. The Corporation shall not be required to issue or
deliver any Shares purchased upon the exercise of this Option until the
admission of such Shares to listing on any stock exchange on which the
Corporation's stock may then be listed and until the Corporation takes such
steps as may be required by law and applicable regulations, including rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange as
above mentioned, or until, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, any
such listing or registration or other steps are not required.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

          (8)  SHARES/ADJUSTMENT. The Shares issued upon exercise of this Option
will be authorized but unissued stock. The number of Shares with respect to
which this Option may be exercised, and the price payable with respect thereto,
shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any stock dividend, stock
split, combination or exchange of Shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off or
other change affecting the Shares; provided, however, such proportional
adjustment shall be made to the extent, if any, the committee responsible for
administering this aspect of the Plan deems appropriate to maintain the
proportionate interest of the Optionee or his or her successors or assigns and
preserve, without exceeding, the value of this Option.

          (9)  RETENTION AS DIRECTOR. The granting of this Option shall not
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the shareholders of the
Corporation or the Board to remove the Optionee from the Board pursuant to the
Charter or bylaws of the Corporation, nor confer upon the Optionee any right to
continue in the service of the Corporation.

          (10) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Option shall be binding upon the
Corporation and its successors and assigns, and upon the Optionee, and his or
her successors and assigns, including, without limitation, the Optionee's
administrators and executors and any alternate payee under a qualified domestic
relations order.

          (11) TRANSFERABILITY. The Optionee may transfer this Option for no
consideration to (1) the Optionee's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew,
mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, and
sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, and any person sharing the
Optionee's household (other than a tenant or employee) ("Permitted
Transferees"), (2) a trust in which one or more Permitted Transferees in the
aggregate have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, (3) a foundation in
which one or more Permitted Transferees (and the Optionee) in the aggregate
control the management of assets, and (4) any other entity in which one or more
Permitted Transferees (and the Optionee) in the aggregate own more than 50% of
the voting interests. The Optionee shall provide the Director of Compensation of
the Corporation (or other designated person of the Corporation) advance notice
of any transfer pursuant to the preceding sentence. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, or by will or the laws of decent and distribution, this
Option shall not be assignable or transferable by the Optionee, and during the
lifetime of the Optionee, this Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee
or his or her legal guardian or legal representative. Any Option transferred by
the Optionee shall not be assignable or transferable by the transferee, and the
transferee shall remain subject to all the terms and conditions of the Option
prior to such transfer.

               If the Optionee is married at the time of exercise and if the
Optionee so requests at the time of exercise, the Shares shall be registered in
the name of the Optionee and the Optionee's spouse, jointly, with right of
survivorship.

          (12) GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction and effect of this
Agreement shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal law, and
otherwise by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without giving effect to the
principles of conflicts of laws.

                                       -3-

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