Document:

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Exhibit 10.38

                      INSTITUTIONAL STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT

         THIS INSTITUTIONAL STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as
of January 20, 2000, among MJD Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), each of the stockholders listed on Exhibit A (collectively, the
"INSTITUTIONAL STOCKHOLDERS"; individually, an "INSTITUTIONAL STOCKHOLDER"),
Kelso Investment Associates V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("KIA V"),
Kelso Equity Partners V, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("KEP V"; together
with KIA V, "KELSO"),Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund IV, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership ("THL FUND IV") and THL Equity Advisors IV, LLC, a Massachusetts
limited liability company, in its capacity as representative of the THL Related
Parties (as such term is defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement (the "STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), dated as of January 4, 2000, among the Company, Kelso, THL
Fund IV and the other parties thereto). For the purposes of this Agreement,
"CLASS C COMMON STOCK" shall mean the Class C Common Stock of the Company, par
value $.01 per share.

         The parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. TRANSFER OF CLASS C COMMON STOCK. (a) Prior to the closing of a
registration that covers (together with any prior effective registrations) (I)
shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01, of the Company ( "CLASS A COMMON
STOCK") which are sold for an aggregate price of at least $150 million or (II)
shares of Class A Common Stock that, after the closing of such registration,
will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or
the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (an
"IPO"), no Institutional Stockholder may, directly or indirectly, sell, assign,
mortgage, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or transfer
(collectively, "TRANSFER") any shares of Class C Common Stock or any interest
therein, except for (X) Transfers which, prior thereto, the Board of Directors
of the Company (the "BOARD") shall have consented to in writing, (Y) Transfers
pursuant to the following paragraphs (b) and (c), or (Z) Transfers to an
Affiliate which is not a telecom company and which does not directly or
indirectly own a telecom company, PROVIDED that if such Affiliate ceases to be
such an Affiliate, then the transferred shares of Class C Common Stock must be
transferred back to the original Institutional Stockholder. For the purposes of
this Agreement, "AFFILIATE" shall mean, with respect to any individual,
corporation, partnership, trust or other entity or organization (each, a
"PERSON"), any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with such Person.

         (b) In the event that either (I) (A) Kelso, or THL Fund IV, together
with the THL Related Parties (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement)
("THL"), owns

<PAGE>

at least 10% of the shares of the Company's capital stock owned by it as of the
Closing Date (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) (the "10% CONDITION"),
and (B) whichever of Kelso or THL, or both, who satisfy the 10% Condition (such
parties being the "SELLING SHAREHOLDERS"), intend to sell any shares of Class A
Common Stock (including all shares of capital stock convertible into Class A
Common Stock, whether or not then convertible) to one or more third parties who
are not Affiliates, or (II) in the event that the Board has approved the sale of
the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all
of its assets, recapitalization or otherwise, each Institutional Stockholder,
upon the request of the Selling Stockholders, will consent to and raise no
objections against such transaction (and shall waive any rights of appraisal)
and shall fully cooperate with and take all necessary and desirable actions in
connection with the consummation of such transaction, including, without
limitation, executing a purchase agreement in the form approved by the Selling
Stockholders. If the transaction involves a sale of stock, each Institutional
Stockholder shall agree to sell that number of shares equal to the product of
(A) the aggregate number of shares of Class C Common Stock then held by such
Institutional Stockholder times (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock (including all shares of
capital stock convertible into Class A Common Stock, whether or not then
convertible) being sold by the Selling Stockholders in such sale and the
denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock
(including all shares of capital stock convertible into Class A Common Stock,
whether or not then convertible) then held by all Selling Stockholders. Such
sale shall be for a purchase price per share and on other terms and conditions
not less favorable to each Institutional Stockholder than those applicable to
the Selling Stockholders; PROVIDED, however, that the form of consideration to
be received by the Selling Stockholders may be different from that received by
the Institutional Stockholders so long as the value of the consideration to be
received by the Selling Stockholders is the same or less than that to be
received by the Institutional Stockholders (as reasonably determined by the
Board in good faith, excluding members of the Board who are designees of the
Selling Stockholders).

         (c) In the event that either Kelso or THL, or both, satisfies the 10%
Condition, and if the Selling Stockholders do not exercise their rights under
Section 1(b) before 20 days prior to any proposed Transfer (including by merger,
consolidation or otherwise) of Class A Common Stock (including all shares of
capital stock convertible into Class A Common Stock, whether or not then
convertible) by the Selling Stockholders to one or more parties who are not
Affiliates of the Selling Stockholders and not including a Transfer pursuant to
a registered offering or Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
then such Selling Stockholders shall deliver to the Institutional Stockholders a
written notice (the "SALE NOTICE") specifying in reasonable detail the identity
of the proposed transferee(s) and the terms and conditions of the proposed
Transfer. Any Institutional Stockholder may elect to

                                       2
<PAGE>

participate in the proposed Transfer by delivering to the Selling Stockholders a
written notice of such election within the 10 business day period following
delivery of the Sale Notice. If one or more Institutional Stockholders elect to
participate in such Transfer (the "PARTICIPATING STOCKHOLDERS"), the number of
shares of Class C Common Stock that each Institutional Stockholder will be
permitted to sell in such proposed Transfer will be the product of (I) the
number of shares of Class C Common Stock then held by the Institutional
Stockholder and (II) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Class A Common Stock (including all shares of capital stock
convertible into Class A Common Stock, whether or not then convertible) which
the Selling Stockholders propose to sell in the proposed Transfer and the
denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
(including all shares of capital stock convertible into Class A Common Stock,
whether or not then convertible) then held by the Selling Stockholders. The
Participating Stockholders shall pay a pro rata portion of the transaction
expenses associated with such Transfer.

         (d) The Institutional Stockholder agrees that, in the event that the
Company files a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to
a public offering of any shares of its capital stock, the Institutional
Stockholder will not effect any public sale or distribution of any shares of the
Class A Common Stock (other than part of such public offering) including, but
not limited to, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, during the 20
days prior to and the 180 days after the effective date of such registration
statement and the Institutional Stockholder agrees to execute a customary
hold-back agreement with the underwriters for any such public offering. In
addition, upon the completion of a public offering which is an IPO, the
Institutional Stockholder agrees that it shall become a party (as an Other
Investor) to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof,
among the Company, Kelso, THL and the other parties thereto, and that it shall
be bound by all of the obligations of an Other Investor thereunder, including
without limitation, Section 5 thereof, and such Institutional Stockholder
acknowledges that it shall have (A) piggyback registration rights under Sections
1.5 and 2 thereof, and (B) the right to Transfer its shares of Class A Common
Stock pursuant to Section 12.1 thereof, but only to the extent that after any
Transfer pursuant to clause (B), such Institutional Stockholder will continue to
own at least as great a percentage of the shares of Class C Common Stock owned
by it as of the date hereof divided by the number of shares of Class A Common
Stock which will be owned by it after the proposed Transfer as that percentage
which is the sum of (i) the percentage of shares of the Company's capital stock
owned by Kelso as of the Closing Date (as defined in the Stock Purchase
Agreement) divided by the number of shares of the Company's capital stock owned
by Kelso on the date of such proposed Transfer; plus (ii) the percentage of
shares of the Company's capital stock owned by THL as of the Closing Date (as
defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) divided by the number of shares of the
Company's capital stock owned by THL on the date of such proposed Transfer;
divided by two (i.e. if Kelso still

                                       3
<PAGE>

owns 25% of the shares of capital stock originally owned by it, and THL still
owns 75% of the shares of capital stock originally owned by it, any
Institutional Stockholder proposing to Transfer shares pursuant to clause (B)
would need to own that number of shares of Class A Common Stock after the
proposed Transfer which was at least 50% of the number of shares of Class C
Common Stock originally owned by it).

         2. STOCK CERTIFICATE LEGENDS. A copy of this Institutional
Stockholders' Agreement shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company and
kept with the records of the Company. Each certificate representing any shares
of Class C Common Stock owned by the Institutional Stockholder shall bear the
following legends:

"THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND
HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
"ACT"), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT AND ANY
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR UNLESS, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE
STOCKHOLDER, WHICH COUNSEL MUST BE, AND THE FORM AND SUBSTANCE OF WHICH OPINION
ARE, SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER, SUCH OFFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE,
HYPOTHECATION, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION OR IS
OTHERWISE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT, SUCH LAWS AND THE INSTITUTIONAL
STOCKHOLDERS' AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY [ ], 2000, AMONG THE ISSUER AND
CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF THE ISSUER (THE "STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT")."

"THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON
TRANSFER AND OTHER CONDITIONS, AS SPECIFIED IN THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. A
COPY OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT THE OFFICE OF THE ISSUER AND
WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF SUCH SHARES UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST."

"THE ISSUER WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS THE
POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER
SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OR SERIES OF SHARES AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED AND THE
QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS."

                                       4
<PAGE>

         In addition, such certificates will bear such legends as may be
required by any state securities laws.

         3. AGREEMENT TO BE BOUND. Any Transfer of shares of Class C Common
Stock by the Institutional Stockholder permitted under Section 1(a)(x) or
Section 1(a)(z) of this Agreement shall be permitted and shall be effective only
if the transferee of such shares shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms
and conditions of this Agreement pursuant to an instrument of assumption
reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Board. Upon the execution
of such instrument by such transferee, such transferee shall be deemed to be the
Institutional Stockholder for all purposes of this Agreement.

         4. INDEMNIFICATION. In the event that THL and/or Kelso receive any
payments pursuant to Article XI of the Stock Purchase Agreement (an
"Indemnification Payment"), THL and/or Kelso, as the case may be, agree to share
such Indemnification Payment with the Institutional Stockholders in accordance
with Schedule I hereto; PROVIDED that if any such Indemnification Payment is for
a Loss (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) that does not affect one or
more of the Institutional Stockholders, then the Institutional Stockholders not
affected shall have no right to any portion of such Indemnification Payment.
Each Institutional Stockholder agrees that it does not have third party
beneficiary rights under the Stock Purchase Agreement and it has no right to
enforce the provisions of Article XI and its rights to payment in connection
therewith is solely pursuant to this Section 4. Each Institutional Stockholder
further agrees that this Section 4 is such Institutional Stockholder's sole and
exclusive remedy for the breach of any representations and warranties made in
this Agreement, the applicable Institutional Stockholder Subscription Agreement
between the Company and such Institutional Stockholder and the Stock Purchase
Agreement.

         5. TERMINATION. Any party to this Agreement which ceases to own any
shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock shall cease to be a party
to this Agreement and, thereafter, shall have no rights or obligations
hereunder, PROVIDED that no sale of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C
Common Stock by any Institutional Stockholder in breach of this Agreement shall
relieve such Institutional Stockholder of liability for any such breach. This
Agreement, except for Section 1(d) hereof, will terminate upon an IPO and will
be of no further force or effect, PROVIDED that any liability of an
Institutional Stockholder for any pre-termination breach of the Agreement will
survive such termination.

         6. FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party hereto or Person subject hereto shall
do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and
things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates,
instruments and documents as any other party hereto may reasonably request in
order to carry out the

                                       5
<PAGE>

intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

         7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to the choice of law principles thereof.

         8. SEVERABILITY. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity or enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby.

         9. NOTICES. All notices and other communications required or permitted
to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if (A) delivered personally, (B) mailed, certified or registered
mail with postage prepaid, (C) sent by next-day or overnight mail or delivery or
(D) sent by fax, as follows:

         (i)      If to the Company, to it at:

                  MJD Communications, Inc.
                  521 East Morehead Street, Suite 250
                  Charlotte, North Carolina  28202
                  Fax:  (704) 344-8121
                  Attention:  Mr. Walt Leach

                  with a copy to:

                  Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                  399 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022
                  Fax:  (212) 319-4090
                  Attention:  Neil A. Torpey, Esq.

         (ii)     If to an Institutional Stockholder, as provided on Exhibit A,

                                       6
<PAGE>

or to such other person or address as the Purchaser shall specify by notice in
writing to the Company. All such notices, requests, demands, letters, waivers
and other communications shall be deemed to have been received (W) if by
personal delivery, on the day after such delivery, (X) if by certified or
registered mail, on the fifth business day after the mailing thereof, (Y) if by
next-day or overnight mail or delivery, on the day delivered or (Z) if by fax,
on the next day following the day on which such fax was sent, provided that a
copy is also sent by certified or registered mail.

         10. HEADINGS. The headings and captions contained herein are for
convenience and shall not control or affect the meaning of our construction of
any provision hereof.

         11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         12. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may only be amended with the consent of
all of the parties hereto.

                                       7
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been signed by each of the
parties hereto as of the date first above written.

                                      MJD COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

                                      By:   /s/ WALTER E. LEACH, JR.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Walter E. Leach Jr.
                                          Title: Senior Vice President and CFO

                                      KELSO INVESTMENT ASSOCIATES V, L.P.

                                      By: Kelso Partners V, L.P., its
                                            general partner

                                      By: /s/ GEORGE E. MATELICH
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  George E. Matelich
                                          Title: General Partner

                                      KELSO EQUITY PARTNERS V, L.P.

                                      By: /s/ GEORGE E. MATELICH
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  George E. Matelich
                                          Title: General Partner

                                      THOMAS H. LEE EQUITY FUND IV, L.P.

                                      By: THL Equity Advisors IV, LLC,
                                            its general partner

                                      By: /s/ SCOTT M. SPERLING
                                          --------------------------------------

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>
                                          Name:  Scott M. Sperling
                                          Title: Managing Director

                                      DLJ FUND INVESTMENT PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                      By:  DLJ LBO Plans Management Corporation

                                      By: /s/ ED POLETTI
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Ed Poletti
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      DLJ PRIVATE EQUITY EMPLOYEES FUND, L.P.

                                      By:  DLJ LBO Plans Management Corporation

                                      By: /s/ ED POLETTI
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Ed Poletti
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      DLJ PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS FUND, L.P.

                                      By: WSW Capital, Inc.

                                      By: /s/ ED POLETTI
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Ed Poletti
                                          Title: Vice President

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                      DLJ CAPITAL PARTNERS I, LLC

                                      By:
                                          --------------------------------------

                                      By: /s/ ED POLETTI
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Ed Poletti
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      GREENWICH STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.

                                      By: Greenwich Street Investments II,
                                          L.L.C., its General Partner

                                      By: /s/ SANJAY H. PATEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Sanjay H. Patel
                                          Title: Managing Member

                                      GSCP OFFSHORE FUND, L.P.

                                      By: Greenwich Street Investments II,
                                          L.L.C., its General Partner

                                      By: /s/ SANJAY H. PATEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Sanjay H. Patel
                                          Title: Managing Member

                                      GREENWICH FUND, L.P.

                                      By: Greenwich Street Investments II,
                                          L.L.C., its General Partner

                                      By: /s/ SANJAY H. PATEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Sanjay H. Patel
                                          Title: Managing Member

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                      GREENWICH STREET EMPLOYEES FUND,
                                      L.P.

                                      By: Greenwich Street Investments II,
                                           L.L.C., its General Partner

                                      By:  /s/ SANJAY H. PATEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Sanjay H. Patel
                                          Title: Managing Member

                                      TRV EXECUTIVES FUND, L.P.

                                      By: Greenwich Street Investments II,
                                          L.L.C., its General Partner

                                      By: /s/ SANJAY H. PATEL
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Sanjay H. Patel
                                          Title: Managing Member

                                      MAGNETITE ASSET INVESTORS LLC

                                      By: Blackrock Financial Management, Inc.
                                          As Managing Member

                                      By: /s/ DENNIS M. SCHANEY
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Dennis M. Schaney
                                          Title: Managing Director

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                      THL EQUITY ADVISORS IV, LLC

                                      By: /s/ SCOTT M. SPERLING
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name:  Scott M. Sperling
                                          Title:   Managing Director

                                      DB CAPITAL INVESTORS, L.P.

                                      By: DB Capital Partners, L.P.,
                                          its General Partner

                                      By: DB Capital Partners, Inc.

                                      By: /s/ FRANK SCHIFF
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Frank Schiff
                                          Title: Managing Director

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                      FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC.

                                      By: /s/ PEARCE LANDRY
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Name: Pearce Landry
                                          Title: Vice President

                                      BANCAMERICA CAPITAL INVESTORS I, L.P.

                                          By: BancAmerica Capital
                                              Management I, L.P.
                                              Its general partner

                                      By: BACM I GP, LLC,
                                          Its general partner

                                      By: /s/ GEORGE E. MORGAN III
                                          --------------------------------------

                                          Name:  George E. Morgan III
                                          Title: Member

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                      COINVESTMENT I, LLC

                                      By: /s/ LAURENCE D. FINK
                                          --------------------------------------

                                          Name:  Laurence D. Fink
                                          Title: Managing Member

             [Institutional Stockholders' Agreement Signature Page]

<PAGE>

                                    Exhibit A
                           INSTITUTIONAL STOCKHOLDERS

DLJ FUND INVESTMENT PARTNERS II, L.P.
DLJ PRIVATE EQUITY EMPLOYEES FUND, L.P.
DLJ PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS FUND, L.P.
DLJ CAPITAL PARTNERS I, LLC
Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette
277 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10172
Fax: (212) 892-7215
Attention: Ms. Ivy Dodes

GREENWICH STREET CAPITAL PARTNERS II, L.P.
GSCP OFFSHORE FUND, L.P.
GREENWICH FUND, L.P.
GREENWICH STREET EMPLOYEES FUND, L.P.
TRV EXECUTIVES FUND, L.P.
Greenwich Street Capital Partners
388 Greenwich Street, 36th Floor
New York, NY 10013
Fax: (212) 816-9628
Attention: Matthew Kaufman

MAGNETITE ASSET INVESTORS L.L.C.
c/o BlackRock Financial Management
345 Park Avenue
29th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Fax: (212) 754-8756
Attention: Dennis Schaney

<PAGE>

DB CAPITAL INVESTORS, L.P.
DB Capital Partners, Inc.
130 Liberty Street, 25th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Fax: (212)250-9518
Attention: Frank Schiff

FIRST UNION INVESTORS, INC.
First Union Capital Markets
One First Union Center, 5th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28288
Fax: (704) 374-6711
Attention: Pearce Landry

BANCAMERICA CAPITAL INVESTORS I, L.P.
Bank of America
100 North Tryon Street, 25th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28255
Fax: (704) 386-6432
Attention: Ed Balogh

COINVESTMENT I, LLC
c/o BlackRock Financial Management
345 Park Avenue
29th Floor
New York, NY 10154
Fax: (212) 754-8756
Attention: Dennis Schaney

<PAGE>

                                   Schedule I
                  Indemnification Payment Sharing Percentages1/

Institutional Stockholder                        Indemnification Payment Sharing
                                                                      Percentage
DLJ Fund Investment Partners II, L.P.                                   .5182 %
DLJ Private Equity Employees Fund,                                      .0474 %
L.P.
DLJ Private Equity Partners Fund, L.P.                                  1.3312 %
DLJ Capital Partners I, LLC                                             .5570 %
Greenwich Street Capital Partners II,                                   2.1923 %
L.P.
GSCP Offshore Fund, L.P.                                                .0457 %
Greenwich Fund, L.P.                                                    .0742 %
Greenwich Street Employees Fund, L.P.                                   .1308 %
TRV Executives Fund, L.P.                                               .0108 %
Magnetite Asset Investors LLC                                           .9815 %
DB Capital Investors, L.P.                                              2.4539 %
First Union Investors, Inc.                                             2.4539 %
BancAmerica Capital Investors I, L.P.                                   2.4539 %
CoInvestment I, LLC                                                     .4907 %

------------
     1These percentages will be based on the relative amounts invested in the
Company by THL, Kelso and each Institutional Stockholder at the closing.<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(K)

                          UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                                  S. FEIN ZAWEL

           AGREEMENT made this 3rd day of March 2000, by and between UNITED
INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation having an address 570 Lexington
Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (hereinafter called "Employer"), and SUSAN FEIN
ZAWEL, having an address at 31 Harrows Lane, Purchase, NY 10577 (hereinafter
called "Employee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

           In consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter contained, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

           1.    EMPLOYMENT. Employer agrees to employ Employee and Employee
agrees to serve Employer upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

           2.    TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence January 3,
2000, (the "Effective Date") and subject to the provisions of Sections 3,4, and
10 hereof, terminate as of the close of business at the date three (3) years
after the Effective Date (the "Termination Date"). The period from the Effective
Date through the Termination Date is referred to as the term of this Agreement.

           3.    DUTIES AND EXTENT OF SERVICES. Employee agrees to serve
Employer and its subsidiary companies faithfully and to the best of her ability
under the direction of the Board of Directors and President of Employer,
devoting her entire business time, energy and skill to her duties hereunder. The
principal place of employment of Employee shall be at the offices of Employer
currently located at 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York. Employee
understands and agrees, however, that in connection with her employment
hereunder, she may be required from time to time to travel on behalf of
Employer. If the principal place of employment of the Employee shall change
prior to the Termination Date because of a change in Employer's offices to a
location which is more than 50 miles from the office presently located at 570
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, the Employee shall have the option within
30 days after such change to terminate this Agreement by sending written notice
of termination to Employer, and thereupon her employment pursuant to this
Agreement shall terminate and Employee shall be entitled to no further payments
hereunder, other than (i) for any compensation due pursuant to Sections 4 and
(ii) the reimbursements pursuant to Section 9 hereof, of any expenses incurred
prior to the date of such termination.

<PAGE>

                 The principal duties of Employee shall be to serve as Vice
President, Corporate Communications, Associate General Counsel, and Secretary
and, in such capacity, to render such managerial, administrative and other
services to Employer and its subsidiaries as normally are associated with and
incident to such positions as Employer from time to time may require of her. If,
during the term of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of Employer so
determines, in its absolute discretion, to elect Employee to any additional
office of Employer or its subsidiary companies consistent with her position, or
a director of its subsidiary companies, Employee agrees to accept and serve in
such office or capacity for no additional compensation or remuneration.

           4.    COMPENSATION.

                 (a)    CASH COMPENSATION. Employer agrees to pay to Employee,
as compensation for all of the services to be rendered by Employee under or
pursuant to this Agreement, compensation as follows.

                        (i)      Employee shall receive as compensation for her
services hereunder an annual salary ("Base Compensation") of $170,512.00, which
sum shall be payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of
Employer. Employee shall be reviewed annually and shall be entitled to such
increases in her Base Compensation as the Board of Directors may determine,
considering the recommendation of the President and Chief Executive Officer.

                        (ii)     Employee shall also be entitled to participate
in Employer's Performance Sharing Plan ("PSP"; or such other similar bonus or
incentive plan approved by Employer's Board of Directors and its Compensation
Committee), that will afford Employee an opportunity to earn incentive
compensation equivalent to a sum derived using at least the same target
incentive percentage (40%) as used under the 1999 plan). The plan shall be based
upon meeting certain goals and benchmarks. In its discretion, the Board of
Directors may award Employee such greater sum as it may determine.

                        (iii)    Such salary and incentive shall be subject to
annual review by Employer's Board of Directors and, at the discretion of the
Board, may be increased, but not decreased below such amount and the incentive
shall be not less than the sum resulting under the PSP process.

                        (iv)     If Employee's employment terminates due to any
reason other than "for cause," including Employee's voluntary termination, prior
to the end of the Compensation Year, Employee shall be entitled to an incentive
compensation award at least equal to the sum calculated for her base salary in
accordance with the PSP, but pro rata to the number of days employed

                                        2
<PAGE>

during the Compensation Year. If Employee's employment is terminated "for cause"
prior to the time that the Earned Incentive Compensation is approved by the
Employer's Board of Directors for employees of Employer generally, Employee
shall not be entitled to any incentive compensation.

                        (v)      If during the term of this Agreement, or if
this Agreement is not renewed or superceded, after the term of this Agreement,
Employee's employment ceases for any reason other than "for cause," death, or
Employee's voluntary departure (other than for "Good Reason" as defined below),
the Employee shall be entitled, in addition to the compensation provided for
above, to a sum equivalent to not less than her "Base Severance Compensation"
that is a sum equal to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of Employee's annualized
salary plus an Incentive Compensation Award equal to thirty-four percent (34%)
of the 150% annualized salary, payable in accordance with the normal payroll
practices of Employer over a period of eighteen months following cessation of
employment. If the date employment ceases is prior to the last eighteen (18)
months of the term of this Agreement, the Employee shall be compensated for the
remainder of this Agreement at her annualized salary plus an Incentive
Compensation Award equal to the sum calculated for her base salary in accordance
with the PSP or, if more, the amount provided for under the "Base Severance
Compensation." Under the circumstances above, any and all stock options awarded
to Employee that have not expired by the terms of each grant shall fully vest
for purposes of each such grant.

                                 For purposes hereof, "Good Reason" shall mean
any of the following, unless consented to by Employee in writing:

                                (a)  a termination by Employee pursuant to

Section 3 hereof;

                                (b)  the assignment to Employee of any

duties materially inconsistent with Employee's position as set forth in Section
3 hereof, Employee's removal from such position or a substantial diminution in
such position, duties or responsibilities, which is not remedied by Employer
within ten days after receipt of written notice thereof from Employee;

                                (c)  a reduction in Employer's compensation
pursuant to Sections 4(a) (i) and (ii) hereof as in effect on the date hereof or
as increased from time to time; or

                                (d)  a failure of Employer to continue to
provide Employee with benefits substantially as contemplated by Section 4(b)
hereof.

                                        3
<PAGE>

                 (b)    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. During the term of this
Agreement, Employee shall be eligible to participate in any life insurance,
medical, retirement, pension or profit-sharing, disability or other benefit
plans or arrangements now or hereafter generally made available by Employer to
executive employees of Employer to the extent Employee qualifies under the
provisions of any such plans. Subject to the foregoing, Employer shall have the
right to change insurance companies and modify insurance policies covering
employees of Employer. In addition, notwithstanding any provision herein to the
contrary, Employee shall be entitled to continuation of the same or equivalent
benefits during the months following cessation of employment so long as Employee
is entitled to payments pursuant to Sections 4 hereof.

                 (c)    AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE. Employer shall pay to Employee an
automobile allowance of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per annum, commencing as
of the Effective Date, payable in accordance with Employer's normal payroll
practices.

                 (d)    VACATION. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks
vacation with pay per year.

                 (e)    TAXES. Employee understands that any and all payments
described in this Agreement will be subject to such tax treatment as applies
thereto, and to such withholding as may be required under applicable tax laws.

           5.    NO COMPETITION. Employee agrees that during the term of this
Agreement she will not, within the continental United States, directly or
indirectly, engage or participate or make any financial investments in or become
employed by or render advisory or other services to or for any person, firm or
corporation, or in connection with any business activity, other than that of
Employer and its subsidiary companies, directly or indirectly in competition
with any of the business operations or activities of Employer and its subsidiary
companies. Nothing herein contained, however, shall restrict Employee from
making any investments in any company whose stock is listed on a national
securities exchange or actively traded in the over-the-counter market, so long
as such investment does not give her the right to control or influence the
policy decisions of any such business or enterprise which is or might be
directly or indirectly in competition with any of such business operations or
activities of Employer or any of its subsidiary companies.

                                        4
<PAGE>

           6.    CONFIDENTIALITY; ETC.

                 (a)    Employee will not divulge, furnish or make accessible to
anyone (other than in the regular course of business of Employer or any of its
subsidiary companies) any knowledge or information with respect to confidential
or secret methods, processes, plans or materials of Employer or any of its
subsidiary companies, or with respect to any other confidential or secret
aspects of the business of Employer or any of its subsidiary companies.

                 (b)    Employee agrees to communicate and to make known to
Employer all knowledge possessed by her relating to any methods, developments,
inventions and/or improvements, whether patented, patentable or unpatentable
which concerns in any way the business of Employer or any of its subsidiary
companies or the general industry of which they are a part, from the time of
entering upon employment until the termination thereof, and whether acquired by
Employee before or during the term of his employment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
nothing herein shall be construed as requiring any such communication where the
method, development, invention and/or improvement is lawfully protected from
disclosure as the trade secret of a third party, including, without limitation,
any former employer of Employee or by any other lawful bar to such
communication.

                 (c)    Any methods, developments, inventions and/or
improvements, whether patentable or unpatentable, along the lines of the
business of Employer or any of its subsidiary companies, which Employee may
conceive of or make while in the employ of Employer, shall be and remain the
property of Employer. Employee agrees promptly to communicate and disclose all
such methods, developments, inventions and/or improvements to Employer and to
execute and deliver to Employer any instruments deemed necessary by Employer to
effect disclosure and assignment thereof to it. Employee further agrees, on
request of Employer, to execute patent applications based on such methods,
developments, inventions and/or improvements, including any other instruments
deemed necessary by Employer for the prosecution of such patent applications or
the acquisition of Letters Patent in the United States and/or any foreign
countries.

                 (d)    Employee agrees that for a period of two (2) years from
and after the termination or expiration of his employment by Employer, whether
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, she will not:

                        (i)      directly or indirectly solicit, raid, entice or
induce any employee of Employer or of any of its subsidiary companies to be
employed

                                       5
<PAGE>

by any person, firm or corporation which is, directly or indirectly, in
competition with the business or activities of Employer or any of its subsidiary
companies; or

                        (ii)     directly or indirectly approach any such
employee for these purposes; or

                        (iii)    authorize or knowingly approve the taking of
such actions by other persons on behalf of any such person, firm or corporation,
or assist any such person, firm or corporation in taking such action; or

                        (iv)     directly or indirectly solicit, raid, entice or
induce any person, firm or corporation (other than the U.S. Government or its
agencies) who or which on the date hereof is, or at any time during the period
of employment hereunder shall be, a customer of Employer or of any of its
subsidiary companies to become a customer for the same or similar products which
it purchased from Employer or any of its subsidiary companies, of any other
person, firm or corporation, and Employee shall not approach any such customer
for such purpose or authorize or knowingly approve the taking of such actions by
any other person.

                 (e)    Employee agrees that during the term of her employment
by Employer, whether under this Agreement or otherwise, she will not at any time
enter into, on behalf of Employer or any of its subsidiary companies, or cause
Employer or any of its subsidiary companies to enter into, directly or
indirectly, any transactions with any business organization in which she or any
member of her immediate family may be interested as a partner, trustee,
director, officer, employee, shareholder, lender of money or guarantor.

           7.    INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. Employee acknowledges that the services to
be rendered by her hereunder are of a special, unique and extraordinary
character and that it would be very difficult or impossible to replace such
services and further that irreparable injury would be sustained by Employer and
its subsidiary companies in the event of a violation by Employee of any of the
provisions of this Agreement, and by reason thereof Employee consents and agrees
that if she violates any of the provisions of this Agreement, Employer shall be
entitled to an injunction to be issued by any court of competent jurisdiction
restraining her from committing or continuing any violation of this Agreement.

           8.    SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS. The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, 7,
and 10 hereof shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement,
irrespective of the reason therefor.

                                       6
<PAGE>

           9.    EXPENSES. Employer shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable
expenses incurred by her on behalf of Employer in the performance of her duties
hereunder, provided that proper vouchers are submitted to Employer by Employee
evidencing such expenses and the purposes for which the same were incurred.

           10.   DISABILITY. If Employee shall be incapacitated by reason of
mental or physical disability or otherwise during the term of this Agreement so
that she is prevented from performing her principal duties and services
hereunder for a period of three (3) consecutive months or one or more periods
aggregating three (3) months during any twelve (12) month period, Employer shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement by sending written notice of
termination to Employee, and thereupon her employment pursuant to this Agreement
shall terminate and Employee shall be entitled to no further payments hereunder,
other than (i) for any compensation due pursuant to Section 4 (a)(i),(iv) and
(v) hereof, and (ii) the reimbursement, pursuant to Section 9 hereof, of any
expenses incurred prior to the date of such termination. For purposes of this
Section 10, amounts payable under subsection (i) hereof shall be inclusive of
amounts paid to Employee in lieu of normal cash compensation under Employer
sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance policies during the
eighteen months following cessation of employment. In other words, Employer will
pay only that amount in excess of the insurance payments made each month that is
necessary to provide Employee with cash compensation equal to what would have
been paid pursuant to Section 4 but for the insurance payments.

           11.   DEATH. In the event of the death of Employee during the term
hereof, this Agreement shall automatically terminate and Employer shall have no
further obligations hereunder, other than to pay to Employee's estate any
compensation due pursuant to Section 4 (a)(i) and (iv) hereof through the date
of such termination and to reimburse, pursuant to Section 9 hereof, any expenses
incurred by Employee through the date of such termination.

           12.   TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER FOR CAUSE. Employer shall have the
right to terminate the employment of Employee under this Agreement as well as
any and all payments to be made hereunder, other than for any compensation due
pursuant to Section 4 (a)(i) hereof through the date of such termination and any
reimbursement, pursuant to Section 9 hereof, of expenses incurred by Employee
through the date of such termination, if Employee shall commit any of the
following acts of default:

                 (a)    Employee shall have committed any material breach of any
of the provisions or covenants set forth herein; or

                                       7
<PAGE>

                 (b)    Employee shall have committed any act of gross
negligence in the performance of his duties or obligations hereunder; or

                 (c)    Employee shall have committed any material act of
dishonesty or breach of trust against Employer or any of its subsidiary
companies; or

                 (d)    Employee's conviction of, or plea of NOLO CONTENDERE to,
a felony.

           If Employer elects to terminate this Agreement as set forth above,
Employer shall send written notice to Employee terminating this Agreement and
describing the action of Employee constituting the act of default, and thereupon
no further payments of any type shall be made or shall be payable to Employee
hereunder notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, except as set
forth in the first sentence of this Section 12.

           13.   NO CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. Employee represents and warrants
that she is not a party to any agreement, contract or understanding, whether
employment or otherwise, which would in any way restrict or prohibit her from
undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.

           14.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and no
statement, representation, warranty or covenant has been made by either party
except as expressly set forth herein. This Agreement shall not be changed or
terminated orally. This Agreement supersedes and cancels all prior agreements
between the parties, or any subsidiary of Employer whether written or oral,
relating to the employment of Employee.

           15.   APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to its conflict of laws principles.

           16.   NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if personally delivered, telecopied or mailed, first class, postage
prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested, to each of the parties at its
or her address above written or as set forth beneath their signatures below or
at such other address or telecopy number as either of the parties may designate
in conformity with the foregoing.

                                       8
<PAGE>

           17.   SECTION HEADINGS. The Section headings set forth in this
Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered as part of this
Agreement in any respect nor shall they in any way affect the substance of any
provisions contained in this Agreement.

           18.   SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall not be assignable
by Employee. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective heirs and
personal representatives of Employee and the successors and assigns of Employer.

           19.   SEVERABILITY. If, at any time subsequent to the date hereof,
any provision of this Agreement shall be held by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no
force and effect, but the illegality or unenforceability of such provision shall
have no effect upon and shall not impair the enforceability of any other
provisions of this Agreement.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION             EMPLOYEE

By:   /s/ Richard R. Erkeneff             /s/ Susan Fein Zawel
      -----------------------             --------------------
      Richard R. Erkeneff                 Susan Fein Zawel
      President & CEO                     Fax: (914) 684-1084
      Fax No.: (212) 838-4629

                                       9

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