Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

                             FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION

            AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN (SG)
                           Effective October 21, 2000

         1. PLAN PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term
interests of the Corporation and its stockholders by providing a means for
attracting and retaining directors, officers and employees of the Corporation
and its Affiliates and for promoting employee and director stock ownership in
the Corporation.

         2. DEFINITIONS. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan:

                  "Affiliate" - means any "parent corporation" or "subsidiary
corporation" of the corporation as such terms are defined in Section 424 (e) and
(f), respectively, of the Code.

                  "Award" - means the grant by the Committee of an Incentive
Stock Option, a Non- Qualified Stock Option, or of Restricted Stock, or any
combination thereof, as provided in the Plan.

                  "Code" - means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Committee" - means the Committee referred to in Section 3
hereof.

                  "Continuous Service" - means the absence of any interruption
or termination of service as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation
or an Affiliate, except that when used with respect to persons granted an
incentive Stock Option shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination
of service as an employee of the Corporation or an Affiliate. Service shall not
be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave or any other
leave of absence approved by the Corporation or in the case of transfers between
payroll locations of the corporation or between the Corporation, its parent, its
subsidiaries or its successor.

                  "Corporation" - means FirstMerit Corporation, an Ohio
corporation, as successor in interest to Signal Corp.

                  "Disinterested Person" - means any member of the Board of
Directors of FirstMerit who, at the time discretion under the Plan is exercised,
has not at any time within one year prior to such use of discretion, been
selected as a Participant in the Plan or as a person to whom stock may be
allocated or to whom stock options or stock appreciation rights may be granted
pursuant to any other plan of FirstMerit or any of its affiliates (as that term
is used in the Exchange Act) entitling the participants therein to acquire
stock, stock options or stock appreciation rights of FirstMerit or of any such
affiliates, except as provided in Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) under the Exchange Act;
provided, however, that no recipient of an award granted pursuant to Section 21
hereof shall be deemed not to be a Disinterested Person solely by reason of such
grant.

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                  "Employee" - means any person who is employed on a full time
basis by the Corporation or any Affiliate.

                  "ERISA" - means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

                  "Exchange Act" - means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

                  "Exercise Price" - means (i) in the case of an Option, the
price per Share at which the Shares subject to such Option may be purchased upon
exercise of such Option and (ii) in the case of a Right, the price per Share
(other than the Market Value per Share on the date of exercise and the Offer
Price per Share as defined in Section 10 hereof) which, upon grant, the
Committee determines shall be utilized in calculating the aggregate value which
a Participant shall be entitled to receive pursuant to Sections 9, 10, or 13
hereof upon exercise of such Right.

                  "FirstMerit" - means FirstMerit Corporation, an Ohio
corporation.

                  "Incentive Stock Option" - means an option to purchase Shares
granted by the Committee pursuant to Section 6 hereof which is subject to the
limitations and restrictions of Section 8 hereof and is intended to qualify
under Section 422 of the Code.

                  "Market Value" - means the average of the high and low quoted
sales price on the date in question (or, if there is no reported sale on such
date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) of a Share
on the Composite Tape for the New York Stock Exchange-listed Stocks, or, if on
such date the Shares are not quoted on the composite Tape, on the New York Stock
Exchange, or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on such
Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under
the Exchange Act on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if
the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any such exchange, the
average of the high and low quoted sale price with respect to a Share on such
date on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Automated
Quotations System, or any similar system then in use, or, if no such quotations
are available, the fair market value on such date of a Share as the committee
shall determine.

                  "Non-Qualified Stock Option" - means an option to purchase
shares granted by the Committee pursuant to Section 6 hereof, which option is
not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

                  "Option" - means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.

                  "Participant" - means any director, officer or employee of the
Corporation or any Affiliate who is selected by the Committee to receive an
Award.

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                  "Plan" - means the FirstMerit Corporation Amended and Restated
Stock Option and Incentive Plan (SG).

                  "Restricted Period" - means the period of time selected by the
Committee for the purpose of determining when restrictions are in effect under
Section 9 hereof with respect to Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.

                  "Restricted Stock" - means Shares which have been contingently
awarded to a Participant by the Committee subject to the restrictions referred
to in Section 9 hereof, so long as such restrictions are in effect.

                  "Shares" - means the shares of FirstMerit common stock.

                  "Senior Officer" - means the Corporation's president,
principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer, any vice-president
of the Corporation 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 Corporation. Officers of the Corporation's Affiliates shall be
deemed officers of the Corporation if they perform such policy-making functions
for the Corporation.

                  "Ten Percent Beneficial Owner" - means the beneficial owner of
more than ten percent of any class of the Corporation's equity securities
registered pursuant to Section 10 of the Exchange Act.

         3. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee
consisting of two or more members, each of whom shall be a Disinterested Person.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. Except as limited by the express provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have sole and complete authority and discretion to (i) select
Participants and grant Awards; (ii) determine the number of Shares to be subject
to types of Awards generally, as well as to individual Awards granted under the
Plan; (iii) determine the terms and conditions upon which Awards shall be
granted under the Plan; (iv) prescribe the form and terms of instruments
evidencing such grants; and (v) establish from time to time regulations for the
administration of the Plan, interpret the Plan, and make all determinations
deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee
may maintain, and update from time to time as appropriate, a list designating
selected directors as Disinterested Persons. The purpose of such list shall be
to evidence the status of such individuals as Disinterested persons, and the
Board of Directors may appoint to the Committee any individual actually
qualifying as a Disinterested Person, regardless of whether identified as such
on said list.

         A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of
a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present,
or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting,
shall be acts of the Committee.

         4. PARTICIPATION. The committee may select from time to time
Participants in the Plan

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from those directors, officers and employees (other than Disinterested Persons),
of the Corporation or its affiliates who, in the opinion of the Committee, have
the capacity for contributing to the successful performance of the Corporation
or its affiliates.

         5. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN. Subject to adjustment by the operation of
Section 10 hereof, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may
be made under the Plan is 110,234 Shares. The Shares with respect to which
Awards may be made under the Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares
or issued shares heretofore or hereafter reacquired and held as treasury shares.
An Award shall not be considered to have been made under the Plan with respect
to any Option which terminates or with respect to Restricted Stock which is
forfeited, and new Awards may be granted under the Plan with respect to the
number of Shares as to which such termination or forfeiture has occurred.

         6. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS. The Committee shall have
full and complete authority and discretion, except as expressly limited by the
Plan, to grant Options and to provide the terms and conditions (which need not
be identical among Participants) thereof. In particular, the Committee shall
prescribe the following terms and conditions: (i) the Exercise Price of any
Option, which shall not be less than the Market Value per Share at the date of
grant of such Option (ii) the number of Shares subject to, and the expiration
date of, any Option, which expiration date shall not exceed ten years from the
date of grant, (iii) the manner, time and rate (cumulative or otherwise) of
exercise of such Option, and (iv) the restrictions, if any, to be placed upon
such Option. The Committee may, as a condition of granting any Option, require
that a Participant agree not to thereafter exercise one or more Options
previously granted to such Participant.

         7.       EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.

                  (a) Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of the Participant to whom such Option was granted only by such
Participant, and except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 7,
no such Option may be exercised unless at the time such Participant exercises
such Option, such Participant has maintained Continuous Service since the date
of grant of such Option.

                  (b) To exercise an Option under the Plan, the Participant to
whom such Option was granted shall give written notice to FirstMerit in form
satisfactory to the Committee (and, if partial exercises have permitted by the
Committee, by specifying the number of Shares with respect to which such
Participant elects to exercise such Option) together with full payment of the
Exercise Price, if any and to the extent required. The date of exercise shall be
the date on which such notice is received by the Corporation. Payment, if any is
required, shall be made in cash (including check, bank draft or money order).

                  (c) If a Participant to whom an Option was granted shall cease
to maintain Continuous Service for any reason (including voluntary termination,
total and partial disability and

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normal and early retirement, but excluding death and termination of employment
by the Corporation or any Affiliate for cause), all rights under any Option
granted to such Participant shall cease unless the Committee otherwise
determines and so provides in the applicable instrument or instruments
evidencing the grant of such Option in which case such Participant may, but only
within the period of three months immediately succeeding such cessation of
Continuous Service and in no event after the expiration date of such Option,
exercise such Option to the extent that such Participant was entitled to
exercise such Option at the date of such cessation. If the Continuous Service of
a Participant to whom an Option was granted by the Corporation is terminated for
cause, all rights under any Option of such Participant shall expire immediately
upon the giving to the Participant of notice of such termination.

                  (d) In the event of the death of a Participant while in the
Continuous Service of the Corporation or an Affiliate or within the three month
period referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section 7, the person to whom any
Option held by the Participant at the time of his death is transferred by will
or the laws of descent and distribution, may, but only to the extent such
Participant was entitled to exercise such Option immediately prior to his death,
exercise such Option at any time within a period of one year succeeding the date
of death of such Participant, but in no event later than ten years from the date
of grant of such Option. Following the death of any Participant to whom an
Option was granted under the Plan, irrespective of whether any shall have
theretofore been granted to the Participant or whether the person entitled to
exercise such desires to do so, the Committee may, as an alternative means of
settlement of such Option, elect to pay in cash to the person to whom such
Option is transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, in
the case of an option, other than an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined in the Code or Title I of ERISA,
the amount by which the Market Value per Share on the date of exercise of such
Option shall exceed the Exercise Price of such Option, multiplied by the number
of Shares with respect to which such Option is properly exercised. Any such
settlement of an Option shall be considered an exercise of such Option for all
purposes of the Plan.

         8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only
to Participants who are Employees. Any provision of the Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, (i) no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten
years after the date the Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Association, the predecessor in interest of the Corporation and no Incentive
Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years from the date such
Incentive Stock Option is granted, (ii) the Exercise Price of any Incentive
Stock Option shall not be less than the Market Value per Share on the date such
Incentive Stock Option is granted, (iii) any Incentive Stock Option shall not be
transferable by the Participant to whom such Incentive Stock Option is granted
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be
exercisable during such Participant's lifetime only by such Participant, (iv) no
Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any individual who, at the time such
Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation or any
Affiliate unless the Exercise Price of such Incentive Stock Option is at least
110% of the Market Value per Share at the date of grant and such Incentive Stock
Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such
Incentive Stock Option is granted, and (v) the aggregate Market Value,
determined as of

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the time any Incentive Stock Option is granted, of the Shares for which any
Participant may be granted Incentive Stock Options in any calendar year may
exceed $100,0000, but the aggregate Market Value, determined at the time an
Incentive Stock Option is granted, of the Shares with respect to which Incentive
Stock Options become exercisable for the first time under the terms of the grant
during any calendar year, may not exceed $100,000 for any Participant.

         9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee shall have
full and complete authority, subject to the limitations of the Plan, to grant
awards of Restricted Stock and, in addition to the terms and conditions
contained in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 9, to provide such other
terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) in respect
of such Awards, and the vesting thereof, as the Committee shall determine and
provide in the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 9.

                  (a) At the time of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee
shall establish for each Participant a Restricted Period of not less than six
months during which or at the expiration of which, as the Committee shall
determine and provide in the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this
Section 9, the Shares awarded as Restricted Stock shall vest, and subject to any
such other terms and conditions as the Committee shall provide, Shares of
Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
encumbered by the Participant, except as hereinafter provided, during the
Restricted Period. Except for such restrictions, and subject to paragraphs (c),
(d) and (e) of this Section 9 and Section 10 hereof, the Participant as owner of
such Shares shall have all the rights of a stockholder including but not limited
to the right to receive all dividends paid on such shares and the right to vote
such Shares. The Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to
accelerate the time at which any or all of the restrictions shall lapse with
respect to any Shares of Restricted Stock prior to the expiration of the
Restricted Period with respect thereto, or to remove any or all of such
restrictions, whenever it 1may determine that such action is appropriate by
reason of changes in applicable tax or other laws or other changes in
circumstances occurring after the commencement of such Restricted Period.

                  (b) Except as provided in Section 14 hereof, if a Participant
ceases to maintain Continuous Service for any reason (other than death, total or
partial disability or normal or early retirement) unless the Committee shall
otherwise determine and provide in the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of
this Section 9, all shares of Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to such
Participant and which at the time of such termination of Continuous Service are
subject to the restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of this Section 9 shall
upon such termination of Continuous Service be forfeited and returned to the
Corporation. Unless the Committee shall have provided otherwise in the agreement
referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 9 for a ratable lapse of
restrictions in accordance with vesting provisions set forth in the aforesaid
agreement, if a Participant ceases to maintain Continuous Service solely by
reason of death, total or partial disability or normal or early retirement, then
those shares of Restricted Stock which at the time of termination of Continuous
Service (for the reasons set forth in this sentence) are subject to the
restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of this Section 9 shall vest on a PRO RATA
basis as herein provided: The shares of Restricted Stock which at the time of
such termination of Continuous Service are subject to a

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restricted period which is definitely determinable at the time of grant shall
become free of restrictions, vested and nonforfeitable in the proportion that
the Participant's number of complete 12-consecutive month periods of Continuous
Service during the definitely determinable restricted period contained in the
Participant's agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 9 bears to
the number of 12-consecutive month periods of Continuous Service of the
definitely determinable restricted period contained in the Participant's
agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 9. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this
Section 9 also provides for the attainment of certain performance goals prior to
or concurrent with the lapse of any restrictions hereunder, the provisions in
the preceding sentence providing for a PRO RATA release of shares of Restricted
Stock by reasons of total or partial disability or normal or early retirement
shall not be applicable unless the performance goals set forth in the aforesaid
agreement shall have been attained no later than the conclusion of the
restricted period. In the event that such performance goals are attained at the
conclusion of the restricted period, such a Participant shall be entitled to
receive shares of Restricted Stock, free and clear of all restrictions, based on
the formula set forth in this Section 9(b) at the conclusion of the restricted
period. In the event that such performance goals are not completely achieved,
but the aforesaid agreement expressly contemplated the release of restrictions
of a given percentage or number of shares of Restricted Stock upon partial
attainment of a specified performance goal, a Participant whose Continuous
Service had terminated by reason of total or partial disability or normal or
early retirement shall be entitled to receive, free and clear of all
restrictions, at the conclusion of the restricted period, a number of shares of
Restricted Stock determined by multiplying (a) the number of shares of
Restricted Stock released from their restrictions upon partial attainment of a
specified performance goal (as set forth in the aforesaid agreement), by (b) the
fraction determined in this Section 9(b) based upon such Participant's
12-consecutive month period of Continuous Service. In the event of a
Participant's death prior to the expiration of the restricted period set forth
in the aforesaid Agreement and prior to his termination of Continuous Service, a
Participant shall be entitled to a PRO RATA release of shares of Restricted
Stock as set forth in this Section 9(b), without regard to whether the aforesaid
agreement contains performance goals or whether those goals have been fully or
partially attained.

                  (c) Each certificate in respect of shares of Restricted Stock
awarded under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant and
deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank,
with the Corporation and shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

                  "The transferability of this certificate and the shares of
                  stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and
                  conditions (including forfeiture) contained in the FirstMerit
                  Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive
                  Plan (SG) and an Agreement entered into between the registered
                  owner and FirstMerit, as successor in interest to Signal Corp.
                  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices
                  of the Secretary of FirstMerit Corporation, III Cascade Plaza,
                  Akron, Ohio 44308."
                  (d) At the time of an award of shares of Restricted Stock, the
Participant shall enter into an Agreement with the Corporation in a form
specified by the Committee, agreeing to the

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terms and conditions of the award and such other matters as the Committee shall
in its sole discretion determine.

                  (e) At the time of an award of shares of Restricted Stock, the
Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Participant
of dividends declared or paid on such shares, or specified portion thereof, by
the Corporation shall be deferred until the earlier to occur of (i) the lapsing
of the restrictions imposed under paragraph (a) of this Section 9 or (ii) the
forfeiture of such shares under paragraph (b) of this Section 9, and shall be
held by the Corporation for the account of the Participant until such time. In
the event of such deferral, there shall be credited at the end of each year (or
portion thereof) interest on the amount of the account at the beginning of the
year at a rate per annum as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine.
Payment of deferred dividends, together with interest accrued thereon as
aforesaid, shall be made upon the earlier to occur of the events specified in
(i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence.

                  (f) At the expiration of the restrictions imposed by paragraph
(a) of this Section 9, the Corporation shall deliver to the Participant (or
where the relevant provision of paragraph (b) of this Section 9 applies in the
case of a deceased Participant, to his legal representative, beneficiary or
heir) a certificate(s) and stock power free of the restrictions referred to in
paragraph (a) of this Section 9.

         10. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event of any
change in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by
reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend,
combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or any change in the
corporate structure or Shares of the Corporation, the maximum aggregate number
and class of shares as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan and the
number and class of shares with respect to which Awards theretofore have been
granted under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose
determination shall be conclusive. Any shares of stock or other securities
received, as a result of any of the foregoing, by a Participant with respect to
Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions and the
certificate(s) or other instruments representing or evidencing such shares or
securities shall be legended and deposited with the Corporation in the manner
provided in Section 9 hereof.

         11. EFFECT OF MERGER ON OPTIONS. In the case of any merger,
consolidation or combination of the Corporation (other than a merger,
consolidation or combination in which the Corporation is the continuing
corporation and which does not result in the outstanding Shares being converted
into or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property, or any
combination thereof), any Participant to whom an Option has been granted under
the Plan shall have the right (subject to the provisions of the Plan and any
limitation applicable to such Option), thereafter and during the term of each
such Option, to receive, in lieu of the Shares underlying the Option, upon
exercise of any such Option an amount equal to the excess of the fair market
value on the date of such exercise of the securities, cash or other property, or
combination thereof, receivable upon such merger, consolidation or combination
in respect of a Share over the Exercise Price of such Right, multiplied by the
number of Shares with respect to which such Option shall have been exercised.
Such amount may be payable fully in cash, fully in one or more of the kind or
kinds of property

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payable in such merger, consolidation or combination, or partly in cash and
partly in one or more of such kind or kinds of property, all in the discretion
of the Committee.

         12. EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. The term "Change in Control" shall
mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:

                  (a) individuals who, on April 19, 2000, constitute the Board
(the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent
to April 19, 2000 whose election or nomination for election was approved by a
vote of at least 2/3rds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by
a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to
such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no
director of the Company initially as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the
Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;

                  (b) any "person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and as used in
Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities eligible to
vote for the election of the Board (the "Company Voting Securities"); provided,
however, that the event described in this paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to
be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions:

                           (i)  by the Company or any Subsidiary,

                           (ii) by any employee benefit plan sponsored or
                  maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary,

                           (iii) by any underwriter temporarily holding
                  securities pursuant to an offering of such securities,

                           (iv) pursuant to a Non-Control Transaction (as
                  defined in paragraph (c)), or

                           (v) a transaction (other than one described in (c)
                  below) in which Company Voting Securities are acquired from
                  the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on
                  the Board approve a resolution providing expressly that the
                  acquisition pursuant to this clause (v) does not constitute a
                  Change in Control under this paragraph (b);

                  (c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory
share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that requires

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the approval of the Company's shareholders, whether for such transaction or the
issuance of securities in the transaction (a "Business Combination"), unless
immediately following such Business Combination:

                           (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x)
                  the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the
                  "Surviving Entity"), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent
                  corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial
                  ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect
                  directors ("Total Voting Power") of the Surviving Entity (the
                  "Parent Entity"), is represented by Company Voting Securities
                  that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business
                  Combination (or, if applicable, shares into which such Company
                  Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business
                  Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof
                  is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of
                  such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof
                  immediately prior to the Business Combination,

                           (ii) no person (other than any employee benefit plan
                  (or related trusts) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving
                  Entity or the Parent Entity), is or becomes the beneficial
                  owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the Total
                  Voting Power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to
                  elect directors of the Parent Entity (or, if there is no
                  Parent Entity, the Surviving Entity), and

                           (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
                  of directors of the Parent Entity (or, if there is no Parent
                  Entity, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of
                  the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time
                  of the Board's approval of the execution of the initial
                  agreement providing for such Business Combination (any
                  Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria
                  specified in (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be deemed to be a
                  "Non-Control Transaction"); or

                  (d) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall
not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership
of more than 25% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition
of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company
Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if after such acquisition by the
Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting
Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting
Securities beneficially owned by such person by more than one percent, a Change
in Control of the Company shall then occur.

         If the Continuous Service of any Participant of the Corporation or any
Affiliate is

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involuntarily terminated for whatever reason, at any time within eighteen months
after a change in control, unless the Committee shall have otherwise provided in
the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of Section 9 hereof, any Restricted
Period with respect to Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to such Participant
shall lapse upon such termination and all shares awarded as Restricted Stock
shall become fully vested in the Participant to whom such Shares were awarded.
If a tender offer or exchange offer for Shares (other than such an offer by the
Corporation) is commenced, or if the event specified in clause (iii) above shall
occur, unless the Committee shall have otherwise provided in the instrument
evidencing the grant of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, all Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights theretofore granted and not fully exercisable shall
become exercisable in full upon the happening of such event and shall remain so
exercisable for a period of sixty days following such date after which they
shall revert to being exercisable in accordance with their terms; provided,
however, that no Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable by a
Ten Percent Beneficial Owner, director or Senior Officer of the Corporation
within six months of the date of grant of such Option or Stock Appreciation
Right and no Option or Stock Appreciation Right which has previously been
exercised or otherwise terminated shall become exercisable.

         13. ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS. No Award nor any right or interest of a
Participant under the Plan in any instrument evidencing any Award under the Plan
may be assigned, encumbered or transferred except, in the event of the death of
a Participant, by will or the laws of descent and distribution or in the case of
an Award, other than an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined in the Code or Title I of the ERISA or the rules
thereunder.

         14. EMPLOYEE RIGHTS UNDER THE PLAN. No officer or employee shall have a
right to be selected as a Participant nor, having been so selected, to be
selected again as a Participant and no officer, employee or other person shall
have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or under any other
incentive or similar plan of the Corporation or any Affiliate. Neither the Plan
nor any action taken thereunder shall be construed as giving any employee any
right to be retained in the employ of the Corporation or any Affiliate.

         15. DELIVERY AND REGISTRATION OF STOCK. The Corporation's obligation to
deliver Shares with respect to an Award shall, if the Committee so requests, be
conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention
of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the
Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the
provision of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other Federal, state or local
securities legislation. It may be provided that any representation requirement
shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or other action
eliminating the necessity of such representation under such Securities Act or
other securities legislation. The Corporation shall not be required to deliver
any Shares under the Plan prior to (i) the admission of such shares to listing
on any stock exchange on which Shares may then be listed, and (ii) the
completion of such registration or other qualification of such Shares under any
state or Federal law, rule or regulation, as the Committee shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

         This Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
Any provision of the Plan which is inconsistent with said Rule shall, to the
extent of such inconsistency, be inoperative and shall not affect the validity
of the remaining provisions of the Plan.

         16. WITHHOLDING TAX. Upon the termination of the Restricted Period with
respect to any shares of Restricted Stock the Corporation shall have the right
to require the Participant or other person receiving such shares to pay the
Corporation the amount of any taxes which the Corporation is required to
withhold with respect to such shares, or, in lieu thereof, to retain or sell
without notice, a sufficient number of shares held by it to cover the amount
required to be withheld. The Corporation shall have the right to deduct from all
dividends paid with respect to shares of Restricted Stock the amount of any
taxes which the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such
dividend payments.

         The Corporation shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid in
cash with respect to the exercise of a Right under the Plan any taxes required
by law to be withheld with respect to such cash payments. Where a Participant or
other person is entitled to receive Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option
or Right pursuant to the Plan, the Corporation shall have the right to require
the Participant or such other person to pay the Corporation the amount of any
taxes which the Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such Shares,
or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or sell without notice, a number of such Shares
sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

         17. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, but
(except as provided in Section 10 hereof) no amendment shall be made without
approval of the stockholders of the Corporation which shall (i) materially
increase the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be made
under the Plan; (ii) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants
under the Plan or (iii) change the class of persons eligible to participate in
the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension or termination
shall impair the rights of any Participant, without his consent, in any Award
theretofore made pursuant to the Plan.

         18. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The Plan became effective upon its
adoption by the Board of Directors of the Association, the predecessor in
interest of the Corporation, and was approved by vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Association entitled to vote on the
adoption of the Plan. This Plan shall continue in effect until the date ten
years from the date the Plan was initially adopted, unless sooner terminated
under Section 17 hereof.

         19. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, to the
extent the Plan is amended to provide for formula awards, as defined in Rule
16b-3(c)(2)(ii) under the Exchange Act, such provisions may not be amended more
than once every six months, other than to comport with changes in the Code,
ERISA or the rules thereunder.

                                      -12-<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12

                             FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                        1997 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN (SG)
                           Effective October 21, 2000

         1. PLAN PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term
interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing a means for
attracting and retaining directors, advisory directors, officers and employees
of the Company and its Affiliates.

         2. DEFINITIONS. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan:

                  "Affiliate" -- means any "parent corporation" or "subsidiary
corporation" of the Company as such terms are defined in Section 425(e) and (f),
respectively, of the Code.

                  "Award" -- means the grant by the Committee under this Plan of
an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-Qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation
Right, Restricted Stock or a Performance Award, or any combination thereof, as
provided in the Plan.

                  "Award Agreement" -- means the agreement evidencing the grant
of an Award made under the Plan.

                  "Cause" -- means Termination of Service by reason of personal
dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty involving
personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties or gross
negligence.

                  "Code" -- means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  "Committee" -- means the Committee referred to in Section 3
hereof.

                  "Company" -- means FirstMerit Corporation, an Ohio
corporation, as successor in interest to Signal Corp.

                  "Continuous Service" -- means the absence of any interruption
or termination of service as a director, advisory director, officer or employee
of the Company or an Affiliate, except that when used with respect to a person
granted an Incentive Stock Option means the absence of any interruption or
termination of service as an employee of the Company or an Affiliate. Service
shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave or
any other leave of absence approved by the Company or in the case of transfers
between payroll locations of the Company or between the Company, its parent, its
subsidiaries or its successor.

                  "Early Retirement" -- means retirement from employment with or
as a director or advisory director of the Company prior to the Participant
either (i) having reached the age of 55 or (ii) having maintained Continuous
Service for at least three years.

<PAGE>   2

                  "ERISA" -- means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended.

                  "FirstMerit Corporation" -- FirstMerit Corporation, an Ohio
corporation.

                  "Incentive Stock Option" -- means an option to purchase Shares
granted by the Committee which is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option under Section 422 of the Code. Unless otherwise set forth in the Award
Agreement, any Option which does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option for
any reason shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

                  "Market Value" -- means the closing high bid with respect to a
Share on the date in question on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or any similar system
then in use, or, if the Shares are not then traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market or
any similar system, the closing sales price on such date (or, if there is no
reported sale on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported
sale occurred) of a Share on the Composite Tape for New York Stock
Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if on such date the Shares are not quoted on the
Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or if the Shares are not listed
or admitted to trading on such Exchange, on the principal United States
securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") on which the Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if
the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any such exchange, the fair
market value on such date of a Share as the Committee shall determine.

                  "Non-Qualified Stock Option" -- means an option to purchase
Shares granted by the Committee which does not qualify, for any reason, as an
Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

                  "Normal Retirement" -- means retirement from employment with
or as a director or advisory director of the Company after the Participant has
(i) reached the age of 65 and (ii) maintained Continuous Service for at least
three years.

                  "Option" -- means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.

                  "Participant" -- means any director, advisory director,
officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate who is selected by the
Committee to receive an Award.

                  "Plan" -- means the FirstMerit Corporation 1997 Omnibus
Incentive Plan (SG).

                  "Restricted Stock" -- means Shares awarded to a Participant by
the Committee pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.

                  "Shares" -- means the shares of common stock of FirstMerit
Corporation.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

                  "Ten Percent Holder" -- means any individual who owns stock
possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company and any Affiliate.

         3. ADMINISTRATION. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee
consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors of FirstMerit
Corporation, each of whom (i) shall be an outside director as defined under
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder and (ii) shall be a
Non-Employee Director as defined under Rule 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 or any similar or successor provision. The members of the Committee
shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company. Except as limited
by the express provisions of the Plan or by resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority
and discretion to (i) select Participants and grant Awards; (ii) determine the
number of Shares to be subject to types of Awards generally, as well as to
individual Awards granted under the Plan; (iii) determine the terms and
conditions upon which Awards shall be granted under the Plan; (iv) prescribe the
form and terms of instruments evidencing such grants; and (v) establish from
time to time regulations for the administration of the Plan, interpret the Plan,
and make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plan.

         A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of
a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present,
or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting,
shall be acts of the Committee.

         4. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

                  (a) Subject to adjustment by the operation of Section 7, the
maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan
is 438,011 Shares. The Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the
Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or previously issued shares
reacquired and held as treasury shares. Shares which are subject to Related
Stock Appreciation Rights and Related Options shall be counted only once in
determining whether the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards
may be granted under the Plan has been exceeded. An Award shall not be
considered to have been made under the Plan with respect to any Option or Stock
Appreciation Right which terminates or with respect to Restricted Stock which is
forfeited, and new Awards may be granted under the Plan with respect to the
number of Shares as to which such termination or forfeiture has occurred.

                  (b) During any calendar year, no Participant may be granted
Awards under the Plan with respect to more than 50,000 Shares, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 7.

         5. AWARDS.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                  (a) Options. The Committee is hereby authorized to grant
Options to Participants with the following terms and conditions and with such
additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan
as the Committee shall determine, including the granting of Options in tandem
with other Awards under the Plan:

                           (i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share for
                  an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided that,
                  in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the exercise price
                  thereof shall not be less than 100% of the Market Value of a
                  Share on the date of grant of such Option; provided further
                  that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a
                  Ten Percent Holder, the exercise price thereof shall not be
                  less than 110% of the Market Value of a Share on the date of
                  grant of such Option.

                           (ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be
                  fixed by the Committee, but shall be no greater than 15 years;
                  provided that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the
                  term of such Option shall not exceed ten years; provided
                  further that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted
                  to a Ten Percent Holder, the term of such option shall not
                  exceed five years.

                           (iii) Time and Method of Exercise. Except as provided
                  in paragraph (a) of Section 6, no Option granted hereunder may
                  be exercised unless at the time the Participant exercises such
                  Option, such Participant has maintained Continuous Service
                  since the date of grant of such Option. To exercise an Option
                  under the Plan, the Participant to whom such Option was
                  granted shall give written notice to the Company in form
                  satisfactory to the Committee (and, if partial exercises have
                  been permitted by the Committee, by specifying the number of
                  Shares with respect to which such Participant elects to
                  exercise such Option) together with full payment of the
                  exercise price, if any and to the extent notice is received by
                  the Company. Payment, if any is required, shall be made either
                  (i) in cash (including check, bank draft or money order) or
                  (ii) by delivering (A) Shares already owned by the Participant
                  and having a fair market value equal to the applicable
                  exercise price, such fair market value to be determined in
                  such appropriate manner as may be provided by the Committee or
                  as may be required in order to comply with or to conform to
                  requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, or (B) a
                  combination of cash and such Shares.

                           (iv) Option Agreements. At the time of an Award of an
                  Option, the Participant shall enter into an Award Agreement
                  with the Company in a form specified by the Committee,
                  agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Award and such
                  other matters as the Committee shall in its sole discretion
                  determine.

                           (v) Limitations on Value of Exercisable Incentive
                  Stock Options. The aggregate Market Value of the Shares with
                  respect to which Incentive Stock Options

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                  are exercisable for the first time by a Participant in any
                  calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.

                           (vi) Eligible Recipients of Incentive Stock Options.
                  Incentive Stock Options may be granted by the Committee only
                  to officers or employees of the Company or its Affiliates.

                  (b) Restricted Stock. The Committee is hereby authorized to
grant Awards of Restricted Stock to Participants with the following terms and
conditions and with such additional terms and conditions not inconsistent with
the provisions of the Plan as the Committee shall determine:

                           (i) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be
                  subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose
                  (including, without limitation, any limitation on the right to
                  vote a Share of Restricted Stock or the right to receive any
                  dividend or other right or property with respect thereto),
                  which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at
                  such time or times, in such installments or otherwise as the
                  Committee may deem appropriate. During the period of time in
                  which the Shares awarded as Restricted Stock are subject to
                  the restrictions contemplated herein (a "Restricted Period"),
                  unless otherwise permitted by the Plan or by the Committee as
                  provided in the applicable Award Agreement, such Shares may
                  not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise
                  encumbered by the Participant. Except for the restrictions
                  which may be imposed on Restricted Stock, a Participant to
                  whom Shares of Restricted Stock have been awarded shall have
                  all the rights of a stockholder, including but not limited to
                  the right to receive all dividends paid on such Shares and the
                  right to vote such Shares.

                           (ii) Restricted Stock Agreements. At the time of an
                  Award of Shares of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall
                  enter into an Award Agreement with the Company in a form
                  specified by the Committee, agreeing to the terms and
                  conditions of the Award and such other matters as the
                  Committee shall in its sole discretion determine.

                           (iii) Stock Certificates. Any Restricted Stock
                  granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by issuance of a
                  stock certificate or certificates, which certificate or
                  certificates shall be held by the Company. Such certificate or
                  certificates shall be registered in the name of the
                  Participant and shall bear the following (or similar) legend:

                           "The transferability of this certificate and the
                           shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the
                           terms and conditions (including forfeiture) contained
                           in the FirstMerit Corporation 1997 Omnibus Incentive
                           Plan (SG) and an Agreement entered into between the

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                           registered owner and FirstMerit Corporation (as
                           successor in interest to Signal Corp.) Copies of such
                           Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices of the
                           Secretary of FirstMerit Corporation, III Cascade
                           Plaza, Akron, Ohio 44308.

                           (iv) Removal of Restrictions. Shares representing
                  Restricted Stock that are no longer subject to restrictions
                  shall be delivered to the holder thereof promptly after the
                  applicable restrictions lapse or are waived.

         6. TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

                  (a)      Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.

                           (i) If a Participant to whom an Option was granted
                  shall cease to maintain Continuous Service for any reason
                  (including total and partial disability and Early Retirement,
                  but excluding Normal Retirement, death and termination of
                  employment by the Company or any Affiliate for Cause), such
                  Participant may, but only within the period of three months,
                  in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, or one year, in the
                  case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, immediately succeeding
                  such cessation of Continuous Service and in no event after the
                  expiration date of such Option, exercise such Option to the
                  extent that such Participant was entitled to exercise such
                  Option at the date of such cessation of Continuous Service. If
                  the Continuous Service of a Participant to whom an Option was
                  granted by the Company is terminated for Cause, all rights
                  under any Option of such Participant shall expire immediately
                  upon the giving to the Participant of notice of such
                  termination.

                           (ii) If a Participant to whom an Option was granted
                  shall cease to maintain Continuous Service due to Normal
                  Retirement, such Participant may, but only within the period
                  of three months, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, or
                  two years, in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option,
                  immediately succeeding such cessation of Continuous Service
                  and in no event after the expiration date of such Option,
                  exercise such Option to the extent that such Participant was
                  entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such cessation
                  of Continuous Service.

                           (iii) In the event of the death of a Participant
                  while in the Continuous Service of the Company or an Affiliate
                  or within the periods referred to in paragraphs (a)(i) and
                  (a)(ii) of this Section 6, the person to whom any Option held
                  by the Participant at the time of his or her death is
                  transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
                  in the case of an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option,
                  pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, as defined
                  in the Code or Title I of ERISA or the rules thereunder, or as
                  otherwise permitted to be transferred under Section 10 of the
                  Plan may, but only within the period of two years immediately
                  succeeding the date of death of such Participant, and in no
                  event after the expiration

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                  date of such Option, exercise such Option to the extent that
                  such Participant was entitled to exercise such Option
                  immediately prior to his death. Following the death of any
                  Participant to whom an Option was granted under the Plan, the
                  Committee may, as an alternative means of settlement of such
                  Option, elect to pay to the person to whom such Option is
                  transferred as permitted by Section 10 of this Plan, the
                  amount by which the Market Value per Share on the date of
                  exercise of such Option shall exceed the exercise price of
                  such Option, multiplied by the number of Shares with respect
                  to which such Option is properly exercised. Any such
                  settlement of an Option shall be considered an exercise of
                  such Option for all purposes of the Plan.

                           (iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs
                  (i) through (iii) above, the Committee may, in its sole
                  discretion, establish different terms and conditions
                  pertaining to the effect of termination to the extent
                  permitted by applicable federal and state law.

                  (b) Restricted Stock. Except as otherwise provided in this
Plan, if a Participant ceases to maintain Continuous Services for any reason
(other than death, total or partial disability or Normal or Early Retirement)
unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine, all
shares of Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to such Participant and which at
the time of such termination of Continuous Service are subject to the
restrictions imposed by paragraph (c)(i) of Section 5 shall upon such
termination of Continuous Service be forfeited and returned to the Company.
Unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine, if a
Participant ceases to maintain Continuous Service by reason of death, total or
partial disability or Normal or Early Retirement, all shares of Restricted Stock
theretofore awarded to such Participant and which at the time of such
termination of Continuous Service are subject to the restrictions imposed by
paragraph (c)(i) of Section 5 shall upon such termination of Continuous Service
be free of restrictions and shall not be forfeited.

          7. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event of any
change in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by
reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend,
combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or any change in the
corporate structure or Shares of the Company, the maximum aggregate number and
class of shares and exercise price of the Award, if any, as to which Awards may
be granted under the Plan and the number and class of shares and exercise price
of the Award, if any, with respect to which Awards have been granted under the
Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall
be conclusive. Any Award which is adjusted as a result of this Section 7 shall
be subject to the same restrictions as the original Award.

          8. EFFECT OF MERGER ON OPTIONS. In the case of any merger,
consolidation or combination of the Company (other than a merger, consolidation
or combination in which the Company is the continuing corporation and which does
not result in the outstanding Shares being converted into or exchanged for
different securities, cash or other property, or any combination thereof), any
Participant to whom an Option has been granted shall have the right (subject to
the provisions of the

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

Plan and any limitation applicable to such Option), thereafter and during the
term of each such Option, to receive, in lieu of exercise of any such Option, an
amount equal to the excess of the fair market value on the date of such exercise
of the securities, cash or other property, or combination thereof, receivable
upon such merger, consolidation or combination in respect of a Share over the
exercise price of such or Option, multiplied by the number of Shares with
respect to which such Option shall have been exercised. Such amount may be
payable fully in cash, fully in one or more of the kind or kinds of property
payable in such merger, consolidation or combination, or partly in cash and
partly in one or more of such kind or kinds of property, all in the discretion
of the Participant.

         9. EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL. The term "Change in Control" shall mean
the occurrence of any one of the following events:

                  (a) individuals who, on April 19, 2000, constitute the Board
(the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent
to April 19, 2000 whose election or nomination for election was approved by a
vote of at least 2/3rds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by
a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which
such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to
such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no
director of the Company initially as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to directors or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the
Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;

                  (b) any "person" (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and as used in
Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities eligible to
vote for the election of the Board (the "Company Voting Securities"); provided,
however, that the event described in this paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to
be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions:

                           (i)  by the Company or any Subsidiary,

                           (ii) by any employee benefit plan sponsored or
                  maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary,

                           (iii) by any underwriter temporarily holding
                  securities pursuant to an offering of such securities,

                           (iv) pursuant to a Non-Control Transaction (as
                  defined in paragraph (c)), or

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                           (v) a transaction (other than one described in (c)
                  below) in which Company Voting Securities are acquired from
                  the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on
                  the Board approve a resolution providing expressly that the
                  acquisition pursuant to this clause (v) does not constitute a
                  Change in Control under this paragraph (b);

                  (c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory
share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company's
shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the
transaction (a "Business Combination"), unless immediately following such
Business Combination:

                           (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x)
                  the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the
                  "Surviving Entity"), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent
                  corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial
                  ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect
                  directors ("Total Voting Power") of the Surviving Entity (the
                  "Parent Entity"), is represented by Company Voting Securities
                  that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business
                  Combination (or, if applicable, shares into which such Company
                  Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business
                  Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof
                  is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of
                  such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof
                  immediately prior to the Business Combination,

                           (ii) no person (other than any employee benefit plan
                  (or related trusts) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving
                  Entity or the Parent Entity), is or becomes the beneficial
                  owner, directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the Total
                  Voting Power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to
                  elect directors of the Parent Entity (or, if there is no
                  Parent Entity, the Surviving Entity), and

                           (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
                  of directors of the Parent Entity (or, if there is no Parent
                  Entity, the Surviving Entity) following the consummation of
                  the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time
                  of the Board's approval of the execution of the initial
                  agreement providing for such Business Combination (any
                  Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria
                  specified in (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be deemed to be a
                  "Non-Control Transaction"); or

                  (d) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control of the Company shall
not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership
of more than 25% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition
of Company Voting Securities by the Company which

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if
after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner
of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of
outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person by more
than one percent, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.

         Upon a change in control, unless the Committee shall have otherwise
provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any restrictions or vesting period
with respect to any outstanding Awards shall lapse and all such Awards shall
become fully vested in the Participant to whom such Awards were awarded;
provided, however, that no Award which has previously been exercised or
otherwise terminated shall become exercisable.

          10. ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS. No Award granted under the Plan shall
be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
except that an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option may be transferred
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or by gift to any member of the
Participant's immediate family or to a trust for the benefit of one or more of
such immediate family members. During the lifetime of an Award recipient, an
Award shall be exercisable only by the Award recipient unless it has been
transferred as permitted hereby, in which case it shall be exercisable only by
such transferee. For the purpose of this Section 10 a Participant's "immediate
family" shall mean the Participant's spouse, children and grandchildren.

         11. EMPLOYEE RIGHTS UNDER THE PLAN. No person shall have a right to be
selected as a Participant nor, having been so selected, to be selected again as
a Participant and no officer, employee or other person shall have any claim or
right to be granted an Award under the Plan or under any other incentive or
similar plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Neither the Plan nor any action
taken thereunder shall be construed as giving any employee any right to be
retained in the employ of or serve as a director or advisory director of the
Company or any Affiliate.

         12. DELIVERY AND REGISTRATION OF STOCK. The Company's obligation to
deliver Shares with respect to an Award shall, if the Committee so requests, be
conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention
of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the
Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other federal, state or local
securities legislation. It may be provided that any representation requirement
shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or other action
eliminating the necessity of such representation under such Securities Act or
other securities legislation. The Company shall not be required to deliver any
Shares under the Plan prior to (i) the admission of such Shares to listing on
any stock exchange on which Shares may then be listed, and (ii) the completion
of such registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or
federal law, rule or regulation, as the committee shall determine to be
necessary or advisable.

         13. WITHHOLDING TAX. Upon the termination of the restricted period with
respect to any shares of Restricted Stock (or at any such earlier time, if any,
that an election is made by the Participant under Section 83(b) of the Code, or
any successor provision thereto, to include the value

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

of such shares in taxable income), the Company shall have the right to require
the Participant or other person receiving such shares to pay the Company the
amount of any taxes which the Company is required to withhold with respect to
such shares, or, in lieu thereof, to retain or sell without notice, a sufficient
number of shares held by it to cover the amount required to be withheld. The
Company shall have the right to deduct from all dividends paid with respect to
shares of Restricted Stock the amount of any taxes which the Company is required
to withhold with respect to such dividend payments.

         The Company shall have the right to deduct from all amounts paid in
cash with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan
any taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such cash payments.
Where a Participant or other person is entitled to receive Shares pursuant to
the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan, the
Company shall have the right to require the Participant or such other person to
pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company is required to
withhold with respect to such Shares, or, in lieu thereof, to retain, or sell
without notice, a number of such Shares sufficient to cover the amount required
to be withheld.

         All withholding decisions pursuant to this Section 13 shall be at the
sole discretion of the Committee or the Company.

         14.      AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

                  (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 14, the Board of
Directors of the Company may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate
the Plan without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any
such action will be subject to the approval of the Company's shareholders if,
when and to the extent such shareholder approval is necessary or required for
purposes of any applicable federal or state law or regulation or the rules of
any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be
listed or quoted, or if the Board of Directors of the Company, in its
discretion, determines to seek such shareholder approval.

                  (b) Except as otherwise provided herein, the Committee may
waive any conditions of or rights of the Company or modify or amend the terms of
any outstanding Award. The Committee may not, however, amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue or terminate any outstanding Award without the consent of the
Participant or holder thereof, except as otherwise herein provided.

         15. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The plan shall become effective
upon its adoption by the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the
approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in
effect for a term of 15 years unless sooner terminated under Section 14 hereof.

                                       11

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