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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                            eMERGE INTERACTIVE, INC.
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          1996 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

         The purpose of the eMerge Interactive, Inc. Amended and Restated 1996
Equity Compensation Plan (the "Plan") is to provide (i) designated employees of
eMerge Interactive, Inc. (the "Company") and its subsidiaries, (ii) certain Key
Advisors and advisors who perform services for the Company or its subsidiaries
and (iii) non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") with the opportunity to receive grants of incentive stock options,
nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and
performance units. The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the
participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby
benefiting the Company's shareholders, and will align the economic interests of
the participants with those of the shareholders.

         1.       Administration

         (a)      Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by a
committee appointed by the Board (the "Committee"). Prior to the effective date
of an initial public offering of the Company's stock as described in Section
22(b)(a "Public Offering"), the Board may exercise any power or authority of the
Committee under the Plan and, in such case, references to the Committee
hereunder, as they relate to Plan administration, shall be deemed to include the
Board as a whole. After a Public Offering, the Committee may consist of two or
more persons appointed by the Board, all of whom shall be "outside directors" as
defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code") and related Treasury regulations and may be "non-employee
directors" as defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). However, notwithstanding anything in the
Plan to the contrary, the Board must ratify or approve any grants made to
Non-Employee Directors. References in the Plan to the "Committee" shall be
deemed to include the Board, with respect to ratification or approval of grants
made to Non-Employee Directors.

         (b)      Committee Authority. Except as provided in Section 6, the
Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom
grants shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms of
the grants to be made to each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the
grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or

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restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the
acceleration of exercisability and (iv) deal with any other matters arising
under the Plan.

         (c)      Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power
and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual
determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and
instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it
deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee's
interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee
pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on
all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder.
All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the
best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the
objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated
individuals.

         2.       Grants

         Awards under the Plan may consist of grants of incentive stock options
as described in Section 5 ("Incentive Stock Options"), nonqualified stock
options as described in Section 5 and Section 6 ("Nonqualified Stock
Options") (Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are
collectively referred to as "Options"), restricted stock as described in Section
7 (Restricted Stock"), stock appreciation rights as described in Section 8
("SARs"), and performance units as described in Section 9 ("Performance Units")
(hereinafter collectively referred to as "Grants"). All Grants shall be subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and
conditions consistent with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as
are specified in writing by the Committee to the individual in a grant
instrument (the "Grant Instrument") or an amendment to the Grant Instrument. The
Committee shall approve the form and provisions of each Grant Instrument. Grants
under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the
grantees.

         3.       Shares Subject to the Plan

         (a)      Shares Authorized. Subject to the adjustment specified below,
the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company ("Company Stock")
that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 2,168,750 shares. After a
Public Offering, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that
shall be subject to Grants made under the Plan to any individual

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shall be 625,000 shares. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of
Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased
by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent
Options or SARs granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled,
forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, or if any
shares of Restricted Stock or Performance Units are forfeited, the shares
subject to such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.

         (b)      Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or kind of
shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff,
recapitalization, stock split or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by
reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the Company is the
surviving corporation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par
value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting
the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company's receipt of
consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is
substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company's payment of an
extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company
Stock available for Grants, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that
any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number
of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind of shares issued under the
Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Grants
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or
decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of
Company Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or
dilution of rights and benefits under such Grants; provided, however, that any
fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. Any
adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         4.       Eligibility for Participation

         (a)      Eligible Persons. All employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries ("Employees"), including Employees who are officers or members of
the Board, and members of the Board who are not Employees ("Non-Employee
Directors") shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Key Advisors and
advisors who perform services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries ("Key
Advisors") shall be eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors
render bona fide services and such services are not in connection with the offer
or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction.

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         (b)      Selection of Grantees. The Committee shall select the
Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Grants and shall
determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a particular Grant in
such manner as the Committee determines. Employees, Key Advisors and
Non-Employee Directors who receive Grants under this Plan shall hereinafter be
referred to as "Grantees".

         5.       Granting of Options

         (a)      Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of
shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options to
Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

         (b)      Type of Option and Price.

                  (i)      The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options that
are intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" within the meaning of
section 422 of the Code or Nonqualified Stock Options that are not intended so
to qualify or any combination of Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock
Options, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Nonqualified Stock
Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors.

                  (ii)     The purchase price (the "Exercise Price") of Company
Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and may be equal
to, greater than, or less than the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a
share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however,
that (x) the Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option shall be equal to, or
greater than, the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date the
Incentive Stock Option is granted and (y) an Incentive Stock Option may not be
granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more
than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise
Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock
on the date of grant.

                  (iii)    If the Company Stock is publicly traded, then the
Fair Market Value per share shall be determined as follows: (x) if the principal
trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange or the
Nasdaq

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National Market, the last reported sale price thereof on the relevant date or
(if there were no trades on that date) the latest preceding date upon which a
sale was reported, or (y) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such
exchange or market, the mean between the last reported "bid" and "asked" prices
of Company Stock on the relevant date, as reported on Nasdaq or, if not so
reported, as reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc. or as
reported in a customary financial reporting service, as applicable and as the
Committee determines. If the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if
publicly traded, is not subject to reported transactions or "bid" or "asked"
quotations as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as
determined by the Committee.

         (c)      Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term of each
Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date of
grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at
the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or
subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the
date of grant.

         (d)      Exercisability of Options. Options shall become exercisable in
accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be
determined by the Committee and specified in the Grant Instrument or an
amendment to the Grant Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the
exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.

         (e)      Termination of Employment, Disability or Death.

                  (i)      Except as provided below, an Option may only be
exercised while the Grantee is employed by the Company as an Employee, Key
Advisor or member of the Board. In the event that a Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company for any reason other than a "disability", death or
"termination for cause", any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the
Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which
the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of
time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the
date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee's Options that are not
otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed
by the Company shall terminate as of such date.

                  (ii)     In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by the

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Company on account of a "termination for cause" by the Company, any Option held
by the Grantee shall terminate as of the date the Grantee ceases to be employed
by the Company.

                  (iii)    In the event the Grantee ceases to be employed by the
Company because the Grantee is "disabled", any Option which is otherwise
exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one year
after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or
within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but in
any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the
Grantee's Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which
the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall terminate as of such
date.

                  (iv)     If the Grantee dies while employed by the Company or
within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed on
account of a termination of employment specified in Section 5(e)(i) above (or
within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), any
Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless
exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company (or within such other period of time as may be specified
by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the
Option term. Any of the Grantee's Options that are not otherwise exercisable as
of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall
terminate as of such date.

                  (v)      For purposes of this Section 5(e), 6, 7, 8 and 9:

                  (A)      The term "Company" shall mean the Company and its
         parent and subsidiary corporations.

                  (B)      "Employed by the Company" shall mean employment or
         service as an Employee, Key Advisor or member of the Board (so that,
         for purposes of exercising Options and SARs and satisfying conditions
         with respect to Restricted Stock and Performance Units, a Grantee shall
         not be considered to have terminated employment or service until the
         Grantee ceases to be an Employee, Key Advisor and member of the Board),
         unless the Committee determines otherwise.

                  (C)       "Disability" shall mean a Grantee's becoming
         disabled within the meaning of section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

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                  (D)       "Termination for cause" shall mean, except to the
         extent specified otherwise by the Committee, a finding by the Committee
         that the Grantee has breached his or her employment, service,
         noncompetition, nonsolicitation or other similar contract or obligation
         with the Company, or has been engaged in disloyalty to the Company,
         including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft, commission
         of a felony or dishonesty in the course of his or her employment or
         service, or has disclosed trade secrets or confidential information of
         the Company to persons not entitled to receive such information. In the
         event a Grantee's employment is terminated for cause, in addition to
         the immediate termination of all Grants, the Grantee shall
         automatically forfeit all shares underlying any exercised portion of an
         Option for which the Company has not yet delivered the share
         certificates, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price paid by
         the Grantee for such shares, and any option gain realized by the
         Grantee from exercising all or a portion of an Option within the
         two-year period prior to the event shall be paid by the Grantee to the
         Company.

         (f)      Exercise of Options. A Grantee may exercise an Option that has
become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to
the Company with payment of the Exercise Price. The Grantee shall pay the
Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee (x) in cash, (y) with
the approval of the Committee, by delivering shares of Company Stock owned by
the Grantee for the period necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings
for financial reporting purposes (including Company Stock acquired in connection
with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the Committee
deems appropriate) and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal
to the Exercise Price or (z) by such other method as the Committee may approve,
including after a Public Offering payment through a broker in accordance with
procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board. Shares of
Company Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Grantee for
the requisite period of time to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the
Company with respect to the Option. The Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and
the amount of any withholding tax due (pursuant to Section 10) at the time of
exercise.

         (g)      Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option
shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock on the date
of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for
the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the Plan or any
other

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stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, exceeds $100,000,
then the option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock
Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not
an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within the meaning of
section 424(f) of the Code).

         6.       Formula Option Grants to Non-Employee Directors

                             [Intentionally Omitted]

         7.       Restricted Stock Grants

         The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Company Stock to an
Employee or Key Advisor under a Grant of Restricted Stock, upon such terms as
the Committee deems appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to
Restricted Stock:

         (a)      General Requirements. Shares of Company Stock issued or
transferred pursuant to Restricted Stock Grants may be issued or transferred for
consideration or for no consideration, as determined by the Committee. The
Committee may establish conditions under which restrictions on shares of
Restricted Stock shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other
criteria as the Committee deems appropriate. The period of time during which the
Restricted Stock will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the
Grant Instrument as the "Restriction Period."

         (b)      Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the number of
shares of Company Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a Restricted
Stock Grant and the restrictions applicable to such shares.

         (c)      Requirement of Employment. If the Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company (as defined in Section 5(e)) during a period designated
in the Grant Instrument as the Restriction Period, or if other specified
conditions are not met, the Restricted Stock Grant shall terminate as to all
shares covered by the Grant as to which the restrictions have not lapsed, and
those shares of Company Stock must be immediately returned to the Company. The
Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this
requirement as it deems appropriate.

         (d)      Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock Certificate.
During

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the Restriction Period, a Grantee may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge or
otherwise dispose of the shares of Restricted Stock except to a Successor
Grantee under Section 11(a). Each certificate for a share of Restricted Stock
shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the
Grant. The Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend removed from the stock
certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions when all restrictions on
such shares have lapsed. The Committee may determine that the Company will not
issue certificates for shares of Restricted Stock until all restrictions on such
shares have lapsed, or that the Company will retain possession of certificates
for shares of Restricted Stock until all restrictions on such shares have
lapsed.

         (e)      Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. Unless the Committee
determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Grantee shall have the
right to vote shares of Restricted Stock and to receive any dividends or other
distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed
appropriate by the Committee.

         (f)      Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on Restricted
Stock shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and
the satisfaction of all conditions imposed by the Committee. The Committee may
determine, as to any or all Restricted Stock Grants, that the restrictions shall
lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.

         8.       Stock Appreciation Rights

         (a)      General Requirements. The Committee may grant stock
appreciation rights ("SARs") to an Employee or Key Advisor separately or in
tandem with any Option (for all or a portion of the applicable Option). Tandem
SARs may be granted either at the time the Option is granted or at any time
thereafter while the Option remains outstanding; provided, however, that, in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, SARs may be granted only at the time of the
Grant of the Incentive Stock Option. The Committee shall establish the base
amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted. Unless the Committee
determines otherwise, the base amount of each SAR shall be equal to the per
share Exercise Price of the related Option or, if there is no related Option,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock as of the date of Grant of the
SAR.

         (b)      Tandem SARs. In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs
granted to a Grantee that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall

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not exceed the number of shares of Company Stock that the Grantee may purchase
upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the exercise of
an Option, the SARs relating to the Company Stock covered by such Option shall
terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the
extent of an equal number of shares of Company Stock.

         (c)      Exercisability. An SAR shall be exercisable during the period
specified by the Committee in the Grant Instrument and shall be subject to such
vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the Grant Instrument. The
Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at
any time for any reason. SARs may only be exercised while the Grantee is
employed by the Company or during the applicable period after termination of
employment as described in Section 5(e). A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only
during the period when the Option to which it is related is also exercisable. No
SAR may be exercised for cash by an officer or director of the Company who is
subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, except in accordance with Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act.

         (d)      Value of SARs. When a Grantee exercises SARs, the Grantee
shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the
stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised, payable in cash, Company
Stock or a combination thereof. The stock appreciation for an SAR is the amount
by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Company Stock on the date of
exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in
Subsection (a).

         (e)      Form of Payment. The Committee shall determine whether the
appreciation in an SAR shall be paid in the form of cash, shares of Company
Stock, or a combination of the two, in such proportion as the Committee deems
appropriate. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Company Stock
to be received, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market
Value on the date of exercise of the SAR. If shares of Company Stock are to be
received upon exercise of an SAR, cash shall be delivered in lieu of any
fractional share.

         9.       Performance Units

         (a)      General Requirements. The Committee may grant performance
units ("Performance Units") to an Employee or Key Advisor. Each Performance Unit
shall represent the right of the Grantee to receive an amount based on the value
of the Performance Unit, if performance goals established by the

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Committee are met. A Performance Unit shall be based on the Fair Market Value of
a share of Company Stock or on such other measurement base as the Committee
deems appropriate. The Committee shall determine the number of Performance Units
to be granted and the requirements applicable to such Units.

         (b)      Performance Period and Performance Goals. When Performance
Units are granted, the Committee shall establish the performance period during
which performance shall be measured (the "Performance Period"), performance
goals applicable to the Units ("Performance Goals") and such other conditions of
the Grant as the Committee deems appropriate. Performance Goals may relate to
the financial performance of the Company or its operating units, the performance
of Company Stock, individual performance, or such other criteria as the
Committee deems appropriate.

         (c)      Payment with respect to Performance Units. At the end of each
Performance Period, the Committee shall determine to what extent the Performance
Goals and other conditions of the Performance Units are met and the amount, if
any, to be paid with respect to the Performance Units. Payments with respect to
Performance Units shall be made in cash, in Company Stock, or in a combination
of the two, as determined by the Committee.

         (d)      Requirement of Employment. If the Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company (as defined in Section 5(e)) during a Performance
Period, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the
Grantee's Performance Units shall be forfeited. The Committee may, however,
provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems
appropriate.

         10.      Withholding of Taxes

         (a)      Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall be
subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local tax withholding
requirements. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all Grants paid in
cash, or from other wages paid to the Grantee, any federal, state or local taxes
required by law to be withheld with respect to such Grants. In the case of
Options and other Grants paid in Company Stock, the Company may require the
Grantee or other person receiving such shares to pay to the Company the amount
of any such taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to such
Grants, or the Company may deduct from other wages paid by the Company the
amount of any withholding taxes due with

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respect to such Grants.

         (b)      Election to Withhold Shares. If the Committee so permits, a
Grantee may elect to satisfy the Company's income tax withholding obligation
with respect to an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock or Performance Units paid in
Company Stock by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not exceed the
Grantee's maximum marginal tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and
local tax liabilities. The election must be in a form and manner prescribed by
the Committee and shall be subject to the prior approval of the Committee.

         11.      Transferability of Grants

         (a)      Nontransferability of Grants. Except as provided below, only
the Grantee may exercise rights under a Grant during the Grantee's lifetime. A
Grantee may not transfer those rights except by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution or, with respect to Grants other than Incentive Stock Options,
if permitted in any specific case by the Committee, pursuant to a domestic
relations order (as defined under the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the regulations thereunder). When a
Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to
the rights of the Grantee ("Successor Grantee") may exercise such rights. A
Successor Grantee must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her
right to receive the Grant under the Grantee's will or under the applicable laws
of descent and distribution.

         (b)      Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may provide, in a Grant Instrument, that a Grantee may
transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members or other persons or
entities according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that
the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer of an Option and the
transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions
as were applicable to the Option immediately before the transfer.

         12.      Right of First Refusal

         Prior to a Public Offering, if at any time an individual desires to
sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of shares of Company Stock distributed to
him under this Plan, the individual shall first offer the shares to the Company
by giving the Company written notice disclosing: (a) the name of the proposed
transferee of the Company Stock; (b) the certificate number and number of

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shares of Company Stock proposed to be transferred or encumbered; (c) the
proposed price; (d) all other terms of the proposed transfer; and (e) a written
copy of the proposed offer. Within 30 days after receipt of such notice, the
Company shall have the option to purchase all or part of such Company Stock at
the same price and on the same terms as contained in such notice.

         In the event the Company (or a shareholder, as described below) does
not exercise the option to purchase Company Stock, as provided above, the
individual shall have the right to sell, encumber or otherwise dispose of his
shares of Company Stock on the terms of the transfer set forth in the written
notice to the Company, provided such transfer is effected within 30 days after
the expiration of the option period. If the transfer is not effected within such
period, the Company must again be given an option to purchase, as provided
above.

         The Board, in its sole discretion, may waive the Company's right of
first refusal pursuant to this Section 12 and the Company's repurchase right
pursuant to Section 13 below. If the Company's right of first refusal or
repurchase right is so waived, the Board may, in its sole discretion, pass
through such right to the remaining shareholders of the Company in the same
proportion that each shareholder's stock ownership bears to the stock ownership
of all the shareholders of the Company, as determined by the Board. To the
extent that a shareholder has been given such right and does not purchase his or
her allotment, the other shareholders shall have the right to purchase such
allotment on the same basis.

         On and after a Public Offering, the Company shall have no further right
to purchase shares of Company Stock under this Section 12 and Section 13 below,
and its limitations shall be null and void.

         13.      Purchase by the Company

         Prior to a Public Offering, if a Grantee ceases to be employed by the
Company, the Company shall have the right to purchase all or part of any Company
Stock distributed to him under this Plan at its then current Fair Market Value
(as defined in Section 5(b)); provided, however, that such repurchase shall be
made in accordance with applicable accounting rules to avoid adverse accounting
treatment.

         14.      Change of Control of the Company

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         As used herein, a "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred
if:

         (a)      Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) other than Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates, including affiliated venture funds, becomes a
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing a majority or more of
the voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company;

         (b)      The shareholders of the Company approve (or, if shareholder
approval is not required, the Board approves) an agreement providing for (i) the
merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where the
shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation,
will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares
entitling such shareholders to a majority of all votes to which all shareholders
of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors
(without consideration of the rights of any class of stock to elect directors by
a separate class vote) or where the members of the Board, immediately prior to
the merger or consolidation, would not, immediately after the merger or
consolidation, constitute a majority of the board of directors of the surviving
corporation, (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company, or (iii) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

         (c)      Any person has commenced a tender offer or exchange offer for
a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the Company.

         15.      Consequences of a Change of Control

         (a)      Notice and Acceleration. Upon a Change of Control, unless the
Committee determines otherwise, (i) the Company shall provide each Grantee with
outstanding Grants written notice of such Change of Control, (ii) all
outstanding Options and SARs shall automatically accelerate and become fully
exercisable, (iii) the restrictions and conditions on all outstanding Restricted
Stock shall immediately lapse, and (iv) Grantees holding Performance Units shall
receive a payment in settlement of such Performance Units, in an amount
determined by the Committee, based on the Grantee's target payment for the
Performance Period and the portion of the Performance Period that precedes the
Change of Control.

         (b)      Assumption of Grants. Upon a Change of Control where the

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of
another corporation), unless the Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding
Options and SARs that are not exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with
comparable options or rights by, the surviving corporation.

         (c)      Other Alternatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to
subsection (d) below, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee may
take one or both of the following actions: the Committee may (i) require that
Grantees surrender their outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for a payment
by the Company, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an
amount equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of
Company Stock subject to the Grantee's unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the
Exercise Price of the Options or the base amount of the SARs, as applicable, or
(ii) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options
and SARs, terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the
Committee deems appropriate. Such surrender or termination shall take place as
of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may
specify.

         (d)      Committee. The Committee making the determinations under this
Section 15 following a Change of Control must be comprised of the same members
as those on the Committee immediately before the Change of Control. If the
Committee members do not meet this requirement, the automatic provisions of
Subsections (a) and (b) shall apply, and the Committee shall not have discretion
to vary them.

         (e)      Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the
contrary, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee shall not have the
right to take any actions described in the Plan (including without limitation
actions described in Subsection (c) above) that would make the Change of Control
ineligible for pooling of interests accounting treatment or that would make the
Change of Control ineligible for desired tax treatment if, in the absence of
such right, the Change of Control would qualify for such treatment and the
Company intends to use such treatment with respect to the Change of Control.

         16.      Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares

                  Limitations on Issuance or Transfer of Shares. No Company
Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Grant hereunder
unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer
of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the
Committee.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

The Committee shall have the right to condition any Grant made to any Grantee
hereunder on such Grantee's undertaking in writing to comply with such
restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company
Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable as a result of any
applicable law, regulation or official interpretation thereof, and certificates
representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions.
Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued or transferred under
the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as
may be required by applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including
any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.

         17.      Amendment and Termination of the Plan

         (a)      Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any
time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without
shareholder approval if such approval is required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (b)      Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day
immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date, unless the
Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the
approval of the shareholders.

         (c)      Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Grants. A termination
or amendment of the Plan that occurs after a Grant is made shall not materially
impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents or unless the
Committee acts under Section 17(b). The termination of the Plan shall not impair
the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Grant.
Whether or not the Plan has terminated, an outstanding Grant may be terminated
or amended under Section 17(b) or may be amended by agreement of the Company and
the Grantee consistent with the Plan.

         (d)      Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling
document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or
examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be
binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

         18.      Funding of the Plan

         This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to
establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. In no event shall
interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of
Grants.

         19.      Rights of Participants

         Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Employee, Key Advisor or other
person to any claim or right to be granted a Grant under this Plan, except as
provided in Section 6. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be
construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employ
of the Company or any other employment rights.

         20.      No Fractional Shares

         No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Grant. The Committee shall determine whether cash,
other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such
fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall
be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

         21.      Headings

         Section headings are for reference only. In the event of a conflict
between a title and the content of a Section, the content of the Section shall
control.

         22.      Effective Date of the Plan.

         (a)      Effective Date. Subject to the approval of the Company's
shareholders, the Plan shall be effective on January 26, 1996.

         (b)      Public Offering. The provisions of the Plan that refer to a
Public Offering, or that refer to, or are applicable to persons subject to,
section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 162(m) of the Code, shall be
effective, if at all, upon the initial registration of the Company Stock under
section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and shall remain effective thereafter for so
long as such stock is so registered.

         23.      Miscellaneous

         (a)      Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and
Otherwise.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the
Committee to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by
purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets
of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to employees thereof
who become Employees of the Company, or for other proper corporate purposes, or
(ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other awards
outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may make a
Grant to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of
a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property,
reorganization or liquidation involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries
in substitution for a stock option or restricted stock grant made by such
corporation. The terms and conditions of the substitute grants may vary from the
terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted
stock incentives. The Committee shall prescribe the provisions of the substitute
grants.

         (b)      Compliance with Law. The Plan, the exercise of Options and
SARs and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company
Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by
any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to
persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the
Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all
applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.
The Committee may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant to
bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The
Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to
Grantees. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its
authority under this Section.

         (c)      Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and
effect of the Plan and Grant Instruments issued under the Plan shall exclusively
be governed by and determined in accordance with the law of the State of
Delaware.

f:\partners\emerge vision\charter-corporate\amended and restated equity comp
plan 6-98(1)

--------
(1) Adopted by the Board of Directors and Sole Stockholder on 1/26/96; amended
by the Board on July 9, 1997 and approved by the stockholders on July 11, 1997;
amended by the Board on 7/17/97 and approved by the stockholders on 7/30/97;
amended by the Board on 6/17/98 and approved by the stockholders on 7/2/98;
amended by the Board on 12/16/98 and approved by the stockholders on 2/15/99;
plan reflects 5-for-4 stock split that was effective on 12/23/99. The plan was
terminated on May 10, 1999 upon stockholder approval of the 1999 Equity
Compensation Plan.<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                            eMERGE INTERACTIVE, INC.
                          1999 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

         The purpose of the eMerge Interactive, Inc. 1999 Equity Compensation
Plan (the "Plan") is to provide (i) designated employees of eMerge Interactive,
Inc. (the "Company") and its subsidiaries, (ii) individuals to whom an offer of
employment has been extended, (iii) certain advisors who perform services for
the Company or its subsidiaries, and (iv) non-employee members of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") with the opportunity to receive grants of
incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock and performance units. The Company believes that the Plan will
encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the
Company, thereby benefiting the Company's stockholders, and will align the
economic interests of the participants with those of the stockholders.

         1.       Administration

         (a)      Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by a
committee appointed by the Board (the "Committee"). The Committee shall consist
of two or more persons appointed by the Board, all of whom may be "outside
directors" as defined under section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code") and related Treasury regulations and may be
"non-employee directors" as defined under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Except to the extent
prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the
Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to
any one or more of its members or may delegate all or any part of its
responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such
allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time. If the
Committee does not exist, or for any other reason determined by the Board, the
Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the
responsibility of the Committee.

         (b)      Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole
authority to (i) determine the individuals to whom grants shall be made under
the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms of the grants to be made to
each such individual, (iii) determine the time when the grants will be made and
the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the
criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, and (iv)
deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.

         (c)      Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power
and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual
determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and
instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it
deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The Committee's
interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee
pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on
all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any awards granted hereunder.
All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the
best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the
objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated
individuals.

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

         2.       Grants

         Awards under the Plan may consist of grants of incentive stock options
as described in Section 5 ("Incentive Stock Options"), nonqualified stock
options as described in Section 5 ("Nonqualified Stock Options") (Incentive
Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options are collectively referred to as
"Options"), restricted stock as described in Section 6 (Restricted Stock"),
stock appreciation rights as described in Section 7 ("SARs"), and performance
units as described in Section 8 ("Performance Units") (hereinafter collectively
referred to as "Grants"). All Grants shall be subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent
with this Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in
writing by the Committee to the individual in a grant instrument (the "Grant
Instrument") or an amendment to the Grant Instrument. The Committee shall
approve the basic form and provisions of each Grant Instrument. Grants under a
particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the grantees.

         3.       Shares Subject to the Plan

                  (a)      Shares Authorized. Subject to the adjustment
specified below, the aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company
("Company Stock") that may be issued or transferred under the Plan is 2,500,000
shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that shall be
subject to Grants made under the Plan to any individual during any calendar year
shall be 625,000 shares. The shares may be authorized but unissued shares of
Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased
by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent
Options or SARs granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled,
forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, or if any
shares of Restricted Stock or Performance Units are forfeited, the shares
subject to such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan.

                  (b)      Adjustments. If there is any change in the number or
kind of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend,
spinoff, recapitalization, stock split or combination or exchange of shares,
(ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the Company
is the surviving corporation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in
par value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event
affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company's receipt
of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is
substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company's payment of an
extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company
Stock available for Grants, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock that
any individual participating in the Plan may be granted in any year, the number
of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind of shares issued under the
Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Grants
shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee to reflect any increase or
decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, issued shares of
Company Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or
dilution of rights and benefits under such Grants; provided, however, that any
fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated by rounding
any portion of a

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

share equal to .5 or greater up, and any portion of a share equal to less than
 .5 down, in each case to the nearest whole number. Any adjustments determined by
the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         4.       Eligibility for Participation

                  (a)      Eligible Persons. All employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries ("Employees"), including Employees who are officers or members
of the Board, individuals to whom an offer of employment has been extended ("New
Hire"), and members of the Board who are not Employees ("Non-Employee
Directors") shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Advisors who perform
services to the Company or any of its subsidiaries ("Key Advisors") shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan if the Key Advisors render bona fide
services and such services are not in connection with the offer or sale of
securities in a capital-raising transaction.

                  (b)      Selection of Grantees. The Committee shall select the
Employees, New Hires, Non-Employee Directors and Key Advisors to receive Grants
and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to a
particular Grant in such manner as the Committee determines. Employees, New
Hires, Key Advisors, and Non-Employee Directors who receive Grants under this
Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as "Grantees."

         5.       Granting of Options

                  (a)      Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the
number of shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options
to Employees, New Hires, Non-Employee Directors, and Key Advisors.

                  (b)      Type of Option and Price.

                           (i)      The Committee may grant Incentive Stock
Options that are intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" within the
meaning of section 422 of the Code, Nonqualified Stock Options that are not
intended so to qualify, or any combination of Incentive Stock Options and
Nonqualified Stock Options, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set
forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.
Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, New Hires, Non-Employee
Directors, and Key Advisors.

                           (ii)     The purchase price (the "Exercise Price") of
Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and may
be equal to, greater than, or less than the Fair Market Value (as defined below)
of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted, provided,
however, that (x) the Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option shall be equal
to, or greater than, the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the
date the Incentive Stock Option is granted and (y) an Incentive Stock Option may
not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing
more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company, unless the Exercise
Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of Company Stock
on the date of grant.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                           (iii)    If the Company Stock is publicly traded,
then, except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the following rules
regarding the determination of Fair Market Value per share apply:

                                    (x)      if the principal trading market for
                           the Company Stock is a national securities exchange
                           or the Nasdaq National Market, the mean between the
                           highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the
                           relevant date or (if there were no trades on that
                           date) the latest preceding date upon which a sale was
                           reported, or

                                    (y)      if the Company Stock is not
                           principally traded on such exchange or market, the
                           mean between the last reported "bid" and "asked"
                           prices of Company Stock on the relevant date, as
                           reported on Nasdaq or, if not so reported, as
                           reported by the National Daily Quotation Bureau, Inc.
                           or as reported in a customary financial reporting
                           service, as applicable and as the Committee
                           determines. If the Company Stock is not publicly
                           traded or, if publicly traded, is not subject to
                           reported transactions or "bid" or "asked" quotations
                           as set forth above, the Fair Market Value per share
                           shall be as determined by the Committee.

                  (c)      Option Term. The Committee shall determine the term
of each Option. The term of any Option shall not exceed ten years from the date
of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who,
at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, or any parent or
subsidiary of the Company, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the
date of grant.

                  (d)      Exercisability of Options.

                           (i)      Options shall become exercisable in
accordance with such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as may be
determined by the Committee and specified in the Grant Instrument or an
amendment to the Grant Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the
exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.

                           (ii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option
may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time
while an Employee, Non-Employee Director, or Key Advisor to exercise the Option
as to any part or all of the shares subject to the Option prior to the full
vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so purchased shall be subject to a
repurchase right in favor of the Company, with the repurchase price to be equal
to the original purchase price, and any other restrictions the Committee
determines to be appropriate.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                  (e)      Termination of Employment, Disability or Death.

                           (i)      Except as provided below, an Option may only
be exercised while the Grantee is employed by the Company as an Employee, Key
Advisor or member of the Board. In the event that a Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company for any reason other than a "disability," death or
"termination for cause," any Option which is otherwise exercisable by the
Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within 90 days after the date on which
the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of
time as may be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the
date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee's Options that are not
otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed
by the Company shall terminate as of such date.

                           (ii)     In the event the Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company on account of a "termination for cause" by the Company,
any Option held by the Grantee shall terminate as of the date the Grantee ceases
to be employed by the Company. In addition to the immediate termination of all
Grants, the Grantee shall automatically forfeit all shares underlying any
exercised portion of an Option, upon refund by the Company of the Exercise Price
by the Grantee for such shares.

                           (iii)    In the event the Grantee ceases to be
employed by the Company because the Grantee is "disabled," any Option which is
otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall terminate unless exercised within one
year after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company
(or within such other period of time as may be specified by the Committee), but
in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option term. Any of the
Grantee's Options which are not otherwise exercisable as of the date on which
the Grantee ceases to be employed by the Company shall terminate as of such
date.

                           (iv)     If the Grantee dies while employed by the
Company or within 90 days after the date on which the Grantee ceases to be
employed on account of a termination of employment specified in Section 5(e)(i)
above (or within such other period of time as may be specified by the
Committee), any Option that is otherwise exercisable by the Grantee shall
terminate unless exercised within one year after the date on which the Grantee
ceases to be employed by the Company (or within such other period of time as may
be specified by the Committee), but in any event no later than the date of
expiration of the Option term. Any of the Grantee's Options that are not
otherwise exercisable as of the date on which the Grantee ceases to be employed
by the Company shall terminate as of such date.

                           (v)      For purposes of Sections 5(e), 6, 7, and 8:

                                    (A)      "Company," when used in the phrase
                           "employed by the Company," shall mean the Company,
                           its parent, and any subsidiary corporations.

                                    (B)      "Employed by the Company" shall
                           mean employment or service as an Employee, Key
                           Advisor, or member of the Board (so that, for
                           purposes of exercising Options and SARs and
                           satisfying conditions with respect

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                           to Restricted Stock and Performance Units, a Grantee
                           shall not be considered to have terminated employment
                           or service until the Grantee ceases to be an
                           Employee, Key Advisor, and member of the Board),
                           unless the Committee determines otherwise. The
                           Committee's determination as to a participant's
                           employment or other provision of services,
                           termination of employment or cessation of the
                           provision of services, leave of absence, or
                           reemployment shall be conclusive on all persons
                           unless determined to be incorrect.

                                    (C)      "Disability" shall mean a Grantee's
                           becoming disabled within the meaning of section
                           22(e)(3) of the Code.

                                    (D)      "Termination for cause" shall mean
                           the determination of the Committee that any one or
                           more of the following events has occurred:

                                    (1)      the Grantee's conviction of any act
                           which constitutes a felony under applicable federal
                           or state law, either in connection with the
                           performance of the Grantee's obligations on behalf of
                           the Company or which affects the Grantee's ability to
                           perform his or her obligations as an employee, board
                           member or advisor of the Company or under any
                           employment agreement, non-competition agreement,
                           confidentiality agreement or like agreement or
                           covenant between the Grantee and the Company (any
                           such agreement or covenant being herein referred to
                           as an "Employment Agreement");

                                    (2)      the Grantee's willful misconduct in
                           connection with the performance of his or her duties
                           and responsibilities as an employee, board member or
                           advisor of the Company or under any Employment
                           Agreement, which willful misconduct is not cured by
                           the Grantee within 10 days of his or her receipt of
                           written notice thereof from the Committee;

                                    (3)      the Grantee's commission of an act
                           of embezzlement, fraud or dishonesty which results in
                           a loss, damage or injury to the Company;

                                    (4)      the Grantee's substantial and
                           continuing neglect, gross negligence or inattention
                           in the performance of his or her duties as an
                           employee, board member or advisor of the Company or
                           under any Employment Agreement which is not cured by
                           the Grantee within 10 days of his or her receipt of
                           written notice thereof from the Committee;

                                    (5)      the Grantee's unauthorized use or
                           disclosure or any trade secret or confidential
                           information of the Company which adversely affects
                           the business of the Company, provided that any
                           disclosure of any trade secret or confidential
                           information of the Company to a third party in the
                           ordinary course of business who signs a
                           confidentiality agreement shall not be deemed a
                           breach of this subparagraph;

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                                    (6)      the Grantee's material breach of
                           any of the provisions of any Employment Agreement,
                           which material breach is not cured by the Grantee
                           within 10 days of his or her receipt of a written
                           notice from the Company specifying such material
                           breach; or

                                    (7)      the Grantee has voluntarily
                           terminated his or her employment or service with the
                           Company and breaches his or her noncompetition
                           agreement with the Company.

                  (f)      Exercise of Options. A Grantee may exercise an Option
that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of
exercise to the Company with payment of the Exercise Price. The Grantee shall
pay the Exercise Price for an Option as specified by the Committee:

                           (i)      in cash,

                           (ii)     by delivering shares of Company Stock owned
by the Grantee for the period necessary to avoid a charge to the Company's
earnings for financial reporting purposes (including Company Stock acquired in
connection with the exercise of an Option, subject to such restrictions as the
Committee deems appropriate) and having a Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise equal to the Exercise Price,

                           (iii)    after a Public Offering, by payment through
a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal
Reserve Board, or

                           (iv)     by such other method of payment as the
Committee may approve.

                           Shares of Company Stock used to exercise an Option
shall have been held by the Grantee for the requisite period of time to avoid
adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option. The
Grantee shall pay the Exercise Price and the amount of any withholding tax due
(pursuant to Section 9) at the time of exercise.

                  (g)      Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive
Stock Option shall provide that if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the stock
on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year, under the
Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary,
exceeds $100,000, then the option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any
person who is not an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary (within
the meaning of section 424(f) of the Code).

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         6.       Restricted Stock Grants

         The Committee may issue or transfer shares of Company Stock to a
Grantee under a Grant of Restricted Stock upon such terms as the Committee deems
appropriate. The following provisions are applicable to Restricted Stock:

                  (a)      General Requirements. Shares of Company Stock issued
or transferred pursuant to Restricted Stock Grants may be issued or transferred
for consideration or for no consideration, as determined by the Committee. The
Committee may establish conditions under which restrictions on shares of
Restricted Stock shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other
criteria as the Committee deems appropriate. The period of time during which the
Restricted Stock will remain subject to restrictions will be designated in the
Grant Instrument as the "Restriction Period."

                  (b)      Number of Shares. The Committee shall determine the
number of shares of Company Stock to be issued or transferred pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Grant and the restrictions applicable to such shares.

                  (c)      Requirement of Employment. If the Grantee ceases to
be employed by the Company (as defined in Section 5(e)) during a period
designated in the Grant Instrument as the Restriction Period, or if other
specified conditions are not met, the Restricted Stock Grant shall terminate as
to all shares covered by the Grant as to which the restrictions have not lapsed,
and those shares of Company Stock must be immediately returned to the Company.
The Committee may, however, provide for complete or partial exceptions to this
requirement as it deems appropriate.

                  (d)      Restrictions on Transfer and Legend on Stock
Certificate. During the Restriction Period, a Grantee may not sell, assign,
transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of Restricted Stock except
to a Successor Grantee under Section 10(a). Each certificate for a share of
Restricted Stock shall contain a legend giving appropriate notice of the
restrictions in the Grant. The Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend
removed from the stock certificate covering the shares subject to restrictions
when all restrictions on such shares have lapsed. The Committee may determine
that the Company will not issue certificates for shares of Restricted Stock
until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed, or that the Company will
retain possession of certificates for shares of Restricted Stock until all
restrictions on such shares have lapsed.

                  (e)      Right to Vote and to Receive Dividends. Unless the
Committee determines otherwise, during the Restriction Period, the Grantee shall
have the right to vote shares of Restricted Stock and to receive any dividends
or other distributions paid on such shares, subject to any restrictions deemed
appropriate by the Committee.

                  (f) Lapse of Restrictions. All restrictions imposed on
Restricted Stock shall lapse upon the expiration of the applicable Restriction
Period and the satisfaction of all conditions imposed by the Committee. The
Committee may determine, as to any or all Restricted Stock Grants, that the
restrictions shall lapse without regard to any Restriction Period.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         7.       Stock Appreciation Rights

                  (a)      General Requirements. The Committee may grant stock
appreciation rights ("SARs") to a Grantee separately or in tandem with any
Option (for all or a portion of the applicable Option). Tandem SARs may be
granted either at the time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter while
the Option remains outstanding; provided, however, that, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, SARs may be granted only at the time of the Grant of the
Incentive Stock Option. The Committee shall establish the base amount of the SAR
at the time the SAR is granted. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the
base amount of each SAR shall be equal to the per share Exercise Price of the
related Option or, if there is no related Option, the Fair Market Value of a
share of Company Stock as of the date of Grant of the SAR.

                  (b)      Tandem SARs. In the case of tandem SARs, the number
of SARs granted to a Grantee that shall be exercisable during a specified period
shall not exceed the number of shares of Company Stock that the Grantee may
purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the
exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Company Stock covered by such
Option shall terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall
terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Company Stock.

                  (c)      Exercisability. A SAR shall be exercisable during the
period specified by the Committee in the Grant Instrument and shall be subject
to such vesting and other restrictions as may be specified in the Grant
Instrument. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all
outstanding SARs at any time for any reason. SARs may only be exercised while
the Grantee is employed by the Company or during the applicable period after
termination of employment as described in Section 5(e). A tandem SAR shall be
exercisable only during the period when the Option to which it is related is
also exercisable. No SAR may be exercised for cash by an officer or director of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries who is subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, except in accordance with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

                  (d)      Value of SARs. When a Grantee exercises SARs, the
Grantee shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of
the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised, payable in cash,
Company Stock or a combination thereof. The stock appreciation for a SAR is the
amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Company Stock on the
date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as described in
Subsection (a).

                  (e)      Form of Payment. The Committee shall determine
whether the appreciation in a SAR shall be paid in the form of cash, shares of
Company Stock, or a combination of the two, in such proportion as the Committee
deems appropriate. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Company
Stock to be received, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR. If shares of Company Stock are
to be received upon exercise of an SAR, cash shall be delivered in lieu of any
fractional share.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

         8.       Performance Units

                  (a)      General Requirements. The Committee may grant
performance units ("Performance Units") to a Grantee. Each Performance Unit
shall represent the right of the Grantee to receive an amount based on the value
of the Performance Unit, if performance goals established by the Committee are
met. A Performance Unit shall be based on the Fair Market Value of a share of
Company Stock or on such other measurement base as the Committee deems
appropriate. The Committee shall determine the number of Performance Units to be
granted and the requirements applicable to such Units.

                  (b)      Performance Period and Performance Goals. When
Performance Units are granted, the Committee shall establish the performance
period during which performance shall be measured (the "Performance Period"),
performance goals applicable to the Units ("Performance Goals") and such other
conditions of the Grant as the Committee deems appropriate. Performance Goals
may relate to the financial performance of the Company or its operating units,
the performance of Company Stock, individual performance, or such other criteria
as the Committee deems appropriate.

                  (c)      Payment with respect to Performance Units. At the end
of each Performance Period, the Committee shall determine to what extent the
Performance Goals and other conditions of the Performance Units are met and the
amount, if any, to be paid with respect to the Performance Units. Payments with
respect to Performance Units shall be made in cash, in Company Stock, or in a
combination of the two, as determined by the Committee.

                  (d)      Requirement of Employment. If the Grantee ceases to
be employed by the Company (as defined in Section 5(e)) during a Performance
Period, or if other conditions established by the Committee are not met, the
Grantee's Performance Units shall be forfeited. The Committee may, however,
provide for complete or partial exceptions to this requirement as it deems
appropriate.

         9.       Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.

                  (a)      Designation as Qualified Performance-Based
Compensation. The Committee may determine that Performance Units or Restricted
Stock granted to an Employee shall be considered "qualified performance-based
compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code. The provisions of this Section 9
shall apply to Grants of Performance Units and Restricted Stock that are to be
considered "qualified performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of
the Code.

                  (b)      Performance Goals. When Performance Units or
Restricted Stock that are to be considered "qualified performance-based
compensation" are granted, the Committee shall establish in writing (i) the
objective performance goals that must be met in order for restrictions on the
Restricted Stock to lapse or amounts to be paid under the Performance Units,
(ii) the Performance Period during which the performance goals must be met,
(iii) the threshold, target and maximum amounts that may be paid if the
performance goals are met, and (iv) any other

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

conditions, including without limitation provisions relating to death,
disability, other termination of employment or Reorganization, that the
Committee deems appropriate and consistent with the Plan and Section 162(m) of
the Code. The performance goals may relate to the Employee's business unit or
the performance of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole, or any
combination of the foregoing. The Committee shall use objectively determinable
performance goals based on one or more of the following criteria: stock price,
earnings per share, net earnings, operating earnings, return on assets,
stockholder return, return on equity, growth in assets, unit volume, sales,
market share, or strategic business criteria consisting of one or more
objectives based on meeting specific revenue goals, market penetration goals,
geographic business expansion goals, cost targets or goals relating to
acquisitions or divestitures.

                  (c)      Establishment of Goals. The Committee shall establish
the performance goals in writing either before the beginning of the Performance
Period or during a period ending no later than the earlier of (i) 90 days after
the beginning of the Performance Period or (ii) the date on which 25% of the
Performance Period has been completed, or such other date as may be required or
permitted under applicable regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code. The
performance goals shall satisfy the requirements for "qualified
performance-based compensation," including the requirement that the achievement
of the goals be substantially uncertain at the time they are established and
that the goals be established in such a way that a third party with knowledge of
the relevant facts could determine whether and to what extent the performance
goals have been met. The Committee shall not have discretion to increase the
amount of compensation that is payable upon achievement of the designated
performance goals.

                  (d)      Maximum Payment. If Restricted Stock, or Performance
Units measured with respect to the fair market value of the Company Stock, are
granted, not more than 625,000 shares may be Granted to any Grantee for any
Performance Period. If Performance Units are measured with respect to other
criteria, the maximum amount that may be paid to an Employee with respect to a
Performance Period is $ 1,000,000.

                  (e)      Announcement of Grants. The Committee shall certify
and announce the results for each Performance Period to all Grantees immediately
following the announcement of the Company's financial results for the
Performance Period. If and to the extent that the Committee does not certify
that the performance goals have been met, the grants of Restricted Stock or
Performance Units for the Performance Period shall be forfeited.

         10.      Withholding of Taxes

                  (a)      Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall
be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local tax
withholding requirements. The Company shall have the right to deduct from all
Grants paid in cash, or from other wages paid to the Grantee, any federal, state
or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such Grants. In
the case of Options and other Grants paid in Company Stock, the Company may
require the Grantee or other person receiving such shares to pay to the Company
the amount of any such taxes that the Company is required to withhold with
respect to such Grants, or the

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

Company may deduct from other wages paid by the Company the amount of any
withholding taxes due with respect to such Grants.

                  (b)      Election to Withhold Shares. If the Committee so
permits, a Grantee may elect to satisfy the Company's income tax withholding
obligation with respect to an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock or Performance Units
paid in Company Stock by having shares withheld up to an amount that does not
exceed the Grantee's maximum marginal tax rate for federal (including FICA),
state and local tax liabilities. The election must be in a form and manner
prescribed by the Committee and shall be subject to the prior approval of the
Committee.

         11.      Transferability of Grants

                  (a)      Nontransferability of Grants. Except as provided
below, only the Grantee may exercise rights under a Grant during the Grantee's
lifetime. A Grantee may not transfer those rights except by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution or, with respect to Grants other than Incentive
Stock Options, if permitted in any specific case by the Committee, pursuant to a
domestic relations order (as defined under the Code or Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the regulations
thereunder). When a Grantee dies, the personal representative or other person
entitled to succeed to the rights of the Grantee ("Successor Grantee") may
exercise such rights. A Successor Grantee must furnish proof satisfactory to the
Company of his or her right to receive the Grant under the Grantee's will or
under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

                  (b)      Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in a Grant Instrument,
that a Grantee may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members or
other persons or entities according to such terms as the Committee may
determine; provided that the Grantee receives no consideration for the transfer
of an Option and the transferred Option shall continue to be subject to the same
terms and conditions as were applicable to the Option immediately before the
transfer.

         12. Reorganization of the Company.

                  (a)      Reorganization. As used herein, a "Reorganization"
shall be deemed to have occurred if the stockholders of the Company approve (or,
if stockholder approval is not required, the Board approves) an agreement
providing for (i) the merger or consolidation of the Company with another
corporation where the stockholders of the Company, immediately prior to the
merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger
or consolidation, shares entitling such stockholders to more than 50% of all
votes to which all stockholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled
in the election of directors (without consideration of the rights of any class
of stock to elect directors by a separate class vote), (ii) the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (iii) a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                  (b)      Assumption of Grants. Upon a Reorganization where the
Company is not the surviving corporation (or survives only as a subsidiary of
another corporation), unless the

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

Committee determines otherwise, all outstanding Options and SARs that are not
exercised shall be assumed by, or replaced with comparable options or rights by,
the surviving corporation.

                  (c)      Other Alternatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event of a Reorganization, the Committee may take one or both of the
following actions: the Committee may (i) require that Grantees surrender their
outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash
or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the
amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock
subject to the Grantee's unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Exercise Price
of the Options or the base amount of the SARs, as applicable, or (ii) after
giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options and SARs,
terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the Committee
deems appropriate. Such surrender or termination shall take place as of the date
of the Reorganization or such other date as the Committee may specify.

                  (d)      Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to
the contrary, in the event of a Reorganization, the Committee shall not have the
right to take any actions described in the Plan (including without limitation
actions described in Subsection (b) above) that would make the Reorganization
ineligible for pooling of interests accounting treatment or that would make the
Reorganization ineligible for desired tax treatment if, in the absence of such
right, the Reorganization would qualify for such treatment and the Company
intends to use such treatment with respect to the Reorganization.

         13. Change of Control of the Company.

                  (a)      As used herein, a "Change of Control" shall be deemed
to have occurred if

                           (i)      Any "person" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes a "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company except where the acquisition is
approved by the Board; or

                           (ii)     Any person has commenced a tender offer or
exchange offer for a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares
of the Company.

                  (b)      Notice and Acceleration. Unless the Committee
determines otherwise, a Change of Control shall not result in the acceleration
of vesting of outstanding Options and SARs, the removal of restrictions and
conditions on outstanding Restricted Stock grant, or any accelerated payments in
connection with outstanding Performance Units.

                  (c)      Other Alternatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event of a Change of Control, the Committee may take one or both of the
following actions: the Committee may (i) require that Grantees surrender their
outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash
or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an

                                       13
<PAGE>   14

amount equal to the amount by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of
Company Stock subject to the Grantee's unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the
Exercise Price of the Options or the base amount of the SARs, as applicable, or
(ii) after giving Grantees an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options
and SARs, terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the
Committee deems appropriate. Such surrender or termination shall take place as
of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may
specify.

                  (d)      Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to
the contrary, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee shall not have
the right to take any actions described in the Plan (including without
limitation actions described in Subsection (c) above) that would make the Change
of Control ineligible for pooling of interests accounting treatment or that
would make the Change of Control ineligible for desired tax treatment if, in the
absence of such right, the Change of Control would qualify for such treatment
and the Company intends to use such treatment with respect to the Change of
Control.

         14.      Right of First Refusal

         Prior to a Public Offering, if at any time an individual desires to
sell, encumber, or otherwise dispose of shares of Company Stock distributed to
him under this Plan, the individual shall first offer the shares to the Company
by giving the Company written notice disclosing: (a) the name of the proposed
transferee of the Company Stock; (b) the certificate number and number of shares
of Company Stock proposed to be transferred or encumbered; (c) the proposed
price; (d) all other terms of the proposed transfer; and (e) a written copy of
the proposed offer. Within 30 days after receipt of such notice, the Company
shall have the option to purchase all or part of such Company Stock at the same
price and on the same terms as contained in such notice.

         In the event the Company (or a stockholder, as described below) does
not exercise the option to purchase Company Stock, as provided above, the
individual shall have the right to sell, encumber or otherwise dispose of his
shares of Company Stock on the terms of the transfer set forth in the written
notice to the Company, provided such transfer is effected within 30 days after
the expiration of the option period. If the transfer is not effected within such
period, the Company must again be given an option to purchase, as provided
above.

         The Board, in its sole discretion, may waive the Company's right of
first refusal pursuant to this Section 14 and the Company's repurchase right
pursuant to Section 15 below. If the Company's right of first refusal or
repurchase right is so waived, the Board may, in its sole discretion, pass
through such right to the remaining stockholders of the Company in the same
proportion that each stockholder's stock ownership bears to the stock ownership
of all the stockholders of the Company, as determined by the Board. To the
extent that a stockholder has been given such right and does not purchase his or
her allotment, the other stockholders shall have the right to purchase such
allotment on the same basis.

         On and after a Public Offering, the Company shall have no further right
to purchase shares of Company Stock under this Section 14 and Section 15 below,
and its limitations shall be null and void.

                                       14
<PAGE>   15

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may require that a Grantee
execute a stockholder's agreement, with such terms as the Committee deems
appropriate, with respect to any Company Stock distributed pursuant to this
Plan. Such agreement may provide that the provisions of this Section 14 and
Section 15 below shall not apply to such Company Stock.

         15.      Purchase by the Company

         Prior to a Public Offering, if a Grantee ceases to be employed by the
Company, whether terminated for cause or voluntarily, the Company shall have the
right to purchase all or part of any Company Stock distributed to him under this
Plan at the exercise price paid by the Grantee (unless otherwise determined by
the Board or the Committee), and in all other cases at its then current Fair
Market Value (as defined in Section 5(b)); provided, however, that such
repurchase shall be made in accordance with applicable accounting rules to avoid
adverse accounting treatment.

         16.      Requirements for Issuance or Transfer of Shares

                  (a)      Stockholder's Agreement. The Committee may require
that a Grantee execute a stockholder's agreement, with such terms as the
Committee deems appropriate, with respect to any Company Stock distributed
pursuant to this Plan.

                  (b)      Limitations on Issuance or Transfer of Shares. No
Company Stock shall be issued or transferred in connection with any Grant
hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or
transfer of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of
the Committee. The Committee shall have the right to condition any Grant made to
any Grantee hereunder on such Grantee's undertaking in writing to comply with
such restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company
Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable as a result of any
applicable law, regulation or official interpretation thereof, and certificates
representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions.
Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued or transferred under
the Plan will be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as
may be required by applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including
any requirement that a legend be placed thereon.

         17.      Amendment and Termination of the Plan

                  (a)      Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan
at any time.

                  (b)      Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the
day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date, unless
the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the
approval of the stockholders.

                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                  (c)      Termination and Amendment of Outstanding Grants. A
termination or amendment of the Plan that occurs after a Grant is made shall not
materially impair the rights of a Grantee unless the Grantee consents. The
termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the
Committee with respect to an outstanding Grant. Whether or not the Plan has
terminated, an outstanding Grant may be terminated or amended in accordance with
the Plan or may be amended by agreement of the Company and the Grantee
consistent with the Plan.

                  (d)      Governing Document. The Plan shall be the controlling
document. No other statements, representations, explanatory materials or
examples, oral or written, may amend the Plan in any manner. The Plan shall be
binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

         18.      Funding of the Plan

         This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to
establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of
assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. In no event shall
interest be paid or accrued on any Grant, including unpaid installments of
Grants.

         19.      Rights of Grantees

         Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Grantee or other person to any
claim or right to be granted a Grant under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any
action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to
be retained by or in the employ of the Company or any other employment rights.

         20.      No Fractional Shares

         No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Grant. The Committee shall determine whether cash,
other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such
fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall
be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

         21.      Headings

         Section headings are for reference only. In the event of a conflict
between a title and the content of a Section, the content of the Section shall
control.

         22.      Effective Date of the Plan

         Subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders, the Plan shall
be effective on April 22, 1999.

                                       16
<PAGE>   17

         23.      Miscellaneous

                  (a)      Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and
Otherwise. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the
right of the Committee to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the
acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the
business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to
employees thereof who become Employees of the Company, or for other proper
corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock
options or make other awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Committee may make a Grant to an employee of another corporation
who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation,
acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries in substitution for a stock option or
restricted stock grant made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the
substitute grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan
and from those of the substituted stock incentives. The Committee shall
prescribe the provisions of the substitute grants.

                  (b)      Compliance with Law. The Plan, the exercise of
Options and SARs and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares
of Company Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to
approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With
respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent
of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all
applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act.
The Committee may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant to
bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The
Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to
Grantees. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its
authority under this Section.

                  (c)      Governing Law. The validity, construction,
interpretation and effect of the Plan and Grant Instruments issued under the
Plan shall exclusively be governed by and determined in accordance with the law
of the State of Delaware.

f:\partners\emerge interactive\charter-corporate\1999 equity compensation plan
as amended 12-99(1)

--------
(1) Adopted by the Board of Directors on April 22, 1999 and approved by the
stockholders on May 10, 1999; amended by the Board of Directors on October 18,
1999 and approved by the stockholders on November 4, 1999; adjusted for 12/99
5-for-4 stock split

                                       17

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