Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                             MSX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                             2000 STOCK OPTION PLAN

SECTION 1: PURPOSES

The purposes of this MSX International, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan are to
encourage selected employees of MSX International, Inc. and its Subsidiaries to
acquire a proprietary interest in the Company in order to provide motivation and
to reward them for contributions to the attainment of Company objectives. The
Plan is also intended to support the Company's Corporate Guiding Principles and
enhance its ability to attract and retain especially qualified individuals upon
whom the sustained progress, growth, profitability and value of the Company
depend.

SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:

2.1      "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
         controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person.
         For the purposes of the definition "control" (including, with its
         correlative meanings, the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and
         "under common control with"), as applied to any Person, means the
         possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
         direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
         through the ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise. For
         purposes of this Plan, employees, officers and directors of Citicorp
         Venture Capital, Ltd., a New York corporation ("CVC"), and its
         Affiliates shall be "Affiliates" of CVC or any Affiliate of CVC.

2.2      "AWARD AGREEMENT" OR "AGREEMENT" means any written agreement, contract
         or other instrument or document evidencing an Option granted under the
         Plan, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a
         Participant.

2.3      "BOARD" means the board of directors of the Company.

2.4      "CAUSE" means, with respect to a Participant (i) a material breach of
         any employment, non-compete or confidentiality agreement with the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries to which such person is party
         (including, without limitation, any Management Subscription Agreement,
         as defined in the Stockholders Agreement), (ii) commission by such
         person of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude or any other
         willful act causing material harm to the business, financial condition,
         standing or reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii)
         commission of any act of fraud or dishonesty with respect to the
         business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (iv) willful misconduct
         or gross negligence in connection with the performance of a
         Participant's duties to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case
         as determined in good faith by the Board.

<PAGE>   2

2.5      "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
         rules and regulations thereunder.

2.6      "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.7      "COMPANY" means MSX International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

2.8      "COMMON STOCK" OR "STOCK" means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of
         the Company.

2.9      "DISABILITY" means a physical or mental impairment that causes a
         Participant to be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
         and that is expected to result in death or is expected to last for a
         continuous period of at least 12 months, as determined in good faith by
         the Board.

2.10     "EMPLOYEE" means an officer or employee of the Company or any
         Subsidiary.

2.11     "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and
         Exchange Commission thereunder.

2.12     "EXERCISE PRICE" in the case of a Stock Option, means the amount for
         which one share of Stock may be purchased upon exercise of such Option,
         as specified in the Award Agreement.

2.13     "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the fair market value per share as determined
         by the Board acting in good faith in its sole discretion; provided,
         however, that if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
         exchange or quoted in an interdealer quotation system, the fair market
         value shall be based on the last sales price or, if unavailable, the
         average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of the Common
         Stock on such date (or, if there was no trading or quotation in the
         Common Stock on such date, on the next preceding date on which there
         was trading or quotation) as provided by one of such organizations.

2.14     "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" OR "ISO" means an incentive stock option
         within the meaning of section 422 of the Code, or any successor
         provision thereto.

2.15     "INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING" OR "IPO" means the Company's first offering
         of Stock to the general public under an effective registration
         statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in
         accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, covering the distribution
         of Common Stock (i) which raises at least $50,000,000 of aggregate net
         proceeds to the Company (after underwriters' fees, commissions and
         discounts and offering expenses) or (ii) as a result of which, at that
         time, at least 25% of the Common Stock, on a fully-diluted basis, has
         been sold (including through dividend or spin-off) to the public.

2.16     "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" OR "NSO" means a stock option, granted
         pursuant to this Plan, which is not intended to be an ISO or an ISO
         that,

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

         subsequent to the date of grant thereof, fails to satisfy the
         requirements of section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
         thereto.

2.17     "OPTION" OR "STOCK OPTION" means an ISO or NSO granted under this Plan
         and entitling the holder to purchase shares of Stock subject to the
         provisions of this Plan and the Award Agreement.

2.18     "OPTION PRICE" means Exercise Price.

2.19     "PARTICIPANT" means any Employee to whom an Option is granted under
         this Plan.

2.20     "PERSON" means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
         unincorporated organization, limited liability company or partnership,
         joint venture, government (or agency or political subdivision thereof)
         or any other entity of any kind.

2.21     "PLAN" means this MSX International, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan.

2.22     "STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT" means the Stockholders' Agreement dated as of
         January 3, 1997 by and among MSX International, Inc., MascoTech, Inc.,
         Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd. and certain other shareholders of MSX
         International, Inc., as amended or restated from time to time.

2.23     "SUBSIDIARY" means (i) any corporation with respect to which the
         Company or, for purposes of Section 9, another Person owns, directly or
         indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all
         classes of stock of such corporation or (ii) any entity which the
         Committee reasonably expects to become a Subsidiary within the meaning
         of clause (i).

2.24     "VEST" OR "VESTING" means the date on which an Option becomes
         exercisable and/or non-forfeitable, as applicable, in accordance with
         the terms of the Plan.

SECTION 3: ADMINISTRATION

The Committee shall administer this Plan. The Committee shall have sole and
absolute authority regarding (a) granting of Options consistent with Plan
provisions, (b) determining all Option terms including, but not limited to,
Option type, Vesting and other features and conditions, (c) Plan interpretation,
(d) adoption of Plan administration rules, recordkeeping and procedures, and (f)
any and all other decisions regarding the Plan.

Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act
upon any report or other information furnished to him by any officer or other
employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company's independent
certified public accountants or any executive compensation consultant, legal
counsel or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the
administration of the Plan. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
no member of the Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company acting on
behalf of the Committee, shall be personally liable for any action,
determination or interpretation taken or made in good faith with

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee and any officer or
employee of the Company acting on its behalf shall, to the extent permitted by
law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such
action, determination or interpretation.

Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive
and binding on all Persons, including the Company, Subsidiaries, Participants,
any Person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant
and stockholders, except to the extent the Committee may subsequently modify, or
take further action not consistent with, its prior action. If not specified in
the Plan, the time at which the Committee must or may make any determination
shall be determined by the Committee, and any such determination may thereafter
by modified by the Committee (subject to Section 12). The express grant of any
specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee,
shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee.

SECTION 4: SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN

4.1      BASIC LIMITATION - SHARES. Subject to the capital adjustment provisions
         set forth in Section 7 of this Plan, the maximum number of shares of
         Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Options shall be 1,000,000
         shares of Common Stock. Stock issued under this Plan may consist, in
         whole or in part, of authorized but unissued shares or of treasury
         shares.

4.2      RE- AWARDING OF EXPIRED SHARES. If any Options under this Plan expire
         due to termination by a Participant or expiration of the term of the
         Option or otherwise, the Stock underlying such Options shall again
         become available for Options under the Plan, subject to the basic
         limitations in Section 4.1.

SECTION 5: ELIGIBILITY

Any Employee shall be eligible for award of Options under the Plan. The
Committee, upon its own action, may grant, but shall not be required to grant,
an Option to any Employee at any time and from time to time, and may include or
exclude prior or new Participants and award fewer or a greater number of Options
as it shall decide in its sole determination. The Committee's determinations
under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among
Employees who receive or are eligible to receive Options.

SECTION 6: OPTIONS

6.1      AWARD AGREEMENT. Each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be
         evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Participant and the
         Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms of the
         Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent
         with the Plan. The Award Agreement shall specify whether the Option is
         an ISO or a NSO. The provisions of the various Award Agreements entered
         into under the Plan need not be identical.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

6.2      ELIGIBILITY FOR ISOS. An Employee who owns more than 10% of the total
         combined voting power of the Stock shall not be eligible for the grant
         of an ISO unless the requirements set forth in section 422(c)(5) of the
         Code are satisfied. Any awarded Options that fail to qualify as ISOs
         shall become NSOs.

6.3      NUMBER OF SHARES. Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of
         shares of Stock subject to the Option.

6.4      EXERCISE PRICE. Each Award Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price
         for each Option. The Exercise Price under an ISO shall in no event be
         less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date
         of grant for an Employee that owns less than 10% of the total combined
         voting power of the Stock and in no event be less than 110% of the Fair
         Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant for an Employee
         that owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of the Stock.

6.5      VESTING. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, each Option shall
         vest and become exercisable in five equal installments on each of the
         first five anniversaries of the date the Option is granted.

6.6      EXERCISABILITY AND TERM. Each Award Agreement shall specify the date or
         event when all or any installment of the Option is to become
         exercisable. The Award Agreement shall also specify the term of the
         Option; provided that the term of an ISO shall in no event exceed 10
         years from the date of grant for an Employee that owns less than 10% of
         the total combined voting power of the Stock and in no event exceed
         five years from the date of grant for an employee that owns 10% or more
         of the total combined voting power of the Stock. An Award Agreement may
         provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the
         Participant's death, disability or other event, and may provide for
         expiration prior to the end of its term in the event of the termination
         of the Participant's employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.

6.7      MODIFICATION OF OPTIONS. Within the limitation of the Plan, the
         Committee may modify or extend outstanding Options or may accept the
         cancellation of outstanding Options in return for the grant of new
         Options for the same or a different number of shares of Stock and at
         the same or a different Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
         no modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the
         Optionee, adversely alter or impair his or her rights or obligations
         under such Option.

6.8      BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Committee may at any time offer to purchase for
         a payment of cash or cash equivalents an Option previously granted.

6.9      PAYMENT FOR OPTION SHARES. The Exercise Price of shares of Stock issued
         upon exercise of Options shall be payable in one or more of the
         following methods, as determined by the Committee:

         (i)      cash,

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         (ii)     surrender of prior owned shares of Stock,

         (iii)    any combination of cash and the surrender of prior owned
                  shares of Stock; or

         (iv)     by "cashless exercise" arrangements, to the extent permitted
                  by applicable law.

         If Stock is used to pay all or part of the Option Price, the shares
         surrendered must have a Fair Market Value that is not less than such
         Exercise Price or part thereof.

6.10     SHARE CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Stock or other securities
         delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Option or the exercise thereof
         shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as
         the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules,
         regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange
         Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Stock or other
         securities are then listed, any applicable Federal or state securities
         laws and the terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement and the
         Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such
         certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

6.11     NO RIGHTS UNTIL EXERCISE AND PAYMENT. A Participant shall have no
         rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Stock covered by
         the Participant's Option until such Participant becomes entitled to
         receive such shares by filing a notice of Exercise and paying the
         Exercise Price pursuant to the terms of such Option.

6.12     STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. Prior to the grant of any Option hereunder or
         such later time as is requested by the Committee, the Participant, as a
         condition to the grant of such Option, shall execute a joinder
         agreement to the Stockholders Agreement and agree to be bound by the
         provisions thereof. The Stockholders Agreement contains restrictions on
         a Participant's ability to transfer his Options and the Common Stock
         acquired upon his exercise of an Option and allows the Company and
         certain stockholders to repurchase a Participant's Vested Options and
         the Common Stock acquired upon his exercise of an Option under certain
         circumstances. In addition, a Participant may also be required to sell
         his Vested Options and the Common Stock acquired upon his exercise of
         an Option as directed by other stockholders.

6.13     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. Prior to the grant of any Option hereunder, the
         Participant, as a condition to the grant of such Option, shall agree to
         the following waiver:

         "SUCH PARTICIPANT WAIVES HIS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY
         CLAIM OR CLAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS PLAN OR ANY
         OPTIONS GRANTED HEREUNDER. SUCH PARTICIPANT ALSO WAIVES ANY BOND OR
         SURETY OR SECURITY UPON SUCH BONDS

                                       6
<PAGE>   7
         WHICH MIGHT, BUT FOR THIS WAIVER, BE REQUIRED OF SUCH PARTICIPANT. THE
         SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL
         DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT
         MATTER OF THIS PLAN OR ANY OPTIONS GRANTED HEREUNDER, INCLUDING,
         WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY
         CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. SUCH PARTICIPANT
         WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT HE HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH HIS LEGAL
         COUNSEL, AND THAT HE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES HIS JURY TRIAL
         RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS
         IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN
         WRITING, AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS,
         RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS PLAN OR ANY OPTIONS
         GRANTED HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS RELEASE MAY BE
         FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

SECTION 7: ADJUSTMENT

In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, other securities or other
property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization,
merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange
of Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate
transaction or event affects the Stock such that an adjustment is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of
the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan,
then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or
all of (i) the number and type of shares of Stock (or other securities or
property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Options, including the
aggregate and individual limits specified in Section 4, (ii) the number and type
of shares of Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding
Options, and (iii) the grant or Exercise Price with respect to any Option or, if
deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an
outstanding Option; provided, however, that the number of shares of Stock
subject to any Option shall always be a whole number. In addition, the Committee
is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the
criteria included in, Options (including, without limitation, cancellation of
Options in exchange for the intrinsic (i.e., in-the-money) value, if any, of the
Vested portion thereof, or substitution of Options using securities of a
successor or other entity) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events
(including, without limitation, an event described in the preceding sentence)
affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or the financial statements of the
Company or any Subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws,
regulations, or accounting principles.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

SECTION 8: CONVERSION AND DISTRIBUTION EVENTS

8.1      INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING. In the event of an Initial Public Offering of
         the Stock, vesting provisions for any Option granted under this Plan
         will remain unchanged unless otherwise stated in the Award Agreement or
         provided by the Committee at such time.

SECTION 9: TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

9.1      TERMINATION. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, Options
         held by a Participant shall terminate upon the earliest of:

         (a)      FOR CAUSE. If a Participant's employment with the Company or
                  its Subsidiary is terminated for Cause, all Options, whether
                  or not Vested, shall be forfeited, as of the date of such
                  event.

         (b)      VOLUNTARY TERMINATION. Any Participant whose employment with
                  the Company or its Subsidiary is terminated for any reason
                  other than a termination by the Company or such Subsidiary for
                  Cause shall have a period of six (6) months, in the case of
                  death or Disability, and thirty (30) days, in all other cases,
                  from the date of the termination event to exercise any Vested
                  Options; provided, however, that during any such 6-month or
                  30-day period, as applicable, the Options shall be exercisable
                  only to the extent Vested and exercisable as of the date of
                  such termination. All non-Vested Options as of the date of
                  such termination and Vested Options that are not exercised
                  upon the conclusion of such 6-month or 30-day period, as
                  applicable, shall be terminated and forfeited.

         (c)      EXPIRATION. Upon the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of
                  any Option.

         (d)      TRANSACTIONS. Upon the consummation of any transaction whereby
                  the Company (or any successor to the Company or substantially
                  all of its business) is merged into or becomes a wholly-owned
                  Subsidiary of any other entity, unless the surviving entity of
                  such merger or other entity owning the Company shall continue
                  or assume the Plan as it relates to Options then outstanding
                  (in which case such other entity shall be treated as the
                  Company for all purposes hereunder, and, pursuant to Section
                  7, the board of directors (or other governing body) of such
                  other entity shall make appropriate adjustment in the number
                  and kind of shares of Common Stock subject thereto and the
                  exercise price per share thereof to reflect consummation of
                  such transaction). If the Plan is not to be so assumed, the
                  Company shall notify the Participants of consummation of such
                  transaction at least ten days in advance thereof. If such
                  other entity is an Affiliate of the Company immediately prior
                  to consummation of any such transaction, Options shall not
                  terminate but shall remain Options to

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                  purchase Common Stock of the Company unless the Plan is in
                  fact so continued or assumed by such other entity.

9.2      SUBSEQUENT NON-COMPETE BREACHES. If a Participant's employment with the
         Company or its Subsidiary is terminated for any reason and, at any time
         thereafter, the Participant breaches any of his non-compete obligations
         to the Company or any Subsidiary, all his Options, whether or not
         Vested, shall be forfeited, as of the date of such event. In such
         event, such Participant also shall be obligated to return to the
         Company cash in an amount equal to the difference between the amount
         paid to him by the Company on account of the repurchase by the Company
         of any Options or shares of Common Stock owned by such Participant
         pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement and the lower of (x) the Fair
         Market Value of such securities as of the date of such breach and (y)
         the price paid by such Participant for such securities.

SECTION 10: RESTRICTIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

10.1     CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-COMPETE. All Options shall require compliance
         with all Company policies and agreements regarding confidentiality of
         information and non-competition as may be set forth in the Award
         Agreement. In the event that a Participant breaches his or her
         confidentiality or non-compete obligations, Options, whether or not
         Vested, shall be forfeited, as of the date of such event.

10.2     ALL OPTIONS TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. This Plan
         shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
         State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or
         conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of
         the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York, except
         to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
         may apply.

10.3     NO RIGHT TO OPTIONS. No Employee has any claim or right to be granted
         an Option under the Plan.

10.4     NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT. Neither this Plan nor any Option granted under
         the Plan shall be deemed to confer upon any Participant a right to
         remain an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The
         Company and its Subsidiaries reserve the right to terminate the
         services of any Employee at any time, with or without Cause, subject to
         applicable laws, Company policies and any written employment or other
         agreement between the Company and a Participant, if applicable.

10.5     NON-TRANSFERABILITY. Options under the Plan and any rights and
         privileges pertaining thereto, may not be transferred, assigned,
         pledged or hypothecated in any manner, by operation of law or
         otherwise, other than as provided in the Stockholders Agreement and as
         further subject to applicable law.

10.6     WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all
         amounts distributed pursuant to the Plan any federal, state, local or
         other taxes required by

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

         law to be withheld with respect to Options. The Company shall be
         authorized to withhold from any Option granted or any payment due or
         transfer made under any Option or under the Plan or from any
         compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in
         cash, stock, other securities, or other property) of withholding taxes
         due in respect of an Option, its exercise, or any payment or transfer
         under such Option or under the Plan and to take such other action
         (including, without limitation, providing for elective payment of such
         amounts in cash, Stock, other securities or other property by the
         Participant) as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to
         satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Company
         shall have the right to require that a Participant make such provision,
         or furnish the Company such authorization, necessary or desirable so
         that the Company may satisfy its obligation, under applicable laws, to
         withhold or otherwise pay for income or other taxes of a Participant
         attributable to the grant, exercise or cancellation of Options granted
         under the Plan or the sale of Common Stock issued with respect to
         Options. This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive
         Common Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect
         thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations (provided,
         however, that the amount of Stock so withheld shall not exceed the
         amount necessary to satisfy required tax withholding obligations using
         the minimum statutory rate applicable).

10.7     RESTRICTIONS. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver Common
         Stock upon the exercise or settlement of any Option or take any other
         action under the Plan until the Company shall have determined that
         applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations have been
         complied with and such approvals of any regulatory or governmental
         agency have been obtained and contractual obligations to which the
         Option may be subject have been satisfied.

10.8     PARTICIPANTS' RIGHTS UNSECURED. The Plan shall at all times remain
         unfunded and no provision shall at any time be made with respect to
         segregating assets of the Company for payment of any benefits
         hereunder. No Participant or other Person shall have any interest in
         any particular assets of the Company by reason of the right to receive
         a benefit under this Plan and any such Participant or other Person
         shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the
         Company with respect to any rights under the Plan.

10.9     LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY. Notwithstanding any of the preceding
         provisions of the Plan, neither the Company nor any individual acting
         as employee or agent of the Company shall be liable to any Participant,
         former Participant or other person for any claim, loss, liability or
         expense incurred in connection with the Plan.

10.10    PLAN EXPENSES. The Company shall assume all costs associated with the
         administration of this Plan.

10.11    CORRECTION OF DEFECTS, OMISSIONS AND INCONSISTENCIES. The Committee may
         correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency
         in the Plan

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

         or any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
         desirable to effectuate the Plan.

10.12    NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS. Nothing contained in the
         Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from adopting or
         continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements,
         including the grant of options and other stock-based awards, and such
         arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in
         specific cases.

10.13    SEVERABILITY. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement is or
         becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
         jurisdiction or as to any person or Option, or would disqualify the
         Plan or Option under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such
         provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable
         laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the
         determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the
         Plan or the Award Agreement, such provision shall be stricken as to
         such jurisdiction, person or Award Agreement, and the remainder of the
         Plan and any such Award Agreement shall remain in full force and
         effect.

10.14    FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional share of Stock shall be issued or
         delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement, and the
         Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or property
         shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional shares, or
         whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be
         cancelled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

10.15    HEADINGS. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the
         Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings
         shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction
         or interpretation of the Plan or a provision thereof.

SECTION 11: EFFECTIVE DATE AND PLAN TERM

The Plan, as set forth herein, shall become effective October 1, 2000, subject
to approval by the Board and the stockholders of the Company and execution by a
duly authorized officer of the Company, and will remain in effect for a period
of ten years from the effective date or until amended or terminated under the
provisions hereof. No Options under the Plan may be granted after the date of
termination of the Plan, although any Option theretofore granted may extend
beyond such date, and the authority of the Committee to amend, alter, adjust,
suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Option, or to waive any conditions or
rights under any such Option, and the authority of the Board to amend the Plan,
shall extend beyond such date.

SECTION 12: PLAN AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time and
any amendment shall be subject to stockholder approval only as required by
applicable laws, regulations or rules. No Plan amendment or termination shall in
any way adversely affect the rights of a Participant without such Participant's
consent. The Committee, at its sole

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

and absolute discretion, reserves the right to accelerate the Vesting of all
non-Vested Options.

                           [signature page to follow]

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

SECTION 13: EXECUTION

In witness whereof, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed as of
October 1, 2000, by its Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer, who
is duly authorized to execute this document on behalf of the Company.

                                           MSX International, Inc.

                                           By: /s/ Frederick K. Minturn
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Frederick K. Minturn

                                              Executive Vice President & Chief

                                              Financial Officer

Attest:

/s/ Paula S. Bond
---------------------------------
Name: Paula S. Bond
Title: Senior Legal Assistant<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 10.5(d)

WELLS FARGO BANK WISCONSIN, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
THIRD AMENDMENT

This Third Amendment (the "Third Amendment") dated as of August 15, 2000 is
between Wells Fargo Bank Wisconsin, National Association formerly known as
Norwest Bank Wisconsin, National Association (the "Bank") and Advantage Learning
Systems, Inc. (the "Borrower").

BACKGROUND

The Borrower and the Bank entered into a Credit Agreement dated December 31,
1997, as amended by a First Amendment dated December 18, 1998 and a Second
Amendment dated February 9 (as amended the "Agreement") pursuant to which the
Bank extended to the Borrower a $10,000,000.00 revolving line of credit (the
"Line"). The advances under the Line are evidenced by a revolving note dated the
same date as the Second Amendment (the "Second Amendment Revolving Note").

The Borrower has requested that the Bank extend the maturity date of the Line to
March 31, 2002. The Bank is willing to grant this request subject to the terms
and conditions of this Third Amendment. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
in this Third Amendment shall have the meaning given them in the Agreement.

In consideration of the premises, the Bank and the Borrower agree that the
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

         1. Section 1.2 of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the date
of "March 31, 2001" and substituting the date of "March 31, 2002".

         2. Simultaneously with the execution of this Third Amendment, the
Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Bank a revolving note (the "Revolving
Note") in form and content acceptable to the Bank, which shall replace, but not
be deemed to satisfy, the Second Amendment Revolving Note. The initial balance
of the Revolving Note shall be the balance of the Second Amendment Revolving
Note as of the date of this Third Amendment. Each reference in the Agreement to
the Revolving Note shall be deemed to refer to the Revolving Note dated as of
the date of this Third Amendment.

         3. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Bank as follows:

                  A. The Agreement as amended by this Third Amendment remains in
         full force and effect.

                  B. The Borrower has no knowledge of any default under the
         terms of the Agreement or any note evidencing any of the obligations of
         the Borrower that are documented in the Agreement, or of any event that
         with notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute a default
         under the Agreement or any such notes.

                  C. The execution, delivery and performance of this Third
         Amendment and the Revolving Note are within its corporate powers, have
         been duly authorized and are not in contravention of law or the terms
         of the Borrower's articles of incorporation or by-laws, or of any
         undertaking to which the Borrower is a party or by which it is bound.

<PAGE>   2

                  D. The resolutions set forth in the Corporate Certificate of
         Authority dated February 9, 2000 and delivered by the Borrower to the
         Bank have not been amended or rescinded, and remain in full force and
         effect.

         4. Except as modified by this Third Amendment, the Agreement remains
unchanged and in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and Borrower have executed this Third Amendment as
of the date and year first above written.

WELLS FARGO BANK WISCONSIN,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION                          ADVANTAGE LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.

BY:  DANIEL G. FRAZIER                          BY:  STEVEN A. SCHMIDT
ITS:  VICE PRESIDENT                            ITS:  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

WELLS FARGO BANK WISCONSIN, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
REVOLVING NOTE

$10,000,000.00                                                   August 15, 2000

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. (the "Borrower") promises
to pay to the order of Wells Fargo Bank Wisconsin, National Association (the
"Bank"), at its principal office or such other address as the Bank or holder may
designate from time to time, the principal sum of Ten Million and No/100 Dollars
($10,000,000.00), or the amount shown on the Bank's records to be outstanding,
plus interest (calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year)
accruing each day on the unpaid principal balance at the annual interest rates
defined below. Absent manifest error, the Bank's records shall be conclusive
evidence of the principal and accrued interest owing hereunder.

INTEREST RATES.

BASE RATE OPTION. Unless the Borrower chooses the LIBOR Interest Rate Option as
defined below, the principal balance outstanding under this Revolving Note shall
bear interest at an annual rate equal to the Base Rate, less 1.0% floating (the
"Base Rate Option"). Base Rate means the rate of interest established by the
Bank from time to time as its "base" or "prime" rate of interest at its
principal office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

LIBOR INTEREST RATE OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement
the Borrower may elect that all or portions of the principal balance of this
Revolving Note bear interest at the LIBOR Interest Rate plus 1.25% (the "LIBOR
Interest Rate Option"). Specific reference is made to the Interest Rate Options
section of the Agreement for terms governing the designation of interest periods
and rate portions.

The LIBOR Interest Rate shall be computed in accordance with the following
formula.

         LIBOR Interest Rate =       London Interbank Offered Rate
                                     ------------------------------
                                     1.00 - Reserve Requirement
         Where,

         (i) "London Interbank Offered Rate" means the Bank's cost of funds as
         determined by the Bank's Treasury Division, based upon the average rate
         at which U.S. Dollar deposits with a term equal to the applicable LIBOR
         Interest Rate Period and in an amount equal to the LIBOR Interest Rate
         Portion are available to the Bank at the time or determination on the
         London Interbank Market.

         (ii) "Reserve Requirement" means the Federal Reserve System requirement
         (expressed as a percentage) applicable to the dollar deposits used in
         calculating the LIBOR Interest Rate above.

REPAYMENT TERMS

INTEREST. Interest accruing under the Base Rate Option shall be payable on the
last day of each month beginning August, 2000. Interest accruing under the LIBOR
Interest Rate Option shall be payable, as applicable, at the end of each LIBOR
Interest Rate Period.

PRINCIPAL. Principal, and all accrued but unpaid interest, shall be payable in a
single payment due on March 31, 2002.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

PREPAYMENT FEE. The Borrower may prepay advances of principal accruing interest
under the Base Rate Option at any time without penalty. Each prepayment of an
advance of principal accruing interest at the LIBOR interest rate option,
whether voluntary or by reason of acceleration, shall be accompanied by a
prepayment fee equal to the amount, if any, by which:

         (i) the additional interest that would have been payable on the amount
         prepaid, if it had not been paid until the last day of the applicable
         interest period, exceeds

         (ii) the interest that would have been recoverable by the Bank by
         reinvesting the amount of principal prepaid from the prepayment date to
         the last day of the applicable interest period in U.S. Government
         Securities having a maturity date on or about that date.

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS. This Revolving Note is issued pursuant to a
Credit Agreement dated December 31, 1997 between the Bank and the Borrower as
amended by a First Amendment dated December 18, 1998, a Second Amendment dated
February 9 2000, and a Third Amendment of even date hereof (as amended the
"Agreement"). The Agreement, and any future amendments or substitutions,
contains additional terms and conditions, including default and acceleration
provisions, which are incorporated into this Revolving Note by reference.
Capitalized terms not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given
them in the Agreement. The Borrower agrees to pay all costs of collection,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses incurred by the Bank if
this Revolving Note is not paid as provided above. This Revolving Note shall be
governed by the substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin.

WAIVER OF PRESENTMENT AND NOTICE OF DISHONOR. Borrower and any other person who
signs, guarantees or endorses this Revolving Note, to the extent allowed by law,
hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, notice of dishonor, protest, and
any notice relating to the acceleration of the maturity of this Revolving Note.

ADVANTAGE LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.

BY:  STEVEN A. SCHMIDT
ITS: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

                                       4

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00021-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00021-of-00352.parquet"}]]