AUTOTOTE CORP
S-8, 1998-01-27
CALCULATING & ACCOUNTING MACHINES (NO ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS)
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                     Registration Statement No. 333-_______

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              Autotote Corporation
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

         Delaware                                              81-0422894
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State or Other Jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization                               Identification No.)
                                     
       750 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York                  10022
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

                              Autotote Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        1997 Incentive Compensation Plan
                            (Full title of the plans)

                                Martin E. Schloss
                       Vice President and General Counsel
                              Autotote Corporation
                              750 Lexington Avenue
                                   25th Floor
                            New York, New York 10022
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent For Service)

                                 (212) 754-2233
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Proposed          Proposed
                                                Maximum           Maximum
Title of Securities            Amount to be     Offering Price    Aggregate         Amount of
to be Registered               Registered(1)    Per Share         Offering Price    Registration Fee
- -----------------              -------------    --------------    --------------    ----------------

<S>                            <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>    
Class A Common Stock, $.01
par value ("Class A Common
Stock")                        1,600,000        $2.15625(2)        $3,450,000           $1,046
</TABLE>

(1)      This  registration  statement  (the  "Registration  Statement")  covers
         shares of Class A Common  Stock  which may be offered or sold from time
         to time pursuant to the Registrant's  1997 Incentive  Compensation Plan
         (the "Plan").

(2)       Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration  fee.
          The  proposed  maximum  offering  price per share has been  determined
          pursuant to Rules 457(h) and 457(c)  promulgated  under the Securities
          Act of 1933,  as amended,  on the basis of the average of the high and
          low sale  prices  of the  Class A  Common  Stock  as  reported  on the
          American Stock Exchange on January 22, 1998.

                                                                     Page 1 of 7
                                                 Exhibit index appears on page 7


<PAGE>

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

         The following documents,  which have been filed by Autotote Corporation
(the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC"), are
incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement as of their respective
dates:

         (a) The  Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year
ended October 31, 1996.

         (b) The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Reports  on Form 10-Q for the  fiscal
quarters ended January 31, 1997, April 30, 1997 and July 31, 1997.

         (c) The  Registrant's  Current Reports on Form 8-K dated April 30, 1997
and August 11, 1997.

         (d) The description of the Registrant's  Class A Common Stock, $.01 par
value ("Class A Common Stock"),  contained in the latest registration  statement
of the Registrant  under Section 12 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended  (the "1934  Act"),  including  any  amendment  or report  filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14  and  15(d)  of the  1934  Act,  prior  to  the  filing  of a
post-effective  amendment which indicates that all securities  registered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold,  shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to
be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities

         Not Applicable

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Martin E. Schloss, who is the Vice President and General Counsel of the
Registrant,  has acted as  counsel to the  Registrant  in  connection  with this
Registration  Statement  and has  given an  opinion  as to the  legality  of the
securities being registered hereby.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         The Delaware  General  Corporation  Law (the  "DGCL"),  at Section 145,
provides, in pertinent part, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was
or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,  pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative  (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation),  by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of
the corporation or is or was serving  another  corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture, trust or other enterprise,  at the request of the corporation,  against
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts  paid in
settlement,  actually and  reasonably  incurred by him in  connection  with such
action,  suit or  proceeding  if he  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  he
reasonably  believed  to be in or  not  opposed  to  the  best  interest  of the
corporation  and,  with respect to any  criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was  unlawful.  Lack of good faith,  or
lack of a reasonable belief that one's actions are in or not opposed to the best
interest  of the  corporation,  or  with  respect  to  any  criminal  action  or
proceeding,  lack of  reasonable  cause to believe one's conduct was unlawful is
not presumed from the termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,
order,  settlement,  conviction,  or nolo contendere plea or its equivalent.  In
addition, the indemnification of expenses (including attorneys' fees) is allowed
in derivative  actions,  except no  indemnification is allowed in respect of any
claim,  issue or matter  as to which any such  person  has been  adjudged  to be
liable to the  corporation,  unless and only to the extent the Court of Chancery
or  the  court  in  which  such  action  or  suit  was  brought   decides   that
indemnification  is proper.  To the extent that any such person  succeeds on the
merits or otherwise in defense of any of the above described actions


                                   Page 2 of 7

<PAGE>

or proceedings,  he shall be indemnified against expenses (including  attorneys'
fees).  The  determination  that the person to be indemnified met the applicable
standard of conduct,  if not made by a court,  is made by the Board of Directors
of the  corporation  by a majority vote of a quorum  consisting of directors not
party to such an action, suit or proceeding or, if a quorum is not obtainable or
a  disinterested  quorum so directs,  by independent  legal counsel in a written
opinion or by the stockholders. Expenses may be paid in advance upon the receipt
of undertakings to repay. A corporation may purchase indemnity insurance.

         The Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant, provides at Article
Ninth that no director of the  Registrant  shall be liable to the  Registrant or
its  stockholders  for  monetary  damages  for breach of  fiduciary  duty to the
fullest extent allowed by Delaware law. The Registrant's  By-laws at Article VII
provide that the Registrant  shall indemnify all allowed persons for liabilities
and expenses to the fullest extent allowed by Delaware law.

         Article  Ninth  eliminates  the  personal  liability of  directors,  as
directors (but not as officers),  to the Registrant and its stockholders  unless
one of the statutorily  required exceptions (breach of the duty of loyalty,  bad
faith,  etc.)  applies.  As a result,  directors are not liable even for grossly
negligent actions or omissions,  including grossly negligent decisions involving
control of the Registrant,  in the absence of breach of the duty of loyalty, bad
faith,  improper personal benefit or another statutory exception.  Article Ninth
does not limit or eliminate  the liability of a director for any act or omission
occurring prior to June 15, 1997, when Article Ninth became effective.  Also, it
does not affect a director's  liability to third parties, nor the liability of a
director  to  the  Registrant  or  its  stockholders   arising  from  any  legal
requirement  (such as the federal  securities  laws) other than the duty of care
imposed by Delaware law.

         The Board of Directors of the Registrant passed a resolution,  dated as
of June 26, 1995,  authorizing and directing the Registrant,  prior to the final
disposition of the action entitled IN RE AUTOTOTE SECURITIES LITIGATION,  in the
United States  District  Court for the District of Delaware (the  "Action"),  to
indemnify  certain of the  present  and former  officers  and  directors  of the
Registrant (each, an "Individual Defendant"),  who have been named as defendants
in the Action, against and reimburse each Individual Defendant for, all expenses
(including  reasonable attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
Individual Defendants in connection with the Action.

Item 7.  Exemption from Legislation Claimed

         Not Applicable

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         5.1      Opinion  of counsel  as to  legality  of the shares of Class A
                  Common Stock covered by this Registration Statement.

         10.1     1997 Incentive Compensation Plan.

         10.2     Form of Option Agreement.

         23.1     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

         23.2     Consent of counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)

         24.1     Powers of  Attorney  for the  Registrant  are set forth on the
                  signature page of the Registration Statement.

Item 9.  Undertakings

A.       Post-Effective Amendments

         The Registrant hereby undertakes:


                                   Page 3 of 7

<PAGE>

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

               (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act");

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
after the  effective  date of this  Registration  Statement  (or the most recent
post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or in the  aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration
Statement; and

               (iii) To include any  material  information  with  respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration  Statement or
any  material  change  to  such  information  in  this  Registration  Statement;
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that subparagraphs (i) and (ii) above will not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
subparagraphs  is contained in periodic  reports  filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934
Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

         (2) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act, each such  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment,
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

B.   Subsequent Documents Incorporated by Reference

         The Registrant  hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability  under the  Securities  Act,  each filing of the  Registrant's  annual
report  pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is  incorporated
by  reference  in  this  Registration  Statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.

C.   Claims for Indemnification

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be  permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification is against
public  policy  as  expressed  in  the   Securities   Act  and  is,   therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  Registrant of expenses  incurred or
paid by a  director,  officer or  controlling  person of the  Registrant  in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as  expressed  in the  Securities  Act and will be  governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.


                                   Page 4 of 7

<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 New York, New York on the 27th day of January, 1998.

                              Autotote Corporation
                              (Registrant)


                               By:  /s/ A. Lorne Weil
                                    -----------------
                                        A. Lorne Weil,
                                        Chairman of the Board,
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears
below  constitutes  and appoints Martin E. Schloss and William Luke his true and
lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  each acting  alone,  with full power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all  capacities,  to sign  any or all  amendments  to this  Registration
Statement,  including post-effective  amendments, and any registration statement
for the same  offering  covered  by this  Registration  Statement  that is to be
effective upon filing  pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities  Act, and to
file the same,  with all  exhibits  thereto,  and all  documents  in  connection
therewith,   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission,   granting  unto
attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and each of them, 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,   and  hereby   ratifies   and  confirms  all  that  said
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  each  acting  alone,  or  their  substitute  or
resubstitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the date indicated.

    Signature                   Title(s)                    Date

/s/ A. Lorne Weil        Chairman of the Board,          January 27, 1998
- -----------------        President, Chief Executive                      
     A. Lorne Weil       Officer and Director (principal 
                         executive officer)              
                         
/s/ William Luke         Vice President and Chief)       January 27, 1998
- -----------------        Financial Officer (principal 
    William Luke         financial officer)
                         

/s/ DeWayne E. Laird     Corporate Controller            January 27, 1998
- --------------------     (principal accounting officer)
    DeWayne E. Laird     

/s/ Marshall Bartlett    Director                        January 27, 1998
- ---------------------
    Marshall Bartlett

/s/ Larry J. Lawrence    Director                        January 27, 1998
- ---------------------
    Larry J. Lawrence


                                   Page 5 of 7

<PAGE>

/s/ Sir Brian Wolfson   Director                        January 27, 1998
- ---------------------
    Sir Brian Wolfson


/s/ Alan J. Zakon       Director                        January 27, 1998
- -----------------
    Alan J. Zakon


                                   Page 6 of 7

<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
5.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of the shares of Class A Common Stock
         covered by this Registration Statement.

10.1     1997 Incentive Compensation Plan.

10.2     Form of Option Agreement.

23.1     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

23.2     Consent of counsel.
         (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1     Powers of Attorney for the  Registrant  are set forth on the  signature
         page of the Registration Statement.


                                   Page 7 of 7



[LOGO OF AUTOTOTE APPEARS HERE]

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                              January 27, 1998


Autotote Corporation
750 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York  10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I am the Vice President and General Counsel of Autotote Corporation,  a
Delaware  corporation (the "Company"),  and have acted as counsel to the Company
in connection with its Registration  Statement on Form S-8 filed pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  relating to the  registration  of 1,600,000
shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Class A Common Stock,  par value $.01 per
share  (the  "Common  Stock")  which may be  issued  under  the  Company's  1997
Incentive  Compensation Plan (the "Plan").  The total number of shares of Common
Stock issuable under the Plan is 1,600,000.

         For purposes of the opinion  expressed in this letter,  I have examined
the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and By-laws of the Company,  records of the
corporate proceedings of the Company and such other documents and records of the
Company as I have deemed  necessary or appropriate as a basis for such opinions.
In making my examination,  I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the
legal capacity of natural persons,  the authenticity of all documents  submitted
to me as  originals  and  the  conformity  to the  originals  of  all  documents
submitted to me as photostatic or conformed copies.

         I am a member of the Bar of the State of New York and,  for purposes of
the opinion  expressed in this letter,  do not hold myself out as expert on, nor
am I in  rendering  the  opinion  expressed  herein  passing on, the laws of any
jurisdiction  other than the federal laws of the United States,  the laws of the
State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

         Based on the foregoing,  and having regard to such legal considerations
as I have deemed  relevant,  I am of the opinion  that the Shares have been duly
authorized  and,  upon the issuance  thereof and payment  therefor in accordance
with  the  terms  of  the  Plan,  will  be  legally   issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable.

         I hereby  consent to the  inclusion of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent we do not thereby concede that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of
the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                              Very truly yours,



                              /s/ Martin E. Schloss
                              ---------------------
                              Martin E. Schloss






                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION
              -----------------------------------------------------

                        1997 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


<PAGE>



                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION

                        1997 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                                                                            PAGE

1. Purpose.............................................................     1

2. Definitions.........................................................     1

3. Administration......................................................     3
   (a)    Authority of the Committee...................................     3
   (b)    Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority....................     3
   (c)    Limitation of Liability......................................     4

4. Limitations on Plan Awards..........................................     4
   (a)    Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery..............     4
   (b)    Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards................     4
   (c)    Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards ...........     4

5. Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations...........................     5

6. Specific Terms of Awards............................................     5
   (a)    General......................................................     5
   (b)    Options......................................................     5
   (c)    Stock Appreciation Rights....................................     6
   (d)    Restricted Stock.............................................     6
   (e)    Deferred Stock...............................................     7
   (f)    Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations................     8
   (g)    Dividend Equivalents.........................................     8
   (h)    Other Stock-Based Awards.....................................     8
   (i)    Performance Goals Applicable to Designated Covered Employees.     8

7. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.............................    10
   (a)    Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards ......    10
   (b)    Term of Awards...............................................    10
   (c)    Form and Timing of Payment under Awards; Deferrals ..........    10
   (d)    Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability......................    10

8. Change in Control...................................................    11
   (a)    Effect of "Change in Control"................................    11
   (b)    Definition of "Change in Control"............................    11
   (c)    Definition of "Change in Control Price" .....................    11


<PAGE>

                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION

                        1997 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


9. General Provisions..................................................    12
   (a)    Compliance with Legal and Other Requirements.................    12
   (b)    Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.....................    12
   (c)    Adjustments..................................................    12
   (d)    Taxes........................................................    13
   (e)    Changes to the Plan and Awards...............................    14
   (f)    Limitation on Rights Conferred under Plan....................    14
   (g)    Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts................    14
   (h)    Nonexclusivity of the Plan...................................    14
   (i)    Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares .....    14
   (j)    Governing Law................................................    14
   (k)    Plan Effective Date and Shareholder Approval.................    15


<PAGE>

                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION

                        1997 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
                         EFFECTIVE AS OF AUGUST 13, 1997

         1. PURPOSE.  The purpose of this 1997 Incentive  Compensation Plan (the
"Plan")  is  to  assist  Autotote  Corporation,   a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company"),  and  its  subsidiaries  in  attracting,  retaining,  and  rewarding
executives,  directors, employees, and other persons who provide services to the
Company and/or its subsidiaries,  enabling such persons to acquire or increase a
proprietary  interest in the Company in order to  strengthen  the  mutuality  of
interests  between such persons and the  Company's  stockholders,  and providing
such persons with performance  incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the
creation of  stockholder  value.  The Plan is also  intended to qualify  certain
compensation  awarded  under the Plan for tax  deductibility  under Code Section
162(m) (as hereafter  defined) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee
which administers the Plan.

         2. DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be
defined as set forth  below,  in  addition  to such  terms  defined in Section 1
hereof:

               (a) "Award" means any award of an Option,  SAR (including Limited
          SAR), Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Stock granted as a bonus or in
          lieu of  another  award,  Dividend  Equivalent,  or Other  Stock-Based
          Award,  together  with  any  other  right  or  interest  granted  to a
          Participant under the Plan.

               (b)  "Beneficiary"  means the person,  persons,  trust, or trusts
          which have been  designated by a Participant in his or her most recent
          written  beneficiary  designation  filed with the Committee to receive
          the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant's death or
          to which Awards or other rights are  transferred  if and to the extent
          permitted under Section 9(b) hereof.  If, upon a Participant's  death,
          there  is  no   designated   Beneficiary   or   surviving   designated
          Beneficiary,  then the term Beneficiary means person,  persons, trust,
          or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and  distribution to
          receive such benefits.

               (c)  "Beneficial  Owner" shall have the meaning  ascribed to such
          term in Rule 13d-3 under the  Exchange  Act and any  successor to such
          Rule.

               (d) "Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.

               (e) "Change in Control"  means  Change in Control as defined with
          related terms in Section 8 of the Plan.

               (f)  "Change in Control  Price"  means the amount  calculated  in
          accordance with Section 8(c) of the Plan.


<PAGE>

               (g) "Code"  means the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended
          from time to time,  including  regulations  thereunder  and  successor
          provisions and regulations thereto.


               (h)  "Committee"  means  a  committee  of two or  more  directors
          designated by the Board to  administer  the Plan;  provided,  however,
          that  directors  appointed  as members of the  Committee  shall not be
          employees of the Company or any subsidiary.  In appointing  members of
          the Committee,  the Board will consider whether a member is or will be
          a Qualified Member,  but such members are not required to be Qualified
          Members at the time of  appointment or during their term of service on
          the Committee.

               (i) "Covered Employee" means an Eligible Person who is a "covered
          employee" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m).

               (j)  "Deferred  Stock"  means a right,  granted to a  Participant
          under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, at the end of a specified
          deferral period.

               (k) "Dividend Equivalent" means a right, granted to a Participant
          under Section 6(g), to receive  cash,  Stock,  other Awards,  or other
          property  equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified
          number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

               (l)  "Effective  Date"  means the date of approval of the Plan by
          stockholders of the Company.

               (m)  "Eligible  Person"  means each  executive  officer and other
          officer or  employee of the  Company or of any  subsidiary,  including
          each such  person  who may also be a  director  of the  Company,  each
          non-employee  director  of the  Company,  and each  other  person  who
          provides  substantial  services to the Company and/or its subsidiaries
          and who is  designated  as eligible by the  Committee.  An employee on
          leave of  absence  may be  considered  as still in the  employ  of the
          Company or a subsidiary for purposes of eligibility for  participation
          in the Plan.

               (n) "Exchange Act" means the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
          amended from time to time,  including  rules  thereunder and successor
          provisions and rules thereto.

               (o) "Fair  Market  Value"  means the fair market  value of Stock,
          Awards,  or other  property as  determined  by the  Committee or under
          procedures  established by the Committee.  Unless otherwise determined
          by the Committee,  the Fair Market Value of Stock shall be the average
          of the high and low sales prices of Stock on a given date or, if there
          are no sales on that date, on the latest  previous date on which there
          were sales,  reported for composite  transactions in securities listed
          on the principal trading market on which Stock is then listed.

               (p) "Incentive  Stock Option" or "ISO" means any Option  intended
          to be and  


                                      -2-

<PAGE>

          designated  as an incentive  stock  option  within the meaning of Code
          Section 422 or any successor provision thereto.

               (q) "Limited SAR" means a right  granted to a  Participant  under
          Section 6(c) hereof.

               (r)  "Option"  means a  right,  granted  to a  Participant  under
          Section 6(b) hereof,  to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified
          price during specified time periods.

               (s)  "Other  Stock-Based   Awards"  means  Awards  granted  to  a
          Participant under Section 6(h) hereof.

               (t)  "Participant"  means a person who has been  granted an Award
          under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no
          longer an Eligible Person.

               (u)  "Qualified  Member" means a member of the Committee who is a
          "Non-Employee  Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) and an
          "outside  director"  within the meaning of Regulation  1.162-27  under
          Code Section 162(m).

               (v) "Restricted Stock" means Stock granted to a Participant under
          Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain  restrictions and to a
          risk of forfeiture.

               (w) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect
          and  applicable  to the  Plan  and  Participants,  promulgated  by the
          Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under Section 16 of the Exchange
          Act.

               (x) "Stock"  means the Company's  Class A Common Stock,  $.01 par
          value,   and  such  other   securities  as  may  be  substituted   (or
          resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

               (y) "Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SAR" means a right granted to
          a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.

         3. ADMINISTRATION.

               (a)  Authority of the  Committee.  Except as  otherwise  provided
          below, the Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee
          shall  have full and final  authority,  in each  case  subject  to and
          consistent with the provisions of the Plan, to select Eligible Persons
          to become Participants,  grant Awards, determine the type, number, and
          other terms and  conditions  of, and all other  matters  relating  to,
          Awards,  prescribe Award  agreements  (which need not be identical for
          each Participant) and rules and regulations for the  administration of
          the Plan,  construe and  interpret the Plan and Award  agreements  and
          correct  defects,  supply  omissions,  or  reconcile   inconsistencies
          therein,  and to make all other  decisions and  determinations  as the
          Committee may deem  necessary or advisable for the  administration  of
          the Plan. The foregoing  notwithstanding,  the Board shall perform the
          functions of the Committee  for purposes of granting  Awards under the
          Plan to  non-employee  directors,  and may perform any function of the
          Committee under the Plan for any


                                      -3-

<PAGE>

          other  purpose,  including  for the
          purpose of ensuring that  transactions  under the Plan by Participants
          who are then  subject to Section 16 of the  Exchange Act in respect of
          the  Company  are exempt  under Rule  16b-3.  In any case in which the
          Board is performing a function of the Committee  under the Plan,  each
          reference  to the  Committee  herein  shall be  deemed to refer to the
          Board,  except  where the context  otherwise  requires.  

               (b) Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. At any time that a
          member of the Committee is not a Qualified  Member,  any action of the
          Committee  relating  to  an  Award  granted  or  to  be  granted  to a
          Participant  who is then  subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in
          respect  of the  Company,  or  relating  to an Award  intended  by the
          Committee to qualify as  "performance-based  compensation"  within the
          meaning of Code  Section  162(m) and  regulations  thereunder,  may be
          taken  either  (i) by a  subcommittee,  designated  by the  Committee,
          composed  solely  of two or  more  Qualified  Members,  or (ii) by the
          Committee  but with each such  member  who is not a  Qualified  Member
          abstaining or recusing himself or herself from such action;  provided,
          however,  that, upon such abstention or recusal, the Committee remains
          composed of two or more Qualified Members. Such action,  authorized by
          such a subcommittee or by the Committee upon the abstention or recusal
          of such non-Qualified Member(s),  shall be the action of the Committee
          for purposes of the Plan. Any action of the Committee  shall be final,
          conclusive  and binding on all persons,  including  the  Company,  its
          subsidiaries,  Participants,  Beneficiaries, transferees under Section
          9(b)  hereof,  or other  persons  claiming  rights  from or  through a
          Participant, and stockholders. The express grant of any specific power
          to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall
          not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the  Committee.
          The  Committee  may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or
          any subsidiary, or committees thereof, the authority,  subject to such
          terms as the Committee  shall  determine,  to perform such  functions,
          including administrative functions, as the Committee may determine, to
          the  extent  that such  delegation  will not  result in the loss of an
          exemption  under Rule  16b-3(d)(1)  for Awards granted to Participants
          subject to Section 16 of the  Exchange  Act in respect of the  Company
          and will not cause  Awards  intended to qualify as  "performance-based
          compensation"  under Code  Section  162(m) to fail to so qualify.  The
          Committee may appoint agents to assist it in administering the Plan.

               (c)  Limitation  of  Liability.  The  Committee  and each  member
          thereof  shall be  entitled  to, in good  faith,  rely or act upon any
          report or other  information  furnished to him or her by any executive
          officer, other officer or employee of the Company or a subsidiary, the
          Company's  independent  auditors,  consultants,  or any  other  agents
          assisting in the  administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee
          and any officer or employee of the Company or a  subsidiary  acting at
          the  direction or on behalf of the  Committee  shall not be personally
          liable  for any  action or  determination  taken or made in good faith
          with respect to the Plan, and shall,  to the extent  permitted by law,
          be fully  indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any
          such action or determination.

         4. LIMITATIONS ON PLAN AWARDS.

               (a) Overall Number of Shares  Available for Delivery.  Subject to
          adjustment  as provided in Section  9(c)  hereof,  the total number of
          shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with
          Awards  under  the Plan  shall be 1.6  million.  Any  shares  of 


                                      -4-

<PAGE>

          Stock  delivered  under  the Plan  shall  consist  of  authorized  and
          unissued shares or treasury shares.

               (b)  Application of Limitation to Grants of Awards.  No Award may
          be  granted  if the  number  of shares  of Stock to which  such  Award
          relates,  when added to the  number of shares of Stock to which  other
          then-outstanding  Awards  relate  and the  number  of  shares of Stock
          issued or delivered  upon  settlement  of previously  granted  Awards,
          exceeds the number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under this
          Section 4. The Committee may adopt reasonable  counting  procedures to
          ensure appropriate  counting,  avoid double counting (as, for example,
          in the case of tandem or substitute  awards) and make  adjustments  if
          the  number of shares of Stock  actually  delivered  differs  from the
          number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

               (c) Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards.  Shares of
          Stock  subject to an Award under the Plan that is  canceled,  expired,
          forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without a delivery
          of  shares  to the  Participant,  including  (i) the  number of shares
          withheld in payment of any  exercise or purchase  price of an Award or
          taxes relating to Awards, and (ii) the number of shares surrendered in
          payment  of any  exercise  or  purchase  price  of an  Award  or taxes
          relating to any Award,  will again be  available  for Awards under the
          Plan,  except that if any such shares could not again be available for
          Awards  to a  particular  Participant  under  any  applicable  law  or
          regulation,  such shares shall be available  exclusively for Awards to
          Participants who are not subject to such limitation.

         5.  ELIGIBILITY;  PER-PERSON AWARD  LIMITATIONS.  Awards may be granted
under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.  In each fiscal year during any part of
which the Plan is in  effect,  an  Eligible  Person  who is an  employee  of the
Company or any of its  subsidiaries  may not be granted Awards  relating to more
than one million  shares of Stock,  subject to adjustment as provided in Section
9(c), under each of Sections 6(b), 6(c), 6(d), 6(e), 6(f), 6(g), and 6(h).

         6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS.

               (a)  General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and  conditions
          set forth in this Section 6. In addition,  the Committee may impose on
          any Award or the exercise thereof,  at the date of grant or thereafter
          (subject to Section 9(e)),  such additional terms and conditions,  not
          inconsistent  with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee  shall
          determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event
          of termination of employment by the Participant and terms permitting a
          Participant  to  make  elections  relating  to his or her  Award.  The
          Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate,  waive
          or modify,  at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not
          mandatory  under  the  Plan.  Except  as  expressly  provided  by  the
          Committee  (including for purposes of complying with  requirements  of
          the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to lawful  consideration
          for issuance of shares),  no consideration other than services will be
          required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award.

               (b) Options.  The  Committee is  authorized  to grant  Options to
          Participants on the following terms and conditions:


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

                    (i) Exercise  Price.  The exercise  price per share of Stock
              purchasable  under an Option shall be determined by the Committee,
              provided that such exercise  price shall be not less than the Fair
              Market  Value  of a share  of  Stock  on the date of grant of such
              Option except as provided under Section 7(a) hereof.

                    (ii)  Time and  Method  of  Exercise.  The  Committee  shall
              determine  the time or times at which or the  circumstances  under
              which an Option may be  exercised  in whole or in part  (including
              based on achievement  of  performance  goals and/or future service
              requirements),  the  methods by which such  exercise  price may be
              paid or deemed to be paid,  the form of such  payment,  including,
              without  limitation,  cash, Stock,  other Awards or awards granted
              under  other  plans of the  Company  or any  subsidiary,  or other
              property  (including  notes or other  contractual  obligations  of
              Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods
              by or forms in which  Stock  will be  delivered  or  deemed  to be
              delivered to Participants.

                    (iii)  ISOs.  The  terms of any ISO  granted  under the Plan
              shall comply in all respects  with the  provisions of Code Section
              422. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term
              of the  Plan  relating  to  ISOs  (including  any  SAR  in  tandem
              therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any
              discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as
              to  disqualify  either the Plan or any ISO under Code Section 422,
              unless the  Participant  has first  requested the change that will
              result  in such  disqualification.  ISOs  may be  granted  only to
              employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. To the extent
              that the aggregate  Fair Market Value  (determined  as of the time
              the Option is  granted)  of the Stock  with  respect to which ISOs
              granted under this Plan and all other plans of the Company and any
              subsidiary  are  first  exercisable  by any  employee  during  any
              calendar   year  shall  exceed  the  maximum   limit   (currently,
              $100,000),  if any,  imposed  from time to time under Code Section
              422, such Options shall be treated as Options that are not ISOs.

               (c) Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  The  Committee is authorized to
          grant SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

                    (i) Right to Payment.  A SAR shall confer on the Participant
              to whom it is granted a right to receive,  upon exercise  thereof,
              the excess of (A) the Fair  Market  Value of one share of Stock on
              the date of exercise (or, in the case of a "Limited SAR," the Fair
              Market  Value  determined  by  reference  to the Change in Control
              Price,  as defined  under  Section 8(c) hereof) over (B) the grant
              price of the SAR as determined by the Committee.

                    (ii) Other Terms.  The Committee shall determine at the date
               of grant  or  thereafter,  the  time or  times  at which  and the
               circumstances  under which a SAR may be  exercised in whole or in
               part (including based on achievement of performance  goals and/or
               future service requirements),  the method of exercise,  method of
               settlement,  form of consideration payable in settlement,  method
               by or forms in which  Stock  will be  delivered  or  deemed to be
               delivered to Participants, whether or not a


                                      -6-

<PAGE>

               SAR shall be in tandem or in  combination  with any other  Award,
               and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.  Limited SARs that
               may only be exercised in  connection  with a Change in Control or
               other event as specified by the  Committee may be granted on such
               terms, not inconsistent  with this Section 6(c), as the Committee
               may determine.  SARs and Limited SARs may be either  freestanding
               or in tandem with other Awards.

               (d)  Restricted  Stock.  The  Committee  is  authorized  to grant
          Restricted   Stock  to   Participants   on  the  following  terms  and
          conditions:

                    (i)  Grant  and  Restrictions.  Restricted  Stock  shall  be
              subject  to  such   restrictions  on   transferability,   risk  of
              forfeiture  and other  restrictions,  if any, as the Committee may
              impose,  which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination
              at such  times,  under  such  circumstances  (including  based  on
              achievement   of   performance   goals   and/or   future   service
              requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee
              may  determine at the date of grant or  thereafter.  Except to the
              extent  restricted  under  the  terms of the  Plan  and any  Award
              agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant  granted
              Restricted  Stock  shall have all of the rights of a  stockholder,
              including the right to vote the Restricted  Stock and the right to
              receive dividends  thereon (subject to any mandatory  reinvestment
              or  other  requirement  imposed  by  the  Committee).  During  the
              restricted period  applicable to the Restricted Stock,  subject to
              Section  9(b)  below,  the  Restricted  Stock  may  not  be  sold,
              transferred,   pledged,   hypothecated,   margined,  or  otherwise
              encumbered by the Participant.

                    (ii)  Forfeiture.  Except  as  otherwise  determined  by the
              Committee,  upon  termination of employment  during the applicable
              restriction period,  Restricted Stock that is at that time subject
              to restrictions  shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company;
              provided that the Committee may provide,  by rule or regulation or
              in any Award  agreement,  or may determine in any individual case,
              that restrictions or forfeiture  conditions relating to Restricted
              Stock  shall  be  waived  in  whole  or in  part in the  event  of
              terminations  resulting from specified  causes,  and the Committee
              may in other  cases  waive in whole or in part the  forfeiture  of
              Restricted Stock.

                    (iii) Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under
              the Plan may be  evidenced in such manner as the  Committee  shall
              determine.  If  certificates  representing  Restricted  Stock  are
              registered  in the  name of the  Participant,  the  Committee  may
              require  that  such  certificates   bear  an  appropriate   legend
              referring to the terms,  conditions and restrictions applicable to
              such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession
              of the  certificates,  and that the  Participant  deliver  a stock
              power  to  the  Company,   endorsed  in  blank,  relating  to  the
              Restricted Stock.

                    (iv) Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of an
              Award of Restricted Stock, the Committee may require that any cash
              dividends  paid on a share of  Restricted  Stock be  automatically
              reinvested in additional  shares of Restricted Stock or applied to
              the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise


                                      -7-

<PAGE>

              determined by the Committee,  Stock distributed in connection with
              a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property distributed as
              a  dividend,  shall  be  subject  to  restrictions  and a risk  of
              forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect
              to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

               (e) Deferred Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred
          Stock to Participants, which are rights to receive Stock at the end of
          a  specified  deferral  period,  subject  to the  following  terms and
          conditions:

                    (i)  Award  and  Restrictions.  Settlement  of an  Award  of
              Deferred Stock shall occur upon  expiration of the deferral period
              specified  for  such  Deferred  Stock  by the  Committee  (or,  if
              permitted by the  Committee,  as elected by the  Participant).  In
              addition,  Deferred  Stock  shall be subject to such  restrictions
              (which may  include a risk of  forfeiture)  as the  Committee  may
              impose, if any, which  restrictions may lapse at the expiration of
              the deferral period or at earlier specified times (including based
              on  achievement   of  performance   goals  and/or  future  service
              requirements),  separately or in  combination,  in installments or
              otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

                    (ii)  Forfeiture.  Except  as  otherwise  determined  by the
              Committee,  upon  termination of employment  during the applicable
              deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture  conditions
              apply (as provided in the Award agreement  evidencing the Deferred
              Stock),  all  Deferred  Stock  that is at  that  time  subject  to
              deferral   (other  than  a  deferral   at  the   election  of  the
              Participant)  shall be forfeited;  provided that the Committee may
              provide,  by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement,  or may
              determine in any individual case, that  restrictions or forfeiture
              conditions  relating to Deferred Stock shall be waived in whole or
              in part in the  event of  terminations  resulting  from  specified
              causes,  and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in
              part the forfeiture of Deferred Stock.

                    (iii) Dividend  Equivalents.  Unless otherwise determined by
              the  Committee  at  date of  grant,  Dividend  Equivalents  on the
              specified  number  of  shares  of  Stock  covered  by an  Award of
              Deferred  Stock  shall be  either  (A) paid with  respect  to such
              Deferred  Stock at the dividend  payment date in cash or in shares
              of  unrestricted  Stock  having a Fair  Market  Value equal to the
              amount of such  dividends,  or (B)  deferred  with respect to such
              Deferred  Stock  and the  amount  or value  thereof  automatically
              deemed  reinvested in additional  Deferred Stock,  other Awards or
              other  investment  vehicles,  as the Committee  shall determine or
              permit the Participant to elect.

               (f) Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations.  The Committee
          is  authorized  to grant Stock as a bonus,  or to grant Stock or other
          Awards in lieu of  obligations  to pay cash or deliver other  property
          under  the Plan or under  other  plans or  compensatory  arrangements.
          Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms
          as shall be determined by the Committee.

               (g) Dividend  Equivalents.  The  Committee is authorized to grant
          Dividend  Equivalents to a Participant,  entitling the  Participant to
          receive cash, Stock, other Awards,


                                      -8-

<PAGE>

          or other  property  equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a
          specified  number  of shares of  Stock,  or other  periodic  payments.
          Dividend  Equivalents  may be awarded on a  free-standing  basis or in
          connection with another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend
          Equivalents  shall be paid or  distributed  when  accrued  or shall be
          deemed to have been reinvested in additional  Stock,  Awards, or other
          investment   vehicles,   and   subject   to   such   restrictions   on
          transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.

               (h)  Other  Stock-Based  Awards.  The  Committee  is  authorized,
          subject to limitations  under applicable law, to grant to Participants
          such other  Awards that may be  denominated  or payable in,  valued in
          whole or in part by reference  to, or  otherwise  based on, or related
          to,  Stock,  as  deemed by the  Committee  to be  consistent  with the
          purposes of the Plan,  including,  without limitation,  convertible or
          exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable
          into Stock,  purchase rights for Stock,  Awards with value and payment
          contingent  upon  performance  of the  Company  or any  other  factors
          designated  by the  Committee,  and Awards  valued by reference to the
          book value of Stock or the value of securities  of or the  performance
          of specified subsidiaries. The Committee shall determine the terms and
          conditions of such Awards. Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the
          nature of a purchase  right  granted  under this Section 6(h) shall be
          purchased  for such  consideration,  paid for at such  times,  by such
          methods,  and in such  forms,  including,  without  limitation,  cash,
          Stock,  other  Awards,  or  other  property,  as the  Committee  shall
          determine.

               (i) Performance Goals Applicable to Designated Covered Employees.
          If the Committee  determines that an Award described in Sections 6(d),
          6(e) or 6(h) to be granted to an Eligible  Person who is designated by
          the  Committee as likely to be a Covered  Employee  should  qualify as
          "performance-based  compensation" for purposes of Code Section 162(m),
          the  grant,  exercise,  and/or  settlement  of  such  Award  shall  be
          contingent upon achievement of  preestablished  performance  goals and
          other terms set forth in this Section 6(i).

                    (i) Performance  Goals Generally.  The performance goals for
              such Awards shall consist of one or more  business  criteria and a
              targeted  level or levels of  performance  with respect to each of
              such criteria,  as specified by the Committee consistent with this
              Section  6(i).  Performance  goals  shall be  objective  and shall
              otherwise  meet  the  requirements  of  Code  Section  162(m)  and
              regulations   thereunder   (including   Regulation   1.162-27  and
              successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the
              level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in
              the   achievement  of  performance   goals  being   "substantially
              uncertain."  The Committee may determine that such Awards shall be
              granted,  exercised,  and/or  settled upon  achievement of any one
              performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must
              be achieved as a condition to grant,  exercise,  and/or settlement
              of such Awards. Performance goals may differ for Awards granted to
              any one Participant or to different Participants.

                    (ii)  Business  Criteria.  One  or  more  of  the  following
              business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or
              for  specified  subsidiaries  or  business  units  


                                      -9-

<PAGE>

               of the  Company  (except  with  respect to the total  stockholder
               return and  earnings  per share  criteria),  shall be used by the
               Committee in establishing  performance goals for such Awards: (1)
               earnings per share;  (2) revenues;  (3) cash flow;  (4) cash flow
               return on investment; (5) return on net assets, return on assets,
               return on investment,  return on capital,  return on equity;  (6)
               economic  value  added;  (7)  operating  margin;  (8) net income;
               pretax earnings;  pretax earnings before  interest,  depreciation
               and  amortization;   pretax  operating  earnings  after  interest
               expense and before incentives, service fees, and extraordinary or
               special items;  operating earnings; (9) total stockholder return;
               and (10) any of the above goals as compared to the performance of
               a published or special  index deemed  applicable by the Committee
               including,  but not limited  to, the  Standard & Poor's 500 Stock
               Index or a group of comparator companies.

                    (iii)   Performance   Period;    Timing   for   Establishing
              Performance Goals.  Achievement of performance goals in respect of
              such Awards shall be measured over a  performance  period of up to
              ten years, as specified by the Committee.  Performance goals shall
              be  established  not later than 90 days after the beginning of any
              performance  period  applicable  to such Awards,  or at such other
              date  as may  be  required  or  permitted  for  "performance-based
              compensation" under Code Section 162(m).

                    (iv) Other  Terms.  The  Committee  may, in its  discretion,
              reduce  the  amount  of a  settlement  otherwise  to  be  made  in
              connection  with such Awards,  but may not exercise  discretion to
              increase any such amount payable to a Covered  Employee in respect
              of an Award subject to this Section 6(i).  All  determinations  by
              the Committee as to the  establishment  of performance  goals, and
              the achievement of performance goals relating to Awards subject to
              this  Section  6(i),  shall be made in  writing in the case of any
              Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m). The Committee
              may not delegate any  responsibility  relating to such Awards, and
              the Board shall not perform  such  functions  at any time that the
              Committee  is composed  solely of Qualified  Members.  Because the
              Committee  cannot   determine  with  certainty   whether  a  given
              Participant  will be a Covered  Employee  with respect to a fiscal
              year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as
              used herein shall mean only a person  designated by the Committee,
              at the  time of grant  of an  Award,  as  likely  to be a  Covered
              Employee with respect to that fiscal year. If any provision of the
              Plan as in  effect  on the  date  of  adoption  or any  agreements
              relating to Awards that are  designated as intended to comply with
              Code Section  162(m) does not comply or is  inconsistent  with the
              requirements  of Code Section  162(m) or  regulations  thereunder,
              such provision  shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent
              necessary to conform to such requirements.

               7. CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.

               (a)  Stand-Alone,  Additional,  Tandem,  and  Substitute  Awards.
          Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee,
          be granted  either  alone or in  addition  to, in tandem  with,  or in
          substitution  or exchange  for,  any other Award or any award  


                                      -10-

<PAGE>

               granted under another plan of the Company, any subsidiary, or any
               business entity to be acquired by the Company or a subsidiary, or
               any other  right of a  Participant  to receive  payment  from the
               Company  or  any  subsidiary.   Such  additional,   tandem,   and
               substitute  or exchange  Awards may be granted at any time. If an
               Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or
               award,  the  Committee  shall require the surrender of such other
               Award or award in  consideration  for the grant of the new Award.
               In addition,  Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation,
               including  in lieu of cash amounts  payable  under other plans of
               the  Company  or any  subsidiary,  in  which  the  value of Stock
               subject  to  the  Award  is  equivalent  in  value  to  the  cash
               compensation (for example,  Deferred Stock or Restricted  Stock),
               or in which the exercise price, grant price, or purchase price of
               the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal
               to the Fair Market Value of the underlying  Stock minus the value
               of  the  cash  compensation  surrendered  (for  example,  Options
               granted with an exercise price  "discounted" by the amount of the
               cash compensation surrendered).

               (b)  Term of  Awards.  The term of each  Award  shall be for such
          period as may be  determined  by the  Committee;  provided  that in no
          event shall the term of any Option or SAR exceed a period of ten years
          (or, in the case of an ISO, such shorter term as may be required under
          Code Section 422).

               (c) Form and Timing of Payment under Awards;  Deferrals.  Subject
          to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement,  payments
          to be made by the  Company or a  subsidiary  upon the  exercise  of an
          Option or other Award or  settlement of an Award may be made in Stock,
          other Awards,  or other property,  and may be made in a single payment
          or transfer,  in installments,  or on a deferred basis. The settlement
          of any Award may be  accelerated in the discretion of the Committee or
          upon  occurrence  of one or more  specified  events (in  addition to a
          Change in Control).  Installment or deferred  payments may be required
          by the Committee  (subject to Section 9(e) of the Plan,  including the
          consent  provisions  thereof  in  the  case  of  any  deferral  of  an
          outstanding Award not provided for in the original Award agreement) or
          permitted at the election of the  Participant  on terms and conditions
          established   by  the   Committee.   Payments  may  include,   without
          limitation,  provisions  for the payment or  crediting  of  reasonable
          interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting
          of Dividend  Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or
          deferred payments denominated in Stock.

               (d) Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability.  It is the intent of
          the Company that the grant of any Awards to or other  transaction by a
          Participant  who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be
          exempt under Rule 16b-3 (except for  transactions  which a Participant
          has been  advised  in advance  are  non-exempt).  Accordingly,  if any
          provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the
          requirements of Rule 16b-3 as then applicable to any such transaction,
          such  provision  shall be  construed  or deemed  amended to the extent
          necessary to conform to the applicable  requirements  of Rule 16b-3 so
          that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).


                                      -11-

<PAGE>

         8. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

               (a) Effect of "Change in  Control."  In the event of a "Change in
          Control,"  the  following  provisions  shall  apply  unless  otherwise
          provided in the Award agreement:

                    (i) Any  Award  carrying  a right to  exercise  that was not
              previously  exercisable and vested shall become fully  exercisable
              and vested as of the time of the Change in Control;

                    (ii) If any optionee holds an Option  immediately prior to a
              Change in Control that was not previously  exercisable  and vested
              in full  throughout  the  60-day  period  preceding  the Change in
              Control,  he shall be entitled to elect,  during the 60-day period
              preceding  the Change in Control,  in lieu of acquiring the shares
              of Stock  covered by the portion of the Option that was not vested
              and  exercisable  within such 60-day period,  to receive,  and the
              Company  shall be  obligated  to pay,  in cash the  excess  of the
              Change in Control  Price over the  exercise  price of such Option,
              multiplied  by the  number  of  shares  of Stock  covered  by such
              portion of the Option;

                    (iii)  The   restrictions,   deferral  of  settlement,   and
              forfeiture  conditions applicable to any other Award granted under
              the Plan shall lapse and such Awards  shall be deemed fully vested
              as of the time of the Change in  Control,  except to the extent of
              any  waiver  by  the   Participant   and  subject  to   applicable
              restrictions set forth in Section 9(a) hereof; and

                    (iv)  With  respect  to any  outstanding  Award  subject  to
              achievement  of performance  goals and conditions  under the Plan,
              such  performance  goals and other conditions will be deemed to be
              met if and to the extent so provided by the Committee in the Award
              agreement relating to such Award.

               (b)  Definition  of "Change in  Control."  A "Change in  Control"
          shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

                    (i) when any  "person" as defined in Section  3(a)(9) of the
              Exchange  Act and as used in  Sections  13(d) and  14(d)  thereof,
              including  a "group" as defined in Section  13(d) of the  Exchange
              Act but excluding the Company and any  subsidiary and any employee
              benefit  plan  sponsored  or  maintained  by  the  Company  or any
              subsidiary (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee),
              directly or indirectly, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined
              in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company
              representing  at least 40% percent (or such greater  percentage as
              the  Committee  may  specify in  connection  with the grant of any
              Award)   of  the   combined   voting   power   of  the   Company's
              then-outstanding securities; or

                    (ii) the occurrence of a transaction  requiring  stockholder
              approval  for the  acquisition  of the Company by an entity  other
              than the Company or a subsidiary through purchase of assets, or by
              merger, or otherwise.

               (c)  Definition  of  "Change in Control  Price."  The  "Change in
          Control  Price" means an amount in cash equal to the higher of (i) the
          amount of cash and fair market value of


                                      -12-

<PAGE>

          property  that  is  the  highest  price  per  share  paid   (including
          extraordinary  dividends) in any transaction  triggering the Change in
          Control,  or (ii) the highest  Fair Market Value per share at any time
          during the 60-day period preceding the Change in Control.

         9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

               (a)  Compliance  with Legal and Other  Requirements.  The Company
          may, to the extent  deemed  necessary or  advisable by the  Committee,
          postpone  the  issuance  or  delivery  of  Stock or  payment  of other
          benefits  under any Award until  completion  of such  registration  or
          qualification of such Stock or other required action under any federal
          or state law,  rule, or regulation,  listing or other required  action
          with respect to any stock exchange or automated  quotation system upon
          which the  Stock or other  securities  of the  Company  are  listed or
          quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company, as the
          Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to
          make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or
          be subject to such other conditions as it may consider  appropriate in
          connection  with the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other
          benefits in compliance with applicable  laws,  rules, and regulations,
          listing   requirements,    or   other   obligations.   The   foregoing
          notwithstanding,  in connection with a Change in Control,  the Company
          shall  take or cause to be taken no  action,  and shall  undertake  or
          permit to arise no legal or  contractual  obligation,  that results or
          would result in any  postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock
          or payment of benefits  under any Award or the imposition of any other
          conditions on such issuance,  delivery or payment,  to the extent that
          such  postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden
          on a Participant  than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change in
          Control.

               (b) Limits on Transferability;  Beneficiaries.  No Award or other
          right or  interest of a  Participant  under the Plan shall be pledged,
          hypothecated   or  otherwise   encumbered  or  subject  to  any  lien,
          obligation or liability of such  Participant to any party, or assigned
          or transferred by such Participant  otherwise than by will or the laws
          of descent and  distribution  or to a Beneficiary  upon the death of a
          Participant,  and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable  shall
          be  exercised  during  the  lifetime  of the  Participant  only by the
          Participant  or his or her  guardian or legal  representative,  except
          that  Awards  and  other  rights  (other  than ISOs and SARs in tandem
          therewith) may be transferred  to one or more  Beneficiaries  or other
          transferees  during  the  lifetime  of  the  Participant,  and  may be
          exercised by such  transferees  in  accordance  with the terms of such
          Award,  but only if and to the extent such  transfers are permitted by
          the  Committee  pursuant  to the express  terms of an Award  agreement
          (subject to any terms and  conditions  which the  Committee may impose
          thereon).  A  Beneficiary,  transferee,  or other person  claiming any
          rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject
          to all  terms  and  conditions  of the  Plan and any  Award  agreement
          applicable to such Participant,  except as otherwise determined by the
          Committee, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary
          or appropriate by the Committee.

               (c)  Adjustments.  In  the  event  that  any  dividend  or  other
          distribution  (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property),
          recapitalization,  forward or reverse split,  


                                      -13-

<PAGE>

          reorganization,    merger,   consolidation,   spin-off,   combination,
          repurchase, share exchange, liquidation,  dissolution or other similar
          corporate  transaction  or  event  affects  the  Stock  such  that  an
          adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate  under the
          Plan,  then  the  Committee  shall,  in  such  manner  as it may  deem
          equitable,  adjust  any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of
          Stock  which  may be  delivered  in  connection  with  Awards  granted
          thereafter,  (ii)  the  number  and kind of  shares  of Stock by which
          annual  per-person  Award  limitations  are measured  under  Section 5
          hereof,  (iii) the  number  and kind of shares of Stock  subject to or
          deliverable  in respect of  outstanding  Awards and (iv) the  exercise
          price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make
          provision  for  payment  of cash or other  property  in respect of any
          outstanding  Award.  In addition,  the Committee is authorized to make
          adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria  included
          in, Awards (including  performance goals) in recognition of unusual or
          nonrecurring events (including,  without limitation,  events described
          in the preceding sentence, as well as acquisitions and dispositions of
          businesses  and assets)  affecting the Company,  any subsidiary or any
          business  unit,  or the  financial  statements  of the  Company or any
          subsidiary, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations,
          accounting   principles,   tax  rates  and   regulations  or  business
          conditions  or in view of the  Committee's  assessment of the business
          strategy of the Company,  any  subsidiary  or business  unit  thereof,
          performance  of  comparable   organizations,   economic  and  business
          conditions,  personal  performance  of a  Participant,  and any  other
          circumstances deemed relevant;  provided that no such adjustment shall
          be authorized or made if and to the extent that such  authority or the
          making of such adjustment would cause Options, SARs, or Awards granted
          under Section 6(i) hereof to Participants  designated by the Committee
          as Covered  Employees  and  intended to qualify as  "performance-based
          compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and regulations  thereunder to
          otherwise fail to qualify as  "performance-based  compensation"  under
          Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.

               (d) Taxes.  The  Company  and any  subsidiary  is  authorized  to
          withhold  from any Award  granted,  any  payment  relating to an Award
          under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any payroll
          or other payment to a Participant,  amounts of  withholding  and other
          taxes due or potentially  payable in connection with any Award, and to
          take such other action as the Committee  may deem  advisable to enable
          the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of
          withholding  taxes and other tax  obligations  relating  to any Award.
          This authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or
          other  property  and to make  cash  payments  in  respect  thereof  in
          satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations, either on a mandatory
          or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.

               (e) Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend,  alter,
          suspend,  discontinue,  or  terminate  the  Plan  or  the  Committee's
          authority  to grant  Awards  under the Plan  without  the  consent  of
          stockholders or Participants,  except that any amendment or alteration
          to the  Plan  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of the  Company's
          stockholders  not later than the annual  meeting next  following  such
          Board action if such  stockholder  approval is required by any federal
          or state  law or  regulation  or the rules of any  stock  exchange  or
          automated  quotation  system  on which the Stock may then be listed or
          quoted, and the 



                                      -14-

<PAGE>

          Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such
          changes  to the Plan to  stockholders  for  approval;  provided  that,
          without the consent of an affected  Participant,  no such Board action
          may  materially  and adversely  affect the rights of such  Participant
          under any previously  granted and outstanding Award. The Committee may
          waive any  conditions  or rights  under,  or  amend,  alter,  suspend,
          discontinue,  or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award
          agreement relating thereto,  except as otherwise provided in the Plan;
          provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such
          Committee  action may  materially  and adversely  affect the rights of
          such  Participant  under such Award.  Notwithstanding  anything in the
          Plan to the  contrary,  if any right  under  this Plan  would  cause a
          transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest  accounting  that
          would,  but for the right  hereunder,  be eligible for such accounting
          treatment,  the  Committee  may  modify  or  adjust  the right so that
          pooling of  interest  accounting  shall be  available,  including  the
          substitution  of Stock  having a Fair  Market  Value equal to the cash
          otherwise payable hereunder for the right which caused the transaction
          to be ineligible for pooling of interest accounting.

               (f) Limitation on Rights  Conferred under Plan.  Neither the Plan
          nor any action  taken  hereunder  shall be construed as (i) giving any
          Eligible  Person or  Participant  the right to continue as an Eligible
          Person or  Participant or in the employ or service of the Company or a
          subsidiary,  (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company
          or a subsidiary  to terminate any Eligible  Person's or  Participant's
          employment or service at any time,  (iii) giving an Eligible Person or
          Participant  any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be
          treated  uniformly  with other  Participants  and  employees,  or (iv)
          conferring on a Participant  any of the rights of a stockholder of the
          Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred
          shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

               (g) Unfunded  Status of Awards;  Creation of Trusts.  The Plan is
          intended to constitute  an "unfunded"  plan for incentive and deferred
          compensation.  With  respect  to  any  payments  not  yet  made  to  a
          Participant  or  obligation  to deliver  Stock  pursuant  to an Award,
          nothing  contained  in the  Plan or any  Award  shall  give  any  such
          Participant  any  rights  that are  greater  than  those of a  general
          creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may authorize the
          creation of trusts and deposit  therein cash,  Stock,  other Awards or
          other  property,  or make  other  arrangements  to meet the  Company's
          obligations under the Plan. Such trusts or other arrangements shall be
          consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee
          otherwise  determines  with the consent of each affected  Participant.
          The  trustee  of such  trusts  may be  authorized  to dispose of trust
          assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative  investments,  subject
          to such terms and  conditions  as the  Committee  may  specify  and in
          accordance with applicable law.

               (h)  Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan
          by the Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for
          approval  shall be construed as creating any  limitations on the power
          of the Board or a  committee  thereof to adopt  such  other  incentive
          arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements
          and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m).

               (i)  Payments  in the Event of  Forfeitures;  Fractional  Shares.
          Unless  otherwise    


                                      -15-

<PAGE>

          determined by the Committee,  in the event of a forfeiture of an Award
          with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other  consideration,
          the  Participant  shall be  repaid  the  amount  of such cash or other
          consideration.  No  fractional  shares  of Stock  shall be  issued  or
          delivered  pursuant  to the Plan or any  Award.  The  Committee  shall
          determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued
          or paid in lieu of such  fractional  shares or whether such fractional
          shares  or  any  rights   thereto  shall  be  forfeited  or  otherwise
          eliminated.

               (j) Governing Law. The validity,  construction  and effect of the
          Plan,  any  rules  and  regulations  under  the  Plan,  and any  Award
          agreement shall be determined in accordance with the Delaware  General
          Corporation  Law,  without giving effect to principles of conflicts of
          laws, and applicable federal law.

               (k) Plan Effective Date and  Stockholder  Approval.  The Plan has
          been adopted by the Board on July 15, 1997, and shall become effective
          upon  approval by the  stockholders  of the Company not later than one
          year after that date.


                                      -16-


                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION
                        1997 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                  STOCK OPTION TO PURCHASE CLASS A COMMON STOCK


Stock  Option  granted by  Autotote  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company") to ______________ (the "Participant"), pursuant to the Company's 1997
Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

1.       Grant of Option

This  certificate  evidences  the grant by the  Company on  ____________  to the
Participant of an option (the "Option") to purchase, in whole or in part, on the
terms herein provided,  a total of __________ shares (the "Shares") of the Class
A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company at an exercise price of
$_______  per share,  which is not less than the fair market value of the Shares
on the date of grant of this Option.

The Option becomes exercisable in the following cumulative installments:
         ============                       =================
         ============                       =================

The  latest  date  on  which  this  Option  may be  exercised  (if  not  earlier
terminated) is _______________.

2.       Exercise of Option

Each  election  to  exercise  this  Option  shall be in  writing  signed  by the
Participant or by his/her  executor or administrator or the person or persons to
whom this Option is transferred  by will or the  applicable  laws of descent and
distribution,  or if the Participant is incapacitated,  by the person or persons
legally  appointed to act on the  Participant's  behalf (in each such case,  the
"Legal  Representative"),  and received by the Company at its principal  office,
accompanied  by payment in full as provided in the Plan.  In the event that this
Option is exercised by the Legal Representative of the Participant,  the Company
shall be under no obligation to deliver  Shares  hereunder  unless and until the
Company is  satisfied as to the  authority  of the person or persons  exercising
this Option.

3.       Taxes

The Company is  authorized to withhold  shares  pursuant to the exercise of this
Option in an amount sufficient to satisfy any withholding and other taxes due or
potentially payable in connection with such exercise.


4.       Nontransferability of Option

This Option may not be pledged,  hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or subject
to any lien,  obligation  or  liability  of such  Participant  to any party,  or
assigned or transferred by such  Participant  otherwise than by will or the laws
of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary (as defined under the Plan) upon
the  death of the  Participant,  and is  exercisable  during  the  Participant's
lifetime  only  by  the   Participant  or  by  his  or  her  guardian  or  legal
representative, except as provided under the Plan.

5.       Provisions of the Plan

This  Option  is  subject  to the  provisions  of the  Plan,  a copy of which is
furnished to the Participant herewith.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Company  has caused this Option to be executed by its
duly authorized officer.

                                              AUTOTOTE CORPORATION
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                              By:  ____________________________
                                      
                                  


Dated:  _________________





                                                                    Exhibit 23.1




The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Autotote Corporation:

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  of our report dated  December 5,
1996,  except for Notes 7 and 21 which are as of January 29,  1997,  and Note 22
which is as of July 1, 1997, with respect to the consolidated  balance sheets of
Autotote  Corporation  and  subsidiaries as of October 31, 1996 and 1995 and the
related consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders' equity (deficit),
cash  flows,  and  financial  statement  schedule  for each of the  years in the
three-year  period ended October 31, 1996,  which report  appears in the October
31, 1996, annual report on Form 10-K of Autotote Corporation.

                              /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                              -------------------------
                              KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Short Hills, New Jersey
January 23, 1998



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