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                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.2

                               ARTICLES OF MERGER

                                       OF

                         WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION

                                  WITH AND INTO

                              BELCO OIL & GAS CORP.

         The undersigned, as the President and Secretary of BELCO OIL & GAS
CORP., a Nevada corporation (the "Surviving Constituent Entity"), and the
President and Secretary of WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (the "Merging Constituent Entity"), as and for the purposes of
complying with the provisions of Chapter 92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes, and
in order to effectuate the merger of the Merging Constituent Entity with and
into the Surviving Constituent Entity, hereby certify as follows:

         FIRST: The name of the Merging Constituent Entity is WESTPORT RESOURCES
CORPORATION and its jurisdiction of organization is Delaware.

         SECOND: The name of the Surviving Constituent Entity is BELCO OIL & GAS
CORP. and its jurisdiction of organization is Nevada.

         THIRD: An agreement and plan of merger (the "Plan of Merger") has been
approved and adopted by the respective Boards of Directors of the Merging
Constituent Entity and the Surviving Constituent Entity.

         FOURTH: The Plan of Merger was submitted to the shareholders of the
Surviving Constituent Entity. The shareholders of the Surviving Constituent
Entity holding 32,957,150 shares of such entity's outstanding common stock were
entitled to vote on the Plan of Merger and the shareholders of the Surviving
Constituent Entity holding 23,786,219 shares of such entity's outstanding common
stock, constituting 72.2% of those votes entitled to be cast, voted in favor of
the Plan of Merger. The number of votes and percentage cast for the Plan of
Merger by the holders of common stock of the Surviving Constituent Entity was
sufficient for approval.

         FIFTH: The Plan of Merger was submitted to the shareholders of the
Merging Constituent Entity. The shareholders of the Merging Constituent Entity
holding 38,463,841 shares of such entity's outstanding common stock were
entitled to vote on the Plan of Merger and the shareholders of the Merging
Constituent Entity holding 32,792,701 shares of such entity's outstanding common
stock, constituting 85.3% of those votes entitled to be cast, voted in favor of
the Plan of Merger. The number of votes and percentage cast for the Plan of
Merger by the holders of common stock of the Merging Constituent Entity was
sufficient for approval.

         SIXTH: A copy of the complete executed Plan of Merger is on file and
available for inspection at the place of business of the Surviving Constituent
Entity, located at 410 Seventeenth Street, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80202,
and a copy of the Plan of Merger will be furnished by the Surviving Constituent
Entity, on request, to any shareholder of either the Surviving Constituent
Entity or the Merging Constituent Entity.

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         SEVENTH: The Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Constituent
Entity shall be amended in their entirety as a result of the Merger, other than
that Certificate of Designations of 6 1/2% Convertible Preferred Stock ($.01 par
value) of the Surviving Constituent Entity, filed with the Nevada Secretary of
State on March 6, 1998 (the "Certificate of Designations"), which Certificate of
Designations shall continue in full force and effect and shall not be amended,
as follows:

                                     AMENDED

                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                              BELCO OIL & GAS CORP.

                                    I. NAME

         The name of the corporation is WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION (the
"Company").

                                  II. ADDRESS

         The address of the Company's registered office in the State of Nevada
is 6100 Neil Road, Suite 500, Reno, Nevada 89511, County of Washoe. The name of
its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company of Nevada.

                                  III. PURPOSE

         The nature of the business or purpose to be conducted or promoted is to
engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized
under the Nevada Revised Statutes.

                                   IV. SHARES

         The total number of shares of stock that the Company shall have
authority to issue is 80 million of which 70 million shares shall be common
stock with a par value of $0.01 per share and 10 million shall be preferred
stock with a par value of $0.01 per share, of which 4.37 million shares have
been designated as 6 1/2% convertible preferred stock through the filing of that
certain Certificate of Designations with the Nevada Secretary of State on March
6, 1998. Subject to the Nevada Revised Statutes and the powers, designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights
granted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors"), the
Board of Directors may determine the powers, designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights, including voting
rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each
class of capital stock and of each series within any such class and may increase
or decrease the number of shares within each such class or series; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may not decrease the number of shares
within a class or series to less than the number of shares within such class or
series that are then issued and may not increase the number of shares within a
series above the total number of authorized shares of the applicable class for
which the powers, designations, preferences and rights have not otherwise been
set forth herein.

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                             V. PERPETUAL EXISTENCE

         The Company is to have perpetual existence.

                                   VI. BYLAWS

         In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the
Nevada Revised Statutes, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make,
alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Company.

                                 VII. DIRECTORS

         7.1. Election of Directors

         Elections of directors need not be by written ballot except and to the
extent provided in the Bylaws of the Company.

         7.2. Composition of Board of Directors

                  (a) The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes
         as nearly equal in number as possible, with directors in each class
         having a three-year term following a transition period in which the
         initial Class 1 directors serve a one-year term, the initial Class 2
         directors serve a two-year term and the initial Class 3 directors serve
         a three-year term.

                  (b) Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to
         the Company.

         7.3. Quorum and Voting

         Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, in Section 3.6 of the
Bylaws of the Company or in these Articles of Incorporation, (i) a majority of
the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and (ii) the vote of the majority of the directors present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

         7.4. Number of Directors

         The number of directors of the Company shall not be less than one nor
more than 15, the exact number of directors to be such number as may be set from
time to time within the limits set forth above by resolution adopted by
affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

         7.5. Removal of Directors

         Any director may be removed, with or without cause, at any annual or
special shareholders' meeting upon the affirmative vote of the holders of
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company at that time
entitled to vote thereon.

                            VIII. DIRECTOR LIABILITY

         A director shall not be personally liable to the Company or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director for
any act or omission; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate
or limit the liability of a director (a) for any breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to the Company or its shareholders, (b) for any act or omission not
in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing
violation of law, (c) under Section 78.300 of the

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Nevada Revised Statutes, or (d) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this article
by the shareholders of the Company shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director existing
at the time of such repeal or modification.

                              IX. INDEMNIFICATION

         9.1. General

         Subject to Article VIII, the Company shall indemnify, to the maximum
extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company), by
reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or officer of the
Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or
officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding. The termination of any action,
suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption
that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, have reasonable
cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

         9.2. Actions by or in the Right of the Company

         The Company shall indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by the
Nevada Revised Statutes, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the
right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact
that the person is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture or trust or other enterprise, against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the
person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit.

         9.3. Indemnification Against Expenses

         To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the
Company has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action,
suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 9.1 or 9.2, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection therewith.

         9.4. Advancement of Expenses

         Expenses including attorneys' fees incurred by an officer or director
in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the
Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to
repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not
entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized by the Nevada Revised
Statutes or in this Article IX. Such expenses incurred by former directors and
officers may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Company
deems appropriate.

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         9.5. Nonexclusive

         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which any director or officer of the Company seeking indemnification or
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any other bylaw, agreement, vote
of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in
such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office, and shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of
the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person.

         9.6. Insurance

         The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the
request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity or
arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Company would
have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the
provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes, these Articles of Incorporation or
this Section 9.6.

         9.7. Certain Definitions

         For purposes of this Article IX, (a) references to "the Company" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation
(including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
merger that, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors and officers so that any person who is or
was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of such constituent corporation as a director or officer of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this section with
respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with
respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued;
(b) references to "other enterprises" shall include employee benefit plans; (c)
references to "fines" shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with
respect to an employee benefit plan; and (d) references to "serving at the
request of the Company" shall include any service as a director or officer of
the Company that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or
officer with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not
opposed to the best interests of the Company" as referred to in this section.

         9.8. Change in Governing Law

         In the event of any amendment or addition to Section 78.7502 and
Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or the addition of any other
section to such law that limits indemnification rights thereunder, the Company
shall, to the extent permitted by the Nevada Revised Statutes, indemnify to the
fullest extent authorized or permitted hereunder, any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (including an action by or in the right of the Company), by reason
of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is
or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other

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enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding.

                              X. SHAREHOLDER ACTION

         Any action by shareholders must be taken at an annual or special
meeting of shareholders of the Company and may not be taken by written consent
in lieu of a meeting. The Board of Directors may grant to preferred stock the
power to vote by written consent in lieu of a meeting to the extent such power
is specifically designated by the Board of Directors in the relevant powers,
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights for such preferred stock.

                                 XI. AMENDMENTS

         These Articles of Incorporation may be amended in accordance with
Section 78.390 of the Nevada Revised Statutes; provided, however, that any
amendment of Section 7.5 and Article IX herein will require an affirmative vote
of the holders of two-thirds (2/3) of the outstanding shares of voting stock of
the Company at that time entitled to vote thereon.

         XII. ELECTION NOT TO BE GOVERNED BY SECTIONS 78.411 TO 78.444,
                   INCLUSIVE, OF THE NEVADA REVISED STATUTES

         The Company hereby elects not to be governed by, and to otherwise opt
out of, the provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive, of the Nevada
Revised Statutes relating to combinations with interested shareholders.

         EIGHTH: Pursuant to Section 92A.240 of the NRS, August 21, 2001, is
hereby designated as the effective date of the Merger.

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         In witness whereof, the undersigned have executed these Articles of
Merger as of the ___ day of August 2001.

THE "SURVIVING CONSTITUENT ENTITY"

BELCO OIL & GAS CORP.,
         a Nevada corporation

By:
   ------------------------------------
   Grant W. Henderson, President

By:
   ------------------------------------
   Dominick J. Golio, Secretary

THE "MERGING CONSTITUENT ENTITY"

WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION,
         a Delaware corporation

By:
   ------------------------------------
   Barth E. Whitham, President

By:
   ------------------------------------
   Howard L. Boigon, Secretary

                                       7<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.4

                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                         WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION
                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

         The Westport Resources Corporation Stock Incentive Plan (the "PLAN") is
hereby amended, effective August 21, 2001, in the following respects:

         1.       Section 4.1 of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

                  4.1. The Shares subject to Options and Awards that shall be
                  reserved for the purposes of the Plan, shall be from the
                  Company's authorized but unissued Shares or out of Shares held
                  in the Company's treasury, or partly out of each, such number
                  of Shares as shall be determined by the Board. An aggregate of
                  6,232,484 Shares may be issued or transferred pursuant to this
                  Plan.

                  The maximum number of Shares that may be covered by Options
                  and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any one individual in
                  any calendar year shall be 750,000 Shares.

                  The maximum dollar amount of cash or the Fair Market Value of
                  Shares that any Eligible Individual may receive for any single
                  or combined performance goals in any specified Performance
                  Cycle in respect of Performance Units denominated in dollars
                  may not exceed $500,000.

                  No individual may be awarded more than 500,000 Performance
                  Shares in any calendar year.

                  No more than 6,232,484 Shares shall be granted pursuant to
                  Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options.

                  In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Board or
                  Committee shall conclusively determine the appropriate
                  adjustments, if any, to (i) the maximum number of Shares with
                  respect to which Options and Awards may be granted, (ii) the
                  maximum number of Shares or other stock or securities with
                  respect to which Options or Awards may be granted in any
                  calendar year, (iii) the maximum number of Shares which may be
                  granted pursuant to Incentive Stock Options, (iv) the number
                  of Shares, other stock or securities which are subject to
                  outstanding Options or Awards and the Purchase Price therefor,
                  if applicable, and (v) the Performance Objectives.

                  In connection with the grant of an Option or an Award, the
                  number of Shares available for grant under the Plan shall be
                  reduced by the number of Shares in respect of which the Option
                  or Award is granted.

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         2.       In all other respects the Plan shall remain unmodified and in
                  full force and effect.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned officer of the Company has executed
this Amendment to be effective as provided above.

                                  Westport Resources Corporation

                                  By: /s/ Donald D. Wolf
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                  Name:   Donald D. Wolf
                                  Title:  Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>   3
                         WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION

                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

                          (AS ADOPTED OCTOBER 17, 2000)

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                         WESTPORT RESOURCES CORPORATION

                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose.

         The purpose of this Plan is to provide an incentive to the employees,
individuals who have accepted an offer of employment, officers, consultants and
eligible directors of Westport Resources Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and thereby encourage them to devote their abilities and
industry to the success of the Company's business enterprise. It is intended
that this purpose be achieved by extending to employees, individuals who have
accepted an offer of employment, officers, consultants and directors of the
Company and its Subsidiaries an added long-term incentive for high levels of
performance and unusual efforts through the grant of Incentive Stock Options,
Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, and
Performance Awards (as each term is herein defined).

         This Plan merges the Westport Resources Directors' Stock Option Plan
and the Westport Resources Corporation 2000 Stock Option Plan (the "Predecessor
Plans") and amends and restates such plans as the Westport Resources Corporation
2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

2. Definitions.

                  For purposes of the Plan:

         2.1. "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another
Person for purposes of this definition if such Person possesses, directly or
indirectly, the power (i) to vote the securities or other ownership interests
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of a
corporation or other Persons performing similar functions for any other type of
Person, or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract,
as general partner, as trustee or otherwise.

         2.2. "Agreement" means the written agreement between the Company and an
Optionee or Grantee evidencing the grant of an Option or Award and setting forth
the terms and conditions thereof.

         2.3. "Award" means a grant of Restricted Stock, a Stock Appreciation
Right, a Performance Award, or any or all of them.

         2.4. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

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         2.5. "Cause" means:

                           (a) in the case of Options or Awards granted to
                  Eligible Directors, the commission of an act of fraud or
                  intentional misrepresentation or an act of embezzlement,
                  misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of
                  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and

                           (b) in all other cases, (i) ongoing, intentional
                  failure to perform reasonably assigned duties, (ii) dishonesty
                  or willful misconduct in the performance of duties, (iii)
                  involvement in a transaction in connection with the
                  performance of duties to the Company or any of its
                  Subsidiaries which transaction is adverse to the interests of
                  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and which is engaged in
                  for personal profit or (iv) willful violation of any law, rule
                  or regulation in connection with the performance of duties
                  (other than traffic violations or similar offenses); provided,
                  however, that if an Optionee's or Grantee's employment or
                  consulting agreement provides a definition of Cause, such
                  definition shall be used for purposes of the Plan.

         2.6. "Change in Capitalization" means any increase or reduction in the
number of Shares, or any change (including, but not limited to, a change in
value) in the Shares or exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of
shares or other securities of the Company or another corporation, by reason of a
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization,
reincorporation, spin-off, split-up, issuance of warrants or rights or
debentures, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, cash dividend,
property dividend, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares,
change in corporate structure or otherwise.

         2.7. "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any
"person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the
1934 Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Company or the current beneficial owners or their
Affiliates are or become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of more than one-half of the voting power
of the then outstanding voting stock of the Company; or (b) the stockholders of
the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least a majority of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving
entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the
stockholders approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the Company's assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, a Change in
Control will not result upon an initial public offering of

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the Company's stock nor upon Westport Energy LLC or ERI Investments, Inc. or
their respective permitted successors becoming the beneficial owner of more than
one-half of the voting power of the voting stock of the Company at any time.

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

         2.9. "Committee" means the committee, as described in Section 3.1,
appointed by the Board from time to time to administer the Plan and to perform
the functions set forth herein.

         2.10. "Company" means Westport Resources Corporation

         2.11. "Director" means a director of the Company.

         2.12. "Disability" means:

                           (a) in the case of an Optionee or Grantee whose
                  employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is subject to the
                  terms of an employment agreement between such Optionee or
                  Grantee and the Company or Subsidiary, which employment
                  agreement includes a definition of "Disability," the term
                  "Disability" as used in this Plan or any Agreement shall have
                  the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during the
                  period that such employment agreement remains in effect; and

                           (b) in all other cases, the term "Disability" as used
                  in this Plan or any Agreement shall mean a physical or mental
                  infirmity which impairs the Optionee's or Grantee's ability to
                  perform substantially his or her duties for a period of one
                  hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.

         2.13. "Division" means any of the operating units or divisions of the
Company designated as a Division by the Committee.

         2.14. "EBITDA" means earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization.

         2.15. "Eligible Director" means a director of the Company who is not an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

         2.16. "Eligible Individual" means any director (other than an Eligible
Director), officer, employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or individual who
has accepted an offer of employment from the Company or a Subsidiary, or any
consultant of the Company or a Subsidiary, designated by the Committee as
eligible to receive Options or Awards subject to the conditions set forth
herein.

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

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         2.18. "Fair Market Value" on any date means the closing sales price of
the Shares on such date on the principal national securities exchange on which
such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if such Shares are not so
listed or admitted to trading, the average of the per Share closing bid price
and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted on the National
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or such other
market in which such prices are regularly quoted, or, if there have been no
published bid or asked quotations with respect to Shares on such date, the Fair
Market Value shall be the value established by the Board in good faith and, in
the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in accordance with Section 422 of the
Code.

         2.19. "Grantee" means a person to whom an Award has been granted under
the Plan.

         2.20. "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option satisfying the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an
Incentive Stock Option.

         2.21. "Immediate Family Member" shall mean an Optionee or Grantee's
spouse, parents, children, stepchildren, adoptive relationships, sisters,
brothers and grandchildren.

         2.22. "Nonemployee Director" means a director of the Company who is a
"nonemployee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act.

         2.23. "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.

         2.24. "Option" means a right to purchase Stock at a stated price for a
specified period of time.

         2.25. "Optionee" means a person to whom an Option has been granted
under the Plan.

         2.26. "Outside Director" means a director of the Company who is an
"outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         2.27. "Parent" means any corporation that is a parent corporation
(within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

         2.28. "Performance Awards" means Performance Units, Performance Shares
or either of both of them.

         2.29. "Performance Cycle" means the time period specified by the
Committee at the time Performance Awards are granted during which the
performance of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Division will be measured.

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         2.30. "Performance Objectives" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.

         2.31. "Performance Shares" means Shares issued or transferred to an
Eligible Individual under Section 8.

         2.32. "Performance Units" means Performance Units granted to an
Eligible Individual under Section 8.

         2.33. "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, firm,
company, corporation, association, trust or other enterprise or any government
or political subdivision or any agent, department or instrumentality thereof.

         2.34. "Plan" means the Westport Resources Corporation 2000 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended and restated from time to time.

         2.35. "Purchase Price" means the price at which shares of Stock subject
to an Option may be purchased.

         2.36. "Reload Option" means an Option that may be granted when an
Optionee pays all or a portion of the Purchase Price and withholding taxes of an
Option with previously owned Shares.

         2.37. "Restricted Stock" means Shares issued or transferred to an
Eligible Individual or Eligible Director pursuant to Section 7 hereof.

         2.38. "Shares" means the Class A common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company.

         2.39. "Subsidiary" means any corporation that is a subsidiary
corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) with respect to
the Company, including any limited liability company or partnership that is
disregarded for Federal tax purposes or treated as a corporate subsidiary under
the Code.

         2.40. "Ten-Percent Stockholder" means an Eligible Individual, who, at
the time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her, owns (within
the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company, or of a Parent or a Subsidiary.

3. Administration.

         3.1. The authority to control and manage the operation and
administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, which shall hold
meetings at such times as may be necessary for the proper administration of the
Plan. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A quorum shall consist
of a majority of the members of the Committee, and a majority of a quorum may
authorize any action. The foregoing notwithstanding, with

                                       5
<PAGE>   9

respect to Options or Awards that: (i) are intended to qualify as
"performance-based" under Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or (ii) are granted to
individuals who qualify as "insiders" under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (A)
any Committee members who do not qualify as "Outside Directors" and/or
"Nonemployee Directors," as the case may be, shall have no authority to act and
shall automatically be recused from any action with respect to Options or
Awards, and (B) the remaining qualifying directors shall be authorized to act
independently without further approval. No member of the Committee shall be
liable for any action, failure to act, determination or interpretation made in
good faith with respect to this Plan or any transaction hereunder, except for
liability arising from his or her own willful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of his or her duties. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify
each member of the Committee for all costs and expenses and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any liability incurred in connection with defending
against, responding to, negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing
with any claim, cause of action or dispute of any kind arising in connection
with any actions in administering this Plan or in authorizing or denying
authorization to any transaction hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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; provided, however, that if any members of the
Board do not qualify as Outside Directors, only the Committee appointed above
may grant Options or Awards that are intended to be performance-based under
Section 162(m).

         3.2. Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Committee shall have the power from time to time to:

                           (a) determine those Eligible Individuals and Eligible
                  Directors to whom Options shall be granted under the Plan and
                  the number of such Options to be granted and to prescribe the
                  terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of each
                  such Option, including the Purchase Price per Share subject to
                  each Option, and make any amendment or modification to any
                  Option Agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan;

                           (b) select those Eligible Individuals and Eligible
                  Directors to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and
                  determine the number of Shares to be granted pursuant thereto,
                  determine the terms and conditions of each Award including the
                  restrictions or Performance Objectives relating to Shares, and
                  to make any amendment or modification to any Agreement
                  consistent with the terms of the Plan;

                           (c) construe and interpret the Plan, Options and
                  Awards granted hereunder and to establish, amend and revoke
                  rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan,
                  including, but not limited to, correcting any defect or
                  supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in
                  the Plan or in any Agreement, in the manner and to the extent
                  it shall deem necessary or advisable so that the Plan complies
                  with applicable law including Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
                  Act and the Code to the extent applicable, and otherwise to
                  make the

                                       6
<PAGE>   10

                  Plan fully effective. All decisions and determinations by the
                  Committee in good faith in the exercise of this power shall be
                  final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, its
                  Subsidiaries, the Optionees and Grantees, and all other
                  persons having any interest therein;

                           (d) determine the duration and purposes for leaves of
                  absence which may be granted to an Optionee or Grantee on an
                  individual basis without constituting a termination of
                  employment or service for purposes of the Plan;

                           (e) exercise its discretion with respect to the
                  powers and rights granted to it as set forth in the Plan;

                           (f) except to the extent prohibited by applicable law
                  or the applicable rules of a stock exchange, the Committee may
                  allocate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to
                  any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any
                  part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or
                  persons selected by it, which allocation or delegation may be
                  revoked by the Committee at any time; and

                           (g) generally, to exercise such powers and to perform
                  such acts as are deemed necessary or advisable to promote the
                  best interests of the Company with respect to the Plan.

4. Stock Subject to the Plan.

         4.1. The Shares subject to Options and Awards that shall be reserved
for the purposes of the Plan, shall be from the Company's authorized but
unissued Shares or out of Shares held in the Company's treasury, or partly out
of each, such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Board. An aggregate
of 4,110,813 Shares may be issued or transferred pursuant to this Plan.

                  The maximum number of Shares that may be covered by Options
and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any one individual in any calendar year
shall be 750,000 Shares.

                  The maximum dollar amount of cash or the Fair Market Value of
Shares that any Eligible Individual may receive for any single or combined
performance goals in any specified Performance Cycle in respect of Performance
Units denominated in dollars may not exceed $500,000.

                  No individual may be awarded more than 500,000 Performance
Shares in any calendar year.

                  No more than 4,110,813 Shares shall be granted pursuant to
Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options.

                                       7
<PAGE>   11

                  In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Board or
Committee shall conclusively determine the appropriate adjustments, if any, to
(i) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and Awards may be
granted, (ii) the maximum number of Shares or other stock or securities with
respect to which Options or Awards may be granted in any calendar year, (iii)
the maximum number of Shares which may be granted pursuant to Incentive Stock
Options, (iv) the number of Shares, other stock or securities which are subject
to outstanding Options or Awards and the Purchase Price therefor, if applicable,
and (v) the Performance Objectives.

                  In connection with the grant of an Option or an Award, the
number of Shares available for grant under the Plan shall be reduced by the
number of Shares in respect of which the Option or Award is granted.

         4.2. Whenever any outstanding Option or Award or portion thereof
expires, is canceled or is otherwise terminated for any reason without having
been exercised or without payment having been made in respect of the entire
Option or Award, the Shares allocable to the expired, canceled or otherwise
terminated portion of the Option or Award may again be the subject of Options or
Awards granted hereunder.

         4.3. Whenever any portion of an Option under this Plan is paid for with
previously held Shares (by either actual delivery or attestation), only the
difference between (i) the number of Shares issued upon exercise and (ii) the
number of Shares transferred in payment of the Purchase Price shall be counted
for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for grant
under the Plan.

5. Option Grants.

         5.1. Authority of Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee, or the persons to whom authority has been delegated under Paragraph
(f) of Section 3.2 hereof, shall have full and final authority to select those
Eligible Individuals and Eligible Directors who will receive Options, and the
terms and conditions that shall be set forth in the applicable Agreements. Some
terms and conditions that may, but are not required to be included are: a
provision allowing the issuance of a Reload Option and a provision providing
acceleration of exercisability under certain conditions as may be determined by
the Committee. Other terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan may be
included in Agreements in the discretion of the Committee.

         5.2. Purchase Price. The Purchase Price or the manner in which the
Purchase Price is to be determined for Shares under each Option shall be
determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement; provided, however,
that the Purchase Price per Share under each Option shall not be less than 100%
of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted and the
Purchase Price per Share under each Incentive Stock Option granted to a
Ten-Percent Stockholder shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of
a Share on the date of grant. Except as provided in Section 11, the Purchase
Price of any outstanding Option may not be reduced whether through amendment,
cancellation or replacement unless such reduction is approved by the
shareholders of the Company.

                                       8
<PAGE>   12

         5.3. Maximum Duration. Options granted hereunder shall be for such term
as the Committee shall determine, provided that an Incentive Stock Option shall
not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is
granted (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a
Ten-Percent Stockholder) and a Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be
exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted.
The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Option, extend the term
thereof, but in no event shall the term as so extended exceed the maximum term
provided for in the preceding sentence.

         5.4. Vesting. Each Option shall become exercisable in such installments
(which need not be equal) and at such times as may be designated by the
Committee and set forth in the Agreement. To the extent not exercised,
installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any
time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Option expires.
The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Option or portion thereof
at any time.

         5.5. Modification. No modification of an Option shall adversely alter
or impair any rights or obligations under the Option without the Optionee's
consent.

         5.6. Transferability. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be
transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall
be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may, by delivering written notice to
the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who,
in the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to
exercise the Incentive Stock Option. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable
Agreement evidencing an Option, a Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be
transferable for no consideration to or for the benefit of the Optionee's
Immediate Family (including, without limitation, to a trust for the benefit of
the Optionee's Immediate Family or to a partnership or limited liability company
for one or more members of the Optionee's Immediate Family), subject to such
limits as the Committee may establish, and the transferee shall remain subject
to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer.
The foregoing right to transfer an Option shall apply to the right to consent to
amendments to the Agreement evidencing such Option and, in the discretion of the
Committee, shall also apply to the right to transfer ancillary rights associated
with the Option. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for
transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may, by delivering written notice to
the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who,
in the event of the death or incapacity of the Optionee, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Nonqualified Stock Option.

         5.7. Method of Exercise. The exercise of an Option shall be made only
by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the
Company at the Company's principal executive office or to such other office as
may be specified in the Agreement

                                       9
<PAGE>   13

evidencing the Option, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and
accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Agreement
pursuant to which the Option was granted. The Purchase Price for any Shares
acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by
applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash or check at the time the
Option is exercised or (ii) at the discretion of the Committee at the time of
the grant of the Option (or subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock
Option) (1) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a
deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Participant or (3) in any
other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee,
including, without limitation, a "cashless" exercise program established with a
broker following the Initial Public Offering. Unless otherwise specifically
provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock
acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares
of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six (6)
months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to
earnings for financial accounting purposes). Any Shares transferred to the
Company (or withheld upon exercise) as payment of the Purchase Price under an
Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of
such Option. The value of the number of Shares that may be withheld for the
payment of taxes may not be in excess of the minimum withholding requirements.
At the Company's request, the Optionee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing
the Option to the Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation
of such exercise and return such Agreement to the Optionee. No fractional Shares
(or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the
number of Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded to the
nearest number of whole Shares. The Committee, in its discretion, may also
permit simultaneous sale of Shares upon exercise through a broker-dealer.

         5.8. Rights of Optionees. Optionee shall not be deemed for any purpose
to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (i) the
Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) the Company
shall have issued and delivered Shares to the Optionee, and (iii) the Optionee's
name shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books of the
Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other
ownership rights with respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Agreement.

         5.9. Effect of Change in Control. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion, following a Change in Control, outstanding
Options shall be assumed, or equivalent Options shall be substituted, by the
acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided that any
such Options substituted for Incentive Stock Options shall satisfy the
requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. However, the Committee may provide
that each Option shall be terminated upon consummation of such Change in Control
and that each Optionee shall receive, in exchange therefor, a cash payment equal
to the amount (if any) by which (A) the acquisition price per Share multiplied
by the number of Shares that have vested and have not been exercised under the
Option exceeds (B) the aggregate Purchase Price for the vested and unexercised

                                       10
<PAGE>   14

Shares covered by the Option on the date of the Change in Control. The
applicable Agreement may also contain additional terms governing a Change in
Control and may be modified by the Committee to provide for acceleration of
vesting in connection with a Change in Control.

         5.10. Effect of Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in
the applicable Agreement, each Option granted hereunder shall (i) cease to vest
upon the date of termination of employment and (ii) remain exercisable to the
extent vested until the earlier of the Option expiration date or the date that
is three months after the date of termination of employment; provided, however,
that if employment termination is due to the Optionee's death or Disability, the
Option shall remain exercisable to the extent vested until the earlier of the
Option expiration date or the date that is one year after the date of
termination of employment.

         5.11. Forfeiture of Options. Upon termination of an Optionee's
employment for Cause, or in the event that the Optionee shall breach any
confidentiality or noncompetition agreement with the Company during or after the
termination of his or her employment with the Company, all outstanding Options
held by such Optionee shall be forfeited, whether vested or unvested.

6. Stock Appreciation Rights.

         6.1. Committee Discretion. The Committee may in its discretion, either
alone or in connection with the grant of an Option, grant Stock Appreciation
Rights in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be
set forth in an Agreement. If granted in connection with an Option, a Stock
Appreciation Right shall cover the same Shares covered by the Option (or such
lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and shall, except as
provided in this Section 6, be subject to the same terms and conditions as the
related Option.

         6.2. Time of Grant. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (i) at
any time if unrelated to an Option, or (ii) if related to an Option, either at
the time of grant, or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option.

         6.3. Stock Appreciation Right Related to an Option.

                           (a) Exercise. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in
                  connection with an Option shall be exercisable at such time or
                  times and only to the extent that the related Options are
                  exercisable, and will not be transferable except to the extent
                  the related Option may be transferable. A Stock Appreciation
                  Right granted in connection with an Incentive Stock Option
                  shall be exercisable only if the Fair Market Value of a Share
                  on the date of exercise exceeds the purchase price specified
                  in the related Incentive Stock Option Agreement.

                           (b) Amount Payable. Upon the exercise of a Stock
                  Appreciation Right related to an Option, the Grantee shall be
                  entitled to receive an amount

                                       11
<PAGE>   15

                  determined by multiplying (A) the excess of the Fair Market
                  Value of a Share on the date preceding the date of exercise of
                  such Stock Appreciation Right over the per Share purchase
                  price under the related Option, by (B) the number of Shares as
                  to which such Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised.
                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit in any
                  manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock
                  Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Agreement
                  evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is
                  granted.

                           (c) Treatment of Related Options and Stock
                  Appreciation Rights Upon Exercise. Upon the exercise of a
                  Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option,
                  the Option shall be canceled to the extent of the number of
                  Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised,
                  and upon the exercise of an Option granted in connection with
                  a Stock Appreciation Right, the Stock Appreciation Right shall
                  be canceled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which
                  the Option is exercised or surrendered.

         6.4. Stock Appreciation Right Unrelated to an Option. The Committee may
grant to Eligible Individuals and Eligible Directors Stock Appreciation Rights
unrelated to Options. Stock Appreciation Rights unrelated to Options shall
contain such terms and conditions as to exercisability (subject to Section 6.7),
vesting and duration as the Committee shall determine, but in no event shall
they have a term of greater than ten (10) years. Upon exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right unrelated to an Option, the Grantee shall be entitled to
receive an amount determined by multiplying (A) the excess of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date preceding the date of exercise of such Stock
Appreciation Right over the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock
Appreciation Right was granted, by (B) number of Shares as to which the Stock
Appreciation Right is being exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee may limit in any manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock
Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Agreement evidencing the
Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is granted.

         6.5. Method of Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised
by a Grantee only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the
Secretary of the Company at the Company's principal executive office, specifying
the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being
exercised. If requested by the Committee, the Grantee shall deliver the
Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised and the
Agreement evidencing any related Option to the Secretary of the Company who
shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Agreement to
the Grantee.

         6.6. Form of Payment. Payment to the Grantee of the amount determined
under Sections 6.3(b) or 6.4 may be made in the discretion of the Committee
solely in whole Shares in a number determined at their Fair Market Value on the
date preceding the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, or solely
in cash, or in a combination of cash and Shares. If the Committee decides to
make full payment in Shares and the amount payable results in a fractional
Share, payment for the fractional Share will be made in cash.

                                       12
<PAGE>   16

         6.7. Modification or Substitution. Subject to the terms of the Plan,
the Committee may modify outstanding Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights or
accept the surrender of outstanding Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights (to the
extent not exercised) and grant new Awards in substitution for them.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an Award shall adversely alter
or impair any rights or obligations under the Agreement without the Grantee's
consent.

         6.8. Effect of Change in Control. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion, following a Change in Control, outstanding
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be assumed, or equivalent Stock Appreciation
Rights shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an
affiliate thereof). However, the Committee may provide that each outstanding
Award of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be terminated upon consummation of such
Change in Control and that each Grantee shall receive, in exchange therefor, a
cash payment equal to the amount (if any) by which (A) the acquisition price per
Share multiplied by the number of Shares that have vested and have not been
exercised under the Award, exceeds (B) the Fair Market Value (measured on the
date the Award was granted) of the vested and unexercised Shares on the date of
the Change in Control. The applicable Agreement may also contain additional
terms governing a Change in Control and may be modified by the Committee to
provide for acceleration of vesting in connection with a Change in Control.

         6.9. Effect of Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in
the applicable Agreement, Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder shall (i)
cease to vest upon the date of termination of employment and (ii) remain
exercisable to the extent vested until the earlier of their expiration date or
the date that is three months after the date of termination of employment;
provided, however, that if employment termination is due to the Grantee's death
or Disability, the Stock Appreciation Rights shall remain exercisable to the
extent vested until the earlier of their expiration date or the date that is one
year after the date of termination of employment.

         6.10. Forfeiture of Stock Appreciation Rights. Upon termination of a
Grantee's employment for Cause, or in the event that the Employee shall breach
any confidentiality or noncompetition agreement with the Company during or after
the termination of his or her employment with the Company, all outstanding
Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights held by such Grantee shall be forfeited,
whether vested or unvested.

7. Restricted Stock.

         7.1. Grant. The Committee may grant Awards to Eligible Individuals and
Eligible Directors, which shall be evidenced by an Agreement between the Company
and the Grantee. Each Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and
conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine and (without
limiting the generality of the foregoing) such Agreements may require that an
appropriate legend be placed on Share

                                       13
<PAGE>   17

certificates. Awards shall be subject to the terms and provisions set forth
below in this Section 7.

         7.2. Rights of Grantee. Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant
hereunder shall be recorded in the name of the Grantee as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Award is granted provided that the Grantee has executed an
Agreement evidencing the Award and any other documents which the Committee may
require as a condition to the issuance of such Shares. If a Grantee shall fail
to execute the Agreement evidencing an Award or any other documents which the
Committee may require within the time period prescribed by the Committee at the
time the Award is granted, the Award shall be null and void. Unless the
Committee determines otherwise and as set forth in the Agreement, the Grantee
shall have no rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including no
right to vote the Shares or receive dividends or other distributions with
respect to the Shares, until the restrictions with respect to such Shares shall
have lapsed in the manner set forth in Section 7.4.

         7.3. Non-transferability. Until all restrictions upon the Shares of
Restricted Stock awarded to a Grantee shall have lapsed in the manner set forth
in Section 7.4, such Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed
of and shall not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated, nor shall they be
delivered to the Grantee.

         7.4. Lapse of Restrictions. Restrictions upon Shares of Restricted
Stock awarded hereunder shall lapse at such time or times and on such terms and
conditions as the Committee may determine. The Agreement evidencing the Award
shall set forth any such restrictions. The Board may accelerate the lapse of all
or a portion of the restrictions on an Award at any time.

         7.5. Delivery of Shares. Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Shares
of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate to be
delivered to the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions
hereunder.

         7.6. Effect of a Change in Control. In the event of a Change in
Control, all outstanding Awards of Restricted Stock shall be treated in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Agreements; provided however, that
these may be modified by the Committee to provide for acceleration of lapse of
restrictions in connection with a Change in Control.

8. Performance Awards.

         8.1. Performance Objectives and Determination of Performance.
Performance Objectives for Performance Awards may be expressed in terms of (i)
earnings per Share, (ii) Share price, (iii) pre-tax profits, (iv) net earnings,
(v) return on equity or assets, (vi) revenues, (vii) EBITDA, (viii) market share
or market penetration or (ix) any combination of the foregoing. Performance
Objectives may be in respect of the performance of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (which may be on a consolidated basis), a Subsidiary or a Division.
Performance Objectives may be absolute or relative

                                       14
<PAGE>   18

and may be expressed in terms of a progression within a specified range. The
Performance Objectives with respect to a Performance Cycle shall be established
in writing by the Committee by the earlier of (i) the date on which a quarter of
the Performance Cycle has elapsed or (ii) the date which is ninety (90) days
after the commencement of the Performance Cycle, and in any event while the
performance relating to the Performance Objectives remain substantially
uncertain. At the time of the granting of a Performance Award and to the extent
permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, the
Committee may provide for the manner in which the Performance Objectives will be
measured to reflect the impact of specified corporate transactions,
extraordinary events, accounting changes and other similar events. Prior to the
vesting, payment, settlement or lapsing of any restrictions with respect to any
Performance Award made to a Grantee who is subject to Section 162(m) of the
Code, the Committee shall certify in writing that the applicable Performance
Objectives have been satisfied.

         8.2. Performance Units. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant
Awards of Performance Units to Eligible Individuals, the terms and conditions of
which shall be set forth in an Agreement between the Company and the Grantee.
Performance Units may be denominated in Shares or a specified dollar amount and,
contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Objectives within the
Performance Cycle, represent the right to receive payment as provided in Section
8.2(b) of (i) in the case of Share-denominated Performance Units, the Fair
Market Value of a Share on the date the Performance Unit was granted, the date
the Performance Unit became vested or any other date specified by the Committee,
(ii) in the case of dollar-denominated Performance Units, the specified dollar
amount or (iii) a percentage (which may be more than 100%) of the amount
described in clause (i) or (ii) depending on the level of Performance Objective
attainment; provided, however, that, the Committee may at the time a Performance
Unit is granted specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested
Performance Unit. Each Agreement shall specify the number of Performance Units
to which it relates, the Performance Objectives which must be satisfied in order
for the Performance Units to vest and the Performance Cycle within which such
Performance Objectives must be satisfied.

                           (a) Vesting and Forfeiture. Subject to Sections 8.1
                  and 8.4, a Grantee shall become vested with respect to the
                  Performance Units to the extent that the Performance
                  Objectives set forth in the Agreement are satisfied for the
                  Performance Cycle.

                           (b) Payment of Awards. Subject to Section 8.1,
                  payment to Grantees in respect of vested Performance Units
                  shall be made as soon as practicable after the last day of the
                  Performance Cycle to which such Award relates unless the
                  Agreement evidencing the Award provides for the deferral of
                  payment, in which event the terms and conditions of the
                  deferral shall be set forth in the Agreement. Subject to
                  Section 8.4, such payments may be made entirely in Shares
                  valued at their Fair Market Value as of the day preceding the
                  date of payment or such other date specified by the Committee,
                  entirely in cash, or in such combination

                                       15
<PAGE>   19

                  of Shares and cash as the Committee in its discretion shall
                  determine at any time prior to such payment; provided,
                  however, that if the Committee in its discretion determines to
                  make such payment entirely or partially in Shares of
                  Restricted Stock, the Committee must determine the extent to
                  which such payment will be in Shares of Restricted Stock and
                  the terms of such Restricted Stock at the time the Award is
                  granted.

         8.3. Performance Shares. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant
Awards of Performance Shares to Eligible Individuals, the terms and conditions
of which shall be set forth in an Agreement between the Company and the Grantee.
Each Agreement may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share
certificates. Awards of Performance Shares shall be subject to the following
terms and provisions:

                           (a) Rights of Grantee. The Committee shall provide at
                  the time an Award of Performance Shares is made the time or
                  times at which the actual Shares represented by such Award
                  shall be issued in the name of the Grantee; provided, however,
                  that no Performance Shares shall be issued until the Grantee
                  has executed an Agreement evidencing the Award, the
                  appropriate blank stock powers and, in the discretion of the
                  Committee, an escrow agreement and any other documents which
                  the Committee may require as a condition to the issuance of
                  such Performance Shares. If a Grantee shall fail to execute
                  the Agreement evidencing an Award of Performance Shares, the
                  appropriate blank stock powers and, in the discretion of the
                  Committee, an escrow agreement and any other documents which
                  the Committee may require within the time period prescribed by
                  the Committee at the time the Award is granted, the Award
                  shall be null and void. At the discretion of the Committee,
                  Shares issued in connection with an Award of Performance
                  Shares shall be deposited together with the stock powers with
                  an escrow agent (which may be the Company) designated by the
                  Committee. Except as restricted by the terms of the Agreement,
                  upon delivery of the Shares to the escrow agent, the Grantee
                  shall have, in the discretion of the Committee, all of the
                  rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, including
                  the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or
                  other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

                           (b) Non-transferability. Until any restrictions upon
                  the Performance Shares awarded to a Grantee shall have lapsed
                  in the manner set forth in Sections 8.3(c) or 8.4, such
                  Performance Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise
                  disposed of and shall not be pledged or otherwise
                  hypothecated, nor shall they be delivered to the Grantee. The
                  Committee may also impose such other restrictions and
                  conditions on the Performance Shares, if any, as it deems
                  appropriate.

                           (c) Lapse of Restrictions. Subject to Sections 8.1
                  and 8.4, restrictions upon Performance Shares awarded
                  hereunder shall lapse and such Performance Shares shall become
                  vested at such time or times and on such terms, conditions

                                       16
<PAGE>   20

                  and satisfaction of Performance Objectives as the Committee
                  may, in its discretion, determine at the time an Award is
                  granted.

                           (d) Treatment of Dividends. At the time the Award of
                  Performance Shares is granted, the Committee may, in its
                  discretion, determine that the payment to the Grantee of
                  dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on
                  actual Shares represented by such Award which have been issued
                  by the Company to the Grantee shall be (i) deferred until the
                  lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Performance
                  Shares and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the
                  Grantee until such time. In the event that dividends are to be
                  deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends
                  are to be reinvested in shares of Stock (which shall be held
                  as additional Performance Shares) or held in cash. If deferred
                  dividends are to be held in cash, there may be credited at the
                  end of each year (or portion thereof) interest on the amount
                  of the account at the beginning of the year at a rate per
                  annum as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine.
                  Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Performance Shares
                  (whether held in cash or in additional Performance Shares),
                  together with interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be made
                  upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Performance
                  Shares in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid,
                  and any dividends deferred (together with any interest accrued
                  thereon) in respect of any Performance Shares shall be
                  forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Performance Shares.

                           (e) Delivery of Shares. Upon the lapse of the
                  restrictions on Performance Shares awarded hereunder, the
                  Committee shall cause a stock certificate to be delivered to
                  the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of all
                  restrictions hereunder.

         8.4. Effect of Change in Control. The Agreements evidencing Performance
Shares and Performance Units shall provide for the treatment of such Awards (or
portions thereof) in the event of a Change in Control, including, but not
limited to, provisions for the adjustment of applicable Performance Objectives.

9. Shares.

                  The Committee may award unrestricted Shares to Eligible
Individuals and Eligible Directors at or below Fair Market Value in its
discretion pursuant to Agreements the terms and conditions of which shall be
determined by the Committee.

10. Effect of a Termination of Employment.

                  The Agreement evidencing the grant of each Option and each
Award shall set forth the terms and conditions applicable to such Option or
Award upon a termination or change in the status of the employment of the
Optionee or Grantee by the Company, a Subsidiary or a Division which shall be as
the Committee may, in its discretion, determine at the time the Option or Award
is granted or thereafter.

                                       17
<PAGE>   21

11. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.

         11.1. Adjustments to Incentive Stock Options. Any adjustment that may
be made pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof in the Shares or other stock or
securities subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options upon a Change in
Capitalization, (including any adjustments in the Purchase Price) shall be made
in such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section
424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 422
and 424 of the Code.

         11.2. Terms of Adjusted Options and Awards. If, by reason of a Change
in Capitalization, a Grantee of an Award shall be entitled to, or an Optionee
shall be entitled to exercise an Option with respect to, new, additional or
different shares of stock or securities, such new, additional or different
shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and
performance criteria which were applicable to the Shares subject to the Award or
Option, as the case may be, prior to such Change in Capitalization.

12. Reorganization or Liquidation.

                  In the event that the Company is merged or consolidated with
another corporation, or if all or substantially all of the assets or more than
50% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company is acquired by any other
corporation, business entity or person, or in case of a reorganization (other
than a reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code) or liquidation of
the Company, the Compensation Committee, or the board of directors of any
corporation assuming the obligations of the Company, shall, have the power and
discretion to prescribe the terms and conditions for the exercise of, or
modification of, any outstanding Awards granted hereunder. By way of
illustration, and not by way of limitation, the Compensation Committee may
provide for the complete or partial acceleration of the dates of exercise of the
Options, or may provide that such Options will be exchanged or converted into
options to acquire securities of the surviving or acquiring corporation, or may
provide for a payment or distribution in respect of outstanding Options (or the
portion thereof that is currently exercisable) in cancellation thereof. The
Compensation Committee may modify the performance requirements for any other
Awards. The Compensation Committee may provide that Awards granted hereunder
must be exercised in connection with the closing of such transaction, and that
if not so exercised such Awards will expire. Any such determinations by the
Compensation Committee may be made generally with respect to all Participants,
or may be made on a case-by-case basis with respect to particular Participants.
The provisions of this Section 12 shall not apply to any transaction undertaken
for the purpose of reincorporating the Company under the laws of another
jurisdiction, if such transaction does not materially affect the beneficial
ownership of the Company's capital stock.

                                       18
<PAGE>   22

13. Interpretation.

         13.1. Rule 16b-3. The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act, and the Committee shall interpret and
administer the provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent
therewith. Any provisions inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and
shall not affect the validity of the Plan.

         13.2. Section 162(m). Unless otherwise expressly stated in the relevant
Agreement, each Option and Award subject to Performance Objectives granted to an
Eligible Individual who may be a "covered employee" under Section 162(m) of the
Code is intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. The Committee shall not be entitled to
exercise any discretion otherwise authorized hereunder with respect to any such
Options or Awards if the ability to exercise such discretion or the exercise of
such discretion itself would cause the compensation attributable to such Options
or Awards to fail to qualify as performance-based compensation.

14. Termination and Amendment of the Plan.

                  The Plan shall terminate on March 30, 2010 and no Option or
Award may be granted thereafter. The Board may sooner terminate the Plan and the
Board may at any time and from time to time amend, modify or suspend the Plan;
provided, however, that: (a) no such amendment, modification, suspension or
termination shall impair or adversely alter any Options or Awards theretofore
granted under the Plan, except with the consent of the Optionee or Grantee, nor
shall any amendment, modification, suspension or termination deprive any
Optionee or Grantee of any Shares which he or she may have acquired through or
as a result of the Plan; and (b) to the extent necessary under applicable law,
no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the
Company in accordance with applicable law.

15. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan.

                  The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed
as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive
arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt
such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and
such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

16. Limitation of Liability.

                  As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the
Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be
construed to:

                                       19
<PAGE>   23

                           (i) give any person any right to be granted an Option
                  or Award other than at the sole discretion of the Committee;

                           (ii) give any person any rights whatsoever with
                  respect to Shares except as specifically provided in the Plan;

                           (iii) limit in any way the right of the Company or
                  any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person at
                  any time; or

                           (iv) be evidence of any agreement or understanding,
                  expressed or implied, that the Company will employ any person
                  at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular
                  period of time.

17. Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.

         17.1. Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and the rights of
all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of
laws principles thereof.

         17.2. The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with
respect to Options and Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and
state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

         17.3. The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or
appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government
authority, or to obtain for Eligible Individuals granted Incentive Stock Options
the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations
promulgated thereunder.

         17.4. Each Option and Award is subject to the requirement that, if at
any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing,
registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is
required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the
consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or
desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Option or
Award or the issuance of Shares, no Options or Awards shall be granted or
payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained
free of any conditions as acceptable to the Committee.

         17.5. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or any Agreement
to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant
to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and is not otherwise
exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer
to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations
thereunder. The Committee may require any individual

                                       20
<PAGE>   24

receiving Shares pursuant to an Option or Award granted under the Plan, as a
condition precedent to receipt of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the
Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired
without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred
other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under said Act or
pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such
Shares shall be appropriately amended to reflect their status as restricted
securities as aforesaid.

18. Miscellaneous.

         18.1. Multiple Agreements. The terms of each Option or Award may differ
from other Options or Awards granted under the Plan at the same time, or at some
other time. Subject to compliance with Section 5.2 hereof, the Committee may
also grant more than one Option or Award to a given Eligible Individual or
Eligible Director during the term of the Plan, either in addition to, or in
substitution for, one or more Options or Awards previously granted to that
Eligible Individual or Eligible Director.

         18.2. Withholding of Taxes.

                           (a) At such times as an Optionee or Grantee
                  recognizes taxable income in connection with the receipt of
                  Shares or cash hereunder (a "Taxable Event"), the Optionee or
                  Grantee shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the
                  federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts as may
                  be required by law to be withheld by the Company in connection
                  with the Taxable Event (the "Withholding Taxes") prior to the
                  issuance of such Shares or the payment of such cash. The
                  Company shall have the right to deduct from any payment of
                  cash to an Optionee or Grantee an amount equal to the
                  Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the obligation to pay
                  Withholding Taxes. In satisfaction of the obligation to pay
                  Withholding Taxes to the Company, the Optionee or Grantee may
                  make a written election (the "Tax Election"), which may be
                  accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Committee, to
                  have withheld a portion of the Shares then issuable to him or
                  her having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the
                  Withholding Taxes.

                           (b) If an Optionee makes a disposition, within the
                  meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations
                  promulgated thereunder, of any Share or Shares issued to such
                  Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option
                  within the two-year period commencing on the day after the
                  date of the grant or within the one-year period commencing on
                  the day after the date of transfer of such Share or Shares to
                  the Optionee pursuant to such exercise, the Optionee shall,
                  within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company
                  thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its
                  principal executive office.

                                       21
<PAGE>   25

         18.3. Effective Date. The effective date of this amended and restated
Plan (the "Effective Date") shall be October 17, 2000 (the date of approval of
the Plan by the Board) subject only to the approval by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the securities of the Company present, or
represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders duly held in
accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware within twelve (12)
months of the adoption of the Plan by the Board.

                                       22

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