UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORP /DE/
S-8, 1997-01-10
MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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<PAGE>

  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 1997

                                                 Registration No. 333-_____ 

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                               
                            -------------------

                                  FORM S-8

                           REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                   UNDER
                         THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                            
                               -------------

                       UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
           (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


           Delaware                                   95-2081809
 (State or Other Jurisdiction              (I.R.S. Employer Identification
     of Incorporation or                                 No.)
        Organization)

                            18 East 48th Street
                         New York, New York  10017
                               (212) 752-8787
              (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
     including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


                       UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                           1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full Title of Plan)

                              Susan Fein Zawel
                                 Secretary
                       United Industrial Corporation
                            18 East 48th Street
                         New York, New York  10017
                               (212) 752-8787
                   (Name and Address, Including Zip Code,
      and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                 Copies to:

                           Ted S. Waksman, Esq.
                        Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
                             767 Fifth Avenue
                         New York, New York 10153
                              (212) 310-8000

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                                                Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
 Title of Each Class of Securities to       Amount to be       Offering Price Per    Aggregate Offering         Amount of
            be Registered                  Registered(1)            Share(2)              Price(2)          Registration Fee
<S>                                      <C>                   <C>                   <C>                    <C>
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per
share                                      600,000 shares            $6.00               $3,600,000             $1,090.91
<FN>
(1)  Plus such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock of the Registrant as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting
from stock dividends, stock splits or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the closing price of the
Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on January 8, 1997.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE


               This Registration Statement registers 600,000 additional
     shares of common stock of United Industrial Corporation (the
     "Company"), par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), for
     issuance pursuant to stock options granted under the Company's 1994
     Stock Option Plan, as amended.  The contents of an earlier
     Registration Statement on Form S-8 in respect of the Company's 1994
     Stock Option Plan, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission on May 31, 1994, Registration No. 33-53911, are hereby
     incorporated by reference.





<PAGE>
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
     the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
     that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
     duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by
     the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of New York,
     State of New York, on this 9th day of January, 1997.


                                 UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION

                                 By: /s/ James H. Perry         
                                    ----------------------------
                                   Name:    James H. Perry
                                   Title:   Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                            Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

               KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
     signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Susan Fein
     Zawel and James H. Perry acting individually, his true and lawful
     attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
     resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and
     all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration
     Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
     documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power
     and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite
     and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
     intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby
     ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or
     his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
     done by virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
     this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
     in the capacities and on the date indicated.

     Signature                 Title                        Date
     ---------                 -----                        ----

/s/ Richard R. Erkeneff      President and              January 9, 1997
- --------------------------   Director     
   Richard R. Erkeneff       (Principal Executive
                             Officer)

/s/ James H. Perry           Treasurer and              January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------  Chief Financial Officer 
   James H. Perry            (Principal Financial and
                             Accounting Officer)

/s/ Harold S. Gelb           Chairman of the Board      January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------  and Director
   Harold S. Gelb         

/s/ Howard M. Bloch          Vice Chairman of the       January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------  Board and Director
   Howard M. Bloch        

/s/ E. Donald Shapiro        Director                   January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------
   E. Donald Shapiro

/s/ Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.  Director                   January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------
   Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.

/s/ Susan Fein Zawel         Director                   January 9, 1997
- ---------------------------
   Susan Fein Zawel

<PAGE>

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


     EXHIBIT NO.              DESCRIPTION                        PAGE NO.
     -----------              -----------                        --------

          4(a)  -   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
                    the Company, as amended (incorporated by
                    reference to the Company's Annual Report
                    on Form 10-K for the year ended December
                    31, 1993).

          4(b)  -   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the
                    Company (incorporated by reference to
                    the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
                    for the year ended December 31, 1995).

          4(c)  -   United Industrial Corporation 1994 Stock
                    Option Plan, as amended.

          5     -   Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

          23(a) -   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

          23(b) -   Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
                    (included in Exhibit 5).

          24    -   Power of Attorney (included as part of
                    the signature page to this Registration
                    Statement and incorporated herein by
                    reference).




     NYFS11...:\95\78495\0001\1196\FRM5206Y.260



<PAGE>
                                                              Exhibit 4(c)






                       UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                     1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN, AS AMENDED











<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     


                             TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                  Page
                                                                  ----
     1.   Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
     2.   Stock Subject to the Plan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
     3.   Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     4.   Eligibility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     5.   Option Price and Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     6.   Terms of Options and Limitations 
           on the Right of Exercise  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     7.   Termination of Employment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
     8.   Exercise of Options  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     9.   Use of Proceeds  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     10.  Non-Transferability of Options . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     11.  Adjustment of Shares; 
           Effect of Certain Transactions  . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     12.  Right to Terminate Employment  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     13.  Purchase for Investment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
     14.  Issuance of Stock Certificates; Legends; 
           Payment of Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     15.  Withholding Taxes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
     16.  Listing of Shares and Related Matters  . . . . . . . . .  15
     17.  Amendment of the Plan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
     18.  Termination or Suspension of the Plan  . . . . . . . . .  15
     19.  Savings Provision  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     20.  Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     21.  Partial Invalidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
     22.  Effective Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16



    
     NYFS11...:\95\78495\0001\1196\PLN8076V.000<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     

                       UNITED INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
                     1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN, AS AMENDED
      
     1.  PURPOSES

               United Industrial Corporation, a Delaware corporation
     (the "Company"), wishes to provide certain of its key employees
     and certain key employees of any subsidiary corporation or parent
     corporation of the Company now existing or hereafter formed or
     acquired who are responsible for the continued growth of the
     Company an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the
     Company, and thereby create in such key employees an increased
     interest in and a greater concern for the welfare of the Company
     and its subsidiaries. 

               The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the
     services of persons now holding key positions and also to secure
     and retain the services of persons capable of filling such
     positions.

               The stock options ("Options") offered pursuant to this
     1994 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") are a matter of separate
     inducement and are not in lieu of any salary or other
     compensation for the services of any key employee.  

               The Options granted under the Plan are intended to be
     either incentive stock options ("Incentive Options") within the
     meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
     amended (the "Code"), or options that do not meet the require-
     ments for Incentive Options ("Non-Qualified Options").  The
     Company makes no warranty, however, as to the qualification of
     any Option as an Incentive Option.  

     2.  STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

               Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable for
     shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company
     ("Common Stock").  The total number of shares of Common Stock of
     the Company authorized for issuance upon the exercise of Options
     under the Plan (the "Shares") shall not exceed, in the aggregate,
     1,200,000 Shares, with no individual optionee to receive in
     excess of 500,000 Shares upon exercise of Options granted under
     the Plan, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11 of
     the Plan. 

               Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be
     either authorized but unissued Shares, Shares of issued stock
     held in the Company's treasury, or both, at the discretion of the
     Company.  If and to the extent that Options granted under the



     
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     Plan expire or terminate without having been exercised, the
     Shares covered by such expired or terminated Options may again be
     subject to an Option under the Plan. 

               Except as provided in Sections 18 and 22 hereof, the
     Company may, from time to time during the period beginning on
     March 10, 1994 (the "Effective Date") and ending on March 10,
     2004 (the "Termination Date"), grant to certain key employees of
     the Company, or certain key employees of any subsidiary
     corporation or parent corporation of the Company, Incentive
     Options and/or Non-Qualified Options under the terms hereinafter
     set forth. 

               As used in the Plan, the term "parent corporation" and
     "subsidiary corporation" shall mean a corporation within the
     definitions of such terms contained in Sections 424(e) and 424(f)
     of the Code, respectively.  

     3.  ADMINISTRATION

               The board of directors of the Company (the "Board of
     Directors") shall designate from among its members an option
     committee, which may also be any other committee of the Board of
     Directors (the "Committee"), to administer the Plan.  The
     Committee shall consist of no fewer than two (2) members of the
     Board of Directors, each of whom shall be a "disinterested
     person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule
     or regulation) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
     1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").  A majority of the members
     of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a
     majority of the members of the Committee shall be the act of the
     Committee.  Any member of the Committee may be removed at any
     time either with or without cause by resolution adopted by the
     Board of Directors and any vacancy on the Committee at any time
     may be filled by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. 

               Any and all powers and functions of the Committee may
     be exercised at any time and from time to time by the Board of
     Directors or an executive committee of the Board of Directors
     (the "Executive Committee"; references below to the Committee
     shall be deemed to include references to the Board of Directors
     and the Executive Committee, except as the context otherwise
     requires); provided, however, that all of the members of the
                --------  -------
     Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, as the case may
     be, shall be "disinterested persons" within the meaning of Rule
     16b-3 (or any successor rule or regulation) promulgated under the
     Exchange Act. 

               Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
     Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to
     determine the key employees to whom Options shall be granted, the
     time when such persons shall be granted Options, the number of


  
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     Shares which shall be subject to each Option, the purchase price
     of each Share which shall be subject to each Option, the
     period(s) during which such Options shall be exercisable (whether
     in whole or part), and the other terms and provisions thereof
     (which need not be identical).  In determining the key employees
     to whom Options shall be granted and the number of Shares for
     which Options are to be granted to each key employee, the
     Committee shall give due consideration to the length of service,
     performance, the amount of earnings and the responsibilities and
     duties of such person. 

               Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
     Committee also shall have the authority to construe the Plan and
     the Options granted hereunder, to prescribe, amend and rescind
     rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the
     terms and provisions of the Options (which need not be identical)
     and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for
     administering the Plan.  The Committee also shall have the
     authority to require, in its discretion, as a condition of the
     granting of any such Option, that the employee agree (a) not to
     sell or otherwise dispose of Shares acquired pursuant to the
     exercise of such Option for a period of six (6) months following
     the date of the acquisition of such Option and (b) that in the
     event of termination of employment of such employee, other than
     as a result of dismissal without cause or Termination For Good
     Reason (as defined in Section 7 herein), such employee will not,
     for a period to be fixed at the time of the grant of the Option,
     enter into any other employment or participate directly or
     indirectly in any other business or enterprise which is
     competitive with the business of the Company or any subsidiary
     corporation or parent corporation of the Company, or enter into
     any employment in which such employee will be called upon to
     utilize special knowledge obtained through employment with the
     Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation
     thereof.  Any officer of the Company or any subsidiary corpora-
     tion or parent corporation who is subject to the reporting
     requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (or any
     successor provision) shall not be entitled to sell or otherwise
     dispose of any Shares acquired upon the exercise of any Option
     for a period of six (6) months from the date such Option was
     granted.

               Any determination of the Committee on the matters
     referred to in this Section 3 shall be conclusive. 

               The Committee may employ such legal or other counsel,
     consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the adminis-
     tration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation
     received from any such counsel, consultant or agent.  Expenses
     incurred by the Committee in the engagement of such counsel, con-
     sultant or agent shall be paid by the Company or such subsidiary
     corporation or parent corporation of the Company whose employees

<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     

     have benefitted from the Plan, as determined by the Committee. 
     No member or former member of the Board of Directors, the
     Executive Committee or the Committee shall be liable for any
     action or determination made in good faith with respect to the
     Plan or any Options granted hereunder. 

     4.  ELIGIBILITY

               Options may be granted only to salaried key employees
     of the Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corpora-
     tion of the Company now existing or hereafter formed or acquired,
     except Bernard Fein and members of the Committee.

               The Plan does not create a right in any person to
     participate in, or be granted options under, the Plan. 

     5.  OPTION PRICE AND PAYMENT

               The price for each Share purchasable under any Option
     granted hereunder shall be determined by the Committee in its
     good faith judgment, but shall not be less than one hundred
     percent (100%) of the "fair market value" (as defined below) per
     Share at the date the Option is granted; provided, however, that
     in the case of an Incentive Option granted to a key employee who,
     at the time such Option is granted, owns shares of the Company or
     any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation representing
     more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of
     all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation
     or parent corporation, the purchase price for each Share shall be
     not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market
     value per Share at the date the Option is granted.  In determin-
     ing the stock ownership of a key employee for any purpose under
     the Plan, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be
     applied, and the Committee may rely on representations of fact
     made to it by the key employee and believed by it to be true.

               For purposes of the Plan, "fair market value," with
     respect to any date of determination, means: 


                (i) if the Shares are listed or admitted to trading on
          a national securities exchange in the United States or
          reported through the National Association of Securities
          Dealers Automated Quotation System -- National Market System
          ("NASDAQ-NMS"), then the closing sale price on such exchange
          or NASDAQ-NMS on such date or, if no trading occurred or
          quotations were available on such date, then on the closest
          preceding date on which the Shares were traded or quoted; or

               (ii) if not so listed or reported but a regular, active
          public market for the Shares exists (as determined in the
          sole discretion of the Committee, whose decision shall be



     
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

          conclusive and binding), then the average of the closing bid
          and ask quotations per Share in the over-the-counter market
          for such Shares in the United States on such date or, if no
          such quotations are available on such date, then on the
          closest date preceding such date.  For purposes of the fore-
          going, a market in which trading is sporadic and the ask
          quotations generally exceed the bid quotations by more than
          15% shall not be deemed to be a "regular, active public
          market."  

               If the Committee determines that a regular, active
     public market does not exist for the Shares, the Committee shall
     determine the fair market value of the Shares in its good faith
     judgment based on the total number of shares of Common Stock then
     outstanding, taking into account all outstanding options, war-
     rants, rights or other securities exercisable or exchangeable
     for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock. 

               Upon the exercise of an Option granted hereunder, the
     Company shall cause the purchased Shares to be issued only when
     it shall have received the full purchase price therefor in cash;
     provided, however, that in lieu of cash, the holder of an Option
     may, if the terms of such Option so provide and to the extent
     permitted by applicable law, exercise an Option (a) in whole or
     in part, by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock of
     the Company (in proper form for transfer and accompanied by all
     requisite stock transfer tax stamps or cash in lieu thereof)
     owned by such holder having a fair market value equal to the cash
     exercise price applicable to that portion of the Option being
     exercised, the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock so
     delivered to be determined as of the date immediately preceding
     the date of exercise, or as otherwise may be required to comply
     with or conform to the requirements of any applicable law or
     regulations, or (b) in part, by delivering to the Company an
     executed promissory note on such terms and conditions as the
     Committee shall determine at the time of grant, in its sole
     discretion; provided, however, that the principal amount of such
     note shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) (or such lesser per-
     centage as would be permitted by applicable margin regulations)
     of the aggregate purchase price of the Shares then being
     purchased pursuant to the exercise of such Option.

     6.   TERMS OF OPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHT OF EXERCISE 

               Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at
     such times, in such amounts and during such period or periods as
     the Committee shall determine at the date of the grant of such
     Option; provided, however, that an Incentive Option shall not be
     exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date
     such Option is granted; provided, further, that in the case of an
     Incentive Option granted to a person who, at the time such
     Incentive Option is granted, owns stock of the Company or any



<PAGE>
<PAGE>
     

     subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company
     representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
     voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any
     subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company, such
     Incentive Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of
     five (5) years from the date such Incentive Option is granted. 

               The Committee shall have the right to accelerate, in
     whole or in part, from time to time, conditionally or
     unconditionally, rights to exercise any Option granted hereunder. 
     To the extent that an Option is not exercised within the period
     of exercisability specified therein, it shall expire as to the
     then unexercised part. 

               Except as otherwise provided under the Code, to the
     extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock for which
     Incentive Options (under all stock option plans of the Company
     and of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the
     Company) are exercisable for the first time by an employee during
     any calendar year exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
     ($100,000), such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified
     Options.  For purposes of this limitation, (a) the fair market
     value of stock is determined as of the time the Option is
     granted, (b) the limitation will be applied by taking into
     account Options in the order in which they were granted, and (c)
     Incentive Options granted before 1987 shall not be taken into
     account.  

               In no event shall an Option granted hereunder be exer-
     cised for a fraction of a Share or for less than one hundred
     (100) Shares (unless the number purchased is the total balance
     for which the Option is then exercisable).

               A person entitled to receive Shares upon the exercise
     of an Option shall not have the rights of a stockholder with
     respect to such Shares until the date of issuance of a stock
     certificate to him or her for such Shares; provided, however,
     that until such stock certificate is issued, any holder of an
     Option using previously acquired shares of Common Stock in
     payment of an option exercise price shall continue to have the
     rights of a stockholder with respect to such previously acquired
     shares of Common Stock. 

     7.  TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

               Upon termination of employment of any key employee with
     the Company and all subsidiary corporations and parent corpora-
     tions of the Company, any Option previously granted to such
     employee, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the
     Option shall, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate
     and become null and void; provided, however, that: 

<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

               A.  if any key employee shall die while in the employ
     of such corporation or during either the one (1) year or three
     (3) month period, whichever is applicable, specified in clauses
     (B), (C) and (D) below, any Option granted hereunder, unless
     otherwise specified by the Committee in the Option, shall be
     exercisable for any or all of such number of Shares that such
     employee is entitled to exercise at the time of death, by the
     legal representative of such employee or such person who acquired
     such Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death
     of such employee, at any time up to and including one (1) year
     after the date of death;  

               B.  if the employment of any key employee shall
     terminate by reason of such employee's disability (as described
     in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), any Option granted hereunder,
     unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the Option, shall
     be exercisable for any or all of such number of Shares that such
     employee is entitled to exercise at the effective date of ter-
     mination of employment by reason of disability, at any time up to
     and including one (1) year after the effective date of such
     termination of employment;

               C.  if the employment of any key employee shall ter-
     minate (i) by reason of the employee's retirement (at such age or
     upon such conditions as shall be specified by the Committee),
     (ii) by the key employee for "good reason" (only if such employee
     is party to a written employment agreement with the Company or
     any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation which expressly
     provides for termination by the key employee for "good reason,"
     and such employee validly terminates his or her employment for
     "good reason," as such term is defined in the agreement
     ("Termination For Good Reason")), or (iii) by the employer other
     than for cause (as defined below), such Option, unless otherwise
     specified by the Committee in the Option, shall be exercisable
     for any or all of such number of Shares that such employee is
     entitled to exercise at the effective date of termination of
     employment, at any time up to and including three (3) months
     after the effective date of such termination of employment; and

               D.  if the employment of any employee shall terminate
     by any reason other than that provided for in clauses (A), (B) or
     (C) above, such Option, unless otherwise specified by the
     Committee in such Option shall, to the extent not theretofore
     exercised, become null and void.


               None of the events described above shall extend the
     period of exercisability of the Option beyond the expiration date
     thereof.  If an Option granted hereunder shall be exercised by
     the legal representative of a deceased grantee or by a person who
     acquired an Option granted hereunder by bequest or inheritance or
     by reason of the death of any employee or former employee, writ

  
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     ten notice of such exercise shall be accompanied by a certified
     copy of letters testamentary or equivalent proof of the right of
     such legal representative or other person to exercise such
     Option. 

               For purposes of the Plan, the term "for cause" shall
     mean (a) with respect to an employee who is a party to a written
     employment agreement with, or, alternatively, participates in a
     compensation or benefit plan (other than the Plan) of, the
     Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
     Company, which agreement or plan contains a definition of "for
     cause" or "cause" (or words of like import) for purposes of
     termination of employment or services thereunder by the Company
     or such subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
     Company, "for cause" or "cause" as defined therein (if an
     employee is both party to an employment agreement and partici-
     pates in such a plan, the definition contained in such employment
     agreement shall control); or (b) in all other cases, as deter-
     mined by the Committee or the Board of Directors, in its sole
     discretion, (i) the willful commission by an employee of an act
     that causes or may cause substantial damage to the Company or a
     subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company; (ii)
     the commission by an employee of an act of fraud in the perfor-
     mance of such employee's duties on behalf of the Company or a
     subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company;
     (iii) conviction of the employee for commission of a felony in
     connection with the performance of his duties on behalf of the
     Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
     Company; or (iv) the continuing failure of an employee to perform
     the duties of such employee to the Company or a subsidiary cor-
     poration or parent corporation of the Company that has not been
     cured within 15 days after written notice thereof has been given
     to the employee by the Committee. 

               For purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship
     shall be deemed to exist between an individual and a corporation
     if, at the time of determination, the individual was an
     "employee" of such corporation for purposes of Section 422(a) of
     the Code.  If an individual is on leave of absence taken with the
     consent of the corporation by which such individual was employed,
     or is on active military service, and is determined to be an
     "employee" for purposes of the exercise of an Option, such indi-
     vidual shall not be entitled to exercise such Option during such
     period and while the employment is treated as continuing intact
     unless such individual shall have obtained the prior written
     consent of such corporation, which consent shall be signed by the
     chairman of the board of directors, the president, a senior
     vice-president or other duly authorized officer of such
     corporation. 

               A termination of employment shall not be deemed to
     occur by reason of (i) the transfer of an employee from employ


<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     ment by the Company to employment by a subsidiary corporation or
     a parent corporation of the Company or (ii) the transfer of an
     employee from employment by a subsidiary corporation or a parent
     corporation of the Company to employment by the Company or by
     another subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
     Company.  

     8.  EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

               Subject to the limitations on exercise referred to in
     Sections 6 and 7 hereof, Options granted under the Plan shall be
     exercised by the optionee as to all or part of the Shares covered
     thereby by giving written notice of exercise to the Corporate
     Secretary of the Company at the principal business office of the
     Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and
     specifying a business day not more than ten (10) days from the
     date such notice is given for the payment of the purchase price
     against delivery of the Shares being purchased.  Subject to the
     terms of Sections 13, 14 and 15 hereof, the Company shall cause
     certificates for the Shares so purchased to be delivered at the
     principal business office of the Company, against payment of the
     full purchase price, on the date specified in the notice of
     exercise.  

     9.  USE OF PROCEEDS

               The cash proceeds of the sale of Shares subject to the
     Options granted hereunder are to be added to the general funds of
     the Company and used for its general corporate purposes as the
     Board of Directors shall determine.  


     10.  NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS

               An Option granted hereunder shall not be transferable,
     whether by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or
     the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option granted
     hereunder shall be exercisable, during the lifetime of the
     holder, only by such holder.  Except to the extent provided
     above, Options may not be assigned, transferred, pledged,
     hypothecated or disposed of in any way (whether by operation of
     law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution,
     attachment or similar process. 

     11.  ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES; EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

               Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein,
     in the event of any change in the Shares subject to the Plan or
     to any Option granted under the Plan (through merger, consolida-
     tion, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock
     split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares,
     exchange of shares, or other like change in the capital structure


   
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     of the Company), an adjustment shall be made to each outstanding
     Option such that each such Option shall thereafter be exercisable
     for such securities, cash and/or other property as would have
     been received in respect of the Shares subject to such Option had
     such Option been exercised in full immediately prior to such
     change, and such an adjustment shall be made successively each
     time any such change shall occur.  The term "Shares" after any
     such change shall refer to the securities, cash and/or property
     then receivable upon exercise of an Option.  In addition, in the
     event of any such change, the Committee shall make any further
     adjustment to the maximum number of Shares which may be acquired
     under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options, the maximum
     number of Shares for which Options may be granted to any one
     employee and the number of Shares and price per Share subject to
     outstanding Options as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or
     enlargement of rights under such Options, and the determination
     of the Committee as to these matters shall be conclusive and
     binding on the optionee; provided, however, that (a) each such
     adjustment with respect to an Incentive Option shall comply with
     the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code (or any successor pro-
     vision) and (b) in no event shall any adjustment be made which
     would render any Incentive Option granted hereunder other than an
     "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code. 

               In the event of a "change in control" of the Company,
     all then outstanding Options shall immediately become
     exercisable.  For purposes of the Plan, a "change in control" of
     the Company shall occur if (a) any person or other entity (other
     than any of the Company's subsidiaries), including any person as
     defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, becomes the
     beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act,
     directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
     total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of
     the Company normally entitled to vote for the election of
     directors of the Company (the "Voting Stock"), (b) the Board of
     Directors approves the sale of all or substantially all of the
     property or assets of the Company, (c) the Board of Directors
     approves a consolidation or merger of the Company with another
     corporation (other than with any of the Company's subsidiaries),
     the consummation of which would result in the stockholders of the
     Company immediately before the occurrence of the consolidation or
     merger owning, in the aggregate, less than 50% of the Voting
     Stock of the surviving entity, or (d) a change in the Board of
     Directors occurs with the result that the members of the Board of
     Directors on the date hereof (the "Incumbent Directors") no
     longer constitute a majority of such Board of Directors, provided
     that any person becoming a director whose election or nomination
     for election was supported by a majority of the Incumbent
     Directors shall be considered an Incumbent Director for purposes
     hereof. 


 
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

               The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine
     that, upon the occurrence of a transaction described in the
     preceding paragraph, each Option outstanding hereunder shall
     terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the
     holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each Share
     subject to such Option, an amount equal to the excess of the fair
     market value of such Shares immediately prior to the occurrence
     of such transaction over the exercise price per Share of such
     Option; such amount shall be payable in cash, in one or more of
     the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a
     combination thereof, as the Committee in its discretion shall
     determine.  The provisions contained in the preceding sentence
     shall be inapplicable to an Option granted within six (6) months
     before the occurrence of a change in control if the holder of
     such Option is subject to the reporting requirements of Section
     16(a) of the Exchange Act and no exemption from liability under
     Section 16(b) is otherwise available to such holder.  

     12.  RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT

               The Plan shall not impose any obligation on the Company
     or on any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation thereof to
     continue the employment of any holder of an Option and it shall
     not impose any obligation on the part of any holder of an Option
     to remain in the employ of the Company or of any subsidiary
     corporation or parent corporation thereof. 

     13.  PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT

               Except as hereinafter provided, the Committee may
     require the holder of an Option granted hereunder, as a condition
     of exercise of such Option in the event the Shares subject to
     such Option are not registered pursuant to an effective registra-
     tion statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
     "Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws, to
     execute and deliver to the Company a written statement, in form
     satisfactory to the Committee, in which such holder (1) repre-
     sents and warrants that such holder is purchasing or acquiring
     the Shares acquired thereunder for such holder's own account, for
     investment only and not with a view to the resale or distribution
     thereof in violation of any federal or state securities laws, and
     (2) agrees that any subsequent resale or distribution of any of
     such Shares shall be made only pursuant to either (i) an effec-
     tive registration statement under the Securities Act covering
     such Shares and under applicable state securities laws or (ii)
     specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the
     Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, based on
     a written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory
     to counsel for the Company, as to the application thereto of any
     such exemptions.  

   
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

               Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the
     Company to register Shares subject to any Option under the
     Securities Act or any state securities law and, to the extent
     deemed necessary by the Company, Shares issued upon exercise of
     an Option may contain a legend to the effect that registration
     rights had not been granted with respect to such Shares. 


     14.  ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES; LEGENDS; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES

               Upon any exercise of an Option granted hereunder and
     payment of the purchase price therefor, a certificate or certifi-
     cates representing the Shares shall be issued by the Company in
     the name of the person exercising the Option and shall be
     delivered to or upon the order of such person. 

               The Company may endorse such legend or legends upon the
     certificates for Shares issued pursuant to the Plan and may issue
     such "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent in
     respect of such Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
     determines to be necessary or appropriate to (a) prevent a
     violation of, or to comply with the procedures for an exemption
     from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (b)
     implement the provisions of the Plan and any agreement between
     the Company and the optionee or grantee with respect to such
     Shares or (c) permit the Company to determine the occurrence of a
     disqualifying disposition, as described in Section 421(b) of the
     Code, of Shares transferred upon exercise of an Incentive Option
     granted under the Plan.  

               The Company shall pay all issue or transfer taxes with
     respect to the issuance or transfer of Shares, as well as all
     fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connec-
     tion with such issuance or transfer, except fees and expenses
     which may be necessitated by the filing or amending of a regis-
     tration statement under the Securities Act, which fees and
     expenses shall be borne by the recipient of the Shares unless
     such registration statement has been filed by the Company for its
     own corporate purposes (and the Company so states) in which event
     the recipient of the Shares shall bear only such fees and ex-
     penses as are attributable solely to the inclusion of the Shares
     an optionee receives in the registration statement. 

               All Shares issued as provided herein shall be fully
     paid and nonassessable to the extent permitted by law. 

     15.  WITHHOLDING TAXES

               The Company may require an employee exercising a
     Non-Qualified Option granted hereunder, or disposing of Shares
     acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Option in a
     disqualifying disposition (within the meaning of Section 421(b)
     of the Code), to reimburse the corporation which employs such

   
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     employee for any taxes required by any governmental regulatory
     authority to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such
     corporation in respect of the issuance or disposition of such
     Shares.  In lieu thereof, the corporation which employs such
     employee shall have the right to withhold the amount of such
     taxes from any other sums due or to become due from such corpo-
     ration to the employee upon such terms and conditions as the
     Committee shall prescribe.  The corporation that employs such
     employee may, in its discretion, hold the stock certificate to
     which such employee is entitled upon the exercise of an Option as
     security for the payment of such withholding tax liability, until
     cash sufficient to pay that liability has been accumulated.  In
     addition, at any time that the Company becomes subject to a
     withholding obligation under applicable law with respect to the
     exercise of a Non-Qualified Option (the "Tax Date"), except as
     set forth below, a holder of a Non-Qualified Option may elect to
     satisfy, in whole or in part, the holder's related personal tax
     liabilities (an "Election") by (a) directing the Company to
     withhold from Shares issuable in the related exercise either a
     specified number of Shares or Shares having a specified value (in
     each case not in excess of the related personal tax liabilities),
     (b) tendering Shares previously issued pursuant to the exercise
     of an Option or other shares of the Company's Common Stock owned
     by the holder or (c) combining any or all of the foregoing
     Elections in any fashion.  An Election shall be irrevocable.  The
     withheld Shares and other shares of Common Stock tendered in
     payment shall be valued at their fair market value (as determined
     under Section 5) on the Tax Date.  The Committee may disapprove
     of any Election, suspend or terminate the right to make Elections
     or provide that the right to make Elections shall not apply to
     particular Shares or exercises.  The Committee may impose any
     additional conditions or restrictions on the right to make an
     Election as it shall deem appropriate.  In addition, the Company
     shall be authorized, without the prior written consent of the
     employee, to effect any such withholding upon exercise of a
     Non-Qualified Option by retention of Shares issuable upon such
     exercise having a fair market value at the date of exercise (as
     determined under Section 5) which is equal to the amount to be
     withheld; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
               --------  -------
     authorized to effect such withholding without the prior written
     consent of the employee if such withholding would subject such
     employee to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. 
     The Committee may prescribe such rules as it determines with
     respect to employees subject to the reporting requirements of
     Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to effect such tax withholding
     in compliance with the Rules established by the Securities and
     Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under Section 16 of the
     Exchange Act and the positions of the staff of the Commission
     thereunder expressed in no-action letters exempting such tax
     withholding from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange
     Act. 



   
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     


     16.  LISTING OF SHARES AND RELATED MATTERS

               If at any time the Committee shall determine that the
     listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to
     such Option on any securities exchange or under any applicable
     law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory
     authority, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
     connection with, the granting of an Option, or the issuance of
     Shares thereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole or
     in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent
     or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any
     conditions not acceptable to the Committee.  

     17.  AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN

               The Board of Directors may, from time to time, amend
     the Plan, provided that no amendment shall be made, without the
     approval of the stockholders of the Company, that will (a)
     increase the total number of Shares reserved for Options under
     the Plan (other than an increase resulting from an adjustment
     provided for in Section 11 hereof), (b) reduce the exercise price
     of any Incentive Option granted hereunder, (c) modify the
     provisions of the Plan relating to eligibility, or (d) materially
     increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan. 
     The Committee shall be authorized to amend the Plan and the
     Options granted thereunder to permit the Incentive Options
     granted thereunder to qualify as "incentive stock options" within
     the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the Treasury
     Regulations promulgated thereunder.  The rights and obligations
     under any Option granted before amendment of the Plan or any
     unexercised portion of such Option shall not be adversely
     affected by amendment of the Plan or the Option without the
     consent of the holder of such Option.  


     18.  TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN

               The Board of Directors may at any time suspend or
     terminate the Plan.  The Plan, unless sooner terminated under
     Section 22 or by action of the Board of Directors, shall
     terminate at the close of business on the Termination Date. 
     Options may not be granted while the Plan is suspended or after
     it is terminated.  Rights and obligations under any Option
     granted while the Plan is in effect shall not be altered or
     impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except upon
     the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted.  The
     power of the Committee to construe and administer any Options
     under Section 3 that are granted prior to the termination or
     suspension of the Plan shall continue after such termination or
     during such suspension. 


    
<PAGE>

<PAGE>
     

     19.  SAVINGS PROVISION

               With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the
     Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply
     with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor
     provision) under the Exchange Act.  To the extent any provision
     of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it
     shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by law and
     deemed advisable by the Committee. 

     20.  GOVERNING LAW

               The Plan, the Options granted hereunder and all related
     matters shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
     accordance with, the laws of the State of New York from time to
     time obtaining. 

     21.  PARTIAL INVALIDITY

               The invalidity or illegality of any provision herein
     shall not be deemed to affect the validity of any other
     provision.

     22.  EFFECTIVE DATE

               The Plan shall become effective at 5:00 P.M., New York
     City time, on the Effective Date; provided, however, that if the
     Plan is not approved by a vote of the stockholders of the Company
     at an annual meeting or any special meeting within twelve (12)
     months after the Effective Date, the Plan and any Options granted
     thereunder shall terminate.




<PAGE>
                                                                 Exhibit 5



                           WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
       A Limited Liability Partnership Including Professional Corporations
                   767 Fifth Avenue   New York, NY  10153-0119
                                 (212) 310-8000
                               Fax: (212) 310-8007


                                January 10, 1997



     United Industrial Corporation
     18 East 48th Street
     New York, NY  10017

     Gentlemen:

               We have acted as counsel to United Industrial Corporation, a
     Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
     preparation and filing of the Registration Statement of the Company on
     Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Registration
     Statement") relating to its 1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended.  Terms
     defined in the Registration Statement and not otherwise defined herein
     are used herein with the meanings as so defined.

               In so acting, we have examined originals or copies,
     certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such
     corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments, and
     such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of
     officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such
     inquiries of such officers and representatives, as we have deemed
     relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set
     forth.

               In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
     signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of
     all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original
     documents of documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic
     copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. 
     As to all questions of fact material to this opinion that have not
     been independently established, we have relied upon certificates or
     comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.

               Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications
     stated herein, we are of the opinion that the 600,000 shares of Common
     Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company


<PAGE>

<PAGE>

     United Industrial Corporation
     January 10, 1997
     Page 2

     (the "Common Stock") to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to
     the Registration Statement, have been duly authorized and, when issued
     and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the United
     Industrial Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended, will be
     validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

               This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in
     connection with the transactions described above.  This opinion may
     not be used or relied upon by any other person and may not be
     disclosed, quoted, filed with a governmental agency or otherwise
     referred to without our prior written consent.

               We hereby consent to be named in the Prospectus as the
     attorneys who have passed upon the legality of the securities being
     offered thereby and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
     Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP











     NYFS11...:\95\78495\0001\1196\OPN7236L.150




<PAGE>
     

                                                              Exhibit 23(a)

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


                We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Form S-
     8 Registration Statement relating to the registration of 600,000
     shares under the 1994 Stock Option Plan of United Industrial
     Corporation of our report dated February 21, 1996, with respect to the
     consolidated financial statements and schedules of United Industrial
     Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
     ended December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission.

                                                  ERNST & YOUNG LLP

     New York, New York
     January 9, 1997



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