Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(15)

                              AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE
                         TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

                  This AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the
"Amendment") is entered into as of October 3, 2001, between FOOTHILL CAPITAL
CORPORATION, a California corporation ("Agent"), with a place of business
located at 2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 3000 West, Santa Monica, California
90404, as Agent for the Lenders (as defined herein), and as a Lender, the
lenders identified on the signature pages hereof (such lenders, together with
their respective successors and assigns, are referred to hereinafter each
individually as a "Lender" and collectively as the "Lenders", and together with
Agent, as the "Lender Group"), and THE HOTEL GROUP, INC., a Kansas corporation
("Borrower"), and SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation ("Holdings"), with its
chief executive office located at 130 Maple Drive North, Hendersonville, TN
37075, with reference to the following:

                  WHEREAS, Borrower and Holdings previously entered into that
certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 27, 1999 (as amended,
restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement"), with Agent and Lenders pursuant to which Lenders have made certain
loans and financial accommodations available to Borrower and Holdings;

                  WHEREAS, Borrower and Holdings have requested that Agent and
the Lenders amend the Loan Agreement;

                  WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
Agent and the Lenders are willing to so amend the Loan Agreement.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
mutual covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

         1.       Defined Terms. All terms used herein and not otherwise defined
shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement.

         2.       Amendments To The Loan Agreement.

                           (a)      Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement hereby is
                  amended as follows:

                           (i)      The definition of "Additional Pledged Notes"
                  hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as
                  follows:

                           "Additional Pledged Notes" means the notes, itemized
                  on Schedule A-1, pledged by an Obligor in support of the
                  increase in the Maximum Facility

                                    5.20 - 1
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                  Amount above $30,000,000 as a result of an increase in the
                  Maximum Revolver Amount above $20,000,000, and such term shall
                  also include notes pledged by an Obligor pursuant to Section
                  4.5.

                           (ii)     The definition of "Applicable NOI Multiple"
                  is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as
                  follows:

                           "Applicable NOI Multiple" means the following stated
                  NOI numbers set forth below under the heading "NOI Multiple"
                  with respect to the specified levels of Subordinated
                  Indebtedness set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------
  Amount of Subordinated Indebtedness              NOI Multiple
----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>
>$50,000,000                                             5.0
----------------------------------------------------------------
>$30,000,000 and <$50,000,000                            4.0
                 -
----------------------------------------------------------------
<$30,000,000                                             3.0
-
----------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                           (iii)    The definition of "Applicable Prepayment
                  Premium" hereby is deleted in its entirety.

                           (iv)     The definition of "Baseline NOI" hereby is
                  amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                           "Baseline NOI" means (i) from the Closing Date to the
                  Maximum Facility Amount Availability Date, the NOI
                  attributable to the Underlying Real Property Collateral which
                  secures the Pledged Notes, (ii) after the Maximum Facility
                  Amount Availability Date, the NOI attributable to the
                  Underlying Real Property Collateral which secures the Pledged
                  Notes and the Additional Pledged Notes, all as set forth on
                  Schedule A-1, and (iii) from time to time, the NOI
                  attributable to additional parcels of Real Property Collateral
                  added by amendment to Schedule A-1 as set forth in this
                  Agreement.

                           (v)      The definition of "Jonesboro Property"
                  hereby is deleted in its entirety.

                           (vi)     The definition of "Maximum Revolver Amount"
                  hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as
                  follows:

                           "Maximum Revolver Amount" means $20,000,000 or such
                  larger amount as may be approved from time to time by the
                  Lender Group (it being understood that there is currently no
                  present agreement to approve or consider any such larger
                  amount).

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                           (vii)    The definition of "Maximum Facility Amount
                  Availability Date" hereby is amended and restated in its
                  entirety to read as follows:

                           "Maximum Facility Amount Availability Date" means
                  that date upon which all of the conditions precedent as set
                  forth in Section 3.2 to the Lenders' commitment to increase
                  the Maximum Facility Amount above $30,000,000 as a result of
                  an increase in the Maximum Revolver Amount above $20,000,000
                  have been either satisfied or waived by the Lender Group.

                           (viii)   The definition of "Real Property Collateral"
                  hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read as
                  follows:

                           "Real Property Collateral" means the Real Property
                  owned in fee by an Obligor identified on Schedule A-1, as the
                  same may be amended or modified from time to time to reflect
                  the provision of additional Real Property Collateral to secure
                  the Obligations as set forth in Section 2.1(c), 3.9 or 4.5."

                           (ix)     The definition of "Total Maximum Commitment
                  Amount" hereby is amended and restated in its entirety to read
                  as follows:

                           "Total Maximum Commitment Amount" means, for each
                  Lender, the Dollar amount of the obligation of such Lender to
                  make Advances and to make its portion of the Term Loan, as
                  such amount is set forth opposite the name of such Lender
                  under the caption Total Maximum Commitment on Schedule C-1, in
                  an aggregate amount of $30,000,000.

                           (x)      The definition of "Unencumbered Asset Value"
                  hereby is amended by deleting from the parenthetical appearing
                  in subsection (v) of such definition the language ", such as
                  Murfreesboro and Jackson, which until they are directly
                  secured by real property".

                           (xi)     The following definitions hereby are added
                  in alphabetical order:

                           "Aggregate NOI" shall have the meaning set forth in
                  the definition "Go-forward Reserve".

                           "Average Quarterly NOI Decline" shall mean the
                  quotient obtained by dividing (a) the result of (i) the
                  quotient obtained by dividing (A) the result of (x) the
                  Aggregate NOI for the immediately preceding four quarters (the
                  "Most Recent NOI") subtracted from (y) the Aggregate NOI for
                  the equivalent four quarter period for the immediately
                  preceding year (the "Previous NOI") by (B) the Previous NOI
                  multiplied by (ii) the Most Recent NOI by (b) 4.

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                           "Go-forward Reserve" shall mean the reserve against
                  the Borrowing Base to be established at such time as the
                  Interim Reserve is terminated following the delivery to the
                  Agent of the collateral reporting set forth in Section 6.2(e)
                  for the period ending December 31, 2001. Such reserve shall be
                  in an amount equal to the greater of (a) the product of 5
                  times the result of (i) the actual total NOI generated by the
                  Real Property Collateral and the Underlying Real Property
                  Collateral securing repayment of Eligible Notes (the
                  "Aggregate NOI") for the immediately preceding four quarters
                  subtracted from (ii) the Aggregate NOI for the four quarters
                  ended the immediately preceding quarter prior to the last
                  quarter in the period set forth in (a)(i) above or (b) the
                  product of 5 times the Average Quarterly NOI Decline. Schedule
                  1.1 sets forth an example of the calculation of the Go-forward
                  Reserve.

                           "Interim Reserve" shall mean the reserve against the
                  Borrowing Base established pursuant to Section 2.1(b) by the
                  Agent for the period commencing on October 3, 2001 and ending
                  on the date that the collateral reporting set forth in Section
                  6.2(e) for the period ending December 31, 2001 has been
                  delivered to the Agent. Such reserve shall be in an amount
                  equal to the Aggregate NOI for the twelve months ending August
                  31, 2001. Section 1.1 sets forth an example of the calculation
                  of the Interim Reserve.

                           (b)      Section 2.1(b) hereby is amended and
restated in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "Anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1 notwithstanding,
Agent shall have the right to establish reserves in such amounts, and with
respect to such matters, as Agent in its Permitted Discretion shall deem
necessary or appropriate, against the Borrowing Base, including without
limitation, the Go-Forward Reserve, the Interim Reserve, and reserves with
respect to (i) sums that the Obligors are required to pay (such as taxes,
assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased assets, rents or
other amounts payable under such leases) and have failed to pay under any
Section of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and (ii) amounts owing by
the Obligors to any Person to the extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over,
any of the Collateral, which Lien or trust, in the reasonable determination of
Lender (from the perspective of an asset-based lender), would be likely to have
a priority superior to the Liens of Agent, for the benefit of the Lender Group
(such as landlord liens, ad valorem taxes, or sales taxes where given priority
under applicable law) in and to such item of the Collateral. Agent shall notify
Borrower in writing as soon as is practicable following the establishment of any
such reserve or any change in the amount thereof, which notice shall set forth
in reasonable detail the amount of such reserve and the reason for the
establishment thereof (provided that no such notification shall be required for
the Go-forward Reserve or the Interim Reserve)."

                           (c)      Section 2.6(a) hereby is amended by:

                           (i)      deleting from clause (i) thereof the number
                  "0.50" and inserting "2.50" in lieu thereof; and

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                           (ii)     deleting from clause (ii) thereof the number
                  "0.50" and inserting "1.00" in lieu thereof.

                           (d)      Section 2.11(d) hereby is amended by
deleting the dollar amount "$1,500" and inserting "$3,500" in lieu therof.

                           (e)      Section 3.2 hereby is amended and restated
in its entirety to read as follows:

                           "3.2 Conditions Precedent to inclusion of the
                  Additional Pledged Notes in the Borrowing Base and the Making
                  of Loans on or after the Maximum Facility Amount Availability
                  Date. The following shall be conditions precedent to the
                  inclusion of the Additional Pledged Notes as set forth on
                  Schedule A-1 in the calculation of the Borrowing Base and the
                  making of Advances on or after the Maximum Facility Amount
                  Availability Date:

                           (a)      Agent shall have received each of the
                  following documents, in form and substance satisfactory to
                  Agent, duly executed, and each such document shall be in full
                  force and effect:

                           (i)      the Additional Pledged Notes;

                           (ii)     the Additional Pledged Deeds of Trust;

                           (iii)    the Additional Pledged Note Endorsements;

                           (iv)     the Additional Pledged Deed of Trust
                  Assignments;

                           (v)      the Additional Pledged Title Policies;

                           (vi)     the Additional Pledged Title Policy
                  Assignment Endorsements;

                           (vii)    the Additional Pledged Note Obligor
                  Notifications;

                           (viii)   the FF&E Bank Notification Letters; and

                           (ix)     the Additional Pledged Note Estoppels;

                           (b)      Agent shall have received real estate
                  appraisals, in form and substance, and from real estate
                  appraisers, satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion
                  with respect to each parcel of Underlying Real Property
                  Collateral encumbered by an Additional Pledged Deed of Trust;

                           (c)      Agent shall have received title reports and
                  title insurance policies, in form and substance, and from
                  title companies, satisfactory to

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<PAGE>

                  Agent in its Permitted Discretion with respect to each
                  additional parcel of Underlying Real Property Collateral;

                           (d)      Agent shall have received an opinion of
                  Obligors' counsel in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
                  in its Permitted Discretion;

                           (e)      Agent shall have received a Phase I
                  environmental report with respect to each parcel of Underlying
                  Real Property Collateral encumbered by an Additional Pledged
                  Deed of Trust, the environmental consultants retained for such
                  reports, the scope of the reports, and the results of the
                  reports shall be satisfactory to Agent, in its Permitted
                  Discretion;

                           (f)      Agent shall have received, to its
                  satisfaction, in its Permitted Discretion, an assignment for
                  the benefit of the Lenders of the FF&E Reserves maintained by
                  each Mortgagor of each parcel of Underlying Real Property
                  Collateral which is subject to an Additional Pledged Deed of
                  Trust;

                           (g)      Agent shall have completed its business,
                  legal, and collateral due diligence, including, but not
                  limited to, (i) a collateral audit and review of each
                  Obligor's books and records and verification of each Obligor's
                  representations and warranties to the Lender Group, the
                  results of which shall be satisfactory to each Lender in each
                  Lender's Permitted Discretion, and (ii) a review of the
                  financial and business performance of each Shoney's Inn
                  operated on the Underlying Real Property Collateral securing
                  the Additional Pledged Notes and the determination of the
                  Baseline NOI, the results of which shall be reasonably
                  satisfactory to each Lender in each Lender's Permitted
                  Discretion;

                           (h)      Agent shall have syndicated to its
                  satisfaction the increase in Commitments from the Interim
                  Facility Amount to the Maximum Facility Amount and, to the
                  extent necessary to reach the Total Maximum Commitment,
                  Joining Lenders, as defined in the Joinder Agreement, shall
                  have been admitted to the credit facility as provided in
                  Section 14.3;

                           (i)      Agent shall have determined, to its
                  satisfaction in its Permitted Discretion, the right of Agent,
                  on behalf of the Lender Group, to change the flag under which
                  the lodging operations are conducted on the Real Estate
                  Collateral in the event Agent enters into possession and
                  control thereof as a result of the exercise of remedies with
                  respect to a Mortgage upon default by an Obligor, or the
                  Additional Pledged Notes or the Additional Pledged Deeds of
                  Trust upon default by a Mortgagor;

                           (j)      Agent shall have received such estoppel
                  letters from the purchasers of the Underlying Real Property
                  Collateral securing repayment of the Additional Pledged Notes,
                  with respect to the status of the

                                    5.20 - 6
<PAGE>

                  Additional Pledged Notes as of the Maximum Facility Amount
                  Availability Date as Agent shall require in its Permitted
                  Discretion; and

                           (k)      Agent shall have determined, to Agent's
                  satisfaction in its Permitted Discretion, that the Additional
                  Pledged Notes are cross-collateralized and cross-defaulted
                  each to each other and to each Pledged Note;

                           (l)      Obligors shall have utilized their best
                  efforts to obtain for the benefit of the Lender Group estoppel
                  letters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in
                  its Permitted Discretion, from each ground lessor with respect
                  to the Underlying Real Property Collateral securing repayment
                  of the Additional Pledged Notes, if any, stating that the
                  ground lease is in full force and effect, that the ground
                  lessor agrees to send copies of any notices of default sent to
                  the ground lessee also to Agent, and that the Agent has the
                  right to cure any such default applicable to a mortgagee under
                  the applicable ground lease;

                           (m)      Agent and ShoLodge Franchise shall have
                  entered into an agreement, in form and substance acceptable to
                  Agent in its Permitted Discretion, whereby ShoLodge Franchise
                  agrees to (i) provide to Agent, at such time as any notice is
                  sent to the Mortgagor/licensee, a copy of any notices sent to
                  the Mortgagor/licensee under the applicable license agreement
                  for the use of the Shoney's Inn marks with respect to lodging
                  operations on the Underlying Real Property Collateral securing
                  repayment of the Additional Pledged Notes, and to permit Agent
                  to cure any default by the Mortgagor/licensee under the
                  applicable license agreement within the time periods provided
                  in the license agreement, and (ii) to license to Agent the use
                  of the Shoney's Inn marks, upon the same terms and conditions
                  set forth in the applicable license agreement, in the event
                  that the Agent comes into possession of any such Underlying
                  Real Property Collateral; and

                           (n)      all other documents and legal matters in
                  connection with the transactions contemplated by this
                  Agreement shall have been delivered, executed, or recorded and
                  shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its
                  Permitted Discretion."

                           (f)      Section 3.6 hereby is amended by deleting
the first sentence thereof and inserting the following in lieu thereof: "This
Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by
Obligors and the Lender Group and shall continue in full force and effect for a
term ending on September 30, 2004 (the "Maturity Date").

                           (g)      Section 3.8 hereby is amended by:

                           (i)      deleting from the initial sentence thereof
                                    the words "together with the Applicable
                                    Prepayment Premium" and

                                    5.20 - 7
<PAGE>

                                    inserting the words "without premium or
                                    penalty" in lieu thereof;

                           (ii)     deleting the second sentence thereof in its
                                    entirety; and

                           (iii)    deleting the last three sentences thereof in
                                    their entirety. .

                           (h)      Section 3.9 hereby is amended and restated
in its entirety to read as follows:

                           "3.9     Note Default and Remedies.

                           (a)      Upon the occurrence of a default under one
                  or more of the Notes and/or the instruments securing the
                  indebtedness evidenced thereby, the Obligors shall have the
                  right, in their discretion, to take such action as is deemed
                  appropriate to collect the Indebtedness evidenced by such
                  Notes, including, without limitation, the exercise of all
                  remedies under the instruments securing the indebtedness
                  evidenced by such Notes. All proceeds received from the
                  exercise of such remedies shall be Collections governed by the
                  provisions of Section 2.7. Notwithstanding anything to the
                  contrary contained in this Agreement, the Obligors shall have
                  5 days to cure any Overadvance created by such a default, in
                  accordance with Section 2.5.

                           (b)      If an Obligor, directly or indirectly,
                  acquires the Underlying Real Property Collateral securing
                  repayment of a Note following the exercise of its remedies as
                  set forth in subsection 3.9(a), or by reason of a deed in lieu
                  of such exercise of remedies, Obligors may, for a period of 10
                  days following such acquisition, pledge the Underlying Real
                  Property Collateral which previously secured repayment of such
                  Note (which shall then be Real Property Collateral hereunder).
                  Such additional Real Property Collateral may be added to the
                  Collateral securing the Obligations through an amendment to
                  this Agreement and as set forth in Section 4.5. Thereafter,
                  such Real Property Collateral shall be included in the
                  determintion of the Borrowing Base and the NOI from such Real
                  Property Collateral shall be included in the NOI for Real
                  Estate Collateral."

                           (i)      Section 4.4 hereby is amended by:

                           (i)      deleting from the next to last sentence
                                    thereof the language "(iii) the Obligors
                                    shall maintain the released Note free and
                                    clear of all Liens or other encumbrances,
                                    and (iv)" and inserting the language "and
                                    (iii)" in lieu thereof; and

                           (ii)     deleting the last sentence thereof in its
                                    entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the
                                    following:

                                    "Any Note so released from being considered
                                    Collateral shall, however, be included in
                                    the calculation of Unencumbered Asset

                                    5.20 - 8
<PAGE>

                                    Value provided such Note is free and clear
                                    of Liens or other encumbrances."

                           (j)      Section 4.5 hereby is amended by inserting
between the words "any time" and "and from time to time" the words "in
accordance with Section 2.1(c) or Section 3.9".

                           (k)      Section 6.2(e) hereby is amended and
restated in its entirety as follows:

                           "(e)     on a monthly basis and within 50 days of the
end of the month,

                           (i)      a calculation of the NOI, on the basis of
                                    the immediately preceding twelve months,
                                    derived by the respective Mortgagor from the
                                    hotel operations for each parcel of
                                    Underlying Real Property Collateral, and by
                                    Holdings or Borrower, as the case may be,
                                    with respect to any parcel of Real Property
                                    Collateral; and

                           (ii)     an analysis, accompanied by appropriate
                                    calculations and discussion, as required by
                                    Agent in its Permitted Discretion, of the
                                    occupancy rate, average daily room rate, and
                                    revenue per available room derived by the
                                    respective Mortgagor from the hotel
                                    operations for each parcel of Underlying
                                    Real Property Collateral, and by Holdings or
                                    Borrower, as the case may be, with respect
                                    to any parcel of Real Property Collateral."

                           (l)      Section 7.20 hereby is amended by:

                           (i)      deleting from the first sentence of
                                    subparagraph (b) thereof the dollar amount
                                    "$100,000,000" and inserting "$90,000,000"
                                    in lieu thereof; and

                           (ii)     deleting the second sentence of subparagraph
                                    (b) thereof in its entirety.

                           (m)      Section 14.3(a) hereby is amended by
deleting the last sentence thereof in its entirety.

                           (n)      Schedule A-1 of the Loan Agreement hereby is
deleted in its entirety and the new Schedule A-1 attached hereto shall be
inserted in lieu thereof.

                           (o)      Schedule C-1 of the Loan Agreement hereby is
deleted in its entirety and the new Schedule C-1 attached hereto shall be
inserted in lieu thereof.

                           (p)      Schedule 1.1 hereby is added to the Loan
Agreement.

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<PAGE>

                           (q)      Schedule 5.20 of the Loan Agreement hereby
is amended by adding thereto the addendum to Schedule 5.20 attached hereto.

                           (r)      Exhibit B-1 of the Loan Agreement hereby is
amended by deleting from paragraph R thereof the language "[$46.5 MILLION]" and
inserting "[$30 MILLION]" in lieu thereof.

                           (p)      Exhibit C-2 of the Loan Agreement hereby is
amended by deleting from paragraph 2(b) of Schedule 3 thereto the dollar amount
"$100,000,000" and inserting "$90,000,000" in lieu thereof.

         3.       Conditions Precedent to Amendment. The satisfaction of each of
the following, unless waived or deferred by Agent in its sole discretion, shall
constitute conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Amendment and each
and every provision hereof:

                           (a)      Agent shall have received this Amendment,
duly executed by the parties hereto, and the same shall be in full force and
effect.

                           (b)      Agent shall have received a reaffirmation
and consent substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Consent"), duly executed and delivered by each Guarantor.

                           (c)      The representations and warranties in this
Amendment, the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and
correct in all respects on and as of the date hereof, as though made on such
date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate
solely to an earlier date).

                           (d)      After giving effect to this Amendment, no
Event of Default or event which with the giving of notice or passage of time
would constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on
the date hereof, nor shall result from the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein.

                           (e)      No injunction, writ, restraining order, or
other order of any nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been issued and remain in
force by any Governmental Authority against Borrower, Holdings, Agent or any
Lender, or any of their respective Affiliates.

                           (f)      Agent shall have received an amendment fee
in the amount of $300,000, which amount Borrower and Holdings authorize Agent,
for the benefit of the Lender Group, to charge to the Loan Account.

                           (g)      Borrower shall have complied with the
following with respect to each Pledged Note or Real Estate Collateral added to
Schedule A-1 of the Loan Agreement pursuant to this Amendment:

                                   5.20 - 10
<PAGE>

                           (1)      Agent shall have received each of the
                  following documents, as applicable, in form and substance
                  satisfactory to Agent, duly executed, and each such document
                  shall be in full force and effect:

                                    (i)      the Pledged Notes;

                                    (ii)     the Pledged Deeds of Trust;

                                    (iii)    the Pledged Note Endorsements;

                                    (iv)     the Pledged Deed of Trust
                                             Assignments;

                                    (v)      the Pledged Title Policies;

                                    (vi)     the Pledged Title Policy Assignment
                                             Endorsements;

                                    (vii)    the Pledged Note Obligor
                                             Notifications; and

                                    (viii)   the Pledged Note Estoppels.

                           (2)      Agent shall have received real estate
                  appraisals, in form and substance, and from real estate
                  appraisers, satisfactory to Agent with respect to each
                  additional parcel of Real Estate Collateral.

                           (3)      Agent shall have received title reports and
                  title insurance policies, in form and substance, and from
                  title companies, satisfactory to Agent with respect to each
                  additional parcel of Underlying Real Property Collateral.

                           (4)      Agent shall have received an opinion of
                  Obligor's counsel in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
                  in its Permitted Discretion.

                           (5)      Agent shall have received such environmental
                  reports with respect to the additional Real Estate Collateral,
                  the environmental consultants retained for such reports, the
                  scope of the reports, and the results of the reports shall be
                  satisfactory to Agent, in its Permitted Discretion.

                           (6)      Agent shall have received, to its
                  satisfaction, an assignment for the benefit of Lenders of the
                  FF&E Reserves, if any, maintained by each Mortgagor of each
                  additional parcel of Underlying Real Property Collateral which
                  is subject to a Pledged Deed of Trust.

                           (7)      Agent shall have determined, to its
                  satisfaction in its Permitted Discretion, the right of Agent,
                  on behalf of the Lender Group, to change the flag under which
                  the lodging operations are conducted on the Real Estate
                  Collateral in the event Agent enters into possession and
                  control thereof as a result of the exercise of remedies with
                  respect to a Mortgage upon default by an Obligor, or the
                  Pledged Notes or the Pledged Deeds of Trust upon default by a
                  Mortgagor.

                                   5.20 - 11
<PAGE>

                           (8)      Agent shall have received such estoppel
                  letters from the purchasers under the Motel Purchase
                  Agreement, with respect to the status of any Pledged Notes as
                  of the date of the inclusion thereof in the calculation of the
                  Borrowing Base as Agent shall require in its Permitted
                  Discretion.

                           (9)      Agent and ShoLodge Franchise shall have
                  entered into an agreement, in form and substance acceptable to
                  Agent in its Permitted Discretion, whereby ShoLodge Franchise
                  agrees to (i) provide to Agent, at such time as any notice is
                  sent to the Mortgagor/licensee, a copy of any notices sent to
                  the Mortgagor/licensee under the applicable license agreement
                  for the use of the Shoney's Inn marks with respect to lodging
                  operations on the Underlying Real Property, and to permit
                  Agent to cure any default by the Mortgagor/licensee under the
                  applicable license agreement within the time periods provided
                  in the license agreement, and (ii) to license to Agent the use
                  of the Shoney's Inn marks, upon the same terms and conditions
                  set forth in the applicable license agreement, in the event
                  that the Agent comes into possession of any Underlying Real
                  Property Collateral.

         4.       Representations and Warranties. Each of the Borrower and
Holdings hereby represents and warrants to the Agent that (a) the execution,
delivery, and performance of this Amendment and of the Loan Agreement, as
amended hereby, are within its powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary action, and are not in contravention of any law, rule, or regulation,
or any order, judgment, decree, writ, injunction, or award of any arbitrator,
court, or Governmental Authority, or of the terms of its Governing Documents, or
of any contract or undertaking to which it is a party or by which any of its
properties may be bound or affected, (b) this Amendment and the Loan Agreement,
as amended hereby, constitute its legal, valid, and binding obligation,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and (c) this Amendment has
been duly executed and delivered by it.

         5.       Choice of Law. The validity of this Amendment, its
construction, interpretation and enforcement, the rights of the parties
hereunder, shall be determined under, governed by, and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California.

         6.       Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution. This Amendment may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties and separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an
original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this
Amendment or Consent by telefacsimile shall be effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart of this Amendment or such Consent. Any party
delivering an executed counterpart of this Amendment or the Consent by
telefacsimile also shall deliver a manually executed counterpart of this
Amendment or Consent, as applicable, but the failure to deliver a manually
executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding
effect of this Amendment or the Consent.

         7.       Effect on Loan Documents.

                                   5.20 - 12
<PAGE>

                  (a)      The Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and each of
the other Loan Documents shall be and remain in full force and effect in
accordance with its respective terms and hereby is ratified and confirmed in all
respects. The execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment shall not,
except as expressly set forth herein, operate as a waiver of or, except as
expressly set forth herein, as an amendment of, any right, power, or remedy of
Agent or any Lender under the Loan Agreement, as in effect prior to the date
hereof. The waivers, consents, and modifications herein are limited to the
specifics hereof, shall not apply with respect to any facts or occurrences other
than those on which the same are based, shall not excuse future non-compliance
with the Loan Agreement, and shall not operate as a consent to any further or
other matter, under the Loan Documents.

                  (b)      Upon and after the effectiveness of this Amendment,
each reference in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereunder", "herein",
"hereof" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement, and each
reference in the other Loan Documents to "the Agreement", "thereunder",
"therein", "thereof" or words of like import referring to the Loan Agreement,
shall mean and be a reference to the Loan Agreement as modified and amended
hereby.

                  (c)      To the extent that any terms and conditions in any of
the Loan Documents shall contradict or be in conflict with any terms or
conditions of the Loan Agreement, after giving effect to this Amendment, such
terms and conditions are hereby deemed modified or amended accordingly to
reflect the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement as modified or amended
hereby.

         8.       Further Assurances. Each of Borrower and Holdings shall
execute and deliver all agreements, documents, and instruments, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent, and take all actions as Agent may reasonably
request from time to time, to perfect and maintain the perfection and priority
of Agent's security interests in the Collateral (for the benefit of the Lender
Group) and to fully consummate the transactions contemplated under this
Amendment and the Loan Agreement.

         9.       Entire Agreement. This Amendment, together with all other
instruments, agreements, and certificates executed by the parties in connection
herewith or with reference thereto, embody the entire understanding and
agreement between the parties hereto and thereto with respect to the subject
matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings,
and inducements, whether express or implied, oral or written.

                  [Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

                                   5.20 - 13
<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have entered into this
Amendment as of the date first above written.

                           SHOLODGE, INC., a Tennessee corporation

                           By /s/ James M. Grout
                              -------------------------------------------------
                           Title:  Executive Vice President

                           THE HOTEL GROUP, INC., a Kansas corporation

                           By /s/ James M. Gout
                              -------------------------------------------------
                           Title:  Executive Vice President

                           FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
                           a California corporation, as Agent and as a Lender

                           By /s/ Davies Gannon
                              -------------------------------------------------
                           Title:
                                 ----------------------------------------------

                                   5.20 - 14<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.6

                               LUMINEX CORPORATION

                       2001 BROAD-BASED STOCK OPTION PLAN

                      ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

        1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. Luminex Corporation, a Delaware corporation, hereby
establishes the Luminex Corporation 2001 Broad-Based Stock Option Plan, as set
forth in this document.

        1.2 PURPOSE. The purposes of the Plan are to attract able persons who
are neither Directors nor Officers to enter the employ of the Company, to
encourage Employees who are neither Directors nor Officers to remain in the
employ of the Company and to provide motivation to such Employees to put forth
maximum efforts toward the continued growth, profitability and success of the
Company, by providing incentives to such persons through the ownership and
performance of the Common Stock of the Company. A further purpose of the Plan is
to provide a means through which the Company may attract able persons to become
consultants and independent contractors of the Company, provided such persons
are neither Directors nor Officers, and to provide such individuals with
incentive and reward opportunities. Toward these objectives, Options may be
granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in the Plan.

        1.3 EFFECTIVENESS. The Plan shall become effective as of February 22,
2001, the date of its adoption by the Board.

                             ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS

        2.1 AFFILIATE. "Affiliate" means a "parent corporation" or a "subsidiary
corporation" of the Company, as those terms are defined in Section 424(e) and
(f) of the Code.

        2.2 BOARD. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

        2.3 CODE. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and
regulations thereto.

        2.4 COMMITTEE. "Committee" means such Committee, if any, as may be
designated by the Board to administer the Plan. The members of the Committee
shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall serve at the discretion of,
the Board and shall be comprised of any combination of Directors and Officers at
the level of executive vice president or higher as the Board, in its sole
discretion, shall designate.

        2.5 COMMON STOCK. "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, par value $.001
per share, of the Company, or any stock or other securities of the Company
hereafter issued or issuable in substitution or exchange for the Common Stock.

        2.6 "COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS" means, without duplication vis-a-vis the
outstanding Common Stock or other Common Stock Equivalents, any rights,
warrants, options, convertible securities or indebtedness, exchangeable
securities or indebtedness, or other rights, exercisable for or convertible or
exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, Common Stock or securities
convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, whether at the time of issuance
or after the passage of time or upon the occurrence of a future event.

<PAGE>

         2.7 COMPANY. "Company" means Luminex Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, any successor thereto, and their respective Affiliates.

         2.8 CONSULTANT. "Consultant" means any individual who performs services
for and is treated by the Company or an Affiliate in their sole discretion as an
independent contractor for employment tax purposes.

         2.9 DIRECTOR. "Director" means a duly elected or appointed member of
the Board.

         2.10 EFFECTIVE DATE. "Effective Date" means the date an Option is
determined to be effective by the Board upon the grant of such Option.

         2.11 EMPLOYEE. "Employee" means any person that the Company (or any
Affiliate), in its sole and absolute discretion, treats as a common law
employee, and shall not include independent contractors, consultants or anyone
else the Company (or any Affiliate) does not deem to be a bona fide common law
employee. "Employee" also means any person to whom the Company (or any
Affiliate) has extended or intends to extend an offer of employment, even though
such employment has not actually commenced.

         2.12 FAIR MARKET VALUE. "Fair Market Value" means the closing sale
price per share on the date in question (or if no reported sale on such date, on
the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) of the Common Stock
on the Nasdaq National Market or any national stock exchange on which the Common
Stock may be listed or, if the Common Stock is not traded publicly, the fair
market value per share as determined in good faith by the Board.

         2.13 FULLY DILUTED COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING. "Fully Diluted Common
Shares Outstanding" means all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock plus
(without duplication) all shares of Common Stock which may be directly or
indirectly issuable, whether at the time of determination of the number of Fully
Diluted Common Shares Outstanding, or after the passage of time or upon the
occurrence of a future event, upon the exercise, exchange or conversion of any
outstanding Common Stock Equivalents.

         2.14 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION. "Nonqualified Stock Option" means a
stock option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422(b) of
the Code.

         2.15 OFFICER. "Officer" means the Company's president, principal
financial officer, principal accounting officer (or, if there is no such
accounting officer, the controller), any vice-president in charge of a principal
business unit, division or function (such as sales, administration or finance),
any other officer who performs a policy-making function, or any other person who
performs similar policy-making functions for the Company. For purposes of this
definition, "policy-making function" is not intended to include policy-making
functions that are not significant.

         2.16 OPTION. "Option" means an option to purchase shares of Common
Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.

         2.17 OPTION AGREEMENT. "Option Agreement" means a written agreement
between the Company and a Participant that sets forth the terms, conditions,
restrictions and/or limitations applicable to an Option grant. An Option
Agreement may, in addition to being in the form of a bilateral agreement signed
by both the Company and a Participant, also be in the form of a certificate
approved by the Board and executed (by manual or facsimile signature) only by
the Company.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

         2.18 PARTICIPANT. "Participant" means any Employee or Consultant to
whom an Option has been granted under the Plan.

         2.19 PLAN. "Plan" means this Luminex Corporation 2001 Broad-Based Stock
Option Plan.

                         ARTICLE 3. PLAN ADMINISTRATION

         3.1 PLAN ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by the Board.
The Board may delegate responsibility for administration of the Plan to any
Committee appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Board, under such
terms and conditions as the Board shall determine. Any reference to the Board in
the Plan (other than references to the Board in Section 5.3(d) and Article 9)
shall be construed as a reference to the Committee if the Board shall have
delegated responsibility for administration of the Plan to a Committee.

         3.2 AUTHORITY OF ADMINISTRATOR. The Board shall have total and
exclusive responsibility to control, operate, manage and administer the Plan in
accordance with its terms. The Board shall have all the authority that may be
necessary or helpful to enable it to discharge its responsibilities with respect
to the Plan. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentences, the
Board shall have the exclusive right to: (i) interpret the Plan and the Option
Agreements executed hereunder; (ii) determine eligibility for participation in
the Plan by specific individuals or classes of individuals; (iii) decide all
questions concerning eligibility for, and the amount of, Options granted under
the Plan; (iv) construe any ambiguous provision of the Plan or any Option
Agreement; (v) prescribe the form of the Option Agreements embodying Options
granted under the Plan; (vi) correct any defect, supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement; (vii) issue
administrative guidelines as an aid to administering the Plan and make changes
in such guidelines as it from time to time deems proper; (viii) make regulations
for carrying out the Plan and make changes in such regulations as it from time
to time deems proper; (ix) to the extent permitted under or not inconsistent
with the Plan, grant waivers of Plan terms, conditions, restrictions and
limitations; (x) accelerate the exercise or vesting of an Option when such
action or actions would be in the best interests of the Company; (xi) grant
Options in replacement of Options previously granted under the Plan or any other
employee benefit plan of the Company; and (xii) take any and all other actions
it deems necessary or advisable for the proper operation or administration of
the Plan.

         3.3 DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY. The Board shall have full discretionary
authority in all matters related to the discharge of its responsibilities and
the exercise of its authority under the Plan, including, without limitation, its
construction of the terms of the Plan and its determination of eligibility for
participation in, and receipt of Option grants under, the Plan. The decisions of
the Board and its actions with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive
and binding on all persons having or claiming to have any right or interest in
or under the Plan, including Participants and their respective estates,
beneficiaries and legal representatives.

         3.4 LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION. No member of the Board nor any person
to whom authority has been delegated, shall be personally liable for any action,
interpretation or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or
Options granted hereunder, and each member of the Board (or delegatee of the
Board) shall be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to
any liability he or she may incur with respect to any such action,
interpretation or determination, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law.

                             ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY

         Employees and Consultants are eligible to participate in the Plan.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Directors and Officers of the
Company shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan or to receive Option
grants hereunder. The Company's Chief Executive Officer shall recommend, from
time to time,

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Participants from those Employees and Consultants who, in the opinion of such
officer, can further the Plan purposes. Once a Participant is recommended for an
Option grant by the Chief Executive Officer, the Board shall determine the type
and size of Option grant to be made to the Participant and shall establish in
the related Option Agreement the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or
limitations applicable to the Option grant, in addition to those set forth in
the Plan and the administrative rules and regulations, if any, established by
the Board.

                      ARTICLE 5. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

         5.1 AVAILABLE SHARES. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock that shall be available for grant of Options under the Plan shall be five
percent (5%) of the maximum number of Fully-Diluted Common Shares Outstanding
from time to time after the effectiveness of the Plan, subject to adjustment as
provided in Sections 5.2 and 5.3. Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to
Options granted under the Plan may be shares of original issuance or treasury
shares or a combination of the foregoing, as the Board, in its discretion, shall
from time to time determine.

         5.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR RECAPITALIZATIONS AND REORGANIZATIONS.

                  (a) The shares with respect to which Options may be granted
         under the Plan are shares of Common Stock as presently constituted, but
         if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or exercise of an Option
         theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or
         consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock
         dividend on Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the
         Company, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which
         such Option may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, as applicable,
         (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares,
         shall be proportionately increased, and the exercise price per share
         shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction
         in the number of outstanding shares, shall be proportionately reduced,
         and the exercise price per share shall be proportionately increased.

                  (b) If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its
         capital structure, thereafter upon any exercise of an Option
         theretofore granted the Participant shall be entitled to purchase under
         such Option, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock then
         covered by such Option, the number and class of shares of stock or
         other securities to which the Participant would have been entitled
         pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to
         such recapitalization, the Participant had been the holder of record of
         the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Option.

                  (c) In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock by
         reason of a Corporate Transaction (as hereinafter defined),
         recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations,
         combinations, separations (including a spin-off or other distribution
         of stock or property), exchanges, or other relevant changes in
         capitalization occurring after the date of grant of any Option and not
         otherwise provided for by this Section 5.2, any outstanding Options and
         any Option Agreements evidencing such Options shall be subject to
         adjustment by the Board at its discretion as to the number, price and
         kind of shares or other consideration subject to, and other terms of,
         such Options to reflect such changes in the outstanding Common Stock.

                  (d) In the event of any changes in the outstanding Common
         Stock provided for in this Section 5.2, the aggregate number of shares
         available for grant of Options under the Plan may be equitably adjusted
         by the Board, whose determination shall be conclusive.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         5.3 ADJUSTMENTS. The Board shall have full discretion to determine the
manner in which shares of Common Stock available for grant of Options under the
Plan are counted. Without limiting the discretion of the Board under this
Section 5.3, unless otherwise determined by the Board, the following rules shall
apply for the purpose of determining the number of shares of Common Stock
available for grant of Options under the Plan:

                  (a) OPTION GRANTS. The grant of Options shall reduce the
         number of shares available for grant of Options under the Plan by the
         number of shares subject to such Options.

                  (b) TERMINATION. If any Option referred to in paragraph (a)
         above is canceled or forfeited, or terminates, expires or lapses, for
         any reason, the shares then subject to such Option shall again be
         available for grant of Options under the Plan.

                  (c) PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND WITHHOLDING TAXES. If
         previously acquired shares of Common Stock are used to pay the exercise
         price of an Option, or shares of Common Stock that would be acquired
         upon exercise of an Option are withheld to pay the exercise price of
         such Option, the number of shares available for grant of Options under
         the Plan shall be increased by the number of shares delivered or
         withheld as payment of such exercise price. If previously acquired
         shares of Common Stock are used to pay withholding taxes payable upon
         exercise of an Option, or shares of Common Stock that would be acquired
         upon exercise of an Option are withheld to pay withholding taxes
         payable upon exercise of such Option, the number of shares available
         for grant of Options under the Plan shall be increased by the number of
         shares delivered or withheld as payment of such withholding taxes.

                  (d) SHARE REPURCHASES. To the extent authorized by the Board,
         the number of shares available for grant of Options under the Plan
         shall be increased by the number of shares of Common Stock that are
         reacquired by the Company in the open market or in private transactions
         any time after the effectiveness of the Plan; provided, however, that
         the aggregate number of shares that may be added to the Plan under this
         Section 5.3(d) shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the Fully Diluted
         Common Shares Outstanding measured at the time of each such repurchase.

                   ARTICLE 6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS

         6.1 GENERAL. All Options shall be subject to the terms, conditions,
restrictions and limitations of the Plan. The Board may, in its sole judgment,
subject any Option to such other terms, conditions, restrictions and/or
limitations (including, but not limited to, the time and conditions of exercise
or vesting of an Option and restrictions on transferability of any shares of
Common Stock issued or delivered pursuant to an Option), provided they are not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. Options need not be uniform and
multiple Option grants to the same Participant may be combined into one Option
Agreement. Any combination of Options may be granted at one time and on more
than one occasion to the same Participant.

         6.2 NQSO'S ONLY. All Options granted under the Plan shall be
Nonqualified Stock Options.

         6.3 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. An Option shall be exercisable in
whole or in such installments and at such times as may be determined by the
Board. The price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise
of an Option shall be determined by the Board, but such exercise price shall not
be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
Effective Date of the Option's grant. Except as otherwise provided in Section
6.4, the term of each Option shall be as specified by the Board; provided,
however, that unless otherwise designated by the Board, no Options shall be
exercisable later than 10 years from the Effective Date of the Option's grant.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

         6.4 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan, Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written or electronic
notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the number of shares of Common
Stock with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full
payment for such shares. The exercise price of an Option shall become
immediately due upon exercise of the Option and shall, subject to the provisions
of the documents evidencing the Option, be payable in cash or check made payable
to the Company, or as follows:

                  (i) in shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period of
         time necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings for
         financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the
         date of exercise at the discretion of the Board; or

                  (ii) to the extent the Option is exercised for shares of
         Common Stock that are not subject to restrictions (other than
         restrictions imposed under applicable federal and state securities
         laws), through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to
         which the optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable instructions
         (A) to a brokerage firm designated by the Company to effect the
         immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Company, out of
         the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to
         cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares
         plus all applicable federal, state and local income and employment
         taxes required to be withheld by the Company by reason of such exercise
         and (B) to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased
         shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.

         In addition, any grant of an Option under the Plan may, at the
discretion of the Board, provide that payment of the exercise price of the
Option may also be made in whole or in part in the form of shares of Common
Stock that are subject to risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board at the time of grant of such Option, whenever
the exercise price of such Option is paid in whole or in part by means of the
form of consideration specified in the immediately preceding sentence, the
shares of Common Stock received by the Participant upon the exercise of such
Option shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture and restrictions on
transfer as those that applied to the consideration surrendered by the
Participant. However, the risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer shall
apply only to the same number of shares of Common Stock received by the
Participant upon exercise as applied to the forfeitable or restricted Common
Stock surrendered by the Participant in payment of the exercise price.

         As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of written or
electronic notification of exercise of an Option and full payment of the
exercise price and any required withholding taxes, the Company shall deliver to
the Participant, in the Participant's name, a stock certificate or certificates
in an appropriate amount based upon the number of shares of Common Stock
purchased under the Option.

         6.5 TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Each Option Agreement embodying the grant
of an Option shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the
right to exercise the Option following termination of the Participant's
employment or service with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in
the sole discretion of the Board, need not be uniform among all Options granted
under the Plan and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination
of employment or service. Subject to Section 5.2 and Article 7, in the event
that a Participant's Option Agreement embodying the grant of an Option does not
set forth such termination provisions, the following termination provisions
shall apply with respect to such Option.

                  (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. If the employment or service of a
         Participant shall terminate by reason of death or disability (with any
         Participant's "disability" to be determined by the Board in its sole
         discretion), outstanding Options held by the Participant may be
         exercised, to the extent then

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         vested, no more than one year from the date of such termination, unless
         the Options, by their terms, expire earlier.

                  (b) OTHER TERMINATION. If the employment or service of a
         Participant shall terminate for any reason other than the reasons set
         forth in paragraph (a) above, whether on a voluntary or involuntary
         basis, outstanding Options held by the Participant may be exercised, to
         the extent then vested, no more than 60 days from the date of such
         termination, unless the Options, by their terms, expire earlier. The
         Board shall have the sole and absolute discretion to determine the
         precise point in time when a Participant's employment or service with
         the Company shall have terminated or deemed to have been terminated.

                  (c) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and
         (b) above, if the employment or service of a Participant shall be
         terminated by reason of such Participant's fraud, dishonesty or
         performance of other acts detrimental to the Company, all outstanding
         Options held by the Participant shall immediately be forfeited to the
         Company and no additional exercise period shall be allowed, regardless
         of the vested status of the Options.

                        ARTICLE 7. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS

         7.1 DEFINITION OF CORPORATE TRANSACTION. A "Corporate Transaction"
shall mean any of the following transactions with respect to which the Company
is a party:

                  (a) a merger or consolidation in which (i) the Company is not
         the surviving entity or (ii) the Company survives only as a subsidiary
         of an entity other than a previously wholly-owned subsidiary of the
         Company;

                  (b) a tender offer or share exchange resulting in the transfer
         of ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total outstanding
         voting power of the Company immediately after such transaction; or

                  (c) the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or
         substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than to a
         wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company).

         7.2 EFFECT ON OUTSTANDING OPTIONS. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, no later than 30 days after (i) the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of a Corporate Transaction of the type described in
Section 7.1(a) or (c) or (ii) the public announcement of a Corporate Transaction
of the type described in Section 7.1(b), the Board, acting in its sole
discretion without the consent or approval of any Participant, may act to effect
one or more of the following alternatives, which may vary among individual
Participants and which may vary among Options held by any individual
Participant:

                  (a) accelerate the vesting of and the time at which Options
         then outstanding may be exercised so that such Options may be exercised
         in full (irrespective of whether such Options are fully exercisable
         prior to the date of such Corporate Transaction) for a limited period
         of time on or before a specified date fixed by the Board (which date
         may be before or after the date of such Corporate Transaction), after
         which specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of
         Participants thereunder shall terminate;

                  (b) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by all or
         selected Participants of some or all of the outstanding Options held by
         such Participants (irrespective of whether such Options are fully
         exercisable prior to the date of such Corporate Transaction) as of a
         date specified by the

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

         Board (which date may be before or after the date of such Corporate
         Transaction), in which event the Board shall thereupon cancel such
         Options and the Company shall pay to the relevant Participants an
         amount of cash per share equal to the excess, if any, of the following
         amount, whichever is applicable:

                           (i) the per share price offered to stockholders of
                  the Company in a merger or consolidation transaction described
                  in Section 7.1(a), less the applicable exercise price payable
                  by such Participants pursuant to such Options;

                           (ii) the price per share offered to stockholders of
                  the Company in a tender offer or share exchange described in
                  Section 7.1(b), less the applicable exercise price payable by
                  such Participants pursuant to such Options;

                           (iii) if such Corporate Transaction occurs pursuant
                  to a type of transaction described in Section 7.1(c), the Fair
                  Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to such
                  Options, as determined by the Board as of the date determined
                  by the Board to be the date of such transaction, less the
                  applicable exercise price, if any, payable by such
                  Participants pursuant to such Options.

         In the event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the
         Company in any Corporate Transaction consists of anything other than
         cash, the Board shall determine the fair cash equivalent of that
         portion of the consideration offered which is other than cash.

                  (c) make such adjustments to Options then outstanding so that
         such Options thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock
         or other securities or property (including, without limitation, cash)
         to which the Participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms
         of the Corporate Transaction had the Participant been the holder of
         record of the number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Option;
         or

                  (d) in the event of a Corporate Transaction in which the
         holders of the Company's Common Stock receive shares of stock in the
         acquiring entity ("Acquiror Stock"), convert Options into options to
         acquire shares of Acquiror Stock ("Substitute Options"). Each
         Substitute Option shall be exercisable on substantially the same terms
         and conditions contained in the applicable Option, and shall cover such
         number of shares of Acquiror Stock and have such exercise price and
         other terms as the Board shall, in its discretion, deem appropriate in
         order to approximate with the Substitute Option an economic equivalent
         to the applicable Option.

In the event of Corporate Transaction, the Board may, but shall not be required
to, take any such action set forth in Sections 7.3(a) through (d) above or shall
be permitted to allow any or all outstanding Options to remain so outstanding in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the related Option Agreement.

                      ARTICLE 8. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

         The Board may at any time suspend, terminate, amend or modify the Plan,
in whole or in part. Upon termination of the Plan, the terms and provisions of
the Plan shall, notwithstanding such termination, continue to apply to Options
granted prior to such termination. No suspension, termination, amendment or
modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Option
previously granted under the Plan, without the consent of the Participant
holding such Option.

         Except as otherwise provided in Article 7, the Board may amend the
terms of any outstanding Option granted pursuant to this Plan, but any amendment
that would adversely affect the Participant's rights under

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

an outstanding Option shall not be made without the written consent of the
Participant. The Board may, with a Participant's written consent, cancel any
outstanding Option or accept any outstanding Option in exchange for a new
Option.

                            ARTICLE 9. MISCELLANEOUS

         9.1 OPTION AGREEMENTS. After the Board grants an Option under the Plan
to a Participant, the Company and the Participant shall enter into an Option
Agreement setting forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations
applicable to the Option and such other matters as the Board may determine to be
appropriate. The terms and provisions of the respective Option Agreements need
not be identical. An Option Agreement may, in addition to being in the form of a
bilateral agreement signed by both the Company and a Participant, also be in the
form of a certificate approved by the Board and executed (by manual or facsimile
signature) only by the Company. All Option Agreements shall be subject to the
provisions of the Plan. In the event of any conflict between an Option Agreement
and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern.

         9.2 ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the
contrary: (i) the Company may, if it shall determine it necessary or desirable
for any reason, at the time of grant of any Option or the issuance of any shares
of Common Stock pursuant to any Option, require the recipient of the Option or
such shares of Common Stock, as a condition to the receipt thereof, to deliver
to the Company a written representation of present intention to acquire the
Option or such shares of Common Stock for his or her own account for investment
and not for distribution; and (ii) if at any time the Company further
determines, in its sole discretion, that the listing, registration or
qualification (or any updating of any such document) of any Option or shares of
Common Stock issuable pursuant thereto is necessary on any securities exchange
or market or under any federal or state securities or blue sky laws, or that the
consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body is necessary or
desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of any Option, the
issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto or the removal of any
restrictions imposed on such shares, such Option shall not be awarded or such
shares of Common Stock shall not be issued or such restrictions shall not be
removed, as the case may be, in whole or in part, unless such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or
obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

         9.3 LEGENDS ON STOCK CERTIFICATES. Unless the shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to an Option shall have been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, each certificate representing such shares shall have
conspicuously stamped, printed or typed on the face or back thereof the
following legend:

                  THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED
                  FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND
                  MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS SUCH SHARES
                  ARE FIRST REGISTERED THEREUNDER OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES
                  A WRITTEN OPINION OF COUNSEL, WHICH OPINION AND COUNSEL ARE
                  ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, TO THE EFFECT THAT REGISTRATION
                  THEREUNDER IS NOT REQUIRED.

         9.4 NONASSIGNABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the Option
Agreement, no Option granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged,
exchanged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, other than by will or pursuant
to the applicable laws of descent and distribution. Further, no such Option
shall be subject

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted sale, transfer,
pledge, exchange, hypothecation or other disposition of an Option not
specifically permitted by the Plan or the Option Agreement shall be null and
void and without effect. All Options granted to a Participant under the Plan
shall be exercisable (i) during his or her lifetime only by such Participant or,
in the event of the Participant's legal incapacity, by his or her guardian or
legal representative, and (ii) after his or her lifetime only by such
Participant's duly appointed and acting executor or other legal representative.

         9.5 WITHHOLDING TAXES. The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any
payment made under the Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount
of all applicable income and employment taxes required by law to be withheld
with respect to such payment, may require the Participant to pay to the Company
such withholding taxes prior to and as a condition of the issuance or delivery
of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Options granted under the Plan and
shall be entitled to deduct from any other compensation payable to the
Participant any withholding obligations with respect to Options granted under
the Plan. In accordance with any applicable administrative guidelines it
establishes, the Board may allow a Participant to pay the amount of taxes
required by law to be withheld from or with respect to an Option by (i)
withholding shares of Common Stock from any shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of such Option or (ii) permitting the Participant to deliver to the
Company previously acquired shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
of time necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings for financial
reporting purposes, in each case having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount
of such required withholding taxes. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued
pursuant to any Option unless and until the applicable tax withholding
obligations have been satisfied.

         9.6 NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be
issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Option granted hereunder, and no
payment or other adjustment shall be made in respect of any such fractional
share.

         9.7 NOTICES. All notices required or permitted to be given or made
under the Plan or any Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly given or made if (i) delivered personally, (ii) transmitted by
first class registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, (iii) sent by prepaid overnight courier service or (iv) sent
by telecopy or facsimile transmission, answer back requested, to the person who
is to receive it at the address that such person has theretofore specified by
written notice delivered in accordance herewith. Such notices shall be effective
(i) if delivered personally or sent by courier service, upon actual receipt by
the intended recipient, (ii) if mailed, upon the earlier of five days after
deposit in the mail or the date of delivery as shown by the return receipt
therefor or (iii) if sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission, when the answer
back is received. The Company or a Participant may change, at any time and from
time to time, by written notice to the other, the address that it or such
Participant had theretofore specified for receiving notices. Until such address
is changed in accordance herewith, notices hereunder or under an Option
Agreement shall be delivered or sent (i) to a Participant at his or her address
as set forth in the records of the Company or (ii) to the Company at the
principal executive offices of the Company clearly marked "Attention: Option
Administrator".

         9.8 BINDING EFFECT. The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall
be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the
merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any
successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of
the assets and business of the Company. The terms and conditions of the Plan
shall be binding upon each Participant and his or her heirs, legatees,
distributees and legal representatives.

         9.9 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of the Plan or any Option Agreement
is held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity
shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan or such agreement, as the
case may be, but such provision shall be fully severable and the Plan or such
agreement, as

                                      -10-

<PAGE>
the case may be, shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had never been included herein or therein.

         9.10 NO RESTRICTION OF CORPORATE ACTION. Nothing contained in the Plan
shall be construed to prevent the Company or any Affiliate from taking any
corporate action (including any corporate action to suspend, terminate, amend or
modify the Plan) that is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be
appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an
adverse effect on the Plan or any Options granted or to be granted under the
Plan. No Participant or other person shall have any claim against the Company or
any Affiliate as a result of such action.

         9.11 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws (and not the principles relating to conflicts
of laws) of the State of Delaware, except as superseded by applicable federal
law.

         9.12 NO RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN COMPANY ASSETS. No Participant
shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company as a result of
participation in the Plan until the date of issuance of a stock certificate
representing shares of Common Stock in his or her name. To the extent any person
acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such
rights shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured creditor of the
Company, and such person shall not have any rights in or against any specific
assets of the Company.

         9.13 RISK OF PARTICIPATION. Nothing contained in the Plan shall be
construed either as a guarantee by the Company or its Affiliates, or their
respective stockholders, directors, officers or employees, of the value of any
assets of the Plan or as an agreement by the Company or its Affiliates, or their
respective stockholders, directors, officers or employees, to indemnify anyone
for any losses, damages, costs or expenses resulting from participation in the
Plan.

         9.14 NO GUARANTEE OF TAX CONSEQUENCES. No person connected with the
Plan in any capacity, including, but not limited to, the Company and its
Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, makes
any representation, commitment or guarantee that any tax treatment, including,
but not limited to, federal, state and local income, estate and gift tax
treatment, will be applicable with respect to any Options granted under the Plan
or that such tax treatment will apply to or be available to a Participant on
account of participation in the Plan.

         9.15 OTHER BENEFITS. No Option granted under the Plan shall be
considered compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions
under any retirement plan of the Company or any Affiliate, nor affect any
benefits or compensation under any other benefit or compensation plan of the
Company or any Affiliate now or subsequently in effect.

         9.16 CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE. Nothing contained in the Plan or
in any Option Agreement shall confer upon any Participant the right to continue
in the employ or service of the Company, or interfere in any way with the rights
of the Company to terminate his or her employment or service at any time, with
or without cause.

         9.17 MISCELLANEOUS. Headings are given to the articles and sections 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 of the Plan or
any provisions hereof. The use of the masculine gender shall also include within
its meaning the feminine. Wherever the context of the Plan dictates, the use of
the singular shall also include within its meaning the plural, and vice versa.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Plan has been executed as of February 22,
2001.

                                   LUMINEX CORPORATION

                                   By: /s/ Mark Chandler
                                       --------------------------------------
                                       Mark Chandler, Chief Executive Officer

                                      -12-

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